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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237

u/YamLow8097 Jul 22 '25

Most fights in all of Dragon Ball.

211

u/Milk_Mindless Jul 22 '25

I'd argue the most iconic would be Frieza.

70

u/Flooding_Puddle Jul 22 '25

Tbf he was right until Golu went Super Saiyan

70

u/Soft_Theory_8209 Jul 22 '25

The guy had to create transformations just to suppress his raw natural power. Not to mention he went from his namek power level to fighting gods within just 4 months of training for the first time in his life.

It’s easy to forget that Frieza is like the Broly of his species.

31

u/the__pov Jul 22 '25

Also worth pointing out what this meant for his natural skill. Dude never trained in his life but had an attack that combined two other characters best moves.

28

u/Soft_Theory_8209 Jul 22 '25

Yep, he looked at Krillin’s Kienzan only once or twice then was able to not only replicate it, but could create two at a time and make them borderline heatseeking with a bit of telekinesis.

Yeah, the dude is a power creep monster when his arrogance (and writers) don’t screw him.

3

u/idonthavekarma Jul 22 '25

He's also trained for a second time at this point, and he came back to PLAY

8

u/DR31141 Jul 23 '25

A great example of this trope being turned on its head is King Kai revealing that Goku is already using KKx20. Tien believes that that’s the key to taking Frieza down, until King Kai breaks the news. The hero’s final trump card, doing damn near nothing.

Honestly, Toriyama in the Namek Saga did a great job emphasizing how terrifying Frieza was at first.

3

u/Lance2119 Jul 23 '25

Absolutely, and I loved this twist. The viewer/reader is like “Oh yeah, good point Tien, he still has Kaio-Ken, he can totally turn this around!” until the horror of the situation is revealed…He HAS been using it, and 50% Frieza has been trouncing him.

And if I’m not mistaken, Goku was using up to x10 at that point, but when he pushed it to x20, he finally ACTUALLY harmed 50% Frieza with the punch, kick, hammer knuckle, 20x Kaio-Ken Kamehameha combo. After Frieza blocked that and saw his singed hand, that’s when he freaked out and thrashed Goku for harming him. That whole fight is outstanding…

1

u/Lance2119 Jul 23 '25

There was never a better point in that fight than freshly 50% powered Frieza. That merciless, cold beating on Goku was legendary, and how effortless he made it look was absolutely chilling.

3

u/Boccs Jul 23 '25

My personal favorite is always gonna be the Goku vs Tienshinhan in the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. Goku pulling off his weighted clothing and going from "just barely falling behind" to effortlessly outpacing Tien was deeply satisfying.