The Kaioshin plot hole

[Polyphase Avatron]

We were originally shown that there were 4 Kaioshin, ruled by the Dai Kaioshin, until all of them except Shin were killed/absorbed by Buu. Then in Super we saw that all of the other universes only had a single Kaioshin. Some people considered this to be a retcon, until the Moro arc in the manga established that the Dai Kaioshin was still definitely canon.

So what's the deal?

Here are some possible explanations:

1. Universe 7 was the only universe with a Dai Kaioshin and multiple Kaioshin.

This seems unlikely unless a good reason can be given for it.

2. There are multiple Kaioshin in the other universes, and the ones we saw were the Dai Kaioshin of their respective universes.

Seems unlikely as such a thing was never stated, and they were portrayed as being no greater in status or power than Shin.

3. Something killed off/got rid of the Dai Kaioshin and other Kaioshin in the other universes, just like Buu did in Universe 7.

Seems like an extremely improbable coincidence, unless some kind of logic can be found to justify it.

4. There are multiple Kaioshin and a Dai Kaioshin in the other universes, but they each just sent one to the ToP.

Seems odd that the Dai Kaioshin wouldn't attend an event where their universes were at stake, and that all of them would independently choose to send just one.

Can you think of any other possibilities?

[Grimlock]

I can't, and for the same reasons you provided. The Kaioshin thing is an annoying plothole that I can't see how they could ever explain it (since the term "Dai Kaioshin" was never stated in Dragon Ball Super. That would've solved things). All we can do is accept this nonsense Dragon Ball Super brought upon us.

All Universes should have their own five Kaioshins. Seeing as a Universe is a vast place and the gods aren't omnipresent, makes sense to divide and one to rule all of them.

[xm0c]

I think the best explanation is that each universe does have 5 total Kaioshin, and that the ones we saw at the Tournament of Power were all the Dai Kaioshins of their respective universes. That begs the question as to whether or not the Gods of Destruction are connected to all 5, or just the Dai Kaioshin.

[SSJgogeto]

I think the option 1 is the best one. As far as I know, we don't have any official rules about the hierarchy. Also, Shin was alone for years (centuries, probably), so it's possible to say that we don't really need 5 Kaioshins to watch over the universe.

[Koitsukai]

1) As of now, U7 is the one with so many kaioshin, maybe they die off with time(killed too) and by now they all have just the one?

2) I think this one is the most likely. We sent Shin because that was all we've got left, aside of the old one that was also linked to Beerus once upon a time. IIRC, the other kaioshin were much closer to their hakaishin than Shin is, like you would expect a dai kaioshin to be. Perhaps part of being so low on the multiverse ranking was because we had only 1 kaioshin for centuries.

3) Seems improbable, I agree. Specially with universes that have great life-development. Ningen flourish while kaioshin are killed off?

4) In U10, Gowasu was on his own, so if there are many kaioshins in other universes, they failed to imply that, so I'd say no to this one. Also, Rou Kaioshin went to the ToP, so if other universes had more kaioshin, they would've been there too. Although U10 could be a special case like U7.

5) Perhaps is just a generational thing, Rou Kaioshin seemed to be on his own too, so what if Shin's generation was uncommonly filled with brothers?


I'll add one more question: with daikaioshin being still alive, is he the one linked to Beerus? Shin never put Beerus in jeopardy then?

[TobyS]

EIther the kaios we've seen are all the Dai's or they just send a representitive.
Additionally it could be that the Dai is the true Kaioshin and all the others were actually just Kaioshin attendants at the time.

[SupremeKai25]

This is a difficult question to answer. Imho the most logical explanation is that each universe only has one Supreme Kai, except for U7. In Super we've seen all the other 11 Sacred Worlds of the Kais, and in each of them there was only one Supreme Kai, not five running around. We only see one Supreme Kai per universe when Black reveals he killed them all, or when they have this big gathering to discuss the Tournament of Power, or again when they are restored by 17's wish. I think this really is a case of U7 just being the one exception, and not the rule.

Why would U7 be the exception? I could think of two reasons, which are closely linked:

1) U7 was the most "barren" universe and so Zeno sent more Supreme Kais in that location to nurture more life;

2) U7 was also the most endangered universe. Just think of Moro and Buu, two of the deadliest threats the cosmos has ever seen, and they were both in U7. Maybe Zeno decided that specific region needed more Supreme Kais to deal with these threats and to nurture new life in the aftermath.

[Ongam]

This is a difficult question to answer. Imho the most logical explanation is that each universe only has one Supreme Kai, except for U7. In Super we've seen all the other 11 Sacred Worlds of the Kais, and in each of them there was only one Supreme Kai, not five running around. We only see one Supreme Kai per universe when Black reveals he killed them all, or when they have this big gathering to discuss the Tournament of Power, or again when they are restored by 17's wish. I think this really is a case of U7 just being the one exception, and not the rule.

Why would U7 be the exception? I could think of two reasons, which are closely linked:

1) U7 was the most "barren" universe and so Zeno sent more Supreme Kais in that location to nurture more life;

2) U7 was also the most endangered universe. Just think of Moro and Buu, two of the deadliest threats the cosmos has ever seen, and they were both in U7. Maybe Zeno decided that specific region needed more Supreme Kais to deal with these threats and to nurture new life in the aftermath.

Given the history with Buu, and now the new chronicling of Moro's emergence in the story, this is the most logical explanation. This plot hole is really more enticing than frustrating, at least to me, however. It's the perfect precedent for a Dragon Ball Chronicles series. Think episodes or many arcs that each focus on the other 11 universes, fleshing out their universe's history, lore, planets, and most powerful characters, giving us potential answers about all of their Kaioshin (and Dai Kaioshin), past and present.

[theherodjl]

It could be possible that a single Kaioshin for each universe is a more-recent change among the universes. Most likely, Zeno declared that the need for more than one was unnecessary during the past five million years and so he may have just erased the additional Kaioshin. Zeno has already eradicated 6 universes because he got upset so its conceivable that he might arbitrarily decide to alter the hierarchy on a whim.