I'm back from work and now I'm answering your questions
We should apply logic when scaling, otherwise, everyone would end up scaling to everyone. For example, Ulquiorra is weaker than Yammy, as confirmed by multiple sources, and he was getting bullied by eyepatch-on Zaraki. So how can anyone claim that Ulquiorra scales to true-power Shikai Zaraki (4A), two arcs later, when he couldn’t even be argued to be above restricted Arrancar-arc Zaraki? We should use scaling first, not some statements here and there.
There is also evidence to the contrary of Yammy>Uluqiorra.
If you are talking about databook statements, they are not just the author's words. Character thoughts are also written. Since Yammy states that he sees himself as stronger than Nnoitra, Grimmjow and Uluqiorra, the same statement is written in the databook.
Apart from that, he is called the strongest because he is the 0th Espada. But Espada numbers are not only about power. Killing skills, Reiatsu, the type of death they represent, etc. For example, Grimmjow is the 6th Espada because 6 represents destruction. Grimmjow was not kicked out of Espada because he lost his arm and lost power. He was kicked out because he lost the arm that the number 6 was written on. Luppi Antenor, who replaced Grimmjow, also has the number 6. It was stated in the novel that those with the same number represent the same type of death. Dordoni, Halibel and Nel represent sacrifice. So Halibel being number 3 and Grimmjow being number 6 does not mean Halibel>Grimmjow. Grimmjow, Diaz who was thrown out of 1-Armed Espada, showed better feats than Yammy, Zommari, AA and Halibel.
So if you ask what proves Uluqiorra>Yammy:
1) Ichigo can damage Yammy even with his Hollow Mask form when he is nerfed. He can't even use hollow power properly. The proof that Shinigami powers are nerfed is that his suit is damaged, which is brought up when talking to Unohana. SE Uluqiorra's form can use all Arrancar powers and not just a mask on his face but his entire body is covered with hollow power. You can say that Yammy with the anti-feat here is not Prime Yammy. However, Espada number 0 appeared in this form. The strongest Espada statements were used just because he was Espada 0. He claimed to be stronger than Uluqiorra in this form. Grimmjow also claimed to be weaker than Base Uluqiorra but stronger than him. Nnoitra claimed that he was the best. We shouldn't care about the characters bragging about themselves.
2) In the novel, it was stated that Cien was superior to Yammy, and Cien destroyed the dome where the battle was held so that Roka wouldn't copy VL Ichigo and Uluqiorra's powers. He did this specifically by saying "did you think I forgot that?" He is the character who surpassed Starrk and Barragan, but he is afraid of the power of Espada number 4 and VL Ichigo. This alone shows that you shouldn't care about the number thing.
If you ask me, the numbers are only related to the type of death they represent. We can also think that Aizen lied to them and associated them with power.
3) In the Q&A on Kubo Outside, it was confirmed that the numbers are related to the type of death they represent.
- According to Q&A #553 by Tite Kubo on his fansite "Klub Outside", an Espada's aspect of death corresponds to their number; thus, Nelliel's aspect of death was "sacrifice", the same as that of Harribel. This directly contradicts Bleach: Brave Souls, in which it is shown that Nelliel's aspect of death is lamentation. Meanwhile, BLEACH Rebirth of Souls shows "sacrifice" as Nelliel's aspect of death in her character trailer—which is consistent with the answer provided on "Klub Outside."
Also, I don't find databook-like sources about the Bleach series very reliable. Some sources say that all Espada are Vasto Lords. But we all know that's not true. At the very least, we know that Aaroniero Arruruerie is a Menos Grande.
He also writes statements like Grimmjow has surpassed his own race. We are sure that Barragan and Uluqiorra are stronger than Grimmjow, though.
And then what cements it is Ichigo quite literally crushing and dispelling Lanza, which is stronger than Gran Rey which is stronger than Oscuras which is 10x R2 Ulq’s normal cero/AP output….with one hand/claw
There is a feature that is overlooked a lot about Arrancars. They can do Partial Resurrection. Just like
Grimmjow did when he cut Askin's gift balls. Vasto Lord Ichigo was able to transform his
hand and hold Lanza Del Relampago.
