One of the underlying routes to any fighting game’s success is a roster of recognizable characters, andBleach Rebirth of Soulsmakes it happen by hosting a ton of memorable fighters from the series. However, only a few among them are in the same league as Sosuke Aizen, and his moveset, much like his intellect in the show, feels like a tier above the rest.

Aizen ditches some of the game’s fundamentals, like switching out the usual Spiritual Power Gauge to a stock-based alternative, which may initially feel challenging to get used to. Still, there’s no doubt that players will be eager to try him out, and if you understand how he plays, you can definitely expect more than a few wins to come your way.

Sosuke Aizen lifting his sword for a strike in Bleach Rebirth of Souls.

Assault

Forward + Y/Triangle

Approach and slash at the opponent. Sends the opponent flying on hit, letting you make some distance between you.

Hado Number 54: Haien

(When Stocked Spiritual Power is above 2) Forward + Y/Triangle

Unleashes a Haien forward. Boasts a fine balance of speed and power.

Sosuke Aizen cutting through an opponent in Bleach Rebirth of Souls.

Hado Number 91: Senjukoten Taiho

(When Stocked Spiritual Power is above 4) Forward + Y/Triangle

Unleashes a Senjukoten Taiho forward. Hold to switch between this and Hado Number 54: Haien. Slow to activate, but extremely powerful.

Sosuke Aizen reaching his Awakening state in Bleach Rebirth of Souls.

Powerful Spiritual Pressure

B/Circle

Unleashes a shockwave forward when the button is released, or enough time passes. Taking an attack while in this stance makes you unleash a powerful shockwave, after which Spiritual Power instantly starts filling at max speed.

A Process of Evolution

(During Hogyoku Fusion - Second Phase) B/Circle

Unleashes a shockwave forward when the button is released, or enough time passes. Taking an attack while in this stance makes you unleash a powerful shockwave, after which you gain a lot of Fighting Spirit.

El Escudo

LT/L2 + Y/Triangle

Erect a wall of Spiritual Pressure around yourself. Activating this drains the Guard Gauge continuously and prevents flinching from enemy attacks.

Hado Number 90: Kurohitsugi

(When Stocked Spiritual Power is above 1) LT/L2 + B/Circle

Starts with a forward sweep with Breaker properties. Unblockable, though it lacks range. The following Kurohitsugi increases when more Stocked Spiritual Power is consumed.

Sosuke Aizen sealing an opponent in a black box in Bleach Rebirth of Souls.

Standing at the Top

Destroys 3 Konpaku.

Sosuke Aizen In Offline And Online Matches

The first thing you need to understand about Aizen is hisstock-type Spiritual Gauge replacing the normal one. This can fill up to five stocks, andeach stock gain changes your attack properties, including your damage output, range, and speed. It also acts as a gateway to doing different attacks with the same input.

Unlike other characters, you don’t get to Awakenthe first time your Fighting Spirit reaches its maximum; instead, you enter the second state of Hogyoku Fusion. Here,you gain a new Special Flash Attack and Signature Movewith increased range and damage output. Once you get to this state, you’re essentially a powerhouse, sofocus on being offensiveand regularly utilizing those new moves.

Sosuke Aizen’s shrouded in purple aura while entering his Reawakened state in Bleach Rebirth of Souls.

You cannot use your Spiritual Gauge in Hogyoku Fusion’s second state.

However,Aizen’s most prominent exclusive ability is the Kyoka Suigetsu. If you press specific inputs when certain characters are performing Kikon moves, you may consume two Reverse Gauge bars andnegate Konpaku destruction once per battle. This means you can save anywhere between two and five Konpaku, depending on the opponent’s state.

Sosuke Aizen’s attacking an opponent in his Reawakened state in Bleach Rebirth of Souls.

Onto the attacks themselves,they’re all fairly safe with respectable damage figures, but the ability you should use the most is El Escudo. By consuming Guard Gauge,it eliminates any knockback from opponents, letting you effortlessly tank their hits while dishing out combos of your own.

Overall, though, the main goal is toreserve your Spiritual Gauge stocks for heavy-hitting attacks, especially Hado Number 91, which has tremendously high speed and range for a Flash Attack.

El Escudo finishes when your Guard Gauge reaches 0, putting you in Guard Break.

(When Sublimation is active) Hold RT/R2

Destroys 5 Konpaku.

Awakened Sosuke Aizen In Offline And Online Matches

Getting Aizen to hisAwakened stateis comparatively much harder sinceyou have to fill the Fighting Spirit Gauge twice, but the result is a character who’snoticeably strongerthan everyone in the roster.

The move list isnearly identical to his base version, with the only differences beingno additional Hogyoku Fusion state, stronger Kikon Moves, and, of course, atremendous speed and damage buffto all the attacks.

Every combo now doesanywhere between 35 and 50 percent additional damage, with Aizen able to chain even more attacks together for extending combos.

There’sno need to save up too many stocks at this pointbecause the base damage output is more than enough to destroy Konpaku within two or three full combos. Using El Escudo is still reliable and effective, but it’s better to use itonly when your Guard Gauge is almost full.

Sword Pressure

Has a wide attack range and excellent activation, making it perfect for keeping foes at bay from mid-range.

Origins of Spiritual Pressure

Take an attack at just the right time and counter by slamming a ball of Spiritual Power into the opponent.

Power Transcending Soul Reaper and Hollow

Release Spiritual Power, then sweep your blade while rushing forward. Fast activation makes this attack perfect for a combo finisher or an assault.

LT/L2 + B/Circle

A forward sweep with Breaker properties. Unblockable, though it lacks range. When it hits, it unleashes a Kurohitsugi with devastating power.

Reawakened Sosuke Aizen In Offline And Online Matches

Reawakened Aizen is arguably the scariest thing in Bleach Rebirth of Souls.Your Spiritual Power is always maxed out, and does not go down, meaning you canendlessly spam your Spiritual Power attacksin their peak forms.

You can only reach Aizen’s Reawakened state after being defeated in your Awakened state with a full Sublimation Gauge.

Sword Pressure, Aizen’s new Special Flash Attack, is undoubtedly his best button. It has a deceptively high range, is safe on block, and has exceptionally quick startup frames,often catching opponents off guard. It’s also a brilliant starter attack totransition into full-length combos with Flash Step.