The story of Cell from the Dragon Ball universe.
Main Series[]
Imperfection[]
| “ | Now that we've gotten that vermin out of the way. You're next, Piccolo. | „ |
| ~ Cell as he encounters Piccolo for the first time. |
Cel in his first/"Imperfect" form.
Cell first appeared as a monster like green insect creature that desired to absorb Artificial Humans 17 and 18 to attain his perfect form.
Cell came from an Alternate future to absorb the Artificial Humans 17 and 18, so he could become "perfect". This was something that he could not do in his time because Trunks had killed them both. He killed Trunks and took his time machine, regressing into his larval state so he could fit into it, arriving four years before Trunks would have appeared.
He absorbed the inhabitants of Gingertown before fighting Piccolo (fused with Kami) and taking a beating from him. Piccolo proceeds to trick Cell into thinking he’s lost, and Cell reveals his origin of being created from the cells of Frieza, his father, and the Z-fighters. He then told him how he killed the alternate version of Future Trunks to travel to the present. After Piccolo revealed his deceit and plans to foil him, he is soon joined by Krillin and Trunks (who Cell deduces came from another timeline). Cell also learned Goku was still alive in this time, making him eager to fight the Saiyan. He then escaped using Taiyoken, while suppressing his power. Cell saw the timeline was different when seeing Vegeta fly by, while realizing that all of the z-fighters are alive. He then decided that he needed to get stronger and went on to replenish his strength by absorbing the inhabitants of Nicky Town. Much later, Piccolo told the Z-fighters all about Cell, to their horror.
Imperfect Cell absorbing Android 17 to reach his Semi-Perfect form.
Cell went on a killing spree though ran off whenever he encountered more than one Z Fighter at once as he knew that his first form was weaker than some of them. He also anticipated their strategy of using air vehicles and suppressing their powers while hiding from them. It's later revealed that he absorbed at least 600,000 humans during this time.
Very soon, he sensed Piccolo's energy signal while Piccolo was fighting Artificial Human #17, and arrived at the battlefield. Piccolo told the Artificial humans about Cell being Gero's creation and his plans for them. Cell confirms this explanation and told them that once they become part of him, they would be the strongest. However, the artificial humans refuse the offer something he knew they would say but said there refusal was not a factor. Together with #17, they attacked Cell, but he beat them up and nearly killed Piccolo with an energy blast through the chest and a broken neck. He then beat up #17 before opening his tail up into a giant sucker to absorb #17, but Android 16 intervened and fought him in an even match. Cell survived #16's Hell's Flash, however, snuck up on and absorbed #17 after he ignored #16’s warnings.
Obtaining Semi-Perfection[]
| “ | You should've listened to your friend. | „ |
| ~ Cell as he begins to absorb Android 17 to reach his Semi-Perfect form. |
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Cell after absorbing Android #17 (and becomes "Semi-Perfect") and after changing into his 2nd Form.
After absorbing Android 17, Cell evolves into his Semi-Perfect form became human-like in appearance and much more powerful, as he easily swat Android 16 away. He also became much more arrogant and manipulative, so easily believed that there was no being who could defeat him. Before he could attempt to absorb at #18, Tien intervened and held him off, long enough for her and 16 to escape.
After Tien gave out, Cell was unharmed by the attack but was enraged, attempting to kill Tien but Goku arrived to save Tien and Cell was amused to finally meet him. He expressed mild disappointment of Goku stating he needed one day to fight, stating he didn't peg him for a coward. He was then surprised to see that Goku could teleport and to find Piccolo survived his injuries, before attempting to halt the rescue and fight Goku only for him to escape with his friends. He remarked how he needed to learn how he can do it. He then resumed his search of #18 to achieve perfection.
While searching, he destroyed several islands to flush out #18 before Vegeta arrived and fought Cell in his "ascended Saiyan" form, and was almost able to defeat him, Cell showed his more childish side by freaking out. He was then shaken to hear Trunks was also stronger than him, so he was boxed in. After calming himself down, Cell used Vegeta's pride against him, and was able to convince him to help him absorb Android 18 so Vegeta could have a "real challenge" and Vegeta allows Cell to absorb Android 18 in order to reach his Perfect form even fighting Trunks to do so.
