Reiatsu

Reiatsu
Kanji	霊圧
English	Spiritual Pressure
Information
Purpose	Physically released Reiryoku
Users	Shinigami, Hollow, Arrancar, Quincy, Fullbringer

Reiatsu (霊圧, Spiritual Pressure) is the physical force/pressure that a person’s Reiryoku creates when released. Most Shinigami, Arrancar, Quincy, and Fullbringers can manipulate the release of their Reiatsu.

Reiatsu vs. Reiryoku

The difference between Reiryoku (Spiritual Power) and Reiatsu (Spiritual Pressure) is simple: Reiryoku is the amount of energy a being has stored within their body or soul, whereas Reiatsu is the pressure that a person's Reiryoku exerts. In other words, Reiryoku is potential while Reiatsu is energy in use and can be sensed by other spiritually aware beings. In general, those with high levels of Reiryoku will often have the highest levels of Reiatsu also. A skilled warrior can overcome a person possessing greater Reiryoku by possessing greater Reiatsu - this is achieved by having greater control over their own Spiritual Power.

Reiatsu Sensing

The senses by which one feels and pick up on Reiatsu are known as "Reikaku" (霊覚, Spiritual Sense) or "Reiatsu Chikaku" (霊圧知覚, Spiritual Pressure Perception). Every person that has Reiatsu subconsciously uses both their sense of vision and their Reikaku at the same time in order to see. When concentrating in the midst of battle, Reikaku takes over an overwhelming amount of perception; in other words, the subconscious begins to stop seeing with "eyes".

Reiatsu Vents

All Shinigami have vents located at their wrists that vent out their Reiatsu. If they are blocked off, then the Shinigami in question will be incinerated by their own Reiatsu from within.

Reiatsu Release

All Reiatsu released by individuals eventually returns to them, but Reiatsu released in explosive bursts also engulfs energy in its surroundings in the process; when Ichigo Kurosaki did so while attempting to escape Quilge Opie's The Jail, Quilge's Quincy Reiatsu seeped into the depths of Ichigo's soul and awakened the Quincy aspect of his power within it, causing Ichigo to begin using Blut Vene subconsciously during his subsequent battle with Yhwach.

Spirit Class

The density of Reiatsu within the Reishi of a given individual determines their Spirit Class (霊威, Reii), ranging from 1 to 20 starting with the densest Reishi and consequently most powerful individuals; Lieutenants of the Gotei 13 are of rank 4 or 5, while Captains are of rank 1, 2, or 3. However, the Reishi comprising the bodies of those with a Spirit Class of rank 3 or higher are too dense to break down and return to the soil of Soul Society after death as the bodies of Souls normally do, and since it would be too risky to leave such strong Reishi remaining indefinitely in Soul Society, the Konsō Reisai ceremony is performed to cast captains who had such Spirit Class at the time of their deaths into Hell. When Kaien Shiba entered the Shin'ō Academy, his Spirit Class was recorded at rank 6, which was comparable in strength to a Lieutenant.

Appearance

Reiatsu Colors

Different beings have different colors of Reiatsu, and it is not dependent on the individual's race or power. Certain combatants, like Ichigo Kurosaki, also have the color of their Reiatsu change over time or while using certain powers.

Shape

Certain individuals can generate a shape or manifestation of their Spiritual Power whenever they release enough of it; the manifestations are one of their inner strength.

Reiatsu Shape
User	Reiatsu Shape
Ichigo Kurosaki	Blue (anime)/golden (manga) Reiatsu shaped as his Hollow mask.
Kenpachi Zaraki	Golden (anime)/purple (manga) Reiatsu shaped as a giant menacing skull.
Yachiru Kusajishi	Pink Reiatsu in the shape of an angry cat.

Uses

Defensive Use

Reiatsu Effect

When two spiritual beings collide, the side with weaker Spiritual Pressure will get hurt. (Ex: When Ichigo Kurosaki fought Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, the Captain opened up the chest area of his shihakushō and ordered Ichigo to cut him. When attacking with all his strength, Ichigo found Zaraki uninjured, while his own hands started bleeding. As his sword's power is highly concentrated for the purpose of killing, the Spiritual Pressure that Zaraki subconsciously releases is much, much stronger). In this way, a Shinigami with a greater amount of Reiatsu can use their own Reiatsu to harden their skin and effectively protect themselves from attacks. Shinigami battles are battles of Reiatsu; if one possess a greater level of Reiatsu, then the other can be overcome completely, such as when Suì-Fēng's Nigeki Kessatsu failed against Sōsuke Aizen. One can also concentrate their Reiatsu to repel attacks, as Mayuri Kurotsuchi did when attacked by Pernida Parnkgjas's The Compulsory.

