Bakkōtō (獏爻刀, Baku-Crossing Sword/Fused Tapir Sword) is a rare type of weapon used by Gyōkaku Kumoi's assassins. This type of weapon differs from the Zanpakutō in several ways. While the Zanpakutō is a symbiotic being, working and growing more powerful as the Shinigami develops a relationship with the sword's inner avatar, the Bakkōtō is more of a parasite, gradually consuming the user as it grows in power, until it starts to affect his/her mind and eventually devours him/her. The only way to suppress the devouring properties is to have a sufficient level of spiritual power. Also, the Bakkōtō do not have any sort of known release states, instead evolving with the user's Reiatsu. Finally, while Zanpakutō can only be wielded by their respective Shinigami, a Bakkōtō can be wielded by any pers