Time Patrol Trunks

The half-Saiyan warrior who traveled back in time to change history.

Trunks is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama. He is the half-Saiyan, half-human son of Vegeta and Bulma, appearing in two noteworthy incarnations: one from an alternate future timeline and another from the present timeline. The Future Trunks incarnation debuted on July 2, 1991, as a mysterious young man who traveled back to warn Son Goku about deadly Androids. This version is celebrated for his unique role, while the present-timeline incarnation appears first as an infant during the Cell/Android arc. Both versions are major characters across Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and various films produced by Toei Animation.

Quick Facts

Character: role

Half-Saiyan/Half-Human Son of Vegeta and Bulma

First appears

Chapter #331 (Future Trunks), Chapter #337 (Present Trunks)

Primary weapon

Longsword
Burning Attack
Super Buster Cannon
Spirit Bomb Sword

Lore & Background

Future Trunks originates from a timeline where the world lies in ruin due to Androids #17 and #18. Created by Doctor Gero, these artificial humans killed everyone except Goku's son, Gohan, after Goku succumbed to a heart virus. Living with Bulma and training secretly under Gohan, Trunks awakens his Super Saiyan transformation after Gohan is murdered in an ambush. For three years following Gohan's death, he serves as Earth's sole protector until Bulma finishes the time machine.

He travels to the past, giving Goku a special medicine and warning of the future events. Upon returning to his own timeline, he defeats the Androids and his timeline's version of Cell. Later, after reaching Super Saiyan 2 while fighting Babidi and Dabura, he faces Goku Black, who slaughters Earth's residents. When Black reveals himself as a rogue Supreme Kai named Zamasu from an unaltered present timeline, Trunks transforms into the new Super Saiyan Rage form.

He eventually gathers energy from all remaining life into his sword to create the Spirit Bomb Sword, cutting Fusion Zamasu in half before retreating to a new future timeline where Zamasu's actions never occurred.

Reader's Guide

Trunks possesses superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, and energy blasts utilizing ki. Both incarnations can transform into Super Saiyan; Future Trunks achieved this in his early teens, while present Trunks did so at age eight. Signature attacks for Future Trunks include the Burning Attack and Super Buster Cannon. He is known for wielding a longsword kept in a scabbard across his back and uses Bukū-jutsu for flight, though he also pilots crafts like the time machine. Present Trunks can fuse with Goten using a technique taught by Goku to become Gotenks. This fusion allows them to use humorous attacks like the Galactic Donut and their signature Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack, as well as achieve Super Saiyan 3 easily.

Did You Know?

Toei Animation's producer and the editorial department discussed using a different voice actor for the child version of Trunks, but Takeshi Kusao voiced him as a child too, and after listening a few times Toriyama felt it was the right choice.
The cries of infant Trunks were provided by Hiromi Tsuru in an uncredited role.
Future Trunks abandoned two additional grades of Super Saiyan because they increased ki consumption and decreased speed, despite offering more strength.
When he is eight, Trunks defeats Goten in the junior division of the 25th tournament, although the two of them cheated equally.
In Dragon Ball Daima, a mini version of Trunks is voiced by Tsubasa Yonaga, breaking the usual pattern of Takeshi Kusao voicing the character.