The Espada are the top-ranked and most powerful Arrancar in Sōsuke Aizen's army of Hollows with Shinigami-like powers, serving as the primary opponents of the Gotei 13 captains. The Espada (noun: Esupāda; Spanish for "Sword", Japanese for "Ten Blades") are one of the main units of the Hollows, an army of archers with similar powers to those of the Shinsengami.