Dragon Ball’s Piccolo is one of the anime’s most fascinating figures with a redemption arc that’s arguably even more impressive than Vegeta’s journey of self-discovery. Piccolo has one of the best training regimens in the series and he’s a character who always strives to become stronger. That being said, Piccolo lacks the copious transformations that are par for the course with Saiyans. Piccolo has his share of natural Namekian advantages, such as regeneration and malleability skills, but Dragon Ball has increasingly prioritized transformations and turned them into the easiest way to determine strength. Dragon Ball Super’s latest feature film and manga storyline concludes with Piccolo’s momentous Orange Piccolo transformation.

This is a groundbreaking moment for the character that puts him on par with Goku, Vegeta, Broly, and Gohan’s strength, but it also opens up the possibility of additional Namekian transformations that build upon Orange Piccolo’s foundation. Orange Piccolo is still a fairly recent Dragon Ball revelation. However, it wouldn’t be out of place for Dragon Ball Super to already be thinking about Orange Piccolo’s evolution as the manga prepares for unprecedented chaos. Curiously, the key to Piccolo’s success could actually be the result of Dragon Ball DAIMA’s Neva, an important Neva who is due for a comeback.

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Neva Could Be Essential In Unlocking A New Form For Piccolo

Neva’s Legendary Power Meshes Perfectly With Piccolo’s Previous Power Boosts

Dragon Ball DAIMA introduces a wealth of new Demon Realm characters and it’s Neva, a Legendary Namekian, who becomes one of the most curious wild cards from the adventure. Initially introduced as an antagonistic presence, Neva gradually aligns himself with the heroes and actually becomes crucial to their success against Gomah and the Demon Realm’s liberation. Neva is directly responsible for Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 ascension when he transfers some energy to the injured Saiyan.

In Vegeta’s case, it’s the power boost that Neva triggers in Tamagami Number Two that pushes Vegeta past his limits and into Super Saiyan 3. The audience expects Neva to perform a similar service for Piccolo by the time Dragon Ball DAIMA reaches its endgame since Piccolo has fails to contribute much to the greater whole. Dragon Ball DAIMA, oddly enough, resists the temptation and doesn’t give Piccolo a power boost like his two peers. Even just a tease of Orange Piccolo would have made such a big difference, helping connect the dots between Dragon Ball DAIMA and Dragon Ball Super.

Neva may not awaken Piccolo’s potential or trigger anything new in the Namekian, but this doesn’t mean such a thing can’t still happen in the future. Piccolo’s potential unlock and Orange Piccolo transformations in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero are the result of wishes to Shenron. Neva performing a similar service wouldn’t be a radical change of pace for Piccolo, as it’s actually a fitting way for him to unlock a new tier of his Namekian power. Dragon Ball Super is also offered some leeway in the sense that Neva could permanently trigger a new transformation for Piccolo or provide conditional power requiring Neva’s intervention.

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It’s also important to recognize that Piccolo and Neva are both Namekians, which opens up a few more possibilities when it comes to power boosts. Piccolo previously gained incredible strength upgrades when he performed Namekian fusion with Nail and Kami.Up until recently, this seemed to be the most efficient way for Namekians to get stronger. Neva has become an important figure in the Demon Realm, but if Dragon Ball isn’t going to visit the Demon Realm anytime soon – if ever – Piccolo might as well fuse with him as an additional power boost. A fusion between Piccolo and Neva would make him stronger, but it should also bestow Piccolo with all of Neva’s knowledge & powers. This additional strength and intelligence might be enough for Piccolo to trigger a new transformation himself.

Finally, Neva’s powers allow him to create and supercede Dragon Balls. It wouldn’t be inconceivable for Neva to pay a visit to Earth to create an alternate set of Dragon Balls, complete with their own Tamagami guardians. This could become a personal quest for Piccolo to accomplish where Piccolo can unlock a new form from a stronger Eternal Dragon. Shenron has already done everything he can to unlock Piccolo’s potential, but the same may not be true for the Demon Realm’s Porunga. This would be another exciting way for Neva to push Piccolo to greater heights, but in a more active manner that requires him to overcome challenges and prove himself. Dragon Ball Super could even put a spin on this idea by having Piccolo use his wish to restore Neva’s youth, at which point a stronger Neva unlocks Piccolo’s potential.

A Tiered Transformation For Piccolo Avoids Past Problems

Piccolo Doesn’t Get Stuck On A Dead End Path

A powerful transformation can completely revolutionize a character, but a form alone can be rather short-sighted if it isn’t sufficiently expanded upon. In Piccolo’s case, his Orange Piccolo transformation is an exciting change of pace. It’s an intimidating form that can be triggered at will, rather than a new state he’s permanently in. Orange Piccolo also helps solve a lot of the power scaling issues that have existed in modern Dragon Ball.

It’s now possible for Piccolo to assist so that the majority of combat isn’t just done by Goku and Vegeta. That said, a singular transformation for Piccolo is going to face similar problems in the long run. If Dragon Ball Super only has one or two more story sagas left, then this isn’t a major problem. A version of the series that continues to run indefinitely means that Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan are destined to unlock new tiers of power along the way. Suddenly, Orange Piccolo isn’t as impressive and Piccolo once again recedes into the background.