Semi-Perfect Cell absorbing Android 18 to reach his Perfect form
Gaining Perfection[]
| “ | Time to devour the last morsel and become whole. | „ |
| ~ Cell as he begins to absorb Android 18 to reach his Perfect form. |
Cell's 3rd/"Perfect" form after absorbing Android #18.
Once he had absorbed #18, Cell's powers became far greater than that of the heroes. He easily defeated Vegeta and Trunks after obtaining this form although Trunks would have won if not for his new form reducing his speed. After defeating Trunks, Cell interrogated him on his new strength but got no answer. He questioned Goku's activities, being told Goku was training to get strong enough to defeat him and Cell would be forgotten after he was successful. This gives Cell an idea, so he spared Trunks and announces his intentions to bring back the Tenkaichi Budokai tournament, in the form of the Cell Games. After Trunks questioned him, Cell revealed that he wanted to flaunt his superiority and see the terror in the faces of the earthlings, as Trunks was horrified. Cell remarked at that face was the look that he was talking about.
After constructing an arena, he entered a TV station where he told the world that he was the creature that destroyed several cities and told them about the games. Cell then gave the heroes 10 days to prepare for the games and told them that if he emerged undefeated, he would destroy the world. He then waited at the ring, where he was confronted by Goku (in his full powered Super Saiyan form), who vowed that he would pay. Cell was amused, especially when Goku said he would be his opponent.
Cell Games[]
| “ | Goku wouldn't dare emit the Kamehameha wave attack from there, he'll destroy the Earth if he does. | „ |
| ~ Cell surprised at Goku's attack charge up. |
In the Cell games, Cell fought Son Goku first, after easily defeating Mr. Satan and his students Caroni and Piroshki (though all three survived because he decided they weren't worth killing), and at one point destroyed the ring so the entire desert could be the arena. Goku destroyed Cell's top half with a Kamehameha wave, but Cell regenerated, though he was weakened nonetheless. After a bit more fighting, Goku gave up and assigned Son Gohan to fight Cell next. Gohan refused to fight back, telling Cell about his hidden power. Determined to see this power for himself, Cell fought Gohan but eventually, Artificial Human 16 jumped on him and tried to self-destruct. He then explains to the Z-Fighters that, as much as he loathes doing so, he would have to destroy the Earth as he felt it was the only way they could take out Cell. However, his bomb was removed when Dr. Brief was fixing him, so this this tactic did not work and Cell destroyed his body.
Cell brutally crushes Gohan in a torturous bearhug.
Cell created clones of himself, which he called Cell Juniors to fight the other heroes and force Gohan to unleash his hidden power. After Cell crushed #16's head, however, Gohan unleashed his full power and turned Super Saiyan 2, killing all seven Cell Juniors. He then fought Cell and beat him up. Cell revealed that he was not even using half of his true power, powering up to what is most likely 50% of his full power and dramatically increasing his strength and speed; Gohan was unaffected by any attacks and punched Cell twice, inflicting serious damage.
Once Cell realized that he could not beat Gohan, he attempted to blow up the earth with a Super Kamehameha wave, but Gohan overpowered him with his own Kamehameha, destroying most of his limbs. Once Cell regenerated and powered up to his full power, he was too big and slow to even hit Gohan, who brutally kicked him in the stomach which forced him to regurgitate #18 and revert back to his Semi-Perfect form.
Knowing he was about to lose, he started to set off the bomb that had been placed in his body, stating he'd take Earth with him. However, Goku nobly decides to be the one to take care of him as he bids Gohan and his friends farewell, before using Instant Transmission to transport him to King Kai's planet and avoid the destruction of Earth. Goku, King Kai, Bubbles, Gregory, and 17 were killed in the blast. With this, he fulfilled his purpose by killing Goku but, miraculously, Cell was able to survive, with just a single cell left after the explosion allowing him to fully regenerate. He was even able to return back to his perfect form, which was saved within his memory, without having to reabsorb Android 17 or 18. Now, Cell was stronger than ever thanks to the Saiyan cells in his body, as the near-death experience provided by the self-detonation allowed him to benefit from the near-death power boost Saiyans receive, becoming what he refers to as Super Perfect Cell. Goku's sacrifice was to be in vain.
