Earth Dragon Ball

The Earth Dragon Balls are the most prominent set of Dragon Balls in the franchise, serving as the catalyst for nearly every major storyline. Originally created by Kami, the Guardian of Earth, these seven orange crystalline spheres are each marked with a number of red stars from one through seven. They measure approximately 7.6 centimeters in diameter and emit a faint electromagnetic pulse that can be detected by specialized devices like Bulma's Dragon Radar.

When all seven are gathered together, speaking the phrase "Come forth, Shenron" (or simply calling the dragon's name) summons the eternal dragon Shenron, who will grant wishes within the scope of his creator's power. After a wish is granted, the balls turn to stone and scatter randomly across the Earth, remaining inert for approximately one year before reactivating.

Evolution of Power

The Earth Dragon Balls have undergone significant upgrades over the course of the series. Under Kami's original creation, Shenron could grant only a single wish per summoning and could not revive anyone who had died of natural causes or been brought back previously. When Dende became Earth's new Guardian and recreated the Dragon Balls, he enhanced Shenron's capabilities. The dragon could now grant two wishes (later expanded to three), and the restriction on repeat revivals was considerably relaxed, allowing the same person to be wished back multiple times.

The Four-Star Dragon Ball holds special significance to Goku, as it was the keepsake left to him by his adoptive grandfather, Grandpa Gohan. This particular ball has become one of the most iconic symbols of the entire Dragon Ball franchise.

Despite their incredible power, the Earth Dragon Balls operate under several important constraints. Shenron cannot grant any wish that exceeds the power of his creator. This means he cannot permanently destroy or alter beings significantly stronger than Dende. He also cannot force actions upon individuals whose power far surpasses his own, such as compelling a God of Destruction to do something against their will.

Shenron cannot revive someone who died of natural causes, and he cannot grant the same wish twice in certain circumstances. The dragon also cannot create items or effects that fundamentally exceed the established rules of the universe, though the exact boundaries of this limitation have been inconsistently defined throughout the series.

If the creator of the Dragon Balls dies, the balls permanently turn to stone. This happened when Piccolo (who had merged with Kami) was killed on Namek, temporarily rendering the Earth Dragon Balls inert until Dende assumed the role of Guardian and created a new set. Additionally, overuse of the Dragon Balls accumulates negative energy within them, which eventually gave rise to the Shadow Dragons in Dragon Ball GT.