The mightyShenronis undoubtedly one of the most iconic characters in theDragon BallFranchise. This powerful being has been a vital part of the heroes’ adventures from the beginning, with most of the original series revolving around summoning him. Despite his immense power,Shenron has been shown to have many limitations, like not being able to affect powerful beings with his abilities unless they wish to be.

Yet, the first episode of the new entry in the franchise,Dragon Ball DAIMA, might have implied that Earth’s wish-granting dragon might be more powerful than others. His powers are such that creatures with immense strength like Goku and Vegeta are incapable of escaping his abilities. This can only be explained by the fact that his creator,Dende, is a lot more powerful than fans thought.

Dende awakens Shenron after becoming Earth’s Guardian.

Earth’s Shenron Is More Powerful Than Others

His Abilities Seem To Surpass Those of Porunga

In episode #107 of theDragon Ball Zanime, the Namekian titular treasures were utilized to revive those who died duringthe battle against the iconic Frieza. During this event, the Z Warriors attempted to bring Goku back to Earth, as he had been sent to an unknown location in space when Planet Namek exploded. Porunga, the Eternal Dragon of the Namekian race, explained that he was unable to fulfill such a request since Kakarot was unwilling to be returned. This moment proved that the wish-granting dragons dwelling inside the beloved legendary orbs were not all-powerful.

This small revelation created new implications for the world of the series, that the wish-granting dragons cannot affect creatures whose power surpasses their own, or rather that of their creators. This was explained during the Saiyan Saga, when Shenron said he was unable to kill Vegeta and Nappa because they were stronger than his creator, Kami. This was likely a convenient plot device for Toriyama to limit the power of the Dragon Balls, which would have otherwise hindered the progression of his story.

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It is because of this detail that episode #1 ofDragon Ball DAIMAmight hint atDende being much more powerfulthan other creators. During this entry in the series,Gomah wished for Goku and his allies to be turned back into infants, a command that was fulfilled without any issues. According to the established lore, the past iteration of Shenron would not have been able to grant this wish, as Kami was nowhere near strong enough to affect a being such as Kakarot. Yet, thanks to Dende’s growing abilities, the Eternal Dragon was able to completely ignore his previous limitation and bestow the curse.

Dende’s Hidden Potential Could Be Granting Shenron More Power

This Could Explain Why He Greatly Surpasses Kami’s Abilities

Ever since he became one of the many deities in the series, Dende has proven to be an outstandingly capable and responsible individual. He has helped the Z Warriors in their battles on more than one occasion, whether as a healer or with his powerful magical abilities. Despite his relatively young age, Dende has proven his worth several times throughout the series, with his oldest contribution being the change in the number of wishes granted by Shenlong.

Unlike Kami, who could only grant the dragon the ability to fulfill one request, the current Shenron has enough power for two or three, according to their difficulty. The fact that the dragon is now capable of affecting creatures as strong as Goku and Vegeta is proof of how much stronger he became by having Dende as his source. Earth’s Dragon Balls are now seemingly mightier than those of Namek. Another highlight of the new Shenron’s powers is thathe granted Piccolo his Orange forminDragon Ball Super: Super Hero, a transformation on par with Goku and Vegeta’s latest divine forms.

Dende’s outstanding performance might be related tothe potential unlocked by Grand Elder Guruduring the Frieza Saga. The Namekian leader saw great power lying dormant inside Earth’s current guardian, which might be the reason why his version of Shenron is mightier than Kami’s. Since Dende is not a fighter, it is hard to deduce how much stronger he is than his predecessor, but the latest show makes it seem as if he surpasses him by various degrees.

Another peek into Dende’s potential is given by Nema, the creator of the dragon balls of the Demon Realm, who possesses amazing powers despite his old age.Dragon Ball DAIMAwill continue to bring new revelations and characters to the already iconic world created by Akira Toriyama. Making fans aware of the enormous powerDendeis hiding is just one of the many amazing details found in the latest series.

Dragon Ball DAIMA

Cast

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.