There are many different reasons to celebrate Dragon Ball, but it’s hard to not get caught up in the powerful spectacles that amplify most of the heroes’ battles. Dragon Ball reinforces the importance of training and good values, but there are plenty of circumstances where a totemic attack is enough to eliminate an enemy. Ideally, these powerful techniques become permanent parts of the characters’ battle strategies. It’s hard to picture Goku not turning to his Kamehameha in battle or Vegeta failing to fire off a Final Flash.
These popular attacks help characters – and Dragon Ball as a whole – establish their identities. That being said, there are still instances where heroes turn to incredible powers, only for them to never appear again and fade away into obscurity. Sometimes these attacks are flukes, while others just go forgotten. It’s still wild to consider that some of Dragon Ball’s biggest heroes possess deadly techniques that they’ve only used once.
Related
10 Coolest Dragon Ball Techniques, Ranked
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is rich in powerful attacks, but some techniques bring an extra level of cool to the equation.
10
Piccolo’s Clothes Beam Is An Elaborate Technique That Delivers Fashion
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 8, “Gohan Goes Bananas!”
Piccolo is one of Dragon Ball’s strongest characters and some of his techniques, like the Special Beam Cannon, Hellzone Grenade, and his standard regeneration powers can quickly turn the tide in battle. A more superfluous attack that’s gained a lot of attention over the years is Piccolo’s unofficial “Clothes Beam.” This ability is briefly used on Gohan during his wilderness training with Piccolo, which results in Gohan gaining a fresh martial arts gi and a sturdy sword. While nicknamed the “Clothes Beam,” this technique is likely more of a niche version of the Magic Materialization power. Magic Materialization allows individuals to conjure objects — including weapons or clothes — out of thin air. Piccolo uses Magic Materialization to create a giant hourglass that helps Super Buu keep track of time, but it’s also been plentifully used by more magically-inclined characters like Garlic Jr., Dabura, Old Kai, and even Gas, who turns to Magic Materialization as one of his signature fighting techniques.
Magic Materialization aside, Piccolo doesn’t routinely use his Clothes Beam. He appears to use a comparable ability during the Cell Saga when he transforms Gohan’s Saiyan battle armor into his own outfit, but this process doesn’t involve an energy beam. There’s also a welcome callback to the technique when Piccolo changes Gohan’s outfit in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. It’s also worth pointing out that Kami also technically uses the Clothes Beam on Goku to repair his gi during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. The Clothes Beam is written off as a gag technique, but there are some powerful implications behind it that could make it seriously dangerous. Some have also wondered why Piccolo doesn’t just use the Clothes Beam on someone internally so that they choke to death on a new outfit.
9
Krillin’s Balloon Technique Toes The Line Between Silly & Exceptional
Dragon Ball, Episode 95, “Goku Vs. Krillin”
Dragon Ball‘s World Martial Arts Tournaments are rewarding traditions that frequently bring out the best from its characters. The 22nd World Tournament is one of the most satisfying installments and it facilitates a genuine battle between Goku and Krillin. It’s very satisfying to see how far these two have come and how they’re able to naturally counter some of each other’s strategies. Krillin’s first Kamehameha is a groundbreaking moment, but Krillin also reveals an unconventional — and unforgettable — technique. Krillin’s Balloon Technique involves him inhaling a large amount of air that causes his body to mildly inflate.
Related
10 Strongest Techniques in the Dragon Ball Franchise, Ranked
Signature attacks in Dragon Ball are unique power moves that define characters and break anime records.
This inflated version of Krillin falls down at a slower rate, which may not seem like much, but it’s enough to throw off Goku’s rhythm and mess up the timing of his attacks. Krillin’s Balloon Technique doesn’t deliver any physical damage, although it could presumably be combined with Krillin’s other techniques. Krillin gradually matures into a serious fighter, but techniques like this remind audiences of Krillin’s sillier origins and many of the gag comedy battles that he finds himself in early on during Dragon Ball‘s run.
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 66, “Goku’s New Power”
Information is often just as important as physical strength in Dragon Ball. Telepathy is an important tool that allows individuals to secretly communicate with each other or process a ton of memories at once. Many divine Dragon Ball figures utilize telepathy, such as King Kai and Shin, but it’s also casually used by everyone from Chiaotzu, to King Piccolo, to Vegeta. Goku’s arrival on Namek involves him needing to catch up on some major events regarding Gohan, Krillin, and Vegeta. Dragon Ball Z turns to telepathy to expedite this process and to quickly fill Goku in.
Goku’s use of telepathy opens up some exciting possibilities for Dragon Ball, but it doesn’t become a steady skill in Goku’s arsenal. Goku’s Namek reunion is his most substantial use of telepathy. However, it also appears in some non-canon events, such as Goku and Pan’s battle against Haze Shenron in Dragon Ball GT or Goku’s efforts to ask his fellow Z-Fighters for energy in Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan.
