The best Kenpachi fights, ranked

Key foods

• Kenpachi's reckless fighting style leads to some memorable battles, but also exposes his faults as a fighter.
• Kenpachi's thirst for battle drives him to confront his staunchest enemies and even his comrades, proving his raw power.
• Kenpachi's evolution in battle is evident in battles where he displays new powers and techniques, showcasing his growth.

No one in the Soul Society likes the thrill of an intense battle like Zaraki Kenpachi. This wild and reckless captain thinks of one thing. Finding anyone he thinks is strong enough to put up a good fight with, and during the course bleachhe has faced several enemies with varying degrees of success in satisfying Kenpachi's appetite.

While most Gotei 13 captains are calmer and more calculated in their battles, most of Kenpachi's fights involve him throwing everything at his enemy as soon as possible to test his mettle once the battle officially begins. While he's always fun to watch, there are even a few instances where Kenpachi uses new powers and techniques during his fights, which also go a long way toward making them memorable.

8 Kenpachi vs Pernida

A rare but fascinating display of Kenpachi's faults as a fighter

Admittedly, it's Mayuri who does most of the fighting with Pernida, but Kenpachi's little skirmish with the mysterious Sterneater of the Cloak still says a lot about her character, and primarily her flaws. Kenpachi, without even thinking, rushes to Pernida upon seeing her, despite Mayuri warning him otherwise. This eventually results in his arm being completely dismembered, though Kenpachi doesn't seem to care, instead focusing more on the enemy standing right in front of him.

It's also only after Kenpachi tries to strike that Mayuri asks what Pernida is exactly, which shows how she tends to act before she speaks and would land her in deep trouble if the enemy was a stubborn one. Usually a Kenpachi wins his fights, but his encounter with Pernida proved that his hot-headed nature can sometimes get the better of him.

7 Kenpachi vs Tucson

Kenpachi proves that he is willing to fight his own comrades if they stand in his way

Throughout the Soul Society arc, each of the Gotei 13 captains and lieutenants take their time in the spotlight to show who they are, what they stand for, and how loyal they really are to the Seireitei as a whole. . Although Toussaint's staunch belief in justice overshadows his loyalty, Kenpachi is simply obsessed with war, so when the two inevitably collide, it results in a brief but still memorable fight where Kenpachi's monstrous power displays

The fact that Kenpachi mocks the power of Toussaint and Komura, his two fellow captains, shows that all he cares about at this point in the story is power and nothing else. However, Kenpachi also manages to outsmart Tousen, even escaping his Bankai that distracts the opponent, showing that he still has some brains to match his power.

6 Kenpachi vs. Yami

A duel against a wild giant puts Kenpachi's raw power on full display

One thing you should know about Kenpachi is that he is a character who never backs down from an opponent, no matter how big or powerful they are. Nowhere is this more evident than when he willingly approaches Yami, who at that point in the story establishes himself as Espada #0, or in other words, the strongest of the group.

The fact that Kenpachi willingly threw himself at Yami proved that he was still willing to put himself in danger until he could satisfy his itch for battle. He was also prepared to confront Byakuya during the conflict, reminding viewers that he was willing to fight his comrades if he saw them as a worthy opponent, or if they stood in his way.

5 Kenpachi and Byakuya and Hitsagaya vs Gerard Valkyrie

A fight full of power and epic moments

As with his battle with Yami, Kenpachi's encounter with Gerrard Valkyrie's Sternritter has him facing a giant, though this doesn't scare him or make him hesitate to join the fight alongside Byakuya and Hitsagaya. Instead, Kenpachi decides to get creative and takes to Gerard's massive blade, unleashing devastating blows on his newfound foe that only someone with his level of raw power could muster.

This is also the fight where Kenpachi gets to use his blade, Nozarashi, as it is traditionally wielded rather than swinging it around without a care in the world. Also seeing Kenpachi's much anticipated bankai unleashed as part of the battle is simply a feast for the eyes, showing how far his relationship with his Zanpakuto has come since those early episodes.

4 Kenpachi VS Nnoitra

Pushed to his limit, Kenpachi is forced to reveal his hidden power

Just as Nnoitra is about to deliver the finishing blow to Ichigo, none other than Kenpachi steps in to save the day, and it's fair to say he's done his job as he plays Espada. This is the first time in the series that Kenpachi is a little worried that he might die, showing a side of him rarely seen by the captain.

However, it also emphasized that the longer Kenpachi fights, the more bloodthirsty he becomes. A standout moment from this battle is when Kenpachi decides to use both hands when swinging his Zanpakuto, admitting that it's never really been “his person”, but after trying it, he lands a devastating blow. Imports to Nnoitra. It's a clever way to show off Kenpachi's unorthodox fighting style, along with a subtle nod to the absurd levels of power he's yet to unlock.

3 Kenpachi vs Ichigo

The first real appearance of the bloodthirsty “monster” known as Kenpachi

Kenpachi's first major fight in the series is a long fight bleach Fans will always remember it for its brutality and one-sidedness, at least in the first half. The weight of Kenpachi's mental pressure forces Ichigo to flee for the first part of the fight, before Kenpachi teases him by offering the protagonist a chance to attack for free. Considering that Ichigo was slowly progressing in terms of power level, seeing him humiliated by Kenpachi was a great way to show the latter's absurd yet terrifying power.

The reveal of Kenpachi's bells, which give his opponents a chance to know where he is and when he's about to strike, also shows how Kenpachi was strong enough to play with his prey in mid-battle. Although Ichigo eventually gains enough power to destroy Kenpachi, the captain's character as a bloodthirsty and violent warrior with no remorse for his enemies all began here.

2 Kenpachi VS Unohana

Kenpachi must prove his worthiness to hold the title of Kenpachi

When it comes to visuals, Kenpachi's fight with Onohana is one of the best in the entire tournament. bleachbut there has been a lot of talk about Kenpachi's character during this fight. Although he starts off with his usual glee at being able to fight someone on his own level, there are moments when Kenpachi wonders if he's gotten weaker and if he's really worth being called Kenpachi. , something he didn't really care about before. .

It was also one of the only times Kenpachi faced off against someone he respected, providing some interesting insight into how his mindset and fighting style would change in the face of a familiar foe. Kenpachi's epic battle with Unohana was also the fight that made him strong enough to take on the powerful Sternritter members he would face later.

1 Kenpachi vs Grammy

Gremmy's powers of imagination compel Kenpachi to unleash everything he has in a dazzling battle.

Kenpachi's duel against Sternritter is a fictionalized battle that developed the captain's character in many ways. Almost as soon as the battle begins, Kenpachi proudly introduces himself as “Kenpachi”, showing how he's finally starting to take the title seriously after his bloody encounter with Unohana just a few episodes ago.

Additionally, Kenpachi also unleashes brand new abilities during this fight in an attempt to take on Gremmy, who is capable of making anything he imagines come true. Needless to say, this pushes Kenpachi to his limit, forcing him to unleash his Zanpakuto to smash a meteor into pieces. He even manages to use his brute strength to break out of the vacuum sealed in space. It's a fight that shows that, while Kenpachi has matured and accepted his newfound responsibility after losing Unohana, that killer instinct is still very much alive and well beneath the surface.