Dende

Dende (デンデ) is a young Namekian boy with a wonderful unique gift that allows him to heal

others from serious injuries. He is the 108th son of Grand Elder Guru from planet Namek. Dende first appear in Dragon Ball Z, when Son Gohan and Kuririn had rescued him from Dodoria. On Son Goku's request, Dende becomes the planet Earth's next Guardian in Kami's place. He continues his role as Guardian for the rest of the series, helping the main characters during their adventures whenever he can.

Background

Not much of his past is reveal, except that Moori and Nail are his older brothers. His birth year is a complete mystery.

Personality

He is described as being a very sweet, and kind hearted young namekian. He also doesn't like getting his clothes too dirty. He also hates killing others. He is extremely afraid of Vegeta. He however tries to be good friends with everyone that he meets on plain sight.

Appearance

In his first debut appearance, Dende is very similar to Piccolo as a young small child except for their iconic clothes outfit attire. During the Great Saiyaman Saga, Dende grows taller with sharper eyes and wears the clothes of a Guardian of Earth. Later on during the release of Majin Buu, and the events of the Kid Buu saga and onwards, Dende wears the exact same outfit attire that he had wore as a small child.

Abilities

Dende's power level is 10 in the video game Dragon Ball Z Super Saiya Densetsu. While it is 10,000 in the Dragon Ball Z The Anime Adventure Game after Grand Elder Guru had unlocked his true potential.

Flight

The ability to fly with the use of ki.

Ki Sense

The ability to sense life energy.

Far Seeing Arts

A technique which allows those who live in the godly realms to see everything that happen in the lower realms. He uses this technique to watch over his friends and the earthlings from Kami's Lookout at top of the Korin Tower.

Healing

The ability to heal wounds. Dende's power to heal extends beyond the victim's wounds, as he is capable of restoring tattered clothes as well.

Namekian Fusion

Dende has the choice to fuse or not to fuse with Piccolo before the battle against Frieza in Super Saiya Densetsu. He can also use Namekian Fusion in the Dragon Ball Collectible Card Game to fuse with any Namekian in the video game.

Portal Opening

Dende and Piccolo can open the portal between Hell and Earth, but it requires one of the two Namekians to be on the other side in Hell.

Pyrokinesis

Dende shows the ability to create fire with in his hands in a fashion very similar to that of ki.

Den Goku

The hypothetical fusion of Dende and Son Goku using the Potara earrings, as imagined by Goku himself in both the manga and anime series. After Goku returns to life for good and is on Earth, as he finds Gohan to be the only remaining strong fighter to fuse with. But when Goku threw the Potara earring to Gohan for him to use, Gohan dropped it and when he finally found it he was absorbed by Buu. As the only two beings that were still alive are Mr. Satan and Dende, he imagined what the fusion would look like and which one of the two would be better. He chose Mr. Satan, because if he fused with Dende the Dragon Balls would cease to exist.

Just at the moment Goku said that Mr. Satan should catch the earring and put it on his left ear, Vegeta appeared on earth with Fortuneteller Baba and Goku used his Instant Transmission to find Vegeta and fuse, forming Vegito. This being the case, the fusion with Dende was only a hypothetical character in the anime, and is only seen as Goku's mental image of what the fusion would probably look like. This fusion character was named Den-Goku in the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game, where he has a minimum power level of 2,400,000 and a maximum power of 3,300,000.

Dailende

Dailende is a hypothetical fusion of Dende and Nail. It is a "Fusion Frenzy" card in the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game, however, the card itself does not depict the fused character, instead by showing the two fusing characters standing beside next to each other.

Dragon Ball Z (Anime)

Namek & Frieza arc

Dende first appears during the Namek Saga in Moori's village on planet Namek, which Frieza and his henchmen, Zarbon and Dodoria, are terrorizing in their search for the Dragon Balls. After putting up a brave stand against Frieza's henchmen, Moori is brutally killed by Dodoria, who then kills the fleeing Cargo, while Dende looks on in horror, and Frieza's soldiers retrieve the village's Dragon Ball. Angered by Dodoria closing in on Dende, Son Gohan kicks Dodoria into a Namekian house, and with the help of Kuririn, Gohan saves Dende, and they fly away from the village. Even though they manage to escape from most of Frieza's henchmen, Dodoria is sent to chase after the three, and is almost successful in killing Kuririn, Dende and Gohan until Kuririn blinds Dodoria with a Solar Flare, and they all hide behind an island.

