Best Non-Combat Techniques In Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular shonen anime around that needs no introduction. Fans love Goku’s adventures as he transforms from a goofy young boy into the stronger fighter of his universe who has saved the world with his heroics time and time again.

This battle shonen features a lot of techniques that fighters use to gain an edge in battle, but other abilities can be used outside of battle and are pretty useful too. They may not be as flamboyant as the many combat techniques fans have seen in the series, but long-time fans of Dragon Ball know just how useful these non-combat abilities are regardless.

7 Divination

See Things In The Future

• Notable Users: Fortuneteller Baba, Bardock

Fortuneteller Baba doesn’t get a lot of screen time after her moment of prominence in Dragon Ball, but that shouldn’t dismiss her useful divination powers. She helped Goku find a Dragon Ball early on in the series and predicted that this child would save the world one day, which turned out to be true.

Another unlikely person to gain the powers of divination is Goku’s father, Bardock. After being blindsided by an alien he assumed to be dead, Bardock received the power of divination that helped him witness Frieza’s betrayal in a vision. It’s a shame that he wasn’t supported by the Saiyans, who lost their lives and their planet not long after.

6 Telekinesis

Object Manipulation From A Distance

• Notable Users: Cell, Frieza, Grand Minister

Telekinesis is a power that is rather understated in Dragon Ball but is used several times to great effect. In combat, this power was once used by Frieza to chuck a bunch of rocks, flexing his strength to the Z Warriors. As one would expect, this technique is quite useful outside of combat too.

Cell uses telekinesis to make the Cell Games arena, and it can be argued that the Grand Minister used the same technique to form the arena that would serve as the stage for the Tournament of Power. It may not be the most flamboyant power around, but that’s the case for most non-combat abilities.

5 Telepathy

Communication Is Easier

• Notable Users: Piccolo, Goku, King Kai

Telepathy is a useful power in Dragon Ball that is mainly used by Piccolo and the Namekians. The former shows how amusing this power can be by revealing that he heard everything Future Trunks told Goku during their fateful meeting on Earth.

Goku is also forced to use this technique in his damaged state to address both Krillin and Gohan when they appear to stop Vegeta. However, the person who uses this technique the most is undoubtedly King Kai, who serves as a relay for anyone in Heaven who trains on his planet and needs to interact with anyone on Earth.

4 Ki Sense

Makes It Easy To Locate Powerful Fighters

• Notable Users: Almost everyone

One of the most prevalent abilities in Dragon Ball that martial artists and superpowered fighters rely on time and time again is ki sensing. It’s a simple ability that helps players detect other powerful energies, helping them locate an ally or foe depending on the context.

The fact that Saiyans and the Frieza Force can’t sense ki is a huge handicap that lets the Earthlings and other attuned martial artists avoid being spotted by a scouter. Ki sensing is used in an interesting manner during the Android Saga as well when the characters are unable to sense their foes because of their synthetic nature.

3 Flight

Makes Travelling Quite Easy

• Notable Users: Almost everyone

Flight is a basic maneuver that any warrior worth their salt should learn. It’s one of the first things taught to Videl by Gohan, who needed to learn this move if she wanted to take a step forward as a powerful martial artist.

Fans of the series know how critical flying is in any given scenario. Its applications in battle are obvious, but any character who needs to move from one spot to another as quickly as possible solely relies on their power of flight to cover this distance as quickly as possible.

2 Solar Flare

A Great Technique To Distract Enemies

• Notable Users: Goku, Krillin, Cell

One of the most iconic Dragon Ball techniques that has always served as a powerful distraction time and time again is Solar Flare. It turns a user’s ki into a blinding flash of light that can catch enemies unawares and leave them open for a counterattack.

In Dragon Ball Z, this technique is mostly used by underpowered fighters to outrun their pursuers. However, Cell uses this technique to distract his enemies, giving him just enough time to locate Android 18 and achieve his perfect form.

1 Instant Transmission

Heading From One Place To The Other Is A Breeze

• Notable Users: Goku, Vegeta

One of the coolest Dragon Ball techniques that is mostly used for non-combat purposes by Goku is a trick he learned on Yardrat. Sure, his Instant Transmission Kamehameha may be the highlight of his battle against Cell, but the bulk of this technique’s use is reserved for Goku to move from one spot to another in a flash.

A huge reason why fans want an official continuation of Dragon Ball Super is because of a recent development in the manga that fans want to see animated. After going to Yardrat to train, Goku’s rival also learns Instant Transmission, along with some other abilities that broke the internet when news of Vegeta’s new powers came to light.

• 

  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