Saibamen
Saibamen (栽培マン Saibaiman lit. "Cultivation Man") , referred to as Cultivars in the Viz translation of the manga, are green, humanoid beings grown from seeds planted in the ground. Their bulbs are stored in a specialized liquid before being utilized by a Saiyan. In Dragon Ball Fusions, they are classified as part of the Alien race.
Names | Saibamen (栽培マン Saibaiman lit. "Cultivation Man") Cultivars , Kaiwareman, Kyukonman, Tennenman, Jinkouman, Saibabrutes, Cocoaman, Dummyman, Ginnanman, Kinkanman |
Gender | Genderless |
Race | Alien Plants |
Occupation | Planet Trade Organization Soilders |
Origin | Dragon Ball Chaper 214 (DBZ 20): "Let the Games Begin! (ベジータのゲーム ''Bejīta no Gēmu'' lit. "Vegeta's Game) March 7, 1989 (Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1989 #14) |
Alignment | Evil |
Age | Varies |
Created By | Akira Toriyama |
Height | Varies |
Weight | Varies |
Appearance[edit | edit source]
Saibamen are small, green, humanoid creatures that appear in the Dragon Ball universe, primarily as foot soldiers created by the Saiyans for various purposes. They have distinct characteristics that set them apart from other beings in the series:
- Physical Features:
- Small Stature: Typically about the size of a human child, standing around 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall.
- Green Skin: They have a vibrant, mossy-green skin tone, often with slightly darker tones around their arms and legs.
- Large, Round Eyes: Their eyes are exaggeratedly large, giving them a somewhat unsettling look.
- Claws and Teeth: They have sharp claws on their hands and feet, and their mouths are filled with jagged, sharp teeth.
- Head Gland: A prominent feature is a small, bulbous gland on their heads, which houses their acid spray or Saibabeam weapon.
- General Build: Saibamen have a lean, muscular build, which is consistent with their design as combatants, though they do not possess the refined physicality of more powerful characters like the Saiyans.
- Variation: Over time, Saibamen have shown some variation, especially in non-canon games. For example, the Copyman Saibaman is black with more menacing, shadowy features, and other variants can have different abilities, such as wings or monkey-like tails.
Personality[edit | edit source]
Saibamen, in general, are not portrayed with deep personalities in the Dragon Ball series, as they are often viewed as expendable soldiers and creations of the Saiyans or other enemies. However, there are some general traits associated with them:
- Mindless Combatants: Saibamen are often shown as obedient, mindless creatures that follow orders without question. They are created for battle and usually act according to their programming or the will of their creator, such as Vegeta or Nappa.
- Aggressive: In combat, Saibamen tend to show aggression, often fighting ferociously and without hesitation. They are portrayed as wild, instinctive attackers, utilizing their claws and other abilities to overwhelm opponents.
- Destructive: As shown with their Saibaman Bomb technique, Saibamen have a self-destructive nature, willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause. This speaks to a lack of individual survival instinct and their programmed loyalty to their creators.
- Fearless or Lacking Emotion: Saibamen do not appear to experience fear or hesitation in battle, possibly due to their lack of higher intelligence or their biological nature. In some games, however, there are small hints of personality when they are placed in situations where they might express frustration or aggression, especially when they fail.
- Varied Depictions in Games: In some of the Dragon Ball games, such as Dragon Ball Fusions and Xenoverse, Saibamen are given more personality traits through their interactions with other characters. Some variants like Copyman can exhibit mimicry skills and may show a more strategic nature.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Background[edit | edit source]
On Earth, Vegeta orders Nappa to plant their last six Saibamen (each with a power level close to Raditz's) during the fight against the Dragon Team to test their power. Vegeta orders them to attack Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin, but halts when Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha arrive on the battlefield. Vegeta thinks it will be fun with six Saibamen versus the six of them, calling it a game. Piccolo gets mad that he thinks this is a game and doesn't want to fight on their terms. Piccolo says that they will fight them all at once. Krillin tries to calm him down, since this will allow them to buy time for Goku to arrive. Tien volunteers to go first, and Vegeta sends out a Saibaman.
Tien defeats the Saibaman with surprising ease, much to the Dragon Team's joy and Nappa's shock. Vegeta quickly destroys the Saibaman for underestimating Tien and reminds the others to go all out. Krillin volunteers to go next, but Yamcha volunteers instead, explaining that Krillin has already been returned to life by the Dragon Balls once, and he cannot be brought back again. Yamcha seemingly defeats the Saibaman after an equal fight, but it uses the Saibaman Bomb in order to kill Yamcha at the cost of its own life. Enraged by Yamcha's death, Krillin destroys three of them with the Scattering Bullet. The last one was killed by Piccolo's Explosive Breath Cannon after stopping the Saibaman from attacking Gohan.
