By
Casandra Ronning
Published 57 minutes ago
Casandra Ronning is a staff writer for Screen Rant's anime section. Since mid-2024, she has dedicated herself to expanding her knowledge and experience in the entertainment industry. She is most proud of conducting an exclusive interview with popular voice actor Stephanie Nadolny.
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Dragon Ball Super left the fandom in a state of tense anticipation. With power levels escalating and stakes reaching new heights, fans have been eagerly awaiting the manga’s return. The Granolah the Survivor and Super Hero arcs introduced new variables and evolutions, effectively shifting the power balance in unforeseen ways.
One of the largest and most talked-about twists was Frieza’s latest appearance and newest form. His intervention cut through the final moments of battle, making a bold statement with his power, altering everyone’s expectations. Then he simply left as quickly as he arrived, leaving fans to wonder what the villain’s next plan might be when Dragon Ball Super returns.
Dragon Ball Super’s Hiatus Froze the Story on a Major Cliffhanger
Black Frieza from Dragon Ball Super.
Dragon Ball Super concluded its most recent saga with the Super Hero Arc, which followed the intense Granolah the Survivor story. However, it was Granolah’s arc that stood out as an intense, emotionally charged battle, with Granolah using the Cerealian Dragon Balls to gain immense power at the expense of his lifespan.
Granolah was already a tragic figure because he was the sole survivor of his entire race. His life was then consumed by a desire for revenge, fueled by manipulations from the Heeter family, who exploited his pain for their own benefit. By the time he realizes this, he has already made the wish that sacrificed much of his remaining lifespan.
This doesn’t stop him from joining forces with Goku and Vegeta after the leader of the Heeter family, Elec, essentially sacrificed his brother, Gas, by wishing for the same thing Granolah had, turning Gas into a far more formidable opponent. The battle is intense, emotionally charged, and climactic, and ultimately leads to the revelation of the Heeter’s cunning manipulations.
Yet, in a shocking twist, Frieza returned to the story, effortlessly eliminating Gas and revealing that he had spent a decade training in isolation in a dimension similar to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. He achieved a new form, Black Frieza, and with his new power, he took Goku and Vegeta out with a single blow, completely shifting the power balance.
Black Frieza Sets the Stage to Eclipse the Gods of Destruction
Vegeta remembers Black Frieza in chapter 88 of the Dragon Ball Super manga.
Throughout the entire series, Goku and Vegeta have spent years training and pushing their limits, each achieving new forms, culminating in Goku’s Ultra Instinct and Vegeta’s Ultra Ego. The two have built their power from the ground up, seeking training from those stronger than them, particularly through Whis’s guidance. However, none of this mattered when they stood against Black Frieza.
Even Granolah and Gas, who became the strongest beings in the universe at the expense of their lifespans, were overshadowed by Frieza’s power. His arrival, though short, immediately redefined what the pinnacle of power looked like in Dragon Ball, leaving any previous milestones set by the heroes in the dust.
Black Frieza has already risen above the most powerful mortals, and he may be on the edge of reaching god-level power.
Frieza showcased his new form with a display of superiority, letting the heroes and fans alike know that he had reached a power so immense that he had created an entirely new tier. Most shockingly, the fact that Goku, Vegeta, and the two wish-enhanced warriors were already pushing extreme levels, reaching heights that eclipsed every other warrior in the universe.
It raises the question of how far this disparity extends. While Toronbo, the Cerealian Dragon, explicitly stated that Granolah would become the strongest mortal, not the strongest being in existence, that doesn’t mean such a feat is improbable. Black Frieza has already risen above the most powerful mortals, and he may be on the edge of reaching god-level power.
The Gods of Destruction Are Becoming Increasingly Irrelevant
Beerus feeling frustrated in Dragon Ball Super
With Frieza becoming stronger than ever, Goku and Vegeta have turned their energy and focus back on training to prepare for their inevitable confrontation. However, given the events that played out during Granolah the Survivor, Frieza’s next arc could very well be the moment the mortals officially overshadow the Gods of Destruction.
Since the Tournament of Power, the role of the gods in Dragon Ball has shifted. At one point, they stood as part of the cosmic balance; their presence has become more ceremonial than anything. Along with Goku and Vegeta training on Beerus’s world, it’s clear that the series is slowly transitioning to a story where mortals are no longer secondary.
Black Frieza’s power already dwarfs those who have already challenged the divine figures, and his return to the series may become a threat that even the Gods of Destruction may struggle to contain. As a tyrannical, galactic self-proclaimed emperor, it’s not unlikely that he may vie for the power of the gods for himself.
If he does, then Beerus himself may find himself drawn into battle, yet with how the series has positioned the gods as secondary, ceremonial characters, Black Frieza may forever alter the power hierarchy. His next arc may redefine the stakes and the gods’ authority in the Dragon Ball universe.
Black Frieza Will Raise the Stakes Like Never Before
Frieza as seen in Dragon Ball Super anime
When Dragon Ball Super returns and explores Frieza’s next arc, it could transform the anime’s landscape entirely. The battle will be filled with tension, unpredictability, and victory will rely on teamwork and adaptability. With Frieza standing as the next preeminent force, fans know that the battle will be ruthless and brutal.
As a character who had already lost everything against the Saiyans and battled them on more than one occasion, Frieza gained a unique edge. He knows Goku and Vegeta’s fighting styles, knows their weaknesses, what fuels them, and, most importantly, Frieza knows how to use his authority and intelligence to his advantage.
Frieza could have killed Goku and Vegeta after the battle against Gas, and yet he ultimately chose not to. Given his past failure, this decision is very likely not an oversight but a strategic, planned maneuver. Frieza might have shown off his power and left because he knew there was more he could achieve.
When Frieza ultimately returns to the series, his new Black Frieza form and unparalleled power will mark a significant turning point in the series. The groundwork has been quietly laid out across the last several arcs, leading to a climactic showdown against Dragon Ball’s most notorious and formidable villains that may change everything.
Dragon Ball
Created by
Akira Toriyama
First Film
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
Latest Film
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
First TV Show
Dragon Ball
Latest TV Show
Super Dragon Ball Heroes
First Episode Air Date
April 26, 1989
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