How strong was Dabura?

[Son_Gohan]

My mistake, I was under the impression that Kaioshin referred to Gohan by name.

But he does:

Chapter: 471 (DBZ 277), P10.2-4
Kaioshin: “I want Gohan to use the Z Sword to defeat Majin Boo. Knowing him, he should definitely be able to use it.”
Kibito: “A-are you serious, Lord Kaioshin…?!! There’s no way that some human would be able to use the Z Sword!! That legendary sword which not merely myself, but numerous Kaioshins were utterly unable to handle…”
Kaioshin: “You were dead, Kibito, so you didn’t get to see Gohan here’s unbelievably tremendous power.”

[TheMightyOzaru]

Ignoring sparks for SSJ2, doesn't SSJ2 have a consistent looking aura in the manga. Wouldn't that help settle things. In the anime SSJ/2 have the same aura for the most part while in the manga I noticed a difference.

Yeah, there's a difference:

Spoiler:

[Saiga]

Ahh, there we go!

[dprez]

Of course Gohan showed Kaioshin more than he did Kibito, especially when you take into account how obviously bad they are at sensing power... Gohan's actions, coupled with Goku and Vegeta's statements of his potential, show Kaioshin how strong Gohan really is. He should've been able to easily beat Dabura, and he himself states that even Boo shouldn't be unable to handle if he uses his full power. He then later says that he can't get angry and be like he was before. All manga indications tell me that he can't use his full power right now, which is of course Ssj2. Remember, he raged because of Videl's near death. He's a man now, not a kid. For whatever reason, he could not access that power later on.

I know It seams like if Gohan was to use Ssj2 then he could easily beet Dabura and then they could all kill Babidi and then no Boo. This is the logic people have who think he must have been Ssj2, but was just to weak. I don't believe this. I've stated why it is easily plausible he was just regular Ssj. Gohan was mentally and physically unable to reach the Ssj2 form after his rage from Videl's beating, and maybe even because Kibito failed to fully heal him. Even without these "excuses" for his lack of Ssj2, it all seams logical to me for him to just be Ssj(1) after the tournament. Gohan's is a fragile human, like for instance Ichigo from Bleach, who's actions sometimes perplex his fans just like in Gohan case here.

This is what I see and interpret.

[Mjb1985]

Yea if Gohan had trained and had been able to pull off Ssj2 he would easily win.

[Saiga]

No, he was definitely not enraged when he turned SS2 against Kibito. He had calmed down at that point and even had the sunglasses gag and showed embarrassment.

I don't think the dialogue implies that Gohan's inaccessible power was SS2. It was just his regular "get angry, get powa" boost, especially given Vegeta's quote:

Vegeta: “Unfortunately, it seems he got carried away in peace and didn’t do any significant training. Our powers are higher than his now…Though I suppose there’s no telling what would happen if he snapped and went into a frenzy… ”

That leads me to believe Gohan's rage power isn't simply Super Saiyan 2, or they would definitely know what to expect from his going into a frenzy. Vegeta also doesn't mention that Gohan still has his "Super Saiyan beyond Super Saiyan" up his sleeve, acting as though his anger is the only thing left for him to accomplish.

Furthermore, the fact that he was able to transform into a Super Saiyan 2 at all rules out that being his anger power to me. We get this quote later:

Gohan: “I-I am angry…! I’m angry, but…[it’s not] like it was ba-back then…”

Suggesting Gohan isn't lacking in anger, but being angry just doesn't have the effect it did when Gohan was a child. Which goes against him using his anger to fuel his Super Saiyan 2 state at the tournament.

I think it's plausible for Gohan to be a Super Saiyan 1, however I don't think it's plausible for him to be unable to turn into a Super Saiyan 2 because he lacks rage or that he only turned into a Super Saiyan 2 at the tournament because he was angry about Videl.

[Draken]

How about lack of training so it's harder for him to transform at will? Or else his fight what Dabura surely would have filled up more of the energy meter than it did.

[RandomGuy96]

Why does everyone keep forgetting the fight was like a minute and neither fighter damaged the other at all?

[Draken]

Why does everyone keep forgetting the fight was like a minute and neither fighter damaged the other at all?

I'll never understand how people can gauge time through panels.

[Mjb1985]

Gohan was damaged a bit and his energy was sent to Buu.

[Super Saiyan Turlast x4]

Most of the battle with Dabra was off-panel, anyway. There's no telling how long the fight was going on.

[RandomGuy96]

Gohan was damaged a bit and his energy was sent to Buu.

Only his clothes were really damaged. It is in no way comparable to a long, bloody fight where both fighters were taking tons of hits.

[Son_Gohan]

In Daizenshuu 2, the "Adventure History" does mark it as being the beginning of the battle.

[Mjb1985]

The Buu Meter was roughly filled up to 47% or so prior to Gohan vs Dabura. Gohan's fight with Dabura sent over a bit more and after that the meter was filled up around 51% or so. So yes Gohan was damaged a bit. I don't think any of the fight was off panel and all of the damage was acquired when Dabura hit Gohan with that blast.

[Hugo Boss]

Gohan had to eat a senzu to recover part of his energy, so he lost some strenght, but Buu only receive damage energy. Babidi was complaining, because Dabura wasn't inflicting significant damage, which is weird.