How durable are the Saiyans/Half Saiyans?

[ulisa]

Something I’ve been pondering a while is how much damage can Saiyans or Half Saiyans actually take? Does it change depending on their state (fighting versus not)? We’ve seen them get thrown through mountains and only emerge with a scratch or two but we've also seen Goku react with pain when Krillin threw a rock at his head, despite being in Super Saiyan form. So...where does their durability end? Does their pain tolerance increase with transformation or is it something they have to consciously do by raising their ki?

Just some thoughts I’ve been considering...

[Pantalones]

we've also seen Goku react with pain when Krillin threw a rock at his head, despite being in Super Saiyan form.

Wasn't this in the 10 days before the Cell Games? The whole point of that was spending all their time as Super Saiyans, since they had mastered the Super Saiyan form and their bodies were so used to it that they were able to act as if they were in their base state, with none of the strain or aggressive feelings that the form originally came with.

So this was definitely a "powered down" Goku despite being in Super Saiyan form, with a power level at least as low as regular base Goku if not suppressed even further down to "just a slightly stronger than normal dude going about my everyday life, not ready to fight at all" levels.

[Kamiccolo9]

we've also seen Goku react with pain when Krillin threw a rock at his head, despite being in Super Saiyan form.

Wasn't this in the 10 days before the Cell Games? The whole point of that was spending all their time as Super Saiyans, since they had mastered the Super Saiyan form and their bodies were so used to it that they were able to act as if they were in their base state, with none of the strain or aggressive feelings that the form originally came with.

So this was definitely a "powered down" Goku despite being in Super Saiyan form, with a power level at least as low as regular base Goku if not suppressed even further down to "just a slightly stronger than normal dude going about my everyday life, not ready to fight at all" levels.

Regardless, it was filler. It's during the 10 days before the Cell Games when Goku is dozing off by the river.

[Polyphase Avatron]

As shown in RoF, it depends whether their guard is up. If taken by complete surprise, even trivial things like bullets and normal laser guns can hurt them.

[TrunksTrevelyan0064]

Hard to say, but remember Vegeta took a Kaiô-Ken x4 Kamehameha to the face, followed by a Genki-Dama to the face, followed by Oozaru Gohan to the face - and lived.

Goku has also survived some serious beatings (albeit thanks to Senzu beans), like having all his limbs broken or a gaping hole in his chest.

[ulisa]

I tend to think that being concentrated for battle boosts their durability though whether that’s a physiological reason or due to concentration of ki, I’m unsure. Their tolerance for pain definitely seems to drop if they’re caught off guard. During a battle, seems like next to nothing phases them, outside of a major body injury (I.e. Gohan’s arm at the end of the Cell Games or Goku/Vegeta getting stabbed against Zamasu and Black) however, I’d think if they were in “relaxed” mode small things like stings, thrown rocks, broken bones, would definitely have more of an effect.

[PerhapsTheOtherOne]

I tend to think that being concentrated for battle boosts their durability though whether that’s a physiological reason or due to concentration of ki, I’m unsure. Their tolerance for pain definitely seems to drop if they’re caught off guard. During a battle, seems like next to nothing phases them, outside of a major body injury (I.e. Gohan’s arm at the end of the Cell Games or Goku/Vegeta getting stabbed against Zamasu and Black) however, I’d think if they were in “relaxed” mode small things like stings, thrown rocks, broken bones, would definitely have more of an effect.

Even being stabbed like that doesn't keep Saiyans down completely.

Vegeta still managed to jump back up and save Goku and Future Trunks despite being STABBED IN THE CHEST, as did Future Trunks and Goku in later fights.

Saiyans are definitely not Freeza in terms of durability (but then again, who could ever really top FREEZA, the guy who refuses to die despite having no healing factor and being cut into little pieces?), but they sure are tough to keep down. Beat them up over and over, and they WILL get back up!

[ulisa]

Even being stabbed like that doesn't keep Saiyans down completely.

Vegeta still managed to jump back up and save Goku and Future Trunks despite being STABBED IN THE CHEST, as did Future Trunks and Goku in later fights.

Saiyans are definitely not Freeza in terms of durability (but then again, who could ever really top FREEZA, the guy who refuses to die despite having no healing factor and being cut into little pieces?), but they sure are tough to keep down. Beat them up over and over, and they WILL get back up!

