Fortuneteller Baba is the ancient, witch-like sister of Master Roshi who operates a fortune-telling business on a floating crystal ball above the desert, serving as a bridge between the living world, the afterlife, and the hidden truths buried in time. Despite her shriveled appearance, wrinkled blue skin, and riding a floating crystal ball with the casual menace of a classic Disney witch, Baba's services have been instrumental to multiple Dragon Ball plots: she located the last Dragon Ball for Goku during the Red Ribbon Army Saga, revealed the hidden fighters of Other World through her champion tournament, and — most crucially — brought Goku back to the living world for a single day during the Buu Saga using her afterlife connections. ... Read more
Species: Human (Earthling, Ancient Witch) · First Appearance: Dragon Ball Chapter 98 / Dragon Ball Episode 68 (1987) · Power Level: ~50 (magic-enhanced). Fortune-telling, afterlife resurrection (24 hours), and champion tournament management.
Fortuneteller Baba Overview
Fortuneteller Baba is the ancient, witch-like sister of Master Roshi who operates a fortune-telling business on a floating crystal ball above the desert, serving as a bridge between the living world, the afterlife, and the hidden truths buried in time. Despite her shriveled appearance, wrinkled blue skin, and riding a floating crystal ball with the casual menace of a classic witch, Baba's services have been instrumental to multiple Dragon Ball plots.
She located the last Dragon Ball for Goku during the Red Ribbon Army Saga, revealed the hidden fighters of Other World through her champion tournament, and most crucially, brought Goku back to the living world for a single day during the Buu Saga using her afterlife connections. Baba's fee is exorbitant — billions of zeni — though she accepts alternative payment in the form of defeating her five afterlife champions in combat.
That champion tournament gave Dragon Ball one of its most emotionally powerful moments: Goku's tearful reunion with his deceased Grandpa Gohan, who served as Baba's strongest champion. Baba operates a concession stand in the afterlife, and her ability to temporarily resurrect the dead for twenty-four-hour visits is one of the few abilities that bypasses standard Dragon Ball resurrection rules. Her personality is sharp, greedy, and unsentimental, yet beneath the crone's exterior lies genuine affection for her brother Roshi and a grudging respect for Goku's friends.
Basic Character Data
| Species | Human (Earthling, Ancient Witch) — Immortal via magical means |
| First Appearance | Dragon Ball Chapter 98 / Episode 68 (1987) |
| Power Level | ~50 (magic-enhanced) — Minimal combat ability, compensated by magic and champions |
| Affiliation | Independent — Affiliated with the Lookout/Kami by blood (Roshi's sister) |
| Height / Weight | ~100 cm (3'3") / 28 kg (62 lbs) |
| Key Techniques | Fortune Telling, Afterlife Channeling, Summon Afterlife Champions, Crystal Ball Scrying, Teleportation |
| Afterlife Champions | Grandpa Gohan, Duke Devil, Dracula Man, Spike the Devil Man, See-Through the Invisible Man |
| Voice Actor (Japanese) | Ryo Saeba (DB), Miyoko Aso (DBZ, Kai) |
| Voice Actor (English) | Linda Young (Funimation), Cynthia Cranz (Kai) |
Ability and Skill Analysis
Fortuneteller Baba's abilities are unique in the Dragon Ball universe — she operates in the space between the living world and the afterlife, wielding powers that even the Z-Fighters cannot replicate.
Fortune Telling / Crystal Ball Scrying. Baba's primary service — she can locate any person, object, or Dragon Ball anywhere in the world using her crystal ball. This scrying ability is unrestricted: she found the last Dragon Ball for Goku in seconds, a feat that would have taken the Red Ribbon Army weeks. The crystal ball can also replay past events and track real-time movements. This makes Baba one of the most powerful information brokers in the world.
Afterlife Channeling and Resurrection. Baba's most significant power: she can temporarily bring the dead back to the living world for 24 hours. This is not Dragon Ball resurrection — it is a temporary spiritual manifestation that requires negotiations with Other World authorities. She used this to bring Goku back to Earth during the Buu Saga when the Z-Fighters desperately needed his power. The ability to communicate with and summon the dead bypasses the standard rules of Dragon Ball's afterlife.
Afterlife Champion Summon. Baba maintains a contract with five deceased warriors from Other World who serve as her champions. She can summon them to the living world to fight on her behalf. These champions include Grandpa Gohan (a martial arts master), Spike the Devil Man (a psychic demon), Duke Devil, Dracula Man, and See-Through the Invisible Man. Each champion has unique abilities that make them dangerous despite power levels far below the Z-Fighters.
Concession Stand Management. In a bizarre detail, Baba operates a concession stand in the afterlife. This position gives her connections and influence in Other World's bureaucracy, which she leverages to bypass standard procedures. Her ability to navigate both living and dead worlds makes her an invaluable intermediary. She can teleport between the living world and the afterlife at will, a feat of transportation magic that even most gods cannot match.
Build Recommendations
Fortuneteller Baba rarely appears as a playable character. When she does, her builds emphasize support, scrying, and champion-summoning mechanics.
