Zanpakutou Rating II - Kuchiki Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki

[Byakuya]

Second Zanpakutou Rating.

Basically you just give them a score from 1 to 10, 10 being best and 1 being crap.

This time you'll be rating Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/Byakuya-kun/sodenoshirayuki.png

(Some info)

Rukia's zanpakutō is named Sode no Shirayuki (袖の白雪 or 袖白雪, lit. Sleeve of White Snow). It goes unnamed until after the Soul Society arc in the manga, since she initially gave her shinigami powers to Ichigo. Its initial release command is "dance" (舞え, mae?).

In its initial release, Sode no Shirayuki is regarded as one of the most beautiful zanpakutō in Soul Society. It is completely white, including the hilt, crossguard, and blade. The tsuba turns to a circle and a white ribbon forms from the pommel. Sode no Shirayuki has control over ice, much like Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Hyōrinmaru, but uses it in a different manner. Like Kaname Tōsen's Suzumushi and Kisuke Urahara's Benihime, Sode no Shirayuki possesses more than one ability.

Sode no Shirayuki's abilities are labeled as "dances" by Rukia. With the command "first dance, white moon" (初の舞, 月白, some no mai, tsukishiro?), Rukia can create a circle of influence around her intended target and freeze everything within the circle from the ground upwards until it reaches the sky. The command "next dance, white ripple" (次の舞, 白漣, tsugi no mai, hakuren?) fires a massive wave of ice from Sode no Shirayuki's blade.

Finally, the command "third dance, white sword" (参の舞, 白刀, san no mai, shirafune?) allows Rukia to reforge her zanpakutō with ice particles if it is broken, piercing through objects in its path.

So how much do you like Sode no Shirayuki?

[experimentchoco]

It's interesting, but I'd like to see Rukia fight more and more with it. I don't know a lot about her Zanpakuto. But yeah, I think it's pretty cool.

[Lilium]

Her shikai is pretty powerful and it's supposedly the most beautiful zanpaktou in SS =P. I kinda like ice abilities and I think it's cool (pun totally intended xDD). PLus, it suits rukia as well. ^_^.

[Syn]

Although we don't know its bankai form, I'll make an exception for once; she has 3 dances (shikai abilities), all pretty powerful and it's the most beautiful around XD *points at sig XD* so it's 10 for me =)

[Riekie]

It's just beautiful and the attacks she can do with it are awesome as well!
so ofcourse..10/10xD

[Mei]

I love her Zanpakutou! It´s so pure white and overall beautiful!
Her dances are very nice as well! => 10/10
I hope we´ll get to see more of SnS!^^

[Slev]

It fits her so well, plus it's already pretty powerful even with only shikai. :> 10/10

[Air]

Sode no Shirayuki is one of my favorites, along with Senbonzakura.
10/10. Kuchiki rulez :D

[Serph]

I love her zanpakutou's form and color, it's one of my favorites. I like the idea of naming her attacks 'Dances', and I like that it's ice based. 10.

[Annie]

10/10, it's pretty and has three shikais with potential of gaining bankai one day, I couldn't ask for more.

[StarryInoueSky]

It's my favorite.

[Velius]

Yikes. You couldn't have found a better picture of her?!?! Or at least an actual picture of her??!:(

Look
unreleased - 7/10. It's no Benihime. It's your standard Zanpakuto.
Shikai - 10/10. They don't come any better.
Bankai - unknown.
Overall - 8.5/10.

Attacks
unreleased - 5/10. Basic.
Shikai - 9/10. 3 attacks for Shikia, but all seem to have a basic weakness.
Bankai - unknown.
Overall 7/10

Release commands/attacks names
Shikai - 10/10. Nice.
Bankai - unknown.
White Moon - 10/10. Fits perfectly.
White ripple - 10/10. Same.
White sword - 10/10. Yea...
Overall 10/10

Grand score - 8.5/10. I'll round up. :D 9/10.