True. Actually, the only time I remember Saiyans being down for the count is being completely crushed (both Vegeta and Goku at the end of their first battle) or having their neck broken (Gohan against Reccoom on Namek) but even those instances, they were able to stay alive long enough to get medical care or a senzu. Kinda makes me wonder if ANYTHING can truly take them down for the count.

[Sonofman]

Something I’ve been pondering a while is how much damage can Saiyans or Half Saiyans actually take? Does it change depending on their state (fighting versus not)? We’ve seen them get thrown through mountains and only emerge with a scratch or two but we've also seen Goku react with pain when Krillin threw a rock at his head, despite being in Super Saiyan form. So...where does their durability end? Does their pain tolerance increase with transformation or is it something they have to consciously do by raising their ki?

Just some thoughts I’ve been considering...

Good question. In my opinion, I don't really think Saiyans/half-Saiyans are that much more durable than the earthling fighters. In fact, most of their durability would come from energy enhancing their resistance to damage on their body parts. Just think of it as a barrier that is invisible, and that the engulfs the entire body, making the person seem durable to an extent.

Ex: When Vegeta was out of energy/stamina during the fight with Jiren, he took on all of Jiren's punches and we can even see that he receives a black eye, while previously in his blue form, he did not get as much damage to himself (just scratches and such).

[ulisa]

Good question. In my opinion, I don't really think Saiyans/half-Saiyans are that much more durable than the earthling fighters. In fact, most of their durability would come from energy enhancing their resistance to damage on their body parts. Just think of it as a barrier that is invisible, and that the engulfs the entire body, making the person seem durable to an extent.

Ex: When Vegeta was out of energy/stamina during the fight with Jiren, he took on all of Jiren's punches and we can even see that he receives a black eye, while previously in his blue form, he did not get as much damage to himself (just scratches and such).

Good point also about their energy; I tend to agree that their ki gives them a barrier of sorts during battle but it can be dropped or broken if their stamina runs out. However, I do tend to think Saiyans and to some extent, half Saiyans are a bit more hardy than humans mainly because Goku as a child before receiving training from Roshi or Kami survives being hit by a car, being shot (multiple times) and getting an ax to the head. He’s shown to experience pain from it but ultimately he survives without major injury. Now, one could argue his grandfather had taught him some ki control but since we aren’t sure and he doesn’t seem to master it until he’s older, I contribute these childhood survivals to his Saiyan blood.

[Banana]

Good point also about their energy; I tend to agree that their ki gives them a barrier of sorts during battle but it can be dropped or broken if their stamina runs out. However, I do tend to think Saiyans and to some extent, half Saiyans are a bit more hardy than humans mainly because Goku as a child before receiving training from Roshi or Kami survives being hit by a car, being shot (multiple times) and getting an ax to the head. He’s shown to experience pain from it but ultimately he survives without major injury. Now, one could argue his grandfather had taught him some ki control but since we aren’t sure and he doesn’t seem to master it until he’s older, I contribute these childhood survivals to his Saiyan blood.

I know this isn't a video game thread but what you said just now was incredibly interesting, and kinda fits well with the Xenoverse world, which I've been playing both 1 and 2. What you described is basically exactly how it plays out- stamina has a huge key role and if that stamina is broken, my character, being either my Saiyan Banana, my Earthling Derriere or my Frieza character Zero or just about any other one I could make would get their shit kicked in if they were stamina broken and it would take awhile for them to get back up and get their stamina back, so much so that if it happens while low enough on health, that can translate to a KO. And even then, saiyans aside, a built up earthling can take much more damage in terms of durability than someone who's not built for fighting, and especially if they don't know how to manage their ki. Saiyans obviously have a natural predisposition to fighting and it shows, though I also imagine being male or female having a role as females tend to have a lot less health and can't take as much of a beating as male saiyans can. I find myself amazed at how much damage the saiyans can take in the show before getting knocked out- and training definitely has a lot to do with it. I do agree though, having saiyan blood and that predisposition naturally makes one hardier, and if they learn, even better at controlling their ki than a human. I mean it's what they were born to do!

[kn83]

For DB characters in general, their durability depends on how much ki they are using on-guard, with their max durability typically being equal to their max attack potency (with some noted exceptions).