Death[]
Cell finally destroyed by Gohan's Kamehameha.
| “ | No! This can't be! I am perfection!!! | „ |
| ~ Cell's last words as he is disintegrated by Gohan in the FUNimation dub of Dragon Ball Z Kai. |
Upon reappearing and using Goku's Instant Transmission to return to Earth, Cell flaunted his newpowers and resurrection to the Z-Warriors. He easily kills Trunks with a Death Beam, causing Vegeta to attack him in a rage. Vegeta's assault, however, was unable to injure the boosted Cell, and Gohan was forced to take a hit from Cell to save him, injuring his arm and decreasing his energy in the process. However, he was able to manage a one-handed Kamehameha, entering a beam struggle with Cell to determine the fate of the planet once and for all. With guidance from his deceased father and a last-minute assist from Vegeta, Gohan was able to overpower Cell and completely destroy him once and for all as his Kamehameha devours the Bio-Android, finally ending the Android threat and avenging all those of have died in the conflict.
Hell[]
Cell sent to Hell.
After his defeat, Cell was sentenced to Hell by King Yemma. He teamed up with Recoome, Burter, Jeice, Guldo, Frieza, and King Cold in Hell and terrorized the ogre guards there in attempt to find the way to escape Hell, but Goku and Paikuhan came to stop them. After Goku defeated the Ginyu Special Force, Cell attacked him, but Paikuhan knocked him away and into the bloody pond. He then threw Cell and the Ginyu Force onto a spiked mountain, and the five of them were locked up in a cell with Frieza and King Cold. Cell then expresses annoyance at Reccome for suggesting they arm wrestle alongside the others.
| “ | Who's Goku fighting with? That imp's giving him a tougher fight than I did and he quit against me. | „ |
| ~ Cell when watching Goku and Kid Buu's fight in Hell. |
Cell's final appearances in Dragon Ball Z was during the Kid Buu Saga. He, alongside several other deceased villains, spectates Goku's fight with Kid Buu while next to his creator, Dr. Gero. After expressing shock and irritation that Goku was taking his fight with Buu more seriously than he ever did while fighting him, Cell starts rooting for Buu alongside his fellow villains.
Dragon Ball Super[]
Though Cell himself does not make an appearance in Dragon Ball Super, he is alluded to several times throughout the series, notably in the "Future" Trunks Saga, where a manifestation of Cell and other Dragon Ball villains appear to haunt Goku as he ventures into a strange forest to find the medicine "Paradise Grass". However, Cell and the other manifestations of villains are quickly defeated.
Later in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Commander Magenta and Carmine hire Dr. Hedo to create a new Cell by using Dr. Gero's notes on the original Cell to develop a stronger and more powerful version of the Bio-Android: Cell Max.
Dragon Ball GT[]
Cell and Frieza teaming up against Goku.
In Dragon Ball GT, Cell, along with Frieza, fought Son Goku during the Super 17 Saga, while the other villains escaped Hell. Though Goku matched their power easily, Cell and Frieza managed to keep fighting, thanks to the fact that they were already dead and Goku could not destroy them. Eventually they attempted to use a new technique they had invented, the Hell Bazooka, which trapped Goku in an energy prison and forced him to go through the Four Circles of Hell. After the Saiyan was frozen in the Tundras of Hell, Cell and Frieza prepared to destroy him with a final energy blast. However, Goku managed to break free of the ice, since he was alive and far too warm for the ice spirits to freeze. He then turned Cell and Frieza's strategy against them by freezing them instead and shattering them (though he did the latter by accident).
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 shows that Cell and Frieza often train together in Hell.
Other Appearances[]
Future Trunks' Timeline[]
Cell in Trunks' timeline .
In Trunks' future timeline, Trunks destroyed the androids and peace returned but knowing that Cell is most likely in his world, he awaits the day.
Three years later, while preparing to go to the past to tell them of his success, Trunks encountered Future Cell and revealed his knowledge of his plans to kill him and time travel. Cell was shocked and realized Trunks already time traveled and learned of him in the past. Trunks confirmed this and revealed he destroyed their world's version of the androids. Cell was momentarily shocked and angry though realized all he had to do was take the time machine and go to the past before the androids were destroyed.
Believing he could defeat Trunks, Cell prepared to put his plan into action, unaware of the past training that led Trunks to hold a massive increase in strength, allowing him could defeat Cell in his second form in the present and hold his own against his Perfect form. Future Cell was far outclassed by Trunks while in his imperfect form, and Trunks threw Future Cell up in the air and destroyed him with an energy dome.
