Shall the fight Base Trunks vs Eighteen...

[FutureProtagonist]

The she "clearly" held back on Trunks. That was easy.

Jewel is a known quantity, so we can assume she held back on him. Trunks isn't.

What motivation does #18 have to draw out the fight? Yamcha/Ten and Ten/Roshi had conflict happening between them; Ten respected Roshi enough to hear him out and he wanted to troll/torture Yamcha, (why break his arm?) with #18 and Trunks, they're just punching each other and #18 wants nothing more than to get the prize money from Satan; she has no interest in toying with some random human fighter she's never seen before. Just gauge his power, then knock him out of the ring like the other trash. Why didn't she do that?

 

[ahill1]

Not my point... but if #18 had no reason to think that Mighty Mask is stronger than guys at 21st Budokai, why Trunks wasn't able to tank her attack?

 

[Lightsworn]

The she "clearly" held back on Trunks. That was easy.

Jewel is a known quantity, so we can assume she held back on him. Trunks isn't.

What motivation does #18 have to draw out the fight? Yamcha/Ten and Ten/Roshi had conflict happening between them; Ten respected Roshi enough to hear him out and he wanted to troll/torture Yamcha, (why break his arm?) with #18 and Trunks, they're just punching each other and #18 wants nothing more than to get the prize money from Satan; she has no interest in toying with some random human fighter she's never seen before. Just gauge his power, then knock him out of the ring like the other trash. Why didn't she do that?

If anything, Yamcha trash talking Tien would motivate him to knock him out instantly and humiliate him. Instead he drags out his fight. Why didnt Piccolo just knock out Krillin? She did try when she slammed him Into the ground. Trunks proved to be more capable though.

 

[FutureProtagonist]

She should have had an accurate read on his abilities by then. No reason for her to hold back so that he can get up. Slamming him into the ground should already be a pretty big risk.

In the case of Ten and Yamcha: What's worse? An instant victory, or a stringing him along, then crushing all of his hopes? The Anti-Spirals certainly know the answer.
Piccolo wants to keep his power hidden (don't want to allow Goku any advantages) and gauge the skill of his potential rivals. It's prudent considering they'll be his enemies in the future, and he already got beaten once by writing off Goku.

#18's just fighting some random human so she can get some prize money.

 

[Lightsworn]

She should have had an accurate read on his abilities by then. No reason for her to hold back so that he can get up. Slamming him into the ground should already be a pretty big risk.

In the case of Ten and Yamcha: What's worse? An instant victory, or a stringing him along, then crushing all of his hopes? The Anti-Spirals certainly know the answer.
Piccolo wants to keep his power hidden (don't want to allow Goku any advantages) and gauge the skill of his potential rivals. It's prudent considering they'll be his enemies in the future, and he already got beaten once by writing off Goku.

#18's just fighting some random human so she can get some prize money.

Their fight was for 2 panels, so it wasn't really all that long. She could be scared of killing him. Piccolo feared the same thing when he knocked Krillin down. She went overboard on the punchin machine, so I understand why she would be hesitant to increase. Also Piccolo doesn't need anywhere near his full power to knock out Krillin, so it wouldn't be revealing anything or giving anyone any advantage.

 

[Zoom]

Based on the start of the fight, Trunks is fully aware of 18's power (that she was stronger than SSj Vegeta back in the day). 18 is aware that Mighty Mask is really strong especially for a guy that has short arms.

The kids wanted a challenge and wanted to win the tournament, wouldn't the kids (mighty mask) start off strong? Trunks landed 2 solid punches and Goten landed a kick. I assume the kids wasn't holding back since they acknowledged that 18 kicked their fathers ass back in the day.

Now we have established that the kids know 18's power, if the kids were really that much stronger than 18, why didn't the punches hurt her or damage her? She came back quickly and unfazed.

 

[Evil Vegeta]

I don't remember them landing any hits on her.

 

[Animelover5487]

I don't remember them landing any hits on her.

