Rationalizing forgotten attacks

[LightBing]

There are many attacks, mainly in the first portion of the manga, with huge upside. That weren't ever used again. So I ask, why?

Examples:

Mafuba
This should be a no-brainer, can't defeat the opponent, seal them! However, it was never used again past the 23rd TB. My theory, the problem isn't in the technique but in the container. The enemies got so powerful, that the containers wouldn't be able to hold them.

Dodonpa
It's basically a kamehameha but better. We can assume all of Master Roshi students choose not to try to learn it, because of it's creator and out of respect for their master. Still kinda weird that such a useful technique was forgotten.

Bankoku Bikkuri Shō
You know, the electric like attack Jackie Chun used against Goku in the 21st TB. He called it his most lethal attack, stronger than the Kamehameha. This would be useful in the many battles. Most likely he chose not to teach them.

Shiyōken
Grow two extra arms! This one is weird, it was introduced to be quickly countered. In a way that doesn't seem right, just because one is faster doesn't make having two extra arms redundant. Hum...

There are probably a few more techniques like those. So what do you guys think, what are your theories?

[ekrolo2]

Piccolo's arm stretching was forgotten too. It might not pack a lot of punch but it can be real useful for closing the distance and its not like Piccolo can't grow an arm back if it backfires on him.

[fadeddreams5]

Modern fights are incredibly uninspired. I think Goku used the kamehameha in his fight with Beerus more times than he did in the Saiyan and Namek sagas combined.

Either the creators have forgotten those moves, or they don't feel like bothering having anything beyond punching, kicking, and throwing generic beams.

[Lord Beerus]

You know what I miss most, the Power Pole. Now that was an item that was useful and unique in combat.

[nickzambuto]

Why didn't they just call Devilman to kill every opponent for them?

[Blackstripe]

Why didn't they just call Devilman to kill every opponent for them?

I remember that "what-if" from one of the Tenkaichi Budokai games. It was awesome.

[tasuxeda]

Mafuba
This technique also causes the user to die so not a technique to be used lightly.

Dodonpa & Bankoku Bikkuri Shō
These techniques might not scale up as well as the Kamekameha does.

Shiyōken
My theory is that Shiyōken is similar to Shishin no Ken in that the arms power is divided between the original arms and the extra arms.

[voltlunok]

Don't forget about stuff like the Multi Form/Tri Form techniques. Those were pretty cool tricks and probably would have helped in the fight against Freeza's army.

[precita]

Did Tien ever use the volleyball technique after Dragonball?

[Polyphase Avatron]

There's also the fact that using the Mafuba kills you.

[Lord Beerus]

There's also the fact that using the Mafuba kills you.

And also the fact that is you use the Mafuba technique incorrectly, you can end up destroy the electric rice cooker intended to trap your target, making the technique pointless in the end. Hell, that why Tien never bother using it in the end after practicing the technique for several hours. The electric rice cooker kept being heavily damaged or destroyed.

[nickzambuto]

Remember when Goku escaped Freeza's paralyzing light ball without being damaged by flying away the instant it exploded, basically outracing the explosion? And he was able to do the same against Beerus recently. What is stopping every character from just outracing the explosion of a ki attack every time they're hit?

[Mac]

They don't try anymore, Goku just seems like a Kamehameha spammer now, there not much originality in fights these days.

[Polyphase Avatron]

Remember when Goku escaped Freeza's paralyzing light ball without being damaged by flying away the instant it exploded, basically outracing the explosion? And he was able to do the same against Beerus recently. What is stopping every character from just outracing the explosion of a ki attack every time they're hit?

Sometimes the attacks are faster than they are, I guess.

[LightBing]

Piccolo's arm stretching was forgotten too. It might not pack a lot of punch but it can be real useful for closing the distance and its not like Piccolo can't grow an arm back if it backfires on him.

That's a good one. When was the last he used it? Against #17?

Mafuba
This technique also causes the user to die so not a technique to be used lightly.

Dodonpa & Bankoku Bikkuri Shō
These techniques might not scale up as well as the Kamekameha does.

Shiyōken
My theory is that Shiyōken is similar to Shishin no Ken in that the arms power is divided between the original arms and the extra arms.

