The popular fighting game Dragon Ball FighterZ has been praised by fans of both the fighting video game genre and the anime/manga franchise Dragon Ball. With its intuitive play styles, as well as its faithful art design and animation, the game boasts fan-favorite fighters from both Dragon Ball Z and its sequel series Dragon Ball Super. Taking place in the middle of Super's storyline, the game introduced a brand new character kicking off the events of the game in Android 21.
Designed by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, the character had two dueling personalities within her --one good, one evil -- each vying for control. With her android body fueled by an insatiable hunger, the character is a formidable opponent and serves as the final boss of the game's story mode, with the Z Fighters rallying to destroy her for good. And given how narrowly that final victory is achieved, the evil Android 21 may be one of the strongest foes Goku and his friends have ever faced.
Majin Android 21's Backstory
A scientist in the villainous Red Ribbon Army alongside Doctor Gero, the woman that would become Android 21 and Gero have a son who follows in his parents' footsteps to become a soldier in the criminal organization. After being killed, Gero and Android 21 design Android 16 to resemble their late son but give him a peaceful nature to better reflect his personality.
After swearing revenge on Goku for dismantling the Red Red Army, Gero transfers his mind into the body of Android 20 while beginning the process of transferring his wife's mind into Android 21. Cut short by his death at the hands of Android 17, Android 21 is completed by Gero's supercomputer.
Android 21 is a New Red Ribbon Villain
Similar to Cell, Android 21 is actually an amalgamation of DNA taken from Earth's strongest fighters, including Goku, Frieza and Majin Buu. As such, when her evil personality takes over, Android 21's appearance takes on a pink hue with red eyes similar to Majin Buu, the most powerful villain in Dragon Ball Z.
Posing as researcher for the Red Ribbon Army that deserted the organization after learning of its wicked ways, Android 21 tricks the Z Fighters to use the Dragon Balls to resurrect their greatest enemies to create clones from everyone and form a new Red Ribbon Army. Ultimately, with the help of Android 21's good personality, Goku is able to destroy Android 21 with a Super Spirit Bomb.
Android 21 Power Levels
Initially, Android 21 is weaker than Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta, with the Saiyan Prince observing that had he access to his full potential, he would be able to destroy the android singlehandedly. However, as the game's story mode progresses, Android 21 steadily grows in power as she absorbs the energy from defeated fighters and the clones she has created. Consuming opponents similar to Cell and Majin Buu allows her to augment her strength and possesses extraordinary regenerative abilities, thanks to her DNA upgrades from the two villains as well. As such, it is only through the assistance of Android 21's good half that Goku is able to obliterate the android, making her one of the strongest opponents he had faced prior to the Tournament of Power.
As a character that augments her abilities through absorbing the DNA of her victims, there truly is no limit to Android 21's potential if left unchecked. Combining the android and Majin tropes prevalent in Dragon Ball Z, the villain is one of the more memorable Dragon Ball characters created since the start of Super, despite not appearing in the anime itself. At once a nod to the history of the franchise and an effective new addition, Android 21 is easily one of the more interesting and powerful foes ever encountered by Goku and his friends.
Developed by Arc System Works and published by Namco Bandai Enterainment, Dragon Ball FighterZ is currently available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. The latest DLC, adding the Dragon Ball GT version of Goku will be available to purchase soon.