Scouter

"If you’re a soldier in Frieza's army, you can have [a Scouter] made to order to fit your ear. The different screen colors can be chosen to fit the peculiarities of different aliens' eyes, or to suit one's tastes. Also, dual-eye types exist as well." — Akira Toriyama, Saikyō Jump Q&A with Naho Ooishi, July 2014 Issue

Scouter
スカウター
Sukautā
Alternate names	Meter Scanner Portable Computer
Users	Tuffles Hakusa
Color
Class	Scanning technology
Similar Techniques	Scout-Scope 3D Scan Mode Dragon Radar Ki Sense Power Meter

A Scouter (スカウター, Sukautā) is a wearable, all-purpose computer that Frieza's army uses. Scouters are mainly used to measure power levels early in Dragon Ball Z.

Overview

Creation

Akira Toriyama's number-one goal in coming up with the scouters was because it would be easier for the readers to understand if an opponent's strength is seen as a number. However, he foresaw that it would also be an inconvenience for him because if a concrete number is known, then it will be easy for the readers to tell who would win or lose. So, with regards to Goku and the other Z Fighters, he decided that their power would change due to ki and could not be adequately measured. He made scouters break when they pick up a high battle power as showy staging for the manga; saying it is really digital, which makes it impossible, but in terms of something analog, it is like how a counter that is rising at breakneck speed can not keep up and breaks down. Also, since a scouter only shows direct numbers, it does not take into account if an opponent is hiding thier power level. Toriyama also said that it would have been even more perfect if the form of location of the enemy picked up by the scouter were displayed in video, but if features up to that point were added, it would have been even more difficult to do as manga story developments go.

Design

The design of the scouters is similar to a device in Mitsuteru Yokoyama's 1956 manga Tetsujin 28-go. An antagonist character named Alberto has lost his right eye and wears a metal patch that somewhat resembles the scouter in appearance, and also acts like a tracking and communication device.

In an interview, the series creator Akira Toriyama himself wonders how scouters are attached around the ear and says he was always doubtful of it when he was drawing it. It would have to be strong enough to withstand sharp movements and he supposes there is no other way but to stick it on tight with something, saying it is "alien technology". He eventually says the headset method, like the toy, is the right answer.

A device similar in design to the scouter also appears in the Blue Dragon series, whose characters were also designed by Toriyama.

Name

In the military realm, the word "scout" refers to "reconnaissance". For example, a reconnaissance vehicle would be called a "scout car". Toriyama tweaked that "scout" and gave it its name. He explains that, in other words, a scouter is a useful tool for the purposes of information-gathering.

History

Scouters were invented by the Tuffles, the original inhabitants of Planet Vegeta who were exterminated in Age 730 by the Saiyans. From the Saiyans, scouters were introduced to the Frieza Force. Originally, it was a device for the purpose of guarding against enemies and beasts, but Gichamu, a highly skilled engineer in Frieza's army, laid eyes on it and made modifications for concrete battle power numbers and telecommunications abilities, and soldiers began making use of it to carry out offensives. During the series, almost all of the Galactic Frieza Army soldiers can be seen wearing one.

Another source states that scouters, along with the Battle Armor, and the Frieza Force Spaceships, were invented by Kikono.

Description

Tuffles wearing scouters

A scouter appears as a semi-transparent colored monocle that covers the left eye. Dual-eye types exist as well, as Tagoma wears a blue variant. The first scouter to be seen is the one Raditz wears in the first episode of Dragon Ball Z upon his arrival on Earth. The power level is given as a number without any units of measurement (5 for the farmer, 322 for Piccolo and 334 for Goku before taking their heavy clothes off, etc.). It is shown that the device explodes if one increases his power level by an enormous amount at a rapid pace, albeit without leaving any injuries to the wearer; though the range of scouters throughout the series has varied. The most frequently seen color is green, though alternate colors of red and blue also exist. The different screen colors can be chosen to fit the peculiarities of different aliens' eyes, or to suit one's tastes. All the scouters are the same in terms of features but, since a variety of different aliens wear them, there are a bunch of different types of attachment parts depending on the position of the ear. Soldiers in Frieza's army can have one made to order to fit their ear.

Saiyans locked by a Tuffle's scouter

In the series, a scouter's primary purpose is to calculate the individual power level or ki concentration of biological characters by converting the readings into numbers. It is never explained what units of measure are used to read ki levels; Akira Toriyama simply stated in an interview that it could not be done by conventional means.

Scouters also serve the purpose of gathering information, and for interstellar communication, as seen when Raditz sent Piccolo's description of the Dragon Balls to Nappa and Vegeta, as well as Frieza learning of the existence of the Namekian Dragon Balls from eavesdropping on Vegeta's conversation with Nappa (as well as Vegeta in turn learning how to get the Namekian Dragon Balls from the Namekian Villages via eavesdropping on Frieza explaining how he himself did so). Vegeta also used his scouter to keep track of the time after he said he and Nappa would give the Dragon Team three hours for Goku to arrive. Scouters can also tell the location of someone, as demonstrated when members of the Frieza Force use scouters to hunt down enemies.

Some members of Frieza's army, that are too weak to use ki blasts, wear an Arm Cannon that has a wire that connects to their scouter. It is unclear what role the scouter plays in using the Arm Cannon (some soldiers who lack scouters instead have the wire connected to a helmet on their head). One explanation is that the scouter is used for aiming, though this is not expressly stated.

Limitations

Tarble's scouter breaks

Though it is possible to sense others' ki without advanced machinery, as the Z Fighters do, scouters provide the ability to read power levels to less-trained fighters. Scouters do have some disadvantages, however. Their main drawback is that a trained person is capable of consciously lowering their ki (see Power Up), and can therefore fool scouter users into thinking they have a lower power level than their real level. Vegeta speculates that is how Raditz was killed, and this later proves a key component in the downfalls of several of Frieza's notable soldiers.

Goten and Trunks locked by Abo/Kado's scouter

Another disadvantage is that scouters may explode on certain conditions. The reason for this is not mentioned explicitly in the manga or the anime, but the recorded cases have happened when the scouter is detecting a high power level or when a power level is rapidly increasing, possibly overloading it. Dodoria suggested that it was a problem with older scouter models. There are two generations of scouters: the first generation ones (such as Raditz's and Zarbon's) explode when reading a power level over 24,000, something that is corrected in the improved second generation scouters (such as Dodoria's and the ones used by the Ginyu Force) which are always in development to go along with battle power inflation, at least up to 180,000. Frieza's description of his 530,000 power level to Nail may imply that scouters can read these high numbered power levels as well. An example of scouters exploding while someone's power level is rising rapidly would be that which occurred to Bulma's (formerly Raditz's) scouter when Goku was fighting Vegeta for the first time. The explosion took place around the time that Goku had used the Kaio-ken times 3, causing his power level to rise at an incredible rate, thus overloading the scouter. Even the second generation scouters can be overloaded and explode, as Frieza's did reading Vegeta's power. In both Frieza's and Ginyu's what-if scenarios in the video game Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors, Ginyu has a scouter that is capable of reading a power level of much stronger opponents than the scouter's limitation such as: Super Saiyan Goku, Super Saiyan Gohan, Super Saiyan Vegeta, Future Trunks, Androids 18, 20 and even Perfect Cell.