[sagittarius19]

10!! Hope to see more dances^^

[Dice]

Thank you kawaii Byakuya for making this thread.

10/10 an awesome, elegant, beautiful, and powerful zanpaktou for an awesome, elegant, beautiful, and powerful lady.

Second favorite zanpaktou after Nejibana. :love

Sode no Shirayuki. :wtf

[Ileenka]

Thank you kawaii Byakuya for making this thread.

10/10 an awesome, elegant, beautiful, and powerful zanpaktou for an awesome, elegant, beautiful, and powerful lady.

Second favorite zanpaktou after Nejibana. :love

Sode no Shirayuki. :wtf

QFT. :wtf

Sodeno shirayuki is my second favourite as well, right after Nejibana. And as owner of the Kaien FC, I'm proud to say I claimed Nejibana! :yell

Rukia is awesome. Hope we'll see her soon. :love

[Agmaster]

Eh, I just never was a fan of ice based weapons. Though Kaien's was pretty cool. I will admit it's pretty and useful, though. Just not my style.

[furato]

9/10

Despite being touted as the most beautiful zanpakutou, I don't think it's special in the looks department, even with the pure whiteness and the ribbon. For me, it's more Rukia's stance that makes it look beautiful than the zanpakutou on its own. But Sode no Shirayuki's attacks has both grace and power, which puts it on a rare 9 on my scale. No bankai, but we've seen Rukia in enough longish fights to watch SnS in action.

[SiSL]

It is pretty hacked zanpakutou. Does not have any inordinary abilities. However, good on taking opponents at once, at least slow them down. Not uber, not poor. Between...

While it is beautiful in the look, combat stats are not impressive.

[Byakuya]

Lol SiSL, I shall pray for your safety.

[Dice]

Yeah Kawaii Byakuya, I can't believe someone would vote 2 for such an awesome zanpaktou. :cry

[batz]

6/10
Looks wise its superb, but the fact that its yet another "Ice-based" sword, really ticked me off. Hitsugaya's Zanpakutou has a similar element and I was seriously expecting something else from Rukia's, Fire maybe. Also, the range of Ice needs to grow. Otherwise, I love how its very delicate and fits Rukia's character well.

[alexie]

10/10
Like others have mention, I think an ice element zanpakutou fits Rukia. Also, Rukia seems to have gotten pretty well with her zanpakutou and how she uses SnS in battle,imo, is awesome. Since SnS has more than one shikai, I really can't wait to see more of her dances and *crosses fingers* maybe even see SnS manifestation.

[Nell]

10/10 Because it's the max. points I could have given :p

I like her design and her attacks are just great. One have to wonder if there is any limit to her dances XD Not to mention, "dance" as a command is quite pretty :love aw, and shikai has become meaningless lately, there are only few shikais which prevent shikai to be totally lame and SnS is one of them.

[Saffire]

9/10. It's extremely pretty and it has some cool techs, but no bankai (at least yet), which makes me sad. Also, for such a flowing blade it's techs are pretty linear.

[Errechan]

It's a nice blade and the ice zanpakutou suits Rukia well and I reckon the dance command is indeed pretty. The zanpakutou has a simple design and the elegance of her sword matches her too but I think I'd rather see what her bankai would look like. So all in all, a deathly beauty. ^^

[snow_white_rose]

10/10. It's beautiful, snow/ice based and has an intelligent wielder... pretty perfect if you ask me.

[SBJ220]

Sode no Shirayuki deserves a 10/10 from me. The abilities aren't exactly stellar just yet, but just watching her twirl it when she first released and the overall design is just beautiful.

[Miranu]

Well I gave it a 3/10, I'M not a Rukia fan, but that's ot the reason :D Ice belongs to Hitsugaya.. it would be better, if SnS would be water element and blue-white.. reflections.. she could use some pretty good tactic, with that ability :D Then she wouldn't need a bankai, to be able to fight in the Winter War. Well that's only my opinion..
/it looks like she's dead by now :O.. no prob Orihime will resurrect her in no time ^^"/
About the look of the sword.. I hate pure white stuff /except Arrancars, and Ogichi/

[Jaimie]

Ice belongs to Hitsugaya..

