I think it’s only fair that I should warn you guys. You don’t stand a chance against me!
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~ Trunks
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Kakarott? Oh, you mean Goku. That's right, we need him for this battle too!
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~ Trunks
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You’re about to find out what it’s like to fight a real super Saiyan! And I’m not talking about Goku!
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~ Trunks
“
Why Gohan? Why'd you go at it alone. You should've let me help you! Damn you! You didn't have to do it alone! I can't do it without you! You were the only friend I ever had. Look...look what they did to you! It's not fair! DAMMIT, IT'S NOT FAIR! I WASN'T READY TO LOSE YOU! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ME! GOHAAAAAAAAAAN!!!
Future Trunks (のトランクス Mirai no Torankusu) is a Saiyan-Earthling hybrid and the son of Vegeta and Bulma, both from an alternate future. By the time Present Trunks was born, the timeline had been drastically altered by Future Trunks' and Cell's trips to the past. Therefore, the two Trunks had completely different lives (as opposed to those who lived before the Time Machines arrived, who lived exactly the same lives as their counterparts until the point at which the two timelines diverge, three years before the androids arrived).
Well-mannered, serious and very cautious, Trunks hails from an alternate timeline in which Future Androids 17 and 18 murdered the Dragon Team and proceeded to create an apocalyptic anarchy on Earth. Trunks is trained by Future Gohan as a teenager and becomes a gifted fighter, swordsman and a Super Saiyan, which are traits that aid him greatly in the battle against the Androids after traveling back in time in order to save his own future.
This dropdown contains the synopsis of Future Trunk’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!
Trunks was born in Age 766 and is from an alternate timeline, one in which the Earth had been continuously terrorized by the evil Android 17 and Android 18. By the time we are introduced to the pair of Androids, over three fourths of the world's population has been eliminated due to their spree of destruction. In this future, Gohan and Trunks are weaker versions of themselves without the training of the experienced Dragon Team later on.
In this timeline, Goku dies of a heart virus six months before the Androids arrive, leaving the Z Fighters without one of their greatest heroes. His father Vegeta and all of the other Z Fighters (except Future Gohan) are killed, with the Androids easily outclassing them in power since they were both built to be more powerful than Goku. The Z Fighters are unable to be wished back to life as the Dragon Balls are permanently useless, due to Piccolo's death, which also kills Kami. Over the course of the next thirteen years, Gohan becomes Future Trunks' mentor and trains him in everything he knows, also teaching him swordsmanship. Gohan tries his best to teach Trunks how to become a Super Saiyan as well, necessary for him to compete against the Androids' might. However, with everyone already dead and having not yet felt a certain level of sadness and sorrow, Trunks simply cannot find the motivation to transform (in the manga, Trunks had already achieved the Super Saiyan form at this time).
Trunks is at age 14 at the time. In an amusement park named Super World, Gohan and Trunks face the Androids in battle where Trunks, in his inexperience, is cornered by Android 18. Gohan is forced to sacrifice himself to save Future Trunks, losing his arm in the process which only further demoralizes Trunks and causes his confidence to fall. Trunks tries repeatedly to attain Super Saiyan during training but still struggles with it, unlike his alternate-timeline self who attains it at a much younger age and with relative ease.
Later in Age 780, the pair are drawn into battle against the Androids again, so Gohan knocks Trunks unconscious knowing that if he faces them again, he will be killed. Gohan holds his own against the Androids at Pepper Town, being stronger than each individually (only in the anime; Gohan initially lost against Android 17 who was using less than half his full strength, and even after the years of training with Trunks, he is effortlessly defeated by the foe and killed before Trunks awakens) but unable to compete with both of them and their infinite energy reserves. Gohan is defeated and killed, leaving Trunks to find his body lying in the rain. Overcome with anger and grief, Trunks finally transforms into a Super Saiyan (in the manga, he was able to transform already, but due to his inexperience was unable to even keep up with an arm-less Gohan in his normal state, until his training for the next three years) and spends the next few years training to avenge his fallen allies, though he still struggles to defeat them.
After another close escape at Bridgetown in Age 783, Future Bulma reveals her Time Machine to her son, which she hopes he will use to return to the past and save Goku, hopefully altering the future. In this future, Trunks did not know his father Vegeta at all, as he was only an infant at the time he was murdered by the Androids.