7
Future Trunks Can Channel Divine Healing Powers Through His Supreme Kai Training
Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 24, “Son Goku’s Evolution”
Dragon Ball puts a lot of emphasis on powerful projectiles and totemic energy attacks that are strong enough to destroy an entire planet. However, there are many situations in which the ability to heal others has proven to save the day and be just as invaluable to physical strength. Healing is utilized by multiple characters, but it’s also a skill that Future Trunks has, albeit only in Dragon Ball Super‘s manga. The manga explains that Supreme Kai apprentices gain a divine healing ability during their training. Future Trunks trained under his timeline’s Shin, which means that he can use this power in small doses.
Future Trunks uses healing to save Goku during a critical turning point during the battle against Fused Zamasu. Future Trunks evidently also used healing on Gowasu and Future Mai earlier on in the saga, but he was oblivious to his control over this power at the time. Healing powers are incredibly advantageous and it’s unfortunate that Future Trunks doesn’t stick around for longer so that Dragon Ball Super can get more use out of this power.
6
Yamcha’s Spirit Ball Is A Crafty Attack That Does Whatever It Takes To Connect With Its Target
Dragon Ball, Episode 139, “Rematch”
Yamcha has become the Dragon Ball franchise’s biggest running joke and he’s become an embarrassing pale imitation of his former self. Yamcha’s skills have regressed so much that the heroes don’t even try to recruit him for the Tournament of Power. This is a tragic development, considering that Yamcha is one of the original Dragon Ball’s strongest characters. Yamcha develops an unpredictable and advantageous energy attack during the three years of training that leads up to the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament.
Related
Why Goku Doesn’t Have Any Original Techniques, Explained
If “good artists copy, but great artists steal” then it makes sense why Goku is such a great martial artist.
The Spirit Ball is a concentrated sphere of ki that Yamcha can control and steer to chase and connect with his target. The Spirit Ball can repeatedly make contact with its target, only for the energy attack to explode upon its final strike. Yamcha only uses the Spirit Ball during his brief battle with Kami during the 23rd World Tournament. It’s worth pointing out that Yamcha does utilize an upgraded version of this attack — the Super Spirit Ball — during his Pendulum Room training against the Phantom Saiyans. However, this isn’t considered to be canon and it’s still a slightly different version of the technique.
5
Vegeta’s Final Crash Is A Scary Steppingstone That He Turns To On Namek
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 64, “Recoome Unleashed”
Vegeta is guilty of getting fairly reckless with many of his energy attacks, some of which feature interchangeable movements and results. Vegeta’s fight against the Ginyu Force’s Recoome is especially humbling for the Saiyan and he’s lucky to survive against the aggressive brawler. Vegeta turns to a cataclysmic energy attack — his Final Crash — that involves him spreading out his arms and channeling two massive energy spheres that become one singular wave of destruction. Vegeta uses Final Crash against Recoome, which he initially believes to have killed the Ginyu Force member, only to be crestfallen afterward.
Final Crash is a powerful attack that feels like the natural successor to the Saiyan Saga’s Galick Gun. However, Vegeta doesn’t return to this attack because he ultimately develops a superior version of it during the Cell Saga — his Final Flash. Final Flash is now one of Vegeta’s signature energy attacks, but it’s important not to erase Final Crash in the process.
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 130, “The Secret Of Dr. Gero”
Vegeta’s Photon Bomber looks like a fairly generic energy attack, but this shouldn’t detract from the power that it packs. The individual conjures a sphere of ki energy in their raised palm, only to then fire it forward at the opponent. Photon Bomber isn’t demonstrably better than Vegeta’s Final Flash or Big Bang Attack, but it’s another powerful energy technique that he can turn to when he’s backed into a corner.
Vegeta debuts his Photon Bomber technique when he launches it down at Dr. Gero, who proceeds to absorb the attack with his unique Android infrastructure. Vegeta also briefly uses the Photon Bomber in the non-canon Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan, where it’s completely useless against Broly to help further reflect the evil Saiyan’s incredible power. The Photon Bomber is most commonly associated with Vegeta, but it’s also used by Krillin during the heroes’ assault on Dr. Gero’s lab.
3
Goku’s Instant Kamehameha Celebrates Raw Strength & The Element Of Surprise
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 179, “No More Rules”
The Kamehameha is Dragon Ball’s most popular technique and there are dozens of variations of it that have been used since the series’ start. Some of the more inventive Kamehameha variations, such as the Feet Kamehameha or Bending Kamehameha, are rarely used and have become curious Dragon Ball footnotes. The same is true for Goku’s Instant Kamehameha, despite its incredible value and the element of surprise that it delivers. Goku uses the Instant Kamehameha during his Cell Games clash against Perfect Cell. The Instant Kamehameha begins as a standard Super Kamehameha, only for Goku to trigger his Instant Transmission technique at the last minute.
