Kamehameha

Directory: Techniques → Offensive Techniques → Energy Wave

"Wait, I've heard of this technique. Right now he's gathering all of the latent energy in his body, then he's going to release it all at once. But I've... I've never seen it in action before."
— Yamcha in "The Kamehameha Wave"

The Kamehameha (かめはめ波は, lit. "Kamehame Wave") is the first energy attack shown in the Dragon Ball series. The Kamehameha is the most widely used finishing attack in the Dragon Ball series, and is Goku's signature technique. It is also a signature attack of the students of the Turtle School.

Development[]

Akira Toriyama actually tried a number of poses when he was alone in order to decide the best pose for the Kamehameha. After much contemplation, he could not decide on a name for his "Kame" attack, so he asked his wife (Nachi Mikami), who came up with the name.^[13] She told Akira that it would be easy to remember the name of the attack if he used the name of the cultural Hawaiian king named Kamehameha (lit. "the very lonely one" or "the one set apart" in Hawaiian language).

Overview[]

The Kamehameha is formed when cupped hands are drawn to the user's side and ki is concentrated into a single point (between their cupped hands). The hands are then thrust forward to shoot out a streaming, powerful beam of energy. The blast can also be used, generally under extenuating circumstances, with just one arm or even the feet. In most variants, the user utters the word "Ka-me-ha-me-HA!!!" as they charge and release the attack. Master Roshi's Kamehameha is called the Original Kamehameha in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, and requires some time to charge.

Usage[]

Gohan Kamehameha — Goku using the Kamehameha while training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber

The Kamehameha was invented by Master Roshi by practicing for fifty years spanning pre-Dragon Ball. By drawing his latent ki into the palms of his hands, Roshi is able to expel an explosive beam of ki energy. Goku learns it after witnessing Master Roshi unleashing the blast to extinguish the flames at Ox-King's home on Fire Mountain. To Roshi's surprise, Goku successfully performs the technique on his first attempt, although it is only strong enough to destroy the car that Yamcha gave to Bulma earlier. It was also learned by Krillin and Yamcha, who use it during the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament against Chiaotzu and Tien Shinhan respectively. Tien Shinhan also easily copied it during the tournament after having it used against him. After the Turtle School students learn the attack, they teach it to others, and the attack becomes a very popular one to use during battle. Cell is also capable of using it due to the cells of Kamehameha users within his design. Majin Buu learns the technique after seeing Goku perform it during the Majin Buu Saga.

Appearance and personalization[]

YamchaKamehamehaSaibamenEp23 — Yamcha charging a Kamehameha

The Kamehameha has several different colors in the anime, movies, video games, and manga. The power and concentration of the different types of Kamehameha also vary greatly. Whitish blue is its standard and original color. In some episodes of Dragon Ball Z and some video games, the color of Goku's Kamehameha color is yellow instead of the primary blue color and Gohan's Electric Kamehameha in his ultimate form is also yellow. When Goku is in his Super Saiyan 4 form, his 10x Kamehameha is red-colored. Majuub's Chocolate Kamehameha has a pink color (but is blue in its debut). Majin Buu's various forms can also use the Super Kamehameha, which also has a pink color or the original blue color.

UpsidownKamehameha — Goku charges an upside-down Kamehameha

Because the Kamehameha has expanded to the arsenal of heroes, allies, and even villains, it has been personalized by few; something mostly done by characters who did not graduate Roshi's Turtle School (like Tien Shinhan for example). In their battle against Bio-Broly, both Trunks and Goten use the attack; however, Trunks extends both arms to sides and begins charging the attack, and after saying the incantation, he throws his hands forth and fires a blue energy blast with Goten's Kamehameha. During the Namek Saga, Krillin also uses a different stance on different occasions, normally alongside Gohan's Masenko; with one hand behind the other, Krillin says the incantation and unleashes the Kamehameha Wave. Based on these personalized variations and others, it is possible that the incantation is the only preparation required to produce the wave.

