Dragon Ball Daima: Not Everyone Receives Three Wishes from Shenron

Disclaimer: The following section contains spoilers for Dragon Ball Daima, Episode 2, titled “Glorio”, currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Highlights from Episode 2

Shenron has the ability to grant three wishes, but only to individuals recognized as “regulars.”
To become a “regular,”one must likely summon Shenron multiple times.
Certain wishes, especially those with malevolent intent, such as eliminating someone, may be refused by Shenron, indicating a distinction between white and black magic.

How Many Summons Are Required for Shenron to Recognize Someone as a Regular?

In the second episode of Dragon Ball Daima, titled “Glorio,”we witness the new ruler of the Demon Realm, Gomah, employing an aged Namekian named Neva to gather Earth’s Dragon Balls. Gomah’s first request successfully transforms the Z Fighters and their allies into first-graders while turning existing children into infants. However, his second aspiration, to acquire a powerful artifact known as the Evil Third Eye, goes unfulfilled. This highlights the intriguing dynamics between wishes granted by Shenron and the criteria for receiving such allowances.

Historically, during the Cell Saga, when Kami merged with Piccolo, Earth found itself without a Guardian. Goku’s quest for a new Guardian led him to Dende, who shortly after restored Earth’s Dragon Balls while enhancing Shenron with the ability to grant three wishes. This change, however, came with its own stipulations. While the existing rules permitted granting a maximum of two wishes if one was dedicated to resurrecting numerous individuals, the latest episode introduces even more complexities surrounding Shenron’s wish-granting abilities.

Befriending an Eternal Dragon: The Path to Regular Status

With the goal of becoming a “regular,”how many summon attempts might one need before Shenron acknowledges them? The newly introduced nuances leave room for speculation, particularly as King Gomah did not specify an exact number. Observations from previous series suggest that a collective effort by the Z Fighters to summon Shenron grants immutable recognition.

The notion that any individual need not be the sole person making wishes aligns with the idea of group recognition. Historically, no single character has summoned Shenron repeatedly pre-Cell Saga, suggesting that merely being part of a summoning group might suffice. Additionally, the various clusters of individuals present during summons could influence Shenron’s memory of who qualifies as a “regular.”

Tracking Shenron’s Granting of Wishes

From the inception of the original Dragon Ball series up until Dende assuming the mantle of Guardian, Shenron has granted across five occasions, potentially six if we include Demon King Piccolo’s wish for rejuvenation. Even though Piccolo wasn’t affiliated with the Z Fighters during that time, Shenron may still recognize him due to his historical ties. Below is a summary of the known wishes made by the Z Fighters before Dende’s enhancements:

In Dragon Ball, Episode 12: Emperor Pilaf summons Shenron, leading Oolong to wish for the most comfortable pair of underwear.
In Dragon Ball, Episode 78: Goku calls forth Shenron, allowing Upa to wish for his father, Bora, to return to life.
In Dragon Ball, Episode 112: Demon King Piccolo summons Shenron to regain his youth.
In Dragon Ball, Episode 126: Multiple summonings occur, with Yamcha wishing to revive everyone killed by Demon King Piccolo.
In Dragon Ball Z, Episode 15: Master Roshi calls upon Shenron for Goku’s resurrection.
In Dragon Ball Z, Episode 99: Mr. Popo summons Shenron and wishes to revive all fallen Namekian victims.

Unveiling Another Rule Pertaining to Shenron’s Wishes

In Dragon Ball Daima Episode 1, “Conspiracy,”a character named Degesu reveals that Shenron utilizes what is termed “white magic”when granting wishes. Consequently, he is unable to fulfill wishes deemed “black,”which typically involve harm or elimination. This principle may explain Gomah’s choice to transform the Z Fighters into children rather than eliminating them entirely. If Earth’s Dragon Balls are governed by white magic, it raises the possibility that those from the Demon Realm operate under a different rule set.

“But what will you wish for? I’m sure their (Earth Dragon Balls) power is based on white magic, so I doubt a black wish like eliminating them will be accepted.”
– Degesu to Gomah

As Dragon Ball Daima continues to unfold, it presents exciting and profound additions to the established lore. The series promises to delve deeper into the complexities surrounding the Eternal Dragons and the various rules governing them. For fans eager to follow along, the journey continues on Crunchyroll and Netflix. Mark your calendars for the release of Episode 6, scheduled for November 15, 2024, at 10:00 AM PT.