When hundreds of Hollow converge, a Menos is formed which can then slowly gain power until it reaches the Vasto Lorde state, the Strongest Hollow form. Arrancar are in a class of their own, as these overpowered Hollows have managed to gain Shinigami abilities by using Hougyoku or removing their masks, granting them the beastly Bankai-like transformations known as Resurrección. During his time in Hueco Mundo, Sosuke Aizen collected the top ten Arrancar to form his personal Army of Espada.
Updated on January 23, 2023, by Levana Chester-Londt: Each of Aizen’s Espada may be ranked; however, these numbers do not dictate who is the Strongest Hollow in Bleach, instead, they merely represent each Arrancar’s Reiatsu level without even taking their individual Resurreccións into account. A re-evaluation is certainly in order!
While it could be plausible to also include the Visored in the ranks, as these underrated warriors possess Hollow powers; however, they are essentially still Shinigami at the end of the day (unlike Ichigo, who is technically born-and-bred like the others). Kaname Tōsen is exempt from this list for similar reasons, although, in his defense, he is one of Aizen’s more successful scientific experiments.
The following content will contain spoilers from Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War.
11 The Tres Bestias (And Ayon)
Status: Alive (except Ayon)
Lady Halibel’s subordinates have been by her side since before Aizen’s groundbreaking intervention when the troop were still just Adjuchas struggling to survive the harsh Heuco Mundo deserts. Individually, the Tres Bestias’ power levels don’t exactly make them the Strongest Hollows in Bleach, but together, Emilou Apacci, Franceska Mila Rose, and Cyan Sung-Sun can cause some significant chaos.
As a last resort, these loyal ladies can dismember themselves (well, slightly) to create the gargantuan beast known as Ayon, possessing enough uncontrollable potency to break the Blut Vene-fueled Quilge Opie’s neck. Since their beloved leader’s capture, this trio has fought tooth and nail to rescue her from the Wandenreich’s clutches, putting their lives on the line to take down the formidable Quincy forces.
10 Nnoitra Gilga
Status: Killed by Kenpachi
This sinister smile is anything but friendly, as the despicable Nnoitra is incapable of showing any form of consideration, even to his fellow Espada. Nleiel’s nemesis is always keen for a fight and holds no sentiments towards keeping things fair nor is he afraid to kick a dog when it’s down!
This ruthless #5 Espada has an almost impenetrable epidermis, that even the great Tensa Zangetsu struggles to pierce, and is considered to be the strongest skin of all the Arrancar. His zanpakuto, Santa Teresa, has impeccable healing abilities but also blesses Nnoitra with additional arms and transforms his blades into scythes, creating a potent arachnoid killing machine.
9 Tier Harribel
Status: Alive
Tier Harribel started out aimlessly roaming Hueco Mundo before eventually becoming allied to Aizen after he saved her from Baraggan Louisenbairn’s tyranny. Her feminist Fracción overflows with loyalty and love, but unfortunately, the power-hungry Aizen does not share these sentiments.
This underboob enthusiast replaces Nelliel as the #3 Espada after she “mysteriously” disappeared and slowly works her way up the ranks to eventually claim the title of Hueco Mundo’s Queen. Unfortunately, her realm is overwhelmed by the Quincy, and Tier Harribel is captured by Wandenreich and has become his hostage.
8 Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez
Status: Alive
Unlike many other Espada, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez does not blindly follow Aizen’s lead and is relatively selective when it comes to battles, as he believes there should be a valid reason for conflict and that a fight should be fair. The #6 Espada proved his strength by being the only Arrancar to escape Aizen’s onslaught (alongside Tier Harribel) thanks to his panther-inspired durability-enhancing Getsuga Tenshō. Although Ichigo clearly won the battle against Grimmjow in episode 167, the audience does not actually get to see a corpse first-hand and his death is subsequently ruled as unconfirmed.
Die-hard fans would be able to identify that torso and voice anywhere, and most were likely jumping for joy as Grimmjow slips into the background during Urahara’s video call with Ichigo in episode 8 of the Thousand Year Blood War. The anime refrains to divulge the reason for this sudden partnership, which occurred shortly after Ichigo left Orihime and the gang in Heuco Mundo, under the assumption that Quilge Opie was incapacitated. Thankfully, the unlikely hero rocks up in the knick of time and, staying true to form, does not hesitate to start a fight with the Quincy. Contradicting the “Good Boy Gone Bad"stigma is apparently the new name of the game!
7 Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
Status: Alive
This fan-favorite Arrancar first appeared to viewers in the form of a helpless, lost toddler who forms an unlikely bond with a rival Shinigami. Thankfully, her pint-sized punches are still effective when she discovers how to revert to her fully-grown body, but she only fights when truly necessary and holds no joy in bloodshed, essentially becoming the defender of the weak.
Nel’s volatile transformations between her adult form and childlike state are eventually stabilized thanks to Kisuke Urahara’s help, permitting the former #3 Espada to reliably remain at her highest power level. Her unique ability to consume cero blasts only emphasizes her peace-loving mannerisms and reduces the overall damage during battle.
6 Baraggan Louisenbairn
Status: Killed by Hachigen (although technically, suicide)
Barragan unwillingly became Aizen’s accomplice after the Shinigami colonist took over Hueco Mundo, and he makes no attempt to boast his connection to the Espada and is conspicuously lacking his #2 tattoo.