Dragonball Evolution[]

Kamehameha-dbe — The *Kamehameha*, as seen in *Dragonball: Evolution*

In the live-action film adaptation Dragonball Evolution, the technique is quite similar to the Kamehameha used in the anime and manga, however with very few differences depending on the user: Roshi has to channel ki from his chest to his arms before he releases it through his hands while Goku has to channel ki outside of him forming an aura as he crosses his arms in an X shape while the rest of the technique is similar to how Goku usually uses it. Also, unlike the anime, it has more uses than the typical Kamehameha, it can light torches as well as be used as a defibrillator (the latter demonstrated by Roshi saving Goku from near death after Mai shoots him). The more concentration put into it will make the Kamehameha stronger (such as when Goku combines his normal form with Oozaru form into the attack and forms the Kamehameha into a traditional beam rather than a small flow of energy).

Goku also uses the Kamehameha as his Ultimate Attack in the video game based on the movie.

Variations[]

The Original Kamehameha - The original version created by Master Roshi.
- MAX Power Kamehameha - A variation used by Master Roshi in his Max Power form.
  - Moon-Destroying Kamehameha - A more powerful variation used by Master Roshi in his Max Power form.
  - The Greatest Kamehameha - A more powerful variation used by Master Roshi in his Max Power form.
Kamehameha Return - A variation used by Goku, Master Roshi, Gohan in his Super Saiyan 2 form, and Cell in his Super Perfect form.
Kamehameha Deflection - A variation used by Tien Shinhan.
Reverse Kamehameha - A variation used by Master Roshi and Goku.
Bending Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku.
- Kamehameha Barrage - A combination of the Continuous Kamehameha and Bending Kamehameha used by Goku.
One-Handed Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku and Gohan.
- Angry Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan form.
- One-Handed Kamehameha mk.II - A variation used by Future Gohan in his Super Saiyan form.
Super Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku.
- Instant Kamehameha - A combination of the Instant Transmission and Super Kamehameha used by Goku in his various Super Saiyan forms.
  - Instant Transmission Super Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit.
  - Instant Transmission 10x Kamehameha - A combination of the Instant Transmission and 10x Kamehameha used by Xeno Goku in Dragon Ball Heroes.
- Earth-Destroying Kamehameha - A variation used by Cell in his Perfect form.
- Ultimate Kamehameha - A variation used by Gohan in his Super Saiyan 2 form.
- Solar Kamehameha - A variation used by Cell in his Super Perfect Form.
- True Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan 3 form.
- God Kamehameha – A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue form.
  - Dash Kamehameha – A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue form.
  - 10x God Kamehameha – A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken form.
  - Full Power Kamehameha - A combination of the God Kamehameha and Burst Kamehameha used by Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue form.
  - Burst Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in his Perfected Super Saiyan Blue form in the manga.
  - Transcendent God Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue form in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
    - Galick Kamehameha - A combination of the Transcendent God Kamehameha and Super Galick Gun used by Goku/Xeno Goku and Vegeta/Xeno Vegeta.
  - Limit Ultra Kamehameha - A variation used by Gogeta in his Super Saiyan Blue form in Broly.
  - Instant Transmission Final Kamehameha - A variation used by Vegito in his Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken form in Dragon Ball Heroes.
- Super Black Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku Black in his Super Saiyan Rosé form.
- Final Kamehameha - A combination of the Super Kamehameha and Vegeta's Final Flash used by Gogeta and Vegito in video games.
  - God Final Kamehameha - A combination of the God Kamehameha and the God Final Flash used by Vegito in his Super Saiyan Blue form.
- Super Great Saiyaman Beam - A Super Kamehameha used by Great Saiyaman under a different name to conceal its origin as a Kamehameha variant to protect his secret identity. In Dragon Ball Legends, it is performed by the user of the Great Saiyaman Beam Special Move Arts as a finisher after the finger beam hits the opponent.
- Dragon Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in Shenron Mode in Dragon Ball Heroes.
Feet Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku.
Scattering Bullet - A variation used by Krillin.
