What is the Espada
Espada (Japanese: 十刃, Esupada; Spanish: "sword", Japanese: "ten blades") — the elite of Sosuke Aizen's army. These are the ten strongest arrancars — hollows that gained shinigami powers. In terms of power, each of them is comparable to a Gotei 13 captain.
The Espada base is Las Noches fortress in Hueco Mundo. Under their command are the Numeros, the Exequias, and their personal factions.
Aizen treats the Espada as valuable but expendable tools: he calmly sends them on dangerous missions and does not mourn their deaths.
Hierarchy and numbers
Each Espada wears a tattoo with a number on a certain part of the body. The lower the number, the higher the spiritual power (reiatsu).
Number | Meaning |
|---|---|
1-9 | From strongest to weakest |
10 | Weakest (before release) |
0 | Special case: Yammy Rialgo after release |
An Espada can be demoted in rank if it loses a body part or ceases to be useful. Thus, Grimmjow lost his place after losing an arm, but later regained it by killing his replacement — Luppi Antenor.
Aspects of death
Each Espada embodies one of the ten forms of death (死の形, shi no katachi) — causes of human demise. This aspect determines his character, ideology, and abilities.
№ | Name | Aspect of death |
|---|---|---|
0/10 | Anger | |
1 | Loneliness | |
2 | Aging | |
3 | Self-sacrifice | |
4 | Emptiness (nihilism) | |
5 | Despair | |
6 | Destruction | |
7 | Intoxication (ecstasy) | |
8 | Madness | |
9 | Greed |
All members of the Espada
№ | Name | Zanpakuto | Tattoo | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
0/10 | Yammy Rialgo | Ira (Wrath) | Left shoulder | Died in battle |
1 | Coyote Starrk | Los Lobos (Wolves) | Back of the left palm | Died |
2 | Barragan Luisenbarn | Arrogante (Arrogant) | Unknown | Died from his own power |
3 | Tia Harribel | Tiburón (Shark) | Left side of the chest | Survived, rules Hueco Mundo |
4 | Ulquiorra Cifer | Murciélago (Bat) | Left breast | Died, but gained a "heart" |
5 | Nnoitra Gilga | Santa Teresa (Praying mantis) | Tongue | Died |
6 | Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez | Panther | Right side of the lower back | Survived |
7 | Zommari Rureaux | Brujería (Witchcraft) | Unknown | Died |
8 | Szayelaporro Granz | Fornicarás (You shall fornicate) | Unknown | Died |
9 | Aroniro Arurueri | Glotonería (Gluttony) | Head | Died |
Coyote Starrk (1st)
The aspect of death is loneliness. Starrk was so strong as an empty that his presence killed the weak empties around him. Unable to bear the isolation, he split himself into two parts: Starrk and Lillinette Gingerbuck. He does not like to fight and seeks comrades in battle, but his laziness is deceptive: Starrk is one of the strongest Espada.
Zanpakutō Los Lobos (Spanish: "Wolves") — upon release gives revolvers that fire clumps of spiritual energy (Cero), and a pack of wolf-projectiles. Died in battle against the Gotei 13 captains.
Barragan Luisenbarn (2nd)
Aspect of death — aging. Former king of Hueco Mundo, who submitted to Aizen. Considers aging inevitable for all living things. His abilities: Senescencia slows time around, and Respira instantly ages and destroys everything it touches.
Zanpakutō Arrogante (Sp. "Arrogant"). Died when his own power was reflected back into him.
Tia Halibel (3rd)
Aspect of death — sacrifice. Believes that sacrifices are inevitable, but senseless bloodshed has no value. Unlike many Espada, values teamwork and does not abandon allies.
Zanpakutō Tiberon (Sp. "Shark") — grants control over water: currents, waves, boiling water. The only one of the higher Espada to survive. After the war became the ruler of Hueco Mundo.
Ulquiorra Schiffer (4th)
Aspect of death — emptiness (nihilism). Did not believe in feelings, emotions, and the "heart," considering them an illusion. Saw the world only through physical perception.
