Tournament of Power - Average Mortal Level (AML) EXPLAINED

[kinisking]

It's implied. The Grand Priest specifically states that it's a surprise that two universes with such a low mortal level could produce such great matches, implying that strength is a factor.

That could, and likely does, simply mean they're to be commended for putting on such a good show despite being from backwater universes. It's poverty tourism. It isn't so much "Oh, these universes have good fighters even though you'd expect them to be weak (though perhaps having fewer resources does correspond with that)," it's "My, even these poor universes showing us they have something worth presenting to Zeno."

Universes 9 and 7 aren't up first because of strength, at least from anything we know now, but likely because they're first on the chopping block/most expandable should the exhibition match not go as planned.

I think the point is we have to make a lot of assumptions to make it not mean power levels. It's easier to just assume the fairly implied meaning until the show explicitly explains it.

To be honest you have to assume a lot to think it's power levels too. Both ways of thinking are implied, but not said out right.

[DasMuse]

So...did Goku and the gang screw themselves over by killing Frieza, Cell, Dabura, Tagoma, King Cold, Dr. Gero, 19(if he counts), the Ginyus, Zarbon, Dodoria, Nappa, Raditz, etc?

I'd say Beerus having Freeza kill all the Saiyans would have made a difference as well.

[DainIronfoot]

Hmm it could be something similar to the Kardashev scale https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale

I'm hoping it's based on power level though because Goku and Vegeta seem like they can't get any stronger right now, and for the story to really progress and last something needs to happen that expands their world and makes them small fish again, and this is the perfect opportunity for that. And Beerus did tell Goku, if I remember correctly, that he's one of the weaker Gods of Destruction, so it would make sense that his universe is close to the bottom of the scale in power.

Black said Beerus was the most troublesome of the Gods.

Troublesome doesn't necessarily mean poewrful, the Pilaf gang is also troublesome.

I need to go back and watch the scene again from BoG, but I'm pretty sure Beerus tells Goku that he's one of the weaker Gods when he explains that there are 12 universes with much more powerful guys.

Beerus did not say that he was one of the weaker gods. Beerus simply told Goku that there were 12 universes in all and that some spawned warriors stronger than them.

[julianix]

Watched it again with the Spanish subs instead and some people even think it's the number of planets that are inhabitable or populated with civilized life forms.

[Cipher]

Watched it again with the Spanish subs instead and some people even think it's the number of planets that are inhabitable or populated with civilized life forms.

Ugh. The original could not be more clear.

[Nejishiki]

i don't know. if it wasn't about battle power, then why hold a tournament based on battle power and select participating universes based on AML?

The Tournament of Power wasn't based on "battle powers" though. The gods were covering anything & everything universal from the beginning. It was held in hopes of organized destruction and a little bit of entertaining. Beyond that, we'll need elaboration of the standards the Zeno and/or Grand Priest utilize.

[Kastex]

i don't know. if it wasn't about battle power, then why hold a tournament based on battle power and select participating universes based on AML?

The Tournament of Power wasn't based on "battle powers" though. The gods were covering anything & everything universal from the beginning. It was held in hopes of organized destruction and a little bit of entertaining. Beyond that, we'll need elaboration of the standards the Zeno and/or Grand Priest utilize.

the only reason goku knew about the tournament in the first place is because zenchan talked about it after the universe 7 vs universe 6 tournament because he was entertained by the tournament. then after goku reminded zenchan it was decided to make it a tournament of survival as well. it was clearly stated that zenchan was going to erase universes anyway.

i admit that my statement could have been more clear. the tournament of power is based entirely on battle ability, because whoever wins in a fight is the victor. the participants for the tournament of power is based entirely on AML. they are obviously not stupid. the entire point of the AML bomb drop was to raise excitement for the tournament. as soon as the grand priest said that universe 7 and 9 had the lowest AML, the gods in those universes started shitting their selves. if it wasn't based on strength, then there would be no need to be scared about it. you could argue that since the AML system is probably new, those gods didn't know exactly what it means and they were just guessing, but the writers aren't idiots either. they aren't going to hold a tournament this grand, drop an AML bomb that makes the gods scared, and then later reveal that AML has nothing to do with strength at all. what kind of anime is this? certainly not slice of life. everything in the anime is based on massive battle. this arc, even more so.

[Kastex]

maybe they will have the tournament of "quality of life", or the tournament of "who can complete complex math riddles faster" in the next arc. this arc is the tournament of power, and it's 1000% revolving around battle, and battle ability.

[Nejishiki]

Well, if Zeno's ratings were strictly based around the battle ability of residents, I don't think four, "top quality" universes would be exempt from his entertainment. Additionally, Zeno nor Grand Priest personally selected warriors to participate. That was left up to the Kaioshin & Hakaishin (Beerus happened to make Goku responsible for the roster). From what we're told, the highest gods are making a game out of "cleaning up" universes. They organized an exhibition round to determine whether it was worth holding a proper tournament. I'm not asserting the writers or the in-universe gods comfort in ignorance. I said we require elaboration for their complete standards. I don't know if I can agree with your idea being "1000%" accurate. In my perspective, it seems the idea is based on the "Tournament of Power" title alone & doesn't consider all factors.

[dragonballgeek]

So...did Goku and the gang screw themselves over by killing Frieza, Cell, Dabura, Tagoma, King Cold, Dr. Gero, 19(if he counts), the Ginyus, Zarbon, Dodoria, Nappa, Raditz, etc?

Not killing probably would've helped, but out of the billions and billions of beings in the universe I don't think it would've saved them. Not even a point

[dragonballgeek]

Well, if Zeno's ratings were strictly based around the battle ability of residents, I don't think four, "top quality" universes would be exempt from his entertainment. Additionally, Zeno nor Grand Priest personally selected warriors to participate. That was left up to the Kaioshin & Hakaishin (Beerus happened to make Goku responsible for the roster). From what we're told, the highest gods are making a game out of "cleaning up" universes. They organized an exhibition round to determine whether it was worth holding a proper tournament. I'm not asserting the writers or the in-universe gods comfort in ignorance. I said we require elaboration for their complete standards. I don't know if I can agree with your idea being "1000%" accurate. In my perspective, it seems the idea is based on the "Tournament of Power" title alone & doesn't consider all factors.

I'm pretty sure they held this exhibition to show the other Zeno what a tournament is.... They already know it's worth it seeing as how Zeno loved the Goku vs Hit fight