The most creative techniques in Dragon Ball, ranked

Key recommendations

• Using powers creatively can make fights more memorable and interesting.
• Techniques like Galactic Donut and Solar Flare provide unique advantages in battle.
• Time-Skip and Body Change offer strategic ways to gain the upper hand against powerful enemies.

In a series full of immense powers and mind-blowing transformations, it's easy to forget that some of them Dragon BallIts most iconic moments come in the form of the most creative powers the heroes and villains bring to bear in battle. Watching these characters use their powers in unique ways is a great way to break up the monotony of fights that mostly involve endless punches and ki attacks.

Some of the best attacks from Dragon Ball it's the ones that have been used in ways that fans would never have imagined. This eccentric use of one's superpowers clearly shows why these attacks are so memorable.

8 Galactic Donut

Yellow energy rings that bind a target

• Known Users: Gotenks
• Anime Debut: “Super Moves of Gotenks” (Episode 258 of Dragon Ball Z)

Gotenks is one of the dumbest fighters in the series, despite being quite strong in his own right. The fact that he was able to take the fight to Super Buu is a great example of what made him so intimidating. However, having the mind of a child was not great for a fighter's killer instinct.

As a result, some of Gotenks' powers can be quite childish, but they are creative. A great example is the Galactic Donut, where this fused fighter uses rings of ki to bind an opponent and leave them vulnerable to a humiliating series of attacks.

7 Energy Land Mine

Traps made with Ki

• Known Users: Goku
• Anime Debut: “Body, Soul and Power Unleashed! Goku and Vegeta!” (Episode 123 of Dragon Ball Super)

Jiren is one of the strongest fighters in the Dragon Ball Superand Goku had to pull out every trick in his arsenal to try and gain an advantage over this enemy. This involved a ki trap that fans will see for the first time in the series.

By focusing his energy, Goku could set up energy mines that could explode and cause serious damage. However, for a fighter as strong as Jiren, these traps were nothing but an annoyance and he had no problem with them.

6 Kamehameha Legs

An innovative way for Goku to go up in the air

• Known Users: Goku
• Anime Debut: “Goku's Trap” (Episode 146 of Dragon Ball)

During his fight against Piccolo Jr. in the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku was sent crashing to the ground after a damaging blow from this enemy. However, he had a surprise up his sleeve that no one could have expected.

Charging his ki to his feet, Goku unleashed a Kamehameha from his legs that allowed him to climb up and land a powerful double punch on Piccolo. Since he hadn't shown the power of flight before this point, this was a smart move for the Saiyan to turn the tables on his powerful foe.

5 Body change

Swapping bodies will always make for creative scenarios

• Known Users: Captain Ginyu
• Anime Debut: “Goku is Ginyu and Ginyu is Goku” (Episode 71 of Dragon Ball Z)

Captain Ginyu may be one of the dumbest characters in the series, but that shouldn't take away from his power in battle. But on the occasion that he is fighting an enemy with superior strength, Ginyu has a trick up his sleeve to quickly turn the tide of battle.

He can use Body Change to change his physical frame to that of a superior fighter to become stronger. However, this body change prevents him from bringing out his full potential as a fighter, which can be a huge detriment if his gimmick is figured out.

4 Solar flare

A great way to distract enemies and give them the slip

• Known Users: Tien Shinhan, Son Goku, Krillin, Cell, Master Roshi, Future Trunks, Future Gohan
• Anime Debut: “Resignation” (Episode 94 of Dragon Ball)

Since Tien first used this technique in Dragon BallSolar Flare is a recurring technique that fans can't get enough of. There is something about this distraction technique that makes the series a joy to witness. Used emits a burst of light, stunning and sometimes blinding opponents.

Most Z Fighters have used this technique in series at least once, with Cell pulling it off when he had to find Android 18. Solar Flare is a great way to distract enemies, either leaving them open for a damaging attack or the user to run away. a much superior opponent.

3 Time-Strip

Allows the user to jump through time and land technical strikes

• Known Users: Hit
• Anime Debut: “Turn your anger into power! Vegeta's Full Battle” (Episode 35 of Dragon Ball Super)

Hit is one of the most interesting fighters in the Dragon Ball Super. What he lacks in physical strength, he more than makes up for with a Time-Skip technique. This skill takes some time to figure out.

Vegeta himself succumbed to this technique in his Super Saiyan Blue form, and Goku had to bring out his Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken form to counter Hit's attack. Being able to skip through time and find an enemy where it hurts is a valuable technique that clearly shows why Hit is such a successful assassin.

2 Kamehameha Instant Streaming

One of the highlights of the Cell saga

• Known Users: Goku
• Anime Debut: “No Rules” (Episode 179 of Dragon Ball Z)

During his fight against Cell, Goku realized that he needed an ace in the hole if he wanted to take down this regenerating villain for good. This seemed to be the case when Goku charged up a powerful Kamehameha that could have blown up the Earth from the angle at which it fired.

However, at the last moment, he used Instant Transmission to teleport in front of Cell, firing a powerful Kamehameha that blows Cell's upper half into the air. If Goku had gotten the angle right then Cell could have been defeated then and there with this move.

1 Kamehameha Slide

Without flying, Goku had to get creative to close the distance on Kefla

• Known Users: Goku
• Anime Debut: “Signs of Return! Autonomic Ultra Instinct Erupts!” (Episode 116 of Dragon Ball Super)

The Tournament of Power has some of the best Dragon Ball moments of all time, and Goku's Sliding Kamehameha is a great example. With flight banned in this tournament, Goku had to find another way to make the most of his Ultra Instinct Sign transformation and take out Kefla in one hit.

He did so by charging a Kamehameha as he slowly closed the distance to Kefla, whose energy was seeping in at the time. After leaping towards Kefla, the molten fighter unleashed a beam of great power at Goku, hoping to hit him when he had no legs left to dodge. However, Goku's heightened fighting instincts allowed him to glide across the surface of the beam using his stored ki in one of the most creative moves in the series. This ended with a full frontal Kamehameha that took out Kefla for good.

• 

  Dragon Ball

  release date

  February 26, 1986

  Studio

  Toei Animation

• 

  Dragon Ball Z

  release date

  April 26, 1989

  Studio

  Toei Animation

• 

  Dragon Ball Super

  release date

  July 5, 2015

  Studio

  Toei Animation