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The only way to properly prevent this from happening is to suggest Orange Piccolo is just the first stage of something greater. Currently, Orange Piccolo is presented as Piccolo’s ultimate form and peak power. Piccolo has more longevity as a character if Orange Piccolo is able to graduate into Red Piccolo, White Piccolo, and beyond. There was a time when nobody could conceive of a transformation that surpassed Super Saiyan, so there’s no reason why Orange Piccolo can’t undergo the same evolution. This would also present exciting opportunities for more Namekians – either friend or foe – to enter the spotlight and fight with these new transformations.

A New Transformation Can Further Connect Piccolo To His Namekian Roots

This New Form Can Build Upon Piccolo’s Demon Realm Adventure

Dragon Ball DAIMA’s vast Demon Realm is one of the anime’s most best qualities. It’s incredibly exciting to have such a rich, diverse playground to explore, the likes of which are pushed even further through the fact the Demon Realm is divided into three distinct Demon Worlds. The Second Demon World is actually where Namekians come from and Planet Namek is a surrogate homeworld intentionally reminiscent of their Demon Realm origins.

Piccolo experiences a cathartic homecoming in Dragon Ball DAIMA as he sets foot at the same place of his ancestors. It feels like Dragon Ball DAIMA only scratched the surface of Piccolo’s complicated feelings towards the Demon Realm, though, and there’s ample opportunity to further develop this through a new transformation. Before Namekians were even revealed to be Demons, Orange Piccolo already looked considerably more monstrous – to the point he even frightens Pan.

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Piccolo now has a better understanding of his Demon Realm heritage, which could be better reflected through Orange Piccolo’s successors. Transformations that come after Orange Piccolo could continue to emphasize Piccolo’s more demonic characteristics and turn him into a creature that resembles Gomah’s final form. There have been small veiled references to Piccolo being the offspring of a Demon King, but Orange Piccolo could better explore this concept. Perhaps subsequent transformations beyond Orange Piccolo run the risk of corrupting Piccolo and making him more like his father. It’d be compelling to give Piccolo greater power and new transformations if there’s a risk he could lose his humanity in the process and become a liability.

A Stronger Could Become The Climax Against Black Frieza

A New Transformation Could Come From Pain & Sacrifice

Dragon Ball fans have eagerly been waiting for the return of Dragon Ball Super’s manga, which has been on a lengthy hiatus for over a year. More Dragon Ball Super is definitely on the way, but unfortunately Dragon Ball DAIMA didn’t help provide any answers on when. The one major unresolved storyline that Dragon Ball Super needs to bring to a close is the coming conflict against Black Frieza.

Black Frieza was previously able to defeat True Ultra Instinct Goku and Ultra Ego Vegeta with ease, but he might face a greater struggle if Orange Piccolo, Gohan Beast, and Legendary Super Saiyan Broly tag along for support. Black Frieza has ambitious plans to become God Emperor of the multiverse, which is a level of megalomania that’s never been experienced before in Dragon Ball. Every character is going to have to surpass their limits and it’d be surprising if there weren’t at least a few casualties during this epic, final fight.

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A strenuous fight of this magnitude would be another satisfying way to trigger a new transformation in Piccolo. Maybe he believes that Orange Piccolo is his peak, only for intense trauma in battle to break down his barriers and introduce something new. Neva’s death by Frieza’s hand would be a plausible excuse to push Piccolo past his breaking point. Neva’s death is emblematic of all the Namekians who have died throughout the years and Frieza’s destructive role in all this. Neva has seen the light and helped out the heroes, so his abrupt death is a nihilistic ending for this helpful character. Dragon Ball also loves to recreate the magic of Piccolo’s emotional sacrifice against Nappa in order to save Gohan.

Piccolo’s Saiyan Saga sacrifice is still one of Dragon Ball’s best moments. Dragon Ball Super failed to evoke the same emotions during its Golden Frieza Saga showdown. However, it might finally be possible with Black Frieza. A sacrifice from Gohan – or even Goku – to save Piccolo would be such a powerful full-circle moment that would more than justify a new transformation for Piccolo. Dragon Ball Super may not want to resort to such levels of melodrama during its endgame and potentially take out one of its heroes. That being said, no one would argue with Piccolo’s growth here and there’d be some satisfying symmetry behind Piccolo – someone who was brought into this world to destroy it – becoming one of Earth’s saviors.

Dragon Ball

Created by

Akira Toriyama

First Film

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Latest Film

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

Summary

Dragon Ball is the labor of writer/illustrator Akira Toriyama, beginning with Dragon Ball back in 1984. The series originally started as a serialized manga back in Weekly Shonen Jump for nearly a decade until it expanded into the anime franchises it is most known for today. Dragon Ball was later adapted into two animes, with one being Dragon Ball Z, the most universally known series in the entire Dragon Ball canon. The franchise has continued to expand lore via films, video games, and additional sequel TV series, such as the more recent Dragon Ball Super and Super Dragon Ball Heroes. Dragon Ball centers mostly around Son Goku, a being known as a Saiyan, and his friends as they face off against intergalactic threats and seek out the titular dragon balls. When all seven of these balls are collected, they can be used to summon a legendary dragon that can grant the wishes of whoever so gathers them. The Dragon Ball franchise continues to be one of the most well-known and beloved animes of all time, with over forty different countries airing it, and has had a tremendous impact on Western culture as a whole.

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