I forgot exactly how the fight went in the manga, but in the anime they punched her in the face and kicked her in the gut.

 

[DBZAOTA482]

There's no reason for her to be suppressed to a point where she's barely winning.

I can say the same for Tien vs Yamcha or Tien vs Roshi

Tien underestimated his opponents... that's just his character at the time (he thrashed Yamcha soundly when he realize his strength).

#18 has no reason to play around especially since she was only in it for the money.

 

[Lightsworn]

There's no reason for her to be suppressed to a point where she's barely winning.

I can say the same for Tien vs Yamcha or Tien vs Roshi

Tien underestimated his opponents... that's just his character at the time (he thrashed Yamcha soundly when he realize his strength).

#18 has no reason to play around especially since she was only in it for the money.

He defeated him long after fighting. After Yamcha trash talked him, I don't see a reason for him to put himself at a disadvantage in fight to point where Yamcha even lands a hit.

18 cannot kill, which would be the reason she wouldn't attack full power in the first place and the reason who would hesistate to attack with higher power.

 

[DBZAOTA482]

I can say the same for Tien vs Yamcha or Tien vs Roshi

Tien underestimated his opponents... that's just his character at the time (he thrashed Yamcha soundly when he realize his strength).

#18 has no reason to play around especially since she was only in it for the money.

He defeated him long after fighting. After Yamcha trash talked him, I don't see a reason for him to put himself at a disadvantage in fight to point where Yamcha even lands a hit.

18 cannot kill, which would be the reason she wouldn't attack full power in the first place and the reason who would hesistate to attack with higher power.

Not really, Tien gained the advantage fairly quickly. He wasn't having trouble with Yamcha he just had a hard time gauging his strength just like Krillin vs. Piccolo. Tien at the time was also an arrogant kung-fu guy who liked showing off his superior abilities.

#18 exchanged many attacks with Trunks and tried to use a ki blast against him... she was obviously not playing around.

 

[Lightsworn]

Tien underestimated his opponents... that's just his character at the time (he thrashed Yamcha soundly when he realize his strength).

#18 has no reason to play around especially since she was only in it for the money.

He defeated him long after fighting. After Yamcha trash talked him, I don't see a reason for him to put himself at a disadvantage in fight to point where Yamcha even lands a hit.

18 cannot kill, which would be the reason she wouldn't attack full power in the first place and the reason who would hesistate to attack with higher power.

Not really, Tien gained the advantage fairly quickly. He wasn't having trouble with Yamcha he just had a hard time gauging his strength just like Krillin vs. Piccolo. Tien at the time was also an arrogant kung-fu guy who liked showing off his superior abilities.

#18 exchanged many attacks with Trunks and tried to use a ki blast against him... she was obviously not playing around.

Yamcha's and Tien's fight lasted for more than 6 pages and they also exchanged many blows, even more than 18 vs Trunks. 18 and Trunk's fight of "exchanging blows" lasted for 2 pages. If you're going to argue Tien was having a hard time gauging his strength then the same can be said for 18 honestly.

 

[DBZAOTA482]

He defeated him long after fighting. After Yamcha trash talked him, I don't see a reason for him to put himself at a disadvantage in fight to point where Yamcha even lands a hit.

18 cannot kill, which would be the reason she wouldn't attack full power in the first place and the reason who would hesistate to attack with higher power.

Not really, Tien gained the advantage fairly quickly. He wasn't having trouble with Yamcha he just had a hard time gauging his strength just like Krillin vs. Piccolo. Tien at the time was also an arrogant kung-fu guy who liked showing off his superior abilities.

#18 exchanged many attacks with Trunks and tried to use a ki blast against him... she was obviously not playing around.

Yamcha's and Tien's fight lasted for more than 6 pages and they also exchanged many blows, even more than 18 vs Trunks. 18 and Trunk's fight of "exchanging blows" lasted for 2 pages. If you're going to argue Tien was having a hard time gauging his strength then the same can be said for 18 honestly.

