Summary
Bleachwill go down as one of the greatest anime of all time. At one point,Bleachstood among the top three manga in the world alongsideOne PieceandNaruto. With the recent release of theThousand Year Blood War,Bleachhas seen a resurgence in popularity and the final arc of the series ties up loose ends. All of the characters that fans have come to know and love get a chance to shine as Ichigo Kurosaki and theGotei 13face off against the Wonder Reich.
The strength of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads is the pillar of which the entire Soul Society is made, and the separate divisions possess some of the strongest warriors in all ofBleach. Each squad is separated by a ranking system, starting with the captain, then lieutenants, and into seated members. Lieutenants are the second in command in the thirteen squads and serve their captains to the best of their ability without fail. Lieutenants work twice as hard to relieve their captains of the pressures of day-to-day responsibilities and try to measure up to them in skill and strength.
Updated Jul 28, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:Bleach is one of the most popular shonen anime of all time, and fans who saw the Soul Society arc understood why this manga had such a huge and devoted fanbase.
The structure of the Gotei 13 is something that a lot of fans love to dissect, with the many changes and a wealth of powerful shinigami keeping things fresh and interesting. However, while it’s true the captains are the most powerful members of the squad with a wealth of powerful techniques, the lieutenants serving under themdeserve their time in the spotlight too.
1Genshiro Okikiba
Co-Lieutenant Of The 1st Division
Unfortunately, a lot of it hasn’t been seen in the series, and fans have just received glimpses. If there’s one thing viewers can’t deny, it’s that Okikabe has shown amazing reserves of spiritual strength that make him capable enough to take out a wealth of strong Hollows by displaying his skills.
2Atau Rindo
Lieutenant Of The 7th Division
GivenBleach’s immense popularity, it’s easy to see why people were interested in checking outNO BREATHES FROM HELL, a new chapter set twelve years after the main narrative of the series was wrapped up. One of the new characters introduced here is Atau Rindo, who is revealed to be the Lieutenant of the 7th Division.
His Zanpakuto can turn into hawks, which is great for swarming enemies and overwhelming them with a series of sharp and painful attacks. It’s a unique way to use his Shikai, even if fans don’t see a lot of his other powers.
3Nanao Ise
Co-Lieutenant Of The 1st Division, Former Lieutenant Of The 8th Division
It takes a special show of brilliance to ascend the ranks and become a lieutenant in one of the most powerful divisions in the entire series. While Nanao’s powers are more protective and relegate her to a support role in most instances, that shouldn’t take away anything from the power she wields as a Shinigami.
Her powerful Kido coupled with some impressive Shunpo skills make her a force to be reckoned with. In fact, she’s the only shinigami to break into the ranks using Kido alone, creating unique spells like Hakudan Keppeki that are incredibly effective against the mortal enemy of shinigami, the Quincy.
4Isane Kotetsu
Former Lieutenant Of The 4th Division
Isane is a devout and loyal compatriot belonging to the fourth court squad, which is known for its healing duties to the rest of the Soul Society. Isane was second in command for Retsu Unohana, the former captain of squad eleven, making her more than capable in a fight skilled in swordsmanship and Kido.
Unfortunately, she has had little opportunity to show her fighting capability. Hopefully, as Bleach’s story continues, more light is shed on her fighting prowess and the ability of her Zanpakuto. While the medic corps in the Soul Society do not regularly see the front lines, there is no telling how chaotic the Soul Society may become in the absence of Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
5Rangiku Matsumoto
Lieutenant Of The 10th Division
Rangiku comes off as not the brightest bulb in the box, especially during the early days ofBleach, due to her ditzy personality and irresponsible behavior. However, Rangiku is a dedicated Soul Reaper who can more than take care of herself in a fight, having faced numerous hollows and even taken on Arrancar during their invasion of the world of the living.
Unfortunately, Rangiku’s attitude is what holds her back from ascending the ranks in addition to her mental health after the loss of Gin Ichimaru after the final battle against Aizen. Due to this, Rangiku may not focus on conflict any longer.
6Momo Hinamori
Lieutenant Of The 5th Division
Hinamori has possibly the most treacherous history in the Soul Society, not just as a lieutenant of the thirteen court squads. Originally belonging to Sauske Aizen’s squad, Hinomori was devastated after his betrayal.
However, she stayed strong and fought hard to appear on the front lines during the fight againstthe Espada. Even after receiving a near-fatal wound, Hinamori has found her resolve and returned to active duty. Hopefully, in the future stories thatBleachstill has to tell, Hinamori will get more time to shine alongside the next generation of Soul Reapers as shown in theBleachone-shot.
7Marechiyo Omaeda
Lieutenant Of The 2nd Division
Omaeda reports directly to Captain Sui Feng as her Lieutenant and the Corp Commander who oversees the Soul Society’s patrol squad. Omeada is usually not taken too seriously as he has an arrogant and macho attitude that rubs others the wrong way.
Omaeda is a stout and heavy-set man who seems to possess a fair amount of fighting ability. Unfortunately, on almost every occasion, Omaeda is seen being defeated, many of these occasions by Sui Feng herself. Omeada’s Zanpakuto is also a mystery as every time we see it used, it is destroyed by his opponent, leaving many scratching their head at how he became a Lieutenant.
8Izuru Kira
Lieutenant Of The 3rd Division
Kira served as the second in command of Gin Ichimaru, one of the most dangerous captains inthe Gotei 13. When Gin betrayed the Soul Society and joined Aizen, Kira was left with heavy emotional damage. However, Kira worked through his feelings during the final battle against Aizen, and after, when it was revealed that Gin betrayed Aizen and tried to take him down from the inside.
As a fighter, Kira is an expert swordsman with excellent tactical prowess. In the Wonder Reich arc, Kira is among those instantly incapacitated but rises back after fixing his body to withstand his grievous injuries. Kira demonstrates indomitable focus and willpower, making him a feared opponent if underestimated. With the second part ofBleach: Thousand Year Bloow Warbeing released, fans will get a chance to see a side of Izuru they’ve never seen before.
9Shuhei Hisagi
Co-Lieutenant Of The 9th Division
Shuhei Hisagi was another member of the thirteen court squads devastated by the events of Aizen’s betrayal. Serving as the Lieutenant of Captain Tosen, Hiagi trained and fought rigorously to make it back to his former teacher and confront him for his crimes.
Hisagi is one of the more powerful Lieutenants whose skill in combat is pristine, proven when he aided Captain Komamura in facing off against a Vizored Tosen. While Hisagi still had much to learn, he was able to stand on equal ground against his former captain and come out victorious
10Mashiro Kuna
Mashiro Kuna was a member of the Visored under Shinji Hirako. She escaped Soul Society afterSasuke Aizen’s Trickerywhich turned her and her comrades into outcasts and criminals. Among the Visored, Mashiro is one of the most energetic and the most powerful. Mashiro’s abilities focus on hand-to-hand combat, where she can dish out incredibly damaging punches and kicks.
When the Visored appeared on the battlefield to aid in the fight against Aizen, Mashiro faced off against Wonderweiss, an Espada especially made to defeat Genryusai Yamamoto. Mashiro exchanged multiple blows with the Espada and seemed to be holding her own admirably, able to wound Wonderweiss with various attacks.
