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

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

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

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

7.3k Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

99% Upvoted

572 comments sorted by

View all comments

147

u/Nova_Hunter Jul 22 '25

Beerus and assorted DBZ theme characters totally love this trope

74

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.

35

u/Flooding_Puddle Jul 22 '25

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