Yhwach is a Quincy and the Emperor of the Vandenreich. A thousand years before the start of the events of BLEACH, he and Captain-Commander Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto came into conflict, and Yamamoto failed to kill Yhwach. Yhwach is a formidable warrior and can take down even incredibly powerful opponents using his immense strength and array of abilities. He has a callous disliking for his lower-ranked underlings, believing them to be little more than disposable fodder. Despite his reckless disregard for his petty subordinates, Yhwach claims to hate seeing those under him fight one another in public.
Some time after Sosuke Aizen attempted to become a god, Yhwach resurfaced with his army and took over Hueco Mundo in preparation for their war against Soul Society. He defeated Las Noches’ new ruler, Tier Harribel, and took her as a prisoner to the Vandenreich’s headquarters.
After sending Luders Friegen to Soul Society to make a formal declaration of war, Yhwach hastily leads an invasion force into Soul Society, ignoring the five day ultimatum he had Luders issue to Captain-Commander Yamamoto. During the invasion, Yhwach watches as Jugram Haschwalth killed Hidetomo Kajōmaru before giving Haschwalth explicit permission to leave the other members of the 13th Division alive if he saw it fit.
At some point during the invasion, Royd Lloyd replicates Yhwach’s physical appearance and memories and takes his place on the front lines of the conflict. Posing as Yhwach, Royd defeats Kenpachi Zaraki but is killed in battle with Captain-Commander Yamamoto. After Royd’s death, Yhwach arrives and finishes off the injured Yamamoto by slicing his body in half before incinerating the remains into oblivion. After giving an order to the soldiers of the Vandenreich to raze Soul Society to the ground, Yhwach is stunned by the arrival of Ichigo Kurosaki, who engages Yhwach in a brief conflict. Following his skirmish with Ichigo, Yhwach is forced to retreat back to the Vandenreich’s headquarters, as his time outside of the “Schatten Bereich” is over.
Yhwach later announces the arrival of Uryu Ishida to the members of the Vandenreich and names Ishida his successor, much to the Stern Ritter’s confusion and dismay. Later, Yhwach tells Ishida that he named him his successor in order to restrict his movements and keep the Vandenreich’s focus on him, preventing him from formulating plans against them in secret.
Powers & Abilities
The Almighty
Yhwach can see into the future and see everything that it holds. The main function of this ability is that it allows him to “know” everything that he sees.This means every ability he observes is no longer able to hurt or effect him in any way.
A common misconception is that Yhwach needs to fully understand a power before he nerfs it. However this is false, as he just needs to see it to fully counter it.
Auswählen
Meaning Holy Selection, this ability strips the powers from any non pure blooded Quincy. These powers go straight to Yhwach, who ultimately used this technique to revive himself after his slumber.
Quincy Powers
Yhwach wields a Quincy spirit bow, called Sankt Bogen. He can fire the typical Quincy arrows, the Heilig Pfeil. However, Yhwach can fire a continuous barrage of Heilig Pfeil without forming Sankt Bogen. Yhwach is able to form arrows with just his hand. Sankt Bogen can also form an arrow that can be used as a sword. Other tools in his arsenal include a spirit broadsword, which he uses in most of his fights.
Blut Techniques
Yhwach can direct his Reishi into his blood veins, which amplies his offensive and defensive power considerably. Yhwach can use both versons of Blut, Blut Vene and Blut Arterie. Blut Vene is used for defensive purposes, while Blut Arterie is used to boost offense. In addition, Yhwach has a another Blut move called Blut Vene Anhaben. This move pushes Blut Vene outside his body, creating a consuming forcefield. Anhaben has to absorb its surroundings in order be used.
Absorption
Yhwach has absorbed both the Mimihagi and the Soul King. The Mimihagi is the right arm of the Soul King the Soul King is an entity that keeps all of the world in balance. After these absorptions, Yhwach has gained yet unreleased powers.
Sankt Alter
Yhwach summons a Quincy cross in the air, which steals other powers.
Hirenkyaku
Advanced movement technique used by the Quincy. Yhwach is a master, being able to blitz Ichigo while using it.