Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is the final arc in the Bleach anime. This significant arc showcased the final war between the Soul Society and the hidden Quincy empire, the Wandenreich. Naturally, there will be many losses on both sides. In previous arcs, very few Bleach heroes died, but all that changed in the anime's grand finale.
Some of the characters who die in Thousand-Year Blood War were fairly minor, such as fluff Sternritters like Shaz Domino or Jerome Guizbatt, but other deaths were highly impactful and personally meaningful to the arc. Some deaths completely changed the course of the war, and other deaths marked serious changes for certain character arcs and Bleach lore.
Updated on October 3, 2023 by Angelo Delos Trinos: Much to Bleach fans' surprise, the final arc changed some major character deaths. Some were merely altered, while others were outright erased. This list was updated to see who dies in Thousand-Year Blood War's anime, and to explore the differences between the manga and anime.
15 Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe
Only days before their invasion, the Quincy arrived in the Seireitei and confronted Captain-Commander Yamamoto with a verbal declaration of war. Then, Driscoll Berci (Sternritter O: The Overkill) attacked the barely-written Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe with his ability, and impaled him on Yamamoto's office wall.
Sasakibe soon died from this mortal injury, which deeply saddened Yamamoto. This early death vividly emphasized the threat that the Quincy army posed. Besides revealing that Bankai could be stolen, Sasakibe's death also made Yamamoto unusually sloppy and reckless with rage when the Quincy's main force arrived to fight the Soul Reapers.
14 Royd Lloyd
Several Sternritter died in the initial invasion of Soul Society. Captain Kenpachi Zaraki killed three of them, while Yamamoto unknowingly killed one. Royd Lloyd (Sternritter Y: The Yourself) used his ability to mimic Emperor Yhwach and fight in his place. Yamamoto defeated Royd, thinking he was Yhwach the whole time.
Royd fulfilled his mission of distracting and exhausting Yamamoto in battle, which proved the strength of the Wandenreich's resolve. His death also left Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka open to being stolen by Yhwach just seconds later. Royd's death proved that the Quincy would pay any price, including their lives, to ensure a swift victory.
13 The Zero Squad (Manga)
The Zero Squad were Soul Society's strongest Soul Reapers, but they were quickly killed after Yhwach's Auswahlen gave his elite Schutzstaffel a second wind. The deaths of Kirio Hikifune, Senjumaru Shutara, Tenjiro Kirinji, and Oetsu Nimaiya proved how unstoppable Yhwach was. Ichibe Hyosube only survived by pure luck.
So far, the Zero Squad's deaths only apply to the manga. They put up a better and longer fight in the anime even after the Auswahlen, and their fates could change as well. Should they be among those who die in Thousand-Year Blood War when it returns next year, their deaths would fulfill a similar purpose and importance to their manga deaths.
12 Captain-Commander Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto
Captain-Commander Genryusai Yamamoto, the strongest Soul Reaper, tried to fight the real Yhwach, but it was no good. Yhwach stole Yamamoto's Bankai with his medallion, then used mundane Quincy powers and his sword to finish off his longtime nemesis. Yamamoto was cut clean in half, and then Yhwach vaporized his remains.
Yamamoto's death left an enormous power vacuum in the Gotei 13, and established Yhwach's might right away. Eventually, Captain Shunsui Kyoraku succeeded him as Captain-Commander, a grim opportunity for Kyoraku to prove himself as the new number one Soul Reaper. This also meant finding someone to replace him as Squad 8's Captain.
11 Quilge Opie
Quilge Opie (Sternritter J: The Jail) was the first Sternritter to appear in Thousand-Year Blood War. He defeated several Arrancars, then fought Ichigo's team in Hueco Mundo while Yhwach's army invaded the Soul Society. Quilge delayed Ichigo by trapping him inside The Jail, but eventually, Ichigo broke free.
Quilge might have used The Jail again to delay Ichigo further, but then Kisuke Urahara and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (in a surprise return) finished him off. Quilge's death allowed Ichigo to head for the Soul Society at last. More importantly, the fact that Quilge took so much punishment before dying showed how terrifying the Sternritter were.
10 Captain Yachiru Unohana
For many years, everyone knew Captain Unohana as Retsu Unohana, Squad 4's kindly commander, and Bleach's most powerful medic. Thousand-Year Blood War revealed a shocking truth: Unohana was actually Yachiru Unohana, one of the Gotei 13's original captains, and one of the most brutal Soul Reapers in history.
Unohana once fought Kenpachi when the latter was still a kid, but she didn't draw out his full potential back then. Shortly after Yamamoto's death, Unohana lethally trained Kenpachi to unlock his true power, but at the cost of her life. Kenpachi mourned her death, but Unohana died happily. Unohana's death solidified Kenpachi's place as the strongest and most vicious Soul Reaper alive.
9 As Nodt
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki lost badly when As Nodt (Sternritter F: The Fear) stole Senbonzakura and nearly killed him with it during the invasion's first stage. Later, Rukia Kuchiki stumbled upon As Nodt and challenged him, fighting her terrifying Quincy foe with new ice powers. As Nodt turned the tables with his Vollstandig, then Byakuya intervened.
This gave Rukia a chance to release her newly achieved Bankai, Hakka no Togame, and kill As Nodt with it. This neatly symbolized Rukia's growth as a Soul Reaper, and Byakuya was (uncharacteristically) openly proud of her. Meanwhile, Byakuya redeemed himself and his honor by weakening As Nodt with his reclaimed Zanpakuto.