Zanpakutō Murciélago (Spanish for "Bat") — turns him into a winged fighter. It has a second release form, Resurrección Segunda Etapa, which even Aizen did not know about. He died in battle with Ichigo Kurosaki, but before his death he finally understood what a "heart" is.
Nnoitra Gilga (5th)
Aspect of death — despair. A cruel sadist who sees the purpose of existence in endless battle and does not believe in salvation. Deliberately seeks death in battle.
Zanpakutō Santa Teresa (Spanish: "Praying Mantis") — grants additional scythe-arms and a giant weapon. Died in battle with Kenpachi Zaraki.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (6th)
Aspect of death — destruction. Obsessed with battle and destruction, but unlike Nnoitra, does not seek death, but strives for victory. Main rival of Ichigo Kurosaki.
Zanpakutō Pantera (Spanish: "Panther") — enhances speed and strength and grants cat claws. Survived the war, helped Ichigo against the Vandenreich in order to fight him again someday.
Zommari Rureaux (7th)
Aspect of death — intoxication (ecstasy). Fanatically devoted to Aizen and considers submission to his will the highest form of existence.
Zanpakutō Brujería (Spanish: "Sorcery") — after release, it gives many eyes all over the body. Ability Amor — seizing control over an object or part of the enemy's body with a glance. Died in battle with Byakuya Kuchiki.
Zaelaporro Grants (8th)
Aspect of death — madness. A mad scientist, sadist and egocentric who takes pleasure in psychological and physical torture.
Zanpakutō Fornicaras (Spanish: "You will fornicate") — allows creating doll-copies of the enemy, breaking his organs and absorbing energy. Has its own "palace" in Las Noches with a secret laboratory. Died from Mayuri Kurotsuchi's poison.
Aaroniero Arruruerie (9th)
Aspect of death — greed. Absorbs other Hollows and takes their abilities. By the time of the battle with Rukia, he had absorbed 33,650 Hollows.
Zanpakutō Glotonería (Spanish: "Gluttony") — allows him to absorb Hollows and use their powers. The only Espada from a Gillian, not from a Vasto Lorde. Died in battle with Rukia Kuchiki.
Yammy Llargo (0/10th)
Aspect of death — wrath. A huge and crude Arrancar who easily flies into a rage, especially when the opponent turns out to be stronger. The stronger the rage, the higher the combat power.
Zanpakutō Ira (Spanish: "Wrath") — after release, transforms him into a giant monster, and the number changes from 10 to 0. Died in battle with the Gotei 13 captains.
Former Espada members
Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck — former 3rd Espada. Aspect of death — sacrifice (the same as Tia's). Betrayed by Nnoitra, lost her memory and became a child. Regained her adult form and fought on Ichigo's side.
Luppi Antenor — temporarily held the position of 6th Espada after Grimmjow lost his arm. Aspect — destruction. Killed by Grimmjow when he regained his rank.
Privaron Espada
Privaron Espada (Japanese: 十刃落ち, Puribaron Esupāda; Spanish: "Deprived of the sword", Japanese: "Excluded from the ten blades") — former members of the Espada who lost their rank. They receive three-digit numbers and live in the Tres Cifras zone. Weaker than the active Espada, but stronger than ordinary Numeros.
Number | Name | Zanpakuto |
|---|---|---|
103 | Giralda | |
105 | Golondrina | |
107 | Gantenbainne Mosqueda | Dragra |
Ryogo Narita's novels also feature Cien Granz (100th) and Pikaro (102nd).
Fate after the war
After Aizen's defeat, most of the Espada died. Of the survivors:
Tia Harribel became the ruler of Hueco Mundo.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez continued to fight and helped Ichigo.
Nelliel Tu Oderschvank regained her strength and fought on Ichigo's side.
Who is the strongest Espada?
Formally — the 1st, Coyote Starrk, but after Yammy's release he becomes the 0th. In terms of combat performance, among the strongest are also Ulquiorra (thanks to his second form) and Barragan with his aging ability.