Due to Frieza's comment about his power level being over 1,000,000 in his second form, it is possible that the scouter's limit of counting is that number, as in many videos games once Frieza transforms the scouter simply shows the number "+999,999" no matter in which transformation stage he is. On Planet Frieza 79, there is a master computer with scouter-like system (used by Malaka and the Control tower soldier) that can read Frieza's full power (120,000,000) but goes haywire once Super Saiyan Goku's power level is checked (150,000,000) before exploding.

Additionally, as shown by Goku during his initial battles with the Ginyu Force it is possible for a highly trained individual to raise their power level so fast and instantaneously that even the state-of-the-art Scouters used by the Ginyu Force at that time could not even register the sudden and momentary increase confusing Burter and Jeice. This ability is extremely dangerous as it effectively makes the Scouter's readings unreliable unless the opponent powers up in a manner that is detectable. However, experienced soldiers with knowledge of advanced ki control like Vegeta and Captain Ginyu are aware Scouters can be fooled in this manner though Vegeta noted it requires one to acquire an immense level power to pull it off.

In Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’, the newly revived Frieza tells Sorbet that by only training for 4 months he can unlock his dormant power and reach a power level of 1,300,000 in his first form, which means Scouters can also give readings of over a million.

In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, it is shown that adult Broly's power level is so high that it exceeded the limits of both Cheelai and Lemo's Scouters which caused their Scouters to give a blank reading while their scouters remained intact and functional indicating it was such a high power level that it was unreadable to scouters according to Cheelai, though they were pleased with this development as they had been searching for strong warriors for the Frieza Force. However the more experienced Lemo initially doubted Cheelai's blank Scouter readings for Broly and assumed it was a malfunction until his Scouter also got a blank reading confirming to him it was legitimately unreadable and that Broly's power level was exceptionally high. This demonstrates that it is possible to exceed a scouters' calculations if the power level in question is beyond its ability to measure without said scouter blowing up or being damaged by trying to calculate said power level, though their current generation models seem to have been designed with a new safety feature to stop calculating if the power level reading exceeds a specific limit (their model's maximum limit is apparently 99,999) prevent it from exploding like past models though this prevents said models from reading power levels over its maximum limit. However Lemo's initial reaction suggests a blank reading my also result via Scouter malfunction/defect though said malfunction/defect apparently rarely occurs as two blank readings of Broly from both of their scouters were enough to convince Lemo it was legitimately unreadable. This however means such an exceptional power level cannot be calculated accurately beyond being interpreted as over the maximum power level limit said Scouter model can read.

Another limitation of Scouters is that they are unable to detect Godly ki presumably due to its divine nature or simply because Scouters are only designed to detect normal ki and no Scouter models capable of detecting it exist (presumably because the existence of Godly ki is not well known or as well understood as normal ki).

Scouters also cannot detect anyone that is significantly above the user in terms of height. This is implied in Cooler's Revenge, where Gohan managed to bypass Cooler's Armored Squadron (who were spending their time trying to search for him and Goku on Cooler's orders) by flying high above them via Icarus under Krillin's suggestion

Scouters by class

Different screen colors can be chosen to fit the peculiarities of different aliens' eyes, or to suit one's tastes.

Green-colored models

Bardock and his elites

Bardock using his scouter

All five members of Bardock's Planet Elite Force (Bardock, Tora, Shugesh, Borgos and Fasha) wear scouters. Bardock's scouter is used to locate his team on Planet Meat. All of their scouters are destroyed during the assault made on them by Dodoria and his team. After discovering his slain comrades, Bardock's scouter locates the group responsible. After Bardock slays them, his scouter detects Dodoria, who blasts Bardock away with a Mouth Energy Wave, damaging the Saiyan and destroying his scouter. In the Xenoverse series it appears under the name Old Model Scouter (Green).

Raditz

Raditz's scouter analyzing the Farmer's power level

Like his father, Raditz's scouter was constantly used upon his arrival on Earth. Raditz used his scouter to see the power levels of a Farmer, Piccolo and finally Goku. During his fight with Goku and Piccolo, Raditz went by his scouter's power readings, causing him to underestimate them. He also thought it was malfunctioning at first when it caught Gohan's latent power of 710, until it was proven correct by detecting Goku and Piccolo's arrival. After being dealt a fatal blow, Raditz used his scouter to transmit Piccolo's description of the Dragon Balls back to Vegeta and Nappa.

Bulma using Raditz's scouter

After Raditz's death, Bulma took possession of his scouter from his corpse. Though it had been damaged slightly, it took her a single night to repair it and even switch it over to Earth's numeric system. With her repairs and modifications, she tested it out by reading the power levels of Master Roshi and Krillin (as well as Turtle in the anime), and also used it to locate Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu. The scouter remained in Bulma's possession up to Goku's fight with Vegeta when Bulma used it to read Goku's power level, which was rising too fast due to Goku's using the three-fold Kaio-ken in order to match Vegeta. It was the first scouter to blow up on-screen. This model is called Scouter (Green) in Dragon Ball: Xenoverse.

In Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot during the Sub Story "Mysterious Power Reading", Bulma was apparently able to repair Raditz's Scouter after it blew up as it is working during the Intermission after Vegeta's defeat. It detects a large power signature near the crash site of Raditz's Spaceship and the signature is too high for Master Roshi to handle so she enlists Gohan who discovers it was coming from three Saibamen that apparently came from the Saibamen Set in Raditz's pod that got scattered when Gohan broke out.

Appule's Scouter

Appule's scouter is seen in just one scene in Dragon Ball Z, when he is mistreating Namekian villagers. Strangely enough, he is never seen wearing his scouter again. Appule's alternative outfit in the Budokai Tenkaichi series is also shown wearing a scouter.

Cui

Cui using his scouter

Cui's scouter has always remained on him. After landing on Namek, Cui used his scouter to track and converse with Vegeta. When the unknowing Cui used his scouter to read Vegeta's power level (24,000), it was much more than he had previously believed, causing his scouter to explode.

Dodoria

Dodoria's scouter displays three power levels

Dodoria's scouter has always remained on him even since when Frieza contemplated destroying Planet Vegeta. When on Planet Namek, Dodoria's scouter (a newer one) was used to read Vegeta's power level when the latter fought Cui. Dodoria used his scouter to measure the power level of several Namekians (although he did not take into account that they hide their real power levels). Dodoria's scouter was destroyed by Moori's Finger Beam in order to prevent them from finding more Dragon Balls.

Ginyu Force

Four members of the Ginyu Force wear the same scouters. Only Guldo does not wear one, most likely due to the shape of his head and his extra eyes making him unable to wear one; but also because of his psychic abilities, he possibly is able to sense ki without one. However in Xenoverse 2, it is revealed by Guldo in the Frieza's Spaceship time rift that there are no Scouters designed to fit the heads of Bas members of the Frieza Force including himself though hopes one day such a Scouter model will be developed, which later comes true years after his death in Dragon Ball Online as Bas Frieza Force members are shown wearing such a model by Age 1000. This implies that he is unable to sense ki and must rely on his teammates and/or other soldiers for power level readings.

Recoome's scouter

Recoome's scouter was one of the newer models used by the Ginyu Force. After arriving on Planet Namek, Recoome used his advanced scouter to track Vegeta, Gohan and Krillin. When fighting Vegeta, Recoome's scouter measured Vegeta's power level when was powering up and was knocked off him during Vegeta's attack on the Ginyu Force member.

