The All-Purpose "What-If " Thread

[bahhma]

I'm re-watching DBZ and I'm currently on episode 215. I can't help but wonder what if the tournament was never interrupted by Bobbidi. How would Goku and Vegeta's round-of-16 match have gone? Would they have confined themselves to the rules of the tournament? I imagine they would have gone overboard, destroyed the ring, flew somewhere else, and Goku would have just said "oopsie lol my bad" to everyone before departing back to the after life.

[TobyS]

I'm re-watching DBZ and I'm currently on episode 215. I can't help but wonder what if the tournament was never interrupted by Bobbidi. How would Goku and Vegeta's round-of-16 match have gone? Would they have confined themselves to the rules of the tournament? I imagine they would have gone overboard, destroyed the ring, flew somewhere else, and Goku would have just said "oopsie lol my bad" to everyone before departing back to the after life.

Without the Majin boost Goku wins in the same form.
What's more interesting is if they break the rule to fight Piccolo and 18 or if they supress their power.

[Hellspawn28]

What if Pilaf became good early on in DB and train with Goku?

[Peach]

What if Meta Cooler learned fusion and fused his big ghetti star clones together?

[Almighty Majin]

What if Pilaf became good early on in DB and train with Goku?

I like to think that Pilaf would create new models of the Pilaf Machine to match Goku's power. I always think of Dr. Robotnik/Eggman constantly creating new machines to challenge Sonic. I think that Pilaf would be similar, but the rivalry would be more friendly of course.

What if Meta Cooler learned fusion and fused his big ghetti star clones together?

I do wonder if fully mechanical beings are capable of fusing via Fusion Dance or Potara. Is being an organic living entity required for those fusion methods? I do wonder...

Anyway, if the Meta-Coolers were capable of fusing via the Fusion Dance, they would be unstoppable probably. You would have an army of fighters way stronger than Freeza who will be able to fuse into warriors likely capable of rivaling or surpassing Super Buu and then those fused warriors might be able to fuse further into even stronger warriors.

[Berserker1921]

What if Cell went to the demon realm after destroying earth? Could he survive that place?

[TobyS]

What if Cell went to the demon realm after destroying earth? Could he survive that place?

He'd kill whoever Until he picked a fight with a tagami and gets rinsed

[Hellspawn28]

What if Roshi train the others at Kami's Look Out for the arrival of Nappa and Vegeta?

[Berserker1921]

What if Roshi train the others at Kami's Look Out for the arrival of Nappa and Vegeta?

Maybe would have become as strong as Yamcha or Krillin. And He could maybe survive using the mafuba. Which would be really useful in stopping Vegeta and Nappa.

[Hellspawn28]

What if Cell went to the demon realm after destroying earth? Could he survive that place?

He won't able to go there because has no pointy ears and won't know the pin number.

[Berserker1921]

What if Cell went to the demon realm after destroying earth? Could he survive that place?

He won't able to go there because has no pointy ears and won't know the pin number.

For the what-if we have to assume he got through.

[Almighty Majin]

What if Cell went to the demon realm after destroying earth? Could he survive that place?

He won't able to go there because has no pointy ears and won't know the pin number.

He will say he is part Namekian and they have pointy ears so he should go through and then Warp-sama will say "oh yeah, show proof you are Namekian!"

Cell: "Er... I am green? What am I even doing arguing with a goldfish, I am perfect!"
Warp-sama: "Okay that's it! You are definitely not getting in!"

But to answer the question if he actually managed to get there somehow (he had his Namekian ID card with him), he would essentially find the Demon Realm interesting at first, but then get bored when no one strong is around to fight until he fights a Tamagami. That, or he ends up in the 2nd Demon World and gets eaten by a Kraken lol.

[Peach]

What if Roshi train the others at Kami's Look Out for the arrival of Nappa and Vegeta?

Dragon Ball Super logic says he gets strong as he was in the Tournament of Power

Realistically and thematically, he probably only keeps up with Krillin, Yamcha, Piccolo, and Tien. Maybe his lightning surprise attack could help Krillin land a destro disc on Nappa, which would save Piccolo's life and allow him to get his potential unlocked on Namek. Roshi could also help restrain Great Ape Vegeta and Great Ape Gohan.

Roshi coming out of retirement early would be a fascinating scenario though. I could imagine a scenario where he took his training seriously again after not being able to protect his students from King Piccolo. He becomes an asset against the Saiyans and goes to Namek with Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma.

Maybe he goes on to train with his students and Tien for the Androids and Cell games. I could see him not letting the humans get discouraged by being eclipsed by the Saiyans because they need to be prepared for scenarios where the Saiyans aren't around. He wouldn't let Yamcha, Krillin, and Tien just give up and not go into the time chamber and would demand the absolute best out of them.