Xenoverse 2 — Support Tactician
- 125 Ki / 125 Stamina / 75 Health
- Super Soul: "Baba knows all!" — reveals enemy ki gauge, boosts support skills
- Skills: Energy Zone, Paralysis Trap, Evil Whirlwind, Maximum Charge
- Ultimate: Super Electric Strike or Dragon Fist
- Role: Summon-based support. Use knowledge of enemy position to set traps.
Legends — Support Type
- Tags: Earthling, Support, Dragon Ball Saga
- Main Ability: "The future is clear!" — reduces all enemies' Ki by 30, +50% team heal
- Unique: Ally defeated? Summon Grandpa Gohan as a temporary ally for 10 seconds
- Recommended bench: HP + Ki Recovery buffers
- Playstyle: Stay on bench, switch for clutch support and champion summon
Budokai Tenkaichi 3 — Gimmick
- Blast 1: Crystal Ball — reveals enemy location on map
- Blast 2: Summon Champion — random afterlife fighter assists
- Ultimate: Future Sight — dodge next attack automatically
- Strategy: Use prediction tools to counter opponent's next move
FighterZ — Not Playable
Baba is not playable in FighterZ. She appears in the story mode as an information broker. For a fortune-based playstyle, Hit's predictive fighting is the closest analog.
Strategy Guide
Baba's strategic value comes from knowledge and prediction rather than combat. She is a tactician who wins before the fight begins through superior information.
Information Warfare. Baba's crystal ball gives her perfect information. In games with map mechanics, constantly use scrying to track opponent position. Share this information with teammates through communication. An opponent who knows they are being watched makes more cautious decisions, which you can exploit.
Champion Management. Baba's afterlife champions are expendable but valuable resources. Do not summon them immediately — wait for the optimal moment. Grandpa Gohan is best used as a counter-attacker against aggressive opponents. Spike the Devil Man excels against slow, powerful enemies. Save See-Through the Invisible Man for surprise flanking maneuvers.
Fee Negotiation. In narrative games, leverage Baba's greed to your advantage. Free services can be obtained by offering unique items or knowledge. The champion tournament alternative payment is actually the better deal — you gain combat experience and the champions' respect in addition to Baba's service.
Mobility. Baba's crystal ball flight allows her to escape most dangerous situations. Never engage in direct combat unless absolutely necessary. Her role is observation, communication, and support — let champions and allies handle physical confrontation.
Matchup Analysis
| Matchup | Advantage | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| vs. Goku (Kid) | Favored | Goku's pure heart makes him vulnerable to emotional manipulation (Grandpa Gohan reveal). Baba can use psychological tactics that Goku cannot counter. |
| vs. Master Roshi | Even | They are siblings — Roshi knows Baba's tricks. However, Roshi cannot counter his sister's magical abilities. Their relationship complicates direct conflict. |
| vs. Grandpa Gohan | Favored | Baba holds Grandpa Gohan's contract. He cannot attack her directly. Her control over his afterlife status ensures his cooperation. |
| vs. Kami | Favored | Baba's afterlife connections rival Kami's authority. She can bypass Kami's restrictions on bringing the dead to the living world. Her independence gives her leverage. |
Expert Tips
Free Scrying
Baba's crystal ball scrying is most valuable before a fight. If given prep time, use her to identify the opponent's team composition, equipment, and strategy before committing to battle.
Champion Rotation
Do not let champions die permanently. Recall them before they take fatal damage. A recalled champion can be re-summoned after a cooldown period; a dead champion may take days to regenerate.
Afterlife Discount
Baba's afterlife concession stand connections mean powerful beings owe her favors. In games with currency systems, leverage these favors for discounts on divine items or scrolls.
Emotional Exploitation
Baba's best weapon against pure-hearted opponents is emotional manipulation. Grandpa Gohan's presence destabilizes Goku. Similar tactics work on characters with deceased loved ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fortuneteller Baba Master Roshi's twin sister?
Yes. Baba is significantly older than Roshi due to her magical lifestyle, but they are biological siblings. She is the elder sister, and their relationship is characterized by sibling rivalry — Roshi fears her, and Baba enjoys reminding him who is in charge.
How does Baba's temporary resurrection work?
Baba's resurrection is a temporary spiritual manifestation, not a true revival. The deceased's soul returns to their body for exactly 24 hours, after which it returns to the afterlife. This bypasses the Dragon Balls' restrictions but cannot be extended or repeated for the same person.
Why did Baba help Goku bring Goku back during the Buu Saga?
Baba helped because she recognized the existential threat Buu posed to both the living and the afterlife. If Buu destroyed Earth, the afterlife would be overcrowded with souls — bad for business at her concession stand. Pragmatic self-interest motivated her.
Can Baba see future events?
Baba's fortune-telling is limited to locating objects and people, not predicting the future. She can see the present state of anything in the world through her crystal ball, but future events remain uncertain. Her title "Fortuneteller" is more marketing than ability.
Is Baba still alive in Dragon Ball Super?
Baba's current status in Super is unknown. She has not appeared in Dragon Ball Super canon since the Universe 6 arc, where she was briefly mentioned. She is presumably still alive given her magical longevity, but her role has diminished as the series shifted toward cosmic-scale threats.
