Krillin

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Krillin (克林)
Species/Race	Human; identified as an Earthling by the Grand Elder 79.
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Z Fighters; Earth's defenders 143 411.
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; member of the Namek Dragon Ball expedition 57 79.
Status	Alive in his latest documented appearance, watching Gohan fight Kefla 458. Previously killed by Frieza on Namek 124.
First Appearance	Chapter 9, during Goku's introduction of Gohan 9.

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Recorded battle power: 206	21	Goku identifies a Scouter reading of 206 as likely belonging to Krillin and remarks that he has surpassed Master Roshi.
Kami-trained fighter	22 28 31 32	Kami arranges to train Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Yamcha at the Lookout. During the Saiyan invasion, Krillin demonstrates the results with a powerful, controllable golden energy attack.
Dormant potential awakened	79	At Luo Tian's request, the Grand Elder unlocks Krillin's hidden power. A pale blue light surrounds him, and his energy increases substantially despite his belief that training had already brought him to his limit.
Post-awakening battle power: over 23,000, below 30,000	103	The narration confirms that his awakened power exceeds 23,000; Ginyu describes it as below 30,000. Krillin comfortably overpowers Ginyu while the latter occupies Goku's body.
Later demonstrated growth	412 413	Defeats Yunba through controlled Destructo Discs, an Afterimage Technique, and a powerful Ki Blast. No numerical battle power is given.

Background / History

Krillin is Master Roshi's student and a longtime friend of Goku and Luo Tian. He has repeatedly tried to surpass Goku; learning that Goku is a Saiyan initially makes him see their different origins as an explanation for the gap between them 10 18 28.

Before Vegeta and Nappa reach Earth, Kami arranges training for Krillin and the other Earthling fighters. Krillin later explains that their training was so demanding that they did not make time to collect the Dragon Balls 22 28.

Appearance

• Bald head: Frequently singled out by enemies, including Vegeta and Yunba 30 411.
• Monk-like appearance: Nappa addresses him as a “bald monk” during their battle 36.
• Yellow clothing: Guldo identifies him as the fighter in yellow during the Ginyu Force confrontation 91.

Personality

Krillin is openly afraid of death, but that fear does not erase his loyalty. He refuses to reveal Luo Tian's whereabouts to Vegeta, attempts to help Tien Shinhan despite Piccolo's warning, and protects Gohan and Dende while escaping stronger enemies. His recurring worry that he might die without ever having a girlfriend gives these dangerous situations a comic undertone 30 33 35 68 71 290.

He favors deception and practical tactics when direct combat is unfavorable, using suppressed ki, blinding attacks, and afterimages to create openings. He can also underestimate unfamiliar powers: he initially doubts Luo Tian's strength and recommends Kaioken over Ultra Instinct, prompting Master Roshi to remind him to remain humble 17 18 61 412.

Krillin distinguishes enemies by their actions rather than their origins. After the Android crisis, he argues against destroying Androids 16, 17, and 18 because they have not committed the atrocities associated with their future counterparts. Years later, he again advocates leaving them alone 163 202.

Abilities & Skills

Destructo Disc

A rapidly spinning, disc-shaped energy attack with exceptional cutting power 36.

• Cleaves a mountain in two after Nappa dodges it; Vegeta recognizes its danger and warns Nappa not to endure the hit 36.
• Used against Great Ape Vegeta, who evades it after detecting Krillin's presence 47.
• Severs Frieza's tail and can be fired repeatedly 109.
• Later guided back toward Yunba from behind, leaving a bloody cut on his face 412.
• Limits: It can be dodged, and Yunba deflects several discs by curling into a rapidly spinning ball 36 47 412.

Solar Flare

Produces an intense flash of light that temporarily blinds those looking toward Krillin 68.

• Blinds Dodoria so Krillin, Gohan, and Dende can escape and hide 68.
• Used to escape Frieza after Krillin cuts off his tail 109.
• Friendly-fire risk: Krillin warns Gohan not to look at him before activating it 68.
• Tactical limit: Blinding an enemy does not necessarily remove their defenses; Frieza raises his energy while unable to see 109.