Frieza-Androids Interlude
In Age 784, Trunks travels back in time 20 years, in order to warn Goku about the android threat in the near future, as well as to deliver medication that will cure Goku of the heart virus that he is supposed to die from. However, upon arrival he is greeted by Frieza with his father King Cold, and he kills all the soldiers Frieza and his father had brought to Earth. They had come to Earth in order to seek revenge upon Goku's loved ones, and to kill Goku himself. Trunks, then seventeen years old, did not look like much of a threat to Frieza, and he freely told him so. Trunks implies his ability to transform into a Super Saiyan, but Frieza, albeit initially shocked, laughs it off along with his father. Trunks, anticipating that Frieza does not believe him, proves it by transforming, to Frieza's horror. Frieza was then given three opportunities to kill Future Trunks, but the young Super Saiyan is able to block and dodge the attacks with ease.
Frustrated, Frieza fires a Supernova at Trunks. Trunks just catches the attack and tells Frieza that he must have "dropped it," after which Frieza detonates the blast with an Energy Wave (only in the anime, while in the manga Frieza never tried a planet-busting ki attack and fired this blast immediately instead). Future Trunks then easily remains unscathed and performs what he calls the Burning Attack to have Frieza dodge the blast, which is followed up by his Shining Sword Attack.
Frieza, cut in half, was defeated by having his body hacked to pieces and Future Trunks then followed up with an energy blast, and was soon followed by his arrogant father King Cold, who was killed by a God Breaker. Trunks then guides the Dragon Team congregated nearby to the place where Goku is going to land, and they all for Goku to arrive. He offers the Z Fighters a drink from his capsule cooler. During their wait, Trunks keeps staring at Vegeta (due to it being the first time he actually met his father since he died during the Android attack in his timeline while he was still a baby), causing the latter to demand to know why he is staring at him. In addition, Bulma notes Trunks' resemblance to Vegeta in facial features and Tien speculates that he must have met Goku during the latter's trip in outer space, although the theory is shot down when Chiaotzu reminds them that Trunks said he never actually met Goku before. After two hours, upon looking at his watch, Trunks informs the Z Fighters that Goku's ship is about to land.
When Goku arrives, Trunks finds out to his chagrin that he interfered with the timeline unnecessarily; although he was several hours away by space pod, Goku was prepared to step in using his Instant Transmission technique (just as he did in Trunks' original timeline) when Trunks showed up and killed Frieza. Trunks then informs Goku of the future where the Androids arrive and kill all of the Z Fighters in a large battle, also telling Goku not to inform anyone about his parents. However, Piccolo's sensitive Namekian ears pick up the conversation, and while he doesn't reveal any information about Trunks, Piccolo tells the Z Fighters of the future, inspiring the heroes to train their hardest for the next three years. However inadvertently, Trunks' revelation of the future alters it slightly.
Androids Saga
When the androids eventually appear and they face the Z Fighters, Goku had not contracted the heart disease six months prior like he was supposed to; instead, he contracted it during the battle against Android 19. Before Goku could be killed, Vegeta saves him, telling Yamcha to take him home and cure him with his medication, and reveals his new Super Saiyan form, killing Android 19 with great ease when he uses his signature Big Bang Attack to reduce him to a smoldering head. Around 18 months later in his timeline, the now 19-year-old Trunks returns to the past to find Android 19's detached head on the Southern Continent and Android 20, two androids he never saw in his timeline and realizes that this timeline is now branching off considerably from his own. When Android 20 (who turns out to be Dr. Gero himself) releases the real androids of his future, Android 17 and Android 18, they rebel and kill their creator before releasing the previously unknown Android 16.
The androids of this timeline prove to be considerably stronger than the ones Trunks had fought, to the point where Android 18 is able to even easily take down Super Saiyan Vegeta and Super Saiyan Trunks together. Vegeta fights Android 18 and eventually loses. Trunks rushes to his father's aid, in an attempt to slash her with his sword; however, she blocks the attack (causing the sword to crack, much to his astonishment), and he was struck down by Android 17 seconds later. Moments later, he had recovered and attempts another attack; however, Android 18 caught on to this and throws Vegeta at him. Trunks was then defeated, while returning to his base form. Afterwards, he and Krillin went to Goku's house to evacuate him from the premises, and boards Yamcha's airship.
