Key conclusions
- Earth's Dragon Balls grant wishes, but have limits on what can be requested and require a year to recharge.
- Namekian Dragon Balls are larger, have fewer restrictions, and reactivate after 130 days when used.
- The Super Dragon Balls, the original balls, have unlimited power and summon Super Shenron at will.
What would Dragon ball be without Dragon Balls? These magical MacGuffins have been the solution (and sometimes the source) of all problems throughout the various installments of the franchise. They are coveted by heroes and villains alike, as collecting all seven can fulfill the collector's wish, whether it be bringing the dead back to life or granting immortality.

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Or at least that's the case with the original Dragon Balls. There are different sets of orbs for different universes, not to mention different planets and spheres, and they come with different conditions. Keeping track of them can be difficult, so here's a handy list to help explain each type of Dragon Ball Dragon ball series.
1 Earth Dragon Balls
Dragon ball
- Creator: Kami
- Status: Canon
- Debut: Episode 1 – The Secret of the Dragon Balls (Anime), Chapter 1 – Bulma and Son Goku (Manga)
first, Earth Dragon Balls they are the ones the show is named after and have been in the series since day one. As such, they probably don't need much explanation. Created by Kami, these are small orange balls with patterns of 1 to 7 stars that help collectors keep track of them. When all seven gather, they summon the divine dragon Shenron, who will grant a wish or three, depending on his strength.
His power has its limits because he cannot make others fall in love with someone or kill enemies more powerful than the wish lord. But eternal youth, immortality, reviving the dead, etc. People cannot make the same wish twice, and after making it, they must wait a year before they can use the orbs again, which crumble and turn to stone after being summoned by Shenron.
2 Namekian Dragon Balls
Dragon Ball Z
- Creator: A great senior guru
- Status: Canon
- Debut: Episode 44 – “Evil's Conclusion” (Anime) Chapter 53 – “Planet Namek, Cold and Dark” (Manga)
Cami was once part of the same being as King Piccolo, who was reincarnated as Piccolo Jr. at the end of the original series. If the latter dies, so will Kami. Then, when he dies, Earth's Dragon Balls will become inert forever. But the orbs can be restored if someone can bring them back to life, which Krillin, Bulma and Gohan planned to do with the Namekian dragon balls.
They learned from the Saiyans that members of the Piccolo and Kami lineages had arrived from another planet that had its own set of Dragon Balls made by their elder, the Grand Elder Guru. They are much larger and they summon another dragon in Porungu which can grant three wishes by default. Provided the collector can speak Namekian and stay on the good side. After use, the balls are still inert, but they do not disintegrate and reactivate after 130 days.
3 Black Star Dragon Balls
Dragon Ball GT
- Creator: Son of Katatz / The Nameless Namekian
- Status: Alternate timeline DBZ
- Debut: Episode 1 – “Destructive Desire”
Before Kami and King Piccolo split in two, they were a single, nameless Namekian known only as “the son of Kataz”. He was more powerful than his split halves, and this was reflected in his creation: Black Star Dragon Balls. They look like globes, but have black stars, and they summon the Absolute Shenron, a larger, more powerful dragon that has fewer limits on its desires.