Dragon Ball Z[edit | edit source]
Saiyan Saga[edit | edit source]
On Earth, Vegeta commands Nappa to plant their six remaining Saibamen, each with power levels comparable to Raditz's, to test the Dragon Team's abilities. Vegeta instructs the Saibamen to attack Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin but pauses the assault when Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha arrive. Amused, Vegeta proposes a "game" of six Saibamen versus six Dragon Team members, much to Piccolo's anger, as he doesn't want to fight under the Saiyans' terms. Krillin calms Piccolo, suggesting this approach could buy time for Goku's arrival.
Tien steps up first, easily defeating a Saibaman to the Dragon Team's delight and Nappa's surprise. Vegeta, frustrated by the Saibaman's failure, kills it to set an example for the others. Next, Yamcha volunteers instead of Krillin, reasoning that Krillin has already been revived once by the Dragon Balls and cannot be revived again. Yamcha defeats his opponent after an even battle, but the Saibaman self-destructs using the Saibaman Bomb, killing Yamcha at the cost of its own life.
Infuriated by Yamcha's death, Krillin uses the Scattering Bullet to destroy three Saibamen simultaneously. The final Saibaman attempts to attack Gohan but is intercepted and killed by Piccolo using the Explosive Breath Cannon.
Dragon Ball GT[edit | edit source]
Super 17 Saga[edit | edit source]
Years after their initial use, Saibamen are among the villains released from Hell by Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu's dimensional hole. They are promptly destroyed and sent back to Hell by Majuub, Trunks, and Goten.
Other Dragon Ball Stories[edit | edit source]
That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha[edit | edit source]
The reincarnated Yamcha defeats all six Saibamen with ease and survives a Saibamen Bomb after being grabbed by multiple Saibamen, who self-destruct together.
Budokai 2[edit | edit source]
Dr. Gero creates the Saiba Rangers, a parody of Super Sentai/Power Rangers. This group consists of five multi-colored Saibamen: red, blue, green, yellow, and pink.
Budokai Tenkaichi 2[edit | edit source]
In Raditz's "what-if" scenario, he summons a Saibaman during a battle with Piccolo but is betrayed when the Saibaman self-destructs, causing Raditz to lose his memory and altering the course of events in the story.
Dragon Ball Online[edit | edit source]
By Age 1000, Saibamen have become a hostile species on Earth, likely brought by remnants of the Frieza Force. Their species has evolved into several sub-species adapted to Earth's environment.
Dragon Ball Fusions[edit | edit source]
After Tekka's Team learns to recruit allies from Master Roshi, they encounter Saibamen at Area F1 of the Timespace Rift. Upon defeating a group of Saibamen, one emerges peacefully, recognizing Tekka as its master and joins the team. This Saibaman becomes a playable character and appears aboard the team's spaceship.
The game also introduces Saibaking, a top-tier Saibaman created by the fusion of multiple Saibamen. Unlike its peers, Saibaking is intelligent and can speak. It leads a group of Saibamen but is defeated by Tekka's Team. After being subdued with a Zenkai Attack, Saibaking can also be recruited and made playable. Additionally, Saibaman and Chiaotzu can fuse using EX-Fusion to create Chiaoman, a hybrid character.
Xenoverse 2[edit | edit source]
Saibamen appear in Chronoa's training tutorial, acting as opponents for the Future Warrior. They later appear in the Ajisa District, leading to the unlockable Parallel Quest 14: Saiyan Pride. In the quest, Saibamen act under Vegeta's orders.
During Frieza's training, he highlights their convenience and obedience, noting that they sometimes outperform his soldiers.
Dragon Ball Legends[edit | edit source]
Saibamen participate in the Tournament of Time in Age 780, often deployed by the remnants of the Frieza Force or other warriors. Shallot, the game's protagonist, frequently battles Saibamen while navigating the tournament's events.
Saibamen serve multiple purposes in the story:
- Mercenary Tao employs them as underlings.
- Raditz uses them in his schemes, seeking revenge on Goku and Gohan.
- Nappa trains Shallot and his allies by having them face a gauntlet of Saibamen before sparring with Nappa himself.
Throughout the narrative, Saibamen are used by various factions, including the Organization of Babidi and the Mastermind's group, often enhanced with Dark Ki. They appear in pivotal battles and training sequences, becoming a recurring feature in both the main storyline and side missions.
