Introduction: :
The following is a set of 'rules' and guidelines for zanpakutos I determined from watching the show, reading the manga, and just generally having way too much free time.
From the anime and manga, there are only a few types of zanpakutos. Unohana mentions something like a 'ritual' zanpakuto in reference to Aizen's. (Quote: "What is the ritual?" "They must see the time of release of my shikai") We have seen Ice zanpakutos, and other elemental zanpakutos (The ONLY dual element known is due to a dual sword zanpakuto, Ukitake's). There have been others. It is from this information that I developed this guide.
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Key Zanpakuto Information:
When developing your zanpakuto always include the following information:
Name:
Inner Spirit Appearance:
Release Command:
Shikai Appearance:
Constant Release: y/n
In addition to this information, there is some optional (to post) attributes to every single zanpakuto:
Zanpakuto Type:
Zanpakuto Subtype:
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Zanpakuto Types and Subtypes:
What the hell are these?
All zanpakuto fall under four types. Combat, Kido, Form, and Elemental.
Generally:
Combat: direct attacks
Form: the zanpakuto's form change is the basis of its ability
Kido: The zanpakuto relies on a special ability
Elemental: the zanpakuto uses one kind of energy that manifests in a particular way.
All zanpakuto fall under one of three subtypes: Direct, ability, or ritual.
Direct: Simple. A direct ability or attack is the basis of the zanpakuto.
Ability: A little counterintuitive to some zanpakutos, the zanpakuto uses a triggered ability (as all do) that doesnt match it's base form. (complicated, see examples)
Ritual: When an external qualification is met, the zanpakuto ability may be used, or is triggered.
I will give examples to each type/subtype combination, directly from the manga. (since many anime zanpakutos are non-canon. However, I have yet to see one from the anime that does not fit this)
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Zanpakuto Examples:
Form and Combat Types:
Form and combat types are heavily intertwined, and can be considered two types of the same larger topic. That just got too complex to explain.
Combat zanpakutos rely on power and skill of their user. They are the most straightfoward of all zanpakuto generally. Combat are most often direct attacks, but can be 'ritual' based. Please note that rituals are not always external. Combat types are not limited to direct attacks (e.g., ichigos)
Combat Examples:
Combat Direct:
The most accepted of the 11th division. Examples include Ikkaku's splitting three section nunchaku. Its ability is to split. Another combat direct (Questionable from video game spoilers of possible other abilites) is Ichimaru Gin's shinshou, which has an extending blade.
Combat Ability: Not exactly an abilty per se when it comes to combat types, this simply means the combat zanpakuto has some ability that is tied into reiatsu. For instance, Renji can control his blades, once they have fallen apart, as well as extend them through his combat type zanpakuto. Another combat ability type is ichigo's. His ability is a ritual type that eats his reiatsu, and then expells its power all at once.
Combat Ritual:
There are no combat ritual zanpakuto to date, canonically. However, in our rp, Neahonn, the npc, had a combat type zanpakuto, that, upon piercing a person, would release tendrils of wires into their body. This is an example of a ritual. When one external qualification is met, the zanpakuto's ability triggers.
Form zanpakuto change the form of the sword into something else entirely. The abilities are most often tied into the form. Currently, this appears to be the least common zanpakuto, but fairly common among upper eschelons of the Gotei.
FormExamples:
Form Direct:
The form of the zanpakuto changes, and is used for direct attack. Examples include Matsumoto's ash, Byakuya's Senbonzakura's countless blades, the former fourth seat of the 7th division (Jidanbo's brother) (blades flying in the air, user demolished by ishida).
Form Ability: The form has an ability within it that doesnt directly relate to its form. Unohana is the best example of this, with a flying beast that can heal things within its mouth.
Form Ritual: Again, like the combat ritual, theres no direct evidence of one in soul society. This one just doesn't make sesse.
Kido and ElementalTypes:
Kido and elemental both use energy, though very differently. That way, they can be classed together to some extent. They involve lots of energy based attacks, which occur in a myriad of ways. Mystical freaks.