As they make their way to Kame House, Trunks suggests that he go even farther back in time using his Time Machine and destroy the androids before they are activated, since they now know where Dr. Gero's Lab was. Yamcha thinks this is a good plan, but Krillin asks if he can get back to the future after going further into the past, as the Time Machine takes a long time to charge up. Gohan asks if the current androids would simply disappear, and Trunks realizes that only the timeline he would travel to would be affected. Krillin is confused, and Trunks explains that each trip to the past creates new futures, using their situation as an example. Yamcha and Krillin then ask what the point of his trip to their timeline was, and Trunks says that he was hoping to find the androids' weakness or bring Goku to his timeline. He notes that this timeline is different, and Gohan asks why. Trunks says he does not know, but Chi-Chi says not to worry, as his trip has saved Goku's life. The others agree that things will turn out for the best.
Cell Saga
As they fly, Krillin calls Bulma who then relates to Trunks how a farmer found a strange Capsule Corporation vehicle out in the wilderness and asked for the company's help to operate it. Bulma says that they did not recognize the man's description, so they asked for a photo, and that the vehicle is in fact Future Trunks' Time Machine, only wrecked. Trunks is stunned, saying that he has his Time Machine with him in capsule form. Bulma tells Trunks that the Time Machine in the photo looks old and is covered with moss and asks how many she made in the future. Trunks says that she was barely able to make one, and Bulma decides to fax Trunks the picture. He confirms it is indeed a Time Machine. Trunks says that he is going, as he must see the machine with his own eyes. Bulma agrees to meet him there, as it is close to Capsule Corporation. Gohan offers to accompany Trunks, who gladly says that he can.
As they fly to meet Bulma, Gohan asks Trunks how badly his world has been devastated. Trunks tells him that the population is in the tens of thousands and that they are forced live in underground shelters. Gohan says that he hopes Trunks can find the Androids weakness, and Trunks speculates about what it might be. He concludes that Dr. Gero must have had some sort of emergency off switch to control the androids due to their power, or else he would not have activated them again. They then arrive at the specified location, and quickly find the Time Machine. Bulma then arrives, and Trunks brings out his Time Machine to show her. Trunks tells her that she only made one Time Machine in the future, yet the damaged one is also his. He then uncovers a message saying 'HOPE!' on the second Time Machine, which he says Future Bulma wrote on the day he left. Trunks and Gohan fly up to the top of the machine, and Gohan notices that the cockpit window has been melted through from the inside. Trunks notices two halves of something inside, which Bulma says look like an egg. Gohan wonders if what was in the egg made the hole in the window. Noticing that the Time Machine still has a bit of power, Trunks turns it on and discovers that it came from the year Age 788, three years after his first trip. He also finds out that the machine has been there for four years, (a full year before he defeated Frieza and King Cold), and wonders if this is why history has changed so much.
Trunks says that they cannot leave the second Time Machine where it is, so he puts it into capsule form. Gohan notices something, and goes over to look at it, quickly calling Bulma and Trunks to come as well. They find what appears to be a giant husk left behind by a molting insect. Trunks suggests that the insect is what came out of the egg in the Time Machine, and notices that the husk is still gooey, meaning that the insect molted recently. As he and Gohan fly to Kame House, Trunks thinks to himself that none of this makes sense.
As soon as the pair arrive at Kame House, they watch the news broadcast at the behest of Krillin. The reporter says that the population of Gingertown mysteriously vanished and all that remains are the residents abandoned clothes. The reporter goes on to say that the residents seemed to have been fighting something off. Trunks believes that whatever hatched from the egg they found is causing the problems in Gingertown. Although Yamcha and Krillin urge him not to, he decides to go investigate.
When Cell powers up during his confrontation with Piccolo, all of the Z Fighters feel his power and identify it as the energy of Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza, and King Cold radiating from a single point. As he flies towards Gingertown, Krillin tags along with Trunks anyway, as they don't know anything about the Gingertown monster and couldn't let him face it by himself. Trunks says that he senses another powerful ki but does not know whose it is. Krillin quickly recognizes it as Piccolo's and says that he must have merged with Kami. Trunks is surprised at the difference made by the fusion. Suddenly, they feel a massive shockwave. Trunks wonders what happened, and Krillin notes that an explosion is visible from where they are. Trunks concludes that Piccolo must have begun battling with the monster.
