Dragon Ball: Katchin, Explained

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Summary

  • Katchin, the strongest metal in Universe 7, has limited appearances in Dragon Ball series.
  • Katchin may be related to Glinds, as it is used by the Supreme Kais.
  • A stronger version of the metal, Kachi Katchin, was used for the Tournament of Power arena.

As a long-time fan of Dragon Ball, I must say that the lore behind Katchin and its connection to Glinds has always intrigued me. Having grown up watching the series and reading the manga, I’ve seen the power of these elements unfold in some of the most epic battles.

In contrast to Marvel’s vibranium and DC’s tenth metal, Dragon Ball features a unique substance called Katchin, also known as Katchintite depending on the version you’re watching. This is the most robust metal in Universe 7’s inventory. However, despite its extraordinary properties, the Z Fighters seldom resort to weapons during battles, making appearances of Katchin rather scarce across the series. The element made its debut in Dragon Ball Z episode 250, titled “Out from the Broken Sword”, where Shin conjured a massive piece of Katchin to assess Gohan’s skills with the Z Sword. Surprisingly, even when wielded by a powerful Saiyan like Gohan, the Katchin block was able to shatter the Z Sword into pieces.

In the manga of Dragon Ball Super, Katchin is first introduced in chapter 16, “Future Trunks’ Past”, where Future Shin summons a Katchin block for future Trunks’ training against Babidi. However, their training was cut short and the block remained unused. The second instance of Katchin appears in chapter 23, “The Potara’s True Worth”, where Fused Zamasu uses Katchin blocks offensively during his battle with Goku and Vegito. Katchin also features in some episodes of Dragon Ball Daima as tracking devices worn by the citizens of the Third Demon World, due to Dr. Arinsu’s manipulation. Given its association with the Glinds, it is possible that Katchin could reappear more frequently in future chapters of Daima. Additionally, Katchintite has made further appearances in various Dragon Ball video games, often serving as a formidable barrier.

What Is Katchin?

If It’s So Strong, Can It Beat Goku?

To put it simply, in Universe 7, where Goku and his comrades, the Z Fighters, dwell, Katchin is the strongest metal available. This material often appears as dark gray or black cubes, approximately 3 meters on each side, with a smooth surface. In the series Dragon Ball Daima, the Katchin collars worn by citizens of the Demon Realm are red, though it’s unclear if they were painted or if the collar-making process alters the metal’s color.

“This is Katchin, said to be the hardest metal in the universe.” Supreme Kai Shin to Goku

It is unknown where Katchin is mined from, so it might be super rare or super common for all anyone knows right now. Some of the games show Katchin present on Earth, but the Dragon Ball games aren’t canon to the anime or manga, so take that with a grain of salt.

Did you know that the term ‘Katchin’ originated from a Japanese sound imitation when two swords clash? Interestingly, the Japanese name for this type of steel is similar, phonetically spelled as “Katchinko”, which can be translated to “Katchin Steel”.

Kachi Katchin

In the construction of the Tournament of Power arena, a more robust variant of the material known as Katchin was employed, specifically called Kachi Katchin. It’s worth noting that while Katchin is the strongest element in Universe 7, the Grand Priest himself attests to Kachi Katchin being the strongest across the entire multiverse.

A little side note: The element used to construct the Tournament of Power arena is called Kachi Katchin only in the Dragon Ball Super anime. The manga never specified what element they used, so as of the making of this article, Kachi Katchin might be an anime-only thing.

Is Katchin Indestructible?

In essence, Katchin isn’t invincible. While there is a more robust form of Katchin known as Kachi Katchin, it was utilized for the Tournament of Power arena in Dragon Ball Super. During this tournament, you might recall that the arena underwent extensive damage. Even before the tournament began, the arena was wrecked during a preliminary test match between the Gods of Destruction Iwan, Liquiir, and Arak. Moreover, Shin managed to break collars made from Katchin by Dr. Arinsu, but he employed a magic spell instead of sheer force to accomplish this task.

Glinds Have Some Control over Katchin

They Can Summon and Sometimes Break It

The enigmatic beings known as Glinds, who serve as the source for all Kais and Supreme Kais, appear to possess an innate talent for manipulating a substance called Katchin. Characters such as Universe 7’s Supreme Kai Shin and Universe 10’s Zamasu have demonstrated the ability to summon Katchin blocks on command. Whether they generate these blocks from nothing or transport them from a hidden location remains unclear. Interestingly, Dr. Arinsu, the inventor of the Demon Realm Katchin collars, is also a Glind and shares a familial bond with Shin, as they were both born from the same tree. Additionally, the connection between Glinds and Katchin is further highlighted by Shin’s spell that can shatter Dr. Arinsu’s Katchin collars.

It appears that Glinds have a knack for utilizing Katchin, but it may not be a skill unique to their species. In episode 7 of “Dragon Ball Daima” titled “Collar”, Shin hinted that the spell he used to remove Panzy’s collar could potentially be taught to others. It’s possible that the art of summoning Katchin could also be passed on to those eager to learn.

Dragon Ball Z is now available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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2024-12-15 23:04