Why didn't the Z Fighters power up Gohan's Kamehameha at the Cell Saga?

[keyz05]

I mean, wouldn't that make sense? They could make it more powerful enough to bring down Cell and use the last of their power to defeat him.

[Tectorman]

The way I take that fight is that, once Goku had helped Gohan build his confidence back up, Gohan actually had the power to beat Cell. But with his busted arm, I don't think he would have had the stamina to stay at full power for long, which is why he needed a distraction such as was provided by Vegeta to ramp up to full power and overwhelm Cell before he gassed out. So presumably, Gohan wouldn't be able to utilize the power the Z Fighters would have provided.

Plus, there's the question of how quickly the process can be done. Goku was able to easily siphon off a portion of his energy to let the injured Frieza get away from Namek because his only enemy (Frieza) lay there dying at the time. Earlier, Gohan and Krillin were able to give their power to Piccolo because Frieza wasn't paying attention. With Cell right there, would the Z Fighters have ever had the opportunity?

[Cipher]

Channeling your ki into others is never presented in the manga as the plausible win condition it is in a few of the movies. In fact, the sole example I can think of in a battle -- Gohan and Kuririn lending Piccolo a bit of energy for a sneak attack against Freeza -- renders a pretty insignificant result and requires sustained physical contact. Goku also shares a bit of energy with Freeza before trying to leave, but it's just enough to restore a bit of his strength -- not enough power him beyond his limits.

Gohan also has a physically damaged arm by the end of the fight, and it's not clear any amount of lent ki would help with that.

EDIT -- Realized the post just above me covered all this nearly exactly. Should've read it before responding.

[MaxZ]

I don't think their power would really be significant enough to help, not in the beaten down state they were in.

only thing that would be a real gamechanger is a senzu. then Gohan would trash Cell with ease.

[Friezacooler]

I don't think their power would really be significant enough to help, not in the beaten down state they were in.

only thing that would be a real gamechanger is a senzu. then Gohan would trash Cell with ease.

pretty much this Gohan and Cell must be on a entire different scale in which the involvement of the others
won't be of any significance.

[Lionel]

As the others mentioned -- Gohan and Cell were in a class of their own. After them the next available source of power is Vegeta and then Piccolo (the humans are too negligible in power at this point to be of consideration). Vegeta already proved that his efforts were futile against Cell. Any energy he could lend to the Kamehameha wouldn't be enough to shift the balance over to them. In the end it's up to Gohan and his willingness to tap into his vast reserves of power to defeat Cell.

[kinisking]

I don't think their power would really be significant enough to help, not in the beaten down state they were in.

only thing that would be a real gamechanger is a senzu. then Gohan would trash Cell with ease.

pretty much this Gohan and Cell must be on a entire different scale in which the involvement of the others
won't be of any significance.

Nothing annoys me more than people who say that Gohan could only win because of Vegeta. The only reason he needed Vegeta's help was because of Vegeta

[TobyS]

I don't think their power would really be significant enough to help, not in the beaten down state they were in.

only thing that would be a real gamechanger is a senzu. then Gohan would trash Cell with ease.

pretty much this Gohan and Cell must be on a entire different scale in which the involvement of the others
won't be of any significance.

Nothing annoys me more than people who say that Gohan could only win because of Vegeta. The only reason he needed Vegeta's help was because of Vegeta

Yes! Vegeta just (in equvilant terms) undid the handicap he placed on Gohan. It was still entirely Gohans win.

In fact I'd go so far as to say Vegeta's interference was more damaging than Vegetas fix was helpful.

For number nerds like me:

Gohan 70
Cell 50
Gohan 40 (70 -30 because Vegeta got Gohans arm fucked up)
Gohan 60 (40 +20 because Vegeta provided a distraction)

Something like that.

[MaxZ]

pretty much this Gohan and Cell must be on a entire different scale in which the involvement of the others
won't be of any significance.

Nothing annoys me more than people who say that Gohan could only win because of Vegeta. The only reason he needed Vegeta's help was because of Vegeta

Yes! Vegeta just (in equvilant terms) undid the handicap he placed on Gohan. It was still entirely Gohans win.

In fact I'd go so far as to say Vegeta's interference was more damaging than Vegetas fix was helpful.

For number nerds like me:

Gohan 70
Cell 50
Gohan 40 (70 -30 because Vegeta got Gohans arm fucked up)
Gohan 60 (40 +20 because Vegeta provided a distraction)

Something like that.

yeah.

I don't think Super Perfect Cell stood a chance without the injury he inflicted on Gohan, it'd be a stomp only marginally less brutal than before.

[apex_pretador]

I don't think their power would really be significant enough to help, not in the beaten down state they were in.

only thing that would be a real gamechanger is a senzu. then Gohan would trash Cell with ease.

This is truth. Power levels don't actually represent the power scale. Even if say Vegeta (strongest one out there) was 1000 times earth-busting power, gohan & cell were going at a level which could destroy the sun , the solar system itself, which is more than millions of times of planet busting.

[DBZAOTA482]

yeah.

I don't think Super Perfect Cell stood a chance without the injury he inflicted on Gohan, it'd be a stomp only marginally less brutal than before.

Yep... if we ignore the whole story and just say Cell's power up wasn't much of an increase at all.

[FoolsGil]

Because they were in a scary situation and didn't/couldn't think rationally? Happens at least once an arc.