Burter's scouter

Burter's scouter was one of the newer models used by the Ginyu Force. After arriving on Planet Namek, Burter used his advanced scouter to track Vegeta, Gohan and Krillin. When Recoome fought Vegeta, Krillin and Gohan, Burter's scouter measured the three fighters' strength. While fighting Goku, Burter used his scouter to contact Jeice's scouter during their fight with Goku (who briefly raised his power level quick enough that even the newer scouters could not detect it), ending with Goku beating Burter while his scouter falls off the elite.

Ginyu's scouter

Captain Ginyu's scouter was one of the newer models used by the Ginyu Force. After arriving on Planet Namek, Ginyu used his advanced scouter to track Vegeta, Gohan and Krillin. Ginyu used his scouter to measure Goku's max power (180,000), which surpassed Ginyu's power (120,000). After switching bodies, Ginyu (in Goku's body) wore his scouter. When Ginyu (in Goku's body) fought Gohan, Krillin and even Goku (in Ginyu's body), Ginyu's scouter was knocked off him during the fight. In Xenoverse, Venyu (Ginyu in Vegeta's body) wears it as well. In Xenoverse 2, Ginyu wears it as Venyu and while in Trunks: Xeno's body. Trunks: Xeno brief wears it after returning to his original body though mysteriously it appears on Ginyu in Goku's body shortly afterwards though he may have recieved a replacement from Turles who helped him steal Goku's body.

Jeice's scouter

Jeice's scouter was one of the newer models used by the Ginyu Force. After arriving on Planet Namek, Jeice used his advanced scouter to track Vegeta, Gohan and Krillin. When Recoome fought Vegeta, Krillin and Gohan, Burter's scouter measured three fighters' strength. While fighting Goku, Jeice used his scouter to contact Burter's scouter during their fight with Goku (who briefly raised his power level quick enough that even the newer scouters could not detect it). Later, Jeice used his scouter to measure Ginyu's strength while in Goku's body (23,000) and Vegeta's power level, the latter of which caused Jeice to crush his scouter in disbelief.

In the Xenoverse series, it appears under the name New Model Scouter (Green) and is the default Scouter that the Future Warrior starts out with in Xenoverse 2.

Ginyu Force tryouts

Oggers' scouter

All three members of Frieza's men, Captain Strong, Oggers, Strock appeared with their scouters just once in Dragon Ball Z. Captain Strong is first seen wearing his scouter while striking a pose, supposedly trying out to get into the Ginyu Force.

Salza

Salza's scouter

Salza wears a green scouter. He uses it to scan for Gohan and Goku's location while searching for them on Earth, eventually locating Gohan while the latter is getting Senzu Beans for Goku. It later detects Goku's rising power level from Saiyan Power, overloading the scouter and causing it to detonate. Prior to its detonation, Salza wondered whether Oolong (the only other accounted-for individual in the cave) was the source of the rising power level.

Red-colored models

Vegeta

Vegeta using his scouter on Namek

Vegeta's scouter was the one that was transmitted the information about the Dragon Balls from Raditz's scouter. After arriving to Earth, Vegeta used his scouter to locate the Z Fighters. Just when Goku was arriving, Vegeta used his scouter to see Goku's strength. Vegeta also used it during Goku's charging up, to which Vegeta responded by uttering his famous quote, "It's Over 9000!", and crushing his scouter in shock of Goku's power.

After Vegeta recovered on Planet Frieza 79, he reluctantly took possession of another scouter. After landing on Namek, Vegeta used it to converse with Cui and eavesdrop on Frieza. After encountering Dodoria, Vegeta destroyed his scouter, as he could now sense power levels just like the Z Fighters, to keep Dodoria from actually acquiring one during their fight. This Scouter appears under the name Scouter (Red) in the Xenoverse series.

As a child, Vegeta owned a green scouter.

Frieza

Frieza's Scouter

Frieza wears a scouter just before attacking Planet Vegeta. He takes it off in order to fire his Eye Lasers at King Vegeta's brigade. Frieza's scouter on Namek was a newer model of the same color that was personally given to him by the Ginyu Force. Frieza uses this scouter to find Guru's home. When Frieza personally fights Nail, his scouter measures the lone Namekian's power level (42,000), which somewhat impresses the emperor. After having severely beaten up Nail, Frieza uses his scouter to contact the Ginyu Force, only to find out they are all defeated. While fighting against Vegeta, Gohan, Krillin and Dende, Frieza uses his scouter to measure Vegeta's power, ending the conflict when Frieza's scouter blows up due to Vegeta's power now rivaling his own, apparently, much to Frieza's disbelief. Frieza's newer model appears under the name New Model Scouter (Red) in the Xenoverse series.

Turles

In the film Tree of Might, Plan to Eradicate Saiyans, and various video games, Turles wears a red scouter much like Frieza's and is the only low class Saiyan to wear a Scouter with a red lens. Turles uses his Scouter throughout the film Tree of Might to read power levels for Goku, Piccolo, and Gohan. Before he fired his second Calamity Blaster at Goku’s second Spirit Bomb, his scouter exploded from reading Goku’s second Spirit Bomb.

Tutz

In Dragon Ball Fusions, Tutz the EX-Fusion of Raditz and Turles wears a visor scouter with a red lens. Unlike other scouter models, this one is a byproduct of Raditz and Turles' EX-Fusion.

Fisshi

Fisshi's scouter

Fisshi's scouter is seen briefly during Dragon Ball Z. Fisshi is shown wearing it on King Cold's spaceship and later on he is seen again wearing it on Earth. It is assumed that Fisshi has a new model scouter (the same model as Frieza's scouter) as he is shown to be wearing it after the Frieza saga.

Iru

Iru's scouter

Iru's scouter is seen just briefly in Dragon Ball Z. Iru uses his scouter to measure Future Trunks' power level on Frieza's demand. Iru measures Future Trunks with a power level of just 5 because Future Trunks was hiding his true power.

Sūi

Sūi's scouter

Sūi 's scouter is seen just once in Dragon Ball Z. It is shown while he and his partner Banan are searching for Gohan and Krillin on Zarbon's orders. Upon finding Gohan and Krillin the duo state that they detect Gohan and Krillin's power levels to be non-existent. When Gohan and Krillin decide to power up, suddenly Sūi and Banan realize the power of Gohan and Krillin. Gohan lands punch to Sūi's face and the next scene after, he is shown with out his scouter on his face. It is presumed that his scouter was broken when Gohan landed a punch to his face.

Abo and Kado

Abo's and Kado's scouters

Abo and Kado's scouters are seen during Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! Their scouters were used to measure Trunks and Goten's fighting power. After underestimating Goten's and Trunks' ability to hide their power, the two consider them a weaklings because of their low scouter readings. Like some other characters' scouters, Abo's scouter may also seem to differ in color appearance and can sometimes be seen as a more purplish color. It appears under the name Scouter (Purple) in the Xenoverse series.

Blue-colored models

Frieza

Frieza's blue scouter shortly before the Saiyan genocide

In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Frieza is first shown wearing a first generation blue lens Scouter when King Cold announces his retirement and Frieza's succession. Frieza introduces this Scouter to the Saiyans, as a replacement for the old Scout-Scopes and uses it to locate several hidden Saiyan snipers and immediately kills them. Frieza also uses this Scouter to make sure no Saiyan was alive on Planet Vegeta after he used his Supernova to wipe out the planet and the Saiyan race.

