Tropes in Bleach: The War of Four


 * A-Team Firing: Averted in the case of V-14's victims, as just about every shot they land hits at least a part of their target. Poor, poor 10th Division...
 * Played straight in the engagement between Genesis Holmes and Daigomi Bandai, as well as several other instances where major characters get into gun battles.
 * Affably Evil: Most of the V-14 qualify as this, as they have rather upbeat and pleasant personalities to go with their dangerous and dirty deeds.
 * All For Nothing: You'd think that after realizing that the V-14 were able to handle themselves, despite Yashin Shiyōnin knowing everything there is to know about them, that the Inner Circle's attempts to use such information would be considered pointless.
 * Shou believes this applied to the invasion of the Black Blood Sect's HQ, although this has yet to be confirmed.
 * All Your Base Are Belong To Us: The Inner Circle's attack on the Sect's HQ and Aizen's attack on Empresa.
 * Authority Equals Asskicking: Just about everyone with a commander's role in the battle qualifies.
 * Artistic License - Gun Safety: Most of the V-14 don't seem to have earplugs while using their firearms, and the prolonged gun-fighting they're involved in would render their hands arthritic.
 * Ax Crazy: Hyōryū shows her girly side... when she's about to blow away the 10th Division with one of her most dangerous weapons ever.
 * Badass: Probably anyone who has dialogue, barring mooks and cannon fodder.
 * Badass Army: Averted in the case of the 10th Division. When they surround the V-14 complex, having both firearms and blades to boot, all of them get slaughtered shortly afterwards by the four-man squad, with the exception of Shindō.
 * Badass Boast: This happens quite a few times, the most notable ones coming from Oliver.
 * Badass In Distress: The V-14 Alpha/Beta Team nearly end up getting killed by Shindō and Yashin before being bailed out by Sakura and the Gamma Team.
 * Badass Longcoat: Angelika Hartmann and Shadō Kariudo.
 * Berserk Button: Attack the men under Shindō's command, and he will not hesitate to declare murderous justice on you. This goes for Angelika, too.
 * This happens when Mōshin Tenmō goads Oliver Holmes into yelling bloody murder while unleashing literal hell upon him with his heavy duty guns, albeit with no affect.
 * ​This also happens later when the "Truth" about Angelika's past being involved and directly responsible for countless lost, including his mentor and friend, Sousuke. In a blind fit of rage, Daisuke lashes out and delivers a near fatal blow and threatens to make Angelika suffer for the countless lives lost due to her previous line of employment, not stopping his attacks even when facing against Shou.
 * Becoming The Mask: In his past, Yusuke was a Stepford Smiler after the death of his parents. In time, though, he found it much easier to smile and be happy than continue grieving.
 * Be Yourself: Oliver believes in this to the most extreme degree.
 * Bishōnen: Shindō could qualify for this. Shou and Yusuke, as well. It is even lampshaded constantly on Yusuke's part - and the reason where he got the nickname "skirts".
 * Bling Bling Bang: Angelika's golden HCA-50 Kidō pistol.
 * Daigomi revealed the same weapon when fighting against the Daitenshi tasked in capturing/killing him, despite controversial denial of the weapon being rare.
 * Brainwashed: If you look at it from a technical point of view, the Punisher actually did this to the Daitenshi in order to ensure their loyalty towards her.
 * Bring It Back Alive: Angelika may or may not have ordered for Shou to capture Daigomi alive.
 * Catch This!: Mōshin does this to the Nihilist when merely slicing his glave across space...and caused anything within its range to be destroyed uttterly, causing Nihilist to believe it a force needed for his trump card to repel.
 * The Cartel: In terms of the Inner Circle.
 * Celebrity Is Overrated: Angelika does not want to be the head of a criminal empire due to her personal belief of all empires falling sometime, much to the disappointment of Mōka.
 * The Chase: The Inner Circle and Soul Society are hunting down the V-14 for various reasons and intentions.
 * Character Development: Hyōryū shows some signs of this after the Plinian Eruption.
 * Angelika Hartmann has been seen showing subtle signs of this, as well as Meikurai Shiomaneki.
 * The Chessmaster: Yashin continuously plays this role, and he's only the right-hand man of the real Big Bads.
