Genki Dama

Genki Dama
File:Goku's Super Genki Dama.jpg Goku, holding the Super Genki Dama.
Japanese name:	元気玉
Romanized name:	Genki Dama
Translated name:	Energy Ball
Also known as:	Spirit Bomb
Skill type:	Offensive Energy attack
Taught by:	Kaio-sama
Known users:	Son Goku Krillin Son Gohan Cell (only in videogames) Majin Buu (only in videogames)

The Genki Dama (元気 玉, Genki Dama), translated as "energy ball", and known as the Spirit Bomb in English adaptations, is one of the attacks of Son Goku from the manga series Dragon Ball, as well as the anime franchise of the same name. In order to use the Genki Dama, its user has to gather energy from other living beings (including plants and animals) or energy sources (such as a planet, or even the Sun), to finally throw the collected energy at their target in the shape of a sphere. It is quite probably the most powerful attack in the whole Dragon Ball universe, although its great disadvantage is the long period of time it takes to be made.

Origin

After dying in order to defeat his evil brother Raditz, Goku, sent by Kami-sama, who asked for permission from King Enma, went through the Serpent Road in order to reach Kaio-sama's planet, so that he would train him.

After finally reaching his goal, Goku received training from Kaio-sama, being the Genki Dama the ultimate technique he was taught.

Occasions it has been used

Against Vegeta

During the battle against Vegeta, Goku saw no choice but to use the technique Kaio-sama taught him: the Genki Dama. But Vegeta transformed into a giant ape, and due to the enormous disadvantage he was at against his now monstrous enemy, many of Goku's attempts failed. However, he eventually managed to collect the energy needed for his ultimate attack. Unfortunately, before he was able to unleash this attack on his foe, Vegeta thrashed Goku, leaving him uncapable of doing anything. Still, he managed to give the gathered energy to Krillin, and with some help from Goku's son, Gohan, the Genki Dama reached its target, Vegeta. Sadly, even though it was a direct hit, the Genki Dama didn't finish the Saiyan prince.

Against Freeza

Similarly to his fight with Vegeta, Goku couldn't defeat Freeza even with his Kaioken's power increased 20 times, so he decided to once again use the Genki Dama. With some help from Piccolo, as well as 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 energy ball than the one that hit Vegeta. However, just like in his battle with the prince of Saiyans, Goku's Genki Dama wasn't strong enough to anihilate the tyrant Freeza.

Against Majin Buu

After seeing that not even Goku's Super Saiyan 3 transformation was powerful enough to beat Majin Buu in his pure form, Vegeta came up with the idea to make the Super Genki Dama, by restoring the then destroyed Earth and immediately reviving everyone in the planet, so every human would give Goku most of their energy. However, only Goku's friends gave their energy at first, since everyone else had doubts about the voices they were hearing. But once Mr. Satan talked to the people on Earth and convinced them to raise their hands, everyone's energy became part of the super Genki Dama, which eventually obliterated the evil Majin Buu.

Against Super Ii Shinron

Having Goku and Vegeta lost both their fusion and their transformations as Super Saiyan 4, the battle against Super Ii Shinron seemed practically lost. However they would not give up, and with a Genki Dama powered by the whole galaxy, the evil dragon was beaten.

In movies

The Genki Dama has also appeared in several Dragon Ball Z movies.

Movie 2

Kono yo de Ichiban Tsuyoi Yatsu (The World's Strongest Guy) / English Title: The World's Strongest

After having decided that it was the only way to defeat Dr. Willow, Goku started gathering energy for a Genki Dama. Dr. Willow flew high into space, shooting a beam intended to destroy the whole planet. But just then Goku launches his energy ball and destroys Dr. Willow once and for all.

Movie 3

Chikyū Marugoto Chōkessen (Super Deciding Battle for the Entire Planet Earth) / English Title: The Tree of Might

Seeing that Tullece had gained an incredible power after eating the fruit of the tree of might, Goku once again recurred to the Genki Dama. But since the tree had absorbed all the energy from the planet, there was no energy left for Goku to use his technique. Still, he collected the energy inside the very Tree of Might and used it to destroy both Tullece and the tree he had planted.

Movie 4

Sūpā Saiyajin da Son Gokū (It's Super Saiyan Son Goku) / English Title: Lord Slug

When Gohan whistles as Piccolo asked him to, Slug quickly loses his edge, and right after Piccolo gave his energy to Goku, the latter attacked Slug with the Kaioken. Goku then disabled the generator that was causing the Earth to freeze, so he could absorb energy from the Sun. With that energy, Goku launched a Genki Dama at Slug, destroying him and his generator as well.

Movie 7

Kyokugen Batoru!! San Dai Sūpā Saiyajin (Extreme Battle!! The Three Great Super Saiyans) / English Title: Super Android 13!

Although in this movie Goku does not actually throw a Genki Dama, he does gather the energy for it, except that, because he transformed into a Super Saiyan, he absorbed the energy, which ultimately he used to defeat his foe.

In other media

The Genki Dama has also appeared in many Dragon Ball Z videogames, including Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension for the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System (or "Super NES"), Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II and Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury, both for the Game Boy Advance (GBA), the Dragon Ball Z (known in America as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai) series for the PlayStation 2 (PS2), and the Dragon Ball Z Sparking! (otherwise known as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi) series, also for the PS2.

Notes

• The Genki Dama can be freely controled by those who have no evil inside them. This is explained by Goku, who tells his son: "Throw it back, Gohan...!! The Genki Dama is on your side!! When someone has no negative energy, they can handle it with no problem!!!" and then shown by Gohan as he stops and redirects the Genki Dama at Vegeta.
• Even though the only one who has ever used the Genki Dama is Son Goku (with the exception of Krillin after receiving the energy from him, and Gohan deflecting it), it is suggested that Cell, having Goku's cells, is also capable of performing such move; as a matter of fact, he does employ this ability in several videogames. Majin Buu also utilizes this skill in a videogame, in which he absorbs Cell, thus gaining the latter's abilities.