Dodoria

Dodoria wearing his Scouter during the Frieza Force's first visit to Planet Vegeta

In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, during the Frieza Force's first visit to Planet Vegeta during the period King Cold transferred leadership of the Cold Force to Frieza, Dodoria wears a first generation blue lens Scouter. This model would later be replaced by his newer green lens model.

Zarbon

Zarbon's scouter explodes after detecting Vegeta's power level, surpassing the scouter's reading capacity

Zarbon's scouter has always remained on him even since when Frieza contemplated destroying Planet Vegeta. When on Planet Namek, Zarbon's scouter broke after escalating Vegeta's power level during the latter's fight with Cui.

Banan

Banan's scouter

Banan's scouter is shown just once in Dragon Ball Z. It is shown while he and his partner Sūi are searching for Gohan and Krillin. When Banan first checks Gohan and Krillin's power levels he states that they are almost non-existent. When Krillin and Gohan both power up, Banan is shocked at their power. Krillin then lands a kick to Banan's face and is assumed that his scouter was broken then.

Napple

Napple's scouter

Napple's scouter makes just one appearance in Dragon Ball Z. He is first seen wearing his scouter at Moori's village whilst Frieza is trying to uncover the Dragon Ball. Napple's scouter is used to measure three Warrior-type Namekians' power levels. After taunting the three Warrior-type Namekians by saying they would be better off fighting old grannies, Napple leads the charge against the three Namekians. Napple is kicked in the face by one of the Namekians and his scouter is then broken.

Nappa

Nappa wearing his blue scouter

Nappa's scouter is the one that transmits the information about the Dragon Balls from Raditz's scouter. After arriving to Earth, Nappa uses his scouter to locate Krillin, Piccolo, Gohan, Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu. Just as they are about to fight, Vegeta suggests to Nappa that they remove the scouters as they do not want to underestimate their opponents like Raditz did. Nappa drops his scouter to the ground, and it is presumably destroyed from all the explosions caused by his fight against the Z Fighters. Although, many times, it can appear to be a light purple. Appears under the name Scouter (Blue) in the Xenoverse series.

Tarble

Tarble's blue scouter

Despite not being affiliated with Frieza's army or even the Saiyan army, Tarble possesses a scouter during his encounter with the Z Fighters, while warning them about Abo and Kado. It breaks when he analyzes the power level of Goku steadily increasing his power and turning into a Super Saiyan to demonstrate to Tarble how a person's power level can easily change. Although, just like Nappa's scouter, it seems to have a different appearance at times. Tarble's scouter can also be pictured as aqua in color.

Sorbet

Sorbet's blue scouter

Sorbet wears an updated blue scouter throughout his appearance. His scouter breaks when it reads the newly regenerated Frieza's power level in the film, and he later acquired a new blue scouter which he uses for the rest of his life.

Tagoma

Tagoma's visor-like dual eye blue scouter

Tagoma wears a double eye version of the blue scouter throughout his appearance. His scouter breaks when it reads the newly regenerated Frieza's power level, moments before his demise by the tyrant, in the film. In Dragon Ball Xenoverse, it appears under the name Tagoma's Scouter and appears as an equippable accessory in the Resurrection ‘F’ Pack DLC. In Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Tagoma's Scouter model is worn by the Future Warrior in promotional material.

Cheelai & Lemo

Cheelai and Lemo nervous after learning of Broly's unreadable power level

In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, the Frieza Force is shown to have a new model of the scouter, apparently instituted some time after Frieza's return following the Tournament of Power. This new model features a blue lens and has its button to the bottom of the earpiece, as opposed being on the limb supporting the eyepiece as on all previous models. As a safety feature, the scouter will simply stop calculating power levels beyond a certain point (seemingly 99,999) in order to prevent the explosive malfunction seen in older models. However this safety feature makes Power Levels that exceed this limit unreadable beyond said limit such as Broly's though Cheelai and Lemo came to the conclusion that Broly was exceptionally powerful. Frieza Force members Cheelai and Lemo, among many others, are shown to use this scouter.

Yellow-colored model

Dore's yellow scouter

Dore from Cooler's Armored Squadron has a yellow-colored model of scouter. It is called Dore's Scouter in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 and is depicted as being a helmet-mounted Scouter.

Other models

Planet Frieza 79 scouter system

The Scouter computer system

Although technically not a scouter in the traditional sense, the computer system used on Planet Frieza 79 functions under a similar manner to scouters in regards to reading power levels. Similar to the scouters, they also blow up when reading a power level beyond their processing limit (as it did when it attempted to analyze Goku's power level when he became a Super Saiyan and was fighting Frieza on Namek), although it was significantly more lethal than regular scouters, as they would blow up and destroy a lot of the personnel during the explosion, as what happened to most of the personnel on Planet Frieza 79.

King Cold soldiers'

King Cold's henchmen with their scouters

Although neither King Cold nor Mecha Frieza wear a scouter, their soldiers do. After a mysterious youth arrived, Iru uses his scouter to measure the youth's (suppressed) power level, which registers at just five. The youth quickly raises it to kill the soldier and then uses his sword to kill the rest of the army. One soldier's scouter is cut in half, however his body is still intact, but only moments later, he is killed by Mecha Frieza himself due to showing signs of fear.

Evolved concept

Main article: 3D Scan Mode

Android 19 using his built-in scouter

Android 20, Android 19, and Android 16 possess a device that locates and analyzes power, much like scouters. These devices are far more durable than other scouters, with 16 being able to sense the power of someone like Cell. Other Androids, such as Android 15 and Android 14, are equipped with a more advanced device, the 3D Scan Mode. Major Metallitron was equipped with an old model version of 3D Scan Mode which allowed the Android to determine Goku was an unknown alien (as the Red Ribbon Army knew nothing about Saiyans) and not an Earthling.

In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Saiyan scientists monitoring the infant Vegeta and Broly have handheld Scouter-like meters that are used to read the power levels of Saiyan children and are utilize to determine a Saiyan child's power level and social class. King Vegeta notes that Vegeta's power level broke all records in Saiyan history when he refused to accept the high power level of Broly whom had been placed within the same nursery reserved for Elite Saiyan children as Prince Vegeta. However one of the scientists contributed Broly's high reading to recent anomalies with the nursery's equipment though Nion believed Broly's reading to be accurate and suggested he might be the Legendary Super Saiyan causing King Vegeta to decide to banish Broly to Vampa to get rid of him. These meters also have a habit of breaking and frying when calculating a high power level like Broly's, similar to a overloaded Scouter.

In Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 as part of the Masters Pack DLC, the Built-In Scouter device used by Android 16 is referred to as Power Radar by Android 16. In addition to detecting power levels the Power Radar used by Future Android 16 is shown to be able to detect the energy signature produced by Dragon Balls, allowing it to function as a makeshift Dragon Radar (it is unknown if his main timeline counterpart's Power Radar is also able to detect Dragon Balls). It is also called Power Radar in Dragon Ball FighterZ where it is revealed by Android 16 that it is unable to read Goku's power in his Super Saiyan Blue form indicating that it cannot detect Godly ki.

