From Kurosaki Ichigo’s point of view, most of the Gotei 13 leave an antagonistic first impression, as their general code of ethics is not always as sound as it should be inBleach. However, as the years roll by, some soul reapers have worked their way into viewers' hearts while others happily maintain their fan-favorite status, leaving the remainders to scrape some admiration from the bottom of the barrel.
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Because the topic oflikeabilitywill focus on the overall personality traits of each of theGotei 13 Captains, there is little need to examine many specific events. This article will therefore be free fromBleach:Thousand-Year Blood War ArcMangaspoilers; however, it will mention crucial plot points from the anime’s first cours.
Updated on Jun 16, 2025, by Levana Chester-Londt:Assessingall the GoteiCaptains, rankedspecifically by their charm, is evidently subjective depending on personal preferences; however,while most fandoms bickerover their favorite characters, there seems to be a distinct geographical divide between Bleach supporters.
Certain character designs are highly celebrated by many Japanese viewers (such as Toshiro Hitsugaya and Jugram Haschwalt) whereas the Visored, for example, are often disregarded (yet greatly admired by the international audience). For a comprehensive evaluation, Shonen Jump’s officialBleach 2022 Popularity Pollwill be considered, in conjunction with opinions from the reddit/Bleach discussion pages (uThe_Biggest_Wheelandu/[deleted]) and the overall impression made by each of theBleach Captainsover the years.
14The Macho Man
Fulfilling more of a comic relief role than anything else, Tetsuzaemon Iba has not made a huge impression on fans over the years. Nevertheless, he has enough nerve to be compassionate towards Rukia during the Soul Society Arc and prioritizes battle tactics over senseless violence, always ensuring his Squad’s safety first and foremost.
The 7th Division Captain has a fondness for Rock-Paper-Scissors and sake (in no particular order) and appears to have a slightly chauvinistic side that is well suited tohis obnoxious sunglasses and new Johhny-Bavo-Esquehairstyle.
13The Sadist
Mayuri Kurotsuchi perfectly fulfills the mad scientist trope by completely disregarding morals and ethics, as his groundbreaking experimentation always takes top priority. While anyone who makes contact withMayuri has the potentialto become his next victim, poor Nemu is regularly the recipient of his harsh, vulgar treatment. However, because Mayuri literallymadehis artificial daughter, there is little she can do to resist. The 12th Division Captain regards the world as one big experiment, while everyone is a potential lab rat, which he can subsequently torture, maim, or kill for the sake of science.
On a positive note, Myuri is great at trolling, which is always amusing to watch, and his eclectic style adds some much-needed flair to the Gotei 13’s somber dress code. He is also one of the few brave enough to lecture the great Yamomoto and question his authoritarian decision-making, and is arguably the predominant reason why the Captain-Commander took the initiative to fight in the Quincy Blood War, instead of simply leading his lambs to the slaughter.
12The Femme Fatale
When it comes to Soi-Fon, there is not much of a gray area, as viewers either adore or despise the 2nd Division Captain. The fact that she constantly butts heads with the beloved Urahara does not help her position, and her bossy, authoritative persona can be annoying at times. That being said, many fans can’t get enough of this diverse character (particularly when coupled with the sultry Yoruichi!) ThisTsundere type has a sleek sexy stylethat fits perfectly with her ninja vibes (and Suzumebachi’s aesthetic). However, pretty doesn’t fix personality problems, and most believe Soi-Fon can’t back up her arrogance with the appropriate actions.
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Already fostering a bad reputation for her short temper, Soi Fon makes such a fool of herself after the Quincy’s first invasion in theThousand Year Blood War, that she has to be reprimanded by her fellow Captains. Overwhelmed with grief, frustration, and uncertainty, she lashes out at those around her (who are also mourning their losses) before isolating herself in training, instead of helping her subordinates like the others.
11The First “Fallacy”
The reputable Kensei Muguruma is a Visored (and the first Hollofication attempt) with ascore to settle with the Quincy,who was the 9th Captain before Aizen’s intervention and managed to swoop back in to claim his spot in the aftermath of the Fake Karakura Town Arc.
Muguruma takes his leadership position very seriously and has little patience for incompetence and juvenile delinquency but tends to often get surrounded by “idiots,” much to his dismay. Unlike many of the other Captains, this “Airbender” directs his energy towards improving Shūhei Hisagi’s skills instead of his own, opting to give his lieutenant a better fighting chance during the next major confrontation.
10The “Meager Worm”
Sajin Komamura is one of the most underrated characters inBleachand arguably receives the least amount of screentime amongst the Gotei 13 Captains (and even some subordinates). Despite appearances, Komamura is a big ol' softy at heart who is loyal (to a fault) and is gravely sorrowed by Tōsen’s betrayal.
