There are many of you who will hate this. Very few will love this. However, to create balance in the order of Zanpakutō as I have reviewed just about every Bleach character, filler and non filler, of their blade's abilities. Shockingly each class had it's function and ability to a certain number of times. Most being 2x or 1x. So please bare with my explanation on these new Zanpakutō rules.
First I want to go over Shikai and Bankai explanation a bit and a little description on 3 basic sealed appeal.-Depending upon the Shinigami's ability to communicate with and control their zanpakutō's spirit, a zanpakutō can manifest itself in two additional forms and revert to a sealed state. These two forms, known as Shikai and Bankai, are akin to "upgrades" for the zanpakutō, giving it abilities far beyond that of its simple use as a sword. Shinigami usually carry their zanpakutō in the sealed state and activate the released forms as necessary. A zanpakutō will return to its sealed state when its wielder is knocked unconscious.
-Sealed-
Most zanpakutō look like regular katana, with slight variations between them as one would expect between different swords. There variations are commonly:
* Katana - The term katana may be applied to the standard size moderately curved Japanese sword with a blade length of greater than 60 cm (23.6 inches). The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single edged blade, circular or squared guard, and long grip to accommodate two hands.
* Wakizashi - A short blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 inches), with an average of 50 cm (20 inches). It is similar to but shorter than a katana, and usually shorter than the kodachi ("small sword"). The wakizashi was usually worn together with the katana. When worn together the pair of swords were called daishō, which translates literally as "large and small". The katana was often called the long sword and the wakizashi the companion sword.
* Nodachi - The nodachi was more difficult to wield due to its size and weight. The length of the nodachi's hilt varied between twelve to thirteen inches (30 to 33 centimeters). Its cutting capability and range exceeded that of a katana, due to its weight and size. a large two-handed sword. Nodachi approximately translates to "field sword". Katana, wakizashi, and tachi are worn at the waist or belt; however, it is not "drawn" from the back.
In addition to the upgraded forms, the sealed form of a zanpakutō can also be radically altered, though such alterations are purely cosmetic and usually don't offer any significant advantage in battle; one exception is Ikkaku Madarame's Hōzukimaru, whose hilt stores a blood-clotting ointment.
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NEW RULINGS
* There are different classes and Families. Let's start off with Class. -One Class per Zan, even if it's duel wield.*
Melee-Type Zanpakutō: Are typically designed for various forms of armed melee combat rather than magic-based abilities.
* Meaning these don't have any or much effects on anything other then overpowering your opponent with sheer power of that blade's shikai ability.
* This type will allow the Zan to have only 1 ability and that's it, no techniques to work with in Shikai.
* It's Bankai will allow you to have an ability boost by 2 and acquire 3 techniques to work with the Bankai.
Kidō-Type Zanpakutō: Are designed around a special ability rather than close combat potential. These are blades that requires to be released into Shikai state to perform their abilities. Abilities such as healing, throwing elemental projectiles from the blade itself, or performing any effect on the opponent's whereabouts. Stealing Reishi/Reiatsu falls under this category too along hypnosis of any sort.
* This type will allow 1 ability and 2 techniques to work with in Shikai.
* It's Bankai, however, will have 1 ability upgrade and 2 techniques to work with.
Projectile-Type Zanpakutō: When released; separate into many air based blades that the owner can control freely. Basically it is when the blade itself is detached from the hilt of the zanpakutō. Giving the user free will to move the separated particle(s) of his/her blade with the hilt or mind if mastered.
* This class will allow your Zan to only have 1 ability and 1 technique to work with it.
* It's Bankai will give you 1 ability upgrade and 4 techniques/stages to work with.
{This is the only type that allows techniques to be known as Stages instead.}
Defense-Type Zanpakutō: Are designed around defensive capability with little or no offense.
* Giving the Zan automatically 1 ability and 2 techniques to work with. One is defense the other offense.
* It's Bankai will have 3 techniques and 1 ability upgrade from it's Shikai.
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Now Family. You might like this part a bit. -One Family per Zan, even if it is duel wield.
(1).Fire-Type Zanpakutō: Designed to manipulate fire for various forms of attack or defense.