I could see him keeping Krillin, Yamcha, and Gohan from slacking off between Cell and Buu too to make sure they are at least competent during another crisis. Maybe Krillin, Yamcha, Roshi, and 18 actually put up one hell of fight against Super Buu on the lookout. And they all go on to have a stronger performance in the Tournament of Power.

[Hellspawn28]

If Freeza was never born, would King Cold still fear the Legendary Super Saiyan myth or would still keep Planet Vegeta going?

[Salt-sensei]

If Freeza was never born, would King Cold still fear the Legendary Super Saiyan myth or would still keep Planet Vegeta going?

Cold worked with the Saiya-jins for a few years before stepping down, no? And from what I remember, he was pretty dismissive of them. He seemed like a business-oriented guy to me (he even offered Trunks a job!) so I don't think Cold would get rid of a chunk of his workers without a pretty logical reason to back it up, Freeza was just paranoid.

But King Vegeta was pretty annoyed at Cold during his arrival and Bardock, the Saiya-jin everyman, talked about him to Leek with contempt in his voice, so I guess eventually the Saiya-jins would try to rebel in a way or another.

So the way I see it, Cold wouldn't wipe the Saiya-jins unless they gave him a reason to.

[SonTao]

If Freeza was never born, would King Cold still fear the Legendary Super Saiyan myth or would still keep Planet Vegeta going?

Well, let's break it down! If Frieza was never born, King Cold would still subjugate the Saiyans. However, Beerus would still order Planet Vegeta's obliteration. Considering King Cold would still view the Saiyans are profitable, he would instead offer a different solution. If the Saiyans were to be handled more... stringently, would they be permitted to live? Beerus is indeed a lazy bastard, so he'd want more. King Cold tries to play him. He offers the best food his servants can offer to keep his work force! But it's still not enough. So in the end... King Cold offers up King Vegeta for execution. A perfect little playing card. He would, instead, instate a less stingy Saiyan puppet to lead the Saiyans. Beerus... agrees. As long as he can get what he wants, he doesn't care. Of course, he still has the obliteration of the Saiyans in the back of his mind. But hey, the food he'll get is a plus.

King Vegeta is executed, and dethroned for "inadequacy." A strong Saiyan, yet one who knows of Beerus and King Cold (likely a Saiyan amongst the inner circle) is instated as the "mighty warrior who rebelled against their weakling, complacent king." Broly being exiled is used as an example. In fact, King Cold sends an envoy out to rescue him. A strong, malleable kid to use a weapon? Cha-thing! This is masked as "more freedom during missions," a bigger cut of the profit--but this is only because King Cold is now no longer watched over or restricted by Beerus' watchful eye. More profit means more for the Saiyans to give to Beerus. Win win for Cold, since he doesn't need to walk on eggshells. King Cold does in fact impose restrictions on the Saiyans and make them less genocidal warriors and more... mercenaries, if that makes sense? Beerus sees them as less troublesome. But King Cold masks his restrictions as improving their conditions and likelihood of surviving missions. "King Vegeta sent you oh so barbarically out with little support, and gave you so little of the profit--this more refined way gives you all a better societal standing." Producing infighting between the Saiyan classes and raising low class Saiyans up makes sure EVERYONE stays organized, and focused on inter-class warfare rather than looking into the death of King Vegeta, or where the majority of the money is REALLY going.

Without Frieza's genocide of the Saiyans, Bardock never sends Kakarot out to Earth, specifically. Instead, he still likely becomes an invasion baby (yeah power level discourse is still big among the Saiyans). But Kakarot isn't really important right now--to be honest, he isn't very important to the story anymore. Rather, VEGETA takes a focus. The former Prince no longer has his castle or his wealth, but he still does have loyalists--Nappa and others, of course. Vegeta goes into hiding for now, investigating the death of his father and what really happened. After all, he was practically bowing to all of King Cold's demands. He didn't do anything out of hate for the other Saiyans--well, classism aside. As years slowly pass, King Cold reforms the Saiyans into an incredibly profitable race, and pushes them into more of the public galactic sector. In order to keep the Saiyans, Cold slowly phases out invasion babies, and turns low battle power Saiyans into non-combative units. Scientists, strategists, public workers, etc. This slowly starts to quell the low class rebellions. Now, low class Saiyans can match elites no only in wealth, but in power should they train. Saiyans spread out into the galaxy on each Cold Force world as skilled warriors, tacticians, etc.