After escaping from Dodoria's Maximum Buster, they sense Vegeta killing multiple Namekians in Tsuno's village. Dende, grateful for his rescue and confident in their good intentions, guides his saviors to the Grand Elder Guru. After the grand elder reveals Kuririn's true potential, Kuririn leaves Dende with Guru and brings Gohan for Guru to reveal his true potential. Grand Elder Guru later reveals Dende's potential, allowing him to use his healing ability, and sends him to help Gohan and Kuririn to summon the dragon Porunga because they cannot speak the Namekian language to make their wish.

Dende eventually takes part in the battle against Frieza. He mostly watches, but at times assists by healing the fighters, and saves all of their lives with his healing ability; such as Kuririn after he gets impaled by Frieza, Gohan after Frieza brutally beats him, Piccolo after Frieza almost destroys him with his crazy finger beams, and Vegeta who wants to get a Zenkai in order to become a Super Saiyan. Reluctantly, due to the fact Vegeta had slaughtered a lot of Dende's own race, Dende heals Vegeta under Gohan and Piccolo's orders. Though, he pays a serious price when Frieza transforms into his final form and kills him with a single shot, in order to prevent him from healing anyone else.

Later on, during Goku's battle against Frieza, Dende is revived from death by a wish made from Shenron. Dende gets to Porunga first, and is about to make the final wish. But Frieza spots Porunga from afar and realizes that it still may not be too late to wish for immortality. Frieza flies towards Porunga and Goku gives chase, briefly battling the tyrant. Frieza hits Goku aside and tries to wish for eternal life from Porunga. However, in his ignorance, he makes the mistake of not making his wish in Namekian language. Dende makes Guru and King Kai's wish in Namekian language, which Porunga agrees to grant. Enraged, Frieza attempts to kill Dende, but he is sent to Earth in time.

On Earth, Grand Elder Guru explains to Dende and everyone that they were all wished to Earth in order to escape from Namek's explosion, but Goku chose to remain on Namek in order to ensure Frieza's defeat. Dende realizes that Nail has fused with Piccolo, and that Goku had defeated Frieza. Grand Elder Guru realizes that it is now time for him to die again, this time of natural causes. The Namekians gather around Guru to pay him their final respects and, to their fury, realize that no one from Elder Tsuno's village is present, since they were murdered by Vegeta and not Frieza, and thus not brought back. Guru passes the power of the Namekian Dragon Balls to the second eldest Namekian, Moori, and disappears after bidding his children farewell. Gohan reflects on how Guru unlocked his hidden potential to help him do battle with the Ginyu Force. Gohan, Dende and Piccolo promise not to let Guru down, and regret how Kuririn could not see this. Dende then tells them that Kuririn can be revived with the Namekian Dragon Balls, since Porunga can revive someone more than once as long as the death was not natural, Gohan is delighted with the news.

Dende lives on Earth for a while until it is time for the Namekians to be transported to New Namek. He eventually finds out that Son Goku is alive and is training on another planet. Dende and the others use Porunga to revive Kuririn, Yamcha, Tien and Chaozu. A year later, he and the other namekians are the transported to new Namek. Dende is the last to be teleported, as he tearfully tells Gohan goodbye.

Cell Games arc

Later on after Piccolo's fusion with Kami, Dende is teleported from New Namek to planet Earth at Goku's request to take Kami's vacant position. It is at this point that Dende is truly acquainted with Son Goku, after having to only caught a brief glimpse of him on planet Namek. Dende is able to recreate the Earth's Dragon Balls, that had been powerless after Kami was fused with Piccolo, and grants Shenron the ability to grant three wishes (two if one wish is used to wish back to life a large amount of people). Later, following the conclusion of the Cell Games, Dende heals Gohan's battle-worn body. He then tells Gohan that he is sorry that Goku died during the battle with Cell. But Gohan tells him that Goku nor him are sad about it.

Dende then heals Android 18, and learns from Gohan that Kuririn has a crush on her.

Dende and the others then use the dragons balls to revive Future Trunks and all those kill by Cell. Dende then hears Goku telling them that he doesn't want to be revive, and that he is alright being in other world. To which everyone happily agree with after he told them goodbye. Dende and the others used their second wish to remove the bombs from inside Android 17 and 18's body, since the wish was requested by Kuririn. After the wish is successful, 18 tells everyone that 17 is not her boyfriend but her younger brother. this shocks everyone overall, except Yamcha who tells Kuririn that this great. After 18 and Tien leave, Dende says goodbye to Gohan. Dende is lastly seen waving goo dbye to Gohan, Kuririn, Yamcha, and Future Trunks leaving Kami's Lookout.

