Understanding the Divine Hierarchy in Dragon Ball

Highlights

In Dragon Ball Super, a divine hierarchy was introduced to categorize the various entities in the universe, such as mortals, Kais, Gods of Destruction, Angels, and the supreme being known as Grand Zeno.

Mortals make up the majority of characters in the series and their primary purpose is to inhabit the universe and build civilizations. The level of a mortal corresponds with their ability to oversee the universe, rather than their prowess in battle.

Gods of Destruction, on the other hand, are responsible for preserving equilibrium in the universe by obliterating civilizations or planets that do not meet certain criteria. They safeguard the universe from potential dangers and exhibit a wide range of species and power levels.

Dragon Ball Super introduced various concepts to the franchise that have since become integral parts of its universe. These concepts include new forms, divine techniques, and intriguing characters that could potentially shape the series' future trajectory. However, the most significant addition in Dragon Ball Super is the introduction of the divine hierarchy. This hierarchy not only defines the roles of different beings within the universe but also provides insights into its structure.

The divine hierarchy is comprised of several levels, including mortals, Kais, Gods of Destruction, Angels, and the highest tier, which currently only consists of a single character. Each tier has distinct duties within the universe, with some responsible for maintaining balance while others simply exist to populate it. Now, let us delve into the breakdown of each tier that constitutes the divine hierarchy of the Dragon Ball universe.

Mortals

Mortals encompass the majority of beloved characters in the series. They are the most abundant category, inhabiting numerous worlds, and they are under the supervision of the Gods. The governance of each universe is determined by its "Mortal Level." This indicates the average quality and development of the mortals within the universe, as well as the required high standards of living. A universe achieves a high Mortal Level when the Kai and God of Destruction effectively foster and create prosperous civilizations while eliminating inadequate ones.

The Mortal Level of a universe is not dependent on the strength of its fighters, but rather on how well the universe is managed. Universe 7, for example, has powerful warriors but a low Mortal Level. Mortals, other than being present across the entire universe and encompassing various races such as Saiyans and Earthlings, play a vital role in populating the universe and developing proper civilizations. Notable examples of mortals include Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Frieza.

Kai

There are five divine beings known as the Kais, with four of them designated to oversee specific quadrants of the universe, while one oversees the Kais themselves. Each Kai is associated with a cardinal direction, namely North Kai, South Kai, East Kai, and West Kai, corresponding to their respective quadrants. The primary responsibility of the Kais is to guide and protect the mortal beings residing within their assigned quadrant.

Among the Kais, the most renowned is the North Kai, commonly referred to as 'King Kai' by fans. As the ruler of the North quadrant, he played a crucial role in training Goku multiple times and imparting certain techniques that Goku continues to employ. The Kais, in turn, are overseen by the Grand Kai.

Supreme Kai

Supreme Kais in the Dragon Ball universe have a distinct role within the hierarchy - they are responsible for creating planets and fostering life throughout the entire universe. This stands in direct opposition to the Gods of Destruction, whose duty is to destroy planets and life. The Supreme Kais strive to promote the development of civilizations, ensuring a balanced and stable universe.

This balance is also the reason why the lives of the Supreme Kai and the God of Destruction are intertwined. If one were to die, it would result in the demise of the other, causing the stability of the universe to unravel. While it is common for a universe to have three Supreme Kais, Universe 7 defied this norm by having a total of five Supreme Kais, all structured similarly to the regular Kais.

Gods of Destruction

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we encounter the formidable Gods of Destruction. Unlike the Supreme Kais of a universe, these Gods serve as their exact counterparts and typically hold the title of the most powerful beings in the entire universe. Their purpose is to bring about destruction, wiping out civilizations or even whole planets through their powerful Hakai technique. While many mistakenly label them as evil villains, their true objective is to maintain the balance of the universe by eliminating elements that fall short.

This ensures the equilibrium of the universe and also raises the overall Mortal Level. Additionally, these Gods safeguard the universe against threats that are beyond the capabilities of others. Unlike the Kais and Angels they collaborate with, the Gods of Destruction do not belong to a single race. In fact, the twelve Gods portrayed in the series come from diverse species, with only Beerus and Champa sharing the same lineage and eventually earning their positions as Gods of Destruction after starting out as mortals. This further emphasizes that strength is the paramount factor in attaining the role of a God of Destruction. Notable members of this tier include Beerus, Champa, Belmod, and Quitela.

Angels

The Angels, among all the divine races in the story, remain the most enigmatic and least known. Like the Supreme Kais, these mysterious beings are inherently divine and hold the role of advisors to the assigned Gods of Destruction in the universe. They possess an innate mastery of the legendary Ultra Instinct technique, albeit with varying precision and refinement levels.

Within the series, the Grand Priest is the progenitor of all the Angels introduced thus far. As masters of Ultra Instinct, their strength and power surpass even the capabilities of the Gods of Destruction. Notable Angels in the series include Whis, Vados, and Merus.

Grand Zeno

Grand Zeno is the ultimate being in the universe, surpassing everyone else in power. His ability to erase entire timelines effortlessly sets him apart from any other character. Even the most powerful beings, such as Angels, Gods, and Kais, are subservient to him, including the Grand Priest. The only other figure that may be on par with him is Zalama, the creator of Super Shenron, although this is still speculation. Currently, Zeno maintains his position as the most formidable entity. You can watch Dragon Ball Super on Amazon Prime.