How many levels did Perfect Cell have?

SSJ2

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Cell Games only. I’m seeing six total levels.

1. Warm up level - Equal to warm up Goku.

2. Vs Goku - Ahead of Goku but likely rivalling.

3. True speed - Substantially ahead of his level against Goku, yet too weak to damage SSJ Gohan.

4. Bear hug - Able to catch Gohan and basically render him useless. He was even ahead of Gohan’s semi-enraged state when Gohan tried to get angry.

5. Full Power - Strong enough to garner significant reaction even after SSJ2 Gohan’s power was established.

6. Power Weighted Cell - Must be ahead of full power Cell for the use of this form to make any sense.
 

DBZAOTA482

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Warm-up/Initial - The level he used against Vegeta and Trunks.

Buff - The level he used to show how useless Grade 3 is and his psychological breakdown against Gohan

Suppressed (Vs. Goku) - The first powered-up level he used against Goku. His speed is more suppressed than his strength.

Suppressed (Vs. Gohan) - The same level as above only using his true speed, which he uses against Gohan.

Full-Power -His true power. The level he used against Gohan after he became SSJ2.

Super Perfect Cell - The miracle zenkai he got from going kamikaze. The level he used against Gohan after returning to Earth for revenge.
 

GreatSaiyaman123

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I think it's fairly possible full speed wasn't a power up. He clearly underestimates Gohan, so it looks like he's wearing the kid gloves on Gohan until he gets pissed at Gohan for dodging (Thus why full speed). So those attacks that barely hurt Gohan are the same ones that were fucking up Goku.

Like, if he needs to power up to deal with Gohan why does he think Goku is a more interesting match? Is it because of Goku's skill?

Even if true speed was a power up, I don't think he did any afterwards. Maybe if he only raised his speed, and then raised his power to match afterwards, but that sounds weird. Why does he expect his lower power to kill Gohan?
 

Kyo

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It’s something like, Cell’s a 100 to Goku’s 80 but he’s holding back and using 90. Against Gohan he keeps fighting at 90 until he’s forced to use 100 speed (going “all out” in speed “at least”).
 

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Perfect Cell was a fighter who often suppressed himself for sport, and only fought at his maximum capabilities (both pre and post zenkai) toward the very end the Cell arc. But I believe, he displayed 7 different battle powers (including suppressions) during his existence, and I'll explain every one.

1. Perfect Cell (initial suppression) - Right after Cell finishes transforming into his Perfect form, he lands. USSJ Vegeta is confident in himself that he can beat this Perfect Cell. Android 16 then tries to read Cell's battle power and says that Cell has drastically powered up, but Vegeta is still superior. Krillin also notes after getting kicked by Cell that Cell is masking his power and not to take the power Cell is putting out at the moment as a reference. So I think one thing is for certain

USSJ Vegeta > Perfect Cell (initial suppression)

To me, and this is my theory. Perfect Cell right here is suppressing himself to where he is only showing what Vegeta thought his new power would be. That being the combined power of his previous form (Semi Cell) and Android 18 who he just absorbed.

2. Perfect Cell ("warming up" suppression) - Cell almost immediately leaves his initial suppression and goes into his "warming up" suppression right before he takes on USSJ Vegeta. Now, he's not shown to actually display a power up, but the only way for him to be putting out less ki than USSJ Vegeta, to toying with him and tanking a kick to the neck means that he must have upped his ki significantly almost instantly before he started fighting USSJ Vegeta. After toying with Vegeta, Vegeta is mad and Cell tells Vegeta this is nothing and he's "only warming up". Anyways, in this suppressed state he's far superior to USSJ Vegeta, and USSJ Trunks. He defeats both USSJ Vegeta and USSJ 2 Trunks rather easily. This is also the level he later starts off fighting 50% MSSJ Goku at in the Cell games. He fights evenly with 50% MSSJ Goku and even after the 1st little spar with Goku, he tells Goku "that's enough of the warm ups". So to me, he's fighting here at the same level he displayed in his battle with USSJ Vegeta and USSJ 2 Trunks. Basically, his "warming up" suppression.

