All characters (including humans) could have defeated all of the villains in Z with 2 simple techniques.
1. Mafuba - which allows people much weaker than the opponent to seal them into a bottle and the only person who would logically figure out how to counter it would be Cell thanks to the cells he received from Piccolo. Buu might be an issue if a piece of him splits off and absorbs someone before they have time to complete it but outside of that would also be screwed.
2. Solar flare - which allows one to incapacitate a villain no matter how strong they are.
Simply having all characters carry small capsules containing sealing jars, using using the solar flare quickly followed by Mafuba would have taken out all villain in Z without much trouble.
All of the villains could have been defeated with 2 simple techniques
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Re: All of the villains could have been defeated with 2 simple techniques
For the Evil Containment Wave/Mafuba-
Raditz:
- Piccolo is there and knows the attack.
- It worked on Saiyans when Frost trapped Vegeta in Super.
- However, Piccolo is evil-aligned at this point and wouldn't have risked killing himself with the attack.
- Roshi is unlikely to step in and use it since he died once and
can’t be brought back with the dragon balls again.
- Kami intervening and using it destroys the dragon balls permanently. Piccolo could physically stop Kami from using it as well.
- Tien is elsewhere on the planet and doesn’t know about Raditz. There really isn’t time for Tien to find out about Raditz and help before Goku confronts Raditz and solves the issue.
- It would have worked if used.
- Realistically? It’s not being used since no one here is going to risk killing themselves with the technique.
Nappa & Vegeta:
- Tien and Piccolo are there.
- It should work on Saiyans.
- However, two Saiyans being there complicated things. One is strong enough to free the other when trapped. If Tien dies sealing Nappa in a bottle as revenge for Chiaotzu, then it becomes all for nothing when Vegeta moves in to free him.
- Although Piccolo could move in to seal Vegeta away, Vegeta is still an unknown variable and the speed difference could be too much. Piccolo may also be struggling to sacrifice himself and holding out hope that Goku will arrive before it has to come to that.
Frieza (On Namek):
- Piccolo is there
- it should have worked if tried.
- However, Piccolo dying means both dragon balls are gone for good and there would be no way to bring him or anyone else back. There is no opportunity to use it because of that. The best play was to stall for Goku and hope Frieza doesn’t kill Piccolo instead of guaranteeing death by using the Mafuba.
Mecha Frieza and King Cold:
- Not needed since Trunks and Goku took care of them in the present and future timelines.
Androids 19 and 20:
- Piccolo and Super Saiyans are strong enough to beat them without it so there’s no reason to use it.
Future Androids 17 and 18:
- After Vegeta was killed, they should have sensed that something was up. Kami is also the guardian of Earth and should have known something was up.
- They know namek exists and they could try to find it if they die sealing away whoever killed Vegeta.
- it seems like a genuine oversight to not have Piccolo, Kami, Roshi, and Tien at least try it on them as part of a united front.
- It could have been impractical if the Z fighters were hunted in quick succession before they knew what was going on though. I’m going to assume they weren’t hunted down that quickly.
Present Androids 16, 17 and 18:
- Piccolo and Tien are there.
- Would it work in a fully mechanical being like 16? I don’t know.
- Did Dr. Gero program the reverse evil containment wave into them? That might be a question they asked themselves.
- Having three androids there complicates things and gives them more Androids than Evil Containment Wave/Mafuba users.
- I see why it was impractical to try it. They’re banking on Goku stopping them after the heart virus recovery even if they die.
Cell:
- Piccolo and Tien were there to encounter him at various times.
- However, Cell was created with their data. Cell knows the kamehameha and it begs the question if he knows the reverse evil containment wave/reverse Mafuba. This makes the situation a gamble that’s unlikely to pay off.
- if successful on Perfect Cell Krillin wouldn’t want to keep Android 18 absorbed in Perfect Cell forever either and might advocate finding another way.
Majin Buu:
- Piccolo and Roshi were there when Super Buu attacked the look out.
- They know the dragon balls can bring them back.
- It should work since Super Buu is a magical being with similar origins to King Piccolo. This technique was literally invented to stop demons.
- Buu hasn’t absorbed anyone yet.
- It’s a major oversight they didn’t try. It was an extremely viable option they didn't consider. More than one person was there to try it too.
- Tien not using it on Buuhan is understandable since he Buu absorbed people at this point. Also, Buu would have the reverse evil containment wave through absorbing Piccolo.
Beerus:
- He’s a part of the God hierarchy and restraint to use it might be there because of it
- The gap between Beerus and everyone else was steep and unquantifiable. He could be too fast and powerful for it to work
- Using it might have only angered him and ensured Earth’s destruction.
- They don’t know if Whis would intervene to free him
- I personally don’t think it would have worked.