When Trunks and Krillin reach Gingertown, they find Piccolo engaged in combat with the creature. Trunks is left in complete shock at the creature's appearance, as he remembers the egg that he, his mother, and Gohan had found earlier, which it must have developed and hatched from. Cell soon escapes using the Solar Flare technique, much to Piccolo's anger. When a confused Vegeta arrived, Trunks told him how Piccolo got stronger from his fusion with Kami. After Tien arrives at the battlefield, Piccolo explains Cell's origins and plan to everyone. Trunks was shocked to learn of another android, who is a more dangerous threat especially because he had the cells of the Dragon Team. Krillin says that they will have to find him, but Trunks wonders if they can, noting that Cell will most likely absorb innocent people and then run away with his energy suppressed. Undaunted, Vegeta declares that he will ascend beyond a Super Saiyan and defeat the androids himself before leaving. Krillin asks Trunks if he is correct in believing that traveling to the past and destroying the androids would change nothing in their timeline. Trunks confirms this but says that they should destroy the Present Cell in this timeline to prevent another Cell from appearing. Piccolo instructs the pair to do that while he and Tien search for Cell.
Krillin and Trunks quickly reach the lab's location, and, after some brief searching, find a hole down to the lab's basement. They discover Dr. Gero's Supercomputer along with Present Cell in his larval form. Just as Krillin is about to destroy the basement, Trunks finds blueprints for Android 17. He decides to take them to his mother, who might figure out a weakness in the Androids design, and the pair destroy the rest of the laboratory. As they fly away, Trunks asks Krillin to take the blueprints to Bulma, saying that he is going to train with Vegeta. Krillin says that Vegeta will most likely refuse. Trunks admits that he does not want to train with a monster like Vegeta, but that he will realize that training together is more efficient than doing it by himself. Trunks and Krillin wish each other safe travels and part ways.
Three days later, a now healthy Goku and Gohan teleport to where Vegeta and Trunks are training. They see Trunks sitting by himself while Vegeta stands alone on a ledge. Trunks is happy Goku is back while Goku asks Trunks how their training has progressed. Trunks says that his father will not train with him, viewing him as a nuisance, and has simply stood on the ledge for the past three days. Goku approaches Vegeta and tells him about the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and how it could help them surpass Cell and the androids, piquing his interest. Vegeta agrees to go in with Trunks as long as they can use it first, which Goku agrees with. On The Lookout, Vegeta and Trunks enter the chamber, and Trunks immediately notes that the room is hot, with thin air and high gravity. He is taken aback by the room's vast amount of sheer nothingness and says that it would drive anyone insane. Vegeta says that the room is perfect, and Trunks wonders if he can stand a year alone with his father.
After Goku takes the injured Piccolo and Tien to The Lookout, Vegeta and Trunks finally emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Trunks apologizes for keeping everyone waiting. Goku remarks that he and Vegeta took a long time. Trunks states that Vegeta surpassed the Super Saiyan form within two months, but, unsatisfied with his power, he continued training. Vegeta cuts off Trunks and tells him not to say any more. Bulma arrives at The Lookout and after noticing that Trunks has suddenly grown taller and his hair has grown out, gives them all battle suits that she had made. Just before Vegeta and Trunks head off to face Cell, Goku gives him a few Senzu beans and tells Trunks to do his best.
Soon, Trunks arrives on the island where Vegeta confronts the Bio-Android. Cell notes his presence, saying that the number of opponents does not matter, and that he can wait for more of Vegeta's allies to show up. Vegeta tells Cell that Trunks is nothing but a spectator, and that he alone should suffice to kill him. As Vegeta soundly trounces the creature with his newly acquired power, Cell yells in frustration, saying that if he could only achieve his Perfect Form, Vegeta would be no match for him. Intrigued, Vegeta tells Cell to go and obtain his Perfect Form but as Cell goes to leave, however, Trunks transforms into a Super Saiyan and cuts him off. Vegeta tells Trunks to stop interfering, but he refuses.
