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The Best Episodes of Bleach

Every episode of Bleach ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Bleach!

Binge this in 6d 19h•Peaking at 9.1/10

For as long as he can remember, Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts. But when he meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who battles evil spirits known as Hollows, he finds his life is

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Bleach Season 2 Episode 45 - DEFEND YOU
    9.1/10(15 votes)

    #1 - DEFEND YOU

    S2:E45

    Confronting Yhwach, Ichigo awakens the power of the Hollow deep within, becoming Demi-Hollowfied.

    Director:Tomohisa Taguchi
    Writer:Masaki Hiramatsu

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  2. Bleach Season 1 Episode 271 - Ichigo Dies! Orihime, the Cry of Sorrow!
    9.0/10(11 votes)

    #2 - Ichigo Dies! Orihime, the Cry of Sorrow!

    S1:E271

    As Ichigo Kurosaki's Hollow form completely takes him over, he begins battling Ulquiorra Cifer again.

    Director:Yasuto Nishikata
    Writer:Masahiro Okubo

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  3. Bleach Season 1 Episode 309 - Fierce Fighting Conclusion! Release, the Final Getsuga Tenshō!
    9.0/10(10 votes)

    #3 - Fierce Fighting Conclusion! Release, the Final Getsuga Tenshō!

    S1:E309

    Ichigo Kurosaki uses the Final Getsuga Tenshō against Sōsuke Aizen.

    Director:Yoshifumi Sueda
    Writer:Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

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  4. Bleach Season 1 Episode 263 - Imprisonment?! Senbonzakura & Zabimaru
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #4 - Imprisonment?! Senbonzakura & Zabimaru

    S1:E263

    Zabimaru and Senbonzakura are trapped in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.

    Director:Yasuto Nishikata
    Writer:Masahiro Okubo

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  5. Bleach Season 1 Episode 293 - Hitsugaya, Enraged! Blade of Hatred!
    8.7/10(9 votes)

    #5 - Hitsugaya, Enraged! Blade of Hatred!

    S1:E293

    The Shinigami and Visored, attacking Sōsuke Aizen, are unable to defeat the treacherous captain.

    Directors:Noriyuki Abe, Kazuo Nogami
    Writer:Kenta Shimoyama

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  6. Bleach Season 1 Episode 294 - Impossible to Attack? The Sealed Genryūsai!
    8.7/10(9 votes)

    #6 - Impossible to Attack? The Sealed Genryūsai!

    S1:E294

    Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto joins the battle against Sōsuke Aizen, only for his Zanpakutō's abilities to be sealed by Wonderweiss Margela.

    Directors:Noriyuki Abe, Mitsue Yamasaki
    Writer:Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Bleach

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  7. Bleach Season 1 Episode 54 - An Accomplished Oath! Get back Rukia!
    8.6/10(11 votes)

    #7 - An Accomplished Oath! Get back Rukia!

    S1:E54

    Rukia Kuchiki's execution ceremony commences, but does not proceed as planned.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno
    Writer:Rika Nakase

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  8. Bleach Season 1 Episode 270 - Beginning of Despair... Ichigo, the Unreachable Blade
    8.6/10(9 votes)

    #8 - Beginning of Despair... Ichigo, the Unreachable Blade

    S1:E270

    Ichigo Kurosaki greatly struggles with Ulquiorra Cifer in his released form and to further drive it in, Ulquiorra shows Ichigo his second release.

    Directors:Noriyuki Abe, Yoshifumi Sueda
    Writer:Masahiro Okubo

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  9. Bleach Season 1 Episode 308 - Goodbye...Rangiku
    8.6/10(10 votes)

    #9 - Goodbye...Rangiku

    S1:E308

    Ichigo Kurosaki emerges from his training and forces Sōsuke Aizen into battle away from Karakura Town.

    Director:Junya Koshida
    Writer:Kento Shimoyama

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  10. Bleach Season 1 Episode 366 - Changing History, Unchanging Heart
    8.6/10(10 votes)

    #10 - Changing History, Unchanging Heart

    S1:E366

    Ichigo Kurosaki and Ginjo Kugo both release their Bankai to settle the score.

    Directors:Noriyuki Abe, Yasuto Nishikata
    Writer:Kento Shimoyama

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  11. Bleach Season 1 Episode 59 - Conclusion of the Death Match! White Pride and Black Desire
    8.5/10(11 votes)

    #11 - Conclusion of the Death Match! White Pride and Black Desire

    S1:E59

    Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's battle reaches its conclusion.

    Director:Junya Koshida
    Writer:Masashi Sogo

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  12. Bleach Season 1 Episode 272 - Ichigo vs. Ulquiorra, Conclusion!
    8.5/10(8 votes)

    #12 - Ichigo vs. Ulquiorra, Conclusion!

    S1:E272

    Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra Cifer conclude their battle.

    Directors:Noriyuki Abe, Kazunobu Shimizu
    Writer:Kenta Shimoyama

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  13. Bleach Season 1 Episode 61 - Aizen Stands! Horrible Ambitions
    8.4/10(11 votes)

    #13 - Aizen Stands! Horrible Ambitions

    S1:E61

    4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu informs the Gotei 13 that Sōsuke Aizen is alive as the latter reveals his machinations.

