Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5405361-20130408110659/@comment-8163713-20130413192732

IMO Zangetsu does not embody an element, it embodies a concept. It is either geared towards destruction ie. Returning everything to nothingness, or his power is simply being better and stronger and will be explained when Ichigo's assigned Quincy letter is revealed. Another interesting observation is that no 'melee type' Zanpaktou is strictly a melee type. The melee types tend to have animal themes, or they have a specific power that aids them in melee combat. Zangetsu is Ichigo himself and Ichigo is the son of a Hollowfied Quincy highborn and a Shinigami of Royal descent.