Great Saiyaman arc

Seven years later, Dende is ask by a now teenage Son Gohan if he will enter the 26th World Martial Arts Tournament. Dende tells Gohan no, since he reminds him that he is a healer type Namekian and not a warrior type Namekian like Piccolo and Nail.

Majin Buu arc

Later on, Dende watches the events of Majin Buu's awakening and his killing spree of almost everyone on Earth.

Fusion Dance arc

Eventually, when Super Buu makes his way to the lookout, he barely says anything, yet when he asks Piccolo what he is doing when he mentions that Buu can kill all the other Earthlings but it would take up until tomorrow, Dende is told to be quiet, or the plan will be ruined.

The plan is ruined anyway when Buu uses the Human Extinction Attack to leave less than twenty beings on Earth within minutes. Later, Buu escapes the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and returns to the Lookout and begins his killing spree. However, before Dende can be turned into chocolate and eaten, Mr. Popo knocks him off the lookout to assure that the Dragon Balls will still be around to stop Buu.

Dende is faintly sensed by Ultimate Gohan when he returns to Earth and after Super Buu blows himself up. Gohan, Piccolo, Son Goten, and Trunks then fly off to look for him, finding and saving Mr. Satan and Bee in the process. When both Piccolo and Trunks accidentally drop Mr. Satan out of the sky, they find Dende. After explaining the different situations, Buu returns, mysteriously wanting to fight Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks. After Gotenks and Piccolo are absorbed, Ultimate Gohan fights Buu, while Dende, Mr. Satan, and Bee watch.

From then on, Dende is seen flying, following, and hiding around with Mr. Satan and Bee, willingly explaining situations and, from time to time, getting annoyed by Mr. Satan's pigheadedness. He is saved by Tien from Super Buu (with Gotenks absorbed) who fires a Finger Beam in an attempt to kill him.

Kid Buu & Uub arc

Dende is then saved again later, along with Mr. Satan and Bee, by Goku from Kid Buu blowing up the planet. Dende is the one who suggests that they use the Dragon Balls on New Namek.

After reviving everyone after the death of Kid Buu, Dende resumes his role as the Earth's Guardian. He is seen at a party to celebrate the victory over Kid Buu at Capsule Corporation.

At the end of the Dragon Ball Z series, ten years after Kid Buu's defeat, Dende attends the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament with his friends.

Dragon Ball Super (Anime)

Battle of Gods arc

Six months after Kid Buu's defeat, Dende goes to Bulma's birthday party on a cruise ship. While the Z-Fighters were battling Beerus, Dende begins to sense ki from Beerus that he hasn't sensed before. After a while, Dende tells Piccolo that Beerus has divine ki, noting that he is a god. After Goku had become a Super Saiyan God, Piccolo asks Dende if he is actually a god in which Dende confirms it. Dende watches the battle between Goku and Beerus in Bulma's spaceship. Dende is in awe by the power of Beerus and Super Saiyan God Goku. In the end, Beerus is planning to destroy the Earth but he falls asleep in the process. After this, Whis takes him home.

Resurrection F arc

After Frieza's resurrection and four months after his training, Frieza arrives on Earth in Age 779 with a thousand soldiers to get revenge on Goku. Dende is on The Lookout when Goku teleports there to drop off Piccolo who has been killed by Frieza. Dende, along with Mr. Popo, is saddened by the sight of Piccolo's demise. He is killed when the planet explodes, but Whis uses his Temporal Do-Over technique to undo the damage, undoing Dende's death in the process.

Universe 6 arc

Sometime after the battle with Golden Frieza, Dende is fixing the Room of Spirit and Time for Goku and Vegeta to train and for longer in preparation for the tournament on the Nameless Planet. He is playing Tennis with Mr. Popo while Goku and Vegeta are training in the Time Chamber. He is also featured as a background character as he travel with the others to support Beerus's team in the tournament.

Future Trunks arc

On Kami's Lookout, Dende and Mr. Popo are on stand-by as they are startled by a giant explosion, caused by Vegeta, who has been training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Universe Survival arc

Goku approached Dende, so that he might help him to find Android 17, to take part in the Tournament of Power. Dende used The Lookout as a means of transport to get to the Southern Island, where Android 17 resided.