On Earth, a myriad of things likely occur. Krillin joins the Turtle School, Bulma gets the Dragon Balls with the help of Son Gohan, the Red Ribbon army is destroyed, Yamcha joins the crew, yada yada. The one who goes to Kami's Lookout would vary wildly, but again, Earth's story isn't exactly... relevant? To be frank, no matter what happens on Earth, the Z Fighters and Piccolo would likely be met by a Cold Force scout party, and be offered two choices. Join the Cold Force or be subjugated. They would most likely fight back and die. Whether Piccolo survives or not depends on if the scout party knows what Dragon Balls are, or if Piccolo Daimao was killed or sealed or whatever. Honestly the best case for Earth here is to join the Cold Force and offer their power up alongside Capsule tech. For the sake of this story? Let's say Piccolo Daimao was resealed, and the Z Fighters either died or joined up--it doesn't really matter which. Or hey, who knows, maybe Earth is SO backwater they're left alone! And killed by the Androids. It really doesn't matter unless the Dragon Balls are found and used by Cold. It is VERY unlikely that Kami and Piccolo would fuse--in the scenario they do, the story ends here--Kamiccolo manages to stop the scouting party, find King Cold, and whomp him. But that doesn't make for a fun story.

I would think at some point, Vegeta and his cronies would hit a point where they would be comfortable with launching an assault on King Cold. This could go a variety of ways. None of which are good. The rebel Saiyans attack Cold at the capital out of pride, maybe kill some mooks, Cold unveils a transformation or something and Vegeta dies. Vegeta tries to uproot the current Saiyan monarchy, maybe he succeeds, but no one listens to him because he wants to return to the days where elites triumph over all. Vegeta is either ganged up on and killed, or Vegeta wipes out a shit load of Saiyans before Cold or someone shows up to put him down. Even IF Vegeta achieves Super Saiyan and tries to throw hands, King Cold has lord knows how many restriction forms. His Second Form is noted to be around Mecha Frieza's level. Unless Vegeta literally SPAMMED zenkais and somehow got Super Saiyan and then managed to control it? King Cold could hit full power because we KNOW Vegeta wants a challenge, then crush him to death. Vegeta's only good ending is staying well enough away from the Saiyans and Cold--lest he and his faction want to be obliterated. Space pirate or starting a smaller kingdom is his only real option.

Earth is doomed or subjugated. Vegeta is dead or in exile. King Cold keeps the Saiyans in line through a false sense of class equality as his personal race of enforcers, scientists, and workers. A good end for the Saiyan race, but a bad one for literally any of our heroes. Except Broly. Broly gets to live a good life as an elite--whether as a warrior, or as a politician, god knows. Cold would let him do whatever after he figures out that Broly could surpass him if he kept training--but it wasn't in Broly's nature to train. Hey, he's a good tool in any other way though. Or Goku/Kakarot? Considering his passion for battle, he'd likely end up being a soldier in the Saiyan Army / Cold Force, and he could be pretty tough. Maybe he'd be up there with Broly? Sooooo... yeah, a lot changes if Frieza isn't born! King Cold is way more level headed and able to get around Beerus' trifling.


I guess I could cook up one good ending. Let's say Kami fuses with Piccolo during the scouting on Earth. Let's say he manages to fight off the scouts and rally the Z Fighters, making them aware of the Time Chamber. They can prepare, and start working their way up the Cold Force ladder. Hopping from planet to planet, getting stronger and more aware of the galaxy. They meet some space pirates, some Cold Force generals, they get into fights and save the day on a few worlds. They learn, probably from Vegeta after a scuffle, that his father was mysteriously killed. After sneaking onto Planet Vegeta and confronting the new King? It's a conspiracy to stop their extinction from a God! Also King Cold is evil, who woulda thunk. They can't really do anything considering King Vegeta's regime was worse than this new one, but they at least have to stop King Cold. After arriving on the capital world, our heroes put in everything they've got to stop King Cold! Even at Cold's top form, a combination of Kamicollo's efforts, Vegeta's (possible) Super Saiyan transformation, and the Earthlings manage to put him down. The truth is revealed to the Saiyans, but the new regime is kept considering... hey, they got a good deal outta it.

