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Dragon Ball has many characters who have become iconic throughout the years, but very few can boast of being as beloved as Piccolo. He originally started as one of Goku's fiercest opponents, but he eventually switched sides and became a vital figure for his son Gohan. He was also a bastion of wisdom and strength to most of the Z Fighters throughout the series.
However, since many people jumped into the franchise during the Z portion of Dragon Ball because of how the anime was structured, Piccolo's origins with Kami are often forgotten, especially when it comes to how they arrived at Earth since they are Namekians. Considering everything, it makes sense that many fans can be confused by these two characters' origins and how they came to be two separate entities.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda.
Explaining the origins of Kami and Piccolo and why it is so confusing to Dragon Ball fans
Piccolo and Kami were originally one individual known as the Nameless Namekian in the series. He left Namek for Earth because his original planet was suffering a natural disaster. Once he arrived on Earth, he spent a lot of time in solitude and eventually found the Lookout, which is why he started to train to become the Guardian, earning the title of Kami.
However, to reach that level of purity, he had to purge his evil side, leading to the creation of the Demon King Piccolo, the first major villain in the franchise. Goku defeated him in combat, but in his final moments, he spit out an egg to preserve his existence, thus leading to the existence of Piccolo Jr., which is the version of the character most people are familiar with.
Once he was defeated in the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, Goku spared his life. Piccolo became an ally during the Saiyan saga, even developing a bond with Gohan and sacrificing his life for him when fighting Nappa. Eventually, he came back to life in the Namek saga, along with Kami (since their lives are connected), merged with another Namekian known as Nail, and fused with his original half during the events of the Cell saga.
Piccolo and his journey throughout the series
While Vegeta often gets credited as the best character arc in Dragon Ball, there is no denying that Piccolo also deserves a lot of recognition, especially when he is the first major villain to become an ally. Furthermore, his transition into an ally for the Z Fighters was a very natural and organic transition, which is shown from the get-go by portraying him as different from Demon King Piccolo.
Piccolo, a competent fighter with many different abilities, has been a fan favorite for quite some time. It is also worth pointing out that he is often heralded as the best non-Saiyan fighter in the Z Fighters, which adds a degree of variety to the roster of main characters.
Final thoughts
Piccolo and Kami's origins might be a bit complicated to grasp at first in Dragon Ball, but it makes a lot of sense with the series' established lore. Furthermore, their eventual fusion is often perceived as the culmination of Piccolo's character arc as he permanently moves away from evil.
Related articles:
Dragon Ball: Why is Orange Piccolo so powerful? The transformation, explained
Dragon Ball Super: Why didn't Goku and Piccolo fuse when teaching Vegeta the dance? Explored
Dragon Ball: Are Piccolo and King Piccolo the same character? Their relation, explained
