The best Kenpachi fights, ranked

Key points

• Kenpachi's reckless fighting style leads to memorable battles but also showcases his flaws as a fighter.
• Kenpachi's thirst for battle drives him to face formidable foes and even his own comrades, demonstrating his raw strength.
• Kenpachi's evolution in combat is evident in battles where he unleashes new powers and techniques, showcasing his growth.

No one in Soul Society loves the thrill of intense battle like Zaraki Kenpachi. This wild and reckless captain cares about one thing; find someone he thinks is strong enough to give him a good fight, and all the way through Bleachhe encountered several enemies who had varying degrees of success in satisfying Kenpachi's appetite.

While most captains of the Gotei 13 tend to be more calm and calculated in their battles, most of Kenpachi's fights involve him throwing everything he has at his enemy as soon as possible to test his strength once that the battle officially begins. While it's always fun to see him give it his all, there were also a few instances where Kenpachi unleashed new powers and techniques during his fights, which goes a long way towards making them memorable.

8 Kenpachi vs. Pernida

A rare but intriguing showcase of Kenpachi's flaws as a fighter

Sure, Mayuri does most of the fighting against Pernida, but Kenpachi's little skirmish with the mysterious cloaked Sternritter still says quite a bit about his character, mostly about his flaws. Kenpachi, without even thinking twice, rushes towards Pernida after seeing him, despite Mayuri warning him otherwise. This ultimately leads to his arm being completely destroyed, though Kenpachi appears not to care, instead being more focused on the enemy standing right in front of him.

It's also only after Kenpachi attempts to land a blow that he asks Mayuri what exactly Pernida is, which just goes to show how he tends to act before he speaks, which could put him in big trouble if the enemy were a formidable foe. It's usually a given that Kenpachi will emerge victorious from his fights, but his encounter with Pernida proved that his impulsive nature can sometimes get the better of him.

7 Kenpachi vs. Tosen

Kenpachi shows that he is more than willing to fight his own comrades if they get in his way

Throughout the Soul Society arc, each of the Gotei 13's captains and lieutenants are given their time in the spotlight to show who they are, what they stand for, and how loyal they truly are to the Seireitei as a whole. While Tosen's steadfast belief in justice has overshadowed his loyalty, Kenpachi is simply obsessed with battle, so when the two inevitably clash, it results in a brief, but still memorable clash that puts monstrous strength on full display. by Kenpachi.

The fact that Kenpachi mocks the strength of both Tosen and Komamura, two of his fellow captains, shows that all he cares about at this point in the story is power, and nothing more. However, Kenpachi also manages to outsmart Tosen, even escaping his Bankai which shuts down his opponent's senses, proving that he still has some brains to match his brawn.

6 Kenpachi vs Yammy

A duel against a brutal giant showcases Kenpachi's raw strength

One thing to know about Kenpachi is that he is a character who will never hide from an opponent, no matter how big or powerful he or she may be. Nowhere was this made clearer than when he willingly approached Yammy, who at that point in the story had revealed himself to be Espada Number 0, or in other words, the strongest of the pack.

The fact that Kenpachi lunged at Yammy so willingly showed that he was still willing to put himself in danger, as long as it could ease his itch for battle. He was also ready to face Byakuya during this skirmish, reminding viewers that he is willing to fight with his comrades if he sees them as a worthy opponent or if they get in his way.

5 Kenpachi, Byakuya and Hitsugaya VS Gerard Valkyrie

A fight full of power-ups and epic moments

Similar to his battle with Yammy, Kenpachi's confrontation with Sternritter Gerard Valkyrie sees him face a giant, though this neither scares him nor makes him reluctant to take part in the fight alongside Byakuya and Hitsugaya. Instead, Kenpachi decides to get creative as he runs towards Gerard's massive blade and delivers devastating blows to his new foe that only someone with his level of brute strength could muster.

This is also a fight where Kenpachi can wield his blade, Nozarashi, as it would traditionally be used instead of just swinging it around without a care in the world. It's also a real feast for the eyes to see Kenpachi's long-awaited Bankai unleashed as part of the battle, showing how far his relationship with his Zanpakutō has come since those first few episodes.

4 Kenpachi vs. Nnoitra

Kenpachi is pushed to his limits and is forced to reveal his hidden power

Just as Nnoitra is about to deliver the final blow to Ichigo, none other than Kenpachi steps in to save the day, and it's fair to say he has his work cut out for him when facing this Espada. This is the first time Kenpachi is seen in the series worrying a little that he might die, bringing out a side of him that is rarely seen by the captain.

However, it also highlighted that the longer Kenpachi fights, the more bloodthirsty he becomes. A standout moment of this battle is when Kenpachi decides to use both hands when swinging his Zanpakutō, admitting that it was never really “his thing”, but after trying it out, he delivers a devastating blow to Nnoitra. It's a clever way of showing how unorthodox Kenpachi's fighting style is, along with a subtle hint at the absurd levels of power he has yet to unlock.

3 Kenpachi vs. Ichigo

The first true showcase of the bloodthirsty “monster” known as Kenpachi

Kenpachi's first big fight in the series is a long time coming Bleach fans will always remember how ruthless and one-sided he was, at least in the first half. The weight of Kenpachi's spiritual pressure forces Ichigo to run away for the first part of the fight, before Kenpachi teases the protagonist by offering him the chance to get a free attack on him. Considering that Ichigo had slowly worked his way up in terms of power level, seeing him completely humiliated by Kenpachi was a great way to show how absurdly powerful, yet terrifying the latter is.

The revelation of Kenpachi's bells, which give his opponents the ability to figure out where he is and when he will strike, also shows how Kenpachi was strong enough to allow himself to toy with his prey in the midst of battle. Although Ichigo eventually manages to muster enough power to take down Kenpachi, the captain's personality as a violent, bloodthirsty warrior with no remorse for his enemies began right here.

2 Kenpachi vs. Unohana

Kenpachi must prove his worth to hold the title of Kenpachi

When it comes to visual spectacle, Kenpachi's encounter with Unohana is one of the best battles of all time. Bleachbut a lot is also said about Kenpachi's character during this fight. Although he starts out with his usual joy of being able to fight someone on his level, there are moments when Kenpachi ponders whether he has become weaker and whether he is truly worthy of being called Kenpachi, something he had never worried about before. .

This was also one of the few times Kenpachi faces someone he respects, providing an intriguing insight into how his mindset and fighting style change when faced with a familiar foe. Kenpachi's epic battle against Unohana was also the fight that made him strong enough to face the powerful Sternritter members he would later face.

1 Kenpachi vs. Gremmy

Gremmy's imaginative powers force Kenpachi to unleash everything he has in a dazzling battle

Kenpachi's duel against the imaginative Sternritter Gremmy is a battle that developed the captain's character in many ways. As soon as the battle begins, Kenpachi proudly proclaims himself “The Kenpachi”, which highlights how he has finally started to take the title seriously after his bloody confrontation with Unohana just a few episodes earlier.

Furthermore, Kenpachi also unleashes new abilities during this fight in an attempt to counter Gremmy, who is capable of turning anything he imagines into reality. Needless to say, this pushes Kenpachi to his limits, forcing him to unleash his Zanpakutō to literally tear a meteor apart. He even manages to use his brute strength to break out of the sealed void in space. This is a fight that shows that while Kenpachi has matured and accepted his new responsibilities after the loss of Unohana, that killer instinct is still very much alive and well beneath the surface.