Sternritter

The are a specific group of powerful Quincy in the Wandenreich's army, who play a pivotal role in the invasion of Soul Society, being tasked with purging the Shinigami.

Organization
While the organizational structure of the Sternritter is not yet clear, each member is assigned a letter of the alphabet, based on a unique ability, by their monarch in order to designate them. The Grandmaster of the Sternritter is Jugram Haschwalth. Four Sternritter are appointed as Yhwach's elite guards: Pernida Parnkgjas, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Gerard Valkyrie and Lille Barro. According to Akon, the members of the Sternritter have power comparable to or greater than a Captain-level Shinigami.

Creation
The Sternritter were created when the members drink from Yhwach's blood. This enables Yhwach to carve a part of his soul into the Sternritter. This carving takes on the form of a letter, which is used as the designation of the Sternritter. The carving also grants the Sternritter their unique powers. Upon the Sternritter's death, the part of Yhwach's soul they received is returned to Yhwach, who gains strength because of it.

Uniforms
All members of the Sternritter wear a distinctive white, ankle-length cloak that features the Wandenreich insignia emblazoned on its back and often, a hood attached to the cloak's collar, each with a button that resembles the Wandenreich insignia that fastens the cloak. Beneath this, the remainder of a personnel's attire usually consists of a heavily customized variant of the standard Wandenreich uniform — a white double-breasted trench coat tied with a black belt, worn together with white trousers and boots.

Sternritters who are appointed as Yhwach's elite guards wear distinctive white, ankle-length cloaks that feature a black six-pointed cross on the left side, with three buttons that resemble the Wandenreich insignia fastened to them.

Equipment
Medallion: Like various others within the Wandenreich, all members of the Sternritter carry on their person a round device that is roughly the size of a person's palm and has the Wandenreich insignia etched into its surface. When activated, this device is capable of stealing a single currently released Bankai in the immediate vicinity. The medallion's owner can then proceed to use the stolen Bankai's power at will, even after the original owner of the Bankai has died. However, they are unable to exploit this power fully, as noted by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, unless they train to control the Bankai which they stole.