Cell

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Cell
Alias(es)	Lightning Cell; Super Cell
Species/Race	Android
Gender	Male
Status	Active; hosts a World Martial Arts Tournament under threat of destroying Earth 43 50
First Appearance	Chapter 29

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Second Form	29	Appears already evolved beyond his initial form and targets Android 18; he is stated to have come from a future in which he absorbed her and killed Trunks.
Perfect Form	30	Absorbs Android 17 and undergoes a massive transformation, declaring himself Dr. Gero's “perfect form.”
Lightning Cell	43	Lu's remnant soul transforms in Hell; Cell devours the souls of Frieza, Kuriza, King Cold, and Pikkon, causing his power to rise exponentially.
Super Cell	43	Lightning Cell returns to Earth and devours the Cell of the current timeline, creating Super Cell. He subsequently overwhelms the Z Fighters.

Background / History

Cell emerges from hiding while Tang Yangbing and Android 18 are together. Already in his Second Form, he reveals his intent to absorb Android 18 and easily repels her attempt to save Android 17 29.

Tang Yangbing identifies him as a Cell from the future timeline: this Cell had absorbed that timeline's Android 18, killed Trunks, traveled twenty years into the past, and remained concealed until the present 30. After absorbing Android 17, he reaches Perfect Form and proclaims himself the ruler of the universe 30.

Perfect Cell defeats Vegeta and Trunks with little effort, then severely injures Android 18 when she attacks him in rage. Tang Yangbing intervenes to protect her and later dominates Cell in their direct confrontation, even while in base form 31 33.

Afterward, Lu's remnant soul becomes Lightning Cell in Hell. It devours several powerful souls, breaks through Hell's barrier, then reaches Earth before the heroes can locate the native Cell. By consuming that unfinished counterpart, it evolves into Super Cell 43.

Appearance

Cell's appearance changes sharply with each evolution, retaining a green carapace and an increasingly refined humanoid body.

• Second Form — dark-green carapace, metallic back spurs, compound eyes, and a ring-marked tail whose serrated tip can open to absorb targets 29.
• Perfect Form — smoother, more refined shell-like skin; sharp facial features; a more handsome appearance; wings on his back; and a golden aura strong enough to reshape the surrounding terrain 30.
• Super Cell — a larger body with metallic wings and an energy field powerful enough to collapse mountains across a wide area 43.

Personality

Cell is arrogant, theatrical, and contemptuous of weaker opponents. Upon attaining Perfect Form, he immediately declares himself the universe's undisputed ruler; he later toys with the Z Fighters rather than killing them outright 30 43.

He is also calculating. During his battle with Tang Yangbing, he uses an afterimage deception and acknowledges Tang Yangbing's speed and strength when the tactic fails 33. As Super Cell, fear of Tang Yangbing influences his decision to create a tournament rather than immediately destroy Earth 43.

Abilities & Skills

Absorption and Evolution

Cell evolves by consuming others, using absorption as the foundation of his escalating power.

• Absorbs Android 17 to achieve Perfect Form 30.
• Is stated to have absorbed a future Android 18 before arriving in the past 30.
• Lightning Cell devours Frieza, Kuriza, King Cold, and Pikkon in Hell 43.
• Becomes Super Cell after devouring the current timeline's undeveloped Cell 43.

Energy Barrier

Cell can produce a green defensive barrier capable of stopping powerful attacks.

• Deflects Vegeta's barrage of strikes in Perfect Form 31.
• Blocks Vegeta's Final Flash during the World Martial Arts Tournament 47.

High-Speed Combat and Afterimages

Cell fights at speeds many observers cannot perceive and employs deceptive movement.

• Uses an afterimage technique against Tang Yangbing, though Tang anticipates the feint 33.
• Outpaces Vegeta during their tournament battle and casually avoids his attacks 47.
• Moves too quickly for the spectators to follow during his fight with Son Goku 50.

Energy Attacks

Cell freely condenses and launches destructive ki attacks.

• Absorbs Android 18's energy sphere during their confrontation 32.
• Seriously injures her with an energy blast 32.
• Condenses an energy sphere while fighting Son Goku at the tournament 49.

Relationships

• Android 17 — Cell absorbs him to complete his transition into Perfect Form 30.
• Android 18 — a primary absorption target; the future-timeline version was absorbed before Cell's arrival in the past, while the present Android 18 survives due to Tang Yangbing's intervention 29 30 32.
• Tang Yangbing — an opponent absent from Dr. Gero's database and powerful enough to make Cell cautious; Tang overwhelms Perfect Cell in their first direct battle 32 33.
• Vegeta — Cell humiliates and defeats him in Perfect Form, then later battles his Super Saiyan 2 state during the World Martial Arts Tournament 31 46 47.
• Trunks — Cell is stated to have killed a future Trunks before traveling to the past; he also defeats the present Trunks after beating Vegeta 30 31.
• Son Goku — faces him at Super Cell's tournament, where Goku's stamina begins to fail while Cell remains composed 49 50.
• Frieza, Kuriza, King Cold, and Pikkon — their souls are devoured by Lightning Cell in Hell to fuel his growth 43.
• The Cell of the current timeline — consumed by Lightning Cell, resulting in Super Cell's creation 43.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Android Conflict

• Appears in Second Form and threatens Android 18 after Android 17's absorption 29.
• Absorbs Android 17, becomes Perfect Cell, and overwhelms the Z Fighters 30 31.
• Injures Android 18, prompting Tang Yangbing to challenge him 32.
• Is outclassed by Tang Yangbing, who sends him flying with a base-form punch 33.

Return as Super Cell

• Re-emerges through Lightning Cell's transformation in Hell and the devouring of multiple powerful souls 43.
• Consumes the native Cell of the timeline and evolves into Super Cell 43.
• Defeats Vegeta, Son Gohan, Piccolo, and other Z Fighters, but leaves them alive due to his wariness of Tang Yangbing 43.
• Announces a World Martial Arts Tournament, threatening to turn Earth into cosmic dust if no challenger defeats him 43.
• Battles Vegeta and Son Goku during the tournament, revealing that he had initially fought Vegeta with only one-third of his strength 46 47 49 50.

Notable Quotes

“All you need to know is that I'm going to absorb you!” 29

“This is the perfect form Dr. Gero spoke of! I am the undisputed ruler of this universe!” 30

“I will hold a new World Martial Arts Tournament! Any living being may come challenge me—But if no one can defeat me, then I will personally turn this planet into cosmic dust!” 43