Yamcha's Power and Potential

Yamcha's always been given the short end of the stick when it comes to credit for his strength. While Toriyama's choice to eliminate power levels after the Frieza arc gave more freedom to his storytelling, it also left some of the non-spotlighted characters in the dark, unable to show how far they'd actually come. Granted, anything they may have accomplished would be dwarfed by the presence of the Super Saiyans, it would still be significant in at least showing their competence.

The biggest problem lies in people's response to filler though. Yamcha didn't have very good luck in the canon materiel, but filler was definitely his friend, adding victories such as Recoome and Olive to his belt, much to the outcry of power level purists. To echo some of them, "How could Yamcha beat an opponent who was nearly as strong as a guy who could beat Cell?"

Theoretically, here's how. The following are examples of potential and excellence regarding Yamcha. Some are up for interpretation as mere plot devices and others are straightforward. No math; no power levels. Just straight story.

Example 1. Yamcha and crew trained with Kami for one year and tripled the results Goku achieved in three.

Example 2. This is the big one.

As we all know, Dr. Gero had in-depth information on the whole team and had calculated the full probability of his ultimate target, Goku, and ensured he would be far stronger than Goku's calculated potential. Of course, he didn't plan on the Z Fighters knowing about their arrival, training, and becoming much stronger than anticipated. So what ended up happening? Read below.

Until the androids had attained a visual confirmation that it was Yamcha who was nearby, evaluating height, weight, and appearance, they honestly thought it might be Goku simply by the power they sensed. What does that mean?

It means Yamcha was actually as powerful as they had anticipated Goku to be! As to how powerful that actually is, we can't really say, but that statement in and of itself is a whopper.

Again, they missed out on the Super Saiyan factor. However, projecting the full extent of the power Goku would have had, considering all the massive leaps and bounds by which he excelled, it's exciting to think just how strong Yamcha comparably was if his power was mistaken for Goku's.

In all honesty, it makes me wish that much more that Yamcha had taken Goku up on his training offer. Spending three years training with Goku, Gohan and Piccolo would've done wonders for him.

Conceivably, at this rate, there's no reason why he shouldn't be extraordinarily powerful by the time of the Buu arc, given the seven years after these events. It's just not noticeable because though he's amazing, he trails behind the saiyans and understandably gives up fighting.

Though the extent of his reasons have yet to be covered, and will be, in my story.

More to come on this topic later.