Cell yells at Vegeta to do something about Trunks, but then spots Android 18 with Android 16 and Krillin and realizes his perfect form is now within his reach. Trunks looks over and spots them as well. He realizes they do not know Cell has noticed them and screams out "Hey! Cell has found you!". 18, 16 and Krillin all panic, as Cell flies toward them. Trunks says he will not let him reach his perfect form, then transforms into the Super Saiyan Second Grade form like Vegeta and pursues Cell. He almost reaches the android, but Vegeta kicks him away into a nearby mountain. Trunks gets up from the rubble and tells his father that he is making a mistake and they cannot let Cell reach his perfect form because he might surpass them. Drunk on his own power, Vegeta asks his son if he wants to see how strong Cell will get, but he says not at all and he doesn't want another hellish future. Trunks says even if he has to defeat his father, he will stop Cell from reaching his perfect form. Vegeta doubts Trunks can bring himself to attack his own father and says that he is bluffing. However, Trunks proves him wrong when he fires a Super Buster Cannon at Vegeta and goes after Cell. Cell then uses a Solar Flare, blinding Trunks, Krillin, and the androids. With everyone distracted, Cell opens his tail up and absorbs Android 18, finally transforming into his perfect form.
Vegeta watches Cell's transformation in anticipation, while the other three look on in fear and consternation. Trunks, angry at his father, decides to beat down Cell while he still has a chance and charges at Cell. However, Cell creates an Energy Field around himself, which prevents his transformation from being interrupted. Suddenly, Cell's barrier flashes blindingly bright and explodes. Smoke flies around the cringing fighters and Cell emerges from the dust in his new form. Krillin glares at Cell and calls him a monster for absorbing Android 18. In his rage, and ignoring Trunks' warning, Krillin attacks Cell, who isn't harmed in the slightest. Cell punches the air a few times to test his strength, and with a smile, he turns around and casually kicks Krillin in the face, sending him flying and nearly killing him. Trunks immediately rushes to save his comrade's life with a Senzu Bean.
After eating the Senzu Bean, Krillin warns Trunks that Vegeta stands no chance against Cell, and that he will easily be killed. Trunks questions how he knows this, and Krillin explains that while he may not be nearly as strong as a Saiyan, he can sense exactly how strong someone is, and states Cell's kick was nothing more than a light tap. Krillin also exclaims that Cell is hiding much of his power, and he will not need to use it all in his fight. As Trunks looks in concern, Krillin also states that he knows Trunks is hiding massive power himself, perhaps by breaking a barrier of Super Saiyan that Vegeta could not reach. Trunks explains that while both he and Vegeta surpassed the regular Super Saiyan form in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he went a step further, which Vegeta apparently did not notice. Trunks also states he could never tell his father of this, as the revelation would shatter his pride, knowing he has been surpassed once again. Trunks then gets angry and knows Vegeta should have finished off Cell when he had the chance. After watching Cell effortlessly dominate Vegeta, Krillin tells Trunks to help his father with his latent power, otherwise he will be killed, but Trunks states Vegeta would rather be brutally broken and killed than be saved in battle. Reluctantly, Trunks decides to stay put until Cell knocks Vegeta unconscious.
Desperate to kill Cell, Vegeta resorts to using his ultimate attack: Final Flash. While charging it, Vegeta challenges Cell to take the attack head-on, which he arrogantly accepts. Trunks immediately tries to convince his father otherwise, as the super-charged blast could destroy the Earth, but Vegeta still proceeds. At the last second, however, Vegeta weakened his attack to avoid destroying the Earth, much to Krillin and Trunks' relief. Cell managed to survive the blast; however, it vaporized everything to the right side above his torso. Though Vegeta believes himself to be victorious, Cell proves otherwise; his cells from Frieza allow him to survive and function with virtually any wound while those of Piccolo allow him to regenerate from the damage instantly.
In desperation, Vegeta fires a barrage of Ki Blasts, but Cell unflinchingly walks through them and sends Vegeta flying with a punch. Vegeta struggles to his feet, only for Cell to kick him into the air, then follow up with an elbow smash to his back, driving him into the ground and knocking him unconscious. As Cell prepares to kill Vegeta, Krillin yells at Trunks that now's the time to step in. Trunks begins powering up, transforming into his Super Saiyan Third Grade form, which distracts Cell's attention from finishing off Vegeta. Both Cell and Krillin are amazed at how powerful Trunks has become now. Trunks gives Krillin a Senzu Bean and tells him to get Vegeta to Kame House. Krillin asks Trunks why he doesn't keep the bean for himself, but Trunks boldly states that he won't need it. Trunks then descends to face Cell, who's impressed by how much power he had buried in him.
