Dragon Ball: Everything you need to know about Potara

In the Dragon Ball-verse, power-ups and transformations are constant game-changers. However, few tools turn the harmony of power as drastically as the Potara earrings. These mystical artifacts let two warriors converge into a single, far more powerful fighter. Whether a longtime fan or an interested newcomer, understanding Potara is integral to grasping some of the most jaw-dropping moments in Dragon Ball history.

Originally introduced as part of the Kais' attire, these Potara earrings were later divulged to possess the extraordinary ability to fuse two beings into a single, more powerful entity. This fusion technique was first showcased during the intense battles of the Majin Buu Saga.

Supreme Kais wear these distinctive earrings, which come in various colors (though canonically, they should be green for actual Supreme Kais). Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Potara earrings grant special privileges to their wearers, including the ability to use Time Rings - devices that allow time travel but are exclusive to Supreme Kais.

The most remarkable property of Potara earrings is their fusion capability. When two individuals each wear a single earring on opposite ears, they're automatically drawn together and fuse into a single, immensely powerful being.

Unlike the Metamoran Fusion Dance introduced earlier in Dragon Ball, Potara fusion offers significant advantages. The technique doesn't require equal power levels between the two fusees, making it more versatile in emergencies. It also fuses the clothing along with the bodies, unlike the Metamoran technique, which outfits fusees in the standard Metamoran garb.

Perhaps most importantly, it creates a being whose power greatly exceeds the simple addition of the two individuals' strengths. As explained by Vados in Dragon Ball Super, the fusion brought about by the Potara isn't a simple combination. It produces a new being, blending bodies and personalities into a superior form whose power skyrockets.

Significant Potara fusion

• Old Kai - Merging of a young Supreme Kai and a Witch
• Kibito Kai - Shin and Kibito unified
• Vegito - Goku and Vegeta's fusion
• Fused Zamasu - The villainous fusion of Future Zamasu and Goku Black
• Kefla - The first female Potara fusion, combining Universe 6 Saiyans Caulifla and Kale

Permanent vs. Temporary aspect of Potara in Dragon Ball

One of the most controversial aspects of Potara fusion came with Dragon Ball Super's retcon of the rules. In the original Dragon Ball Z, Old Kai explained that a Potara fusion was permanent for everyone. Over time, the rules of Potara fusion have been redefined. While it was once believed that every fusion using these earrings was eternal, Dragon Ball Super clarified the mechanics. If one of the participants holds the title of Supreme Kai, the union remains permanent.

But if both users are ordinary mortals, the fusion is limited, lasting no more than one hour, sometimes even less. Furthermore, using too much power can shorten the fusion's duration even further. It was demonstrated during Vegito's battle against Fused Zamasu, where the fusion ended prematurely due to the immense power output.

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This retcon provided a new explanation for why Vegito defused inside Majin Buu in the original series, though the initial explanation given was the "strange air" inside Buu's body interfering with the magic of the earrings. In Dragon Ball DAIMA, it was revealed that Shin and Kibito deliberately allowed themselves to be absorbed by Majin Buu to undo their own fusion. It suggests the special properties inside Buu's body can indeed counteract the Potara's effects.

Generally, Potara fusion in Dragon Ball results in a more powerful being due to the multiplicative effect on power levels. Besides, it's more effortless to conduct, needing no synchronization or choreography. The Potara earrings remain an emblem of unity and strength, signifying the spirit of collaboration in the face of overwhelming adversity. They have played key roles in pressing battles.

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