Cell absorbing humans vs androids

[MisguidedGhost]

Is it possible that it might have actually been more effective for Cell to just go around and absorb tons of humans (possibly all of them) as opposed to the androids? I mean, his power increased massively from absorbing a relatively small number of humans. Correct me if I'm wrong, but between his encounters with Piccolo, he only absorbed a few dozen thousand humans, right? And it increased his power level dramatically? I don't know if the population of Dragon Ball's world corresponds with ours, but even still, if Cell got such a huge increase from a small number of humans, wouldn't he have been better off just absorbing all of them? Or does he have some kind of ceiling that he needs the androids, and the resulting transformations, to surpass? I guess there's no definitive answer, but I'm just interested in hearing some theories.

[Gonstead]

He needs the androids to trigger his transformations.

Plus, even if he did absorb many humans to become stronger than everyone else, he is still designed and programmed to absorb the androids to complete his power, hence the term "Imperfect Cell" for his first appearance.

[Hitiro]

I think towns in dragonball have much larger populations than what you would see in our world. After all, everyone's energy on earth is enough to take down Kid Buu which I would say he has a powerlevel in the billions somewhere. And there are so few actual populated places in the dragonball universes Earth, at least in comparison to ours. Dragonball's Earth also has super cities like West City. I believe it would have probably been very effective if he absorbed everyone as he would have a powerlevel surpassing Kid Buu but then again we don't know if there is a limit to him being able to absorb people as well as if that energy is permanent. For all we know Cell was that strong before he came to that time period and was merely replenishing the strength he lost by reverting back to an egg. I would say places like Gingertown probably have a couple hundred thousand humans in them which would make more sense when taking into account Cell's dramatic increase in energy.

I mean if Gingertown had a population of 200,000 people and we just multiplied that by the average powerlevel of earthlings, which is 5, his powerlevel would have increased by a million. But like I said, we really don't know the limit to Cells absorption ability past what he has shown us. Doesn't he make a remake to Piccolo that absorbing him wouldn't achieve anything? Considering Piccolo is on par with Android 17 I would think absorbing Piccolo to gain his energy would be a massive help in fighting anyone. So the fact that he said that to Piccolo could possibly mean he was at the limit of absorbing things other than the Androids. This may be a dub line though, I don't know if he says it in the manga. Someone else will correct me if I'm wrong.

[Fox666]

There are special components in the Androids which he needs to achieve his perfect form. For that reason, unlike when he absorbed humans, his appearance changed after absorbing the Androids.

Cell: “Human life extract alone isn’t enough for me to reach my perfect form. I need to merge with two important, particular life forms...The computer told me of these two particular life forms…….Dr. Gero’s creations—Androids No.17 and No.18!”

[DBZGTKOSDH]

hence the term "Imperfect Cell" for his first appearance.

Well, that's from the dub.

[rereboy]

Cell didn't really absorb/fuse with humans like he did with the androids and like Buu did with everyone.

Cell ate humans. He sucked them dry and into oblivion with his tail. They were basically nourishment.

The androids on the other hand, he took them whole into his body, kind of like fusing with them.

[TheDevilsCorpse]

Cell didn't really absorb/fuse with humans like he did with the androids and like Buu did with everyone.

Cell ate humans. He sucked them dry and into oblivion with his tail. They were basically nourishment.

The androids on the other hand, he took them whole into his body, kind of like fusing with them.

Humans:


Jinzoningen:

[rereboy]

Pretty much, yeah.

[Fox666]

Not really, Bulma said No.17 and 18 are made only of organic components (except for the self-destruction devices) so that Cell can absorb them.

So No.17 and 18 are more like this:

[TheDevilsCorpse]

Not really, Bulma said No.17 and 18 are made only of organic components (except for the self-destruction devices) so that Cell can absorb them.

So No.17 and 18 are more like this:

Nitpicky. I wasn't being that literal, or else I would have picked a food image that actually contained meat.

[DarkPrince_92]

Question....what if Cell absorbed 18 before 17? Would that affect his appearance for second form?

[MisguidedGhost]

I had always wondered that actually. Maybe he'd look like his perfect form, but have the power of his semi-perfect form? Anyways, I agree with pretty much everything that's been said. Hitiro in particular made a good point about Cell choosing not to absorb Piccolo because it wouldn't increase his power anymore. So it really could be that each form that Cell has does have a ceiling that can only be surpassed by absorbing the androids. I think that makes the most sense.

[Fox666]

Cell would look like this:

[Darkprince410]

I would imagine he'd take on slightly more feminine characteristics than he did when he absorbed #17, but given how close #17 and #18 were in terms of body shape, appearance, etc (they were twins after all), I doubt there'd be a substantial difference in his form if he absorbed her first.