Kaio-ken Kamehameha - A combination of the Kaio-ken and Kamehameha used by Goku.
- Super Kaio-ken Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in in Dragon Ball Legends.
Multiple Kamehameha - A variation used by multiple fighters.
- Father-Son Kamehameha - A variation used by Gohan in his Super Saiyan 2 form.
  - Family Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku, Gohan, and Goten in Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming.
    - 3 Generations Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku, Future Warrior in Black, and Xeno Bardock.
- Team Work Kamehameha - A variation used by Krillin and Yamcha.
  - Kamehame Fever - A variation used by Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha in Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might.
- Bros. Kamehameha - A variation used by Gohan and Goten in Broly - Second Coming.
- Ultimate Kamehameha (team attack) - A variation used by Goku and Gohan in Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2.
- Z-Spirit Kamehameha - A variation used by the Future Warrior in Dragon Ball Xenoverse.
Continuous Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku.
- Final Assault - A variation used by Goku.
Double Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku.
- Triple Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge.
Twin Dragon Shot - A variation used by Goku.
Flying Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan Full Power form.
Kamekameha - A variation used by Goten.
- Super Kamekameha - A stronger variation used by Goten in his Super Saiyan form.
Electric Kamehameha - A variation used by Gohan in his Super Saiyan 2 and Potential Unleashed forms.
- Justice Kamehameha - A variation used by Gohan in his Great Saiyaman form in Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn.
Majin Kamehameha - A variation used by Innocent Buu.
Beerus Ball - In the anime, the Beerus Ball is the result of a Kamehameha clashing with a Cataclysmic Orb.
Black Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku Black.
- Super Black Kamehameha - A stronger variation used by Goku Black in his Super Saiyan Rosé form.
  - Binding Black Kamehameha - A team attack used by Super Saiyan Rosé Goku Black and Future Zamasu.
Divine Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in his Ultra Instinct Sign form.
- Supreme Kamehameha - A stronger variation used by Goku in his Ultra Instinct Sign and Perfected Ultra Instinct forms.
Kamehameha Blaster - A variation used by Goku in Broly.
Chocolate Kamehameha - A combination of the Kamehameha and Chocolate Beam used by Majuub.
10x Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku while in his Super Saiyan 4 form.
- Dragon Hammer - A combination of the 10x Kamehameha and the Dragon Fist used by Goku in his Super Full Power Saiyan 4 form.
10x Kamehameha Ball - A variation used by Rage Shenron.
Dragon Kamehameha (Naturon Shenron) - A variation used by Naturon Shenron (Pan absorbed).
Bluff Kamehameha - A variation used by Gogeta in his Super Saiyan 4 form.
Big Bang Kamehameha - A combination of Vegeta's Big Bang Attack and Goku's Super Kamehameha used by Gogeta in his Super Saiyan 4 form.
- 100x Big Bang Kamehameha - A stronger variation used by Gogeta in his Super Saiyan 4 form in video games.
- Godlike Big Bang Kamehameha - A combination of the Vegeta's Godlike Big Bang Attack and Goku's Limitbreaker Kamehameha used by Gogeta in his Super Saiyan 4 form in Dragon Ball Fusions.
- God Big Bang Kamehameha - A combination of the God Kamehameha and God Big Bang Attack used by Gogeta in his Super Saiyan Blue form in Dragon Ball Heroes.
Atomic Kamehameha - A combination of the Double Atomic Flash and Kamehameha used by Xeno Gogeta in his Super Saiyan 4 form.
Calamity Blaster - Turles' equivalent to the Kamehameha technique in Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might.^[14]
Nekohameha - A variation by Neko Majin Z in Nekomajin.
Shenron Blast - A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan form in Dragon Ball Z 2: Super Battle
Warp Kamehameha - A combination of Planet Burst and Super Kamehameha used by Kid Buu in the Budokai series.
Dodohameha - A combination of the Kamehameha and Dodon Ray used by Tiencha in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2.
Frieza Cutting Beam - A variation used by Frieza in Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors.
Flame Kamehameha - A variation used by Trunks in Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury.
5x Kamehameha - A variation used by Goku in his Super Saiyan form in Dragon Ball GT: Transformation.
Dark Kamehameha - A variation used by Mira in Dragon Ball Online.
Concentrated Kamehameha - A skill part of the Martial Artist skill tree in Dragon Ball Online.
- Focused Kamehameha - A skill part of the Martial Artist skill tree in Dragon Ball Online.