At first, Cell has the advantage and sends Trunks flying. Suddenly, Trunks looks at Krillin and points towards Vegeta, revealing that he's stalling to lure Cell away from his father. Cell continues the attack on Trunks, but Krillin takes advantage of the opportunity to grab Vegeta and fly him to safety. With Vegeta out of harm's way, Cell asks Trunks if he can now fight freely. Trunks is surprised that Cell knew about his plan and just let Vegeta go. Cell states that he is now more interested in Trunks' power and desires a true challenge. Trunks powers up again, ready to fight seriously. Cell is certainly impressed by Trunks' magnificent power, even greater than his own, but assures him that he will not win the battle. Trunks calls Cell's statement a bluff and charges.
Although his power was enough to deal significant damage to Perfect Cell, Trunks simply kept increasing his power, unaware that his speed was greatly decreasing, and his energy consumption greatly augmented to a point where sustaining the state would prove to be a problem. His body became too bulky and slow from the large quantity of muscle, and this gave Cell the upper hand, despite not even having powered up and slightly below Trunks in brute strength (In the anime, the fight between Future Trunks and Cell is expanded on greatly. A key difference is that in the manga, Future Trunks with his Super Saiyan Third Grade form never once hit Cell whereas in the anime, he hits him many times before slowing down). Unaware of his form's weakness, Trunks is baffled, wondering why he can't hit Cell despite all his power. Cell taunts him for relying only on brute force, then transforms into a bulky Powerhouse form of his own to mockingly demonstrate that anyone can take on such a form and explains that without speed, the transformation is useless. Trunks realizes Vegeta could have used the Super Saiyan Third Grade form but didn't because he discovered its weakness and that Cell's right. Distraught Trunks reverts to his base form and tells Cell to kill him, since he has no chance now and has lost the will to fight.
However, Cell is impressed that Vegeta and Trunks had improved so significantly in a short amount of time and asks how it was possible. Naturally, Trunks refuses to answer Cell's question to prevent him from discovering the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Realizing he won't answer that particular question, Cell instead asks Trunks whether, if he had more time, he could get even stronger. Trunks replies that he won't know until he tries. Cell then asks what Goku is doing, and Trunks answers that he's training to defeat him and by tomorrow, Goku will be the one to finally kill the Bio-Android. Cell is pleased by this answer and proposes to hold a martial arts tournament in ten days. He challenges Trunks to gather his allies and get stronger so they can compete against him in one-on-one fights. Cell says that once he has decided the location for the tournament, he will broadcast it on television and turns to leave before mockingly telling Trunks to bring plenty of Senzu Beans. Trunks is confused, wondering what Cell's goal is now. Cell states that it was to kill Goku, but now he wants to test the limits of his perfect form and simply enjoy himself, mostly by causing utter terror for people of Earth before he eradicates the planet. After Trunks expresses horror at this, Cell comments that that's the look he wants. He then flies away just as Krillin and Vegeta arrive.
Trunks tells Krillin and Vegeta about Cell's plan, which annoys Vegeta, thinking Cell is toying with them. Trunks says that after Goku and Gohan leave the Hyperbolic Time Chamber he will go back in and train. Stubborn and arrogant as ever, Vegeta says they won't need Trunks or Goku and after he goes back in the Time Chamber, he will defeat Perfect Cell on his own. At that moment, the damaged Android 16 arrives, wanting to compete in the tournament as well, but first asks to be taken to Capsule Corporation so he can get repaired. Trunks adamantly refuses to help or trust 16 because he is an android who wanted kill Goku and he doesn't want to potentially endanger his mother's life, but Krillin agrees to take the android, knowing they'll need all the help they can get against Cell, and that these androids aren't as bad as the ones from Trunks' future.
The next day, Trunks and his family keep a close eye on the TV, looking out for Cell's announcement. Suddenly, Cell interrupts a live broadcast and proceeds to tell the world about the upcoming Cell Games tournament, and challenges all the greatest fighters in the world to compete against him in one-on-one fights. Vegeta announces that he's going to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber again and Trunks decides to go with him. However, Bulma wants to give Trunks a haircut first, so his long hair doesn't get in his eyes, much to Vegeta's irritation.
