When Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War was announced, classic anime fans were ecstatic. The trailer of the final arc was so intense that it piqued the interest of new fans, too. So, here's a handy guide to all of Bleach's arcs to help new and old fans alike understand the story better.
We compiled all Bleach arcs in chronological order to help fans understand the world of Bleach and anticipate what awaits them in Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2!
All Bleach Arcs at a Glance
Here are all the arcs in Bleach listed in chronological order:
- Agent of the Shinigami Arc
- Soul Society Arc
- Arrancar Arc
- The Lost Substitute Shinigami Arc
- Thousand-Year Blood War Arc
Find out more about each arc below:
Agent of the Shinigami Arc
This arc introduced Ichigo Kurosaki, who could see spirits and ghosts. He bumped into Rukia Kuchiki, a member of the Soul Society, who hunts down monstrous ghosts called Hollows.
After Rukia saved Ichigo from an attack, she found herself transferring her abilities to Ichigo. This pushed Ichigo to do Rukia’s duties as part of the Soul Society.
Soul Society Arc
After what happened, Rukia was captured by Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai for transferring her powers to a mortal.
Of course, Ichigo would not let them execute Rukia, so he decided to save her. He underwent intense training to master his abilities, eventually turning him into a full-fledged Shinigami.
The arc tackled more about the Soul Society and the world that Ichigo has never thought existed.
Arrancar Arc
This was the longest arc that focused on the betrayal of Aizen. With this, the Hollows could obtain Shinigami powers, making them much harder to eliminate.
This arc helped Ichigo realize that he has a Hollow side and used this as an advantage to improve his abilities.
The Arrancar Arc also tested Ichigo’s intense training and skills as it required him to fight various opponents.
The Lost Substitute Shinigami Arc
As a result of the battles he fought during the Arrancar arc, Ichigo lost his powers for a year.
Just when he thought his life would be back to normal, he encountered Kugo Ginjo, who helped Ichigo regain his powers.
Ichigo was able to use Fullbring through his Shinigami powers, proving how powerful he has become throughout the series.
This arc is essential as it prepared Ichigo for the ultimate battle before Bleach ends.
Thousand-Year Blood War Arc
This final arc focused on how Ichigo and his friends fought against the Quincy army. The Quincy first invaded the Soul Society, triggering a war between the two parties.
Ichigo and the rest of the Shinigami were forced to protect their home and fight the Sternritter.
Throughout this arc, Ichigo learned about his and Soul Society’s past.
A lot of Bleach fans anticipated this arc as it contained a lot of fights, an intriguing plot, and touching moments between the characters.
It might be hard to admit, but this arc was the best way to end a hit series like Bleach.
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