As we approach the climax of the Thousand-Year Blood War saga, specifically Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity, Tite Kubo’s coveted magnum opus shonen title is finally coming to an end with some of the most intense battles the series has witnessed so far. On top of that, Pierrot Films’ creative liberties with the narrative have only left us wanting more.
TITLEBleachCREATORTite KuboRELEASE DATEOctober 5, 2004TYBW PART 4 RELEASE DATEJuly 25, 2026IMDb RATINGS (as of July 21, 2026)8.2/10 (original anime)WHERE TO WATCHHulu, Disney+
If you haven’t read the manga yet, don’t worry. We have summarised all the major fights that are about to take place in the final part of the TYBW arc and handpicked the best for you. It is worth noting that we have also ranked them by the impact and intensity they have on the story’s closure.
Spoiler Alert !!!Massive spoilers from the Bleach manga up ahead. Readers’ discretion is highly advised.
7. Ichigo and Orihime Get Crushed in Their Opening Stand Against Yhwach
Ichigo vs. Yhwach from Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War – The Calamity | Credits: Pierrot Films
Ahead of the final confrontation, Ichigo and Orihime face Yhwach together in his throne room at Wahrwelt, and it goes badly fast. Yhwach effortlessly shuts down Ichigo’s attacks and negates Orihime’s rejection. Although Ichigo Kurosaki demonstrates his new form, known famously in the fandom as the “Horn of Salvation” form, it doesn’t pose a massive problem to Yhwach. The King of the Quincies resists Ichigo’s attacks with his Almighty Powers and shatters his Zanpakuto.
In other words, Yhwach shows Ichigo the true meaning of despair at Wahrwelt. It’s less a fight than a demonstration of just how outmatched they are before Ichigo digs in for real. It’s ranked last since it’s a brutal, one-sided opener that mainly exists to set the stage for the real rematch.
6. Kisuke Urahara Steps Up to End Askin Nakk Le Vaar for Good
Kisuke Urahara from Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War – The Calamity | Credits: Pierrot Films
Once Yoruichi has worn Askin down and cracked his defenses, Urahara steps in to face the Sternritter, and honestly it’s the payoff fans have been waiting for since his Bankai got teased earlier. His calm, calculated approach clashes perfectly with Askin’s smug confidence, and the way he neutralizes Deathdealing feels like watching a chess grandmaster finally make the move he’d planned five turns ago.
It’s quieter than most fights on this list but no less satisfying. And there’s also the new Bankai reveal of Kisuke Urahara that we fans have been waiting for ages. We placed this fight at 6th since it resolves a threat rather than escalating the stakes.
5. Uryu Ishida Turns His Antithesis Loose On Jugram Haschwalth
Jugram and Uryu from Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War – The Calamity | Credits: Pierrot Films
Uryu vs. Jugram will set the stage ablaze, and we might see some anime-only scenes, considering the fight was quite short in the original manga. Following the events from the previous installment, Jugram Haschwalth will try to show Uryu that there’s no hope. With his Schrift, The Balance, and Yhwach’s Almighty powers (Jugram can wield the Almighty powers when Yhwach is asleep), the Sternritter will battle Uryu.
Fans will get to see Uryu Ishida’s Schrift, A: The Antithesis, which he will use against Jugram. However, will it be enough to counter the Sternritter’s The Balance? It remains to be seen. It’s ranked here because the ideas are excellent, even though the physical spectacle is comparatively restrained.
4. The Gotei 13 And Visored Make Their Stand Against Gerard Valkyrie
Gerard Valkyrie from Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War | Credits: Studio Pierrot
Gerard Valkyrie casually walking into a group of captains, lieutenants, and Visored and shrugging off their combined assault sets the tone for how terrifying he really is. This isn’t one duel; it’s a full-blown battle royale, with Byakuya, Kenpachi, and Toshiro all throwing everything they’ve got at a nearly unkillable wall of muscle.
This is the Bleach fight that will probably nuke the internet. In this battle, Toshiro Hitsugaya, Byakuya, and Zaraki will showcase never-seen-before moves. The sheer chaos and scale of it make for one of the busiest, most visually loaded fights of the whole cour. Sits at the halfway point since it’s essentially the opening act for the bigger Gerard showdown still to come.
3. Kenpachi Zaraki Finally Draws His Unnamed Bankai Against Gerard
Kenpachi Zaraki from Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War | Credits: Studio Pierrot
After everyone else has taken their shot and failed, Kenpachi finally awakens his long-awaited Bankai against Gerard Valkyrie, one of the strongest Bleach characters. It’s exactly the payoff longtime fans have been begging for since the very first fight against him started.
Gerard’s Miracle ability lets him counter anything treated as a genuine threat, which makes this a real test of Kenpachi’s berserker instincts against a power specifically built to no-sell desperation. It’s brutal, loud, chaotic, and deeply satisfying to watch unfold finally. Ranks third because a Kenpachi Bankai reveal is the kind of moment the whole arc has been building toward.
2. Aizen vs. Yhwach Will Set the Stage on Fire
Sosuke Aizen from Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War | Credits: Studio Pierrot
After destroying Ichigo Kurosaki at Wahrwelt, Yhwach enters the Soul Society again, where Sosuke Aizen awaits his arrival. With a calm demeanor, he says, “Welcome to My Soul Society.” The sheer spectacle of Yhwach versus Aizen will be the grand feast for fans in Bleach: TYBW – The Calamity.
In this battle, Aizen will demonstrate Hado #99: Goryūtenmetsu, after being freed from the shackles by Yhwach’s tremendous powers. Unfortunately, the battle was cut short in the manga by Renji and later Ichigo’s intervention. However, the anime is expected to extend the battle. It’s ranked second for the sheer audacity of the reveal and everything it sets up next.
1. Ichigo and His Allies Face Yhwach One Final Time for Everything
Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War | Credits: Studio Pierrot
After restoring his Zanpakuto with Tsukishima’s aid, Ichigo Kurosaki enters the final battle against Yhwach at Soul Society, with Renji and Aizen aiding him. In the manga, Aizen manages to tinker with Yhwach’s perception using his Kyoka Suigetsu’s powers. Pouncing on that opportunity, Ichigo slashes Yhwach with his Zanpakuto.
Although it seemed to have done the trick, Yhwach overpowers Ichigo and everything around him. Finally, Ichigo Kurosaki gets aid from his friend, Uryu Ishida. It remains to be seen whether the anime adaptation plays out the events exactly as they are in the manga or not. At any rate, Ichigo’s final battle against Yhwach, a being who can rewrite the future itself, is emotional, exhausting, and decisive. As such, this battle takes the spot.
RANKINGFIGHT1Ichigo and his allies vs. Yhwach2Aizen vs. Yhwach3Kenpachi Zaraki vs. Gerard Valkyrie.4Zaraki, Toshiro, Byakuya, and others vs. Gerard Valkyrie.5Uryu Ishida vs. Jugram Haschwalth.6Kisuke Urahara vs. Askin Naak Le Vaar7Ichigo and Orihime vs. Yhwach.
Are you excited for the release of Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War – The Calamity, and what battles are you the most excited about? We’d love to know your top picks, thoughts, and opinions in the comments below.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity Episode 1 is releasing on July 25, 2026, on Hulu and Disney+.
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