In Dragon Ball Fusions, Bulma creates a robotic device called CCFDR49 "Ziku" who can Power Levels though with a greater range as it can detect ki emanating from other dimensions and timelines connected to the Timespace Rift created by Tekka and Pinich's wish. Additionally, in Sub-Event: "Justice's Little Ally" if Tekka's Team decide to take on Android 20 & 19 to help Uub take them down after the Androids attacked Satan City, when confronting the pair, Android 20 refers to the Built-In Scouter device used by himself and 19 as the Detection System and wonders if it malfunctioning due to the high power levels of Tekka's Team, though 19 states there is no indication of this as his detection system is detecting the same levels as 20's. This implies that 19 and 20's detection systems can communicate as 19 states his is detecting the same power levels as 20's and that it is unlikely that both would malfunction as 19 concludes that both are working properly as his system is detecting the same levels as 20's.

The World Martial Arts Tournament had developed a Punching Machine that would measure the strength of the fighters' punches (apparently in units of force) to replace the preliminaries in order to reduce injuries. This machine served the same purpose that a scouter would serve if they were used by the Tournament. However, it is not an accurate method of determining extremely powerful fighters and several of the Z Fighters had to pull their punches so as to not destroy the machine, though Vegeta refused to hold back and hit the machine with such force that he destroyed it. It is implied during the Peaceful World Saga that the World Martial Arts Tournament went back to holding preliminary matches as Pan and the other participants are noted to have made it pasted the preliminaries indicating the use of the Punching Machine was discontinued.

The wizard Babidi and his Majins have devices called Power Meters that calculate kili levels. However, the units of measure are much larger, being that Super Saiyan Full Power Goku's level was calculated to be around 3,000 kilis (and 300 kilis was enough to destroy a planet). The device was also used to measure the unusual power of Super Saiyan 2 Gohan at the World Martial Arts Tournament when he powered up in front of Kibito, though his power level was never stated. The most powerful of these devices have a limit of 9,000 kilis, so even they may not be able to measure beings like Majin Buu and a Super Saiyan 3. In various video games, Towa and Mira also use Kili as a form of measurement and seek out sources of Kili to empower Mira and revive the Demon Realm. Towa, however, apparently does not require any sort of device as being a scientist she can calculate the Kili level of those she can sense naturally though her calculations aren't always perfect. It is unknown if Towa has access to a Power Meters or similar technology designed to measure Kili.

Video Game Appearances

Sukautā Batoru sold with a plastic scouter

Scouters often appear in Dragon Ball Z video games. Raditz and Vegeta both wear Scouters in cutscenes in Dragon Ball Z: Goku Hishōden. It is also wore by members of the Frieza Force in Dragon Ball Z III: Ressen Jinzōningen, Dragon Ball Z: Goku Gekitōden, Dragon Ball Z: Super Gokuden: Kakusei-Hen, Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors, Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu, Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World, Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Battlers, Dragon Ball: Raging Blast, Dragon Ball Heroes, Dragon Ball Kai: Ultimate Butōden, and Dragon Ball Z For Kinect.

A scouter card can be used in Dragon Ball Z: Kyōshū! Saiyan and Dragon Ball Z II: Gekishin Freeza. In Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu, the Z Fighters can purchase either green or red scouters to measure their enemies' power levels.

The handheld game Dragon Ball Z: Sukautā Batoru and the Let's! TV Play game Dragon Ball Z: Scouter Battle Taikan Kamehameha - Ora to Omee to Scouter are based on the usage of a replica Scouter for the player.

Raditz wearing his Scouter in Budokai

Information appearing on a scouter in Supersonic Warriors

In fighting games, they often appear on screen representing a health or energy bar. This trend can be seen in both Dragon Ball Z: Budokai and Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors. Also, in Super Sonic Warriors, after the end of fight, a scouter is used to calculate the player's score. In Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3, in the game's story mode, scouters are used by characters like Prince Vegeta. In the Budokai Tenkaichi series, some characters (like Bardock, Raditz and Nappa) have a special type of lock-on they can use to detect an opponent even if they are hidden behind an object. However, if the user receives too much damage, their scouter is destroyed, and their lock-on suffers as a result (this is similar to what is seen in the manga and anime). In Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2, there are two items that can only be equipped to characters have a scouter (such as Frieza's and Cooler's Armored Squadron, Raditz, Nappa, Tarble, Bardock, and of course Vegeta "Scouter"): Study Scouter (a defense-type item which makes their Scouters indestructible) and Unequip Scouter (an accessory-type item which causes their scouter to disappear, yet its affects are still in-play as the Study Scouter item can be equipped with Unequip Scouter). Scouters appear in cutscenes, and are worn by certain characters in gameplay for Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit.

Scouters in Super Dragon Ball Z

In Dragon Ball Z: Sagas, the scouter is used to represent the game's menu screens, and interestingly, it shows the power level of all the game's boss characters before they are fought (even characters like Frieza and Cell). In Super Dragon Ball Z, green, red, or blue scouters appear at the start of every battle to show the B.P. of the two fighters.

Chiaotzu's bio as gathered by the Scouter in Legacy of Goku II

In Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II (which is set after the Garlic Jr. Saga), a scouter an be obtained from Bulma after obtaining the electronic parts she needs to build it (a scouter model created by her, likely based on the scouter she obtained from Raditz's body, although dialogue states she found it on Namek). Once obtained, her scouter can be used for the rest of the game. Bulma's scouter can be used to scan enemies, allies, neutral characters and animals. The scouter will give information about any character scanned by it (hit points, height and weight and character scan-bio). It also has a handy map feature, and at the near the end of the game, it can be upgraded (by Bulma) to work as a Dragon Radar. Also, all of the scouter's scanned information can be transferred and stored on a computer inside the Capsule Corporation. This computer can be used to view information on any character that has been previously scanned. Bulma's scouter reappears in the follow-up game Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury, where it is available at the start of the game.

In Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans, a scouter is obtained after Raditz is defeated, and Bulma repairs the scouter: it shows the Power Level, the items the opponent can drop, the strengths and weaknesses, and the experience obtained. In Dragon Ball Online, scouters can be equipped to Humans, Namekians, and Majins. In Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team, Scouter is an Ability type D-Item: when equipped on a character, the speed of its enemy search (when lock-on is disrupted) increases. In Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi, a scouter can be equipped to custom characters; the eye piece is red and it assists in finding objects in the Hero Mode.

Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission includes a scouter function, which uses the 3DS' camera to take a picture of someone's face in order to check their power; this allows the player to earn Zeni and other items, and scanning someone with a high power level makes Great Ape Vegeta appear as a boss fight. In Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z, Scouter is an item that increases Special.

Goku and Piccolo being scanned by a scouter in Xenoverse

In Dragon Ball Xenoverse, scouters are used by the Future Warrior both to read opponents' level, power (representing their health and ki), and moves as well as to find items or communicate with the rest of the Time Patrol. When worn as an accessory or when using an original character equipped with one, they change standard Search view into a Scouter view which takes on the color of the lens of the Scouter being worn. Scouters are also used by various other characters such as Raditz, Nappa, Vegeta (Vegeta Saga), Bardock, Fasha, Appule, Raspberry, the Ginyu Force (sans Guldo), and 1st Form Frieza. The Capsule Corp. Robots used by the Time Patrol are all equipped with a green Scouter presumably to allow them to detect Ki artificially. A Female Time Patroller named Hakusa wears a Scouter and will use it to measure the Future Warrior's Power Level and her responses are based on the Warrior's current level. Female Majin Taino and Frieza Clansman Percel wear the Green Scouter model used by the Ginyu Force, while the Namekian Ukatz wears a Blue Scouter used by Frieza's officers. Scouters also appear as the first accessory item received by the player, given by Future Trunks. Other colors and models can be bought from the accessory shop in Toki Toki City's Industrial Sector. There are three models in-game, each with the same four color choices. Tagoma's Scouter appears as part of the Resurrection ‘F’ Pack DLC.