Ki Sensing and Suppression

Krillin senses nearby energy signatures and reduces his own ki to conceal his strength 61 63.

• Distinguishes two approaching Frieza Force soldiers from Vegeta by their weaker ki 61.
• Teaches Gohan to suppress his ki during reconnaissance on Namek 63.
• Locates Guldo after the latter uses time-stop to reposition 91.
• Releases his energy signature as a signal when he finds Dr. Gero at the laboratory 137.
• Limits: Android 20 cannot be located through ordinary ki sensing, while Cell's suppression makes tracking him difficult 136 149.

Energy Blasts and Control

Krillin launches powerful energy attacks and manipulates their trajectories 32 90.

• Redirects a large golden energy wave upward during the Saiyan battle 32.
• Coordinates full-power aerial blasts with Gohan against Guldo 90.
• Uses energy blasts with Trunks to destroy Dr. Gero's laboratory, then fires another blast into the ruins 149.
• Defeats Yunba with a Ki Blast after maneuvering behind him 412 413.

Afterimage Technique

Leaves an illusory image to mislead an opponent about his position 412.

• Tricks Yunba into believing returning Destructo Discs are about to strike Krillin.
• Reappears behind Yunba while the apparent target dissolves, preparing a Ki Blast 412.

Flight and Close Combat

• Flies independently and carries Master Roshi, who cannot fly, to battlefields 290 411.
• Lands a punch that sends Nappa backward and retreats with agile aerial movements when Nappa prepares to counter 36.
• Overwhelms Ginyu in Goku's body with punches and kicks after recognizing the body's reduced effective power 103.
• Limits: Recoome severely injures him, and Guldo's immobilization prevents him from escaping without Vegeta's intervention 91 94.

Spirit Bomb Energy Transfer

• Receives the remaining Spirit Bomb energy gathered by Goku during the battle with Vegeta 50.
• Goku states that roughly half the gathered energy has escaped but believes the remainder may still defeat Vegeta 50.
• The supplied passages do not establish that Krillin can gather Spirit Bomb energy himself.

Equipment / Items

• Senzu Beans — Distributes a bean to Vegeta during the Android conflict and later brings a supply that Goku takes during the Moro battle 136 430.
• Recovered Saiyan remote — Picks up a spacecraft remote that Bulma repairs and attempts to use 54.
• Android 17 and 18 blueprints — Retrieves the designs with Trunks and delivers them to Bulma for analysis 149.

Relationships

• Son Goku — Close friend and trusted ally. Krillin defends Goku's identity as an Earthling after Raditz's revelation; Goku later heals him with a Senzu Bean and entrusts him with Spirit Bomb energy 10 50 96.
• Master Roshi — Martial arts teacher. Roshi lectures him on humility, while Krillin openly criticizes his inappropriate entertainment and repeatedly transports him to battles 18 28 53 290 411.
• Son Gohan — Protective companion and combat partner. Krillin guides his reconnaissance, teaches ki suppression, and coordinates attacks with him on Namek 61 63 68 90 103.
• Luo Tian — Longtime friend whose true strength Krillin initially fails to understand. He refuses to betray Luo Tian to Vegeta and worries about his safety even after others recognize his divine status 18 30 79.
• Bulma — Friend and expedition companion. She reacts sharply to his comments about Luo Tian, but later relies on him to deliver the recovered Android blueprints 17 57 149.
• Dende — Rescued Namekian child and ally. Dende warmly welcomes Krillin at the Grand Elder's residence and gives him a Dragon Ball 68 79.
• Grand Elder — Benefactor who unlocks Krillin's dormant power and entrusts him with protecting a Dragon Ball 79.
• Vegeta — Initially an enemy, later a difficult battlefield ally. Vegeta threatens him for information and Dragon Balls, saves him from Guldo, and asks him to inflict near-fatal injuries to trigger Saiyan growth 30 83 91 110.
• Trunks — Ally during the Android and Cell crises. Together they destroy the laboratory's incomplete Cell and recover Android blueprints 149.
• Android 18 — Object of Krillin's interest. He asks whether she is pretty and reacts eagerly when he sees her at the tournament; no romantic relationship is established in the supplied context 137 202.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Saiyan Arrival and Invasion

