u/Willing-Town8171

every single Base Captain can match Base ESpada 7-5 while Ichigo needs Bankai to do the same thing, Byakuya for example had no issues matching Base zommari while in Base while Ichigo was getting overpowered by Base Grimmjow while in Bankai.

for most Shinigami, the progression feels like:

Base → Shikai → Bankai

But with Ichigo, especially during the Arrancar arc, it almost feels like:

Shikai = his default sword

Bankai = his actual combat form

Bankai + Hollow Mask = his “real Bankai” narratively

Ichigo uses Tensa Zangetsu so often that Bankai stops feeling like a major release and starts feeling like his standard fighting state.

I think the Hollow Mask also contributes to this, because it basically becomes the transformation that gives Ichigo the kind of dramatic power jump Bankai normally gives other Shinigami.

Do you think this affects how people scale Bankai Ichigo compared to other characters?