Android 18

A cyborg with infinite stamina who traded destruction for family.

Android 18, born Lazuli, is a fictional cyborg character in the Dragon Ball series created by Akira Toriyama. Debuting in Weekly Shōnen Jump on November 12, 1991, she was originally one of several androids created by Dr. Gero to assassinate Goku. Alongside her twin brother Android 17, she was forcibly modified with bio-organic components while retaining a human core. Unlike her ruthless alternate-future counterpart, who terrorized Earth for twenty years, the main-timeline version has very little to no interest in fulfilling Gero's orders. She goes from antagonist to a major character in the series after marrying Goku's best friend Krillin.

Quick Facts

Series

Dragon Ball

First

Dragon Ball chapter #349: "The Androids Awake!"
November 12
1991 (Weekly Shōnen Jump 1991)

Creator

Akira Toriyama

Species

Cyborg

Family

Android 17 (twin brother)

Spouse

Krillin

Children

Marron (daughter)

Relatives

Dr. Gero (creator)

Lore & Background

Android 18 was conceived after editor Kazuhiko Torishima disapproved of earlier android villains #19 and #20. Torishima soon became dissatisfied with her and Android 17 as well, resulting in the creation of Cell. Toriyama noted he liked her unique design and slanted eyes, later revealing her birth name as Lazuli in 2014. In the main timeline, she and her brother were activated by Dr. Gero to find Goku.

After Gero was killed, 18 easily defeated Vegeta and outmatched Trunks, Tenshinhan, and Piccolo. After Cell absorbed Android 17 she was nearly convinced to be absorbed as well, but she and Android 16 were given time to escape thanks to Tenshinhan holding Cell back. Hidden on an island, she refused to leave 16 until Krillin destroyed her deactivation remote, realizing his love for her. Although she was subsequently absorbed by Cell to reach his 'Perfect' form, a strong blow from Gohan caused Cell to regurgitate her.

In a tragic alternate future, she and 17 killed most of Earth's defenders over twenty years before being slain by adult Trunks.

Reader's Guide

Android 18 is technically a cyborg rather than a pure android; her human base was enhanced with bio-organic components while only specific parts like the deactivation controller and energy reactor remain mechanical. This perpetual reactor grants her inexhaustible stamina, allowing her to fight indefinitely without fatigue. Gero's modifications did not hinder reproduction, as evidenced by her healthy daughter Marron. Her voice in Japanese is provided by Miki Itō across all media.

In English, Meredith McCoy voiced the character in Funimation's Dragon Ball Z and GT (and returned post-Battle of Gods), while Colleen Clinkenbeard took the role for Dragon Ball Z Kai. Other dubs include Farrell Spence and Willow Johnson for the Ocean Group, and Tamara Ryan for Bang Zoom!. Money is a recurring motive: she entered the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament for the prize money and agreed to join the Tournament of Power for the 10 million Zeni reward.

Did You Know?

Her only mechanical parts are the emergency deactivation controller, a removed self-destruct device, and a small perpetual energy reactor.
She defeated Vegeta in their first encounter, breaking his arm while sustaining only clothing damage.
During Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Toriyama originally drew her with purple hair in promotional material.