- They trusted Goku as as a super saiyan god to stop him before they got that desperate
Frieza (Resurrection F):
- Piccolo, Tien, and Master Roshi were all there.
- There is no reason the technique shouldn’t work on Frieza.
- They know the dragon balls can bring them back and trust everyone there to bring them back.
- it’s an oversight that it wasn’t used, especially with Goku and Vegeta off world.
Tournament of Power/Jiren:
- Tien, Master Roshi, and Goku know it
- Tien and Roshi were eliminated before they got close to Jiren
- It’s strange that Roshi didn’t try it on Jiren in the manga.
- Goku using it should have worked after Jiren was seperated from Toppo and Dyspo. Realistically though? Goku wants a fair fight with Jiren.
Moro:
- Piccolo, Master Roshi, and Goku were all present.
- It should have worked.
- They know the dragon balls can bring them back.
- Moro absorbing ki and fighting so dirty should have made them desperate enough to use it.
- It’s a major oversight it wasn’t used before he combined with 7-3 (who had Piccolo’s data).
- After 7-3 was absorbed? It becomes understandable since Moro would have the reverse evil containment wave through Piccolo’s abilities being copied.
—
Most Successful Scenarios:
- Future Androids (If strategic and sealing both at same time)
- Mecha Frieza/King Cold (if Goku and Trunks weren’t there)
- Early Moro
- Super Buu at Lookout
- Resurrection F Frieza
- Cell (IF he lacked reverse wave data)
- Jiren (IF attempted by Goku near end of tournament)
Would Definitely Fail:
- Buuhan/Buutenks (absorbed Piccolo’s knowledge)
- Post-7-3 Moro (copied Piccolo’s abilities)
- Beerus (power/Whis factor)
- Cell (IF he had reverse wave data)
Complicated by Multiple Enemies:
- Nappa/Vegeta duo
- Present timeline Androids (16's presence)
- Jiren (when with Toppo/Dyspo)
Complicated by Evil-Aligned Piccolo and Weaker Dragon Balls:
- Raditz
Complicated by Piccolo’s Lifeline to Only Dragon Balls:
- Frieza (Namek)
Cell is particularly interesting because he's a Schrödinger's cat situation. We don’t know for sure which category he falls into without knowing if Dr. Gero included data on reverse wave data in his creation. This makes the decision not to try it more understandable - it was a potential instant-death gamble.
Raditz:
- Piccolo is there and knows the attack.
- It worked on Saiyans when Frost trapped Vegeta in Super.
- However, Piccolo is evil-aligned at this point and wouldn't have risked killing himself with the attack.
- Roshi is unlikely to step in and use it since he died once and
can’t be brought back with the dragon balls again.
- Kami intervening and using it destroys the dragon balls permanently. Piccolo could physically stop Kami from using it as well.
- Tien is elsewhere on the planet and doesn’t know about Raditz. There really isn’t time for Tien to find out about Raditz and help before Goku confronts Raditz and solves the issue.
- It would have worked if used.
- Realistically? It’s not being used since no one here is going to risk killing themselves with the technique.
Nappa & Vegeta:
- Tien and Piccolo are there.
- It should work on Saiyans.
- However, two Saiyans being there complicated things. One is strong enough to free the other when trapped. If Tien dies sealing Nappa in a bottle as revenge for Chiaotzu, then it becomes all for nothing when Vegeta moves in to free him.
- Although Piccolo could move in to seal Vegeta away, Vegeta is still an unknown variable and the speed difference could be too much. Piccolo may also be struggling to sacrifice himself and holding out hope that Goku will arrive before it has to come to that.
Frieza (On Namek):
- Piccolo is there
- it should have worked if tried.
- However, Piccolo dying means both dragon balls are gone for good and there would be no way to bring him or anyone else back. There is no opportunity to use it because of that. The best play was to stall for Goku and hope Frieza doesn’t kill Piccolo instead of guaranteeing death by using the Mafuba.
Mecha Frieza and King Cold:
- Not needed since Trunks and Goku took care of them in the present and future timelines.
Androids 19 and 20:
- Piccolo and Super Saiyans are strong enough to beat them without it so there’s no reason to use it.
Future Androids 17 and 18:
- After Vegeta was killed, they should have sensed that something was up. Kami is also the guardian of Earth and should have known something was up.
- They know namek exists and they could try to find it if they die sealing away whoever killed Vegeta.
- it seems like a genuine oversight to not have Piccolo, Kami, Roshi, and Tien at least try it on them as part of a united front.
- It could have been impractical if the Z fighters were hunted in quick succession before they knew what was going on though. I’m going to assume they weren’t hunted down that quickly.
Present Androids 16, 17 and 18:
- Piccolo and Tien are there.
- Would it work in a fully mechanical being like 16? I don’t know.
