User blog comment:YamiYang/The Vasto Lordes Question/@comment-44061-20111121031718

There's alot of inaccurate assumptions and misinformation in this post. Besides as Godisme stated UNMASKED has confirmed that most of the Espasda are originally Vasto lorde-class hollows. I will start by by paragraph clearing these inaccuracies up.

1.) Aaroniero specifically states that he is the only gillian-class hollow to become an arrancar and arise to the rank of an espada entirely based on his ability to absorb the power of other hollows. This follows what was determined in MASKED, how the determination of rank and admittance into Espada is determined by power. It therefore was very much the case that being a vasto lorde, guarantee's a position as its the most powerful hollow. 2.) Histugaya's explanation is based on research and not on personal experience. Similar to Rukia having never faced a gillian-class menos, having read about them only in books. While a vasto-lorde in general was supposed to be more powerful then an average captain, it depends on what you classify as average, as shown most captains had no problem handling an arrancar, very likely of vasto lorde level. 2a.) A vasto-lorde is roughly the size of a human. This has nothing to really do with the released form of a an arrancar, but with the form that the arrancar was originally as a hollow. In any case most besides Yammy and Aaroniero fit the criteria if we were to go by their arrancar released forms. 3.) The combat capabilities of a vasto lorde are above the captains. This as shown is largely inaccurate on numerous cases. Using Grimmjow's fight with Ichigo isnt a good example. Ichigo's powers fluctuate so much and the fact that he is not capable of using them to their full effectiveness is another factor. It says more about the lack of capability on Grimmjow rather then on Ichigo's capability. Ichigo is only more powerful in instances were he needs to progress its not consistent and he is never shown capable in that regard against the same opponent more then once. Both battles with captains were draws with the captains only because they gave him the win. Also no one would ever agree on calling Byakuya average, he is one of the most powerful captains. Ichigo's inner hollow wasn't even a deciding factor in the battle. 4.) Hitsugaya was also confirmed as beyond average. His power is determined by his youth. But decidedly he had dominated harribel before wonderweiss's arrival. Her control over water was going to stand up to his ability to control the weather. This seems forgotten by you as if she had a chance at that point. Baraggan's powers over time were the factor in his fight, no one essentially is capable of fighting against time, his power is used against him in that same respect. That holds no bearing of the power level of anyone that would fight him. Also Starrk had no chance against Shunsui, you contridict yourself by acknowledging that and then placing interruptions that had minor effect on the actual outcome of the fight. Starrk acknowledged possible defeat more then once during his entire fight.

Who is a vasto lorde is never stated specifically except 1-4, based on UNMASKED most are in fact vasto lorde, what it comes down to is that vasto lorde arent all they are cracked up to be and decidedly when it came down to it they all with harribel as an exception were killed off by their opponents.