Cloning

This article is about the clone technique. For the clones created by Android 21, see Clone (FighterZ).

Directory: Techniques → Supportive Techniques

Cloning (分身, Bunshin)^[1] is the general ability to split into several identical duplicates to fight as a group.

Overview[]

PiccoloCloning — Piccolo and his sparring partner in Break Wasteland

The cloning technique is encountered quite often in the anime, but the only usage in the original manga is Tien Shinhan's Multi-Form, though it is also used in the official manga adaptation of Dragon Ball: The Return of Son Goku and Friends!, as well as in the Dragon Ball Super manga utilized by Infinite Zamasu. When used by Yardrats, it is achieved via Spirit Control.

Piccolo uses this technique to sprout identical sparring partners, notably in Break Wasteland during the Vegeta Saga, once again during the Garlic Jr. Saga, and in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber during the Cell Games Saga. During the battle against the Saiyans Vegeta and Nappa, Piccolo and Krillin use a specific cloning technique called the Tri-Form, splitting themselves into three identical duplicates to fight as a group. This is similar to the Multi-Form technique used by Tien Shinhan, which divides its user into a total of four separate beings. As he possesses the cells of both Tien Shinhan and Piccolo, Perfect Cell was able to divide into four separate beings, though unlike Tien Shinhan's technique, Cell's cloning technique was superior as it did not divide up his power, allowing him to create four clones as strong as Perfect Cell.

Ninja Murasaki uses an alleged cloning technique called Bunshin no Jutsu, however his 'clones' are actually his brothers in disguise.^[1]

One of Lord Slug's henchmen, Medamatcha, creates "clones" that absorb their opponents' ki. Medamatcha's method of cloning is similar to the one used by Cell to produce Cell Juniors. It is similar to a Surinam Toad's way of giving birth; this can be supported by the fact that Medamatcha looks like a frog/toad.

The South Area fighter, Chapuchai, has the ability to create seven clones of himself. Abo and Kado, the main antagonists of The Return of Son Goku and Friends!, use this technique during their fight against Goten and Trunks.

Piccolo using Special Beam Cannon (Clone) — Piccolo creates a small army of clones as part of his Special Beam Cannon (Clone) technique

Beerus uses this technique against Goku during their battle. In the Tournament of Destroyers, Piccolo uses this technique to create a small army of clones against Frost as a distraction so that he can charge his Special Beam Cannon. Piccolo's clones were as strong as him, however they had the weakness of dissipating if they were hit even once.

GokuBlackClones3 — Goku Black's clones surrounding Goku and Vegeta.

Super Saiyan Rosé Goku Black uses his Fierce God Slicer, creating a scythe variation of it. He uses it to open a rift in space and time which creates clones that are as strong as him against Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta. In the manga, Infinite Zamasu also utilizes the ability after he defused. Creating more clones every time he is blown to pieces.

In the Tournament of Power, Tien Shinhan once again uses the Multi-Form technique to attack Harmira during the Tournament of Power. Hermila shoots three of the clones, but the fourth seemingly incapacitates Hermila. Hermila tricks him however, and destroys the ground, making Tien fall. The other three clones survived however, and they tackle Hermila off the arena, causing both Tien and Hermila to be eliminated.

During the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga, the Yardrat Elder Pybara reveals that Spirit Control can grant users the ability to use cloning in addition to Instant Transmission, Gigantification, and Healing.

Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta uses this in conjunction with the Bluff Kamehameha to humiliate Omega Shenron.^[5]

Variations[]

