Foreign media outlet Comicbook selected three techniques from Dragon Ball's combat system that are difficult to counter head-on: the Solar Flare, the Evil Containment Wave, and the Spirit Bomb. This overview focuses not only on destructive power but also on victory mechanisms involving control, sealing, and borrowing external energy.
The Solar Flare temporarily blinds surrounding targets by releasing a burst of intense light. While it does not cause direct damage, it renders opponents unable to act or judge their surroundings for a short period, creating opportunities for retreat, pursuit, or coordination with teammates. The author argues that simply enhancing physical durability cannot withstand light; the effectiveness of the move depends more on timing and team strategy.
The Evil Containment Wave traps enemies in a container and seals them with a talisman, theoretically allowing a weaker party to handle a far superior opponent. In Dragon Ball Super, this technique was used against Zamasu, but Goku forgot to bring the sealing talisman, ultimately leading to the mission's failure.
The Spirit Bomb is a technique Goku learned from King Kai, requiring energy contributions from numerous living beings to form a massive energy sphere. During the battle against Buu, Goku harnessed the energy of life on Earth to create the Super Spirit Bomb, demonstrating that the technique's power scales with external energy sources.
This list is a subjective compilation by media authors based on technique mechanics and performance records, not an official power ranking. The three techniques focus on vision disruption, sealing, and energy accumulation respectively, showcasing victory methods in Dragon Ball that differ from standard hand-to-hand combat or ki blasts.
Detailed report from foreign media:
Even after many years, Dragon Ball's influence remains unmatched by other anime or manga series. As a battle-oriented shonen manga, it designed many iconic techniques that made combat more exciting. Akira Toriyama created and illustrated this manga, changing shonen manga in many aspects. To this day, it continues to influence a new generation of creators.
Dragon Ball has evolved over more than forty years, spawning numerous spin-offs, sequels, anime series, movies, video games, and merchandise. Among the many classic elements established by the franchise, the most prominent are the energy attacks that combine martial arts with signature moves.
These attacks typically originate from "ki." Ki is the life energy possessed by all living beings, which can be controlled through training, forming the core of Dragon Ball's power system. The original manga began serialization in 1984, establishing the concepts of energy attacks and martial arts techniques from the start, which have persisted ever since. Later works such as Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super further developed this setting. Each technique has its own characteristics and special abilities, with some being nearly uncounterable.
Solar Flare
The Solar Flare is a unique technique. It is neither purely offensive nor defensive. Instead of directly damaging the target, it impairs the opponent's vision, rendering them unable to act for a few seconds. The user channels their ki to release a blindingly bright light, temporarily affecting the sight of everyone nearby.
This move is nearly impossible to counter head-on, because no matter how strong the body is, physical strength cannot block light. The Solar Flare is best used in conjunction with team tactics, especially when outnumbering the opponent. After temporarily immobilizing the opponent, the user can rush in to follow up with another attack, or create an opening for teammates to continue weakening the enemy. Although it lacks direct lethality, if timed correctly and integrated into a well-planned strategy, it can change the tide of battle.
Evil Containment Wave
The Evil Containment Wave first appeared in the original Dragon Ball anime but did not receive sufficient attention at the time. Master Roshi learned this technique from his own master, and it later became one of Roshi's most formidable moves.
The Evil Containment Wave is neither an offensive nor a defensive technique, but rather a sealing art. It can trap immortal enemies or those too powerful to imagine inside a container. After the target is sucked into the container or jar, the user must apply a special talisman to complete the seal.
Mastering the Evil Containment Wave allows the user to potentially defeat opponents several times stronger than themselves. This technique is not only difficult to evade but also differs from conventional combat. Once the target is permanently sealed inside a container, the initial disparity in power between the two parties becomes irrelevant.
The Evil Containment Wave reappeared in Dragon Ball Super, as it was the only way to stop Zamasu. The sole reason for its eventual failure was that Goku forgot to bring the sealing talisman.
Spirit Bomb
The Spirit Bomb is one of the few techniques Goku learned from King Kai, and it is among the most powerful moves in the entire Dragon Ball world. However, the potency of the Spirit Bomb depends on how many beings are willing to contribute their energy. The more energy gathered, the stronger Goku's attack becomes.
When using the Spirit Bomb, Goku gathers energy from various living beings and condenses it into a massive energy sphere. Goku is able to use this technique because he possesses a pure heart, allowing him to manipulate and汇聚 these energies.
Few people can use the Spirit Bomb, which is a major reason why Goku holds the advantage in many battles. More importantly, the Spirit Bomb can continuously draw energy from external sources, meaning it theoretically has no upper limit. Therefore, there is no fixed cap on the amount of destruction this technique can cause.
In the final stage of the battle against Buu, Goku gathered energy from all life on Earth to create a Super Spirit Bomb. Its power was so immense that Buu could not even find an opportunity to regenerate.