Summary
There’s no shame in borrowing a good move, especially when you’re trying to survive an energy blast to the face. In theDragon Balluniverse, fightingstyles evolve not just from rigorous training or mystical teachings, but sometimes from straight-up copying an opponent’s best tricks. Whether it’s the iconic Kamehameha or the flashiest teleportation maneuver, characters in this franchise have made a habit of watching, learning, and then dishing out the same pain right back.
Some of these copied techniques come with a hint of respect, others with pure malice, and a few are just chaotic mimicry from characters who absorb more than just attacks. These are the times the characters in theDragon Ballfranchise copied somebody else’s attacks and techniques, ranked on the basis of how iconic and memorable these moves are, as well as how big of a deal they are in theDragon Balluniverse.
8Krillin Copies Solar Flare From Tien
Tien’s Solar Flare, Rebranded
Krillin didn’t invent the Solar Flare, but he definitely made it part of his personal survival toolkit. Originally used by Tien Shinhan during the 22ndWorld Martial Arts Tournament, this blinding technique—known in Japanese as “Taiyoken”—uses concentrated light to stun and disorient. Tien first unleashed it during his fight with Goku, but Krillin quickly caught on, realizing how effective it could be, especially for someone who doesn’t rely on raw power.
Krillin’s most iconic use of the Solar Flare comes during the Namek Saga, where he uses it against Frieza’s minions to create an opening. Unlike energy beams or brute force attacks, the Solar Flare’s utilitycomes from its tactical disruption, and Krillin wielded it with almost more finesse than Tien ever did. Over time, even villains like Cell would pick it up, but Krillin remains the character most associated with it despite not being its originator.
7Goku Black Steals The Kamehameha
Divine Theft In Motion
There’s something unsettling about watching Goku’s face perform the most iconicDragon Ballattack with such twisted malice. Goku Black, the corrupted fusion of Zamasu’s soul inside Goku’s body, didn’t just inherit his host’s strength—he also snagged a few of his signature moves. Among them, the Kamehameha stands out the most, not because it’s unexpected, but because of how sinister it looks coming from someone who embodies the complete opposite of Goku’s spirit.
The scene happens during the Future Trunks Saga inDragon Ball Super, and while Goku Black already had a slew of unique techniques—likethe Energy Blade and his Rose transformation—he chose to channel the Kamehameha during a battle with Goku and Vegeta. Unlike other users who learned it through training, Goku Black appears to draw it from muscle memory, which makes sense considering he’s literally in Goku’s body. It’s a visual reminder of the warped reflection he represents—everything familiar turned threatening.
6Piccolo Uses The Multi-Form Technique From Tien
Piccolo’s Shadow Clone Move Wasn’t Exactly Original
Piccolo’s use of the Multi-Form Technique (Shishin no Ken) is one of those blink-and-you-miss-it moments that adds texture to his growth. Originally introduced by Tien during the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, the move allows the user to create physical clones of themselves. Unlike afterimages, these copies can fight, block, and be hit, though they divide the user’s power evenly.
InDragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might, Piccolo pulls off the same move during his brief skirmish with Amond. While the movie’s canonicity is debatable, the technique’s appearance shows that Piccolo had either seen Tien use it or picked it up during off-screen training. What’s clever here is that Piccolo, a strategist to the core, only uses it situationally—likely because splitting power four ways isn’t always a smart move when you’re already outmatched.
5Goten And Trunks Use Kamehameha Without Formal Training
Too Young, Too Fast, Still Mastered It
No formal lessons, no guidance from Roshi, no time spent observing Goku’s meticulous hand movements. Goten and Trunks justdothe Kamehameha. The first time Goten fires one off inDragon Ball Z, it’s during a training session with Chi-Chi, who’s left more confused than proud. Goten casually reveals he saw Goku do it once and figured it out.
This casual mastery of the most iconic move in the franchise says a lot about the evolution of power in theDragon Balluniverse. Where Goku once needed hours of focused effort and Roshi’s patient instruction, these Saiyan hybrid kids just pick it up like it’s second nature. Trunks eventually follows suit, and while it’s partly due to their heritage and absurd potential, it also speaks to how normalized the technique has become. The Kamehameha, once sacred, is now playground-level for half-Saiyans.
4Kid Buu Mimics The Instant Transmission
Instant Chaos
Something is terrifying about watching Kid Buuuse Instant Transmission—not just because it’s a precise and disciplined move, but because he absolutely doesn’t treat it that way.
Unlike characters who train and refine their techniques, Kid Buu operates on instinct and chaotic mimicry. He doesn’t ask how or why—it just happens. It’s arguable whether Kid Buu learned this technique from the Kaioshin or by watching Goku perform it once, since the anime doesn’t clarify this, but the fact that a being of pure destruction can flawlessly replicate a move of divine beings and one that took Goku time and focus to learn from the Yardrats is what makes this moment hit so hard.
3Cell Uses The Kamehameha
Goku Isn’t Too Happy About It
Cell’s version of the Kamehameha is one of the most memorable moments from the Cell Saga, especially because of how it twists something viewers associate with heroism. Born from the DNA of Earth’s greatest fighters, Cell inherited not just their power levels but their techniques. His use of the Kamehameha is first shown in his semi-perfect form, but it reaches its most iconic moment during the beam struggle with Gohan.
Watching Cell wind up a Kamehameha with Goku’s voice, stance, and inflection adds a weird psychological weight to the moment. It’s not just about the power—it’s about him weaponizing Goku’s identity. Unlike Goten and Trunks, Cell didn’t learn it through admiration or observation. He’s a walking archive of other people’s abilities, and the way he uses them feels invasive.
2Gohan Mimics Piccolo’s Special Beam Cannon
He Actually Pulls It Off
Gohan copying Piccolo’s Special Beam Cannon inDragon Ball Super: Super Herowas a moment years in the making. Gohan has always drawn more from Piccolo than Goku in terms of style. He’s methodical, strategic, and doesn’t rely on brute strength unless absolutely necessary. So when he mimickedthe Special BeamCannon, it wasn’t some flashy party trick. It was a deliberate choice made in the heat of battle, channeling his mentor’s most iconic attack with surprising precision.
The scene hits harder when considering the context. This was Gohan reclaiming his role as a frontline fighter after years of being sidelined or academically focused. The moment he fires the attack, there’s that brief flash of old-school Z energy—no Super Saiyan gimmicks, just raw, refined skill.
And yes, Piccolo’s reaction to seeing his own move mirrored by his pupil was priceless. A mix of pride, surprise, and that subtle “I didn’t teach you that… but I’m not mad” energy that only Piccolo can pull off.
1Goku Copies Master Roshi’s Kamehameha
The Moment That Started It All
Before Super Saiyans, Spirit Bombs, or teleportation, there was a young Goku standing beside Master Roshi, watching his teacher vaporize a mountain. In pureDragon Ballfashion, Goku decides to try it himself—and somehow nails it on the first go. It’s clumsy, tiny, and underwhelming compared to Roshi’s, but it’s a perfect microcosm ofGoku’s raw talentand ability to grow on instinct.
This wasn’t a trained move. Goku mimicked the posture, the breathing, and the energy flow after seeing it once. Roshi’s reaction—wide-eyed disbelief—is one of the earliest signs that Goku isn’t just special; he’s going to change everything. The Kamehameha, meant to be the culmination of fifty years of training, becomes Goku’s party trick. It’s fitting that the most copied technique in the franchise itself is a copy.