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For example, he could kill anyone, regardless of their power level, if the collector so desired. But if they did, they would be limiting their planet to time. If the balls are not gathered together within one year, the planet will be destroyed. Orbs fly across the galaxy when used, so without a decent spaceship, the planet's inhabitants are up the creek without a paddle. At least they don't become inert after use, so that's one plus.
4 Super Dragon Balls
Dragon Ball Super
- Creator: A break
- Status: Canon
- Debut: Episode 29 – “The Battle Matches Begin! Captain – Someone Stronger Than Goku” (Anime) Chapter 6 – “Tournament Preparation”
How did Kami, the Great Elder Guru and the son of Katatz make their dragon balls? Shaving off pieces of Super Dragon Balls. These are the original orbs upon which all others are based, created by the dragon god Zalama. Each one is the size of a planet, and there is no limit to their power. Whatever the collector wishes for, he will get it, even if it means the rebirth of entire universes.
Once assembled, they summon Super Shenron, a dragon so large that it contains several universes, but can shrink to a more manageable size. They also have to be named in the Divine Language of the Gods, which is just Japanese/English backwards, with “attractive bite/peas and carrots” at the end. Gods work in mysterious ways.
5 Dark Dragon Balls
Super Dragon Ball Heroes
- Creator: Xeno Dende
- Status: Not Canon
- Debut: Super Dragon Ball Heroes (video game), Episode 33- “A New Space-Time War! The Ultimate Fierce Battle Begins!” (anime) Chapter 2- Dark Dragon Ball (Realm of dark demons mango)
Another problem with Earth Dragon Balls is that having too many desires can cause negative energy to build up. U GTthis causes the orbs to summon the evil Black Smoke Shenron, which then splits into the seven Shadow Dragons according to the various desires of mankind throughout the ages. video game, Dragon Ball Heroesplays on this topic with Dark Dragon Balls.
Created by Xeno Dende, the evil counterpart of Kami's successor, they are red orbs with black stars that can summon Dark Shenron. Only this time, since they are based on negative energy from the start, they can create evil Shadow Dragons with just one wish instead of several. Once used, they also dissipate in time and space, making memorization a difficult task.
6 Special Dragon Balls
Super Dragon Ball Heroes
- Creator: Phew
- Status: Not Canon
- Debut: Super Dragon Ball Heroes (video game), Episode 1- “Goku vs. Goku! A Transcendent Battle Begins on the Prison Planet!” (anime) Chapter 1- “Prison Planet” (World mission mango)
Super Dragon Ball Heroes also brought to Special Dragon Balls. They are basically the same as the Earth Dragon Balls because they summon Shenron. But instead of being MacGuffins for treasure hunters, they act as keys to escape the Prison Planet, a cluster of worlds that shift together and trap anyone Fu's creator deems fit for his social experiment.

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The only way to escape from the prison planet is to collect all seven special dragon balls, each of which is held by a different inmate. In the end, the series' Dragon and Time Patrol teams simply use their power to defeat Fu and the evil Saiyan Cumber to break the Prison Planet's seal. The orbs are then simply used to free everyone and restore the separated planets to their original orbits.
7 Cereal Dragon Balls
Dragon Ball Super (manga)
- Creators: Cereal Hints
- Status: Canon
- Debut: Chapter 69- “Evolution of the Cereal Planet”
The series saw the Dragon Balls getting bigger and bigger. So it's a bit refreshing to see Cereal Dragon Balls go in the opposite direction. Made by the Namekians on the planet Grain, they are the size of marbles and only two can be collected. They play a big role in the Granola arc, where the titular character wants to use them to bring back his slain Zerealians.
It's a lovable goal, but Sireal's last Namekian, Monaita, believes the return of the Serians could spell doom for the sugary refugees on the planet. Perhaps that's why his dragon, Toronba, is surprisingly polite and will tell the collector the consequences of their wish, as well as offering alternatives if they prove more palatable. In the end, if the collector is 100% sure of their wish, good or bad, Toronba will grant it.
8 Crystal of Omniscience
Dragon Ball Legends
- Creator: Zalama (supposedly)
- Status: Not Canon
- Debut: Dragon Ball Legends mobile game
Every Dragon Ball in the series' existence is ultimately linked to the Super Dragon Balls. But if the game is on mobile Dragon Ball Legends it was just the result of Zalama after working with a prototype: a single giant ball known only as Crystal of Omniscience. It is formed by combining smaller blue and red crystals to form its signature yin-yang symbol.
It doesn't summon a dragon, it doesn't split and it doesn't crumble. The crystal will grant as many wishes as its energy can fuel, which became a problem when Zaha's swordsman gained control of it. He used its power to nullify the power of Hakai Beerus, eliminate Ki detection as a concept in Universe 7, and make Shalot's new Saiyan allies forget about him and think he is a villain. A good thing DBL is not canon…yet.
9 Dragon Balls Demon Realm
Dragon Ball Daima
- Creators: The Demon Realm Namekians
- Status: Canon
- Debut: Episode 1 – “The Conspiracy”
Finally, the latest Dragon Ball set to join the series is this Dragon Balls Demon Realm. While not as massive as the Super Dragon Balls, they are still much larger than the Namekian Dragon Balls. Fortunately, there are only three of them. Unfortunately, each one is owned by a Tomagami, a powerful warrior created by the Namekian Demon Kingdom, Neva.
The tomagami managed to keep the orbs in the underworld from getting their hands on anyone, showing that they are even more powerful than demon kings like Dabura. However, King Kadan of the 3rd Demon World believes that Goku may be powerful enough to overcome them even as a child. Only time can tell what will happen when the three orbs are brought together and what they will evoke.

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