Origin of the term "Attack Ball"?

[Sun-Wukong]

I hear the term used a lot in reference to the Saiyan space pods, but I'm not entirely sure where it comes from. I can't really find it anywhere other than casual conversation and, unfortunately Dragon Ball Wiki, but I'm almost positive I've seen Herms use it here as well. I really like the terms and I'll probably use it regardless, but I'd like to know.

As for why this is in In-Universe Discussion, I'm especially curious to know if they've ever been referred to by the term in the anime or manga, but I don't own either one in its entirety, so. . . .

[TheDevilsCorpse]

No, pretty sure it's only been used in the Super Exciting Guide: Character Volume, for Vegeta's favorite vehicle. Maybe in other guides, like the Chozenshu, since them, but I don't remember it anywhere in the series itself, regardless of media format.

[Pantalones]

I'm pretty sure it was never used in the series itself. From what I can remember, they're always just referred to as the Saiyans' spaceships or other equally generic ways rather than having a specific name.

I'm guessing the Super Exciting Guide introduced the term. Before it came out, I remember people talking about "Saiyan pods" or "Saiyan space pods" or "Saiyan spaceships" whenever they were referring to the round little ships the Saiyans landed on planets in, but I don't remember ever seeing "Attack Balls" referred to until much more recently (probably after that guidebook came out and used that term for the first time.)

[Hitiro]

Is it specifically stated anywhere that they are "Saiyan" spaceships? All of Freeza's forces if they are travelling by themselves seem to use them so I wonder if it is Saiyan technology. In the anime I think I recall Kaio saying the Saiyan's plundered technology from other races and made it their own. So I wonder if "Attack Ball" would be a better naming convention for them considering the spaceships may not be Saiyan technology.

[Herms]

The Super Exciting Guide is definitely the first place I ever saw the term, and I remember asking about it at the time. Before that they'd just been called "round spaceships" in guidebooks.

Notably, "Attack Ball" is flat-out in English, which goes along with "Scouter" and "Medical Machine", two more bits of equipment used by Freeza's forces. It also matches most of Vegeta's attacks (Power Ball, Big Bang Attack, Final Flash). In his Daizenshuu 4 interview, Toriyama said he felt English names suited Vegeta's attacks, in contrast to Piccolo with his fancy kanji names.

Is it specifically stated anywhere that they are "Saiyan" spaceships? All of Freeza's forces if they are travelling by themselves seem to use them so I wonder if it is Saiyan technology.

Yeah, going strictly by the manga it certainly seems like they're just something the Saiyans picked up from Freeza and co., like their distinctive armor (which likewise often gets called "Saiyan armor"). And as I mentioned above, they were just called "round spaceships" in pre-SEG guidebooks; Daizenshuu 7 even describes them as belong to Freeza and his soldiers. On the other hand, GT shows the Saiyans arriving on Planet Plant in ships identical to the modern "Attack Balls", centuries before they met up with Freeza and co.

[TheDevilsCorpse]

On the other hand, GT shows the Saiyans arriving on Planet Plant in ships identical to the modern "Attack Balls", centuries before they met up with Freeza and co.

Aren't the ones in GT more like rocket powered footballs?

[Herms]

Aren't the ones in GT more like rocket powered footballs?

Are they? I remember them as standard Attack Balls, but it's been a long time.

[timpane]

, I remember people talking about "Saiyan pods" or "Saiyan space pods" or "Saiyan spaceships" whenever they were referring to the round little ships the Saiyans landed on planets in, but I don't remember ever seeing "Attack Balls" referred to until much more recently (probably after that guidebook came out and used that term for the first time.)