Who is number 21 in Dragon Ball FighterZ?
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a 2.5D fighting game developed by Arc System Works and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is based on the Dragon Ball franchise and features many of its most iconic characters. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows in January 2018.
Dragon Ball FighterZ allows players to create teams of 3 different fighters from the Dragon Ball universe and battle it out in 3 vs. 3 tag team combat. The game features a roster of 24 playable characters, including Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Android 18, and more. It received positive reviews for its graphics, fighting mechanics, and faithfulness to the Dragon Ball anime series.
About Android 21
Android 21 is character #21 in Dragon Ball FighterZ. She was introduced as a new character created specifically for the game. Android 21 was designed by Akira Toriyama, the original creator of Dragon Ball. Despite being an original character, she has become an important part of the Dragon Ball canon.
As her name suggests, Android 21 is an android. However, she has a much more human-like appearance compared to previous androids in the series like Android 16 or 19. She was modeled after a human mother with a gentle personality. However, she also has an evil, Majin Buu-like side that emerges when she transforms.
In the game’s story mode, Android 21 serves as the main antagonist. She is responsible for the disappearance of the Z Fighters as she uses clones of them and other characters to feed her hunger for energy and power. It is up to the player, going by the name Android 16, to defeat Android 21 and her clones.
Android 21’s Origins
Android 21 was created by the scientist Dr. Gero sometime before the events of Dragon Ball FighterZ. Dr. Gero based her design and persona on that of his wife, who had passed away some time ago. While the specifics of Android 21’s creation remain unclear, it’s evident that Dr. Gero poured his grief and longing for his wife into the development of Android 21. This emotional connection likely explains some of Android 21’s behavior and motivations later in the story.
Android 21’s Abilities
Android 21 has a wide variety of unique abilities that make her an extremely formidable foe. As described on the Dragon Ball Wiki Fandom page, one of her most notable abilities is the power to absorb other beings and use their powers and techniques for herself.
After absorbing enemies, Android 21 gains access to their strength, abilities, and even some of their personality traits. This allows her to constantly grow stronger and add new techniques to her arsenal. According to the Villains Wiki Fandom page, her ability to regenerate infinitely by absorbing others makes her almost impossible to defeat.
In addition to absorption, Android 21 has extreme strength, speed, and durability thanks to her android and Majin traits. She can fly, fire powerful ki blasts, and regenerate from damage. Her tricks and endless appetite for absorption make Android 21 a challenging foe to overcome.
Android 21’s Transformations
Android 21 has three main transformation states in Dragon Ball FighterZ: her normal human-like form, her transformed state, and her Majin form.[1] In her normal form, she appears as a tall, glasses-wearing woman with long auburn hair. Her transformed state is larger and more monstrous looking, with pink skin, a tail, and large curved horns. This is the form she takes after absorbing energy from her opponents. Her most powerful transformation is her Majin form, where she takes on the appearance of a Majin with pink skin and the iconic tentacle-like head protrusions. This state unleashes her full power. Android 21’s multiple transformations allow her to conserve and unleash power, making her a formidable foe.
Android 21’s Special Moves
Android 21 has several unique special moves in Dragon Ball FighterZ that set her apart from other characters. Some of her most notable specials include:
- Candy Beam – Android 21 fires a pink energy blast from her mouth that stuns the opponent if it hits. This move can be aimed up or down and is her standard ki blast.
- Absorption – Android 21’s signature command grab where she absorbs the opponent’s energy and copies one of their special moves. This gives her a wide variety of extra attacks.
- Hors d’Oeuvre Stab – Android 21 stabs the opponent with her tail, stealing some of their health to regenerate her own. This is her main tool for restoring health.
- Sweet Tooth – Android 21 sends the opponent flying by hitting them with a gust of pink wind created by spinning around. This attack knocks the opponent off their feet.
- Connoisseur Cut – Another command grab where Android 21 slashes the opponent with an energy blade after absorbing some of their energy.
These unique special moves allow Android 21 to overwhelm opponents in combat and adapt to different situations by absorbing enemy abilities. Her diverse moveset is a key part of her gameplay style in Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Android 21’s Playstyle
Android 21 is considered a well-rounded fighter in Dragon Ball FighterZ with a mix of rushdown and zoning abilities. She has tools to control the screen and keep opponents out, but can also apply pressure up close with quick attacks and command grabs (Dustloop). Her playstyle allows her to adapt to any situation, whether it’s attacking from afar or overwhelming the opponent up close.
Android 21’s special moves give her great screen control. She can fire low or high energy balls to restrict the opponent’s movement. Her long reaching tail attacks are great pokes to keep opponents at bay. If the opponent tries to jump over her projectiles, she can use her anti-air grabs and tail attacks to swat them out of the air.
Once Android 21 gets in close, she has fast normals and command grab specials to apply pressure. She can use her Connoisseur Cut command grab to steal her opponent’s special moves, giving her even more options. With a teleport move, she can quickly get in the opponent’s face or cross them up. Her varied toolkit allows her to shift between zoning and rushdown to adapt to any situation.
Overall, Android 21’s flexibility makes her a formidable pick in Dragon Ball FighterZ. She has the tools to control space and rushdown opponents up close. This well-rounded playstyle gives her strong matchups against many characters.
Android 21 in the Story
Android 21 serves as the main antagonist in the story mode of Dragon Ball FighterZ. She is revealed to be behind the waves of clones attacking the Z Fighters (https://dragonballfighterz.fandom.com/wiki/Android_21). Android 21 was once a human scientist who underwent modifications and became a biological android. She has an insatiable hunger and appetite due to the cells from Majin Buu within her. This drives her to absorb energy from other fighters in order to increase her power. Throughout the story, Android 21’s personality splits between her human and Majin sides as she struggles to control her urges. She serves as the final boss for Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and the player-created character.
Android 21’s Popularity
Despite being an original character created for Dragon Ball FighterZ, Android 21 quickly became a fan favorite after the game’s release in 2018 (1). Her unique design, backstory, and abilities resonated with players. According to a recent survey of top players at the 2022 Dragon Ball FighterZ World Championship, Android 21 ranked as the 7th most played character, ahead of many classic Dragon Ball characters like Piccolo, Trunks, and Frieza (2). Her popularity has led to her making appearances in other Dragon Ball media, like Dragon Ball Heroes. It’s clear that even though she’s not from the manga or anime, Android 21 has solidified herself as a beloved part of the Dragon Ball universe.
(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrmdRwg0BmY
(2) https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2022/jul/16/dbfz-championship-character-popularity/
Conclusion
In summary, Android 21 is a formidable and popular character in Dragon Ball FighterZ. As an original character created for the game, she brings a unique backstory and set of abilities to the roster. With the power to absorb other fighters and transform into multiple powerful forms, Android 21 can devastate opponents in the right hands.
Despite her villainous motivations in the story mode, Android 21 is a fan favorite pick in competitive play for her versatility and combo potential. Her moves allow her to pressure opponents, command the screen, and unleash devastating attacks. Android 21’s popularity is also owed to her distinctive design and moves drawing from multiple classic Dragon Ball villains.
Overall, Android 21 clearly makes her mark as a memorable and impactful addition to the Dragon Ball FighterZ lineup. Her inclusion shows the development team’s effort to create an original and compelling new character for fans to enjoy mastering and battling with.
