Cell's Zenkai Boost

[thatdbzguy]

Something I've been thinking about involving Cell's zenkai boost after his self-destruction has been gnawing at me lately.

In the Freeza saga, Vegeta states that zenkais don't work if the damage is self-inflicted. However, even though Cell intentionally blew himself up, he still gets a Zenkai boost. Do you think it might have something to do with how Gero designed Cell or something?

[Kamiccolo9]

Goku got self-inflicted zenkais on the way to Namek, so Vegeta was wrong.

[Kakarot88]

Goku got self-inflicted zenkais on the way to Namek, so Vegeta was wrong.

I've always rationalized that in 2 ways. Either:

(1) Intent matters and that's what Vegeta was getting at. Goku knew that the self inflicted wounds were helping but he was not trying to scam the system he was putting in the work. It's like people who use steroids still have to put in the work and Vegeta's method seemed less like work than a cheap one up. Hence, why when Cell says he did not think he would return he also lacked intent and that is why he also got the Zenkai boost.

(2) Toriyama's statement with Vegeta was a retcon so that the series did not dissolve into nearly kill yourself eat a senzu and win so the Cell thing is just some good ole deus ex machina

[DBZGTKOSDH]

I always thought that Vegeta just couldn't make a hole on his chest on his own.

[Cursed Lemon]

Nothing about Cell's zenkai regeneration makes any sense at all to begin with.

[TheMightyOzaru]

I don't recall Vegeta saying self inflicted wounds don't cause Zenkai's. Honestly though, even if Vegeta did say that, how would your body be able to tell anyway?

[RandomGuy96]

Nothing about Cell... makes any sense at all to begin with.

FTFY.

[dbzfan7]

Continuity error...or maybe since he hasn't used Zenkai's before he could use them....IDK.

[Darkprince410]

I don't recall Vegeta saying self inflicted wounds don't cause Zenkai's. Honestly though, even if Vegeta did say that, how would your body be able to tell anyway?

Chapter: 303 (DBZ 109), P11.1-2
Vegeta: “When we Saiyans revive from the brink of death, our strength increases! So go ahead and half-kill me! There’s no effect if I try to kill myself! You do it! Quickly! Freeza is about to perform his final transformation!”
Kuririn: “I-I could half-kill you with my power…”
Vegeta: “Don’t worry…I’ll lower my battle power to its limit…! It’s fortunate that the Namekian brat who can instantly heal people is here…”

The way that's worded definitely does suggest that he wouldn't be able to attain one if the injury was self-inflicted.

[rereboy]

That's a plot hole that doesn't make sense considering that Goku forced a handful of zenkais on himself on his way to Namek with self inflicted Kamehamehas and whatnot.

Vegeta should have said that it wouldn't be nearly as effective as another person hurting him (simply because its much easier to have someone else hurt us than it is to hurt ourselves).

[TheMightyOzaru]

I think Vegeta's implying he won't be able to beat Freeza if the wound was self inflicted. I mean Goku didn't gain a lot from the self inflicted Zenkais.

[Cursed Lemon]

FTFY.

Much appreciated.

[Godo]

About Vegeta's statement; it could be as easy as him being mistaken about the mechanisms of a near death power up.
I don't see any reason for Vegeta to have hurt himself before to achieve a near death power up before the Namek arc, and neither did he have any idea that Goku had blasted himself on his way to Namek.
Also, to be fair, I don't think that there has ever been a Saiya-Jin as crazy as Goku to harm himself to become stronger (outside of training).
Keeping with Vegeta being misinformed, Cell's near death power up makes sense.

[The Monkey King]

Maybe Freeza lied to Vegeta