There are a lot of different groups and races in Bleach, but the Arrancar stand out among them as some of the most unique and deadliest of all. But who are the Arrancar, why do they matter, and how did they get to be such a threat?
The wielded by Bleach's Soul Reapers, including the ability to manifest a Zanpakuto, or spirit weapon, which represents their sealed power. Arrancar do, however, still have Hollow holes located somewhere on their body.
The Arrancar are a major antagonistic force in the Hueco Mundo arc, named for the realm where Hollows dwell. After Aizen obtained the Hogyoku, he abandoned the Soul Society and set up shop in Hueco Mundo, where he began creating Arrancar, who were each given a number designating the order of their creation. It's not known how many Arrancar there are, but the highest number shown is 107. The Arrancar with the numbers 1-10 are known as the Espada, and act as Aizen's lieutenants; some of them existed before Aizen, but were forced to him or go into hiding. Many Arrancar survived after Aizen's fall and appear again in later arcs.
Notable Arrancar
One of the most noteworthy Arrancar is Nelliel Tu Odelschwank, usually just called "Nel." Nel is first seen as a young girl who Ichigo saves, but is later revealed to have a true adult form, and was transformed following damage to her mask. Nel is undoubtedly the least-evil Arrancar, and seems to lack the malice and cold-natured persona that most others show. Another notable Arrancar is Bleach's Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
As such an important part of Bleach's world, they're crucial for a fan to know. They're among Bleach's most interesting villains, more complex than their "always evil" status might suggest they should be. Their continued relevance beyond Bleach's Hueco Mundo arc also helps to make them more nuanced.