Barragan’s Senescencia ability rouses rapid aging and decay in his wake, which instigated his own demise when Hachigen altered Barragan’s attacks into becoming the more self-sabotaging type. He assumes a Grim Reaper-like appearance when releasing his Resurrección, which also transforms his Senescencia attack into a quick-spreading vaporized form and allows him to wield the formidable Gran Caída.
5 Ulquiorra Cifer
Status: Killed by Kurosaki Ichigo
This Emo Espada arguably causes the most trouble for Ichigo (well, after Aizen that is) as he is one of the fastest Arrancar around, capable of evading each and every petal of Byakuya Kuchiki’s Bankai. Ulquiorra’s advanced healing capabilities are effective enough to regenerate limbs at superspeeds, and the almost invincible warrior can perform a Double Resurrección (unheard of for other Arrancar).
The intense pressure of Ulquiorra’s reiatsu while in the Segunda Etapa state is powerful enough to asphyxiate his opponents before he even lifts a finger to access his limitless supply of lethal Lanza del Relámpago. Ulquiorra may only be the #4 Espada, however, Aizen ranked his army ignorantly, without acknowledging the Arrancars’ second releases.
4 Coyote Starrk
Status: Killed by Shunsui Kyōraku
Aizen made no mistakes by awarding Starrk the top position in the Espada, as this warrior’s power strikes fear into any foe (when he’s not asleep, that is). His mere presence spreads death to all those nearby, generating a lonely, bitter, and disinterested existence, with only his soul sister, Lilynette Gingerbuck, for company. Starrk is at his strongest when he and Lilynette meld back into a single entity, which is the catalyst for his Resurrección.
If finally convinced to fight, this sure-footed Sonído Master has an arsenal of lethal skills which allows him to summon dual-wielding pistols and reiatsu swords (called Colmillo). Additionally, his rapid-fire Ceros are not limited to radiating from his chest or hands only, and if that’s not effective enough, Starrk can sacrifice his guns to hail a pack of reiatsu-powered suicide-bombing wolves to do his bidding for him.
3 White: The Black Hollow
Status: Technically dead (but still lives through Ichigo)
The Thousand Year Blood War introduces a new “person” of interest in “Everything But the Rain,” which is essentially a unique subspecies of Hollow, as it was created specifically with powerful Shinigami souls; Frankenstein’s Monster, so to speak. Ironically, this freak of nature is essentially the father of Ichigo’s Hollow lineage, after infecting Masaki Kurosaki with a tainted bite.
Mightier than the average Hollow, White gives off strong Vasto Lorde vibes with his character design and is arguably not too far off regarding his power level either. Aizen allegedly created this monstrosity with enough bells and whistles to incapacitate any Shikai-wielding Gotei 13 member; however, it was a Quincy’s well-aimed Heilig Pfeil that ended (and re-initiated) White’s reign of tyranny, kamikaze style. If Ichigo’s powers are the “watered-down” version of White’s potency, just imagine what this mysterious Hollow is truly capable of!
2 Vasto Lorde Ichigo
Status: Alive
Ichigo’s signature force emanates from his relationship with Zangetsu, who is the manifestation of a Hollow and Zanpakuto, created due to the combination of Ichigo’s parents’ opposing powers (and a little venomous intervention from Aizen’s “pet”). Zangetsu originally only emerge as a “subconscious” safety precaution when Ichigo’s life is on the line, however, as the bond between swordmaster and spirit strengthens, so does their combined capabilities. As a result, this Strawberry Shinigami has access to many abilities typical to Arrancar, such as advanced speed, regeneration, durability, etc., and can summon additional appendages and Ceros at will.
Although Ichigo has clashed swords on countless occasions in the past twenty-odd years, his most memorable battle of all time is arguably when he faces off against Ulquiorra Cifer and subsequently introduces Vasto Lorde Ichigo into the mix (also nicknamed “White”). During this crucial conflict, the Prince of Darkness gauges a cavity straight through his foe’s torso; however, rejecting death, Ichigo intensifies his Hollow transformation further. With his increased stats, Ichigo easily yanks Ulquiorra’s arm right off, makes light work of his deadly Lanza del Relámpago, and ends one of the strongest Espada’s life (who had reached his omnipotent Second Stage Resurrection by that time).
1 Merged Hollow Ichigo
Status: Pending (in anime)
Ichigo’s ultimate form is yet to be adapted in the Thousand Year Blood War anime, however, the groundwork has been adequately set up in the first core. Discovering the truth about Zangetsu is initially mind blowing, but the hybrid warrior is quick to accept his partner in crime, refusing to eradicate their bond based on some technicalities. This enlightenment inspired a fragile symbiosis between his Quincy and Hollow roots, however, if his Reiatsu weighs too heavily toward his mother’s ancestry, a new Hollow form will emerge.
Combining the inherent elements of White with Zangetsu produces a unique upgrade with some bonus attacks to boot. His Gran Rey Cero shocks even the “omniscient” Yhwach, which can be further enhanced in conjunction with Getsuga Tenshō. This Merged Hollow form is not the cap of Ichigo’s potential, however, those transformations are much more Bankai-orientated.
More: Bleach: Best Fights In Thousand Year Blood War Anime, Ranked
