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The Arrancar are definitely worth mentioning in this regard, easily being one of the best and most compelling antagonists in the anime. Their character designs were truly incredible, with Ulquiorra Cifer being a great example of the same. The 4th Espada has some powerful tricks up his sleeve and serves as one of Ichigo’s most powerful enemies.
10 Sonido
Sonido is the Arrancar version of Shunpo that is used to heighten a fighter’s speed. It allows them to close distances quickly and dodge attacks whenever required.
Since Ulquiorra is one of the most powerful Espada around, it’s easy to see why his Sonido skills are truly remarkable. His speed is incredible and one of the many reasons why he’s such a compelling antagonist.
9 Enhanced Hierro
Hierro is a defensive ability that pretty much every Espada possesses, allowing them to absorb most attacks with little to no damage. Only a very powerful offensive move would be enough to put them in any trouble.
In Ulquiorra’s case, his Hierro is way more powerful than most of his other Espada brethren. The fact that he’s able to take a direct hit from Ichigo’s Bankai with just a scratch shows just how effective his defenses really are.
8 Bala
Bala is pretty much a bullet made of spiritual energy that Ulquiorra can use to great effect. This projectile travels fast and is surprisingly powerful despite its unassuming nature.
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Ulquiorra uses Bala along with his regular moves to mix up his offense and make him hard to predict. His strategic approach to fighting coupled with a wealth of powerful moves make him a force to be reckoned with.
7 Resurreccion (Enclose)
As is the case with most Arrancar, Ulquiorra has a Resurreccion of his own to transform his body and heighten his powers. This is activated by uttering a release command called Enclose.
This turns Ulquiorra into a bat-like demon that can use his combat abilities to great effect. Suffice it to say, Ulquiorra becomes even more dangerous in this form, especially given the vast suite of abilities he has access to after reaching this phase.
6 Luz De La Luna
Ulquiorra is both a master of close and ranged combat, making him a tough challenge to take on. With his Resurreccion, he can conjure green energy lances made of spiritual energy to hit his opponents from afar.
It’s a great technique that Ulquiorra uses prudently and tactically in his battles. In fact, these lances can be used in melee combat as well, enhancing their effectiveness in a fight.
5 Cero
The Cero was bound to make its way to this list at some point, given that this blast is a powerful attack for many Espada. Ulquiorra is no exception to this golden rule, with his Cero blast being quite unique in its own right.
Instead of being a red blast — a color that is common for most Arrancar — Ulquiorra’s Cero is green in color, which is already pretty unique. It’s a sign of just how powerful Ulquiorra really is, despite not even being the most powerful Espada in the group!
4 Resurreccion: Segunda Etapa
While there are three other Espada who are stronger than Ulquiorra, this particular character has a bonus ability that no other Arrancar has. While other fighters have a pretty great Resurreccion ability, Ulquiorra is the only Arrancar to have a second Resurreccion form that is even more powerful.
His look becomes absolutely nightmarish, with his offensive and defensive skills rising exponentially. There’s a reason why Ichigo genuinely struggled against this form before his Hollow transformation had to come and save the day.
3 Latigo
In his Segunda Etapa form, Ulquiorra gains access to more abilities that make his enemies’ life a living hell. For starters, the tail that he grows out in this form can be used for a wide suite of combat-oriented purposes.
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He can use this appendage for a technique called Latigo, which lets him strangle or whip an opponent into submission. It broke through Orihime’s Santen Kesshun without too many problems, proving just how much power his tail really had.
2 Cero Oscuras
Every Arrancar has evolved versions of their Cero, but Ulquiorra’s Cero Oscuras truly strikes fear in the hearts of even the most powerful warriors around. This Cero is completely black with a green outline, which is enough to prove just how powerful this blast really is.
This single blast was enough to take Ichigo out of commission during their one-sided battle. Thankfully, Ichigo’s Hollow side fully manifested and aided the unconscious protagonist in defeating Ulquiorra.
1 Lanza Del Relampago
It would take something really powerful to dwarf the power of Cero Oscuras. This is where the Lanza del Relampago comes into the picture, which is Ulquiorra’s trump card by quite some margin.
Ulquiorra conjures a powerful javelin wreathed in flames that can be thrown to create a giant explosion at the point of contact. The power of this move is so immense that Ulquiorra himself needs to be out of the area of effect to avoid taking any damage from this damaging blast.
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