• Raditz's arrival: Mistakes Raditz's threats for drunken rambling, approaches him, and is thrown into Kame House by a tail strike. After recovering, Krillin condemns Raditz for using Gohan as leverage 10 11.
• Defense of Earth: Refuses to disclose Luo Tian's location, attacks after Yamcha's death, and tries to intervene when Nappa threatens Tien Shinhan 30 31 32 33.
• Battle with Nappa: Participates in Piccolo's plan to exploit the Saiyan tail weakness and nearly catches Nappa with a Destructo Disc 35 36.
• Battle with Vegeta: Attempts to strike Great Ape Vegeta with a Destructo Disc and receives Goku's remaining Spirit Bomb energy 47 50.

Namek Expedition

• Arrival and reconnaissance: Travels with Bulma, Gohan, and Luo Tian. Krillin and Gohan defeat the soldiers who destroy their spaceship, then investigate Frieza's forces 57 61 63.
• Dende's rescue: Uses Solar Flare to escape Dodoria, hides with Gohan and Dende, and narrowly avoids Vegeta's pursuit 68 70 71.
• Dragon Ball recovery: Receives a Dragon Ball from the Grand Elder, has his potential awakened, and immediately considers bringing Gohan for the same treatment 79.
• Ginyu Force battles: Survives Guldo because Vegeta intervenes, is severely injured by Recoome, and recovers when Goku supplies a Senzu Bean. He later helps defeat Ginyu in Goku's body 91 94 96 103.
• Frieza confrontation: Cuts off Frieza's tail, blinds him, and helps buy time for Piccolo. Frieza eventually kills him; Luo Tian's time reversal temporarily returns events to before the killing, but Gohan later confirms Krillin's death after the evacuation to Earth 109 116 124.
• Later return: Krillin is alive again when Trunks delivers his warning about the Androids; the supplied passages do not describe his restoration 130.

Android and Cell Crises

• Android pursuit: Helps search for Android 20 and signals the others after finding Dr. Gero at his emptied laboratory 136 137.
• Encounter with Androids 16–18: Tries to reason with them after his companions are defeated. He subsequently apologizes for being too frightened to join the fight 142 143.
• Laboratory destruction: Helps Trunks destroy the incomplete Cell and retrieves blueprints that may reveal weaknesses in Androids 17 and 18 149.
• Cell hunt: Searches with Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, and Yamcha, but Cell repeatedly suppresses his ki and escapes 149.
• Treatment of the Androids: Opposes Trunks's proposal to destroy the surviving Androids, pointing out that their conduct differs from that of the future Androids 163.

World Martial Arts Tournament and Babidi

• Agrees to enter the tournament after Gohan approaches him, with prize money and finding a girlfriend more appealing to him than victory 191.
• Recognizes Android 18 among the entrants and argues that the Androids should be left alone after years without wrongdoing 202.
• Reports the Supreme Kai's involvement to Bulma's group, then accompanies the investigation of Babidi. Goku advises him to withdraw because of the danger, an opportunity Krillin gratefully accepts 214 216 217.

Moro's Invasion and Later Battles

• Faces Yunba during the prisoners' attack on Earth. After Roshi leaves him to fight alone, Krillin counters Yunba with returning discs and an afterimage, then defeats him with a Ki Blast 411 412 413.
• Attempts to help Roshi against three prisoners who merge into a stronger fighter; both are knocked down before Goku's arrival resolves their immediate danger 413 415.
• Brings Senzu Beans to the confrontation with Moro, where Goku takes them and offers one to the defeated enemy 430.
• Later watches Gohan fight Kefla and wonders whether uninterrupted training could make Gohan stronger than Goku and Vegeta 458.

Notable Quotes

“You coward! Using a child as leverage!” 11

“Even though I'm afraid of dying, I won't betray my friend.”
— Internal thought while refusing to reveal Luo Tian's whereabouts 30

“Trunks, those three are different from the Androids in your future.” 163