What episode is "What is the Tournament?" in Dragon Ball Z?
"What is the Tournament?" is episode 166 of Dragon Ball Z.
Spoiler-Safe Summary
safe readTrunks informs the group about an upcoming high-stakes tournament organized by Cell, setting a looming deadline that pressures the heroes to prepare for a critical challenge.
Full Plot Summary
spoilersTrunks tells the others about Cell's tournament. It will be held in nine days, which doesn't give them much time to prepare. Cell builds the tournament ring, and begins to get the word out about the Cell Games.
Episode FAQ
4 quick answersIs "What is the Tournament?" canon or filler?
"What is the Tournament?" is listed as canon in the current AnimeAnchor guide.
What story arc is "What is the Tournament?" part of?
"What is the Tournament?" is part of the Cell Games Saga.
Can I read this without spoilers?
Yes. Start with the spoiler-safe summary, then reveal the full plot only when you want the complete episode breakdown.
Series Cast
18Browse the main cast connected to this episode guide.
Krillin main 
Piccolo main 
Son Gohan main 
Son Goku main 
Vegeta main 
Android 17 supporting 
Android 18 supporting 
Bardock supporting 
Bulma supporting 
Chiaotzu supporting Master Roshi supporting Pan supporting 
Son Goten supporting Tien Shinhan supporting 
Trunks supporting 
Yamcha supporting Babidi antagonist Burter antagonist Related Movies
6Franchise movie releases are kept separate from the TV episode spine.
Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku 1990 
Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might 1990 
Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest 1990 
Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks 1991 
Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! 1992 
Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound 1993