Piccolo

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Piccolo (比克)
Alias(es)	King Piccolo; Piccolo Jr.; Demon King
Species/Race	Demon Clan
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Initially the Pilaf Gang; later enters a transactional alliance with Dr. Gero
Occupation/Role	Demon Clan warlord; recurring antagonist and rival to Qi Tian
Status	Active; survived his self-destruction and continued cultivating 36 37
First Appearance	Chapter 14

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Released from Mutaito's seal	14	Revives and begins absorbing yin energy to restore his strength.
Nearing 7,800 combat power	15	Strengthens through massacring martial artists and absorbing souls and yin energy.
Restored youth and prime power — 16,000 combat power	16	Uses the Dragon Balls to regain youth and full power.
Demon egg maturation / deeper demonic essence	24	After the martial arts tournament, absorbs the demon egg's power and develops a deeper method of using demonic essence.
Demonic body biotech tempering	28	Makes a deal with Dr. Gero: provides cells and energy data in exchange for biological enhancement of his demon body.
Demonic Essence Armor and awakened demon potential	30	Learns Demonic Essence Armor and continues mastering Demonic Essence Surge.
Demonic Essence Armor mastery and Demonic Essence Surge	32	Challenges Qi Tian at Turtle Hermit Island with dark-purple armor and vastly increased demonic power.
Demonic Essence Blood Armor and Demonic Shadow Clones	34	Develops blood armor and a clone technique during further cultivation.
Demonic Origin Blood Armor / Blood-Burning Secret Art	36	Uses blood-fiend energy, a demonic array, clones, and self-destruction to escape Qi Tian.
Fusion with demonic origin power	37	Recovers from his injuries and evolves his Demonic Essence Blood Armor.
Demonic Essence Mystic Armor and awakened demon-race origin	40	Completes Mystic Armor and awakens the origin of the demon race.

Background / History

Three hundred years before the main events, King Piccolo terrorized the world with his demon army. Martial arts master Mutaito created the Evil Containment Wave and sacrificed his life to seal him inside a rice cooker at the bottom of the sea. 14

After Pilaf releases him, Piccolo immediately seeks the Dragon Balls, intending to restore his youth and conquer the world. While recovering, he destroys martial arts schools, murders renowned fighters, and uses demonic attacks to establish fear across the continent. 14 15

Piccolo's first confrontation with Qi Tian in Blue Stone Town ends decisively: Qi Tian destroys his demonic warriors and nullifies his Demon Light Cannon. Recognizing that he cannot win while weakened, Piccolo retreats and accelerates his search for the Dragon Balls. 15

With the Pilaf Gang's Dragon Radar, Piccolo collects all seven Dragon Balls and wishes for restored youth and prime strength, reaching 16,000 combat power. 16 Following King Piccolo's defeat, his demon seed hatches early into Piccolo Jr., whose growth had been accelerated by divine essence that had contaminated the seed. 19 21

Piccolo Jr. enters the Twenty-Third World Martial Arts Tournament to confront Qi Tian, but is defeated in fewer than three moves. Qi Tian allows him to leave, judging that his demonic nature has not yet become wholly bloodthirsty and that he may serve as pressure for Goku's growth. 21 22

Humiliated, Piccolo trains in secret and chooses to use Dr. Gero's androids as test subjects against Qi Tian and the Turtle Hermit Island fighters. He later allies with Gero, offering Demon Clan cells and energy data in return for biotechnology to strengthen his demon body. 24 25 28

After repeatedly escalating his demonic cultivation, Piccolo attacks Turtle Hermit Island directly. His later battle with Qi Tian ends with Piccolo using the Blood-Burning Secret Art and self-destruction to escape; Qi Tian declines to pursue because Piccolo's origin has been damaged. 32 36

Appearance

Piccolo is a tall, lean, green-skinned Demon Clan fighter with a cold, imposing presence. His aura is consistently described as sinister, frigid, and oppressive. 21

• Green skin and crimson eyes. 15 21
• Two short horns on his forehead. 21
• Wears a purple cape at the World Martial Arts Tournament. 21
• Later manifests dark-purple Demonic Essence Armor and crimson Demonic Origin Blood Armor. 32 36
• His black demonic qi can create a suffocating pressure strong enough to shatter nearby rock. 24

Personality

Piccolo is ruthless, prideful, and intensely driven by domination and revenge. After his release, he treats widespread slaughter as both a means of restoring strength and a demonstration of authority. He is willing to destroy martial arts schools, kill established fighters, and endanger civilians to gain an advantage. 15 16

Despite his arrogance, Piccolo is pragmatic when confronted with a superior opponent. He flees from Qi Tian rather than die in a losing battle, hides while observing conflicts involving the androids, and repeatedly revises his strategy when outside resources prove inadequate. 15 25 29

His crushing defeat at Qi Tian's hands becomes a lasting humiliation that drives his secluded cultivation. He wants to surpass both Qi Tian and Goku, but remains wary of Qi Tian's unfathomable strength even after major breakthroughs. 24 25

Abilities & Skills

Demon Clan Physiology

Piccolo possesses a powerful demonic body, dark qi, and the capacity for rapid growth through demonic cultivation and external enhancement.