Later, Future Cell's soul was destroyed when Future Zeno erased Future Trunks' timeline to annihilate Infinite Zamasu.
Supersonic Warriors[]
After Cell was born imperfect following the death of his creator Dr. Gero, he began his plot to perfect himself. He sought to do so by finding Androids 17 & 18 who were nowhere to be found after his search in the desert.
Believing Trunks to have defeated them, he seeks to confirm this himself. Confronting him in the middle of a wrecked city, Cell asks Trunks why he could not find Android 17 and 18. Trunks responds by saying he destroyed them both. Miffed that at their destruction before he could absorb their bodies, Cell tells him that he will not show mercy and figured out he used the emergency stop device.
When Trunks asks Cell why he was trying to stop him, Cell tells him that he does not have an emergency stop circuit installed in himself which ensures he will not tolerate anything in the way of perfecting himself.
He proceeds to fight Trunks and defeat him much to the latter's disbelief that the peace was ruined. Afterwards Cell travels to the past to try and absorb Androids 17 and 18 where he starts a massive assault to drain energy from anything that lives in order to defeat Androids 17 & 18.
While he was going about draining people's energy, Piccolo intervenes in an attempt to stop him. However, Cell was pleased to see him arrive and shocks him with knowledge of his name. When Piccolo asks him to explain in detail, Cell refuses as he plans to absorb him.
With nothing to learn from Cell, Piccolo decides to try and kill him. However, despite Piccolo's efforts, Cell bests him in combat and drains his energy before Vegeta arrives. When Vegeta manages to overpower Cell, he learns that the power Cell has is all he had.
Disappointed at how underwhelming Cell is, Vegeta finds killing him foolish. Cell however is not deterred by this and still aims to gain a perfect body. Vegeta then lets Cell escape to get his perfect body, but not without warning how he will regret it.
After finding the android duo and proceeds to fight one of them when she decides to shut him up. However, he manages to overpower them and absorb them to gain his perfect body. Later he faces off against Krillin who was furious at what happened to Android 18. Cell proceeds to overpower him with his new perfect body.
Cell proceeds to fight Vegeta who did not see the former's new power as anything special and has him drop any meaningless talk before fighting. Following the fight, Cell mocks a shocked Vegeta before Goku comes across him.
Knowing he was not powerful enough, Goku vows to return tomorrow to stop the chaos Cell was bringing, something Cell mocks him for. Cell proceeds to spend ten days to setup a martial arts tournament and proceeds to let out details as time flies over the days.
As Cell was setting up the Cell Games, he announced that if all the participants lose against him, it will bring the end of humanity. As the start of the games were broadcasted, Cell was awaiting the games for Goku when Gero crosses paths with him mich to Piccolo's shock as he thought he died.
Gero reminds Cell of his claim that he is a genius planning everything but never expected Cell to arrive from the future. Gero had a hunch that Vegeta and Piccolo have been beaten by him.
Gero tells Cell that they shall realize the dreams of the Red Ribbon Army. Something Cell finds stupid and wants to do what he wants. This insulted Gero who was furious at his androids turning on him and tries to end him with his own hands.
Tried as he might, Gero ends up being beaten by Cell who proceeds to laugh at him. At the day of the Cell Games, Mr. Satan shows Cell a crushed tile. Cell simply tells him to shut it before facing off against his current opponant, Goku. After besting Goku, Cell reminds him that he will kill all mankind if there is no one left to fight him.
Having fought against Cell before, Goku had realized someone might be able to defeat him. Goku has Gohan face off against him in hopes that he would stop Cell from wiping out mankind. Cell calls Goku's judgement poor and that Gohan will die becuase of it and will kill him next.
After the defeat of Goku and Gohan, Cell grew bored and decides there's not much meaning in being perfect and creates muiltiple Cell Juniors to wipe out humanity slowly with fear and despair.
After a few years of sleeping, the Cell Juniors he created brought mankind ot the brink of extinction when Babidi and Majin Buu cross paths with him, having used energy from the Cell Juniors to accelerate Buu's revival.
Interested by Babidi defeating his spawn, Cell proceeds to fight against Buu, having realised this might be the fight of his life. After beating Buu, Cell proceeds to destroy Earth and its solar system and seek out someone stronger in the universe.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers[]
Cell appears as a playable "raider" in the upcoming multiplayer survival video game Dragon Ball: The Breakers.