Kakarot[edit | edit source]
In Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Saibamen play an active role as recurring enemies and part of side storylines:
- Regular Enemies: After Yamcha's death by Saibaman Bomb (Self Destruct), Saibamen appear across Earth as enemies. New variants like Kaiwaremen and Kyukonmen appear during different intermissions, each with unique traits and Z-Encyclopedia entries.
- Super Villainous Saibamen: These are encountered during a mission where King Kai sends Gohan to investigate an evil ki near Goku's house. Gohan protects a farm from these enhanced Saibamen, showing their role in side missions.
- Saibamen Set: The seeds and growth liquid Nappa uses to create Saibamen are identified as the Saibamen Set in the Z-Encyclopedia. It explains their creation by Saiyan scientists as tools for conquest and training partners for the Frieza Force.
- Sub Story: "Mysterious Power Reading": Bulma detects a high-power level with Raditz's Scouter and sends Gohan to investigate. He encounters and defeats three Saibamen near Raditz's crashed space pod, discovering that spilled Saibamen growth liquid may affect non-Saibaman plant life, as suggested by the appearance of a High-Quality Carrot. Completing this unlocks the Saibamen Soul Emblem and "Secrets of the Saibaman 1" in the Z-Encyclopedia.
- Sub Story: "Attacked Villager": During the intermission after the Frieza Saga, Gohan rescues a villager from Kaiwaremen near Goku's house. Gohan theorizes their attack might relate to their artificial biology and attraction to food, though he lacks definitive knowledge.
- Sub Story: "Frequently Attacked Villager": After the Cell Saga, Super Saiyan Full Power Gohan rescues the same villager from three Kyukonmen near Mount Paozu. These Kyukonmen, at Level 56, exceed Super Perfect Cell's level during the Cell Games but are easily handled by Gohan. Their motive for the attack is debated, with Gohan suggesting they may see her as a food source, though their exact behavior remains unclear.
Variations[edit | edit source]
The Saibamen have a diverse array of variations, with many introduced in video games or adapted to Earth environments. Below is an organized list of their types and attributes:
Frieza Force creations:
- Kaiwareman: Blue Saibamen with varying power levels across games. Name references radish sprouts.
- Kyukonman: Yellow-brown Saibamen. Name refers to plant bulbs.
- Saibaman: Standard green type, with red variants appearing in games.
- Copyman: Black Saibamen that mimic other characters, capable of poison attacks.
- Tennenman: Blue-pink Saibamen. Name means "natural."
- Jinkouman: Gray Saibamen, strongest among early variations. Name means "artificial."
- Super Saibaman: Enhanced green Saibamen.
- Saibabrutes: Large, muscular blue Saibamen.
Earth evolutions:
- Fan Saibaman: Carry plants, slightly rounder appearance.
- Pincher Saibaman: Crab-like, with a variant called Rigid Kingcrab Saibaman.
- Crack Spider Saibaman: Spider-like, retaining humanoid arms.
- Slithering Saibaman: Snake-like Saibamen of varying sizes.
- Lightning Bean Saibaman: Winged, ball-shaped Saibamen.
- Coconut Bean Saibaman/Bean Coconut Saibamen: Tree-like Saibamen from Papaya Island.
- Cactus Saiba: Resemble cacti.
- Organic Kiri Saibaman: Tree-like, grown via kiri energy.
- Guarding Armored Saibaman: Giant, ball-shaped with mossy appearances.
- Eye-Glove Saibaman: Turtle-like with mossy covering.
Other unique types:
- Cocoaman: Brown Saibaman for Valentine’s Day in Dragon Ball Legends.
- Dummyman: White Saibamen used as training dummies in Dragon Ball Legends.
- Ginnanman: Metallic silver Saibamen for Super EXP battles.
- Kinkanman: Metallic golden Saibamen for Super Zeni battles.
Unidentified or unnamed:
- Miniature Saibamen in different colors.
- Large Saibamen with rocky armor.
- Armored types with spikes and blades.
- Rounded head Saibamen with legs, some covered in rocks.
- Spiky-armored Saibamen.
- Saibamen resembling Poko Sky Dragons.