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Tutz wearing his red visor-shaped Scouter in Dragon Ball Fusions

In Dragon Ball Fusions, scouters are worn by certain characters such as Raditz, Nappa, Zarbon, Dodoria, and the Ginyu Force. They are also worn by non-canon characters such as Kiclee. Additionally it is shown that Fusions will sometimes gain a Scouter if one or more of their fusee is wearing one. For example, Nappa and Raditz's Metamoran Fusion, Natz wears a Scouter like both his fusee do. In the case of EX-Fusion, sometimes the Scouters themselves will fusee creating a completely different model as show by Turles and Raditz EX-Fusion, Tutz who wears a visor-scouter with a red lens like Turles' scouter. Captain Ginyu and Great Saiyaman's EX-Fusion Ginyuman wears a helmet equipped with a green scouter visor that was created as a result of Ginyu's scouter fusing with the visor of Great Saiyaman's helmet.

Tekka can wear a Scouter performing via EX-Fusion with certain characters that wear them such as Turles or Kiclee (Tekka's EX-Fusions functions more like Namekian fusion as Tekka's personality remains dominate and they retain their name, profile description, race, gender, and voice) while gaining certain attributes of the other fusee, including clothing, scouters, hairstyle or other physical attributes such as antenna or horns. This does not work with all characters that wear Scouters.

Additionally, the Timespace Radar Ziku has the ability to detect power levels allowing it to function as a Scouter for Tekka's Team alerting them to the presence of powerful fighters or when it detects the energy of allies it recognizes such as Goku and Piccolo. His ability is even greater than normal scouters as he can detect high power levels without breaking and can even detect power levels in other timelines within the Timespace Rift which indicate time holes which are areas where timespace is weak and can be opened by Tekka using Burst Ki, allowing people from those timelines to enter the timespace rift. Ziku is also capable of differentiating between power levels, though it is not perfect as he briefly mistakes Nappa and Raditz's power level for Trunks and Goten, though he may have been detecting residual traces of the boys' energy as they had recently fought Nappa and Raditz. Like Ki Sense, Ziku can also be confused by the multiple energy signatures produced by Cell due to his genetic makeup, as it detects Goku and Piccolo's energy at first which causes Tekka's Team to open a time hole at the Cell Games Area so they might train under them, only for Ziku to then detect Vegeta, Frieza, and King Cold's energy after the time hole is open before Perfect Cell emerges revealing that Ziku was detecting Perfect Cell's energy.

In Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Scouters return and serve the same purpose they did in Xenoverse. New characters equipped with Scouter's include Turles, Dodoria, and Zarbon, though Dodoria and Zarbon only have them equipped to specific skillsets. All the Scouter models from Xenoverse appear along with the addition of Dore's Scouter. In promotional material the male Saiyan Future Warrior wears Tagoma's Scouter which can be unlocked randomly in Parallel Quest 73: "Frieza's Siege Against Earth!" in Xenoverse 2 by completing it with an Ultimate Finish.

"A golden scouter that shines beautifully." — Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Golden Scouter description

Additionally, there is a rare Golden Scouter model which appears as a Raid Quest reward. Alternatively, after unlocking Nappa's special costume the Future Warrior can continue to give Gift (Nappa) to Nappa to randomly receive a Golden Scouter though they may randomly receive a Golden Great Ape Suit piece instead. It is essentially a metallic gold New Model Scouter with a gold lens.

While investigating the Capsule Corp time rift anomaly, Saiyan Time Patroller Hakusa will mention to the Future Warrior that not even her customized Scouter cannot read Vegeta's power level, indicating that if a persons power level extremely high a Scouter may not be able to read it at all.

It is revealed during the story that the Time Nest's communications are linked to a Patroller's scouters or communicator if they do not wear a Scouter. Communicators can be turned off according to Trunks: Xeno though it is unknown if the same is true for Scouter-based communication. During the opening prologue, the Warrior recoils as a result of Old Kai's shouting indicating Scouter-based audio can cause pain to the user if the person they are communicating with shouts or is loud (it is implied Elder Kai talks loudly due to his age effecting his hearing) due to the Scouter being close to their ear. However, the Time Nest's communications are vulnerable to being hacked as shown by Towa in Age 779 when she hacked in to lure Beerus and Whis to Age 852 which the Warrior is able to hear through their Scouter (or communicator). However, Trunks: Xeno and the Warrior later discovered Towa had used information from the Masked Future Warrior to access the Time Nest's communications indicating she was only able to get in due the brainwashed Patroller's assistance.

While investigating the Frieza's Spaceship time rift anomaly, Guldo reveals to the Future Warrior that he wishes they had a scouter that was designed to fit him. Orlen also states he wishes he they could make a scouter that wouldn't blow up in his face.

If a Super Saiyan 3 transformation is used while wearing Dore's Scouter, the scouter will disappear from the Warrior's character model while in the form, like most accessories that cover the top of the head, however the Scouter View will still be present even while transformed into a SSJ3. Other Scouters are not effected in this manner when a SSJ3 transformation is used.

• Old Model Scouter (Green) - 1st generation Scouter used by Bardock's Planet Elite Force members Bardock and Fasha.
  • Old Model Scouter (Red) - 1st generation Scouter.
  • Old Model Scouter (Blue) - 1st generation Scouter.
  • Old Model Scouter (Purple) - 1st generation Scouter.
• Scouter (Red) - 2nd generation Scouter used by Prince Vegeta when he came to Earth. Time Patroller Tennille wears one when shapeshifting as Turles. Its description indicates it is a high-ranking warrior's scouter.
  • Scouter (Blue) - 2nd generation Scouter used by Elite Saiyan Nappa.
  • Scouter (Green) - 2nd generation Scouter used by Low Class Saiyan Raditz which was later recovered by Bulma.
  • Scouter (Purple) - 2nd generation Scouter used by Abo & Kado.
• New Model Scouter (Red) - 3rd generation Scouter used by the Tyrant Frieza. Female Time Patroller Hakusa uses this model as well, though it is revealed to have been customized by Hakusa in Xenoverse 2.
  • New Model Scouter (Blue) - 3rd generation Scouter given to all of Frieza's officers. It is also used by the Namekian Time Patroller and Taino Force member Ukatz.
  • New Model Scouter (Green) - 3rd generation Scouter used by the Ginyu Force and Time Patrollers Taino, Percel, and Nema when shapeshifting as Salza. This model was also briefly worn by Ginyu while in Goku's body. It is the scouter worn by the Future Warrior in promotional material for both Xenoverse and Xenoverse 2. The second Future Warrior is equipped with this scouter by default at the start of Xenoverse 2.
  • New Model Scouter (Purple) - 3rd generation Scouter.
• Tagoma's Scouter - A blue visor-shaped Scouter worn by Sorbet's Elite member Tagoma in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ and Dragon Ball Super. Part of the Resurrection ‘F’ Pack DLC in Xenoverse. It is also the scouter model worn by the second Future Warrior in promotional material for Xenoverse 2 and in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 The Manga.
• Dore's Scouter - A helmet with a built-in Scouter worn by Dore of Cooler's Armored Squadron that appears in Xenoverse 2. It is the only equipable scouter in Xenoverse 2 with an yellow lens (though there is one with a gold lens).
• Golden Scouter - A rare ornate golden New Model Scouter with a gold lens available to the Time Patrol in Xenoverse 2. This type of Scouter can be acquired as a completion reward for achieving a certain amount of points in certain Raid Quests or as a random reward for giving gifts to Nappa after unlocking his special costume for Partner Customization.

