TV Special
Description
Android 17, as he appears in the Dragon Ball Z television special The History of Trunks, is a version of the character from a dark alternate future. In this timeline, he is a biotechnological android, originally a human who was captured and unwillingly rebuilt by Dr. Gero of the Red Ribbon Army. His primary purpose is to fulfill Gero's revenge against Goku, but after Goku succumbs to a heart virus, the android and his twin sister, Android 18, are left without direction. Unlike their counterparts in the main timeline, Future 17 and his sister were activated earlier and appear to have been programmed differently by Dr. Gero, making them far more malevolent.
Personality-wise, this version of Android 17 is defined by a profound and casual cruelty. He is a remorseless sociopath who finds genuine amusement in destruction and murder, treating the annihilation of humanity as an enjoyable game. He displays a complete lack of empathy or any higher goal, simply killing for entertainment and showing no interest in a fair fight. His demeanor is calm and playful, even when committing horrific acts, which makes him all the more terrifying. He is not driven by anger or a desire for conquest, but by a cold, sadistic pleasure in the suffering of others. While he retains some faint echoes of his humanity, such as a liking for vehicles, this is twisted into another tool for his deadly pastimes.
In the story of The History of Trunks, Android 17 serves as one of the two primary antagonists responsible for the world's ruin. By the time the special takes place, he and Android 18 have already killed nearly all of Earth's defending warriors, including Vegeta, Piccolo, and the rest of the Z-Fighters. They have spent years terrorizing the planet, wiping out over half of its population. His primary role is as an overwhelming, seemingly unbeatable force of nature that the protagonist, Future Trunks, and his mentor, Future Gohan, are doomed to oppose. During Gohan's final stand, 17 reveals he had not even been using half of his true power in their previous encounters, demonstrating the absolute hopelessness of the situation before he and his sister kill Gohan with a coordinated energy barrage. This event is the catalyst for Trunks's transformation into a Super Saiyan.
His key relationships are limited but significant. His bond with Android 18 is the only one he seems to possess; they are inseparable partners in their reign of terror, often fighting together and covering for one another. They function as a single, deadly unit with no apparent friction between them. His primary opposition is Future Gohan, whom he views as an amusing plaything rather than a genuine threat. To Future Trunks, he is an object of pure hatred and the target of his quest for vengeance, though Future 17 largely dismisses Trunks as a weak punching bag not worth serious effort.
Unlike characters who undergo change, Future Android 17 shows no development or redemption. He remains a static, unrepentant monster from his activation until his eventual destruction. It is only after Future Trunks returns from the main timeline having trained in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber that the android is finally killed, still arrogant and underestimating his opponent until the moment he is obliterated.
As an android, Future 17 possesses incredible strength, speed, and durability, far surpassing that of a standard Super Saiyan at that time. His most notable ability is his unlimited energy reactor, which grants him infinite stamina and allows him to fight at full power without ever tiring. He cannot be sensed through ki, as his energy does not register as life force. He also possesses the Android Barrier, a defensive field that can repel attacks and expand to damage surroundings. His signature techniques include the Accel Dance, a brutal team-up combo with Android 18 that ends with a devastating energy wave volley, which they use to kill Future Gohan. He also frequently employs a Finger Beam, a rapid-fire barrage of narrow, lethal energy rays, and can generate powerful energy balls like the Full Power Energy Ball. Like all of Dr. Gero's creations, he is also immune to aging.
Personality-wise, this version of Android 17 is defined by a profound and casual cruelty. He is a remorseless sociopath who finds genuine amusement in destruction and murder, treating the annihilation of humanity as an enjoyable game. He displays a complete lack of empathy or any higher goal, simply killing for entertainment and showing no interest in a fair fight. His demeanor is calm and playful, even when committing horrific acts, which makes him all the more terrifying. He is not driven by anger or a desire for conquest, but by a cold, sadistic pleasure in the suffering of others. While he retains some faint echoes of his humanity, such as a liking for vehicles, this is twisted into another tool for his deadly pastimes.
In the story of The History of Trunks, Android 17 serves as one of the two primary antagonists responsible for the world's ruin. By the time the special takes place, he and Android 18 have already killed nearly all of Earth's defending warriors, including Vegeta, Piccolo, and the rest of the Z-Fighters. They have spent years terrorizing the planet, wiping out over half of its population. His primary role is as an overwhelming, seemingly unbeatable force of nature that the protagonist, Future Trunks, and his mentor, Future Gohan, are doomed to oppose. During Gohan's final stand, 17 reveals he had not even been using half of his true power in their previous encounters, demonstrating the absolute hopelessness of the situation before he and his sister kill Gohan with a coordinated energy barrage. This event is the catalyst for Trunks's transformation into a Super Saiyan.
His key relationships are limited but significant. His bond with Android 18 is the only one he seems to possess; they are inseparable partners in their reign of terror, often fighting together and covering for one another. They function as a single, deadly unit with no apparent friction between them. His primary opposition is Future Gohan, whom he views as an amusing plaything rather than a genuine threat. To Future Trunks, he is an object of pure hatred and the target of his quest for vengeance, though Future 17 largely dismisses Trunks as a weak punching bag not worth serious effort.
Unlike characters who undergo change, Future Android 17 shows no development or redemption. He remains a static, unrepentant monster from his activation until his eventual destruction. It is only after Future Trunks returns from the main timeline having trained in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber that the android is finally killed, still arrogant and underestimating his opponent until the moment he is obliterated.
As an android, Future 17 possesses incredible strength, speed, and durability, far surpassing that of a standard Super Saiyan at that time. His most notable ability is his unlimited energy reactor, which grants him infinite stamina and allows him to fight at full power without ever tiring. He cannot be sensed through ki, as his energy does not register as life force. He also possesses the Android Barrier, a defensive field that can repel attacks and expand to damage surroundings. His signature techniques include the Accel Dance, a brutal team-up combo with Android 18 that ends with a devastating energy wave volley, which they use to kill Future Gohan. He also frequently employs a Finger Beam, a rapid-fire barrage of narrow, lethal energy rays, and can generate powerful energy balls like the Full Power Energy Ball. Like all of Dr. Gero's creations, he is also immune to aging.