Komamura’swolf-like physique matches his personality, as he can be both gentle and forgiving, but protective and vicious when he needs to be. The 7th Division Captain undergoes significant character development throughout the storyline, leaving a favorable impression on most viewers. Sajin Komamura has become a lot more interesting now that his lineage has been revealed, potentially accompanied by a never-before-seen set of magical capabilities from the Wolfman Clan.
9The Radiant Rose
This music-loving maestro is another Visored with a seat at the big table, however, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi’s presence is often overlooked as he falls to the sidelines. His unique character design is arguably the best thing about Rose, from the luscious blonde locks to the dapper tuxedo preference to his epic plague-mask-inspired Hollow ensemble.
Related:Bleach: Characters With The Coolest Designs
While the 3rd Division Captain’s melodic, golden, floralShikai could easily assimilateinto a Magic Girl narrative, his Bankai holds a much more formidable aura, which involves some spine-chilling dance numbers (due to go on full display sometime soon).Suave, sophisticated, and highly underrated; according tohis rather substantial fanbase, this rose deserves more time in the spotlight.
8The Underdog
Shinji Hirako arguably gains much of his fanbase because he is technically the official Visored representative who arguably holds the most authority (and screentime) out of his sub-species. Deemed a “mistake” due to Aizen’s unnatural intervention, the 5th Division Captain now sits at the top of most die-hard fans' favorite Visored list!
Shinji is a bit of a troublemaker with an extremely dry sense of humor, but hidden beneath all the tomfoolery is a perceptive mind capable of intimidating the “invincible” Aizen (his former lieutenant.) As usual, Shinji has been underutilized in theThousand Year Blood War’sfirst cours,as he seems to spend more time running around and thinking than anything else.
7The Elitist
Kuchiki Byakuya is about as arrogant as they come (which is a significant statement to make, considering his competition!) His overwhelming ego is accentuated by his Captain status which is emphasized even further by his royal bloodline, resulting in a prideful elitist jerk with minimal empathy for anyone (apart from his dearly departed Hisana). Even his own sister,Rukia, is no strangerto his abrasive personality, and Byakuya is willing to lead her like a lamb to the slaughter after she broke Shinigami protocol. The 6th Division Captain has a short temper and a long list of haters, but thankfully still manages to come to Ichigo’s aid after all is said and done.
He did, however, redeem himself somewhat in theThousand Year Blood Warby putting his own life (and Bankai) on the line to save Renji and Rukia. Furthermore, it was surely a hard pill to swallow for Byakuya to ask a human to save Seireitei, particularly considering his checkered history with Ichigo. It appears maintaining his pride and status is not the ultimate goal for this once smug Shinigami, after all.
6The Prodigy
While Toshirou Hitsugaya is a fan-favorite character from manyBleachfans, others find him to be arrogant, inflexible, and predictable, believing that he is allocated adisproportionate amount of screen timecompared to his relevance in the storyline. The 10th Division Captain is certainly an interesting character, being a child prodigy with a genius-level intellect and an overpowered zanpakuto, but he clearly knows it and acts accordingly.
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When Hitsugaya is not being melodramatic and grumpy, he is getting into silly arguments, usually with Matsumoto as the recipient (or rather, instigator). Nevertheless, when pushing personality traits aside, Hyōrinmaru’s epic ice powers are just socoolthat even the haters can’t help but swing some admiration Whitey’s way.
However, without his potent Bankai to rely on, Hitsugaya put his pride in his back pocket and humbly asks for help in re-learning the basics of swordsmanship. His bruised ego might not be a good look, however, it is truly admirable to watch a Gotei 13 Captain admit his faults and join the grind with the rest of the “unqualified” Shinigami.
5The Former Captain-Commander
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto’s biggest fault is his uncompromising, closeminded mentality that would rather follow the rules that allocate some well-deserved leeway. The Captain Commander has a great deal of responsibility on his shoulders, but that does not excuse his cold, clinical approach to everything, no matter the circumstances. Even thoughYamamoto has one of the strongest zanpakutoin creation, he rarely uses it, allowing his subordinates to struggle without him instead, collecting severe injuries as they go. He is, however, arguably the most important figure in Seireitei’s history, as the founder of the Gotei 13, who has protected countless lives for over a thousand years.
The flashbacks in theThousand Year Blood Warsimply prove that he has been a grouchy killjoy for many, many years and that his precious Gotei 13 were not always as admirable as they are today. His last stand was made a little late in the game, however, Seireitei lives to see another day thanks to Yamomoto stepping up to face Yhwach head-on (even if he is deceived by Royd Lloyd.) Watching the old man wield Zanka no Tachi in all its glory and seeing the other forms for the first time is a memorable experience indeed, even if it is short-lived.
