Well, it wouldn’t be Toriyama’s first time doing this, would it?
This article will contain spoilers, if you don’t want to spoil your experience.we recommend you read the last chapters of this work, which are available in the online service of MangaPlus by Shueisha, Well, there will be some details that we will mention to give context to this peculiar detail. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero has been a bestseller and finally gave Piccolo a new transformation, however this could go against the already established canon.
Piccolo’s new form in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero breaks an old rule dating back to the original anime. This wasn’t the first time this warrior had drastically increased in power, but it was still a game-changing moment for the character. Unfortunately, how Piccolo got the new transformation from him actually goes against a long-standing rule in the franchise. Looking at how Shenron has been used since the beginning of the Dragon Ball franchise, it has always been understood that while the Eternal Dragon will grant any wish asked of him, going above and beyond is not his way of operating. In other words, it is in Shenron’s nature that he does what he is told and nothing else. Superhero, on the other hand, saw him make an unprecedented decision to throw in “something extra” for Piccolo. Piccolo never asked for a transformation, but he received it regardless.
Shenron gives Piccolo not one, but two new forms in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero begs the obvious question: why would he make an exception now when he never has before? The reason can be found in the glowing orange symbol on Piccolo’s back that triggered the transformation.. The emblem combines the symbols of Shenron and the Namekian race, which is a sign that Shenron made it because of his innate connection to Piccolo’s people. The Namekians created the Dragon Balls, which means that Piccolo, in turn, has a special and unique connection to Shenron that no other Z-Fighter shares. That alone may explain why Shenron would gift Piccolo with such incredible power, since in the end it is “the creation of his race.”
Regardless of why Shenron did it, Piccolo’s new form in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero it was a boost the character desperately needed if he had any hope of staying relevant. With the new power levels that Goku and Vegeta have been up to lately, the anime was making it increasingly difficult for Piccolo to bring anything meaningful to the table. But becoming “Orange Piccolo” has changed everything for the Z-Fighter. Finally, his power level is comparable to Goku and Vegeta, making him someone who could be instrumental in his next fight in the franchise.
Finally Dragon Ball Super gives Piccolo a place
As we mentioned, Piccolo had been lagging behind Goku and Vegeta since the Buu Saga, and unfortunately for the character, the huge difference in power levels seemed inevitable. In fact, in narrative terms, his absence had been such that he only appeared in a couple of images in the background. Even in the Tournament of Power Arc his role in the history of Dragon Ball Super was almost nil.
After all, both Goku and Vegeta can already reach new heights by unlocking transformation after transformation like Ultra Ego and True Ultra Instinct, while the Namekians can only gain power by fusing or training superhumanly. Or at least, that was the status quo before Super Hero changed it. Making a wish on the Dragon Balls awakened Piccolo’s true potential and secretly gave him access to a new ability. Unlocked during the heat of battle, the “Orange Piccolo” form gave this Namekian the means to defeat Gamma 2 and physically challenge Cell Max in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.