Ki Sense, also called Reading Ki,[3] is an ability that allows the user to sense ki and power levels. It is used by a vast majority of the Z Fighters, and was first introduced in the King Piccolo Saga of the Dragon Ball anime.
Ki sensing is the ability to sense the location, life force, and power level of anyone; the stronger and closer the enemy, the more powerful the sensation. Also, if a ki is very powerful, it can be sensed from afar by people who are trained to sense energy; like Gohan sensing Super Saiyan 3Goku's energy all the way from the Sacred World of the Kais. Once a fighter masters the skill, they can use it even when their other five senses are incapacitated.
Mr. Popo senses Goku's energy
No outsider knows the sensations associated with ki sensing, as Mr. Popo likens explaining it to someone as being like "describing sight to the blind." However, the manga and anime usually show a minor spark on their head to signify that the Z Fighter is picking up a power.
Despite how common the technique is in later sagas, and how easy it is to learn for an adept martial artist, it actually appears to be a rare ability, as the Galactic Frieza Army was unaware of the technique until they faced the Z Fighters. Frieza and his army, who did not possess this ability, use a device called a scouter that can give numerical readings of a person's location and power level. However, scouters have been shown to be very fragile, breaking when a fighter powers up too much, making the ki sensing technique preferred for those who know how to use it.
Androids have an artificial source of ki and cannot be found by the ki sensing ability. The Z Fighters had to find them using more practical means.
Mr. Popo sensing Goku's energy
Namekians are able to sense whether the life force is good or evil; such as when the Ginyu Force arrived on Namek: Krillin senses their presence and thinks it is Goku, but Nail says "I, too, sense the presence of evil coming." The Namekian ki sense is displayed for the first time on-screen when Raditz approaches Piccolo on Earth: Piccolo reasons that the incoming power could not be Goku because "It's too horrible." Trained fighters also have the ability to sense whether or not a presence is good or evil, as Goku says "It's a horrible power, too! I'm trembling!" as he senses Raditz approaching Kame House, and later when he says that he senses evil when Black Smoke Shenron is summoned. However, it appears that some beings are capable of masking their ki, as all three members of the Trio De Dangers had ki that could not be detected even by Goku's godly ki sense.
It appears as if each organism has a distinct ki signature, much like fingerprints in the real world. This is evidenced during Cell's introduction in the series, where the Z Fighters, prior to finding out who Cell was, described his ki signature as a combination of Goku's, Vegeta's, Piccolo's, Frieza's, and King Cold's ki signatures (the main components of Cell's biological makeup). This is backed up by Beerus and Whis revealing that Goku Black shares his ki signature with Zamasu. Gods have a holy kind of ki that cannot be sensed by Humans nor Saiyans; such ki can also be obtained by becoming a Super Saiyan God.[4]
Goku uses a technique to translocate himself using ki sense as a source
The Instant Transmission technique, requires the user to home in on a ki signature before teleporting them to that ki signatures location or somewhere nearby. Meaning the ability to sense ki is a requirement (the Instantaneous Movement technique however does not require a ki signature or the ability to sense ki).
Trained warriors like the God of Destruction, can read an inviduals spirit in their ki for any evil intent such as the intention to murder someone.
Variants
Godly ki sense - Since godly ki cannot be sensed by regular beings, gaining the ability to sense godly ki must be learned separately. Deities like the Gods of Destruction, their Attendants, and the Supreme Kai can sense god ki thanks to possessing it, and other lesser deities such as Guardians and Kais are also able to sense it. Goku gained the ability to sense god ki after temporarily becoming a Super Saiyan God, and Vegeta gained it after several months of training with Whis. In Dragon Ball Super, Hit had the ability to sense God Ki, as he could sense Goku's power multiplying upon using Super Saiyan Blue: Kaio-ken.
Scouters - These high-tech devices originally designed by the Tuffle and later modified by Galactic Frieza Army engineer Gichamu to artificially detect ki and calculate an opponents Power level. Due to the ability to sense ki being an extremely rare ability among members of Frieza's army, its members and allied races such as the Saiyans often rely on Scouters as an alternative mean for them to detect ki. However, like Ki Sense, they are unable to detect godly ki due to it being different from normal ki. However, unlike Ki Sense, Scouters can be destroyed and/or damaged removing their ability to detect ki until it is either repaired or replaced.
3D Scan Mode - Certain Androids, cyborgs, and robots come equipped with a built in feature that allows them to scan their opponents and even detect ki in order to determine their power level. Like Scouters, it is a way to artificially detect ki, though more advanced and serves as a way for entirely artificial beings to sense ki.
Power Meter - A handheld device used by Babidi and his minions designed to calculate power levels far too high to measure even by using the best Scouters, using a different form of measurement known as Kili.
Users
Goku – He first demonstrates the technique after drinking the Ultra Divine Water, but is only able to tell where King Piccolo is. After training under Mr. Popo, Goku is able to master the skill to the point where he is not worried about Tien Shinhan fighting Mercenary Tao because he knows Tien can beat him. After attaining the power of a God, Goku is now able to sense Godly Ki.
