The Return of Android 17: How He Became One of the Strongest Heroes in Dragon Ball Super

When Dragon Ball Super brought back Android 17 for the Tournament of Power, many were left wondering how this mid-tier hero had managed to ascend to the ranks of the four strongest warriors in the series. It's a question of both mystery and logic, as we explore the timeline and potential reasons behind this character's remarkable power jump.

The Timeline

After the Cell Saga, it's reasonable to assume that Android 17 continued his training, given the significant gap in time between the Cell Saga and the Buu Saga, followed by five years before the events of Dragon Ball Super. This period, amounting to 12 years, provided him ample time to both refine his skills and increase his strength.

During this time, there were no specific mentions of Android 17 engaging in overt training, leading to speculation about what he might have been doing during these 12 years. This period of relative silence in the storyline only adds to the intrigue surrounding his sudden rise to prominence in the Tournament of Power.

Android 17's Power in Context

Android 17's strength is a product of both natural in-universe processes and potential plot conveniences. His power can be compared to other warriors in the series to gain insight into his capabilities:

Android 17 vs. Android 18: Android 18, known for her formidable strength, is surpassed by Super Vegeta, who in turn is not as powerful as Super Saiyan Goku. Goku, Super Saiyan, is more powerful than Future Trunks, who holds his own against Mechanical Frieza. Android 17's training: Given that Android 17 is already a powerful character, the 12 years of training could significantly enhance his power, making him a formidable opponent even without explicit storyline acknowledgment of this training.

Moreover, Android 17 and Android 18 are interesting cases with unconfirmed limitations, leading to a lot of guesswork regarding their true power levels. The lack of explicit confirmation allows for a more complex and intriguing narrative, but it also leaves room for speculation.

In-Universes Factors

The in-universe answer for Android 17's power jump can be attributed to several factors, primarily the Infinite Energy Generators within him. Unlike Earthlings, who can grow significantly in strength, Saiyans, with their natural warrior attributes and recovery abilities, can continue to grow stronger even after near-fatality battles. However, they face limitations such as stamina loss and fatigue.

Cyborgs like Android 17, lacking these specific physical limitations, are well-suited for prolonged training. With no fear of exhaustion during training and no need to attract attention due to a lack of a visible ki signature, it's logical that Android 17 could train extensively without facing these constraints. This prolonged and undisturbed training period would explain his rapid increase in power right before the Universe Survival Saga.

Out-Of-Universe Factors

From a storytelling perspective, characters like Android 17 and Android 18 are often made stronger to ensure their inclusion in significant fights. Showing extensive training or power acquisition can be tedious and lengthy to depict, making reaching high power levels a narrative convenience. This out-of-universe factor also influences their sudden strength increases.

It's worth noting that ambiguous power levels in the series itself add to the mystery and intrigue. The lack of explicit confirmation of their power limits creates a space for fans to speculate and form their own theories, enriching the narrative and maintaining a sense of unpredictability.

Conclusion

The sudden power jump of Android 17 in the Dragon Ball Super series can be explained through a combination of in-universe and out-of-universe factors. His prolonged training period, enhanced by the non-fatigue-inducing Infinite Energy Generators, allowed him to reach high power levels that made him a significant force in the Tournament of Power. This power jump, while intriguing, is the result of complex plot developments and narrative conveniences that keep the story engaging and captivating.

Whether you define heroes as Z Fighters or explore the in-universe factors for strength increases, Android 17's journey is a testament to the rich and ever-evolving nature of Dragon Ball's character development.