What? :rolleyes: I'm pretty sure that more than one person is allowed to use an element.

[snow_white_rose]

Ice belongs to Hitsugaya..Because it's not as though both Yamamoto and Momo have fire-based swords or anything...

[Mae]

10/10
Sode no Shirayuki is simply beautiful. Its simplicity and its elegance is so fitting to Rukia. It is kidou based and i feel that its power over ice is very fitting for rukia, dunno, she always seemed like a sort of ice princess to me XD
To call the attacks dances is so ...pretty! I always got the impression that that particular naming done by rukia was "inspired" by kaien's own attacks with nejibana. Doesn't rukia recollect that his grace while wielding his trident looked "dance like" or something?

Overall the power level and its multiple techiniques make shirayuki a very versitile and strong weapon. its beauty and all-white exterior is just eye candy :)

(on the shipper perspective, i love the all white sword! perfectly matched with ichigo's all black zangetsu! <3)

[Lucia]

I gave Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki a 10. I really like how pure-looking it is. It's just an ordinary zanpakatou in un-release form, but it's so beautiful during it's release state. It's unique, elegant, and it fits Rukia so well. Her shikai releases are awesome too. I can't wait to see what her bankai ability look like.

(on the shipper perspective, i love the all white sword! perfectly matched with ichigo's all black zangetsu! <3)

Agreed :)

[aznxenocide]

It's elegant and simple, but not extremely effective in combat, say, compared to Hitsugaya's. That said, it IS gorgeous and all that, but ehh. Grimm wasn't even touched.

[Zale]

hmmm, what to say about rukia's shikai... its rather simple, the layout is simple, it has no colour (white =/= colour) and it remains a katana-like sword... the only thing i like about it are the abilities it has, those give the blade style and elegance... 5/10

[Guildenstern]

Beautiful sword. Multiple-use abilities even in shikai including a poss. OHKO move and a recovery move in case of a broken zanpakuto?

Shirayuki is bordering on hax. 10/10

[SPLENDiD 0NE]

6 becuz its pretty :love :love and becuz something so beautiful doesnt suit her in my opinion :yay

[ChireMae]

6 becuz its pretty :love :love and becuz something so beautiful doesnt suit her in my opinion :yay

:rolleyes: Too bad for you KT didnt agree, the most beautiful Zampaktou for the most beautiful, most pure hearted girl in Bleach :cool:

[Ileenka]

:rolleyes: Too bad for you KT didnt agree, the most beautiful Zampaktou for the most beautiful, most pure hearted girl in Bleach :cool:

Haha. :rotflmao

ChireMae! :eek: It's you again. :D

It puzzles me that someone is telling KT (the author! gasp!) he is wrong for giving the most beautiful zanpakutou to Rukia. :confused:

As we all know zanpakutous represent the soul of a person. Beautiful, pure = Rukia. :nuts

Simple logic in Bleach. :rolleyes:

Sodeno Shirayuki :yay

[kas-chan]

i love rukia so i love her Zanpakutou too!
very pretty Zanpakutou! suite rukia so much!!! >//////////////<

[sasuki-chan]

8/10
I love the design of the sword a lot and it's really pure looking and elegant. Ice is also a element that I like ^_____^
I would have given a 10 if it wasn't so...white. It's too white for me XD .Kubo should have added some light blue on some part of the sword or something because it looks pretty plain with only white (but as some people sad it must been to show the purity of Rukia...)

[Kurouno]

Despite being revealed relatively recently, Sode no Shirayuki is probably one of the most developed Shikai we've seen. Its fairly cool that it is completely white in contrast to Ichigo's black Zangetsu (even though we're comparing a Shikai and a Bankai for the most part).