Vegeta is scorned by his race regardless, and is forced to return to Earth with the others (with Nappa and a few others in tow, probably). A mysterious future boy arrives to warn the gang that androids show up in a few years and kinda mucks things up. Everyone trains for however long they have, and show up to fight 19 and 20. Future boy arrives (surprise it's Trunks) and they have GOT to throw hands with the REAL androids. 17 and 18 are unveiled, the typical stuff happens for a bit until Kamicollo puts the androids in their place. The battle with the scouts destroyed the drones, and they never saw the training the others got to go through. Sure, old Kamicollo is good data, but he's surpassed his prior strength. The androids are given leeway by the wise old Namekian, and Bulma offers to remove their bombs. Also, Cell is here. Yeah, Cell is still around, he's just weaker since he lacks Saiyan cells. Only Namekian and human cells, remember? Though when Cell does try to attack the group... yeah, none of that. Kamicollo has sensed Cell for a while, and the gang puts him into the dirt. No Perfect Cell, pals. We already have a buff Kamicollo, remember? I guess during the three year time jump, Kamicollo could have gotten the idea to go to Namek--maybe discuss how they lost their Dragon Balls and may need some post Androids. Considering King Cold went down, Guru would suggest some Namekian go with them to reactivate the Dragon Balls. So hey, Dragon Balls are back. Cool. Kamicollo could regain his youth. Earth is safe until Buu shows up, but I feel like that would go pretty simply. No Majin Vegeta because he doesn't feel screwed over, and he utilizes SSJ2 to annihilate Dabura. Or Kamicollo kills Dabura. Someone kills Dabura. Hell, NAPPA could kill Dabura. Majin Buu doesn't show up, and Shin takes him away. Earth is safe. Yippee for all. Before battle of gods, Broly or other people could show up and throw hands, Broly more than likely ends up chilling considering he would have to be told what King Cold did to the galaxy. By the time of BoG, an SSG could be made. Vegeta, Nappa, Trunks, Broly, + any other Saiyan loyalists who stuck with Vegeta would produce a challenge for Beerus. From that point, the series is set up for success. King Cold is resurrected but stopped by the warriors of Earth together, the Black Saga could be literally any of the Saiyans or Kamicollo--likely Kamicollo. Point is, everyone wins up until Moro wherein Kamicollo forces Shin to awaken Buu and fuses with the Majin to find the Grand Kai. Kamicobuu saves the day, and splits again. Hell, Majin Buu could be turned good here.


All in all? The series would be WAY different. It's a near 90% chance that King Cold maintains control with Saiyan enforcers. But there's a good 10% chance that everything could be okay.

[SonTao]

What if King Piccolo beat Master Mutaito?

[Hellspawn28]

What if King Piccolo beat Master Mutaito?

He would probably rule over the Earth for years until Kami possibly stop him.

Timeline 1: If Kami defeats him, things would probably go out normally until the 22nd Budokai Tenkaichi. Goku loses to Tenshinhan and would try to become stronger to defeat him. Goku would ask Korin and Korin would ask go to the top of the lookout to meet Kami. Goku would try to arrive there, but can't make it. Without Piccolo Daimao, Kami would not let Goku train at his place. So Goku spends the next three years trying to beat Tenshinhan. The 23rd Tenkachi Budokai happens and Goku would probably beat Tenshinhan. Goku gets married to Chi Chi and Gohan is soon born. Later, Raditz appears and Goku would need to team up someone. He could team up with Kuririn, but I don't think they would win. Tenshinhan might be useful with the Taiyōken and could kill Raditz with a super dodonpa that can blast through his chest. If Goku doesn't die, Nappa and Vegeta would never show up to Earth. If Goku dies and Tenshinhan mentions the Dragon Balls, they are screwed. Everyone would be much weaker and Earth would have been wipe out. Freeza would view the planet as worthless and would let it rot over time.

Timeline 2: Piccolo Daimao rules over the Earth for centuries and nothing from Pilaf-23rd Tenkachi Budokai would happen. Goku would probably be living up in the mountains alone. Raditz shows up later and takes out Piccolo Daimao in a single attack. I think Goku would go with Raditz because he would no where else to go.

[SonTao]

What if Goku was the Only Saiyan Left?

Basic stuff. Goku's pod is the only one to leave Planet Vegeta. Prince Vegeta, Nappa, Raditz, and any other mooks are executed by Frieza to prevent any kind of rebellion. For the purpose of this what-if, let's say Broly and Paragus were executed by King Vegeta or died on Vampa.

With no Raditz to come to Earth, what do you think would happen?

[Yuji]

What if Goku was the Only Saiyan Left?

Basic stuff. Goku's pod is the only one to leave Planet Vegeta. Prince Vegeta, Nappa, Raditz, and any other mooks are executed by Frieza to prevent any kind of rebellion. For the purpose of this what-if, let's say Broly and Paragus were executed by King Vegeta or died on Vampa.

With no Raditz to come to Earth, what do you think would happen?

Everyone is killed off by #17 and #18, and later those two are absorbed by Cell or killed off by Dabra. Nothing really interesting happens.

I guess Babidi can manage to take over Cell's mind and revive Boo, and then the whole universe is slowly turned into nothing unless Beerus wakes up.