"A device used to measure a lifeform's power level, which is displayed on the screen over the wearer's left eye. It can detect power levels both nearby and from a distance." — Scouter Z-Encyclopedia Summary in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

In Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Scouters are used by the Saiyans and members of the Frieza Force. After Raditz's defeat, Bulma recovers and repairs his scouter. It is shown that she apparently repaired it a second time after it blew while reading Goku's power level during his fight with Vegeta, as she has it during the post Saiyan Saga Intermission during the Sub Story "Mysterious Power Reading" in which it detects a high power level near the crash site of Raditz's Spaceship in the East Ravine area. She enlists Gohan to investigate as it's too much for Master Roshi to handle. At the crash site, Gohan finds three Saibamen and defeats them. After picking up a High-Quality Carrot near the crash site he returns to Bulma. He wonders what the Saibamen were doing their and Bulma surmises that their was a Saibamen Set within the space pod which was scattered when Gohan broke out. She also suspects the High-Quality Carrot was a normal carrot that got some of the growth supplement spilled on it. During the Sub Story "Foreboding Fear", it is revealed that Attack Balls carry communications chips that apparently record Scouter transmissions as Gohan finds a slightly fried chip from Raditz's destroyed pod and with Bulma's help recovers a broken audio file of the Saiyans talking about Frieza (however his name is garbled each time it is spoken) though Gohan and Bulma can't understand it due to the poor audio quality due to some of the Chip's circuits being burnt out. Presumably these chips allow the Frieza Force to better monitor Scouter communications. During Frieza Saga Episode 1, a Frieza Force Commando and Frieza Force Officer replace Banan and Sūi as the soldiers that find Bulma, Krillin, and Gohan. The Officer uses his Scouter to read their power levels and assumes they are weak unaware they are suppressing their ki. Zarbon's Scouter detects Gohan and Krillin powering up to fight the soldiers after the Officer damages the Nameless Namek's Spaceship with a ki blast. Cui uses his Scouter to communicate with Vegeta after Frieza gives Cui permission to eliminate the traitorous Vegeta. Cui assumes Vegeta is no threat until Vegeta uses his ability to power up which causes Zarbon's Scouter to explode causing Dodoria to use his newer model to read Vegeta's power level like in the main series. Vegeta continues to use his scouter to monitor the Frieza Force's communication up until Moori destroys their Scouters. While confronting Dodoria, Vegeta crushes his Scouter in his hand while flying instead of dropping it to the ground and using foot. Interestingly, a dropped Scouter with a red lens can be found near the crash sites of Vegeta and Cui's spaceships. Vegeta, Gohan, and Goku after he arrives can examine the Scouter to overhear a Frieza Force Soldier trying to contact Alpha Team to apparently warn then about some Giant fish in their way though the transmission is garbled and they receive no answer causing the soldier to guess they can say what ever they want, so they demand more money claiming they don't get enough for this kind of work. Additionally a Healade (a drink that restores health in and out of battle) spawns near the Scouter. This shows that not all the Scouters on Namek were destroyed before the Ginyu Force's arrival. However none of the soldiers on Namek apparently manage to find it. Interestingly, neither Vegeta or Gohan decide to take or destroy this Scouter though it's garbled transmission indicates it might have been damaged, which may indicates it could no longer read power levels and only it's communicator was still functional albeit barely. When the Ginyu Force arrive they do not have the case carrying Scouters like they do in the main series. Instead they have a single Scouter that Frieza requested for himself which Jeice gives to him. Captain Ginyu uses his Scouter to lock on to Vegeta's power signature.