Fission – The user creates a clone completely independent from themselves.
Multi-Form – The Triclops' version of this technique. The user creates three clones of themselves, for a total of four bodies.
Meteo Brute Combo – An attack used by Tien where he creates a clone of himself to perform a Meteor Attack.
Doppelganger – The ability to create doppelgangers.
- Tri-Form – The user creates two clones of themselves, for a total of three bodies.
- Medas - Medamatcha's variation where he splits four smaller bodies from his back.
Guilty Rush - A team attack used by Ado and Kado along with their clones.
Special Beam Cannon (Clone) - A combination of Special Beam Cannon and cloning used by Piccolo in his match against Frost.
Shadow - The rift created from the Sickle of Sorrow can limitlessly create strange clones called "Shadows" through the sinister energy emanating off it.
Division Attack – The user creates four clones of themselves, for a total of five bodies.
Mini Janemba – Janemba creates miniature clones of themselves from the human-shaped objects in Hell to act as allies.
Mystic Copy - Janemba's magical ability to create clones of his enemies to counter attacks such as creating Mini Goku to counter his Kamehameha.
- Super Mystic Copy - A stronger version of Mystic Copy from Dragon Ball Fusions.
  - Hyper Mystic Copy - A version of Mystic Copy that is even stronger than Super Mystic Copy in Dragon Ball Fusions.
Ki Clones – Clones of ki used to confuse the opponent.
Feints of Internal Energy – Ki feints used to confuse the opponent.

Video Game Appearances[]

In Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu, Nail was training with an identical sparring partner in a cave on Namek, when Gohan and his friends met him.

TienClones(UB22) — Tien's Meteo Brute Combo in *Ultimate Battle 22*

In Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu, Dr. Gero used information coming from his Remote Tracking Device to create clones of the Saibamen, Banan and Sūi. He releases those clones while on Amenbo Island and while regaining his lab to activate Android 17 and Android 18.

In Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 2, in the "Resurrection! Galaxy Warrior" story, Bojack and Zangya use evil clones of Gohan, Future Trunks, Vegeta, and Piccolo to trick the Dragon Team into fighting each other and get the Dragon Balls from them.

In Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22, Tien clones himself to perform his Meteor Attack, the Meteo Brute Combo.

BTK1-120 — Majin Buu's clones in *Battle Taikan Kamehameha*

In Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai - Another Road, after scanning Piccolo's mind, Future Babidi creates what he calls his Fighting Puppets: evil clones of the Z Fighters, Frieza, and Cell, in order to kill Future Trunks and the Z Fighters. Future Kid Buu also uses a hybridization of his natural Majin abilities and Future Babidi's magic to create an army of Super Buus equal in power to the original form.

Clones of Majin Buu appear as basic enemies in a mission in Dragon Ball Z: Battle Taikan Kamehameha - Omee to Fusion.

In Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z, Piccolo creates two weaker clones of himself to train Gohan. In the Another Age scenario "Spirit Bomb", after wishing for immortality, Frieza gains the ability to create perfect, albeit not immortal, copies of his forms.

In Dragon Ball Heroes, Abo and Kado use the technique as part of their Guilty Rush Super Attack. Additionally, Hatchiyack creates four clones of himself during a battle in the Hatchiyack Saga, and Janemba creates miniature clones of himself during several sagas.

In Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle, Abo and Kado use the technique as part of their Guilty Rush Super Attack. Additionally, in Dokkan Battle, Piccolo uses it as part of his Special Beam Cannon (Clone) Super Attack.

Dark Mr — Dark Majin Buu's Tri-form clones in *Xenoverse*

In Dragon Ball Xenoverse, Dark Majin Buu uses the Tri-Form to overwhelm Super Saiyan 3 Goku, though the Future Warrior's intervention saves Goku and together the two warriors manage to defeat several of Buu's clones. When Goku's time on Earth is up, Dark Majin Buu tries to stop him from leaving using smaller clones of himself which the Future Warrior defeats. In Parallel Quest 31: "Majin Chaos", the player must defeat 30 small Majin Buu clones attacking West City. During one of Piccolo's training missions the Future Warrior fights some of Piccolo's clones.

As part of the Legendary Pack 1 DLC in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Future Janemba's cloning ability is enhanced after he is granted Supervillainization by Fu. As Supervillain•Janemba, he can generate a seemingly endless army of Supervillain empowered clones. However Future Gohan realizes that Supervillain•Janemba is the source of the clones, and thus the only way to stop the production of more clones is to defeat Supervillain•Janemba.

Trivia[]

Sun Wukong is capable of cloning himself through "Body/ies Beyond the Body", which is done by plucking any of his eighty-four thousand hairs out and blowing it into the air with his magic breath, transforming the strands into duplicates of himself. Additionally, Sun Wukong has an alternate spell of replication called "Bodily Division Method", which is denoted as such in the Journey to the West novel.