Dragon Ball 10 Ways Namekians Are Better Than Saiyans

Namekians are one of the many races that exist in the Dragon Ball universe, and they even outclass the Saiyans in some areas.

There are plenty of iconic anime series out there, but Dragon Ball has become a formative program that’s also helped introduce newcomers to anime in general. Dragon Ball tells the story of Goku’s adventures and his growth into Earth’s greatest defender. The scope of the series gets progressively grander and there’s a heavy focus on Saiyans, who tend to be the strongest characters in the series.

However, Dragon Ball deals with lots of unique races and the Namekians are another vital group of individuals. Namekians may not have the same brute power of Saiyans, but in many other departments, they’re even more dangerous.

10 They Can Regenerate Lost Limbs

Strength is crucial in battle and it's often the deciding factor, but there's still a lot more to consider and Namekian biology has a lot more surprises built into it. Saiyans may be stronger in most cases, but Namekians can regenerate lost limbs and almost like a reptile. Piccolo has gone through several arms because of this, whereas if a Saiyan loses its limb, it's for good. Someone who isn't aware of this advantage can easily get overwhelmed by it by woefully underestimating the amount of damage that a Namekian can endure.

9 They Have A Natural Method Of Fusion

The characters in Dragon Ball grow to unbelievable levels of strength as a means to respond to the increasingly powerful villains that they face. Fusion becomes a popular remedy against this where two powerful warriors can combine their strength into one vessel. Before the fusion dance or Potara earrings get introduced, there's already a Namekian-specific method of fusion that's been in the picture. Kami and the Demon King Piccolo initially began as one. Piccolo then later fuses with Nail to gain substantial strength. It's an inherent benefit that Saiyans can't exploit.

8 They Are Capable Of A Longer Lifespan

The ages of Dragon Ball characters are all over the map and there are some that are hundreds of years old and seen generations of conflict. Saiyans seem to age more gracefully than humans and certainly look good, but it's unclear if there are any that are hundreds of years old.

Contrary to this, there are several Namekians like the Elder Guru and Kami who still haven’t met their ends due to old age. Presumably, they can grow even older, which could be a real asset in terms of outlasting the Saiyan race.

7 They’re Guardians Of The Planet

Goku and other Saiyans on Earth might have decided to become the unofficial defenders and guardians of the planet, but Namekians fill this role in an official sense. The first Namekian that audiences meet in Dragon Ball is Kami, who holds the position of Earth's guardian as he watches over the planet. There's an equivalent for this on Planet Namek, too. It demonstrates a connection with the planet and a level of empathy that Saiyans sorely lack. In a way, it gives Namekians an actual purpose in the universe, whereas Saiyans are more just brute tools of destruction.

6 They Can Unlock The Latent Potential In Others

Dragon Ball Z turns up the stakes when many of the characters head over to Planet Namek in search of their Dragon Balls. Some very dangerous enemies are encountered and initially, Gohan and Krillin are woefully overpowered. A turning point occurs when the heroes experience the generosity of Namek's Grand Elder Guru who unlocks their potential. This convenient act makes them much more dangerous and serves as the reason why they're able to survive at all against the weaker Ginyu Force members. It's a strategy that could presumably also be used on other Namekians to make their own kind even stronger.

5 They Can Asexually Produce Offspring

It's quite interesting how Dragon Ball will utilize some incredibly powerful techniques, only to then completely abandon them or pretend that they didn't happen. One of the earliest ways in which the Demon King Piccolo asserts his dominance is to produce several monstrous offspring, many of which look more like dinosaurs than traditional Namekians.

However, this is also how King Piccolo produces Piccolo, during his dying moments. It's an incredible means of perpetuation that Saiyans lack and it's surprising that Piccolo has never done it himself during moments of bleakness.

4 They Can Heal Others

Dragon Ball casually explains that there are different classes of Namekian with different specialties, whether it's combat or healing. Dende is a strong example of a character who specializes in the latter, and his healing skills have saved characters' lives on several occasions. Saiyans benefit from Dende's generosity and have no similar means of reciprocation. The Senzu Bean is their only course of healing, which is far from the same and not specific to their own kind. Healing is an absolute asset in the Dragon Ball universe.

3 They Don’t Have The Same Bad Reputation That Saiyans Do

An important thing to consider in a universe that's as big and full as Dragon Ball's is that reputation goes a long way and that grudges linger. A lot of aggressive acts in the series happen explicitly because of the damage that Saiyans or Frieza have done in the past. The Namekians practically have the opposite reception and they're seen as a pacifistic and helpful race of individuals. Other races are more likely to help out Namekians than they would Saiyans and so this general perception still holds a lot of merit between these groups.

2 They Can Stretch Appendages & Grow In Size

Dragon Ball develops endlessly creative varieties of characters, and there are many fun ideas in practice when it comes to Namekian anatomy. Namekians have certain perks that go beyond standard human limitations, like enhanced hearing and more durable skin, but they can also stretch out their limbs and unleash their arms like projectile weapons. A crucial Saiyan ability is the Great Ape transformation, but Namekians can also drastically grow in size and experience the boost in strength without the reckless aggression. Those are vital ways to outsmart the opponent.

1 They Can Make Dragon Balls

Arguably the biggest and most important difference between Namekians and Saiyans is that the former are literally responsible for the creation of the Dragon Balls. These are such a coveted set of items from around the universe, and it's only the Namekian who have the power to make them. At the same time, the creator of the Dragon Balls is linked to them and their death signifies the disabling of the orbs. It's an incredible power that guarantees the significance of the Namekians in the universe and why they'll never completely disappear.