Theories of how Cell got stronger...

[HazelMystic]

I've always been interested in how Cell advanced so much after his fight with Trunks and Vegeta in his perfect form. In ten days (at least I think it was), he was able to eclipse Goku, Vegeta, AND Trunks...

I have two theories thus far...

A.) He was holding back his power due to it being new to him, and thus decided to test it out at a more controllable level...

B.) The Artificial Humans hormonal components continued to give Cell a power up boost to their limits...


Discuss.



PS: I just noticed how I left out the word "Cell" in my posting. Epic fail on my part, my apologies.

[Bussani]

He didn't get stronger in the 10 days leading up to the Cell games. "There's no telling how strong it'll get when it fights seriously," as Goku put it.

[HazelMystic]

He didn't get stronger in the 10 days leading up to the Cell games. "There's no telling how strong it'll get when it fights seriously," as Goku put it.

Interesting. How would you explain the fact that Cell stated that Trunks had eclipsed him, and then Goku and Cell were finally in a league of their own during the Cell Games?

[Bussani]

Interesting. How would you explain the fact that Cell stated that Trunks had eclipsed him, and then Goku and Cell were finally in a league of their own during the Cell Games?

Trunks had immense ki, but still couldn't win. It's possible that he really did exceed Cell in terms of raw power. However, it's also possible that Cell was just lying to mess with him.

It's worth mentioning that as soon as Goku and Gohan left the Room of Spirit and Time, Goku popped over to have a look at Cell, and then conversed with Karin about it; both of them agreed that Cell was probably still stronger than him.

[ChaojiShucaiRen]

It was always stated that Trunks USSJ2 was stronger than Cell, but that his speed drop was his achilles heel. This must mean that Goku's regular SSJ after perfecting it, is not quite as strong as his USSJ2 form, but he used it because it didn't tire him out and was a much faster form. But it still seems like Cell gets a power up in between those 10 days because if I remember correctly he wasn't fighting completely seriously with Goku, so if he didn't get any sort of power boost that would mean that Goku's perfected SSJ form is at least moderatly lower in power than Trunks' USSJ2 form and I just can't see that.

[Bussani]

But it still seems like Cell gets a power up in between those 10 days because if I remember correctly he wasn't fighting completely seriously with Goku, so if he didn't get any sort of power boost that would mean that Goku's perfected SSJ form is at least moderatly lower in power than Trunks' USSJ2 form and I just can't see that.

But Goku comes out of the Room of Spirit and Time less than a day after Trunks fights Cell, looks at Cell, and agrees with Karin that Cell is still a bit ahead of him. Cell would have had to have gained that power in less than a day for your logic to make sense.

[Godo]

The only time Cell went full power was against SSJ2 Gohan, until then he just gradually increased his power in his fights.
Regarding the USSJ2 part, I believe that Trunks could have been stronger in raw power than Cell.
But, again, Cell did a "USSJ2" transformation himself too, showing that such a form would be useless to use to defeat him in the end.

[Tyro]

SSjG3 Trunks was only stronger than Cell's base power. This is how I've always understood it.

Notice when Cell is using full power against SSj2 Gohan. Cell's thought boxes consist of things like "Could there really be someone stronger than me...?" Which is a really stupid thing to say if Trunks were truly stronger than Cell 10 days ago. If someone could provide the actual statement, it's right after Gohan punches Cell a couple of times, but before Cell uses the Kamehameha. VIZ translation.

[ChaojiShucaiRen]

But it still seems like Cell gets a power up in between those 10 days because if I remember correctly he wasn't fighting completely seriously with Goku, so if he didn't get any sort of power boost that would mean that Goku's perfected SSJ form is at least moderatly lower in power than Trunks' USSJ2 form and I just can't see that.

But Goku comes out of the Room of Spirit and Time less than a day after Trunks fights Cell, looks at Cell, and agrees with Karin that Cell is still a bit ahead of him. Cell would have had to have gained that power in less than a day for your logic to make sense.

When I was talking about Cell's power up I talking more like a non-stated power up (Toriyama making him stronger to fit his need and not telling about it). I agree that perfected SSJ Goku is stronger than USSJ2 Trunks but it doesn't match up because Cell says that USSJ2 Trunks is stronger than himself.

I guess saying that Cell was masking his true qi is an ok argument but then there would be no need to even bring up how powerful Trunks had become.

The only time Cell went full power was against SSJ2 Gohan, until then he just gradually increased his power in his fights.
Regarding the USSJ2 part, I believe that Trunks could have been stronger in raw power than Cell.
But, again, Cell did a "USSJ2" transformation himself too, showing that such a form would be useless to use to defeat him in the end.

I am still on the fence about this whole "raw power" thing. Every battle before the Trunks v. Cell battle (and every one after as far as I can remember) showed that with increased power came increased strength, speed, agility, qi blasts, etc. This battle was the only one to make us think that a character can lose even if they are stronger, but it just doesn't fit with the rest of the DBZ logic (i.e. power=win) .

So when Cell says that Trunks has surpassed him, it just doesn't make any sense.

I guess what I'm saying is that Trunks could have never been stronger than Cell and thusly was slower as well.

It's so confusing because I know they made a big fuss about USSJ2 being a disadvantaged form for slowing the user down, but just look at 100% Freeza for heaven's sake...

