Trunks is one of the most memorable characters in theDragon Ball franchise, largely because there are just so many versions of the character. A time-displaced version of Trunks quickly became a fan-favorite when he was introduced during the "Android Saga" ofDragon Ball Z.
However, thanks to his time travel (along with alternate and sometimes even aborted futures in the form ofDragon Ball GT), there have been multiple versions of Trunks introduced over the years. But how do they stack up against one another? Here's every version of Trunks from across the Dragon Ball multiverse, and how they compare to each other.
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More of an oddity than an actual character, EX Trunks is a notable fusion from the video game Dragon Ball Fusions. He's a combination of the Future Trunks and the core timeline Kid Trunks. Although they have vastly differentpersonalities as a result of their altered upbringings, their affinity for one another allows their fusion to stand out as one of the most synchronic fusions in the multiverse.
This fusion looks mostly like Future Trunks, although he gains some of the purple hair that Kid Trunks has. They are one of the only two fusions of the same person from two different timelines, the other being the Fused Zamasu (who is a fusion of Future Zamasu and Goku Black). However, there hasn't been much in terms of character shown in the fusion, meaning he's just an interesting look more than anything.
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Dragon Ball GT isn't fondly remembered by much of theDragon Ball fandom. The series (which suffered from sloppy animation and almost nonsensical plot beats) spent a certain amount of time early on focusing on Trunks.GT Trunks has actually become more like his mother than other versions. He briefly runs Capsule Corporation before heading off into space alongside Goku and Pan in search of the Black Star Dragon Balls. It's interesting to see Trunks pick up the more adventurous spirit of his mother and not just his father's Saiyan habits, but he never gets the level of depth or attention that the concept deserves.
Instead, the character (and the show as a whole) are plagued by a poor attempt to fuse the tones of Dragon Ball andDragon Ball Z. After the initial arc in space, Trunks becomes more commonly just one of the Z-Warriors who throws himself into battle. He helps fight against Super 17 and Omega Shenron, more as cannon fodder and a distraction than the main fighter. But he is able to survive these battles and do his part. GT Trunks is one of the better parts ofDragon Ball GT, but he's still a tonally weird version of the character.
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Kid Trunks is the version of the character from the core Dragon Ball universe. Born during the time-skip between Frieza's defeat and the arrival of the Androids, Kid Trunks was given the chance to live in a world where the heroes were prepared for the dangers coming for them. Unlike the version who had to live in a battle-ravaged world, Kid Trunks instead got to grow up with his father alive, a best friend in Goten, and eventually even a sister named Bulla.
This version of Trunks has also developed an attitude that other versions lack, having inherited some of his father's prideful boisterous elements. He's also proven incredibly powerful for his age, having the ability to go Super Saiyan on his own and even being capable of hitting Super Saiyan 3 when fused with Gotenks. The problem is that the character didn't get much development duringDragon Ball Z and much of the early parts ofDragon Ball Super. However, his time with Future Trunks during the "Future Trunks" Saga gave the character a surprising amount of depth and self-reflection, making Kid Trunks more engaging as a result.
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Xeno Trunks refers to a version of Trunks from theDragon Ball Xenoversecorner of the franchise. At first glance, he's very similar to Future Trunks, with his timeline initially playing out in a very similar way.After defeating the Androids and Cell of his world though, he was whisked away to the mysterious Time Nest. His use of a time machine is considered a crime by the Chronoa, the Supreme Kai of Time. She recruits him as a member of her Time Patrol to make up for his mistakes. Xeno Trunks is tasked with helping protect the timeline from the dangerous Towa and Mira, This Trunks proved to be perhaps the most powerful version of the character in the franchise, as his battles across the timeline have forced him to take on new forms and power levels that haven't been reached by any other version of the character.
This is also a Trunks who made use of two unique fusions: he used the Potara Earrings to fuse with Xeno Vegeta and create Vegeks, and would later use the Fusion Dance with Gohan to create Gohanks. He would eventually even reach levels of power that the core Future Tunks never has, achieving Super Saiyan 3 and even eventually the Super Saiyan God form. This Trunks is a great representation of the battle-heavy side ofDragon Ball, finding new extreme levels of power without adding much in terms of character. He's an impressive warrior but doesn't have that extra level of character depth to make him the best of the bunch.
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Future Trunks is the most memorable version of the character, and arguably among the fanbases favorites. His introduction included cutting Frieza in half with a sword, which is a pretty great introduction for any character. It's revealed that this Trunks comes from a timeline where Goku passed away from heart disease. He wasn't there to help fight the Red Ribbon Army Androids, who wiped out the rest of the Z-Warriors -- including Trunks' father Vegeta before he ever got to know him and Piccolo, meaning the Dragon Balls were once more lost. He trained under Gohan (until he died as well) before heading into the past using a time machine constructed by his mother. Future Trunks received a decent amount of attention in his first series of appearances, fighting alongside the Z-Warriors before eventually returning to his own time and completing his own arc.
His eventual return duringDragon Ball Super added even more pathos to the character, giving him a love interest in Mai and a new mortal enemy in Goku Black. The "Future Trunks" arc helps elevate Future Trunks beyond his (already pretty solid) character development fromDragon Ball Zand helps shoot him beyond almost the rest of the entire supporting cast in terms of emotional richness. This is a character who actually recognizes and deals with the trauma of living in a world where laser blasts wipe out entire cities, and it's an engaging take on the universe. There's a melancholy to Future Trunks and his plight that makes him unique to the franchise, and easily one of the engaging characters in the entire world.
Also, he learns how to activate a unique form of power called Super Saiyan Rage, and even figures out how to essentially turn his sword into a spirit bomb-powered lightsaber with a move called the Sword of Hope, and that's just awesome.
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