Ulquiorra

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ulquiorra (乌尔奇奥拉)
Alias(es)	Ulquiorra Cifer
Species/Race	Menos Grande; later an Arrancar
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Akatsuki
Occupation/Role	Akatsuki combatant; ranked second within the organization
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 454

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
White humanoid Menos Grande	454	Encountered by Stark and Ayato in Hueco Mundo; possesses unusual rationality and the potential to become an Arrancar.
Incomplete Arrancar attempts	455	Repeatedly tears off his mask and attempts to condense a weapon, but the mask regenerates and the transformation fails.
Arrancar	457	Stabilizes a Zanpakuto-like weapon during his battle with Barragan; his base form concentrates part of his power into the blade.
First Resurrección — Black Winged Great Demon	457	Releases black wings, a horned helmet, claws, and vastly greater spiritual pressure; surpasses Barragan and defeats him.
Second Resurrección — Black Winged Great Demon	494 495	Awakens while trapped in Yamamoto’s flames; gains a further major increase in spiritual pressure and becomes a peak captain-class opponent.
Akatsuki’s second-ranked combatant	500	Ranked below Kenpachi Zaraki and above Stark following the organization’s ranking battles.

Background / History

Ulquiorra was originally an unusual white Menos Grande. After being ostracized by other Hollows, he had already broken part of his mask before meeting Coyote Starrk and Ayato; this prior break later reduced the difficulty of his Arrancar transformation. Stark invited him to become a companion, and Ulquiorra agreed out of curiosity about companionship rather than attachment to the idea itself. 454 474

Under Ayato’s guidance, Ulquiorra repeatedly attempted to remove his mask and form a weapon, but his early transformations failed when the mask regenerated. During the confrontation with Barragan at Las Noches, he forced a breakthrough under pressure, becoming an Arrancar and releasing his Resurrección. His increased speed, strength, and spiritual pressure allowed him to defeat Barragan, though Ulquiorra recognized that a prolonged battle would have remained dangerous due to Barragan’s aging ability. 455 457 458

After mastering control of his spiritual pressure, Ulquiorra traveled to the Living World at Ayato’s instruction to “experience life” and find his heart. Kisuke Urahara provided him with a Gigai, and Ulquiorra enrolled at Karakura First High School, where he observed Ichigo Kurosaki and his classmates. Orihime Inoue’s willingness to protect Tatsuki despite fear especially puzzled him and became part of his effort to understand human emotions. 475 476 477

Ulquiorra later accompanied Ichigo’s group into Soul Society under a spiritual-pressure-concealing cloak. Although initially concerned that exposure as an Arrancar would bring severe consequences, he repeatedly protected Chad, Orihime, Uryu, Ganju, and others. After Ichimaru Gin exposed his Hollow hole, Ulquiorra chose to remain and fight for Rukia’s rescue. 482 487 488 491

He defeated Kaname Tōsen and Komamura Sajin, then confronted Captain-Commander Yamamoto. Nearly consumed by Yamamoto’s flames, Ulquiorra heard Ichigo calling for him and achieved Second Resurrección rather than surrendering. He survived only because an unknown figure interrupted Yamamoto’s final attack. 492 493 494 495

Returning to Hueco Mundo, Ulquiorra participated in Akatsuki’s ranking battle. His Second Resurrección allowed him to overcome Stark, though Kenpachi Zaraki subsequently defeated him; the final rankings placed Ulquiorra second among Akatsuki’s fighters. He later argued that Hueco Mundo should have the right to intervene in the affairs of the Three Realms, showing a growing concern for his homeland’s future. 499 500 507

Appearance

Ulquiorra is initially a human-sized, entirely white Menos with ordinary-looking eyes beneath his mask. After becoming an Arrancar, he retains a slender build, pale skin, short black hair, and dark green tear tracks beneath his eyes. 454 455

• His Arrancar base form wears a white high-collared coat with black trim, white hakama, and a wide black sash. 457
• A horned, helmet-like fragment of Hollow mask covers the left side of his head after Arrancarfication. 457 475
• His Hollow hole is located at the center of his collarbone. 475
• In Resurrección, he manifests immense black wings, a horned helmet, long black claws, and a white robe. 457
• In Second Resurrección, his body becomes black, black fluid streams from his eyes, his sclera turn green, his pupils become golden, and his helmet becomes demonic horns. 494

Personality

Ulquiorra begins as emotionally detached, aloof, and unable to understand companionship, fear, or the reasons humans risk themselves for others. He is nevertheless rational and polite, readily answering Urahara’s questions and seeking guidance when he does not understand something. 454 476 515

His time in the Living World gradually makes him more curious about the heart and emotions. He observes Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, and Uryu to understand why they draw power from the desire to protect others. This curiosity develops into action: he begins eliminating especially evil Hollows, protects Ichigo’s group in Soul Society, and eventually risks exposure to fight beside them. 477 479 488 491

Ulquiorra remains calm even when facing death. During his fight with Yamamoto, he accepts that he may die, but his memories of his companions and Ichigo’s concern give him the resolve to break through into Second Resurrección. 494 495

Abilities & Skills

Arrancar Physiology

Ulquiorra combines Hollow and Shinigami-like power after becoming an Arrancar, allowing him to condense a weapon from his own body and release the power sealed within it. 455 457

• His Arrancar transformation initially concentrates part of his power into his Zanpakuto-like weapon, making his base spiritual pressure appear lower than his former Hollow state. 457
• His Hollow nature makes Quincy techniques comparatively less effective against him. 521
• Quincy badges can steal Shinigami Bankai, but no evidence shows them stealing an Arrancar’s Resurrección. 515

