Bleach: Is Yachiru Unohana a better swordsman than Mihawk from One Piece? Explored

Modified Jul 26, 2024 18:46 GMT

Bleach: Is Yachiru Unohana a better swordsman than Mihawk from One Piece? Explored (Image via Toei Animation & Studio Pierrot) — Bleach: Is Yachiru Unohana a better swordsman than Mihawk from One Piece? Explored (Image via Studio Pierrot and Toei Animation)

Bleach and One Piece are two of the strongest animeverses in which the strongest warriors fight against each other. The former verse is more centered around sword lore, while the latter is about devil fruits and the power of Haki. Even though One Piece also has a considerable amount of sword lore, it is nowhere near the same level as Bleach in that regard.

Out of these two worlds, two of the strongest people who wield a sword are Yachiru Unohana and Dracule Mihawk. However, which one of these two swordsmen is stronger?

While the potential of Dracule Mihawk is still in the shadows, Yachiru Unohana is of a much higher caliber, and considering how the majority of her past was spent with the sword, she wins by a long shot.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this article solely belong to the author.

Bleach vs. One Piece: Exploring how Unohana is a better swordsman than Dracule Mihawk

Unohana as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Retsu Unohana, more commonly referred to as Yachiru Unohana, was the former captain of the Eleventh Division and later the captain of the Fourth Division of the Soul Society in Bleach. She is also one of the oldest members of the Soul Society and the first to earn the title of "Kenpachi."

She spent her childhood training with her sword and this was also the time when Yamamoto, the Commander of the Soul Society, recruited her. She was the strongest healer of the Soul Society but her swordsmanship was also as exceptional.

Her main weapon of combat, just like every other member of the Soul Society, was her Zanpakuto, Minazuki. This Zanpakuto is one of the most diverse forms of a sword in the series as after its Shinkai was released, it became a mantra ray capable of flying and transporting others.

However, her Bankai is in another league. Minazuki's Bankai, the same name as the Zanpakuto, was released against Zaraki when these two fought against each other. This move allowed her to heal her injuries quickly and also hold down her opponent with swords made from her blood. Unfortunately, she met her end during this fight as she lost to the new Kenpachi of the Soul Society.

Mihawk as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Dracule Mihawk is a former warlord and one of the current leaders of the anti-Marine group, the Cross Guild, in One Piece. Mihawk is also titled the strongest swordsman of the Grand Line, which became evident after his fight against Roronoa Zoro during the 'Baratie arc.'

Formerly known as the Marine Hunter, Mihawk was one of the most formidable pirates of the Grand Line. Although much wasn't revealed about his past, he had a strong rivalry against Shanks when he was a pirate.

Mihawk possessed the Supreme Grade Meito sword, Yoru. Just like its wielder, Yoru's potential is also a mystery as the swordsman hasn't been showcased while using his sword other than cutting through ships and icebergs. On the other hand, Kogatana, Mihawk's small sword, which he keeps around his neck as a necklace, has a lot of potential as it was able to beat Zoro pretty easily.

The unexplored potential of this One Piece swordsman does put him at a disadvantage because not everything can be settled with "he has unexplored potential." Moreover, his potential is also hyped by the fandom due to his mysterious demeanor.

So, from the current standing of each character, Unohana from Bleach could be considered a better swordsman than the strongest one from One Piece. The reason behind this is simple — she has an arsenal of strong techniques accompanied by her self-healing Bankai.

As Mihawk doesn't have much to offer yet, Unohana could best him in a swordplay fight. Moreover, Bleach is an anime entirely centered around swordplay, which gives Unohana an extra plus point in battle.

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Edited by Meenakshi Ajith