Jiren's Race

Jiren's race is an unnamed extraterrestrial species residing in Universe 11. Their physical appearance is strikingly reminiscent of the Grey alien archetype from Earth folklore: large, smooth craniums, entirely black eyes, and a complete absence of hair. Members vary in size, but they share these core anatomical features that make them immediately recognizable among the many species populating the Dragon Ball multiverse.

The race's most remarkable trait is their seemingly limitless battle potential. Jiren achieved his staggering level of power through self-training alone, without the benefit of transformations, divine rituals, or genetic advantages like the Saiyans possess. This implies that the species has an innate capacity for cultivating strength that may rival or exceed any other mortal race in existence. Whether this potential is unique to Jiren or shared across his people remains an open question.

In Universe 11, this race lived alongside a sharp-eared humanoid species on a rocky planet beneath purple skies. Their coexistence was shattered when a powerful entity known as the Villainous Demon conquered the planet and slaughtered many of its inhabitants, including Jiren's parents. The young Jiren was left among the ruins of his village, orphaned and traumatized.

A martial arts teacher took Jiren in and trained him alongside other survivors. When Jiren and his companions eventually confronted the Demon, they were defeated. The teacher was killed, and many of Jiren's training partners abandoned him out of fear. This cascade of loss and betrayal forged Jiren's fundamental belief: that strength alone can be relied upon, and that trust in others leads only to disappointment.

Jiren channeled this conviction into an obsessive pursuit of personal power, training himself until he surpassed Belmod, the God of Destruction of Universe 11. He joined the Pride Troopers, becoming their strongest member, but operated largely as a solitary force rather than a true team player. His participation in the Tournament of Power brought him into direct conflict with Goku, leading to one of the most intense rivalries in Dragon Ball Super.

Jiren's known epithet, "Jiren the Gray," is both a reference to his race's appearance and a nod to his morally grey philosophy. He is the primary representative of his species in the franchise, with only his deceased family members and an alternate timeline variant, Future Jiren, serving as additional known members. Future Jiren notably fell under the influence of Dabura and allied with Goku Black and Future Zamasu against Future Trunks, showing that even this race's incredible power is not immune to manipulation.

Within the Tournament of Power, Jiren demonstrated feats that stunned gods and mortals alike. His ability to overpower a Spirit Bomb, resist the effects of Hit's Time Skip, and push Goku to unlock Ultra Instinct cemented his race as one of the most formidable in the entire multiverse. Whether other members of his species could achieve comparable levels of power, or whether Jiren is a singular anomaly, remains one of Dragon Ball's tantalizing unanswered questions.