Reiatsu

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

Reiatsu (霊圧, Spiritual Pressure) is the physical force/pressure that a person’s Reiryoku exerts when manifested as energy. Most Shinigami and Arrancar, even Quincy andBounts can manipulate their Reiatsu proficiently.

The difference between spiritual pressure and spiritual energy 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 spirit energy.

Appearance

Reiatsu Colors

Different spirits have different colors of Reiatsu, and it does not depend on the character's race or power; instead, the color is determined by the owner’s personality.

Reiatsu Colors
Reiatsu Color	Reiatsu Color User
Black	Ichigo Kurosaki (Final Getsuga Tenshō)
Black w/ Blue Outline	Ichigo Kurosaki (Bankai)
Black w/ Green Outline	Ulquiorra Cifer (Resurrección)
Black w/ Purple Outline	Kaname Tōsen (Hollow mask and Resurrección)
Black w/ Red Outline	Ichigo Kurosaki (Bankai and Hollow mask)
Blue	Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Coyote Starrk, Izuru Kira, Kōga Kuchiki
Golden-Yellow	Ichigo Kurosaki, Kenpachi Zaraki, Tier Harribel, Nnoitra Gilga, Suì-Fēng, Orihime Inoue
Green	Ulquiorra Cifer, Yumichika Ayasegawa, Shūhei Hisagi, Ginrei Kuchiki
Light Blue	Uryū Ishida, Suì-Fēng (Bankai),Ichigo Kurosaki (Shikai)
Multicolored	Maki Ichinose
Pink	Yachiru Kusajishi, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Szayelaporro Granz, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, Kaname Tōsen, Loly Aivirrne, Hiyori Sarugaki,  Zommari Rureaux, Cyan Sung-Sun
Orange	Hachigen Ushōda
Orange-Red	Yammy Llargo (Resurrección), Franceska Mila Rose
Red	Renji Abarai, Baraggan Louisenbairn, Sajin Komamura, Mayuri Kurotsuchi (Bankai), Momo Hinamori, Ikkaku Madarame, Kisuke Urahara, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Emilou Apacci , Hollow Ichigo
Violet	Sōsuke Aizen
White	Byakuya Kuchiki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Rangiku Matsumoto, Suì-Fēng (Shunkō), Yoruichi Shihōin (Shunkō) , Rukia Kuchiki
White w/ Red Outline	Hollow Ichigo (Bankai, in Ichigo's inner world)

Shape

Some particular characters have a shape or manifestation of their energy whenever they release enough of it. The manifestations are one of the characters inner strength/energy.

Reiatsu Shape
User	Reiatsu Shape
Ichigo Kurosaki	Blue Spiritual energy in the shape of his Hollow mask.
Kenpachi Zaraki	Golden Spiritual energy in the shape of a giant menacing skull.
Yachiru Kusajishi	Pink Spiritual energy 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 fights 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 Kenpachi uninjured, while his own hands were bleeding. As his sword that is highly concentrated for the purpose of killing, the spiritual pressure that Kenpachi 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 Reiatsu then the other can be overcome completely.

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 Kenpachi for the first time he felt it was impossible to win, making his Reiatsu far weaker than normal. Kurosaki was able to fight Zaraki only once he was able to counter with his Reiatsu. When Nanao Ise stared into the eyes of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto she felt it was impossible to win.

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 spiritual pressure. Kenpachi Zaraki's spiritual pressure was so high that Hanatarō Yamada fell to his knees, Ganju Shiba could barely stand upon coming within 20 feet of him.

Paralysis
Reiatsu Effect	Description
When a Spiritual being of high Reiatsu chooses to they can paralyze an opponent just by focusing pressure through their stare or presence.	Yamamoto stares directly into Lieutenant Nanao Ise's eyes paralyzing her from movement. Sōsuke Aizen and Gin Ichimaru have also been shown to be able to use this ability.

Phantom Pain
Reiatsu Effect	Description
High level of spiritual pressure can make an opponent feel as though they are being attacked though nothing is physically happening to them.	Captain Zaraki went after who he thought was the strongest of the intruders, Ichigo Kurosaki. As Ichigo and his group ran, he felt like there was a sword to his neck, following no matter how fast they ran. Upon coming face to face with Kenpachi, Ichigo literally felt like he was just stabbed, but in reality, he simply saw just how massive Kenpachi's killing intent was.

Offensive use

Physical Damage

Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya released their limiters, unleashing a huge amount of spiritual pressure. Both Shawlong Koufang and Yylfordt Granz were slightly frozen and burned respectively. During the fight with Szayelaporro Granz, Renji once again used spiritual pressure transferred through his blade in order to injure the Espada. His Reiatsu was able to cut his face since he was holding Zabimaru so close. Captain Kenpachi Zaraki has consistently been shown to be able to focus his Reiatsu through his sword to create powerful shockwaves, usually damaging the surrounding environment as he does so. This use only occurs when the user is releasing a large amount of energy at once or in an emotional state.

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

Types of Reiatsu

Standard type

Most characters have this form of Reiatsu, which have no other effect than those described above, along with its unique color and feeling. Most Hollows and Shinigami have this type, while every Quincy and Humans always have this type. Fullbringers are the only Humans shown to have Hollow-like powers. Yasutora Sado noticed he felt 'more at home' in Hueco Mundo, and his Reiatsu feels like a Hollow despite his species; it is still a standard type.

Dual type

All Visored and Arrancar have this specific Reiatsu. For Visored, they feel more like Shinigami, while Arrancar feel more like Hollows. When Ichigo's inner Hollow started to take over Orihime Inoue could sense it, becoming afraid of how heavy and dark it was. The Visored, strangely enough, also feel more like Hollows when they release their powers. Arrancar seal their Hollow abilities, meaning they become as close to their original form as can be, explaining this phenomenon.

Element type

Yamamoto exerting his Reiatsu.

Three characters have been shown using elemental Reiatsu, even without releasing their Zanpakutō, or it being their natural Spiritual Power:

Fire & Heat: Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Captain Yamamoto has used his burning spiritual pressure 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 his Shikai, which is needed for his fire based techniques.

Ice & Cold: Rukia Kuchiki & Tōshirō Hitsugaya. When Tōshirō was a child, he had trouble controlling his power. In his sleep, it would go out of control, affecting his grandma and causing her to shrink because of the sheer cold. This cold power caused others to fear him.