Toriyama gave an answer years ago, but the Super series has come to change the cards on the table...
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| Image Credit: Toei Animation |
In the transition between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, and with the increase in the gap between the Saiyan characters and humans, several historical heroes of Akira Toriyama's universe have inevitably ended up on the sidelines. One of the few exceptions seems to be Krillin, Goku's best friend, who, despite not being able to compete with him or Vegeta, continues to actively participate in the fights of every main saga. Over the years, this character has earned the reputation of being the most powerful human on planet Earth (obviously excluding androids C-17 and C-18).
Not only does Yamcha define him as such at the beginning of the Majin Buu arc, but even the creator Akira Toriyama confirmed that he considers Krillin the strongest fighter of the human race, in an interview in 2004. But is it really so? The comparison with his friends would seem to support the hypothesis: already in the Saiyan saga, he is the only one who manages to face Nappa, while characters like Yamcha and Jiaozi (Riff) die in the attempt. Furthermore, among them, Krillin is the only one chosen in the Dragon Ball Super series to fight in the Tournament of Power, where some of the most skilled warriors in the entire universe are gathered.
It is more complex, however, to establish who is stronger between him and Tenshinhan (Tensing), given that the latter is also considered powerful enough to participate in the tournament. In fact, among fans of the anime, there has never been a definitive agreement on who was the most skilled of the two. Tenshinhan, for example, manages to face Cell in the second stage, and in a film he even holds his own against Future Trunks, forcing him to transform into a Super Saiyan to win. However, judging by the events of the movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, it would still seem that Krillin has the upper hand since he manages to attack Cell Max, the enhanced version of Cell. It should also be noted that, although Toriyama identifies him as an earthling, it is mentioned that Tenshinhan descends from the alien race of the Three-Eyes, which gives him special abilities compared to simple humans.
So we have arrived at the solution: is Krillin really the most powerful individual on Earth? Well... not exactly. The Super series has once again changed the rules of the game compared to Toriyama's original statements, bringing back a character who had long been on the sidelines: Master Muten. During the Tournament of Power, in fact, seeing Goku in difficulty against Jiren, the Master decides to enter the field to demonstrate how experience can compensate for the difference in physical strength. Fascinated, the gods Whis and Beerus seem to hypothesize that Muten has developed a primitive form of the Ultra Instinct technique, which will later be achieved by Goku.
In conclusion, the debate about the strongest Earthling in the Dragon Ball universe is still open. Judging by the latest events in the manga and anime, however, Krillin should still be the most powerful warrior. On the contrary, Master Roshi represents a type of fighter who, rather than physical strength, can rely on great experience due to his advanced age, which allows him to compete even with much more powerful opponents.
Source: CBR
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