Quincy (Mekkakushi)

I. Overview

The Quincy (滅却師 – Mekkakushi) are a tribe of spiritually-gifted humans able to sense, gather, and weaponize ambient reishi rather than generating reiryoku within themselves.
They trace their lineage to Yhwach, the Father of All Quincy, who divided his soul among followers to create a race of hunters devoted to purifying Hollows through annihilation rather than cleansing.

At the anime’s start (STI 0.0 – “The Kurosaki Disturbance”), the Quincy are officially believed extinct — wiped out by Soul Society centuries earlier to preserve the balance of souls.
In truth, two remnants endure: the surface survivors living quietly among humans, and the hidden empire, the Wandenreich, slumbering in the shadows beneath Seireitei.


II. Philosophy & Doctrine

  • The Quincy believe all existence stems from Order through Light.

  • Hollows represent corruption; destroying them restores purity.

  • The Soul Cycle, maintained by Shinigami, is seen as flawed, allowing darkness to recycle endlessly.

  • Their creed: “Cleanse by erasure, not by forgiveness.”


III. Structure of Quincy Society (Surface Era)

High Bloodline Clans (灭却貴族 – Mekkaku Kizoku)

  • Ishida Clan: Ancient line maintaining purity doctrines in secrecy (Japan).

  • Schrader Line / Germanic Branches: European nobles preserving archives of Yhwach’s scripture.

  • Weissritter Families: Scattered survivors intermarried with spiritually-aware humans.

Each family maintains shrines called Heilig Hallen, where relics of the old empire (crosses, silver bows, and scripts) are kept.

Common Quincy Remnants

  • Individuals or small groups trained through oral tradition, wielding personalized Quincy Crosses.

  • Operate independently, avoiding both Shinigami and Human spiritualists.

  • The most prominent example: Ryuuken Ishida and Uryū Ishida in Karakura Town.


IV. Military Doctrine (Historical Reference)

Hierarchy of the Old Order:

  • Emperor (Heilig König): Yhwach — sealed a millennium ago.

  • Großmeister (Grand Master): Leaders of continental Quincy coalitions.

  • Kirchenritter (Church Knights): Elite crusaders; ancestors of the future Sternritter.

  • Heilig Ritter: Ordinary warriors trained in archery and reishi control.

  • Schüler: Apprentices taught the Six Forms of Heilig Technik.


V. Techniques & Abilities

  • Heilig Bogen (Holy Bow): Manifested reishi weapon; the Quincy’s signature arm.

  • Heilig Pfeil (Holy Arrow): Condensed particle bolts capable of destroying Hollows instantly.

  • Hirenkyaku: High-speed reishi glide technique (Quincy equivalent of Shunpo).

  • Blut: Reishi infusion into blood vessels — Blut Vene (defense) and Blut Arterie (offense).

  • Seele Schneider: Energy-saw blade used for both combat and reishi absorption.

  • Ransōtengai: String technique allowing movement when paralyzed.

“To control the light, one must understand darkness first.”