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Tri-Beam
気功砲 Kikōhō
Alternate names	Chi Kung Blast Energy Work Blast Ki Blast Cannon Tri-Beam Cannon Spirit Cannon Kiku Kanone (German dub)
Debut	Manga: "Desperation Move" Anime: "The Spirit Cannon"
Inventor	Master Shen
Users	Master Shen Mutaito's disciples[1] Tien Shinhan Cell Juniors Super Buu[2]
Class	Energy Beam
Color	&       or       &
Similar techniques	Burning Attack Kill Driver Light Grenade

Tri-Beam (気功砲, Kikōhō; lit. "Energy Control Cannon") is a life-risking attack used by Tien Shinhan, taught by The Crane Hermit.

NameEdit

Kikō (気功) is the Japanese translation of Qigong or Chi Kung, literally meaning "breath work" or "energy work", a traditional set of techniques for controlling breathing or circulating and cultivating chi (ki, energy) within the body, which is tied to a number of Chinese martial arts and medicinal beliefs.

OverviewEdit

This technique is performed by gathering energy, forming a vaguely diamond-shape "window" with the hand by keeping the fingers on each hand together, overlapping the index finger on the one hand with the pinky of the other hand, and overlapping the thumbs. The object being focused on gets zoomed in on and visualized inside that diamond, then the user (namely Tien) shouts "Tri-Beam, ha!" while releasing the large yellow beam from the hands. Tien also has the ability to fire it with one hand as seen when he fires the Spirit Tri-Beam at Nappa after he loses his arm.

In addition to being able to kill the target, the Tri-Beam can also easily kill the user as it drains their life energy. The attack has a tendency to cast the entire environment around it in a deep orange glow. The attack formation itself places the hands in a seemingly awkward position; and it appears that later in the series, the finger tips are touching, and the thumbs are the only things that overlap.

Prior the the events of Dragon Ball, during the King Piccolo wars, the disciples of Master Mutaito use Tri-Beams against King Piccolo's Demon Clan. This is in vain, as they are all killed except Master Shen and Master Roshi.^[1]

Tien uses the attack during the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament against Goku. Tien also uses the Tri-Beam in the movie Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure, to protect Emperor Chiaotzu from Master Shen. He later uses it against Yamcha at Kami's Lookout, against the illusion Saiyans in the Pendulum Room, and against Future Trunks during X.S. Cash's Intergalactic World Tournament in Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound. He also uses his Tri-Beam to destroy Super Buu's Finger Beam, thus protecting Mr. Satan and Dende when the Majin attacked them.^[3]

After training with Korin, Kami, and later King Kai, Tien perfects the attack as the "Neo Tri-Beam," which is essentially an "upgraded" form of the attack that allows him to control and enhance how much energy he puts behind it, inflicting even greater damage. This upgraded attack is powerful enough to hold even Semi-Perfect Cell at bay. The attack is extremely powerful, and despite the massive gap between Cell and Tien's powers, Cell was unable to break through the repeated blasts, though they did not inflict any real damage to him. Tien eventually collapsed from using the technique too much, but was saved from Cell by Goku.

During the Cell Games Saga, the Cell Juniors attack Super Saiyan 2 Gohan with it (while Cell himself has not been seen using it although he possesses data about Tien's techniques), but to no avail.

Appearances in Video GamesEdit

Tien Shinhan can use this technique in Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure, the Butōden series, the Budokai series, and the Budokai Tenkaichi series. He can use a variation called Multi-Form Attack in the Gokuden series and Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans.

Super Buu can use the Tri-Beam in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2, but only after absorbing Tien and Yamcha.

The Tri-Beam Cannon is a spiritual attack of the Crane Hermit skill tree in the computer game Dragon Ball Online; rather than EP, this skill requires the player to sacrifice their health instead.

VariationsEdit

• Spirit Tri-Beam – A one handed version of the Tri-Beam which uses Tien's life force as a source of power. Used as a final resort against Nappa.
• Neo Tri-Beam – A stronger version of the Tri-Beam, which can be used consecutively. Used against Cell so Android 18 could escape.
• Multi-Form Attack – Tien uses the Multi-Form to split himself into four identical copies and then, at the same time, each copy fires a Tri-Beam. Used in the Gokuden RPG series and Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans.

GalleryEdit

Tien prepares the attack Tien aims at the ring Tien fires the Tri-Beam The ring is gone Tien prepares a Tri-Beam on Kami's Lookout Tien fires the Tri-Beam in The Tree of Might Tien uses the Tri-Beam against Super Perfect Cell Tien targeting his Tri-Beam at Future Trunks Tien after firing a Tri-Beam to stop Super Buu's attack Tien prepares the Tri-Beam against Super Buu Tien fires his Tri-Beam at Super Buu Tien using the Tri-Beam in the DBZ Kai opening A Tri-Beam card in the Bandai CCG Tien performs the Tri-Beam in Zenkai Battle Royale Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

ReferencesEdit