    Director:Akira Shimizu
    Writer:Masahiro Okubo

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  14. Bleach Season 1 Episode 62 - Gather Together! Group of the Strongest Shinigami!
    8.4/10(11 votes)

    #14 - Gather Together! Group of the Strongest Shinigami!

    S1:E62

    5th Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen removes the Hōgyoku from Rukia Kuchiki's Soul and retreats to Hueco Mundo.

    Director:Hodaka Kuramoto
    Writer:Masashi Sogo

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  15. Bleach Season 1 Episode 166 - Desperate Effort vs. Desperate Effort! Hollowfied Ichigo
    8.4/10(9 votes)

    #15 - Desperate Effort vs. Desperate Effort! Hollowfied Ichigo

    S1:E166

    As Ichigo Kurosaki continues his battle with Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Orihime Inoue struggles dealing with Ichigo's Hollowfication form.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno
    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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  16. Bleach Season 1 Episode 358 - Clash!? Xcution attacks Ginjō
    8.4/10(8 votes)

    #16 - Clash!? Xcution attacks Ginjō

    S1:E358

    Uryū leaves the hospital to investigate a Reiatsu that is appearing everywhere. Ichigo's friends and family, as well as the members of Xcution except for Ginjō, have been cut by Tsukishima.

    Director:Yasuto Nishikata
    Writer:Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

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  17. Bleach Season 1 Episode 361 - A New Appearance! The Gotei 13, Arrives!
    8.4/10(9 votes)

    #17 - A New Appearance! The Gotei 13, Arrives!

    S1:E361

    Stripped of his Fullbring, the powerless Ichigo Kurosaki is stabbed by Rukia Kuchiki and has his Shinigami powers returned to him.

    Director:Tadahito Matsubayashi
    Writer:Kenta Shimoyama

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  18. Bleach Season 1 Episode 362 - Revival! Substitute Shinigami: Ichigo Kurosaki!
    8.4/10(8 votes)

    #18 - Revival! Substitute Shinigami: Ichigo Kurosaki!

    S1:E362

    The 13 Court Guard Squad Soul Reapers share their Spirit Energy to restore Ichigo Kurosaki’s lost powers.

    Director:Mitsutaka Noshitani
    Writer:Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

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  19. Bleach Season 2 Episode 7 - Born in the Dark
    8.4/10(23 votes)

    #19 - Born in the Dark

    S2:E7

    Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto learns that the Yhwach he defeated was an impostor. The real Yhwach then reveals himself and easily kills Genryusai, sending a wave of shock and devastation across the Soul Reapers.

    Director:Shinichirou Ueda
    Writer:Masaki Hiramatsu

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  20. Bleach Season 1 Episode 3 - The Older Brother's Wish, the Younger Sister's Wish
    8.3/10(23 votes)

    #20 - The Older Brother's Wish, the Younger Sister's Wish

    S1:E3

    When a Hollowfied Sora Inoue attacks his younger sister, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki set out to save her.

    Director:Shigeki Hatakeyama
    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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  21. Bleach Season 1 Episode 17 - Ichigo Dies!
    8.3/10(16 votes)

    #21 - Ichigo Dies!

    S1:E17

    Ichigo Kurosaki loses his Shinigami powers and Rukia Kuchiki is taken back to Soul Society.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno
    Writer:Rika Nakase

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  22. Bleach Season 1 Episode 19 - Ichigo Becomes a Hollow!
    8.3/10(16 votes)

    #22 - Ichigo Becomes a Hollow!

    S1:E19

    Kisuke Urahara helps Ichigo Kurosaki regain his Shinigami powers.

    Director:Takushi Kimura
    Writer:Genki Yoshimura

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  23. Bleach Season 1 Episode 39 - The Immortal Man
    8.3/10(12 votes)

    #23 - The Immortal Man

    S1:E39

    After learning to access the power of Zangetsu in addition to his own, Ichigo Kurosaki concludes his battle with 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.

    Director:Noriyuki Abe
    Writer:Rika Nakase

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  24. Bleach Season 1 Episode 219 - Hisagi's Shikai! The Name is...
    8.3/10(9 votes)

    #24 - Hisagi's Shikai! The Name is...

    S1:E219

    Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi and Findorr Calius battle each other.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno
    Writer:Genki Yoshimura

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  25. Bleach Season 1 Episode 259 - Terror! The Monster That Lurks Underground
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #25 - Terror! The Monster That Lurks Underground

    S1:E259

    A group of Shinigami must go into the sewers to fight a Tōjū. They are aided by a Zanpakutō Spirit who has been living in the sewers.

    Director:Hodaka Kuramoto
    Writer:Masahiro Okubo

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Best Episodes Summary

"DEFEND YOU" is the best rated episode of "Bleach". It scored 9.1/10 based on 15 votes. Directed by Tomohisa Taguchi and written by Masaki Hiramatsu, it aired on 8/22/2026. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ichigo Dies! Orihime, the Cry of Sorrow!".