User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 611 - The Soul King Dies (edgy as ever, Kubo)/@comment-11446176-20141227015507/@comment-24963493-20141227104725

I can see where you're coming from, Rah, however I believe the Royal Guard are all individually stronger than any individual captain. They may not have been the strongest when they were ordinary Shinigami, but because they've lived and trained in the Soul King's Palace they've grown to be much stronger than everyone else.

That's the way I see it, anyway.