Psychological Use

Fear
Reiatsu Effect	Description
Reiatsu at its most basic level can instill fear in others when it is very high (in comparison to the one feeling it). Willpower is the simplest way to fight this effect.	When Ichigo fought Zaraki for the first time, he felt it was impossible to win, making his Reiatsu far weaker than normal. Ichigo was only able to fight and wound Zaraki once he regained his confidence and focused his Reiatsu. When Nanao Ise stared into the eyes of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, she felt it was impossible to win and nearly passed out in fear.

Stun
Reiatsu Effect	Description
High level of Spiritual Power can cause those of lower power to be stunned by simply being in the presence of a high level spiritual being.	It is not uncommon for Humans and Souls alike to get the wind knocked out of them by simply being near a spiritual being with a high level of Reiatsu. Kenpachi Zaraki's Reiatsu is so high that upon coming within a few yards of him during the Ryoka Invasion, Hanatarō Yamada fell to his knees while Ganju Shiba could barely stand.

Paralysis
Reiatsu Effect	Description
When a spiritual being of high Reiatsu chooses to, they can paralyze an opponent just by focusing Reiatsu through their stare or presence.	While confronting Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, Yamamoto stared directly into Nanao's eyes, physically paralyzing her. Sōsuke Aizen forced the 6th Espada, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, to his knees by exerting his Reiatsu while staring at him.

Phantom Pain
Reiatsu Effect	Description
A combatant exerting high levels of Reiatsu can make their opponent feel as though they are being attacked, even though nothing is physically happening to them.	During the Ryoka Invasion, Zaraki went after Ichigo Kurosaki, having deemed him the strongest of the invaders. As Ichigo and his group ran, he felt like there was a sword to his neck, following him no matter how fast they ran. Upon coming face to face with Zaraki, Ichigo felt like he had just been stabbed, but in reality, he simply saw just how massive Zaraki's killing intent was.

Offensive Use

Physical Damage

During their battles with Grimmjow's Fracción in The Cold War, Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya released their limiters in the Human World, unleashing a huge amount of Reiatsu that left Shawlong Koufang and Yylfordt Granz slightly frozen and burned, respectively. During his fight against Szayelaporro Granz, Renji used Reiatsu transferred through his blade in order to injure the Espada after the latter blocked a strike from him. Zaraki can focus his Reiatsu through his sword to create powerful shockwaves, usually damaging the surrounding environment as he does so.

Lethal Damage
Reiatsu Effect	Description
In high enough quantities, Spiritual Pressure can be lethal to others.	After his second Hōgyoku-induced transformation, Aizen's Reiatsu was so powerful that it reduced a nearby Human to ash when he approached him and destroyed objects thrown at him. Coyote Starrk's Reiatsu killed a massive number of Hollows simply by being close to them.

Types of Reiatsu

Standard type

This is the most common form of Reiatsu, which has no effects other than those described above, along with its unique color and feeling. Most Hollows and Shinigami have this type, while Quincy and Humans always have this type. Notably, Fullbringers are Humans who have Hollow-like powers, and Yasutora Sado noted he felt "at home" in Hueco Mundo because his Reiatsu feels like that of a Hollow despite his species, but their Reiatsu is still a standard type.

Dual type

All Visored and Arrancar have this specific Reiatsu; Visored feel more like Shinigami, while Arrancar feel more like Hollows. When Ichigo's inner Hollow started to take over his body, Orihime Inoue could sense it and was frightened by how heavy and dark it was. The Visored also feel more like Hollows when they release their powers. Arrancar seal their Hollow abilities and become as close to their original form as can be when they enter their Resurrección, explaining this phenomenon.

Element type

Yamamoto exerts his Reiatsu.

Two Shinigami have used elemental Reiatsu, even without releasing their Zanpakutō, with it being their natural power:

Fire & Heat: Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Captain-Commander Yamamoto has used his burning Reiatsu to heat up his sealed Zanpakutō, causing it to glow dark orange like a recently forged sword. He has also displayed a large amount of flames emanating from his body before releasing his Shikai, which is needed for his fire-based techniques.

Ice & Cold: Tōshirō Hitsugaya. When Tōshirō was a child, he had trouble controlling his power. In his sleep, it would go out of control, freezing his grandma with the sheer cold. This cold power caused others to fear him.

Trivia

• Sōsuke Aizen once theorized that one could gain an immense boost to their physical prowess if they were to somehow discard all of their Reiatsu.