Most Random Powerups In Dragon Ball

Key Takeaways

• Buu became stronger after losing his fusion, creating a contradiction in his power levels that confused fans.
• Super Saiyan God form introduced via ritual, providing a unique way to unlock a new transformation in the Dragon Ball series.
• Tien’s Tri-Beam delaying Cell showcased a rare moment for a human character to shine when surrounded by so many powerful aliens.

Dragon Ball is a series full to the brim with some of the most memorable powerups and transformations in battle shonen history. Watching the heroes battle adversity time and time again to secure victory against all odds makes for a great time, especially when they’re on the cusp of a brutal loss only to use a motivational moment to surpass their opponent.

However, given the sheer number of times fighters in Dragon Ball have powered up and taken out their opponent, it’s easy to see why some instances are harder to explain away than others. Both heroes and villains have seen random bursts of energy at opportune moments that seem way too convenient for their own good.

8 Kid Buu

Somehow, Losing The People He’d Fused With Made Buu Stronger Than Ever

• Debut:Evil Kid Buu! (Episode 276 of Dragon Ball Z)

Super Buu’s debut in the series was a shocking moment that showed how strong this antagonist could become when his evil side took over. To make things worse, this antagonist absorbs most of his opponents and ends up becoming even more powerful.

So, it’s odd that the consequence of removing everyone that Buu had fused out of his body was for him to become even stronger despite turning into a child-like version of his former self. Even if Majin Buu’s rescue may explain some parts of it, the existence of Evil Buu serves as a contradiction that undersells what is otherwise a terrifying reveal.

7 Super Saiyan Blue Evolved

A Cool Moment In The Tournament Of Power, If Rather Hastily Executed

• Debut:Body, Soul and Power Unleashed! Goku and Vegeta! (Episode 123 of Dragon Ball Super)

The Tournament of Power is easily Dragon Ball Super at its very best. Players get to see the debut of several awe-inspiring forms, including Vegeta’s attempts to surpass Goku on his terms instead of trying to emulate his rival’s success.

This leads to the reveal of an evolved Super Saiyan Blue form that is on par with Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken form. It’s a great moment for Vegeta who uses this ascended form to defeat Top after a grueling battle.

6 Orange Piccolo

A Wish From Shenron Grants Piccolo A Transformation Long In The Making

• Debut:Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

Never before has a new transformation for a character been unlocked after making a wish to Shenron. This is precisely what happens to Piccolo, who uses the Dragon Balls to unlock his hidden potential and helps him achieve a new transformation for the very first time.

Watching the chiseled features of Orange Piccolo makes for a great moment in a movie full of fanservice. This powerful fighter wastes no time in showing who’s boss, even if some people feel that the transformation’s inclusion was a bit random.

5 Super Saiyan God

A Hidden Ritual Comes Out Of Nowhere To Introduce A New Form In Dragon Ball

• Debut:Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods

It was clear that a new chapter in the Dragon Ball series needed to figure out a way to introduce a new transformation. Instead of Goku channeling his rage or training extensively to unlock a new power, the Super Saiyan God form requires a ritual for one to unlock divine ki.

This is achieved when five righteous Saiyans channel their ki into a sixth recipient, allowing Goku to unlock the next stage of transformations that would dominate Dragon Ball Super. It can be a bit convenient to introduce yet another transformation in such a manner, but fans don’t mind given that most of them consider Battle of Gods to be the greatest Dragon Ball movie of all time.

4 Tien Being Able To Hold Off Cell

Tien’s Tri-Beam Somehow Delays Semi-Perfect Cell Long Enough For Android 18 To Escape

• Debut:Sacrifice (Episode 153 of Dragon Ball Z)

Given the power of Saiyans and other non-humans in Dragon Ball Z, most of the human characters ended up taking a backseat to the conflict. However, this doesn’t stop Tien from enjoying his moment to shine when Semi-Perfect Cell needs to be distracted until Android 18 makes her escape.

Tien steps up and refuses to sit on the sidelines any longer. He unleashes a barrage of Neo Tri-Beams that hold Cell down long enough to facilitate this retreat. It may not make a lot of sense, but watching Tien unleash numerous Hail Mary attacks and almost die makes for one of the most intense moments that lets this side character enjoy an epic moment after being on the sidelines for so long.

3 Cell’s Resurrection

Perfect Cell Comes Back And Is Strong Enough To Fight Toe-To-Toe With Super Saiyan 2 Gohan

• Debut:A Hero’s Farewell (Episode 188 of Dragon Ball Z)

After Gohan unlocks the Ascended Super Saiyan form, a single punch is all it takes for Cell to cough up Android 18 and revert to his Semi-Perfect form. Moments before destroying himself and taking out Earth, Goku makes the ultimate sacrifice and transports the duo to King Kai’s planet to save the planet.

However, this isn’t the end of this tale, not by a long shot. Perfect Cell returns and kills Trunks, revealing himself to be stronger than ever before. It doesn’t make a lot of sense even with his regeneration theory, but fans don’t mind since this sets the stage for one of the most iconic Dragon Ball beam clashes of all time.

2 Gohan Beast

Gohan Gets Mad And Becomes The Stronger Fighter In The Universe Once Again

• Debut:Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

Gohan has displayed a habit of neglecting his training and leaning towards his gentle side, only for his potential to explode as he becomes stronger than ever before. However, despite how familiar this trope is, it still makes the events of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero hard to process.

Gohan barely trained before appearing to save Pan, only for Cell Max to put him in his place. After seeing Piccolo downed by what seemed like a mortal blow, Goku’s son lets his rage take over, transforming into Gohan Beast and unleashing a Special Beam Cannon to take out Cell Max for good.

1 Super Saiyan Rage

Future Trunks Randomly Powers Up Take On Goku Black And Zamasu Without Eating Dirt In Record Time

• Debut:Zamasu’s Ambition The Storied “Project 0 Mortals” of Terror (Episode 61 of Dragon Ball Super)

The Future Trunks arc in Dragon Ball Super had a ton of potential, but some issues bogged down the overall experience. One of the most questionable decisions in this arc is giving Trunks a brand-new form that isn’t well-explained and is way too convenient for its own good.

Super Saiyan Rage is certainly a cool moment that helps Trunks fight on almost the same level as Goku and Vegeta, but that’s all there is to it. After this form’s debut, it hasn’t been mentioned in any capacity throughout the series, which makes it one of the most wasteful transformations in the entire series.

• 

  Dragon Ball

  Release Date

  February 26, 1986

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creator

  Akira Toriyama

• 

  Dragon Ball Z

  Release Date

  April 26, 1989

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creator

  Akira Toriyama

• 

  Dragon Ball Super

  Release Date

  July 5, 2015

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creator

  Akira Toriyama