Krillin

Biodata

Power Progression

Battle power values below describe Krillin traveling with Tien Shinhan, not his alternate-timeline counterpart. Kaioken-enhanced values are identified separately.

Appearance

• Bald head: Repeatedly described as smooth; rubbing the back of his head is a habitual gesture when embarrassed or amused 2 33 89.
• Small build: Recoome mocks his stature, while Krillin later uses his relatively small body, speed, and agility to overwhelm the much larger Pig-Headed Demon King in close combat 97 216.

Personality

Krillin is considerate even when eager to compete. Before sparring with Tien Shinhan, he asks whether his recently returned companion needs rest. He also tries to dissuade Chi-Chi from fighting Goku out of concern for her safety 33 211.

His caution does not prevent him from accepting danger. He initially postpones the poisonous Ultra Divine Water challenge until he has prepared properly, but later drinks one and a half cups. Likewise, he agrees to travel to Namek despite a warning that he could die, while frankly asking Tien Shinhan to save him if possible 23 61 77.

Krillin remains determined to catch Goku and Tien Shinhan despite their widening lead. His resolve becomes especially pronounced in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, where he continues walking under crushing gravity after losing consciousness. After his eventual breakthrough, he encourages Yamcha rather than boasting about his strength 9 11 171 173.

He combines humility with a playful competitive streak. He credits Tien Shinhan for helping him develop the Destructo Disc, cheers on his alternate self against Yamcha, and indignantly calls Yamcha’s victory “Despicable!” when Kaioken decides the match 89 118.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts and Combat Tactics

Krillin combines a solid martial arts foundation with deception, rapid decision-making, and coordinated attacks.

• Coordinates close-range attacks with Goku, though both are overwhelmed during their spar with Tien Shinhan 33.
• Deliberately lets Zarbon kick him away after blocking the impact, creating time and distance to prepare a Destructo Disc 88.
• Recognizes Tien Shinhan’s need for an opening against Frieza and supplies a distraction without requiring a spoken plan 112.
• Uses his speed and small frame to repeatedly strike the Pig-Headed Demon King before the demon can defend 216.
• Has sufficient foundational knowledge that Tien Shinhan considers him capable of helping Trunks improve his martial arts basics 174.

Ki Sensing and Flight

• Detects that King Vegeta’s ki exceeds Tien Shinhan’s and flies to help with Goku and Chiaotzu 40.
• Senses changes in his own strength after potential unlocking and gravity training 94 171.
• Cannot clearly assess Tien Shinhan’s suppressed ki after returning from Namek; he is unsure whether suppression or the enormous gap between them is responsible 145.

Kaioken

Krillin uses Kaioken to multiply his combat strength, eventually reaching Tenfold Kaioken.

• Fivefold Kaioken: Produces a battle power of 20,000 against Zarbon and later 50,000 against Recoome 86 97.
• Tenfold Kaioken: Helps him force his way through the Hyperbolic Time Chamber’s rising gravity; after a year of training, it raises his available battle power to 8,000,000 170 173.
• Limit: Fivefold Kaioken consumes considerable stamina, making a prolonged defensive battle against transformed Zarbon unfavorable 88.

Destructo Disc

A wafer-thin, rapidly spinning disc of compressed ki developed during spaceship training, with inspiration from Tien Shinhan’s martial arts exchanges 83 88 89.

• Cuts transformed Zarbon apart despite Zarbon possessing greater battle power 88.
• Kills Cui with a second disc as he attempts to flee 88.
• Cuts through the Pig-Headed Demon King’s unusual, swamp-like body when ordinary blows cannot finish him 217.
• Limits: Its cutting power depends on reaching the target. Frieza intercepts and destroys a disc with an energy blast 112.

Continuous Destructo Disc

An advancement refined through a year of training with Trunks, allowing Krillin to launch discs in succession rather than one at a time 173.

• Fires five discs at the same point on a Cell Junior’s neck. Although the first two fail to penetrate, the following three open a wound several centimeters deep 183.
• Fires six discs at Perfect Cell, exhausting most of his remaining stamina. The sequence penetrates Cell’s palm barrier and leaves a small cut 185.
• Limits: Repeated discs can breach stronger defenses, but an all-out volley severely drains his ki and stamina 183 185.

Kamehameha and Super Kamehameha

• Uses a Kamehameha to overwhelm Zarbon’s hastily prepared Beautiful Energy Blast and drive him through several hills 87.
• Uses a Super Kamehameha to destroy every fragment of the Pig-Headed Demon King after cutting him apart 217.

Neo Multi-Form Technique

A technique learned from Tien Shinhan through the group’s regular exchanges 217.

• Produces nine additional Krillins while the restrained body remains in the Pig-Headed Demon King’s grasp 217.
• Allows his true body to switch freely between clones, letting him escape the demon’s absorption 217.
• Supports a surrounding Destructo Disc attack against the demon 217.

Limit Breakthrough

Breaking his limiter through Namek’s Dragon Balls gives Krillin a trait that manifests during extreme training 145 170.

• His power rises under gravitational pressure that initially exceeds his ability to withstand it 170 171 172 173.
• Repeated challenges accelerate his adaptation to 500× Earth gravity 173.
• Limits: The trait does not prevent catastrophic injuries or unconsciousness. His early attempts require Senzu Beans, and the narration states that the first could have killed him without such treatment 171 173.

Fusion: Chak

Krillin and Yamcha fuse into Chak, whose techniques combine their capabilities 267.

• Multiple Tracking Flash Destructo Disc: Combines the Spirit Ball, Solar Flare, and Destructo Disc into more than a hundred luminous discs that automatically track Broly 267.
• Limit: Broly ignores the bombardment; the attack does not stop his advance 267.