ImitationKamehameha(DBO) — Imitation Kamehameha in *Dragon Ball Online*

Imitation Kamehameha - A skill part of the Wonder Majin skill tree in Dragon Ball Online, learned at level 16. Its area of effect is listed as "3x8 meter radius in front of and including single target". The beam is depicted as a thinner wave and has the distance of 18 meters. Its name is probably based off Majin Buu's knowledge of the technique.
Giant Kamehameha - A skill part of the Turtle Hermit skill tree in Dragon Ball Online, learned at level 48. Its area of effect is listed as "15 meter radius around a single target". The beam is depicted as a giant wave similar to the MAX Power Kamehameha and does massive damage.
Dragon Kamehameha - A variation used by Super Saiyan Blue Goku in Shenron Mode in Dragon Ball Heroes.
Gigantic Omega - Broly's version of the Kamehameha used by Broly in his Legendary Super Saiyan 3 form in Dragon Ball Heroes.
- Gigantic Omegastorm – A variation used by Broly (DBS) in his Legendary Super Saiyan form in Broly.
- Full Charge Gigantic Omega - A stronger variation used by Broly in his King of Destruction form in Dragon Ball Heroes.
- Gigantic Destruction - A combination of Omega Blaster and Gigantic Omega used by Broly in his Super Saiyan 4 form in Dragon Ball Heroes.
Burning Kamehameha - A combination of Trunks' Burning Attack and Goten's Kamehameha used by Gotenks in Dragon Ball Heroes.
- Super Burning Kamehameha - A variation used by Xeno Gotenks.
  - Super Ultra Burning Kamehameha - A stronger variation used by Super Saiyan 3 Xeno Gotenks in Dragon Ball Heroes and World Mission.
Kamehameha Mode - A type of CAA Special Ability that appears in Dragon Ball Heroes, Ultimate Mission X, and World Mission that allows the user to enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' attack phases when the user(s) are an Attacker from a certain round and onwards. If both teams enter Kamehameha Mode on the same turn it results in a Kamehameha Clash. Like most CAA Special Abilities, there are different versions of this type of ability which differ primarily in name and additional effects if their Card Action is Aced.
- x10 Kamehameha (Kamehameha Mode) - The Kamehameha Mode variant of the 10x Kamehameha. When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace to permanently decrease own CI (Charge Impact) speed.
- Kamehameha of Courage - A version used by SSGSS Goku, Super Saiyan GT Goku, GT Pan, Adult Gohan (Base/Super Saiyan/Potential Unleashed), and Krillin (Teen/Adult). When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace for a permanent +2000 to GRD.
- Kamehameha of Might - A version used by Master Roshi, Krillin, Super Saiyan Goku, Gotan, Super Saiyan Teen Gohan, and Adult Gohan (Super Saiyan/Super Saiyan 3). When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace to permanently cancel enemy DMG reduction.
- Master Roshi's Kamehameha - Master Roshi's version. When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace for a permanent +2000 to Power LV.
- Goku's Kamehameha - Goku's version. When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace for a permanent +3000 to PWR.
- Turtle School Kamehameha - The Turtle School version used by Goku and Krillin. When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace for a permanent 2x DMG dealt.
- Evil Kamehameha - A version used by evil characters such as Cell (Imperfect/Super Perfect) and Mira (Base/Rampaging). When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace to permanently increase STA DMG.
- Fusion Warrior's Kamehameha - A version used by Super Saiyan Xeno Gotenks and Vegito Blue. When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace to recover 50% STA.
- Miracle Kamehameha - A version used by SSGSS Goku, Super Saiyan Adult Gohan, GT Pan, Goten, and Xeno Goten. When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace to permanently increase chance of a Miracle Perfect.
- Unknown Kamehameha - A version used by Super Saiyan 4 Xeno Goku. When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace for a permanent 2.5x DMG dealt.
- Ultimate Kamehameha (Kamehameha Mode) - A version used by Super Saiyan 4 Xeno Goku. When an Attacker from R2 onward, enter Kamehameha Mode after both teams' Attack Phases. Successfully perform action to unleash a Kamehameha & deal massive DMG. Ace for +2 Hero Energy to own team.
Clone Kamehameha - A variation used by Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta in Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle.
Kamehameha Cannon - A variation used by Gotenks in his Super Saiyan form in Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butōden.
Demon Ray - A combination of Evil Explosion and Kamehameha used by Gohan Beast in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
Wild Kamehameha - A combination of Wild Cannon and Ultimate Kamehameha used by Super Saiyan 2 Shallot and Gohan in Dragon Ball Legends.