This argument has too many sides and too many interpretations; it's a freaking pissing match.

[Bussani]

I agree that perfected SSJ Goku is stronger than USSJ2 Trunks but it doesn't match up because Cell says that USSJ2 Trunks is stronger than himself.

I guess saying that Cell was masking his true qi is an ok arguement but then there would be no need to even bring up how powerful Trunks had become.

I am still on the fence about this whole "raw power" thing. Every battle before the Trunks v. Cell battle (and every one after as far as I can remember) showed that with increased power came increased strength, speed, agility, qi blasts, etc. This battle was the only one to make us think that a character can lose even if they are stronger, but it just doesn't fit with the rest of the DBZ logic (i.e. power=win)

So when Cell says that Trunks has surpassed him, it just doesn't make any sense.

I guess what I'm saying is that Trunks could have never been stronger than Cell and thusly was slower aswell.

Its so confusing because I know they made a big fuss about USSJ2 being a disadvantaged form for slowing the user down, but just look at 100% Freeza for heavens sake.....

This arguement has too many sides and too many interpretations, its a freaking pissing match.

I think you're making it more complicated than it needs to be. USSJ2 slowing you down is a special case that is outright stated and shown a few times. It would be weird to think that all the statements about it were false just because Freeza didn't get slower when he made his muscles bigger. Besides, Piccolo also agrees that Trunks' ki has exceeded Cell's while he's "watching" from Kami's Palace.

Cell: "Yes. And it is magnificent power. Greater than mine by a large margin. But then, power isn't everything...I assure you."

Of course, for all we know, Cell was only saying that Trunks' power is greater than his is at that very moment. It's obvious that he wasn't using his full power at that point; he didn't power up to "his full power at last!" until Gohan went SSJ2. That's probably the simplest explanation, at least in my opinion.

[Amigo Ten]

Wow. The idea that Cell some how got a lot stronger in those 10 days is something that never would have occurred to me. It just seems really obvious that he was only using a fraction of his power, and simple meant that Trunks had surpassed whatever level Cell was at during their particular fight. It also seems incredibly obvious that Goku was much, much stronger than Trunks.

[Kaboom]

Of course, for all we know, Cell was only saying that Trunks' power is greater than his is at that very moment. It's obvious that he wasn't using his full power at that point; he didn't power up to "his full power at last!" until Gohan went SSJ2. That's probably the simplest explanation, at least in my opinion.

This is what I assume. It works best.

[caejones]

So... why can't Trunks just be stronger than Goku, but weaker than SSJ2 Gohan?
Full Power SSJ... isn't it more efficient than strong?

[Amigo Ten]

I don't see any reason to think Trunks was stronger than Goku. Nothing he does suggests that, and he's constantly shocked at Goku's displays of power.

[A-dono]

Remember, one of the main reasons Cell held the Cell Games was to draw out his strength and potential. Even Cell didn't realize the depths of his own strength until his battles with Goku and Gohan. It's possible that Trunks surpassed Cell in raw power, at that time, but during the Cell Games, he was able to unlock more and more strength.

Also, it's possible that Toriyama just liked to make shit up as he went along and this is just another one of those minor plotholes.

[Mountain]

Remember, one of the main reasons Cell held the Cell Games was to draw out his strength and potential. Even Cell didn't realize the depths of his own strength until his battles with Goku and Gohan. It's possible that Trunks surpassed Cell in raw power, at that time, but during the Cell Games, he was able to unlock more and more strength.

Also, it's possible that Toriyama just liked to make shit up as he went along and this is just another one of those minor plotholes.

Haha. Exactly...

I think Cell was just messing around with Trunks in the beginning. I know I would if I were in his shoes. Trunks has reached his limit and beyond. Cell has reached his perfect form, but was probably mocking Trunks, who was giving it his all.

[Bussani]

Remember, one of the main reasons Cell held the Cell Games was to draw out his strength and potential. Even Cell didn't realize the depths of his own strength until his battles with Goku and Gohan. It's possible that Trunks surpassed Cell in raw power, at that time, but during the Cell Games, he was able to unlock more and more strength.

He probably had some idea of what his full power was. Goku and Karin sure seemed to know, and Cell at least knew he was holding back until that final power up against SSJ2 Gohan.

Also, it's possible that Toriyama just liked to make shit up as he went along and this is just another one of those minor plotholes.

I think it's unnecessary to call this one a plot hole. It's completely standard Dragon Ball stuff.

"Haha we have him on the ropes after 100 chapters!!"
"Haha you think so? I've actually only been using 1/8th of my power up until this point!!"
"Uuuwaaaahhh!?"

[Piccolo Daimao]

I think Cell was just messing around with Trunks in the beginning. I know I would if I were in his shoes. Trunks has reached his limit and beyond. Cell has reached his perfect form, but was probably mocking Trunks, who was giving it his all.

It's really not a difficult concept to understand. Trunks had surpassed Cell at his current level of power. Cell was only using a fraction of his power, and he unleashed his full power against SSJ2 Gohan at the Cell Games.

[HazelMystic]

Here's a question: why do guys think Cell obtained so much more power after absorbing #18? His power level seemed to shoot up way more than should be assumed based on the premise that #17 and #17 are somewhat close in BP.

[Amigo Ten]

I don't think it had anything to do with how powerful the androids were. He needed their components to become complete, and the power leaps along the way were predetermined.