Android 17
Dragon Ball: Starting as Black Goku, Far Stronger Than Goku
Biodata
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Android 17 (17号) |
| Alias(es) | No. 17 |
| Species/Race | Android |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Android 18; his sister and fellow rampager |
| Status | Active; continues the destruction of human settlements 14 |
| First Appearance | Traversing Future Timelines, Before the Demise of Sharu! 1 |
Background / History
Android 17 and Android 18 begin a campaign of destruction across a city, with 17 attacking from the air. He demolishes skyscrapers, targets fleeing vehicles, and collapses a hospital during its evacuation. 1
When Gohan confronts him, 17 dismisses human life as worthless and overpowers him despite Gohan's tactics and eventual Super Saiyan transformation. Goku then takes over the fight, but 17's balanced speed, defense, and power prevent him from finding a weakness. 2 3 4
After Android 18 joins him, 17 continues fighting Goku over land and sea. He withstands Goku's Kamehameha behind an energy shield and nearly defeats him with a concentrated energy beam. 5 6 7
Vegeta later replaces the exhausted Goku as 17's opponent. 17 evades Vegeta's Final Flash, outlasts him through superior stamina, and emerges unharmed from a direct Galick Gun. 8 9 10
Over the following six months, 17 and 18 reduce cities to ruins and leave little humanity visible on the surface. In Chunting City, 17 kills a defiant little girl, locates survivors hiding underground, breaches their shelter, and massacres its soldiers and civilians. 13 14
Personality
Android 17 is cold, contemptuous, and openly sadistic. He regards humans as fragile “paper” and treats their fear as entertainment rather than a consequence of his actions. 2 11
He enjoys combat and initially treats powerful opponents such as Gohan and Goku with mockery. Against Vegeta, however, he becomes more measured, relying on evasive movement and counterattacks while waiting for weaknesses to emerge. 3 5 9
Abilities & Skills
Energy Manipulation
17 projects destructive energy in several forms, from precision beams to large spheres and concentrated waves.
- Fires aerial energy beams capable of shattering skyscrapers and destroying vehicles. 1
- Uses a deep-blue energy sphere that becomes a beam powerful enough to engulf Goku. 6
- Creates black energy spheres and waves to breach shelters, destroy defenses, and kill groups of opponents. 14
- His attacks can devastate mountains, terrain, and surrounding structures through direct force or collateral shockwaves. 5 9
Energy Barriers
17 can manifest defensive barriers around himself or in front of his body.
- Deflects Gohan's energy sphere without apparent difficulty. 2
- Blocks Goku's Kamehameha, including a sustained blast that fails to crack his shield. 5
- Withstands Vegeta's Galick Gun head-on without injury. 10
- Uses a black energy shield to negate bullets and energy weapons inside the Chunting City shelter. 14
Combat Ability
17 combines extreme speed, close-quarters skill, and physical power.
- Moves fast enough to appear behind Gohan and overwhelm him with strikes, throws, and energy blasts. 3 4
- Trades evenly with Goku before exhausting him through sustained combat. 4 7
- Evades Vegeta's Final Flash and counters Vegeta's attacks while maintaining composure. 9
- Flies and fights effectively in the air and over open water. 1 6
Durability and Stamina
Military analysis describes the androids as possessing an almost infinite energy supply and extreme physical durability. Conventional tanks, aircraft, shells, and missiles fail to meaningfully harm 17. 12
Relationships
- Android 18 — His younger sister and destructive partner. The two coordinate against Goku, though 17 snaps at her when she tells him to finish the fight quickly. 5
- Gohan — Opponent who challenges 17's disregard for human life; 17 repeatedly overpowers and taunts him. 2 3 4
- Son Goku — Major opponent. 17 fights him across the devastated city and sea, forcing Goku into exhaustion. 4 5 6 7
- Vegeta — Opponent who briefly gains 17's serious attention; 17 ultimately overwhelms him through stamina and counterattacks. 8 9 10
- Human survivors — Targets of his rampage. He hunts civilians, considers their terror amusing, and massacres those sheltering in Chunting City. 11 14
Story Role / Major Arcs
- Initial city rampage — Destroys urban infrastructure alongside Android 18 and triggers Gohan's intervention. 1 2
- Battles against the Saiyans — Defeats Gohan, fights Goku to exhaustion, then wears down Vegeta in a prolonged aerial battle. 3 4 7 9 10
- Six-month apocalypse — Continues razing cities with Android 18, creating the conditions for a human resistance led by Goku and his allies. 12 13
- Chunting City massacre — Kills a resisting child, finds an underground shelter through sensing, and exterminates its defenders and civilians. 14
Notable Quotes
“Value? In my eyes, these fragile lives are nothing but the dregs of this world. It makes no difference whether they exist or not.” 2
“These humans are like paper before us, but watching their terrified expressions is quite amusing.” 11