Related
10 Techniques Goku Only Knows in the Dragon Ball Z Games & Movies
Goku is one of Dragon Ball Z’s most skilled warriors, but some of his strongest techniques have only appeared in the series’ movies and video games.
This allows Goku to teleport elsewhere and deliver the Super Kamehameha from a surprise location, even if this happens to be at point-blank range of the target. Goku’s Instant Kamehameha successfully surprises Cell and destroys nearly half of his body. Unfortunately, Cell’s incredible regeneration powers allow him to recover from this damage. Goku may have some painful memories associated with the Instant Kamehameha that remind him of his failure against Cell. Regardless, this powerful technique deserves more love.
2
Goku’s Spirit Bomb Super Saiyan Transforms A Seismic Strike Into Pure Power
Dragon Ball Z, Movie 7, “Super Android 13!”
Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation is a revelatory moment for Dragon Ball, where this new upgrade replaces many of Goku’s older go-to battle strategies, such as the Kaio-Ken Attack and Spirit Bomb. It was unclear if Goku is unable to combine his Super Saiyan transformation with these attacks, or if he just chose not to do so because of the potential energy strain and fallout. Dragon Ball Z‘s seventh feature film, Super Android 13!, introduces a fused Android menace — Super Android 13 — who dominates the collective power of Goku, Vegeta, Future Trunks, and Piccolo. Goku engages in a curious gambit where he begins to conjure energy for a Spirit Bomb, only to then transform into a Super Saiyan mid-process.
Typically, the impurity of the Super Saiyan transformation would prevent the individual from gathering Spirit Bomb energy. Goku’s unique combo method causes him to absorb the Spirit Bomb’s energy for himself, rather than releasing it as a deadly projectile energy attack. The power boost that Spirit Bomb Super Saiyan Goku receives is terrifying and it’s as if he’s entered a fugue state. Goku has no memory of this vicious metamorphosis, the likes of which channels such intense power that Super Android 13’s fist disintegrates when it makes contact with Goku’s aura.
1
Future Trunks’ Sword Of Hope Channels A Timeline’s Strength
Dragon Ball Super, Episode 66, “Showdown! The Miraculous Power Of Unyielding Warriors”
Future Trunks is one of Dragon Ball‘s most popular characters and fans were elated to see him return to the fray in Dragon Ball Super‘s “Future” Trunks Saga. Dragon Ball audiences are conditioned to expect Goku or Vegeta to take out the ultimate evil, especially when they resort to fusion. Goku and Vegeta become Vegito Blue, who fails to kill the half-immortal Fused Zamasu with their God Final Kamehameha, despite the permanent damage that it leaves behind. Future Trunks is so shaken by the sight of Fused Zamasu preparing to take out Goku and Vegeta that he experiences a powerful metamorphosis. Future Trunks triggers Super Saiyan Rage and his signature blade becomes enveloped by ki.
The remaining survivors from Future Trunks’ timeline lend their energy to Future Trunks, like with a Spirit Bomb, which gets channeled into the seismic Sword of Hope. The Sword of Hope successfully slices Fused Zamasu in half, seemingly ending the fusion, and accomplishes what Goku and Vegeta couldn’t. This powerful moment completely catches Future Trunks by surprise, so it’s understandably hard to replicate, but it’s easily one of the most significant bursts of power in Dragon Ball Super history.
Dragon Ball
- Created by
-
Akira Toriyama
- First Film
-
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Latest Film
-
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Summary
Dragon Ball is the labor of writer/illustrator Akira Toriyama, beginning with Dragon Ball back in 1984. The series originally started as a serialized manga back in Weekly Shonen Jump for nearly a decade until it expanded into the anime franchises it is most known for today. Dragon Ball was later adapted into two animes, with one being Dragon Ball Z, the most universally known series in the entire Dragon Ball canon. The franchise has continued to expand lore via films, video games, and additional sequel TV series, such as the more recent Dragon Ball Super and Super Dragon Ball Heroes. Dragon Ball centers mostly around Son Goku, a being known as a Saiyan, and his friends as they face off against intergalactic threats and seek out the titular dragon balls. When all seven of these balls are collected, they can be used to summon a legendary dragon that can grant the wishes of whoever so gathers them. The Dragon Ball franchise continues to be one of the most well-known and beloved animes of all time, with over forty different countries airing it, and has had a tremendous impact on Western culture as a whole.