Later at The Lookout, Dende tells Goku that Uub (at this point still unnamed) lives in a village, and although he is very young, he is a brilliant martial artist. Dende suggests that when Goku and Uub cross paths, he should train him. Goku says he isn't good at that sort of thing. Dende then tells Goku that the boy (Uub) is the reincarnation of Kid Buu. Goku has a flashback to him defeating Kid Buu and what he said. Goku says he's too young to participate in the Tournament of Power, but agrees with Dende and looks forward to meeting him.

Dende then takes Goku to meet Android 17 and wishes him good luck in the tournament.

Dragon Ball GT (Anime)

Black Star Dragon Balls arc

In Dragon Ball GT, Dende witnesses Goku's training match with Uub, and his subsequent regression to a child thanks to Emperor Pilaf's accidental wish on the Black Star Dragon Balls.

Baby arc

He is the second person, after Mr. Popo, to be healed from Baby's control with the sacred water by Kibito Kai.

Super 17 arc

He then helps Goku escape from Hell with the assistance of Piccolo, using a portal opening technique.

Film Appearances

Dragon Ball Z movie 8

In his early time as Guardian of Earth, in the movie Dragon Ball Z: Return of Cooler, Dende is responsible for sending the Z Fighters to New Planet Namek to save his fellow Namekians from a grave threat plaguing the planet, the Big Gete Star.

Dragon Ball Z movie 14

He is at Bulma's birthday party in the movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, where the Z Fighters face the God of Destruction Beerus. When a drunken Gohan asks Mai to shoot him during Bulma's party, one of the bullets hits Videl's leg and Dende heals her, noticing that Videl is pregnant. Videl has been hiding the fact to surprise Gohan later, and Dende does not reveal it to the others yet. Videl finally reveals it to the others in order to help Goku power up as a Super Saiyan God.

Yo Son Goku & His Friends Return!!

Two years after Buu's defeat, Dende attends Mr. Satan's party in Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!

Video Games

Dende appears in all the following video games:

Dragon Ball Fusions
Dragon Ball GT Transformation
Dragon Ball Z Bakuretsu Impact
Dragon Ball Z Budokai
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Dragon Ball Z Buu's Fury
Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle
Dragon Ball Z Harukanaru Densetsu
Dragon Ball Z Legend of the Super Saiyan
Dragon Ball Z Legendary Super Warriors
Dragon Ball Z Sagas
Dragon Ball Z 2 Super Battle
Dragon Ball Z Super Butoden
Dragon Ball Z Super Butoden 2
Dragon Ball Z Supersonic Warriors 2
Dragon Ball Z The Legend
Dragon Ball Z The Legacy of Goku
Dragon Ball Z The Legacy of Goku II
Dragon Ball Z Tenkaichi Tag Team
Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi
Dragon Ball Z Xenoverse 2
Jump Super Stars
Super Dragon Ball Z

Quotes

Relationships

Son Goku

"I know I'll never be able to replace Kami, but I will try my best. I promise. I just wish there was something more that I could do. I feel so helpless. This tournament will decide the fate of the Earth and all I can do for now is watch and leave it to Goku. I may be this planet's guardian, but he is its hero."

- Dende showing his trust and locality to Son Goku during the Cell Games. (English Version)

Cargo

Grand Elder

Majin Buu

Mr. Popo

Beerus

Super Buu

Kid Buu

Knownable Relatives

Grand Elder Guru (Father)
Moori (Older Brother)
Nail (Older Brother)
Cargo (Younger Brother)
105 other brothers
Kami (Predecessor)
Mr. Popo (Attendant)
Future Dende (Future Counterpart)

Trivia

Dende's name derives from denden-mushi, in which is Japanese for "snail".
Dende is the only Dragonball Z character other than Kibito, Majin Buu, or an eternal dragon who can heal other people without the aid of any magical objects, such as Senzu Beans.
In a few episodes of the Fusion Saga, Dende appears in his child form, starting with the episode "The Evil of Men".

Voice Actresses & Actors

Japanese : the late Tomiko Suzuki (1990 – 1996), Hiro Yuki (Adult; DBZ & Dragon Ball GT), Aya Hirano (Dragon Ball Kai, Dragon Ball Super & Dragon Ball Z movie 14)
English : Laura Bailey (1997 – Present), Maxey Whitehead (Kid in Dragon Ball Z Kai)
English voice actor : Justin Cook (Teenager/adult)