Durability of the Dragonballs

MisterFlashdude · Post by **MisterFlashdude** » Sun May 14, 2006 5:50 pm

In my imagination, the Dragonballs have always been indestructible... not because someone told me they were, or I read that they were... just because they're frickin' Dragonballs!

When Vegeta lands on Earth and Nappa blows up whatever city they were in, Vegeta remarks that he if the Dragonball were there, he could've just destroyed it.
Later on Namek, when faced with the Ginyu Force, Vegeta yells for Kuririn to quickly destroy the Dragonball. Just as Kuririn was raising his arm to bash the ball to bits, he was stopped. To me, though, this implies that Kuririn actually thought he could just smash the ball to bits.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on just how destructible the Dragonballs are?

_Jrinu_ · Post by **_Jrinu_** » Sun May 14, 2006 6:13 pm

My guess is that if they were to be involved in sorm sort of explosion, they could be destroyed.

Also, someone with power like Krillin or any other of the main characters could probably break it if they tried har enough. Because if you recall, the dragonballs do turn into stone so I imagine that their strength couldn't be that more than the average stone.

Then again, I do remember a specific scene in Dragonball where a salesman tried to sell a fake dragonball to someone (who I believe worked for the Red Ribbon Army) and he smashes it on the ground stating that a real dragonball would not break so easily.

So it's really up to debate.

MisterFlashdude · Post by **MisterFlashdude** » Sun May 14, 2006 6:18 pm

_Jrinu_ wrote:Then again, I do remember a specific scene in Dragonball where a salesman tried to sell a fake dragonball to someone (who I believe worked for the Red Ribbon Army) and he smashes it on the ground stating that a real dragonball would not break so easily.

Yes! That is where I got the impression they weren't just any normal stone! Excellent, Jrinu!

Deus ex Machina · Post by **Deus ex Machina** » Sun May 14, 2006 6:23 pm

I have no idea...I was of the opinion that they were virtually indestructable, since often times they are scattered to inhospitable places on Earth (ocean floor, volcanos, frozen tundra's) but they are always completly unharmed. Except that Yajirobe somehow mananged to put a hole through one to make it a neclase.

If someone with his strength could make a hole in one of the balls, then it's pretty likely Kuririn wouldn't have just broken every bone in his hand by punching one.

_Jrinu_ · Post by **_Jrinu_** » Sun May 14, 2006 6:26 pm

Did Yajirobi's have a hole in it?

Because I remember Muten-Rôshi's had some kind of attachment.

DaemonCorps · Post by **DaemonCorps** » Sun May 14, 2006 7:05 pm

Yeah, I found that kinda odd that Roshi and Yajirobe were able to make a hole precise enough to put a string in it for a necklace. Now that you mention it, Roshi could have either made that hole or found the ball that way, and it's eventually found by Yajirobe.

Of course, that makes for a slightly big plot-hole, since none of the balls have a hole in them between those times.

Another thing that I noticed, but I'll add it to another forum, since it doesn't really fit here.

Deus ex Machina wrote:I was of the opinion that they were virtually indestructable, since often times they are scattered to inhospitable places on Earth (ocean floor, volcanos, frozen tundra's) but they are always completly unharmed. Except that Yajirobe somehow mananged to put a hole through one to make it a neclase.

Yeah... that's kinda weird. My whole discussion ruin-er is that well... the dragonballs are magic.

_Jrinu_ · Post by **_Jrinu_** » Sun May 14, 2006 7:29 pm

DaemonCorps wrote:Yeah, I found that kinda odd that Roshi and Yajirobe were able to make a hole precise enough to put a string in it for a necklace. Now that you mention it, Roshi could have either made that hole or found the ball that way, and it's eventually found by Yajirobe.

I'm not so sure about Yajirobi's but I know for a fact that Roshi's didn't have a hole in it.

He had it on an attachment of some sort.

MisterFlashdude · Post by **MisterFlashdude** » Sun May 14, 2006 7:40 pm

_Jrinu_ wrote:
DaemonCorps wrote:Yeah, I found that kinda odd that Roshi and Yajirobe were able to make a hole precise enough to put a string in it for a necklace. Now that you mention it, Roshi could have either made that hole or found the ball that way, and it's eventually found by Yajirobe.
I'm not so sure about Yajirobi's but I know for a fact that Roshi's didn't have a hole in it.

He had it on an attachment of some sort.

Yajirobe does, indeed, have a string going through the ball.

Adamant · Post by **Adamant** » Sun May 14, 2006 8:25 pm

And it wasn't the same ball anyway. Roshi had the three-star ball and Yajirobe the one-star ball.