Except #18 wasn't shocked at what Goten and Trunks were doing... she even hinted at Trunks being a worthy opponent.

Not to mention Yamcha was sweating bullets while Tien hardly looked like he was struggling.

 

[Lightsworn]

Not really, Tien gained the advantage fairly quickly. He wasn't having trouble with Yamcha he just had a hard time gauging his strength just like Krillin vs. Piccolo. Tien at the time was also an arrogant kung-fu guy who liked showing off his superior abilities.

#18 exchanged many attacks with Trunks and tried to use a ki blast against him... she was obviously not playing around.

Yamcha's and Tien's fight lasted for more than 6 pages and they also exchanged many blows, even more than 18 vs Trunks. 18 and Trunk's fight of "exchanging blows" lasted for 2 pages. If you're going to argue Tien was having a hard time gauging his strength then the same can be said for 18 honestly.

Except #18 wasn't shocked at what Goten and Trunks were doing... she even hinted at Trunks being a worthy opponent.

Not to mention Yamcha was sweating bullets while Tien hardly looked like he was struggling.

What are you talking about? Look at Tien's facial expressions. They are very similar to Yamcha's.

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[Evil Vegeta]

I don't think it makes a lot of sense for her to go all-out on someone she thinks is just a weirdo who's stronger than he looks.

Nothing from #18 shows me she considered Mighty Mask a problem, much less used all of her power against him. I'd like to think this would've been noted. She didn't even fight Vegeta with her all until after they've already fought for a good while.

 

[DBZAOTA482]

Yamcha's and Tien's fight lasted for more than 6 pages and they also exchanged many blows, even more than 18 vs Trunks. 18 and Trunk's fight of "exchanging blows" lasted for 2 pages. If you're going to argue Tien was having a hard time gauging his strength then the same can be said for 18 honestly.

Except #18 wasn't shocked at what Goten and Trunks were doing... she even hinted at Trunks being a worthy opponent.

Not to mention Yamcha was sweating bullets while Tien hardly looked like he was struggling.

What are you talking about? Look at Tien's facial expressions. They are very similar to Yamcha's.

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Then at the next panel... we see Yamcha sweating like he came out of a hot sanua.

What I mean is Tien was basically toying with Yamcha so that's why he had trouble in the first place... once he got slightly serious he thrashes him just like Goku did with Krillin.

Not to mention #18 outright says Trunks was strong.

 

[Lightsworn]

Except #18 wasn't shocked at what Goten and Trunks were doing... she even hinted at Trunks being a worthy opponent.

Not to mention Yamcha was sweating bullets while Tien hardly looked like he was struggling.

What are you talking about? Look at Tien's facial expressions. They are very similar to Yamcha's.

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Then at the next panel... we see Yamcha sweating like he came out of a hot sanua.

What I mean is Tien was basically toying with Yamcha so that's why he had trouble in the first place... once he got slightly serious he thrashes him just like Goku did with Krillin.

Not to mention #18 outright says Trunks was strong.

18 would have likely done the same thing after a while. 18's and Trunks' fight was for like 2 panels. Goku vs Krillin, Tien vs Yamcha, Piccolo vs Krillin all lasted longer than that. I'm not really seeing an argument here other than just picking and choosing who can struggle and go all out and who cannot just because you say so.

 

[Evil Vegeta]

What exactly does "strong" mean? Stronger than herself? As strong as her? Strong enough to not get knocked out in a single attack like the others? Strong enough to block some of her attacks?

In the end, the word alone doesn't necessarily tell us much.

 

[DBZAOTA482]

What exactly does "strong" mean? Stronger than herself? As strong as her? Strong enough to not get knocked out in a single attack like the others? Strong enough to block some of her attacks?

In the end, the word alone doesn't necessarily tell us much.

Given the context, I'm pretty sure she's hinting at him being a worthy opponent (she thinks this to herself).

 

[Evil Vegeta]

I honestly think Mighty Mask just happened to be a weird guy that happened to be stronger than she expected. I don't think she ever felt he was a problem for her, personally.