- Did Dr. Gero program the reverse evil containment wave into them? That might be a question they asked themselves.
- Having three androids there complicates things and gives them more Androids than Evil Containment Wave/Mafuba users.
- I see why it was impractical to try it. They’re banking on Goku stopping them after the heart virus recovery even if they die.
Cell:
- Piccolo and Tien were there to encounter him at various times.
- However, Cell was created with their data. Cell knows the kamehameha and it begs the question if he knows the reverse evil containment wave/reverse Mafuba. This makes the situation a gamble that’s unlikely to pay off.
- if successful on Perfect Cell Krillin wouldn’t want to keep Android 18 absorbed in Perfect Cell forever either and might advocate finding another way.
Majin Buu:
- Piccolo and Roshi were there when Super Buu attacked the look out.
- They know the dragon balls can bring them back.
- It should work since Super Buu is a magical being with similar origins to King Piccolo. This technique was literally invented to stop demons.
- Buu hasn’t absorbed anyone yet.
- It’s a major oversight they didn’t try. It was an extremely viable option they didn't consider. More than one person was there to try it too.
- Tien not using it on Buuhan is understandable since he Buu absorbed people at this point. Also, Buu would have the reverse evil containment wave through absorbing Piccolo.
Beerus:
- He’s a part of the God hierarchy and restraint to use it might be there because of it
- The gap between Beerus and everyone else was steep and unquantifiable. He could be too fast and powerful for it to work
- Using it might have only angered him and ensured Earth’s destruction.
- They don’t know if Whis would intervene to free him
- I personally don’t think it would have worked.
- They trusted Goku as as a super saiyan god to stop him before they got that desperate
Frieza (Resurrection F):
- Piccolo, Tien, and Master Roshi were all there.
- There is no reason the technique shouldn’t work on Frieza.
- They know the dragon balls can bring them back and trust everyone there to bring them back.
- it’s an oversight that it wasn’t used, especially with Goku and Vegeta off world.
Tournament of Power/Jiren:
- Tien, Master Roshi, and Goku know it
- Tien and Roshi were eliminated before they got close to Jiren
- It’s strange that Roshi didn’t try it on Jiren in the manga.
- Goku using it should have worked after Jiren was seperated from Toppo and Dyspo. Realistically though? Goku wants a fair fight with Jiren.
Moro:
- Piccolo, Master Roshi, and Goku were all present.
- It should have worked.
- They know the dragon balls can bring them back.
- Moro absorbing ki and fighting so dirty should have made them desperate enough to use it.
- It’s a major oversight it wasn’t used before he combined with 7-3 (who had Piccolo’s data).
- After 7-3 was absorbed? It becomes understandable since Moro would have the reverse evil containment wave through Piccolo’s abilities being copied.
—
Most Successful Scenarios:
- Future Androids (If strategic and sealing both at same time)
- Mecha Frieza/King Cold (if Goku and Trunks weren’t there)
- Early Moro
- Super Buu at Lookout
- Resurrection F Frieza
- Cell (IF he lacked reverse wave data)
- Jiren (IF attempted by Goku near end of tournament)
Would Definitely Fail:
- Buuhan/Buutenks (absorbed Piccolo’s knowledge)
- Post-7-3 Moro (copied Piccolo’s abilities)
- Beerus (power/Whis factor)
- Cell (IF he had reverse wave data)
Complicated by Multiple Enemies:
- Nappa/Vegeta duo
- Present timeline Androids (16's presence)
- Jiren (when with Toppo/Dyspo)
Complicated by Evil-Aligned Piccolo and Weaker Dragon Balls:
- Raditz
Complicated by Piccolo’s Lifeline to Only Dragon Balls:
- Frieza (Namek)
Cell is particularly interesting because he's a Schrödinger's cat situation. We don’t know for sure which category he falls into without knowing if Dr. Gero included data on reverse wave data in his creation. This makes the decision not to try it more understandable - it was a potential instant-death gamble.
Re: All of the villains could have been defeated with 2 simple techniques
Are we sure the Mafuba even works on someone that much stronger than the user? Basically no other Dragon Ball abilities do, and I think that's part of what Piccolo so easily reversing it was meant to show--it wasn't going to stay viable.
I'm just going to extrapolate Dragon Ball's general approach to this: All of the gimmick-abilities can be out-stronged. It might be silly, but that's DB.
The one time the Mafuba is used in Super, it's against Zamasu, who is weaker than its users in both versions (Trunks in the anime and Goku in the manga).
I'm just going to extrapolate Dragon Ball's general approach to this: All of the gimmick-abilities can be out-stronged. It might be silly, but that's DB.
The one time the Mafuba is used in Super, it's against Zamasu, who is weaker than its users in both versions (Trunks in the anime and Goku in the manga).