Cero Techniques

Ulquiorra can fire powerful Hollow spiritual-energy attacks, including variants used against captain-class opponents. 456 493 495

• Cero — His emerald-green Cero was initially weaker than Barragan’s. 456
• Gran Rey Cero — A compressed green beam and his strongest Cero technique; used against Yamamoto’s flaming hand. 493
• Black Cero — Used as his final attack against Yamamoto after reaching Second Resurrección. 495

Moonlight Sword

Ulquiorra condenses emerald-green weapons from spiritual pressure, using them as thrown spears or close-combat light blades. 456 457

• He can form and throw multiple Moonlight Swords in rapid succession. 456 457
• His Resurrección greatly increases their speed, sharpness, and spiritual power. 457
• He used a Moonlight Sword to sever his decaying arm before regenerating it. 456
• He used repeated light-sword attacks to wound and defeat Komamura through Kokujō Tengen Myō’ō. 492
• Barragan’s aging aura can dissolve the swords by aging their spiritual power. 456 457

Sonido

Ulquiorra uses Sonido for high-speed movement and evasion. 456 489

• He escaped Barragan’s pursuit and avoided Barragan’s Respira. 456 457
• Its distinctive property allows him to vanish from an opponent’s senses, which proved particularly effective against Tōsen. 457 489
• Ulquiorra acknowledges that his Sonido is inferior to Yoruichi’s Flash Step and may not surpass Byakuya’s movement speed. 488

High-Speed Regeneration

As a Menos Grande, Ulquiorra can regenerate severe bodily injuries. 456

• After Barragan’s aging aura began consuming his left arm, he severed the infected limb and regenerated it visibly. 456
• Regeneration cannot prevent Barragan’s decay from continuing through material already affected by the aging aura. 457

Steel Skin

Ulquiorra can harden his body to withstand direct physical attacks. 492

• He used Steel Skin to defend himself inside Tōsen’s sensory-deprivation Bankai, Enma Kōrogi. 492

Resurrección and Second Resurrección

Ulquiorra’s release forms dramatically amplify his spiritual pressure, speed, strength, and combat options. 457 495

• Resurrección: “Seal, Black Winged Great Demon!” — Gives him black wings, aerial mobility, claws, and spiritual pressure surpassing Barragan’s. 457
• He can use his wings as durable shields; they blocked Yamamoto’s strike even after being cut. 495
• Second Resurrección: “Black Winged Great Demon!” — Achieved while enduring Yamamoto’s flames and raises his power by another full level. 494 495
• His Second Resurrección enabled him to overturn his battle against Stark during Akatsuki’s ranking match. 499 500

Immunity to Fear

Ulquiorra lacks fear as an emotion, rendering him unaffected by As Nodt’s The Fear. 515

• As Nodt’s arrows fail to instill terror in him. 515
• As Nodt becomes unstable and resorts to Vollständig after realizing his ability cannot affect Ulquiorra. 515

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Zanpakuto-like weapon — Condensed during his Arrancar transformation; it resembles Ayato’s Mirror of Tranquil Water and serves as the sealed form of his power. 455 457
• Gigai — Obtained from Kisuke Urahara for living and attending school in the Living World. 475 476
• Spiritual-pressure-concealing cloak — Made by Urahara for his entry into Soul Society; destroyed when Ichimaru Gin exposes Ulquiorra’s Hollow identity. 482 491

Relationships

• Ayato — Mentor, leader, and trusted companion. Ayato guides Ulquiorra’s Arrancar transformation and sends him to the Living World to seek his heart. 455 457 476
• Coyote Starrk — First companion and fellow Arrancar. Stark finds Ulquiorra in Hueco Mundo and brings him into their group; they later become friendly rivals in Akatsuki’s rankings. 454 499 500
• Kisuke Urahara — Living World contact and guide. Urahara provides Ulquiorra with a Gigai, explains Hell Gate, and asks him to protect Ichigo’s group in Soul Society. 475 476 479 482
• Ichigo Kurosaki — Classmate and eventual companion. Ulquiorra observes Ichigo to understand the human heart, later fights beside him, and awakens Second Resurrección after hearing Ichigo call for him. 477 494 495
• Orihime Inoue — Classmate whose selflessness sparks Ulquiorra’s curiosity about courage and emotion. 477 479
• Yoruichi Shihouin — Temporary ally during the Soul Society rescue operation. The two divide responsibility for protecting Ichigo’s group. 487 488
• Barragan — Former opponent and Hueco Mundo’s self-proclaimed king. Ulquiorra defeats him after becoming an Arrancar and releasing Resurrección. 456 457 458
• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni — Overwhelming opponent who forces Ulquiorra into Second Resurrección. 493 494 495
• Kuchiki Byakuya — Initially an enemy in Soul Society; later briefly cooperates with Ulquiorra against the Quincy. 488 516
• As Nodt — Quincy opponent whose fear-based ability Ulquiorra completely counters. 515

Trivia

• Ulquiorra’s extremely brief self-introduction at Karakura First High School leaves his teacher unable to draw further information from him. 477
• He initially plans to wait outside Urahara Shop for days rather than arrange lodging while his Gigai is prepared. 476
• He views Soul Society’s living conditions as only marginally better than Hueco Mundo’s and questions why Hell has no active force to deal with evil souls. 479 487