I'm pretty sure Cyborg Tao developed a Super Dodonpa.

There's also the fact that using the Mafuba kills you.

Better to use it than to let everyone get killed. Plus this is Dragon Ball, with two (now three) sets of Dragon Balls ready to bring everyone back.

[Pantalones]

I'm pretty sure Cyborg Tao developed a Super Dodonpa.

True... but isn't that the blast Tenshinhan was able to blow away just with a kiai? Tenshinhan was stronger and more skilled than Tao at this point, yeah, but it wasn't such a drastic difference that Tao couldn't even scratch him (the hidden blade in his arm managed to leave a pretty decent slash across his chest, at least.)

I get the feeling that while Super Dodonpa still could've been useful if people had kept on using and developing it into the Z era (I imagine it'd probably be like a better version of Freeza's Death Beams, just like how both the heroes and Freeza use Kienzan-type techniques but Freeza's aren't as controllable as Krillin's), it definitely got left behind by the Kamehameha by the end of Dragonball -- Dodonpa's original "superior to Kamehameha" status only applied to the first versions of each technique, not to the later upgrades.

[LightBing]

I'm pretty sure Cyborg Tao developed a Super Dodonpa.

True... but isn't that the blast Tenshinhan was able to blow away just with a kiai? Tenshinhan was stronger and more skilled than Tao at this point, yeah, but it wasn't such a drastic difference that Tao couldn't even scratch him (the hidden blade in his arm managed to leave a pretty decent slash across his chest, at least.)

I get the feeling that while Super Dodonpa still could've been useful if people had kept on using and developing it into the Z era (I imagine it'd probably be like a better version of Freeza's Death Beams, just like how both the heroes and Freeza use Kienzan-type techniques but Freeza's aren't as controllable as Krillin's), it definitely got left behind by the Kamehameha by the end of Dragonball -- Dodonpa's original "superior to Kamehameha" status only applied to the first versions of each technique, not to the later upgrades.

He only scratched him because he caught him by surprise. Tenshinhan had a massive gap in power, finishing him with just a punch. That's why the attack was stopped the way it was. Tsuru school certainly excelled in creating techniques, if the characters had keep up improving the technique it would be on the same level or better than the kamehameha.

[Insertclevername]

I can't exactly remember the context of when the Dodonpa was said to be stronger than the Kamehameha, but I always just assumed that was just big talk by the Crane School.

[FoolsGil]

Well, let's talk Mafuba.

To all those who said it could kill you, yes, Master Mutaito and Master Roshi, did die after performing. But Tenshinhan did not die in training, (and in an anime exclusive scene, captured Drum by mistake, almost sealing him) Kami performed it, and Piccolo reflected, and none of them died. I believe the answer is simple: a lot of chi is used to contain the opponent in the beam, and you could very well die from expending your normal energy followed by your life energy to force the opponent into the jar.

As for the attack possibly failing to keep the enemy contained, keep in mind that several villains, and a lot of villains in anime, usually come out of sealed containers, it's a trope in itself. I personally don't think that Cell or Majin Buu is too good to be contained, but I do believe that Master Roshi would die mid spell if he performed the Mafuba on them.

Rationalization is simple: No one wants to die. I see Piccolo being the likely candidate of sealing Buu or Cell successfully, but at the cost of his life. It's easier to follow the series staple of putting your hopes and dreams into the Saiyans than actually sacrificing yourself.

on the Dodonpa, frankly all energy attacks look the same, at least the Kamehameha Wave looks cool doing.

Bangkok Suprise - Easy One. Master Roshi decided to convert Tenshinhan to the good side instead of winning, and it took to long to perform against 1000 of Freeza's forces.

Shiyoken - It's not that Tenshinhan forgot, it's that the only attack that gave him an edge equal to the Saiyans, was not the Shiyoken.

[Battousai]

I can't exactly remember the context of when the Dodonpa was said to be stronger than the Kamehameha, but I always just assumed that was just big talk by the Crane School.

It's just big talk. Dodonpa is a one finger blast technique, unlike the kamehameha, which use the both hands. Also, Kamehameha uses much more energy. Remember Chaozu when he was spamming Dodonpas against Kuririn ?