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Shenronis one of the most iconic characters to return inDragon Ball DAIMA, the recurring wish-granting dragon native to Earth, yet he’s been historically a fickle dragon quickly falling below Porunga in the pecking order. Still, with a wish-granting dragon capable of returning multiple characters to life, limitations were written into his powers even as they expanded to prevent him from being the biggest deus ex machina in the series. However, inDragon Ball DAIMA,Shenron refused to give Gomah more than one wishdue to the Demon King not being deemed a “regular user.”
This implies that Shenron picks favoritesinDragon Ball DAIMA’sversion of events in the timeline, an entertaining way to complicate Gomah’s simple plans for ascension and leveling the playing field. Shenron might not realize it, but he may have mitigated a bigger threat:Gomah’s desire to acquire the Evil Third Eye to consolidate his power in the Demon Realm. But it makes for a surprising and interesting development, with the Demon Realm’s Eternal Dragon being all the more compelling and a possiblereveal in future episodes of Dragon Ball DAIMA.
Shenron Only Grants Gomah One Wish in Dragon Ball DAIMA
Earth’s Eternal Dragon Is More Fickle in the New Anime
After the bombshell development of Gomah using Shenron to de-age Goku and his friends inDragon Ball DAIMA,episode #2 confirms that Shenron willfully limits the Demon King to just one wish. Shenron’s powers always had limitations, such as being unable to revive those dead for longer than a year. However, the Eternal Dragon has fascinating loopholes, like inDragon Ball Zepisode #240 when only one wish is used, thus reducing his wait time to four months instead of a year. Shenron is viewed as less powerful than Namek’s Porunga yetshows more effort for those who summon him frequently.
Dragon Ball Daima Episode #3 Release Date & Time
Episode 3 of Dragon Ball Daima will see Goku visiting the Demon Realm for the first time. Here’s how to tune in and watch as soon as possible.
Shenron thus interferes with Gomah’s plans to remain the most powerful character inDragon Ball DAIMAdue to his whims in episode #2, forcing him to kidnap Dende, Earth’s Guardian, to prevent the wish from being reverted. In Gomah’s defense, this is a reasonable tactical choice, even if it effectively means kidnapping Dende who was also converted to his baby form in the process. However, this moment inDragon Ball DAIMAadds depth to Shenron’s pre-existing differences with Namek’s Eternal Dragon, Porunga.
Dragon Ball DAIMA Continues to Imply Shenron’s Limitations Are Self-Imposed
Toriyama’s Posthumous Retcons
While it’s a stretch to sayDAIMAretcons everything about Shenron inDragon Balllore, refusing based on unfamiliarity with the user, despite Dende giving him the ability to grant two additional wishes, is an amusing twist. In previous cases, likeDragon Ball Zepisode #21,Shenron refuses certain wishes beyond his Guardian’s scope of power, such as killing Vegeta and Nappa. But an outright refusal, not uncommon in the case of Porunga on Goku’s behalf in chapter #329 of theDragon Ballmanga, is especially unusual inDragon Ball DAIMA.
Given Akira Toriyama’s tendency toretcon and retool the mechanics ofDragon Ball,it’s likely not a change meant to be earth-shattering but merely highlights quirks in Shenron’s power to be a surprising hindrance to Gomah’s path to ascension. It plays into a mentality the character continues to show, where nobody, be it Eternal Dragons or contacts with the multiverse, seems to show Gomah respect as the Demon Realm’s de facto ruler. But Shenron’s presence reminds fans of an enticing reveal inDragon Ball DAIMA’sfuture.
Shenron’s Retcon Makes the Demon Realm’s Eternal Dragon Reveal More Anticipated
Next Up on the Dragon Pecking Order
With Shenron typically viewed as weaker yet still indispensable when compared to Porunga, the latter’s abilities allow him to consistently revive characters en masse on a planetary scale, such as after Moori’s upgrade inDragon Ball Zepisode #283. But even Eternal Dragons like Porunga are implicitly limited towhite wishesinDragon Ball DAIMA, with the Demon Realm concealing an Eternal Dragon which implicitly grants their harmful antithesis. This limitation to more of a healing-focused wish system is part of why Gomah, even if he were to use Porunga, would likely only shrink Goku inDragon Ball DAIMA.
Another reason Gomah wouldn’t be able to kill Goku with his wish is likely tied to Porunga’s power being limited to his Guardian or creator, in the case of Moori, with Goku far surpassing that.
But the Eternal Dragon of the Demon Realm is a curious element ofDragon Ball DAIMAthat’s a closely guarded secret, given theTamagami’s presence to guard their Dragon Balls. The Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls are also much larger than Namek’s, yet smaller still than the Super Dragon Balls, another possible connection fromDAIMAtoSuper.The series is poised to have an exceedingly powerful and potentially malicious Eternal Dragon. But for now, withShenroninaccessible while Dende remains kidnapped, all eyes are turned to the Demon Realm’s Eternal Dragon inDragon Ball DAIMA.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
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Dragon Ball Daima sees Goku and his allies inexplicably shrunk into miniature forms, prompting a journey to the Demon Realm. This animated adventure, part of the Dragon Ball franchise, explores their mission to solve the mystery and restore their original statures. Released in October 2024.
