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Bleach · Story arc

Thousand-Year Blood War: The Blood Warfare

The Wandenreich declares war on the Soul Society: within five days the Sternritter steal the captains' Bankai, Yamamoto falls to Yhwach and Ichigo, held up in Hueco Mundo, arrives too late.

The Wandenreich tests its weapons in Hueco Mundo, where it captures Harribel; in the Seireitei the medallions take the Bankai of Byakuya, Soi Fon, Komamura and Hitsugaya. Yamamoto unleashes Zanka no Tachi, but his opponent is an impostor. Yhwach steals his Bankai, breaks Ichigo's sword and withdraws; the Royal Guard comes down to take the wounded to the Reiōkyū.

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TY
Position
Arc 13 of 17
Saga
Thousand-Year Blood War Saga
Canon status
Canon
Manga
480-~525
Anime
TYBW ep. 1-13

Arc events(9)

  1. The first war between Quincy and Soul ReapersA thousand years earlierA thousand years ago Yhwach leads the Quincy against the Soul Society. Yamamoto and the first Gotei 13, an army of killers that includes the first Kenpachi, defeat him; Yhwach withdraws and falls into his nine-hundred-year sleep.
  2. The Wandenreich declares warThousand-Year Blood WarWandenreich messengers walk into the First Division and announce that the Soul Society will be annihilated in five days. They kill Sasakibe and display his crucified body.
  3. Ichigo vs Quilge OpieThousand-Year Blood WarSummoned by Nel and Pesche, Ichigo rushes to Hueco Mundo, where the Wandenreich has captured Harribel. He defeats Quilge, but is trapped in his 'The Jail' prison while the Soul Society is attacked.
  4. The stolen BankaiThousand-Year Blood WarIn the first invasion the Sternritter use their medallions to take the captains' Bankai: Byakuya loses his to Äs Nödt, Soi Fon to BG9, Komamura to Bambietta, Hitsugaya to Cang Du.
  5. Byakuya vs Äs NödtThousand-Year Blood WarÄs Nödt steals Byakuya's Bankai and uses it against him. Mortally wounded, Byakuya asks Ichigo to protect the Soul Society.
  6. Yamamoto's deathThousand-Year Blood WarYamamoto incinerates Driscoll and unleashes Zanka no Tachi against 'Yhwach', who is really Royd Lloyd. The real Yhwach arrives, steals his Bankai with the medallion and cuts him in half.
  7. Kenpachi vs YhwachThousand-Year Blood WarKenpachi hurls himself at Yhwach right after Yamamoto falls, and is beaten without truly wounding him: it is the first time the Eleventh's captain loses so decisively.
  8. Ichigo vs Yhwach: Tensa Zangetsu breaksThousand-Year Blood WarIchigo arrives in the Seireitei and faces Yhwach. His Bankai cannot be stolen, but Yhwach breaks it; then he withdraws, taking Uryū with him, named his successor.
  9. The Royal Guard descends to the SeireiteiThousand-Year Blood WarFor the first time in centuries the Royal Guard comes down to the Soul Society. Tenjirō heals the wounded and the five guardians take Ichigo, Renji, Rukia and Byakuya to the Reiōkyū.

Related locations(7)

Related characters(35)

Divisions & Factions(9)

Journeys(1)