3. Perfect Cell ("warming up" suppression in pseudo USSJ 2 form) - After defeating USSJ 2 Trunks, Cell tells Trunks why the USSJ 2 transformation is inneffective even though USSJ 2 Trunks was putting out quite a bit more ki than Perfect Cell was in his "warming up" suppression. So, as a demonstration Cell goes into a pseudo USSJ 2 form and bulks up incredibly and his ki goes up, Trunks is stunned. More than likely here he is putting out more ki than USSJ 2 Trunks. However, Cell says that despite his ki being much higher because of this form, it's still way to slow and thus ineffective in battle. Cell then goes back to his normal state and out of this form.

4. Perfect Cell (powered up suppression) - In the Cell games, for a little while MSSJ Goku and Perfect Cell toy with one another. But when Cell tells MSSJ Goku to go full power Goku agrees and does. Cell was more than likely previously fighting in his warming up suppression (since nothing indicates otherwise), but as a response to Goku going full power, Cell does a massive power up in front of the Z senshi. Cell powers up to a level just a bit higher than that displayed by 100% MSSJ percent Goku more than likely because he's a good sport and admires Goku, and wants to have an exciting match. Cell and Goku battle for a while, but Cell eventually gains a decisive upper hand and Goku quits. Cell's ki has faded a bit and Goku gives Cell a senzu bean. Cell then recovers, but it's never noted by the z senshi that Cell's power has increased, only that it has been restored (they thought Cell was currently fighting at maximum power). Cell then takes on MSSJ Gohan. So Cell was fighting at the same level against MSSJ Gohan as he was against 100% MSSJ Goku, only Cell decides to actually "use his real speed" against Gohan. MSSJ Gohan get's kicked around for a while and Cell seems to have everything under control, but then Gohan get's angry, unleashes his true hidden power, and goes SSJ2. By this transformation Gohan has completely surpassed Cell.

5. Perfect Cell (full power) - Cell says he's going to show Gohan his "true terrifying power" and begins a massive power up. This power up has to be massive for 2 reasons. One, despite knowing he was getting toyed with by SSJ2 Gohan, Cell thinks he's going to kick Gohan's ass when he goes full power. Two, the Z senshi are amazed by the power up and act as if it's the greatest ki that they have ever sensed (more than likely they have not sensed SSJ2 Gohan's true power yet). Anyways, despite this massive power up, the full power Perfect Cell is still no match for SSJ2 Gohan to Cell's horrifying shock, and is staggered by just two punches.

6. Perfect Cell (full power in pseudo USSJ 2 form) - The full power Perfect Cell realizes he is no match for SSJ2 Gohan. Thus he get's infuriated and out of rage transforms into the pseudo USSJ 2 form and grows bulky and humongous. Trunks notes that although Cell has increased his power (ki), his speed has diminished and Cell has made the very same mistake he mocked Trunks for. This Cell proves to be no match for SSJ2 Gohan anyways, Gohan kicks him twice and Cell ends up regurgitating Android 18 and reverts back to his 2nd stage.

7. Perfect Cell (post zenkai aka "Super Perfect") - After self destructing because he realized he had no chance of winning. The biological core of Cell survives and he regenerates from the brink of death. Cell not only returns in his Perfect form, but also because he has a Saiyan genetic component he receives a large zenkai powering his Perfect form up incredibly. At his max, he now rivals SSJ2 kid Gohan in terms of power and his golden aura flashes with light blue electricity like a SSJ2.

This 'Super' Perfect Cell meets his end by the hands of SSJ2 kid Gohan in a massive Kamehameha struggle.
 

Hector

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I think it's fairly possible full speed wasn't a power up. He clearly underestimates Gohan, so it looks like he's wearing the kid gloves on Gohan until he gets pissed at Gohan for dodging (Thus why full speed). So those attacks that barely hurt Gohan are the same ones that were fucking up Goku.

Like, if he needs to power up to deal with Gohan why does he think Goku is a more interesting match? Is it because of Goku's skill?

Even if true speed was a power up, I don't think he did any afterwards. Maybe if he only raised his speed, and then raised his power to match afterwards, but that sounds weird. Why does he expect his lower power to kill Gohan?
But didn't he acknowledge right away that Gohan was stronger than Goku?
 

