Genki Dama

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Directory: Techniques → Offensive techniques → Ki → Energy spheres

The Genki Dama (元気 玉, Genki Dama; FUNimation "Spirit Bomb", Viz "Genki Dama"; Literally meaning "Vitality Ball") is an energy sphere attack used by many fighters. It is widely considered to be the strongest attack in the series, although it depends on the number of organisms supporting its use. In the manga, it is used only a total of three times.

The Genki Dama's name may be a pun on the words Denki Gama, or Electric Rice Cooker in English.

History

Users of the Genki Dama gather huge amounts of energy from all chosen surrounding life forms, and conduct that energy into a massive sphere of astounding destructive power. Energy takes the visual form of sparkling, glittering wisps when adding to the mass. The creation of the attack promotes a calm breeze away from the bomb, which turns into a strong continuous gale and expels colorful bands or radiation of the Northern Lights-esque aurora. When used, it is quite swift, and if the user is not careful of it, the Genki Dama could absolutely obliterate a planet.

To use the Genki Dama, one must have a pure heart so that they can manipulate and gather energy, otherwise the move can backfire and possibly hurt or kill the user. Likewise, once a Genki Dama has been fired, it is possible for one with a pure heart to deflect the technique, as Son Goku clarifies to Son Gohan and Krillin, who subsequently demonstrate this in the Dragon Ball Z episode "Krillin's Offensive". It should be noted, however, that although a person can be pure good or pure evil of heart, a Genki Dama that is created by a pure good person cannot be deflected by a pure evil person, the two opposite energies cancel each other out with one engulfing the other. This is shown when Freeza, a being of pure evil, was not able to deflect the Genki Dama, although he was able to survive it through brute force. In the video games (and the anime), the Genki Dama can harm even a relatively good person or a pure good being. Therefore, the Genki Dama harms anyone regardless of morality. In the Dragon Ball Z film Super Android 13!, Krillin revealed that Goku could not gather the energy while in his Super Saiyan state. This was because the Super Saiyan transformation was inherently malicious and tainted the heart and soul. In the film, Goku managed to channel the Genki Dama directly into himself while he was in his Super Saiyan form, supercharging his power, giving him a Genki Dama-sized solar aura and filling him with a straining fury.

The main disadvantage of the attack, however, is the amount of time needed to complete the attack, thus the attack was used very rarely. Goku, Krillin, and Gohan were the only characters known to have used this attack, although it was Goku who gathered the energy before Krillin threw it – Gohan only rebounded the attack. Cell also claimed to be capable of using the Genki Dama (perhaps because of his having a pure evil heart, inheriting the ability from Goku, or even the more likely combination of both. Another possibility is that he was simply bluffing in an attempt to psych the Z Warriors out). While Goku was in the afterlife, he was taught this move by King Kai (shortly before his first fight against Vegeta).

Occasions it has been used

Against Vegeta (Fusion Genki Dama)

Kuririn wielding the Fusion Genki Dama given to him by Goku.

During the battle against Vegeta, Goku had no choice but to use the technique King Kai had taught him: the Spirit Bomb. But Vegeta transformed into a Great Ape, and due to the enormous disadvantage he was at against his now monstrous enemy, many of Goku's attempts failed. He eventually managed, however, to collect the energy needed for his ultimate attack. Unfortunately, before he was able to unleash this attack on his foe, Vegeta thrashed Goku, reducing the amount of gathered energy and leaving him incapable of doing anything. Still, he managed to give what was left of the gathered energy of the Spirit Bomb to Krillin, and with some help from Goku's son, Gohan, the Spirit Bomb reached its target, Vegeta. Although a direct hit, the Spirit Bomb did not finish the Saiyan prince, presumably due to having lost too much power, although it did injure and weaken Vegeta.

Against Freeza (Large Genki Dama)

Goku charging the Large Genki Dama against Freeza.

Similarly to his fight with Vegeta, Goku could nott defeat Freeza even with his Kaio-ken x20. Therefore, he decided to once again use the Spirit Bomb. With some help from Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan, Goku had enough time to collect energy from the remaining living beings of Planet Namek, as well as some nearby planets, thus creating a bigger Spirit Bomb than the one that hit Vegeta. Goku's Large Spirit Bomb was not strong enough to bring an end to the galactic tyrant though. This is speculated to be either because Goku underestimated Frieza's power (since he was only at about 50%) or because there was very little life left in the Namekian planetary system. Despite the fact that it failed, Frieza was still unable to reflect it.

