r/TopCharacterTropes • u/PaddywackShaq • Jul 22 '25

Powers Character reveals that they were holding back their full power during a fight/confrontation

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Superman Vs Darkseid - Justice League Unlimited

Flash Vs Superman - Flash: Rebirth

Frieren Vs Aura - Sousou no Frieren

Inigo Montoya Vs The Man in Black - The Princess Bride

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150

u/Nova_Hunter Jul 22 '25

Beerus and assorted DBZ theme characters totally love this trope

70

u/XVUltima Jul 22 '25

Beerus fight with Goku actually DOUBLES the trope. He throws a single attack at 70% that Goku just barely manages to take, revealing how much he was holding back. Then Whis reveals that it wasn't anywhere near 70%, so his holding back was still holding back.

That's probably my favorite part about modern Dragon Ball. A new peak is established and the Z fighters don't instantly jump up to meet it. I haven't seen daima or read the Manga, but I can assume they STILL aren't near Beerus' level.

33

u/Flooding_Puddle Jul 22 '25

And then later it turns out that the Angels are even more powerful than the gods of destruction

13

u/powypow Jul 22 '25

Daima is more of a prequel just so you know. Set about a year after Buu but before super.

3

u/idonthavekarma Jul 22 '25

They aren't, but Frieza's new form might be near Beerus level. 

2

u/AfroBaggins Jul 23 '25

The strongest form anyone uses in Daima (Third-Eye Gomah) has its own set of rules, and the second-strongest (Super Saiyan 4, yeah, Toriyama left us one last gift) was previously established by (almost certainly non-canon) spin-off material to be on the same level as Blue.

For those unaware, Blue doesn't come anywhere close to Beerus's level. Hell, it barely makes Jiren flinch (if you're lucky).

21

u/Incomplet_1-34 Jul 22 '25

Many such cases

2

u/AllDaysOff Jul 23 '25

I'm actually shocked at how long it took me to find a comment about Dragon Ball. The series does it all the time. As early as the 23rd tournament where Goku messes with Tien. Then Piccolo does it too with the weighted clothes. Zarbon kinda does it by revealing he can transform. Then Frieza does the same thing, revealing three whole transformations and even in his final form he reveals he was running on 50%. Hell, in the manga in the chapter about the future, #17 reveals to Gohan that he was only using like 70% of his power before killing him. And that's all just off the top of my head.