Natasha Romanoff

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1- Initial (detected by 16 and Krillin to be < Super Vegeta)

2- Warm Up (used against Vegeta, Trunks & Goku)

3- Power Weighted (suppressed vs Trunks)

4- Cell vs Goku (fights are more interesting when are close to an exent)

5- True speed (used against Gohan)

6- Full Power (only against SSJ2 Gohan)

7- Power Weighted + Full Power (in his desesperation to deny he's below of Gohan)
 

Power Level Guy

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1. Faki Ki
2. Real Power (Base Cell)
3. Buff Cell (vs Trunks)
4. Powered Up vs Goku
5. Powered Up vs Gohan
6. Full Power
7. Buff Power
8. Super Perfect Cell

He absolutely does a significant power up from fighting Goku to Gohan for sure.
 

Power Level Guy

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Oh just CG?

1. Warm Up
2. Powered up Vs Goku
3. Powered Up vs Gohan
4. Full Power
5. Buff
6. Super Perfect

What evidence is there that Cell powers up with bear hug?
 

SSJ2

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Oh just CG?

1. Warm Up
2. Powered up Vs Goku
3. Powered Up vs Gohan
4. Full Power
5. Buff
6. Super Perfect

What evidence is there that Cell powers up with bear hug?
Cell increases his speed and wasn't even able to damage Gohan despite thinking he had killed him. Then he was able to overpower Gohan and easily knock him down when he became semi enraged.
 

Power Level Guy

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Cell increases his speed and wasn't even able to damage Gohan despite thinking he had killed him.
This should still be the case if Cell equals Gohan. I don't think one barrage from Majin Vegeta to Goku will drop his power like that. Equal power leveled opponents can't hurt each other that easily.

Then he was able to overpower Gohan and easily knock him down when he became semi enraged.
Should be because of Gohan's unwillingness to fight. There's no noted comments about Cell's power changing during this time.

I'll look into it though.
 

Dagon

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Cell Games only. I’m seeing six total levels.

1. Warm up level - Equal to warm up Goku.

2. Vs Goku - Ahead of Goku but likely rivalling.

3. True speed - Substantially ahead of his level against Goku, yet too weak to damage SSJ Gohan.

4. Bear hug - Able to catch Gohan and basically render him useless. He was even ahead of Gohan’s semi-enraged state when Gohan tried to get angry.

5. Full Power - Strong enough to garner significant reaction even after SSJ2 Gohan’s power was established.

6. Power Weighted Cell - Must be ahead of full power Cell for the use of this form to make any sense.
I think 2, 3, and 4 are the same level. Cell was just deliberately moving slower than he could at that level, and Gohan's heart wasn't in the fight, so he's not resisting the bear hug as well as he could if he had a better mindset.
 

GreatSaiyaman123

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It’s something like, Cell’s a 100 to Goku’s 80 but he’s holding back and using 90. Against Gohan he keeps fighting at 90 until he’s forced to use 100 speed (going “all out” in speed “at least”).

Fair enough. I think the fact Cell only had to get a bit more serious should mean Gohan isn’t worlds above Goku.

But didn't he acknowledge right away that Gohan was stronger than Goku?

Yeah, but then attacks him with less power/speed than needed anyway.
 

ahill1

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Cell Games only. I’m seeing six total levels.

1. Warm up level - Equal to warm up Goku.

2. Vs Goku - Ahead of Goku but likely rivalling.

3. True speed - Substantially ahead of his level against Goku, yet too weak to damage SSJ Gohan.

4. Bear hug - Able to catch Gohan and basically render him useless. He was even ahead of Gohan’s semi-enraged state when Gohan tried to get angry.

5. Full Power - Strong enough to garner significant reaction even after SSJ2 Gohan’s power was established.

6. Power Weighted Cell - Must be ahead of full power Cell for the use of this form to make any sense.
I agree pretty much. I'd add one more though, which is the one he had masking his chi which was read by #16 as < Super Vegeta. That was the Cell labeled as warm up... Then the Cell who kicked Vegeta's ass was the one who said "gonna be a little bit serious"... And the one I assume fought Goku... Tho as that was labeled warm up it could also be the level read as < Super Vegeta, but in regards to how many powers shown, that's irrelevant.