Moving on to functionality, it is a very versitile weapon, able to attack from below or in a path directly in front of the user. Somehow, I like SnS more than Hyourinmaru (granted, I'm not a big Hitsugaya fan, either). Versatility seems to run fairly thick in the Kuchiki household.

Overall, I give it a 9/10.

[chappyrules]

10/10-it's the most beautiful ice Zanpakutou in ss and it's perfect just like it's owner:p

[RuKia-ChaN]

10/10 I love it, it's so pure, so pwetty, so special just like Rukia. Sode no Shirayuki fits her so perfectly:inlove !!

[袖の白雪]

10/10. It's the most awesome zanpakuto in Bleach with so many attacks. And to add that, it's the most beautiful zanpakuto, totally fitting the owner :inlove

Lol, and my user name is Sode no Shirayuki. What more can I say :D

[Bleu]

10. Its gorgeous, and it gets the job done. I love the different style attacks, and of course, the pure grace of it. It really reflects Rukia in many ways.

Its an amazing zanpakutou.

[Ninira]

I gave it a 9. It's beautiful and amazingly versatile, Rukia could pretty much be a one-woman army with it. But I can't give a ten until I see the bankai!

[EX|pada #0]

Is the most beautiful zanpakutou by far. Plus is strong as well. 10/10

[Grey1x]

10/10 without a doubt. It's so far, my favorite zanpaktou, being the 2nd Hyornimaru. It is so creative. It has lots of techniques and it's really beautiful. It fits Rukia perfectly. Heck, even the name "Sode no Shirayuki" Is cool!
And the techniques :wtf. Beautiful, strong, and cool named :wtf.

[EnSiFeR]

I gave her a 8... it is really strong, it is versatile, got cool names to those cool moves and it is beautiful... I want to see her bankai...

I like Kisuke Urahara´s Benihime more, though..

[tifa]

Her zanpakutou is so beautiful and because of the long, flowing, white ribbon, it really looks like Rukia and her Zanpakutou is dancing when they fight.

(Remembers me of the Yuna sending scene of FF)

[Lax_Duke]

10/10 to the most elegant zanpakuto I know. It's awesome enough without a bankai

[Revan1990]

I gave 8/10...it is a very cool and elegant Zanpaktou, but since its Ice based and so on it, isn't that extraordianry...^^

[MugOTea]

I gave it a 7/10.

It's a beautiful zanpakutou, and it fits Rukia almost perfectly. I really like the Three Dances, and being able to do them in just Shikai form. However, I'm disappointed in the lack of power. That and I kinda expected something different from Rukia .. :\

But overall, it's an awesome zanpakutou. ^^

[HaNa]

10/10 no argument about it :inlove

[Fortunate]

I gave it an 8/10.

Appearance wise, her zanpakuto is very appealing. And I really like the Ice elemental properties (Toshiro's is one of my fav :p).

But of course, no zapakuto is perfect.

Her second and third dances are very effective in battle.

However, after seeing her first dance, you'd have to be a complete idiot to be caught by it. :p

[ch1mera]

10! I don´t need to explain why..

[Shdo]

6\10 its more astetic then some(but beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and have some decent attacks but the second dance which is the most offensive and deadly ability she showed till now simply take too long and cannot be used on top of giant worms. she need to stab the ground four times and it simply take too long for activation during battle and it leave her defensless for a short time.

so i think that 6\10 is a fair score.

[~Vizard/Espada~]

I rated it an 8. I think it is a beautiful Zanpakutou. I can't wait to see what her Bankai would look like.

[S.A.]

I gave it a 10/10. You don't see very many shikais kicking ass, what with bankais flying around left and right for one thing, and her's kicks major ass. Her shikai isn't one of those power types where you have to run around whacking people and it has three Dances including one sword reforging dance when she's in deep trouble, so thats pretty freaking awesome in my book.