Kido types rely on their special ability almost entirely to attack
Kido Examples:
Kido Direct:
Similar to combat ability zanks, these are generally kido effect firing zanpakuto. Tobiume (Hinamori's zanpakuto) fires pink blasts that leave massive holes in buildings. Perfect example. Mayuri's may fall under this category as well. His zanpakuto changes into a form that allows him to administer poisons it prepares itself. The varied composition of the poison is an ability that it relies on, throwing it in this category.
Kido Ability: Wierder than a direct ability, these are more akin to cause and effect zanpakutos. In short, the kido ability of the zanpakuto has a secondary effect. Yumichika uses this type of zanpakuto. It relies on its special ability. He shoots out tendril vines, and as the flowers bloom, it sucks out energy. This is close to a kido ritual. Another example is Kira's wieght increasing zanpakuto. As he attacks, the ability of doubling weight is activated.
Kido Ritual:
Kido rituals, unlike others, have a noticeable cause and effect. Rituals for some abilites can involve drawn patterns, or crazy things. "When it basks in the blood of an enemy, twice, it grows".
Examples:
Soi fong's first attack leaves a pattern on the enemy. If she strikes this a second time, that person dies.
Aizen's illusions require the person to see the moment of release of his zanpakuto.
Kido ability zanpakutos and kido ritual slightly spill over onto each other due to the cause/effect nature of some kido zanpakutos, such as Kira's. (neccecitates contact)
Elemental zanpakuto utilize a particular type of energy. Some kido zanpakuto seem to come into this area, such as urahara's, so they are grouped together. Generally, these are named because they use a specific classical element, such as fire. However, these arent restricted to these. Most elemental zanpakutos emerge themselves in a specific form, such as hitsugaya's dragon, or Rukia's Circles.
The only zanpakuto that has two elements is Ukitake's which is a dual nature zanpakuto. These are not allowed in our rp. (only two exist in all of soul society)
Elemental Examples:
Elemental Direct:
Uses an element to directly attack. We haven't really seen a type of this, but an example could be an elemental type zanpakuto who's only ability is to coat the blade. It's quite possible the Soukyoku was one of these.
Elemental Ability: Most common elemental form. Uses the element in a myriad of ways. Hitsugaya's ice dragon that freezes all it touches, and all the spillover touches. Yamamoto's fire walls, and blasts. Urahara's bloodmist shield and blasts (possibly a kido type, classified here due to the fact that he uses this particularly defined energy)
Elemental Ritual:
Not a ritual per se, here. the elemental attacks come out due to a specific trigger or nature. The only example thusfar seems to be Rukia, which seems to neccesitate a circle of some forth for the freezing to occur. She draws it on the ground, or on the air, and then the location freezes. (the blade itself is used as the circle for her third dance).
Theme Zanpakutos:
These are fairly rare zanpakutos. Tousen's is a sample of this. While all zanpakutos have a constant theme from release to bankai (even soi fongs with a stretch of the imagination), some zanpakutos, specifically strange ability types, don't fall within a normal category. Shunsui's kido type of games, is a sample, as is Tousens kido/ability type of 'cricket'. These are fun.
As a whole, with the exception of Tosen, (the graverobbing bastard) zanpakuto have one basic ability in their shikai, and multiple effects or attacks associated with its power. E.g., rukia. A few attacks related to its power can end up being very varied, such as Renji's ability to control zabimaru's blades after it has been destroyed. So far, this fits every zanpakuto to come in, though a few abilites revealed in video games change some zanpakuto to another type. (specifically, ichimaru gin's, which would become a form type)
Final note: on bankais
Bankais are an expansion of power, with the exception of Ichigo, who's ability to take in all of his power is expanded, thus making a condensed form. (cookie to me for making it make sense!) However, the shape, type, and so forth seems to have no rhyme or reason between bankais that we have seen. Somehow, it is an expansion of the ability, coupled with aspects of the inner spirit or power, in some shape or form. More than that, go nuts. Theres nothing guidelining bankais, because Kito Tibe invented them to make things more hax.