How do you rank DBZ training methods in terms of power increase?

[Warmmedown]

I was thinking about how strong Gohan would be if he'd trained between Cell and the Buu Saga and then was wondering if he'd be limited by not having strong enough training partners or access to a gravity machine.

So how do you rank these training methods, for increasing power level? I'm not talking about improving stamina, but maximum power level.


1. Training with someone at least as powerful as your max power

2. Training with someone weaker than your lowest form, where you have to lower your PL to match theirs (eg Base Goku with Krillin)

3. Training with someone who isn't as strong as your max, but can push one of your lower forms to around its max (eg SSJ Gohan training with SSJ Goten). Since the PL of higher forms are a multiple of the power of lower forms, is this any worse than training in your highest form?

And does how many forms they drop down matter? Like would the PL improvement be any different whether Gohan trained with Goten in SSJ1 or in Base, considering that Goten's capable of pushing both forms to near their max.

4. Training alone and without equipment, like Vegeta and Trunks in the rosat or Piccolo's meditating

 

[Warmmedown]

Iirc it was implied Goku was able to get so strong in the rosat because he was training with someone as powerful as Gohan? Like Gohan wonders how Goku got so strong just training with him and the implication is that Gohan was powerful enough to help Goku raise his PL. Which supports getting less benefit the more you have to drop your power level, within a form.

 

[SSJ2]

I was thinking about how strong Gohan would be if he'd trained between Cell and the Buu Saga and then was wondering if he'd be limited by not having strong enough training partners or access to a gravity machine.

You could make the argument that Gohan was close to his limits at the end of the Cell Games due to Goku passing up the chance to use the RoSaT again. I think he'd be hard pressed to make gains for a little while until he broke through the plateau. But if Gohan trained using the methods listed:

1
3
4
2

And does how many forms they drop down matter? Like would the PL improvement be any different whether Gohan trained with Goten in SSJ1 or in Base, considering that Goten's capable of pushing both forms to near their max.

I don't think the form matters so long as the powers are close. Goku desperately wanted to train with Oob and have him as a sparring partner even though Oob was only around his Base level.