4. The movie is considered non-canon in this wiki. But at least the Uluqiorra vs Vasto Lord fight can be considered canon. Kubo stated that he liked the Uluqiorra vs VL part of the movie and wanted to do it like that. I don't have the scan but as far as I remember he used the word "omission". If we use the movie version, it seems that they are more relative in the movie. But even without the movie, it can be upgraded to at least Cero and Lanza Del Relampago.
For point 1.) Striped Mask Ichigo was constantly wavering, but Full Hollow Ichigo might not scale above the peak Striped Mask Ichigo (the one that was able to damage and wound Aizen…the one who Aizen said has ‘magnificent’ reiatsu and said potentially could’ve killed him if he struck right).
We know that Hollow Zangetsu was still in Full Hollow form in Ichigo’s inner world and Ichigo draws on the current power of his inner hollow. Usually he was wavering but in those moments against Aizen he was fully resolved and possibly tapping into the ‘full power’ (air quotes) of his Hollow Zan spirit.
During FKT, Ichigo was mentally nerfed, this was stated by Kubo. Due to the mental nerf, his Hollow Mask state was weakened. The fact that the eyes went black while in Hollow Mask proves this. The eyes turned black only for a short time when he was able to fight Aizen, but that was also very short-lived. Also, covering the entire body with hollow power causes a much greater increase than just having a hollow mask on the face. Another proof of the Mental Nerf throughout the arc is when Isshin tells Ichigo during the training in the dangai dimension that he can't focus on his zanpakutou.
2.) With the Uryu point, he never sensed Yama or Unohana in a battle ready sense or where they were exerting any spiritual energy. As for Aizen, he used some power, but he had the line of ‘it’s hard not to crush an ant when you step on it’ or something like that, meaning he was purposefully holding himself back as much as possible to not kill anyone. The most devastating attack he did was a Hado 90 at 1/3 power which ended up doing less damage to Komamura than Aizen’s sword slash did to Komamura’s Bankai…against a stronger Komamura, highlighting how suppressed he was.
Uryu stated that SE Uluqiorra was stronger than anyone he had ever seen. The same goes for SE Uluqiorra, even though he didn't see Yamamoto and Unohana fighting. I don't know where it says that Aizen used 1/3 strength kido against Komamura. But Aizen's 1/3 should still be somewhere in tier 4. At worst, SE Uluqiorra's physical AP and Durability would scale to Aizen's 1/3 strength kido. According to the other things I've mentioned, it would be more correct to get physical AP-Dura directly to 4-A, but I'm writing this in case it's not accepted.
Also, going back to Uluqiorra vs Yammy, Uryu didn't change his mind about Uluqiorra when he saw Yammy. You could say that Uryu didn't see Yammy's final form, but considering that he's descending from the Dome, he will definitely see it. Mayuri also stayed there to work on Yammy's body
Won’t touch on point 3 cuz I haven’t read the novel, just some of the scaling. Only thing I will say is that Squad 0 are likely 4-A (scaling to the Squad 0 level of 4-A and not the Gremmy upscale) after they go through their soul king enhanced training methods and rituals. But I haven’t read the novel to see the context on if Kenpachi 7 could and should upscale from Gremmy too due to chain scaling
I don't think they are Squad 0 level after going through the training and rituals. They already take those with that level of power with them. Since they are strong, it would be easier for them to go through this training. In the novel, it says that he was invited directly because of his power. If it was stated that he was invited because of his talent, it would be thought that he would be at that level as a result of the training.
And for point 4.) Ichigo didn’t have to fight the Full Hollow Zangetsu to learn Dangai, he has to fight the Full Hollow Zangetsu fused with Quincy Zangetsu. We don’t really know how fusion works in Bleach but it’s likely an entirely different realm of power than QZ and HZ individually
There seemed to be something in the series that proved Full Hollow Zangetsu>Quincy Zangetsu. I'll look into it again.
vsbattles.fandom.com
then why are you using it to argue, it's just hearsay at that point..... I'll try and find it myself later and translate it to clear up confusion regarding the scan tho
vsbattles.com