Korin – He is able to sense ki. He senses Goku's increased energy by drinking the Ultra Divine Water, he senses the ki of those alive after the battle against Vegeta, and Goku visits and powers up in front of Korin after his Hyperbolic Time Chamber training for Korin to sense his power level. It is possible that his ability is superior to that of Goku and the other Z Fighters at the time of the Cell Games, as Goku comes to Korin for advice on how his Ki compares to Cell's. This may be related to an ability to sense latent potential, as Cell had not yet shown his full power.
King Piccolo - He is able to sense Goku's ki and knew that Goku survived his Explosive Demon Wave, as Tien had used his flight to take Goku to a safe range from the attack.
Future Zamasu- Future Zamasu is shown along with Goku Black being able to sense the Ki of other lifeforms. He used this technique trying locate the injured Goku, Future Trunks, and Vegeta.
Super Saiyan 4 Goku senses Super Baby Vegeta is close
Krillin – Krillin displays the ability at the beginning of Dragon Ball Z, when he senses Raditz approaching the Kame house.
Yamcha – Learned with the help of Mr. Popo. He demonstrates the ability to sense ki during the arrival of the Saiyans on Earth.
Tien Shinhan – Learned with the help of Mr. Popo. He demonstrates the ability to sense ki during the arrival of the Saiyans on Earth.
Chiaotzu – Learned with the help of Mr. Popo. He demonstrates the ability to sense ki during the arrival of the Saiyans on Earth.
Yajirobe – Also learned with the help of Mr. Popo. He demonstrates the ability to sense ki twice during the Saiyan Saga: once (in the anime, only) to pinpoint the exact location of Vegeta and Nappa to journalists, and later when he comments on the immense ki of the Spirit Bomb.
Vegeta – He had managed to learn this ability after his battle on Earth. After attaining the power of a God, Vegeta is now able to sense Godly Ki.
Trunks – As shown when he sensed Goku and Majin Vegeta fighting while he was going to Babidi's spaceship with Goten.
Goten – As shown when he sensed Goku and Majin Vegeta fighting while he was going to Babidi's spaceship with Trunks.
Nam being sensed by Goku in GT
Master Roshi – He is shown to possess this ability at various points in the series.[5]
Nail – As shown when he sensed the Ginyu Force arriving on Namek, and later Frieza heading to Grand Elder Guru's house.
Dr. Wheelo – He is shown to be able to detect ki. It is unknown if this ability is natural or mechanical or a combination of both.
Lord Slug – He was shown to be capable of this as he knew where Goku was hiding in their fight. Also, he was able to see Piccolo's energy inside of Goku.
Cooler – Though Frieza and King Cold are unable to sense power levels without a scouter, Cooler can sense power levels (as it is required to use the Instant Transmission technique), as well as hide his own power level (allowing him to be able to sneak up on opponents like Piccolo). The Meta-Coolers appear to be able to detect power levels likely through technological means.
Android 19 and Android 20/Dr. Gero – They have a device able to detect and analyze an opponent's power level much like a scouter.
Android 16 – Although, Android 17 and Android 18 could not sense power levels, Android 16 had software in his design that worked much like a scouter. Android 18 may have later learned how to sense ki (maybe from her husband, Krillin).
Android 17 - While he was not able to do this at first due to lacking a ki sensing device in his design, he is shown to have learned to sense ki naturally by the time of the Tournament of Power, as he was briefly shown trying to sense Gamisaras's ki.
Android 18 - While she was not able to do this at first due to lacking a ki sensing device in her design, she is shown to have learned to sense ki naturally by the time of Yo Son Goku and His Friends Return, when she senses Tarble's ki.
Cell – As he possesses cells from various Z Fighters. Also, he uses this in order to perform the Instant Transmission technique while in his Super Perfect form.
Super Buu and Kid Buu – While the fat Majin Buu did not possess this ability, Super Buu and Kid Buu did.
Frieza – In the Resurrection ‘F’ Saga, after training for four months Frieza notes he can sense ki. Frieza seems to possesses the ability in Dragon Ball GT, as he is shown to be amazed when he feels Goku powering up while in Hell. He also possesses this ability in the PSP game Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai, and is also shown to have learned how to hide his own power without using lesser forms as well.
Broly – Daizenshuu 6 stated that Broly sensed Paragus trying to escape New Planet Vegeta. In Budokai Tenkaichi, during a random fight, Broly states that he notices an increase in his opponent's power level. In the story of Shin Budokai, while fighting against Gohan, Broly apparently senses Goku nearby and rushes off to fight him.
Chilled - Demonstrates this ability when Bardock transforms into a Super Saiyan and he says "Where were you hiding such power!?" without wearing a scouter
Beerus - He shows he can sense power by stating that Goku is not strong enough to defeat Frieza in his base form.
Whis- He comments on how Goku and Vegeta have grown in strength, and tries to teach them how to increase their strength without it being able to be sensed.
Galbee - He can apparently sense energy, as he states he is skeptical of Mr Satan's power, as he cannot sense any power from him.
Hit - He was able to sense Goku's power multiplying upon using the Kaio Ken.
Goku Black- He is shown using this Technique while trying to locate Future Trunks. Every time he uses ki sense a purple-lish aura surrounds him.
Caulifla- She is shown to be able to do this when she senses both Cabba's and Kale's energy and comments on it.
Cabba - was shown with this ability when he, along with Goku and Vegeta, were in awe at the energy they sensed when Team Universe 11 arrived. File:Ki Sense Black.jpg