Then yeah, there's the one who battled Goku... Which to me went from 1/2 MSSJ Goku to 1.1x MSSJ Goku....

His true speed, which is a speed level increase... And then upon seeing his attack laid 0 damage to Gohan, it's sensible enough to assume he'd bring his power up to the speed level increased which caught Gohan, so another power, which I think Cell used as long as he tried to make Gohan enraged. The bear hug or shall it have another name, to me only had a bigger effect due to the nature of the attack, he grabbed Gohan in a way this latter couldn't use his arms as a defense and could then explore his power, squeezing him and making it difficult to breath.

Then full power Cell, which I think fits a SSJg2 power up due to initially mass increase, tho not as noticeable and similarities in aura, which I like to see as his version of tapping into that kind power up, but making it more effective with less mass and being able to use it despite the fact I think Goku and co., once mastering the SSJ, couldn't use this type power anymore as the route they chose for the SSJ.

The his weighted, SSJG3 like state... which was already weakened in comparison to how it could be were Cell not damaged... And maybe even more weakened due to Cell's mental state of desperation.

Then his SPC, Super Perfect, SSJ-2 like state... Much the same way I like to see full power Cell as being a representation of SSJG2, I like the SPC to be a boost off his representative MSSJ "like" state, used at his full potential vs Gohan, before FP... But benefiting from a normal SSJ2 power up, while I think Gohan got an extra piece on the cake with the enraged thing, putting him still ahead of SPC overall.

Some people also think Cell was initially ~ MSSJ Goku and increased his speed --- and perhaps power --- once he tried to demonstrate to Goku he didn't need the Shunkan Ido to be that quick, much to Goku's surprise when Cell was quickly charging at him with high speed.

If we count weakened levels, there's the Cell post KMHMH... Who lost a chuck of power , but not much... And Cell post Goku's spamming chi blast, which according to Cell did some damage... But still seemed ahead of everyone there... As no one mentioned Cell had fallen, like Trunks to a level he could be defeated by him, and charging at him once giving Goku the Senzu Beam seemed like the best solution to him. Maybe that Cell retained 75% of the power used vs Goku. His confidence on defeating him even if he got a Senzu Bean shows this... Which also should be apparent to the others, Goku specially.
 

SSJ2

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Should be because of Gohan's unwillingness to fight. There's no noted comments about Cell's power changing during this time.

I'll look into it though.
Look into this as if it was a power up in part 1 when there was no Ki sensing. Goku vs Krillin in the 22nd for example. It's pretty clear that Goku uses more effort/power after their initial skirmish even though nothing was stated. I don't believe that we need to have a power/effort increase be stated in order for it to be true.
 

SSJ2

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I think 2, 3, and 4 are the same level
They could be. Though if you assume that they are, you can still assign different numbers for them based on the effort level used.
 

SSJ2

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His true speed, which is a speed level increase... And then upon seeing his attack laid 0 damage to Gohan, it's sensible enough to assume he'd bring his power up to the speed level increased which caught Gohan, so another power, which I think Cell used as long as he tried to make Gohan enraged. The bear hug or shall it have another name, to me only had a bigger effect due to the nature of the attack, he grabbed Gohan in a way this latter couldn't use his arms as a defense and could then explore his power, squeezing him and making it difficult to breath.
Perhaps, but there is also Cell easily dealing with Gohan after that. Plus just compare this sequence against true speed Cell to after the bear hug.


Screenshot 2024-01-12 at 18-16-04 VIZ Read a Free Preview of Dragon Ball Z Vol. 18.png

Vs

Screenshot-2024-01-12-at-18-16-17-VIZ-Read-a-Free-Preview-of-Dragon-Ball-Z-Vol-18.png
 

ahill1

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Yes, there's that too. Tho the squeezing hug was also done when he distracted Gohan using Freeza's beams so he could catch him more effectively. But yeah, kicking Gohan like that seemed assertive.
 

Power Level Guy

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Yeah, that little dismissive kick is insane to do to Gohan. I've always taken that as Gohan not going full bore there and halfheartedly attacking. Cell can't be that much stronger than Gohan there, out of nowhere, can he?
 

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