Powers and Statistics[edit | edit source]
Tier: 5-B, higher with Saibaman Bomb
Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Acrobatics (Via Ki), Skilled in Martial Arts, Flight (Via Ki), Ki Manipulation (Advanced Level), Likely Heat Generation (Via Ki attacks), Acid Manipulation (Can shoot very strong acid by opening his head[1]), Self-Destruction (As a last resort, they will self-destruct[2]), Afterimage Creation (Shown here[3]), Bodily Weaponry (Has sharp claws[4] which they can use them to grab and hold his opponent[5])
Attack Potency: Planet level (Each Saibaman is said to rival Raditz[6]), higher with Saibaman Bomb (Despite getting clobbered by Yamcha it was still able to one-shot him by self-destructing)
Speed: Relativistic+ combat speed (Each Saibaman is said to rival Raditz, making them this fast[7])
Lifting Strength: Unknown
Striking Strength: Planet level
Durability: Planet level
Stamina: Superhuman (Despite being near death, the one that fought Yamcha still had enough stamina to restrain him long enough to self-destruct, even though Yamcha was stronger)
Range: Standard Melee Range; Planetary with ki blasts and attacks
Standard Equipment: None notable
Intelligence: Below Average. Not very smart. They can be used and manipulated. Word of God is that they barely possess enough intelligence to understand orders given to them by their superiors
Weaknesses: The Saibamen are not too intelligent.
Attacks and Techniques[edit | edit source]
Saibamen possess a wide array of abilities and techniques that make them versatile and dangerous in battle. Their skills include both innate biological adaptations and learned techniques, often depending on their specific variation. Below is a breakdown of their abilities and traits:
Saibamen Growth and Adaptation
- Saibamen Set: Saibamen seeds, stored in bottles with a green liquid, can be planted in various soils. The growth supplement impacts their strength and can even enhance non-Saibamen plant life.
- Quality of Soil: A Saibaman's power depends on the soil's quality, as noted by Nappa in Dragon Ball Z.
General Abilities
- Flight: Saibamen can fly using ki.
- Ki Blast: Basic energy attack used by all Saibamen variants.
Special Techniques
- Energy Techniques:
- Energy Blast/Super/Ultra Energy Blast: Incrementally stronger ki blasts.
- Full Power Energy Wave: A powerful ki wave similar to the Kamehameha.
- Full Power Energy Blast Volley: A barrage of energy attacks.
- Saibabeam: A green energy wave from their head gland.
- Charged Ki Wave: A concentrated energy blast.
- Melee Attacks:
- Saiba Rush: High-speed claw, punch, and kick combination.
- Seizing: Grappling technique involving claw attacks.
- Pumpkin Crush: A rush attack similar to Zanku Fist.
- Sledgehammer and Meteor Moves: Varying strength of melee blows.
- Evasive and Defensive Skills:
- Afterimage: Quick movement to evade attacks, leaving an image behind.
- Instant Rise: A rapid vertical dodge.
- Super Guard: Defensive technique to reduce damage.
- Acid and Poison Attacks:
- Acid: Corrosive spray capable of dissolving earth and organic material.
- Poison: A toxic variant of acid causing lasting damage.
- Signature Moves:
- Saibaman Bomb: A kamikaze self-destruction move, used successfully against Yamcha.
- Brainwash Attack: Mind-control ability available in specific game modes.
Fusion Techniques
- Saibaking: Saibamen can perform fusion to create a powerful entity.
- EX-Fusion: Fuses with other characters, like Chiaotzu, using a Metamo-Ring.
- Five-Way Fusion: Fusion with multiple participants for an Ultra Fusion.
Variant-Specific Skills
- Copyman: Black Saibamen capable of shapeshifting and mimicry, granting power boosts by copying others.
- Earth-Evolved Variants: Adaptations like tails, flight via wings, or crab and spider forms.
Unique Abilities in Specific Games
- Raging Blast Series: Features attacks like Saiba Rush and Seizing.
- Xenoverse Series: Includes variant-exclusive skills such as Spread Shot Retreat and Super Back Jump.
- Fusions: Features abilities like Freeform Fusion and Saibaman Assault
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Saibamen bear a strong resemblance to the alien creatures from the 1955 science fiction film This Island Earth.
- They also share some visual similarities with the titular Martians from Mars Attacks!, though to a lesser extent.
- Dr. Wheelo and Dr. Kochin in Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest create Bio-Men, which are similar to Saibamen in concept and design.
- The Imp monsters from Akira Toriyama's Chrono Trigger blend features of Saibamen and Namekians.
- A Saibaman makes a cameo in the anime Rosario + Vampire.
- The Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone character Ginger shares a resemblance with Saibamen in appearance.
- Despite their plant-like biology, Saibamen have a skeletal structure, briefly shown in the manga when Piccolo kills the final Saibaman.