Also, one tiny nitpick, Hitsugaya's zanpakutou is a water/ice type while Rukia's is a snow/ice type. It does seem like a tiny difference, but I think that it should be taken into consideration and not ignored. Otherwise, why would it be mentioned even? :)

[Pollux]

Although I don't like it much, I will give it a 8.
I must admit it's really powerful compared to some shikai (Renji's, Ikkaku's and even Ichigo's).
Her first dance does not really seem easy to use as it only affects a small area although the size of the said area might increase as Rukia become stronger. However, it's rather effective (isn't it, D-Roy ?).
The same goes for her second dance, I think.
The third dance, however, is different as it can really take an enemy by surprise as it has been the case against Aa-something.
Also, one tiny nitpick, Hitsugaya's zanpakutou is a water/ice type while Rukia's is a snow/ice type. It does seem like a tiny difference, but I think that it should be taken into consideration and not ignored. Otherwise, why would it be mentioned even? :)
Interesting. I had completely forgotten about it.

[S.A.]

@ Pollux: Yeah, interesting isnt it? If Kubo really wanted it to be an offshoot of Hitsugaya's water/ice type zanpakutou, I dont think he would have specified that Rukia's zanpakutou was a snow/ice type. I can only speculate that this subtle difference is a precursor of whats to come with respect to her zanpakutou ability and its manifestation (a blizzard/snow storm-like fourth dance or a bankai, perhaps).

[ZoneGhost]

I find Sode no Shirayuki to be so completely boring it's amazing. :(

It's ok looking, I suppose, but other than that it just seems a bit banale. I'd have expected a better weapon for someone who is actually a main character, perhaps something a little more interesting...

3/10

[Ogihci]

i don't like it all that much it doesn't appeal to me, only thing that got me was the reforming of the broken blade with an ice blade...nice way to surprise kill an opponent. thing is i don't like rukia, she's lacking in a vital aspect...but the pic of her here..0.0 god damn!!! fappage material!!

[earthforge]

I love Sode no Shirayuki. I honestly wish I could have it, because it is incredible. Snow and ice are elements that fit Rukia extremely well. Besides, the sword is beutiful inside and outside. It reflects Rukia's calm soul well. Refined, elegant, and pure are her best characteristics which are reflected in her sword.

10/10. Both Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki deserve it.

[AnimeFantasyFan]

I say 10/10- never before has white been so purdy.

Tactically, it's one of the best out there: it's got a long-range, close-range, and melee attack capabilities. What more could you ask for?

Well, besides some color. But still- it's named Sleeve's White Snow- so of course it's bound to be white. And an ice/snow element.

I'd rather have Sode no Shirayuki with me going into a fight than any other zanpakutou out there, so that's why I give it a 10/10. :D

[Budo]

I like this Zanpakuto. I think it's one of the coolest in bleach. I wonder what its spirit would look like, though I presume it's something inanimate, like Byakuya's senbonzakura.

[Mad_Scientist]

@ Pollux: Yeah, interesting isnt it? If Kubo really wanted it to be an offshoot of Hitsugaya's water/ice type zanpakutou, I dont think he would have specified that Rukia's zanpakutou was a snow/ice type. I can only speculate that this subtle difference is a precursor of whats to come with respect to her zanpakutou ability and its manifestation (a blizzard/snow storm-like fourth dance or a bankai, perhaps).

Huh, that's a distinction I hadn't noticed before, interesting.

Maybe Kubo did that so that when/if he reveals Rukia's bankai, he can make it more powerful than Hitsugaya's, without contradicting himself regarding Histsugaya's being the most powerful water/ice type zanpactou. Cause Rukia's wouldn't be a water/ice type. :)

[S.A.]