Equipment / Items

• Scouter — Used by the group to measure battle power, including Krillin’s results after the Ultra Divine Water challenge 61.
• Wave Bracelet — Switched off before he fully releases Fivefold Kaioken against Zarbon 86.
• Senzu Beans — Received for healing and as reserves after the Ginyu Force battle. Four beans sustain his first four dangerous gravity-training attempts with Trunks 101 173.

Relationships

• Goku — Best friend and longtime training companion. Their childhood training at Kame House remains especially precious to Goku, who actively wants to help Krillin improve 1 18.
• Tien Shinhan — Comrade, training guide, and protector. Helps him prepare for the Ultra Divine Water, inspires his technique development, arranges his limiter-breaking wish, and rescues him from Ginyu’s body swap 61 83 94 100 141.
• Master Roshi — Martial arts teacher. Krillin returns to train at Kame House and initially knows only four or five special techniques learned from him 9 18 49.
• Master Korin — Training host and guardian during the Ultra Divine Water challenge; remains nearby while Krillin endures its effects 61.
• Yamcha — Friend, rival, teammate, and fusion partner. Yamcha repeatedly aims to catch him, while their coordinated attacks help defeat a Cell Junior 118 173 183 267.
• Chiaotzu — Fellow trainee and battle partner. Krillin surpasses him after the Ultra Divine Water challenge; they later combine their techniques against Cell’s forces 61 183 185.
• Trunks — Hyperbolic Time Chamber partner. Saves Krillin with Senzu Beans and comes to deeply respect his perseverance despite their difference in power 170 171 173.
• Grand Elder — Unlocks his potential on Namek, first raising him beyond 10,000 and later to 50,000 94 131.
• Alternate-timeline Krillin — Counterpart encountered in a timeline nine years ahead. Krillin supports him against Yamcha, but the counterpart loses because he cannot use Kaioken 118.

Background / History

Avoiding the Tournament-Lounge Attack

After the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, Krillin volunteers to retrieve Goku’s forgotten Dragon Ball and Power Pole. Tien Shinhan, aware that Tambourine will soon attack, persuades him to stay for dinner and return with everyone instead. Krillin accepts, abandoning the solitary errand that Tien Shinhan believes would lead to his death 1 2.

During the King Piccolo crisis, Krillin is largely confined to watching for an opportunity rather than fighting head-on. Afterward, he resolves to train harder and catch Goku and Tien Shinhan, initially returning to Master Roshi before joining their wider training circle 9 18 60.

Preparing to Unleash His Potential

Krillin joins the expedition into the Glacier Labyrinth to retrieve the Ultra Divine Water but chooses not to drink it immediately after learning that it is poisonous. His subsequent training and real combat deepen the reserves he eventually releases through the challenge 23 46 61.

With the Fountain of Youth also improving his preparation, he successfully drinks one and a half cups. The resulting increase takes him past Chiaotzu and strengthens Yamcha’s determination to improve 61.

Planet Nymph and Namek

After the Tree of Might’s destruction damages Planet Nymph’s Forest of Life, Krillin suggests that Dragon Balls could restore the world. His explanation of Shenron prompts the Elf Queen to reveal similar legends about Namek’s Wish Orbs, leading to an expedition that he joins despite its risks 76 77.

During the voyage, Krillin improves his gravity tolerance and develops the Destructo Disc. On Namek, he kills Zarbon and Cui, receives the Grand Elder’s potential unlock, and battles Recoome. Ginyu then swaps bodies with him, but Tien Shinhan forces their souls back into their original bodies and kills Ginyu 83 88 94 97 100.

Although unable to match the strongest fighters directly, Krillin contributes to the Frieza battle by distracting Frieza with a Destructo Disc. He immediately relocates after throwing it, avoiding the retaliatory blast 107 112.

Breaking His Limiter

Tien Shinhan proposes sending Krillin and Yamcha to Namek to use Porunga’s wishes to break their limiters. The pair spend three months completing trials across seven villages to gather the Dragon Balls, then return having successfully carried out the plan 141 145.

Tien Shinhan later pairs Krillin with Trunks for Hyperbolic Time Chamber training. Repeated near-fatal gravity challenges reveal the benefits of Krillin’s broken limiter, while a full year of sparring develops both his strength and Continuous Destructo Disc 168 170 171 172 173.

Battle Against Cell

Krillin, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu repeatedly interfere at critical moments to support the Super Saiyans. Against a Cell Junior, Chiaotzu slows the enemy, Krillin cuts an opening in its neck, and Yamcha exploits that wound to destroy it with internal explosions 182 183.

Their later attack on Perfect Cell creates another opening for their allies’ Triple Super Kamehameha. Krillin’s six-disc volley even cuts Cell’s palm despite the enormous power gap 185.

Demon Conflict and Later Activities

Krillin defeats the Pig-Headed Demon King, one of Dabura’s Four Heavenly Kings. After escaping absorption through the Neo Multi-Form Technique, he cuts the demon apart and destroys the remains with a Super Kamehameha 216 217.

He subsequently joins the teaching staff of the Dragon Fist Martial Arts School and advances through the Galactic Martial Arts Representatives Tournament preliminaries as a North Galaxy representative 230 239.

During the battle with Broly, Krillin and Yamcha fight fused as Chak. Broly eventually destroys Chak and nearly kills both warriors, forcing Goku to rescue them 267 268.

Notable Quotes

“But I won't give up! Goku, Tien Shinhan, I'll catch up to you soon!” 9

“You think this is enough to stop me? Don't make me laugh! I'm a martial artist—a true martial artist!” 170

“You can do it too, Yamcha. Give it your best!” 173