* If this is paired up with a Melee-Type Zan, then it will grant you 1 technique slot for free meaning for Shikai or Bankai. However, it will demolish you down to having only 1 ability upgrade instead of 2.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, it will increase the Bankai ability by 1, so instead of having just 1 upgrade you have 2.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will add a technique slot for it's Shikai ability to work with instead of none. But it will remove one technique/stage from the Bankai.
* If paired with a Defense-Type Zan, It will remove one Bankai technique for 1 defense technique in your Shikai.
(2).Ice-Type Zanpakutō: Designed to manipulate ice for various forms of attack or defense.
* If paired with a Melee-Type Zan, it will allow the users ability to have 1 technique for Shikai to work with it, however, the only effects it may give is to freeze at a certain low level.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, it will add 1 technique for Shikai and 1 more technique for Bankai.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will add a ability to the Shikai. Giving it 2 instead of 1.
* If paired with a Defense-Type Zan, it will take away 2 techniques from it's Bankai and give Bankai a 1 ability upgrade.
(3).Earth-Type Zanpakutō: Designed to manipulate the ground for various forms of attack or defense.
* If paired with a Melee-Type Zan, it will not do anything to it's automatic effects.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, it will remove one technique on the Bankai and Shikai.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will add one technique to the Shikai.
* If paired with a Defense-Type Zan, it will give it an additional technique for Shikai and 1 more ability upgrade for Bankai.
(4).Wind-Type Zanpakutō: Designed to manipulate wind for various forms of attack or defense.
* If paired with a Melee-Type Zan, it will add one technique to Shikai to work with.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, it will remove one Shikai technique.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will add one Shikai technique and 1 Bankai technique/stage removed.
* If paired with a Defense-Type Zan, it will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
(5).Water-Type Zanpakutō: Designed to manipulate water (and related effects) for various forms of attack or defense.
* If paired with a Melee-Type Zan, it will add 1 technique to Shikai but remove 1 ability upgrade from Bankai.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, it will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will remove 1 technique/stage from Bankai.
* If paired with a Defense-Type Zan, you are given a choice to remove 1 defense or offense technique from Shikai or Bankai.
(6).Plant-Type Zanpakutō: Designed for the manipulation of plant growth for offense or defense.
* If paired with a Melee-Type Zan, it will add one bankai technique.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, it will remove one bankai technique.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
* If paired with a Defense-Type Zan, it will remove one bankai technique.
(7).Light-Type Zanpakutō: Designed to manipulate light for various effects.
* If paired with a Melee-Type Zan, it will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, It will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will remove 2 Bankai stages/techniques.
* If paired with a Defense-Type Zan, it will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
(8.).Darkness-Type Zanpakutō: Designed to manipulate dark or negative energy for various effects.
* If paired with a Melee-Type Zan, it will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, It will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will remove 2 Bankai stages/techniques.
* If paired with a Defense-Type Zan, it will not give any new effects and leave it by automatic default effects.
(9).Poison-Type Zanpakutō: Designed to administer poison as a form of attack.
* If paired with a Melee-Type Zan, it Will add one technique to it's Shikai.
* If paired with a Kidō-Type Zan, it will add one Shikai technique and remove one Bankai technique.
* If paired with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will remove one Shikai technique.
* If paired with a Defensive-Type Zan, it will remove one Bankai technique.
(10).Electricity-Type Zanpakutō: Designed for manipulation of lightning for offense or defense.
* If paired up with a Melee-Type Zan, it will add one Shikai technique and remove 1 ability upgrade for Bankai.
* If paired up with a Kidō-Type Zan, it will remove one Bankai technique.
* If paired up with a Projectile-Type Zan, it will remove 2 Bankai techniques/stages.
* If paired up with a Defense-Type Zan, it will remove 1 Bankai technique.
(11). Unknown-Type: These are the Zanpakutō that while the names and Shikai are known, their type cannot be readily verified.
* All types paired with this will remain all their automatic default effects.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that is done with, here are something I like to call Sub-Types, these are just extra appeal to your Zanpakutō that only happens to match who you are. So you may or may not have these.
Constant-Release Type: Zanpakutō that are always in Shikai form because of the strength of their wielder's spiritual energy.
Dual-Blade Type: Zanpakutō that feature more than one blade in Shikai release. It is decidedly rare for one to possess such a weapon and therefore it says a lot about the uniqueness of its wielder's spiritual power.
Wed Jan 27 2010, 08:41