Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is absolutely rich with power characters, some of whom have even become stronger than literal Gods. It’s easy to get lost in Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Piccolo’s endless accomplishments, resulting in the rest of Dragon Ball’s cast slipping through the cracks. Many forget there was a time when Tien was Goku’s ultimate rival and actually stronger than Dragon Ball’s protagonist.
Tien’s popularity and utility have fluctuated in Dragon Ball’s later years, but he’s never turned his back on martial arts and continues to grow ever stronger. While some of the humans who were invited to participate in the Tournament of Power – like Krillin and Master Roshi – Tien is someone who genuinely deserves to be in competition. Tien has never been stronger than he is now and his current power level would give him an extreme advantage against some of Dragon Ball’s most powerful villains.
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9
Dragon Ball Super Tien Would Hand Nappa a Swift Defeat
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 5, “Gohan’s Rage”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 10 (Dragon Ball Chapter 204), “The Needs Of The Many”
It’s easy to overlook Nappa now that so many stronger villains have terrorized Dragon Ball’s heroes. That being said, Nappa presented unprecedented strength upon his introduction and he’s a reminder of how intimidating Saiyans could be before Super Saiyan transformations became the norm and slightly undercut their gains. Nappa isn’t as powerful as Vegeta, but he’s still responsible for the deaths of Chiaotzu, Piccolo, and Tien, all while he’s no worse for wear.
Nappa’s strength seemed impossible for a human to overcome back during the Saiyan Saga, but Tien wouldn’t even flinch at someone like Nappa now. Tien would receive cathartic closure if he were ever to get a rematch against Nappa. Tien’s success against stronger villains like Semi-Perfect Cell and Moro’s Galactic Bandit Brigade provide enough proof that Nappa is no longer a real threat for Tien.
8
DBZ Frieza Isn’t Surviving a Tri-Blast to the Face
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 44, “Brood Of Evil”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 53 (Dragon Ball Chapter 247), “Planet Namek, Cold and Dark”
Tien is unfortunately far away from Namek when the battle against Frieza plays out. Tien’s Saiyan Saga death means that he’s out of commission for the majority of the Frieza Saga and it’s fascinating to consider how events may have played out differently if he were the one to travel to Namek alongside Gohan and Bulma, instead of Krillin. Tien doesn’t face Frieza first-hand, but he’s privy to his power during Mecha-Frieza and King Cold’s arrival and later when the Frieza Force resurrects their galactic tyrant in Dragon Ball Super.
Tien isn’t going to defeat Black Frieza or even Golden Frieza any time soon. However, Tien’s power is certainly more advanced than Frieza’s fourth form. Tien’s power in Dragon Ball Super is beyond Super Saiyan 2, so he shouldn’t struggle at all against Frieza. Nevertheless, a showdown where Tien showcases his skills as Frieza cycles through all his transformations would be so satisfying for Tien fans.
7
Android 17 Killed Tien in Trunks’ Future, But He Can’t in the Present
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 133, “Nightmare Comes True”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 155 (Dragon Ball Chapter 349), “The Androids Awake!”
Tien prepares for the Android invasion that Future Trunks warns the Z-Fighters about, but he largely stays by the sidelines until he saves the day against Semi-Perfect Cell. Tien’s training largely occurs offscreen and he doesn’t get a taste of Android strength like many of the other heroes. Vegeta sets a new Super Saiyan benchmark when he destroys Android 19, but finds himself overwhelmed by Android 18. Furthermore, Piccolo has to resort to fusion with Kami in order to survive against Android 17.
Android 17 and Piccolo’s even match – which is eventually interrupted by Imperfect Cell – is one of the saga’s best battles. Piccolo does great work here, but it’d maybe be even more thrilling if it was Tien who took on Android 17. Tien’s work against Semi-Perfect Cell means that he might have even been able to defeat 17 back in Dragon Ball Z. Both characters have become much stronger now and provide vital support during the Tournament of Power. Android 17 benefits from undetectable ki and unlimited energy, but it’s still very possible for Tien to defeat current Android 17. Strategic attacks like the Solar Flare are still effective on Androids.
6
Tien Would Be Able to Kill Cell This Time
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 141, “The Reunion”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 166 (Dragon Ball Chapter 360), “Kami-Sama And The Demon King Become One”
Cell is such a fascinating antagonist who doesn’t always get the same respect as Frieza or Majin Buu. Cell experiences several intimidating transformations and is able to turn the heroes’ own attacks back on them, since he was created with much of their DNA. Cell technically has Tien’s DNA in him, despite how he never uses his signature attacks like the Dodon Ray or Tri-Beam, yet his Solar Flare is embraced. Tien makes a triumphant entrance when he spams his Tri-Beam attack on Semi-Perfect Cell and nearly defeats the villain before he’s able to pull off his next transformation.
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Semi-Perfect Cell’s power is nowhere near that of Perfect or Super Perfect Cell. However, Tien’s gains have only become more impressive and he’s never turned his back on training and martial arts. Tien has opened up his own dojo and his performance in the Tournament of Power is enough evidence that he’s beyond Cell-killing levels of strength. The only catch with Cell is that he needs to be completely destroyed because of his regeneration powers. Tien’s Neo-Tri Beam – which could be fired from multiple angles while numerous Tiens execute the attack – would get the job done.
5
Tien Would Pulverize Pui Pui
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 220, “The Wizard’s Curse”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 252 (Dragon Ball Chapter 446), “Bobbidi The Warlock”
The dark wizard Babidi banks on his Majin minions to do a lot of his grunt work before Buu himself is awakened and back in action. Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan split up these Majin extermination duties, which puts Pui Pui in Vegeta’s court. Pui Pui comes from the Planet Zoon and the aggressive alien banks on his planet’s more intense gravity – ten times that of Earth’s gravity – to give him the advantage in battle.