Video Game Appearances[]

The Kamehameha virtually appears in every licensed Dragon Ball video games up to date being it is the signature technique of the main protagonist, Goku, and also appears in several other crossover video games that features Goku and various other Dragon Ball characters.

Outside Dragon Ball[]

The popularity of the Kamehameha meant that it has appeared in media outside of Dragon Ball, as well as it being performed in real life.

Anime

In Eric Chahi's Another World, the charged beam blast from the laser pistol appears similar to the Kamehameha, which appears to be influenced from the Dragon Ball manga books he was reading during breaks.
The main character of Gin Tama, Gintoki Sakata, can sometimes be seen practicing Kamehameha. This also carries over into his appearance in J-Stars Victory Vs., where Gintoki himself is able to use a Kamehameha that has a chance of failure (where it will fire a black wind instead).
Kiyotaka Ishimaru from Danganronpa referenced the Kamehameha in a joke.
Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen also references the Kamehameha, wishing that he would be able to perform one.
Staz Charlie Blood from Blood Lad nearly completes a Kamehameha in the sixth episode of the show, only to be knocked out by Akim before he could unleash the move.
In episode 47 of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Veldora Tempest uses this move against Milim Nava as a reference to how his own "martial arts" copy moves from the memories of Rimuru Tempest's previous incarnation, Satoru Mikami.

Video games

The Kamehameha was featured in Fortnite as part of the Fortnite x Dragon Ball Super collaboration as a Mythic weapon.
The Kamehameha was featured in PUBG Mobile as part of the PUBG Mobile x Dragon Ball Super collaboration.

Web media

In the now-deleted video If Cartoons were Real by the Youtube comedy channel Smosh, Ian Hecox fails to produce a Kamehameha. When Anthony Padilla asks him how many times, he has tried it, Ian sadly replies, "Over 9000."

Real life

During the 2019 San Diego Comic Con, 786 attendees, led by Goku's Funimation voice actor Sean Schemmel broke the Guinness World Record for the largest Kamehameha launched.
On March 11, 2024, during Fuji TV's upfront presentation of Dragon Ball Daima, Masako Nozawa and the crowd performed a Kamehameha in memory of Akira Toriyama who had died March 1, 2024.

Trivia[]

The name "Kamehameha" serves as a pun based off of the name of the Hawaiian King Kamehameha I, coupled with the Japanese word for "turtle" kame (亀, kame), due to Master Roshi also being known as the Turtle Hermit, and ha (波, ha), meaning "wave". "However, the first four characters かめはめ (Kamehame) have no inherent meaning in Japanese as they are in hiragana, which emphasizes their pronunciation.
In the infamous AB Groupe dub, widely known as the Big Green dub, several attacks and abilities are incorrectly referred to as "Kamehameha".^[15] The most frequent cases are for Kaio-ken, the Spirit Bomb, and even transforming into a Super Saiyan. The former is an ironic case of its own since the Kamehameha Wave is incorrectly referred to as "Kaio-ken" at one point in the original Saban dub. The most absurd instance of the latter occurs when Vegeta shouts "Kamehameha!" while transforming into a Super Saiyan in The Return of Cooler, despite the fact he has never used the Kamehameha wave in barely any official Dragon Ball media.
- The Swedish dub also has this.
When referred to as the "Kamehameha Wave" in most English dubbed media, the "wave" part of the attack is technically repeated if one translates the attack literally, making it "Kamehame Wave Wave". However, it should be noted that the Funimation dub used the Hawaiian pronunciation of "Kamehameha" whenever it is referred to as the "Kamehameha Wave".
The Kamehameha served as the inspiration of the Hadoken from Street Fighter. Ironically, the Shinku Hadoken variant is identical to the Kamehameha in some titles.