• Absorbs yin energy, scattered souls, and demonic power to recover and strengthen himself. 14 15
• Regains youth and prime power through Shenron's wish. 16
• Provides Demon Clan cells for Dr. Gero's android research. 28
• His Demon Clan traits contribute regenerative properties to Dr. Gero's creations. 29 39

Demonic Energy Techniques

Piccolo projects destructive dark-green or black demonic ki in battle.

• Demon Light Cannon — a powerful demonic energy attack; Qi Tian disperses it with a single palm. 15
• Demonic qi spikes — launches condensed spikes of demonic energy. 15
• Demonic ki barrage — fires dozens of black blasts simultaneously during his tournament battle against Qi Tian. 22
• His attacks can corrode and suppress opponents through blood-fiend and demonic energy. 36

Demonic Essence Armor

Piccolo develops multiple armor techniques through cultivation and Dr. Gero's biotechnology.

• Demonic Essence Armor — dark-purple armor that accompanies his mastery of Demonic Essence Surge. 30 32
• Demonic Essence Blood Armor — an advanced blood armor developed during later cultivation. 34
• Demonic Origin Blood Armor — crimson armor empowered by demonic origin and blood-fiend energy. 36
• Demonic Essence Mystic Armor — completed armor form following the awakening of demon-race origin. 40

Demonic Shadow Clone Technique

Piccolo can create three demonic shadow clones to divide and pressure his opponents. 34 36

• The clones fight Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha separately. 36
• They can use techniques resembling Piccolo's own demonic arts.
• Their energy control is less precise than Piccolo's main body. 36

Demonic Essence Surge and Origin Burst Flow

Piccolo augments his combat power with high-output demonic energy circulation.

• Demonic Essence Surge — initially crude but later developed to the point where Piccolo challenges Turtle Hermit Island directly. 30 32
• Demonic Origin Burst Flow — amplifies his punches into crimson afterimages empowered by blood-fiend energy. 36
• Even at maximum output, his attacks lose most of their force inside Qi Tian's aura domain. 36

Blood-Burning Secret Art

A forbidden, self-destructive technique used during his battle with Qi Tian.

• Pushes Piccolo beyond his limits when ordinary attacks fail. 36
• Ends with self-destruction and escape.
• Damages his demonic origin, leaving him weakened afterward. 36

Relationships

• Qi Tian — Primary enemy and the source of Piccolo's deepest humiliation. Piccolo repeatedly trains, schemes, and seeks external power in hopes of surpassing him. 15 22 25 36
• Son Goku — Rival and intended target of Piccolo's revenge; Piccolo views Goku as one of the principal obstacles to his rise. 25
• Pilaf, Shu, and Mai — Temporary servants during Piccolo's Dragon Ball hunt. Pilaf provides the Dragon Radar after releasing him. 14 16
• Dr. Gero — Uneasy ally. Piccolo exchanges his cells and energy data for biotechnology that tempers and strengthens his demon body. 28
• Master Roshi — Enemy connected to Mutaito's legacy and the Evil Containment Wave that once sealed King Piccolo. 14 15
• Kami — Piccolo recognizes Kami's aura in Qi Tian and assumes Kami sent Qi Tian to kill him. 22

Story Role / Major Arcs

Return of King Piccolo

Piccolo's release transforms the aftermath of the World Martial Arts Tournament into a global crisis. His attacks on dojos and martial artists force Qi Tian and Master Roshi to intervene. 14 15

Dragon Ball Race

After being outmatched in Blue Stone Town, Piccolo uses the Pilaf Gang and Dragon Radar to gather the Dragon Balls. Shenron restores his youth and prime power, greatly escalating the threat. 15 16

Piccolo Jr. and the Twenty-Third World Martial Arts Tournament

The demon seed develops into Piccolo Jr., who enters the tournament and faces Qi Tian in the quarterfinals. Qi Tian defeats and warns him, but deliberately spares him. 19 21 22

Alliance with Dr. Gero

Piccolo remains in seclusion, observes the android battles, and eventually makes a deal with Dr. Gero. The alliance introduces Demon Clan genes and Piccolo's combat data into Gero's android program. 24 28 29

Assault on Turtle Hermit Island

After mastering stronger armor and demonic energy techniques, Piccolo attacks Turtle Hermit Island. He uses clones, a demonic array, and the Blood-Burning Secret Art before escaping from Qi Tian. 32 36

Demonic Origin Evolution

Following his escape, Piccolo heals and fuses with demonic origin power. By the time Cell emerges as a major threat, Piccolo has completed Demonic Essence Mystic Armor and intends to wait for the Saiyans' arrival before acting. 37 40

Notable Quotes

“Once I gather the Dragon Balls and regain my youth, your deaths will come!” 15

“Since someone else is willing to lead the charge, that saves me the trouble of acting.” 25

“It seems I’ll have to rely on myself.” 29