Thanos6 · Post by **Thanos6** » Sun May 14, 2006 8:38 pm

I also remember Piccolo telling Gotenks to take it easy in case he destroys one of them.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Mon May 15, 2006 3:34 am

I too remember a scene in the Red Ribbon saga that I watched dubbed, in which General Blue didn't fall for a fake Dragonball because he said a real one wouldn't have broken. Considering this and the mentions of destroying Dragonballs afterwards, I think that the DBs are indestructable by any normal means that normal humans can accomplish. This includes tanks, missiles, volcanoes, etc.

But considering how physically-impossibly powerful the characters have gotten by the time they mention destroying them, I'd say they'd definitely be able to destroy them by then. I believe the Dragonballs are just incredibly durable in the same way the characters are to weaponry, yet not indestructable.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Mon May 15, 2006 10:36 pm

Swift wrote:I too remember a scene in the Red Ribbon saga that I watched dubbed, in which General Blue didn't fall for a fake Dragonball because he said a real one wouldn't have broken. Considering this and the mentions of destroying Dragonballs afterwards, I think that the DBs are indestructable by any normal means that normal humans can accomplish. This includes tanks, missiles, volcanoes, etc.

But considering how physically-impossibly powerful the characters have gotten by the time they mention destroying them, I'd say they'd definitely be able to destroy them by then. I believe the Dragonballs are just incredibly durable in the same way the characters are to weaponry, yet not indestructable.

Agreed. Kind of like how Shenlong was said to be able to do anything, until the gang started asking for him to kill off the Saiyans.

Pedro The Hutt · Post by **Pedro The Hutt** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:21 am

MisterFlashdude wrote: Yajirobe does, indeed, have a string going through the ball.

It might as well be noted that after he returns the Dragonball that the hole is never seen again. Maybe we should start wondering if the Dragonballs have regenerative abilities. XD

Eat Snow · Post by **Eat Snow** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:18 pm

Swift wrote:I too remember a scene in the Red Ribbon saga that I watched dubbed, in which General Blue didn't fall for a fake Dragonball because he said a real one wouldn't have broken.

Actually that was Colonel Silver. Heh, sorry, I'm a Red Ribbon nutcase.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:46 am

Eat Snow wrote:
Swift wrote:I too remember a scene in the Red Ribbon saga that I watched dubbed, in which General Blue didn't fall for a fake Dragonball because he said a real one wouldn't have broken.
Actually that was Colonel Silver. Heh, sorry, I'm a Red Ribbon nutcase.

Ah, okay. Sorry about that, I haven't seen the Red Ribbon arc since it aired on TV, so I didn't quite remember who it was. Thanks for the correction. ^^;;

Steven Perry · Post by **Steven Perry** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:01 am

Pedro The Hutt wrote:
MisterFlashdude wrote: Yajirobe does, indeed, have a string going through the ball.
It might as well be noted that after he returns the Dragonball that the hole is never seen again. Maybe we should start wondering if the Dragonballs have regenerative abilities.

Well, considering that they're made by a Namek, it wouldn't surprise me if Kami and the balls were connected (in terms of regenerative capabilities). If one gets damaged, Kami can repair it?

I'll watch more of the episodes to find out some info.

Great thread!

MisterFlashdude wrote:When Vegeta lands on Earth and Nappa blows up whatever city they were in, Vegeta remarks that he if the Dragonball were there, he could've just destroyed it.
Later on Namek, when faced with the Ginyu Force, Vegeta yells for Kuririn to quickly destroy the Dragonball. Just as Kuririn was raising his arm to bash the ball to bits, he was stopped. To me, though, this implies that Kuririn actually thought he could just smash the ball to bits.

Neither Vegeta or Krillin have any knowledge regarding the dragonballs' durability, so they assume they're destructible. Still, I think they're destructible, but can regenerate.

Alucard · Post by **Alucard** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:00 am

I think they are destructible, because Shenron can be killed. Either way, Kami can always bring them and the dragon back to life.

Xyex · Post by **Xyex** » Fri May 19, 2006 9:54 am

I've always figured they were just completely industructable and that never really crossed their minds. I mean, we never actually see them break... er... from outside forces, at least.

DBZ MAN · Post by **DBZ MAN** » Fri May 19, 2006 1:10 pm

They seem pretty durable. Remember when Tao Pai Pai shot a dodompa at Goku (which would have killed him) if not for the Dragonball in front of his chest.

Tanooki Kuribo · Post by **Tanooki Kuribo** » Fri May 19, 2006 9:08 pm

Well, Vegeta definitly thinks there breakable. On Namek, Vegeta was about the karate chop one in half so that the Ginyu Force woulndt get it.

Also, after Vegeta and Nappa landed on Earth and Nappa blew up some part of the city, Vegeta yelled at Nappa because he coulnd have just dystroyed one of the balls.