8 The Soul King (Manga)
The mysterious Soul King was absolutely vital for the Soul Society's — and that of all life — continued existence. At one point, Yhwach aimed to absorb the king and gain even more power. Ichigo and his allies couldn't let that happen, but despite their best efforts, Yhwach successfully killed, then absorbed the Soul King.
This "death" marked a turning point in Thousand-Year Blood War, where the stakes reached their peak and the heroes were almost out of time. The war had reached its endgame, and the heroes had to either defeat Yhwach right away, or witness their worlds destroyed in the Soul King's absence. At another point in the arc, Ichigo personally killed the Soul King out of sheer necessity.
7 Captain Jushiro Ukitake (Manga)
Captain Jushiro Ukitake didn't do that much in the Soul Society Arc or even the Arrancar Arc, but he had one last card to play in Thousand-Year Blood War. Ukitake's life was saved when Mimihagi, the Soul King's right arm, spared him from a fatal illness. Now, Ukitake will repay the Soul King by offering his borrowed life.
Ukitake didn't hesitate to offer his life, so he could protect and partially restore the Soul King. His final act was in vain, but it demonstrated Ukitake's incredible resolve. It also left a vacancy in Squad 13 that Rukia Kuchiki herself filled in the epilogue a few years later. Ukitake's death was so important to the manga's lore and stakes that it's likely that he'll still be among those who die in Thousand-Year Blood War's anime.
6 Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi (Manga)
Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi was a calm, helpful kuudere who played a minor role in most of Bleach's arcs (both canon and filler). But like a few other minor Soul Reapers, she finally got a chance to shine in Thousand-Year Blood War and show everyone — including her Captain and father, Mayuri Kurotsuchi — what she was really capable of.
Nemu faced the bizarre and terrifying Pernida Parnkgjas (Sternritter C: The Compulsory), and her normally abusive Captain urged Nemu to retreat and survive so she could continue to live and evolve. Instead, Nemu gave her life in combat to help take down Pernida, and a new version of her was created later. Nemu's manga death was important because it revealed Mayuri's repressed humanity, meaning it probably won't be altered for the anime.
5 Yhwach (Manga)
The Quincy emperor and god, Yhwach, threatened far more than the Soul Reapers and the Seireitei. Yhwach wanted more than revenge for the fallen Quincy from the first war with the Soul Reapers. He also sought to create an eternally deathless, gray world so no one would perish ever again. This meant destroying the current world as everyone knew it.
Yhwach very nearly created his deathless world, but Ichigo fought him one last time and slew him. Yhwach's death ensured a total Soul Reaper victory, and it also protected hope across the universe. As Aizen himself put it, surviving in the face of death gave life meaning and, therefore, hope. Yhwach almost came back from the dead in the epilogue, but Ichigo's son made sure that he was among those who died in Thousand-Year Blood War.
4 Bambietta Basterbine
The explosive Bambietta Basterbine(Sternritter E: The Explode) made a strong impression when she took part in the initial Quincy invasion of the Soul Society. Bambietta faced Sajin Komamura and stole his Zanpakuto, then fought him a second time later in that war. Bambietta lost to Sajin's powerful human form, allowing Sajin to avenge his own fallen Bankai.
Sajin did well, but he wasn't the one who killed Bambietta. Instead, Giselle Geweller (Sternritter Z: The Zombie) finished her off to turn Bambietta into a zombie. Bambietta was one of the first Sternritter who died in Thousand-Year Blood War. Her death teased the extent of Giselle's morbid powers and cruelty.
3 Jugram Hashwalth (Manga)
Jugram Haschwalth (Sternritter B: The Balance) was Yhwach's right-hand man. Whenever Yhwach was asleep, Jugram briefly took over his duties and became Sternritter A: The Almighty. That being said, Jugram also had his own formidable Schrift (i.e. a Sternritter's unique ability) known as The Balance.
Jugram appeared early in Thousand-Year Blood War, and gradually became more important as the war continued. Bleach fans even got to see Jugram's backstory through flashbacks. His arc culminated in his defeat at Uryu Ishida's hands, when the two Quincy turned on one another. Jugram's death by Auswahlen was the impetus for his last-second decision to aid Ishida. He lived long enough to aid the Quincy retreat in the light novel, which the anime may or may not adapt.
2 Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi
Yachiru technically didn't die. She was revealed to have been Zaraki Kenpachi's Zanpakuto this whole time, and she left her corporeal body when Kenpachi learned his sword's true name and power. However, this also meant that the Yachiru who Bleach's cast and fans knew and loved was no longer with them.
Yachiru seemingly vanished into thin air, and only Kenpachi could hear her voice and feel her presence. Her cessation of existence allows her to be counted among those who die in Thousand-Year Blood War. Yachiru's death was important and unfortunately necessary for Kenpachi to realize his full potential as a Soul Reaper.
1 Masaki Kurosaki
Canonically, Masak Kurosaki died long before Bleach aired its first episode in 2004. Originally, Masaki was believed to have died protecting Ichigo from the Grand Fisher. However, Thousand-Year Blood War re-contextualized this by revealing that Masaki really died because of Yhwach's previous Auswahlen.
Masaki was a Quincy, and she could've easily defended Ichigo from a rogue Hollow. But thanks to Yhwach, she was robbed of her powers at the last second, dying in Thousand-Year Blood War. Not only did the truth of this very important death rewrite Ichigo's origins and motives, but it retroactively became the catalyst for the entire anime.