Against Kid Boo (Super Genki Dama)

Goku charging the Super Genki Dama against Kid Boo.

After seeing that Goku as a Super Saiyan 3 had not finished off Kid Buu to allow Vegeta a fair chance to fight, Vegeta came up with the idea to make the Super Spirit Bomb by restoring the then-destroyed Earth and immediately reviving everyone on the planet in order for every Human to give Goku most of their energy. Only Goku's friends gave their energy at first, however, since everyone else had doubts about the voices they were hearing. Once Hercule talked to the Earthlings and convinced them to raise their hands, everyone's energy became part of the Super Spirit Bomb, which eventually obliterated the evil Kid Buu (Goku formed the Spirit Bomb in base form, but had to go Super Saiyan since Kid Buu was deflecting it).

Against Omega Shenron (Universal Genki Dama)

Goku charging the Universal Genki Dama against Omega.

After Goku and Vegeta lost both their fusion and their transformations as Super Saiyan 4s, the battle against Omega Shen Long seemed practically lost. They would not give up, however, and with a Genki Dama powered by the whole universe, the Evil Dragon was beaten and completely destroyed.

Films

Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest

Goku started gathering energy for a Genki Dama after he had decided that it was the only way to defeat Doctor Uiro. Uiro flew high above Earth and shot a beam intended to destroy the whole planet. Goku then launched a Genki Dama and destroyed Uiro once and for all.

Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might

Goku had to resort to the Genki Dama after he that Tullece had gained an incredible amount of power after eating the Fruit of the Shinseiju. Since the Shinseiju had absorbed all of the energy from Earth, however, there was no energy left for Goku to use the technique. He then collected the energy from the Shinseiju itself and used it to destroy both Tullece and the Shinseiju he had planted. North Kaio referred to this as the Super Spirit Bomb in the English dub, therefore this could be considered as the first appearance.

Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug

Slugg quickly lost his edge after Son Gohan whistled as Piccolo asked him. Goku then attacked Slugg with the Kaio-ken after Piccolo gave his energy to Goku. He then flew above the cloud that was causing Planet Earth to freeze so that he could absorb energy from the Sun. With that energy, Goku launched a Genki Dama at Slugg and destroyed both him and his generator.

Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!

Goku did not actually use a Genki Dama in Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!, but he did gather the energy for it. Because he had transformed into a Super Saiyan, however, he absorbed the energy and ultimately used it to destroy Artificial Human No. 13

Dragon Ball Z Gaiden: Saiya-jin Zetsumetsu Keikaku

Goku used the Instant Genki Dama to defeat Hachihyaku while in his Full Power Super Saiyan transformation in Dragon Ball Z Gaiden: Saiya-jin Zetsumetsu Keikaku.

Video games

The Genki Dama appeared in several video games, such as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3. It appeared as golden-yellow and red in some video games and light-green when Perfect Cell uses it in the Budokai video game series. It almost always inflicts extreme damage, being one of the strongest techniques in the games. In Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and Budokai Tenkaichi 3, when the user combines certain techniques, such as the Give Me Energy! or Kaio-ken together with the Spirit Bomb, it inflicts a tremendous amount of damage.

Premature and advanced levels

The following Genki Dama are presented in order of size and strength, from smallest to largest. The more spiritual energy is contributed to the bomb, the huger and more potent it will become.

• Fusion Genki Dama : A combined form of the Genki Dama that Goku used with Kuririn and Gohan. It was used against Vegeta.
• Large Genki Dama: A larger and more powerful Genki Dama. The energy was gathered from life forms on Planet Namek. It was used against Freeza.
• Super Genki Dama: A much larger and even more powerful Genki Dama. The energy was gathered from the life forms on Earth and the Kai planet. It was used against Kid Boo.
• Universal Genki Dama: The most powerful version of the Genki Dama. The energy was gathered from all of the life forms in the entire universe. It was used against Omega Shen Long.

Character meaning

• 元 (gen) = innate
• 気 (ki) = spirit
• 元気 (genki) = vitality
• 玉 (dama) = ball

Trivia

• Though neither character creates a Spirit Bomb, both Gohan and Kid Boo are contacted by the attack and manage to deflect it towards another target.
• At first, Goku can only create basketball-sized Genki Dama. Later on, he can create ones that were the size of miniature planets.
• Even though he is not pure of heart, Kuririn is able to wield the Spirit Bomb when Goku gives it to him to attack Vegeta. In Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors, he is taught it by Goku. That may be because a pure heart is only required to create the Spirit Bomb, not to launch it.