Tien doesn’t have the same gravity training experience as Vegeta, who confidently tackles 450x gravity and beyond, but he’s still used to putting his body in punishing situations that force him to go past his limits. Pui Pui looks frightening, but there’s nothing about him that suggests that he’d be able to defeat Dragon Ball Super era Tien. Pui Pui would amount to a disposable competitor in the Tournament of Power and Tien has had to go up against significantly more interesting and challenging opponents.
4
Tien Deserves The Chance To Go All-Out Against a Demon King
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 220, “The Wizard’s Curse”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 252 (Dragon Ball Chapter 446), “Bobbidi The Warlock”
Tien is largely absent during Dragon Ball Z’s Buu Saga, although he is shown to survive Super Buu’s comprehensive Human Extinction Attack that wipes out the majority of the planet’s population. Tien doesn’t get the opportunity to fight the saga’s various Majin villains, although Goku briefly considers Tien as a Potara Earring fusion partner before Tien is rendered unconscious. Dabura was the Demon Realm’s Demon King before he fell prey to Babidi’s powerful manipulation sorcery. Dabura genuinely challenges Super Saiyan 2 Gohan and that’s without the enemy resorting to tactics like his petrifying Stone Spit attack. A fight between Tien and Dabura would be incredibly satisfying and a true spectacle of strength.
Dabura can rely on brute strength, fire breath, powerful energy attacks, and his dependable Darkness Sword. Meanwhile, Tien has techniques like his Neo Tri-Beam that could finish off Dabura on the spot. Dabura’s strength is supposed to be around the heights of Perfect Cell, which would have been a lot for Tien in the past, but is now well within his means. It’d also be interesting to see what would happen if Tien used his Multi-Form technique and only one of his duplicates get petrified to stone. Tien could potentially use this to his advantage.
3
Tagoma Would Have Been a Perfect Opponent For Tien in Dragon Ball Super
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 18, “I’m Here, Too! Training Commences On Beerus’ World”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F,’ Chapter 1, “Chapter 1”
Frieza is a major threat on his own, but his committed Frieza Force is just as committed, even when their grand leader is out of commission. Dragon Ball Super introduces a new Frieza Force remnant who helps resurrect Frieza with the Dragon Balls and push him to unprecedented power. Frieza unlocks his Golden Frieza transformation only after months of training with Tagoma, a top Frieza Force member.
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This process makes Tagoma incredibly powerful and gives him steel-like skin. Tien helps take on Frieza’s 1000-man army, but doesn’t engage in more sophisticated combat against soldiers like Tagoma or Shisami. Tien faces plenty Tournament of Power opponents who are easily stronger than Tagoma, so this scrappy Frieza Force soldier is nothing special. If anything, Captain Ginyu would be inclined to ditch Tagoma’s body in favor of Tien’s superior physique if they were actually to come to blows.
2
Tien is Strong Enough to Take on Frost By the Tournament of Power
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 32, “The Matches Begin! We’re All Off To The ‘Planet With No Name!'”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 7, “Warriors From Universe 6”
There’s a lot of multiversal fun to be had in Dragon Ball Super, especially when it comes to the similarities and differences that are shared between sister realms, Universes 6 and 7. Frost is introduced as Universe 6’s altruistic take on Universe 7’s Frieza and that he’s someone who uses his power to stop wars rather than start them. Frost’s good guy return is later revealed to just be one of the many layers of his sinister persona. Frost is just as wicked as Frieza and he takes many opportunities to cheat and trick his way to success.
Frost doesn’t have a Golden and Black transformation at his disposal, but he’s still one of Universe 6’s most dangerous and determined fighters. Tien doesn’t get to face Frost during the Tournament of Destroyers and their time together in the Tournament of Power is brief. It’d be very satisfying to watch Tien resort to his strongest techniques, like the Neo Tri-Beam, while he bombards Frost from every conceivable angle. Frost is petty and unpredictable, but Tien is the better martial artist with a more sophisticated repertoire of techniques.
1
Auta Magetta’s One Fatal Flaw Would Give Tien the Win (Eventually)
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 32, “The Matches Begin! We’re All Off To The ‘Planet With No Name!'”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 7, “Warriors From Universe 6”
Dragon Ball Super gleefully indulges in the many diverse possibilities a multiverse presents and Auta Magetta, a member of the Metalman race, is a particularly fascinating figure. The Metalman people are in both Universes 7 and 6, with Auta Magetta proving to be one of Universe 6’s most powerful fighters. Auta Magetta is durable and resilient to most attacks because of his metallic construction, which weighs over 1,000 tonnes. Additionally, Auta Magetta’s magma core has the ability to drastically increase an environment’s temperature and even spit out lava as a projectile. Tien doesn’t face Auta Magetta during the Tournament of Destroyers or Tournament of Power.
However, Tien and Chiaotzu both quarrel with a Metalman member of Moro’s Galactic Bandit Brigade, Bikkura Quoitur. Bikkura Quoitur’s criminal status means that he might even be more dangerous than Auta Magetta. All Metalman fighters suffer from a significant weakness that quickly results in their elimination. Metalman fighters are vulnerable to verbal insults and are surprisingly thin-skinned. Tien would be able to bombard Auta Magetta with cruel comments and push him into submission. Tien could even exploit his Multi-Form technique so that all his duplicates insult Auta Magetta at once and become their own echo chamber of bullying.
- Created by
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Akira Toriyama
- First Film
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Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Latest Film
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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.