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I wouldn't go as far as to say that her bankai (if and when she achieves it) would be or not be more powerful than Hitsugaya's (that lies in the realm of wild speculation) but I do think that Kubo made that distinction so as to not put a cap on Rukia's potential and growth as a warrior. It would be a bit anticlimactic if you already knew that the 'most powerful water/ice zanpakutou' was wielded by another character even before you see the full potential of Rukia's growth, no? I can only fathom a guess that Kubo put in the snow/ice - water/ice distinction so as to not have any loopholes surrounding a possible Rukia power up in the future. :)

[the_cobbinator]

I love the looks, but usefulness is really debatable. There aren't many HC fighters that would stand there and let themselves get hit. It lacks serious versatility when it comes to techniques, but that doesn't change the fact it's still gorgeous to look at.

6/10. :)

[ashido fan]

10 of course! it's simply pure white gorgeous and kicks ass! :XD

[ZoneGhost]

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I wouldn't go as far as to say that her bankai (if and when she achieves it) would be or not be more powerful than Hitsugaya's (that lies in the realm of wild speculation) but I do think that Kubo made that distinction so as to not put a cap on Rukia's potential and growth as a warrior. It would be a bit anticlimactic if you already knew that the 'most powerful water/ice zanpakutou' was wielded by another character even before you see the full potential of Rukia's growth, no? I can only fathom a guess that Kubo put in the snow/ice - water/ice distinction so as to not have any loopholes surrounding a possible Rukia power up in the future. :)

I really doubt that the distinction is all that people are making it out to be. Besides, throughout the series we have been told that Rukia is just a middling shinigami so her attaining bankai should be impossible.

[Shdo]

i dont think the snow\ice vs water\ice is really a good argument, the ice is the general type and the water\snow is the 'way' for the ice to work. hitsugaya dragons have water like appearance and freeze only after they hit you while rukia 'snow' is doing the same thing basicly (freezing) but with a more light\snow beam that freeze you.
now hitsugaya have the strongest water\ice zanpakutou's and that is not really related to her blade strength, its like saying who is stronger, ikkaku or renji shikai? they are both power based but have their diffrances, in the end its the user and the techniques that are used at the moment, against the techniques that the opponent use at the moment.

[S.A.]

I am not making any 'who is more/less powerful' argument here. I was merely pointing out the subtle distinction in their zanpakutou types and wondering why that may be. That is all. :)

[Shdo]

I am not making any 'who is more/less powerful' argument here. I was merely pointing out the subtle distinction in their zanpakutou types and wondering why that may be. That is all. :)

most likely because snow is prettier then water and if TK wants her zanpaktou to be the most pretty one with (ice power) its the best option. actually i think its the only one as well.

[penguin]

badass just like rukia :yell

[Heliophage]

Eight.

It's a wonderful zanpakutou, and offers some of the most attractive abilities, but it seems almost... context sensitive. She needs to practice and develop a new dance for each possible scenario, and it's a bit of a limiting factor.

Di Roy would have been fine had he not moved above her; AaroniKaien proved that her second dance could be easily avoided as well, and Aaroniblob would never have been harmed by her third dance had he not been in such close proximity. It's flexibility as a zanpakutou depends solely on how many creative ways she can plan on using it beforehand.

There's little to no room at all for spontaneity on the battlefield.

[CooWings]

I have always been intrigued about Sode No Shirayuki. On the account that we have not seen its full capabilities and form yet, as well as its maximum power and most effective use, I think it's very suitable for Kuchiki Rukia. Shirayuki fits her personality.

Hard and solid, yet elegance is richly embedded within. I agree with some of the posts before that versatility and attack power is debatable, but I trust Rukia will find a way or the other to counter its own . . . off-points, or weakness if you would call it.

All in all, it possess potential like the next zanpakutou. 8 out of 1O.

[Tsuru]

Pretty looking, but otherwise it is lametastic currently with easy to avoid abilities due to how underpowered Rukia is in general, she was only allowed really managed to beat Mr Tenticlesexface due to his acting overly cocky; which left him open to get owned in the face with the 3rd dance.

I think Mr Kubo has something against her having any development.