Trivia

• The first and last power level read by a scouter in the manga is "5". The first time occurs when Raditz lands at Earth and uses his scouter to examine a hostile farmer to see if he is any threat to him. The last time occurs when King Cold's soldier Iru reads Future Trunks' power level as "5" (as Future Trunks was hiding his true level); this is the last time a Scouter appeared on the main series.
• In an interview, the author Akira Toriyama claims there are also dual-eye versions of these devices. Many years later, Tagoma and a member of Appule's race that was one of the 1000 soldiers were the first (and so far, only) characters shown to have this kind of scouter.
  • However Turtz wears one as it is a byproduct of his EX-Fusion. Additionally the Future Warrior in Xenoverse 2 wears Tagoma's Scouter model in promotional material and in "Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 The Manga".
• Bulma is one of the few good characters to use a scouter in the series. Tarble also wears one, until it explodes from reading Goku's power. Vegeta is the only Z Fighter to have ever used a scouter (outside of video games such as the Legacy of Goku series in which Scouters can be used by various Z Fighters). Goku's father Bardock also worn a Scouter. Goku technically wears one as well though it was actually Ginyu in control of Goku's body at the time when the Scouter (which belonged to Ginyu) was worn.
  • Trunks: Xeno briefly wears Ginyu's Scouter after returning to his original body which had been stolen by Ginyu. Coincidentally it was a green lens scouter like the one used by his mother.
• In Dragon Ball Xenoverse, the third generation Scouter, New Model Scouter (Blue) is described as the model given to officers in the Frieza Force. Interestingly, Tagoma's Scouter visor is also blue, which given his rank as one of Sorbet's top henchman, it indicates the possibly that a Scouter's color (as well as model) may be used to identify a soldier's rank within the Frieza Force.
  • On a related note, a Scouters color tends to be related to a characters role in the story. For example, main villains/antagonists tend to wear red lens scouters as shown by Vegeta, Frieza, and Turles while their subordinates tend to wear green and blue lens scouters. Generally Green lens scouters are worn by the weakest henchman as shown by Raditz, Cui, and Dodoria, while the stronger henchman tend to wear blue lens as shown by Nappa, Zarbon, and Tagoma. However the Ginyu Force, Ado and Cado, Cooler's Armored Squadron, and rank-and-file Combatants do not follow this pattern.
    • Bardock's Elite does not follow the pattern either however Bardock is a protagonist and his squad mates are his comrades who are brutally murdered by Dodoria's Elite who in turn are minions of Frieza, the main antagonist in Bardock, Father of Goku special. Interestingly, protagonists tend to wear green lens scouters as Bardock, Fasha, Bulma, and both Future Warriors (as their default scouter is green in both Xenoverse and Xenoverse 2) all wear green scouters. Ironically the only scouter Goku ever wore was also green, though this was when Captain Ginyu was in control of Goku's body.
    • Turles' Crusher Corps. follows this pattern only for Turles, Rasin, and Lakasei as Turles wears a red lens while Rasin and Lakasei wear green lens. Amond, Cacao, and Daiz break the pattern as they all wear red lens like Turles.
  • However it should be noted that according to Akira Toriyama, Scouter lens colors are generally selected for either aesthetic purposes or to fit the particularities of certain alien races eyes (as certain lens colors may be better than others depending the species as their eyes may work differently than other aliens).
• In Xenoverse 2, Guldo mentions that there were no scouter modals capable of fitting him and wish someone would make one that could fit him, implying that Guldo and his fellow Bas were unable to use Scouters at that point in time. However Guldo's wish would eventually come true as by Age 1000 in Dragon Ball Online there were Scouter models that could be worn by Bas members of the Galactic Frieza Army.
  • However the Mutant Bas Kuruzo of New Gadget Super Lovers has only two eyes and pointy ears allowing him to wear his blue lens Scouter without any trouble.
• The Scouters used by Cheelai and Lemo apparently can only calculate up to 99,999 before its safety feature stops it to prevent Scouter overload. This suggests levels beyond 99,999 such as Broly's are unreadable to these newer models.
• Similar devices appear in other series not related to Dragon Ball:
  • Star Fox characters Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, and Wolf O'Donnell occasionally wear devices that appear similar to scouters.
  • The manga and anime series Yu Yu Hakusho has devices similar to scouters, but they are handheld. They are used by the demons that serve Yomi and were used to measure the power levels for the 5 demons Jin, Chu, Rinko, Suzuki and Shishiwakamaru when they arrive at Yomi's palace. It is also used to read the power level for Kurama as well as that of Yomi's clone Shura during his growth development.
  • In Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, duels are viewed using devices called Duel Gazers, which resemble scouters.
  • In the anime series Ultimate Muscle, there is a character named Bone Cold wore an eyepatch that can read a person's energy level, similar to the scouter.
  • In the online game Lost Saga, a Epic gear looks like a Scouter.
  • In the MMORPG game Maplestory, players can purchase an item called a scouter in the special store. It is an eyewear equipment item, but is just for looks. The eyepiece of the scouter is Pink.
  • In the game Scribblenauts, if a player were to type in "It's Over 9000", a scouter-like object would appear and could be worn on Maxwell's eye. It has no other purpose.
  • In the online game Wonderking, there is an accessory called the scouter, the eyepiece is red, and the description is "It's over 9000".
  • In the video game series WWE SmackDown! vs Raw, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, there is a head wear piece that closely resembles a scouter to be found in the Create-A-Superstar character creation mode.
  • In "Go, God Go", an episode from South Park, Otter army members are seen wearing scouters.
  • There is a show named The Amazing Spiez, where there are four kids working under Jerry's WOOHP wearing a green device, which is similar to a scouter.
  • The website Gaia Online has an item that resembles a scouter, though it is only an item to be equipped on your avatar.
  • The Facebook game Ninja Trick has an item which strongly resembles a scouter. It is called Galaxy Scanner and has a green eye component, which resembles the scouter's display.
  • In the game Epic Battle Fantasy 3, a character named Lance has a scouter and he notes that he got it from someone with a tail.
  • In Sonic X, Sonic and Tails both wear red scouter-like devices with a microphone attached on two separate episodes of the series.
    • In Sonic Adventure 2, Rouge the Bat can obtain an item called the Treasure Scope which looks very similar to a scouter.
  • In Beyblade V-Force, the members of Team Psykick use devices that resemble scouters in order to control their Cyber Bit Beasts.
  • In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a device called the Aura Reader, which resembles a scouter, is used to identify Shadow Pokémon.
  • The Solid Eye in Metal Gear Solid is a device that looks like an eyepatch, but which actually has functions such as Bio Monitor.
  • In the game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations, the victim in the third case, Glen Elg, wears a light-green radio on his eye that highly resembles a scouter.
  • In the 2013 film Iron Man 3, the device that Tony Stark wears on his head to control his armor remotely resembles a scouter.
  • In The Seven Deadly Sins, Merlin, the Boar's Sin of Gluttony has a magic item called Balor's Power Eye that reads the power levels of other characters within sight in numerical values.
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved, Marines have scouter-like devices attached to their helmets.
  • The video game WATCH_DOGS features mini-games known as "Digital Trips", and one such Digital Trip, "Conspiracy!", features the main character, Aiden Pearce, hunting down cyborgs hidden amongst humans. To identify the cyborgs, he wears a small scouter-like device (which features a black lens [that bears a large blue "N" on it] and an integrated bluetooth earpiece) over his right eye.
  • In the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, players can acquire scouter-like eye pieces known as "efficiency scanners" in a number of colors, including blue, red, green, and black.

Gallery

Tuffle1(Pln).png Tuffles wearing scouters Tuffle2(Pln).png A Tuffle wearing a scouter Kid Vegeta's green scouter Tora's green scouter Tora reaching for his scouter Adult Vegeta's red scouter Raditz's green scouter Raditz scans Piccolo's power level on their first encounter Raditz measures the power of the Special Beam Cannon Raditz's scouter reads Gohan's power level Scouter's outsides Scouter's internal mechanisms Close-up of a scouter's interior Bulma examines Raditz's scouter in the full color manga Storyboard for "Gohan Goes Bananas!" featuring artwork of Bulma wearing Raditz's Scouter and Battle Armor Bulma with Raditz's scouter Krillin's power level reading Master Roshi's power level reading Nappa's and Vegeta's scouters Nappa checking his scouter Piccolo is scanned by Nappa's scouter Vegeta crushes his scouter 2 Control Tower Soldiers' green scouters Dodoria's scouter is activated by Gohan's power Captain Ginyu's green scouter Recoome's green scouter Burter uses his scouter to check Goku's power level Goku is being scanned by Burter's scouter Jeice's green scouter Burter's and Jeice's scouters Ginyu uses his scouter Strock's scouter An unnamed soldier and Iru with their scouters Cold's last surviving soldier with his scouter Amond's scouter.png Amond's red scouter TurlesScouter.png Turles with a red scouter DragonBallZMovie518.jpg Neiz wearing his scouter Dr. Gero scans Gohan Dr. Gero scans Krillin Dr. Gero scans Piccolo Dr. Gero scans Tien Sorbet wearing his Scouter in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ DXRD Caption of an Appule's race soldier with a double lance visor-like Scouter, a thin Planthorr-esque soldier & frog-like advisor. Revival of F manga chapter 2.png DXRD Caption of a thin Dodoria's race & Appule's race PTO soldier - Revival of F manga chapter 2.png DXRD Caption of Cui's race PTO soldier - Revival of F manga chapter 2.png DXRD Caption of Ledgic's race PTO soldier - Revival of F manga chapter 2.png Cheelai wearing her scouter Dodoria wearing his Scouter during the Frieza Force's first visit to Planet Vegeta Goku checked on in Supersonic Warriors Victory.JPG Super Saiyan Goku checked on in Supersonic Warriors Fighter scanned by the scouter in Buu's Fury Fighter scanned by the scouter in Buu's Fury Fighter scanned by the scouter in Buu's Fury Fighter scanned by the scouter in Buu's Fury Mr. Popo scanned by the scouter in Buu's Fury World Map shown thanks to the scouter in Buu's Fury Raditz in Dragon Ball Z: Sagas Nappa in Dragon Ball Z: Sagas Vegeta's rising power level against Goku in Dragon Ball Z: Sagas Scouter Battle Taikan Kamehameha with a replica scouter Vegeta with a red Scouter in Attack of the Saiyans Nappa with a blue scouter in Attack of the Saiyans Blue Hawk being scannd by a Scouter in Attack of the Saiyans Scouter Heroes.png Beat using a Scouter in Heroes Using the scouter in DBH: Ultimate Mission Using the scouter in DBH: Ultimate Mission Using the scouter in DBH: Ultimate Mission Using the scouters in DBH: Ultimate Mission Vegeta and Nappa wearing scouters in Xenoverse Ginyuman's helmet equipped with a green scouter visor in Dragon Ball Fusions Android 16's power level in Dokkan Battle