Shinigami/Vizard Racial Information

Shinigami, also known as Soul Reapers are souls or beings with extremely pure and powerful spiritual energy. They generally exist within a special afterlife world known as the Soul Society. Some were once human beings who spirits were transferred to the afterlife where they were giving a chance to serve a higher purpose rather than being reborn into the reincarnation cycle. However, there are cases where the Reishi in the Soul Society becomes extremely dense and pure allowing for Shinigami themselves to be born into the residences of human souls instead. These natural born Shinigami are generally seen as Nobles of the Soul Society. Their spiritual bodies are made completely of Reishi an energy undetectable by non-spirit like beings, meaning to average humans or lesser existences they cannot be seen. All these souls must first enter an intense training period before they can become Shinigami, thus teaching them how to control their powerful spirits, allowing them access to special and powerful abilities unique to Soul Reapers. Once a Shinigami completes their basic training, they can potentially be drafted into the Gotei 13. The Gotei 13 is a powerful organization meant to monitor, protect, and control the events in the both the Soul Society and the Human world to prevent its destruction from outside forces of evil. They are also tasked with sending human spirits to the afterlife or cleansing evil or corrupt spirit to allow them to reenter the reincarnation cycle. In the Gotei 13 Shinigami can be further separated into positions to display their power. These positions are known as the Captain Commander, Captain, Lieutenants, Seats, and Foot Soldiers.

Appearance:

Most Shinigami appear like Humans; however they possess unique black almost kimono like outfits, and their Zanpakutō. There are, however, a few Shinigami who are less Human-like in appearance. For example, it seems that between Shinigami there are much greater variations in body-sizes than between Humans, as there are real giant-like entities and ones with extremely small stature among them. This variation seems to occur not just between Shinigami, but also between regular dwellers of Soul Society, too. Variations do not just occur in size but in overall appearance, too, the most notable example being Captain Sajin Komamura, who appears like an anthropomorphic canine.


Increased Vitality: Shinigami are like humans in several regards however, they possess immense vitality. This enhanced vitality allows them to live much longer than normal humans and makes their spiritual bodies much more durable in both offensive and defensive combat.

Reiryoku: Shinigami also naturally give off Spiritual Energy, which varies greatly in magnitude with the strength of a Shinigami. Additionally, unlike humans, they do not have to eat anything to sustain themselves, though they engage in the act none the less as Shinigami and other spiritual beings only become hungry when they used too much Spiritual Energy within a short amount of time. This energy can be used to both attack and defend themselves in time of need.

Kidō: A series of powerful techniques that Shinigami use to focus their Spiritual Energy into magic spells of various powers.

Hohō: A variety of techniques associated with movement, typically the Shinigami’s standard Shunpo (Flash Step) ability.  

Zanpakutō: The strongest tool in the possession of Shinigami. This is their staple and most identifiable tool. It is generally seen as a standard Katana; however it is a weapon that is the true embodiment of a Shinigami’s soul. All Shinigami have a Zanpaktuo, however not all of them can access the true power of the weapon and not all may use them. These weapons have been known to transform up to two times allowing the user to greatly increase their power.

• Shikai: The Shikai (始解; initial release) is the first "upgraded" form available to a Zanpakutō. To activate it, the Shinigami needs to learn the name of their Zanpakutō (one notable exception is Kenpachi Zaraki who was able to achieve Shikai without learning the name of his Zanpakutō). This is not as easy as simply picking a name, as the living spirit of the Zanpakutō already has its own name. Therefore, the Shinigami must be able to communicate with their Zanpakutō effectively, which requires being able to speak to the spirit within its world. Achievement of the Shikai is a mark of control of a Zanpakutō, and it appears to be a requirement for advancement within the Shinigami ranks, as most seated officers and presumably all Lieutenants are capable of Shikai.
  

  Shikai:

• Bankai: Bankai (卍解, Final Release) is the second and final upgraded form of a Zanpakutō. Prior to Ichibē Hyōsube giving this form its name, it was known as a Shinuchi (真打, True Strike), and when a Shinigami achieved it, they would possess an "Evolved Zanpakutō" (進化した斬魄刀, Shinkashita Zanpakutō). To achieve Bankai, one must be able to materialize and subjugate their Zanpakutō spirit. Materialization means the opposite of getting dragged into the Zanpakutō's inner world: the wielder needs to summon the Zanpakutō's spirit into the physical world. It usually takes 10 years or more to achieve, plus the experience needed to master it. Despite the Zanpakutō spirit being subjugated for their Shinigami to learn Bankai, the Zanpakutō also becomes stronger and learns Bankai at precisely the moment their Shinigami learns it. Even though Bankai is the final stage of a Zanpakutō, it does not mean the Shinigami's growth ends there. A Bankai, especially one recently obtained, can evolve even further as its Shinigami gets stronger.
  

  Bankai:

The Visored are the antithesis to the Arrancar as Shinigami who have obtained Hollow powers. Having begun as Shinigami, the Visored appear entirely Human and, barring when they are using their powers, are indistinguishable from ordinary Shinigami. To gain access to their Hollow powers, a Visored dons a Hollow mask. This allows them to augment their Shinigami abilities with Hollow powers, as well as giving them access to some of the more generic Hollow abilities. Their spiritual pressure likewise changes into a mix of Hollow and Shinigami. This process of donning one's Hollow mask is referred to as Hollowfication. The Visored are former captain- and lieutenant-level Shinigami. They are considered criminals by the Soul Society for committing the ultimate taboo of acquiring Hollow powers; their status as former leaders of Soul Society also marks them as traitors. [One must be at LEAST level 25 to become a Vizard.]

Appearance: Vizard are indistinguishable from Shinigami until they don their Hollow mask. Their hollow mask can take on any shape or form, but generally cover their head completely.

[NOTE: They retain all the powers they had as a Shinigami, So I will only be listing the powers they GAIN through this transformation]

Hollow Mask: The Hollow mask which covers the head. Unlike the masks of the Arrancar, the masks of the Visored are undamaged. The Visored remain in complete control while wearing their masks, the fusion of the two spiritual entities allows these Shinigami to reach power levels far surpassing that of either a Hollow or a Shinigami. The only known drawback to these powers is that they have a set time limit, beginning with three posts, but one can train to add time, by doing 5 posts of training, one may add one post to their maximum.

Hollow Mask:

Hollowfication: When one has fully mastered their Hollow form, they are able to enter a form usually compared to that of a Vasto Lorde. This form results in an almost full body transformation, but it still remains humanoid. This increases a Vizards power by an insane amount but requires training to properly control!

Hollowfication:

Cero: Cero are high-powered energy blasts that can be fired from various body parts, such as mouth, tongue, hand or fingers. Only Gillians, Adjuchas, Arrancar, and the Vizards have so far been shown to use Cero attacks, and it appears that stronger entities can use it more efficiently. Various Arrancar and Hollow characters display variants of the technique, such as the Espada-exclusive Gran Rey Cero, the Cero Oscuras that Ulquiorra Cifer can use only in his released form, as well as the Cero Sincrético performed by Pesche Guatische and Dondochakka Bilstin.

Cero:

Garganta: Garganta is how Arrancar and Menos-class Hollows move to and from Hueco Mundo. Kaname Tōsen, Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi have also demonstrated the ability to use the technique. It literally tears open the dimensional fabric separating the worlds, revealing a tunnel of whirling, torrential energy that must be focused and solidified to create a discernible pathway.

Garganta: