Special Beam Cannon

The Special Beam Cannon, or Makankosappo in Japanese (literally "Demon's Penetrating, Killing Light Gun"), is a technique Piccolo created with one purpose: to kill Son Goku. After his defeat at the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, Piccolo spent years developing an attack powerful enough to pierce through a fighter of Goku's caliber. The irony that it would ultimately be used to save Goku's son, and kill Goku in the process, is one of Dragon Ball's finest narrative turns.

The technique is performed by touching the index and middle fingers to the forehead and concentrating ki into a tight focal point. When released, two thin beams fire from the extended fingers: one straight and one that spirals around the first like a drill. The resulting combined beam possesses extraordinary penetrating power, capable of boring through opponents far stronger than the user. The longer the charge time, the more devastating the shot, but the user is completely vulnerable while concentrating the energy.

The Special Beam Cannon's debut is one of the most important moments in Dragon Ball Z. Facing Raditz, whose power level vastly exceeds both his and Goku's, Piccolo reveals the technique he had been saving to use against Goku. The first shot misses; Raditz is fast enough to dodge, though the beam grazes his shoulder guard and shatters it, impressing even the Saiyan invader.

For the second shot, Goku grabs Raditz from behind in a full nelson, pinning him in place. Piccolo fires. The beam drills straight through both brothers. Raditz's scouter reads the blast at even higher power than the first shot. Both Goku and Raditz die from the wound, and the Special Beam Cannon fulfills its original purpose of killing Goku, just not in the way Piccolo had planned.

This single scene transforms the entire Dragon Ball franchise. It introduces the concept of charging techniques for greater power. It kills the main character in the series' opening arc. It forces Piccolo into the role of Gohan's reluctant protector. And it establishes that in Dragon Ball Z, sacrifices have real weight. The technique that was built for murder becomes the instrument of a father's love.

The Special Beam Cannon weaves through the entire franchise. Cell inherits the technique through Piccolo's cells and uses it against its own creator in Gingertown. Super Buu, after absorbing Piccolo, fires it at Gohan. Moro acquires it through Seven-Three's copy ability and turns it against Piccolo in the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga.

Piccolo himself deploys fully charged versions at critical moments. He eliminates the Universe 6 Namekians Saonel and Pilina with a single blast during the Tournament of Power, knocking out the entire universe. Against Frost in the Tournament of Destroyers, he attempts to use it as a finishing blow, continuously charging while absorbing attacks, until Frost's illegal poison disrupts the plan.

The technique's most emotional callback comes in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. During the final battle with Cell Max, Gohan fires a Special Beam Cannon in his Beast form, piercing the monster's weak point and destroying it in a single shot. Piccolo later calls Gohan out on it, and Gohan admits he had been practicing the move in secret. The student surpasses the master with the master's own technique. Piccolo calls it a marvelous display, and you can hear the pride in his voice. The technique that was born from hatred ends its story as a symbol of the deepest bond in Dragon Ball: the one between Piccolo and Gohan.