 * Consummate Professional: Angelika, to a lesser degree. Though she doesn't mind joining in on her team's occasional antics, she won't take any crap thrown by them when it comes down to the nitty-gritty.
 * The Horsemen of the V-14 fall under this, as well.
 * Crapsack World: The Rukongai, a place where criminals are running wild and wars are a way of life. Especially now that the Soul Society, Inner Circle, and V-14 have decided to bring part of their little disagreement in there.
 * Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangster: The V-14, in spades.
 * Dark Action Girl: Just about every female on the criminal side (with the exception of non-combatant Rika Nakamura) qualifies for this trope.
 * Deadpan Snarker: V-14's Alpha Team has their moments more than anyone else does.
 * Demonic Invaders: Otherworldly, darker creatures seemed to have come to the Inner Circle's aid...
 * The Ditz: Oliver is often accused of being guilty of being a moron.
 * Doesn't Like Guns: Rika. She never carries one and is quick to throw them away while everyone else doesn't hesitate to pick them up and start spraying.
 * Dual Wielding: Oliver, Hyōryū, and sometimes Asuka.
 * Enemy Mine: The V-14 and Soul Society eventually team up to fight against the Inner Circle.
 * Even Evil Has Standards: The V-14 are quick to declare Yashin as a nothing more than a monster and a demon due to his actions.
 * Flipping The Bird: Oliver does the arm version of this to Mōka in order to make sure that she knows just how much of a rebel he is.
 * Girls With Guns
 * Guns Akimbo: Oliver and Hyōryū.
 * Hitman With A Heart: Yusuke and Rika embrace this trope the most out of the other V-14 members.
 * Hoist By His Own Petard: Bernabé Lino is attacked and ultimately severely injured by his own Cero used against him in his fight with Lord Rey Dorado.
 * Ho Yay: Sakura and Rika. Rika even lampshades this trope, although it seems she is unaware of doing so.
 * Insult Backfire: The Punisher uses the "Your Lieutenant Is Dead" line on Hachiro Horikawa, but is shocked when he is able to defend the Lieutenant without an emotional outburst. It gains her respect.
 * The Punisher also gives a "The Reason You Suck" speech to a seemingly enraged Reaper during their second encounter. Not only does it not work, it causes him to transition from genuinely angry to very happy in a very "Mood Whiplash" fashion.
 * Intergenerational Frendship: At least a few of the V-14 have considerable age gaps between them.
 * The Lad-ette: Hyōryū, most definitely.
 * A Mother To Her Men: Angelika, Asuka, Casilda and Shikyo Ninaru.
 * Mood Whiplash: Happens quite a bit concerning characters.
 * Never A Self-Made Woman: Averted, so far. The majority of women involved didn't get where they were through via the relationship with a man.
 * No Nonsense Nemesis: Averted quite a lot and lampshaded by Loly in her fight with Magatta Keiryō. Magatta makes it a habit of talking down and boasting to her opponent to where Loly eventually calls her out for not following through with her taunts.
 * Played straight in the fight between Tierra Doncella and [[
 * Official Couple: Anton/Hyōryū. Rukia and Meikurai seem to be leaning in this direction, as well.
 * Sealed Evil In A Can: Mōshin Tenmō was bound to Hell for an extended period of time by the Punisher... but was released a while before the events of the series.
 * Shut Up, Hannibal!: When the Sennin Butai confront the Espada Afilado, Tenshi (who's revealed as a member of their group) begins to call Casilda out on a hypocritical note... and is promptly dismissed by a figurative wave of her hand.
 * Suave Romantic: Meikurai attempts this as he makes good company with his fellow Dragon comrade, Brina McTavish. Not only does he fail to have a moment over a balcony scenic view by an attempted assassination of both their persons, but the inevitable rejection due to her unknown marriage of elusive, yet highly regarded Inner Circle agent, Rushifa Sureiya.
 * He tries this again with Rukia Kuchiki, despite being clumsy with his words, succeeds relatively well...for an amateur.
 * Tsundere: Hyōryū can change from calm, composed, and uncaring to extremely shy and flustered if one pokes fun of her relationship around men.
 * Villain Opening Scene: The arc takes place in the midst of a V-14 meeting.