At the Lookout, Trunks, Vegeta, Tien Shinhan, and Piccolo wait for Goku and Gohan to exit the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Trunks asks Mr. Popo how much time they have left, who replies that only three hours remain. Vegeta, however, is anxious and ready to go back in the chamber, but Piccolo tells him that he should rest because it's his turn next. Vegeta believes that only a Saiyan has any hope of killing Cell, but relents and says that he will spend the remaining 8 days in the chamber. Piccolo and Mr. Popo warn him that a person can only use the chamber for two days (or two years) at a time; if anybody attempts to stay longer, they will not be able to exit, leaving them trapped in nothingness and not allowing anyone else to use the door. Vegeta is disappointed, but Trunks optimistically says that at least they will have plenty of time to train. Suddenly, everyone senses Goku and Gohan's energy, which means that they finished their training early. With their Battle Armor all tattered and damaged, Goku and Gohan emerge out as Super Saiyans, to everyone's surprise. Trunks tells them everything that happened while they were training, from Cell's completion to the announcement of the Cell Games.
Instead of being worried, Goku is excited that he can compete in another tournament and asks Mr. Popo to bring him his Turtle School uniform. Trunks offers to give them new armor, but Goku declines, stating that he wants to fight as an Earthling, while Gohan asks Piccolo to give him clothes like the one he wears. Vegeta asks Goku whether he can beat Cell or not, but Goku says that he won't know until he sees the Bio-Android's perfect form. Using Instant Transmission, Goku goes to the Cell Games Arena to measure Cell's power up close. When he returns, Trunks asks Goku if he can beat Cell. Goku admits that he wouldn't stand a chance. Piccolo implores him and Gohan to use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber again, but Goku says that he and Gohan will train in the outside world, to Piccolo's surprise. The two then depart the Lookout. Piccolo and Tien are amazed by how calm they were as Super Saiyans. Trunks wonders if they unlocked another powerful transformation, but Vegeta calls him out for being so naive and explains how Goku and Gohan mastered the Super Saiyan form to decrease the strain on their bodies. Upon hearing this, Trunks realizes that he had not considered this plan.
The next day, Vegeta anxiously and impatiently waits for Piccolo to finish up his training inside of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. When he finally does, Trunks recognizes how significantly Piccolo's strength has increased, yet Vegeta mocks the Namekian for even entering the chamber in the first place saying that he has stayed the same.
Later, Goku returns to The Lookout with a young Namekian named Dende, who is chosen to become Earth's new Guardian and recreates the Dragon Balls. While Dende talks to Gohan and Krillin, Trunks asks Goku that if he is so calm now, it's because he has found Cell's weakness. However, Goku doesn't think Cell has a weakness, much to Trunks' confusion. Also, Goku tells Gohan to stay with Dende, and that he doesn't have to train anymore until the Cell Games. Gohan is surprised, but Goku reassures him before teleporting away. Trunks asks Gohan what Goku is planning, and why he's so confident knowing that Cell is stronger than him. Gohan doesn't know what's going on either. Krillin thinks Goku has a plan, but Piccolo suggests he's already accepted defeat.
After ten days, the day of the Cell Games finally arrived. All seven warriors arrive at the Cell Games arena and are joined by the already present Vegeta and Android 16. Goku volunteers to go first, but Krillin suggests they let the clueless, arrogant Mr. Satan go first, not caring if he gets killed and there's no point in explaining the superhuman abilities most Earthlings don't know about. When Mr. Satan finally attacks Cell, he is easily, and unsurprisingly, sent flying into a nearby mountain, but miraculously survives. With Mr. Satan having been quickly knocked out of the ring, Goku steps into the Cell Games Arena to face Cell, as the rest of the Dragon Team watch anxiously from the sidelines. Cell himself says that he had hoped to save the best for last, before the two assume their fighting poses. Trunks thinks that they will all finally see why Goku has been so calm in the days before the tournament.
Goku and Cell partake in an intense bout that leaves both combatants exhausted in the process. Cell tells Goku that his strength is decreasing and says he can have a Senzu Bean if he wants, that way, they can continue their great fight. Trunks yells at Krillin to do like he says and give Goku a Senzu Bean, and if they all attack Cell together, then they will definitely win. Vegeta yells at Trunks to shut up, saying he has no Saiyan pride as Goku neither asked for help nor does he want it. Vegeta believes that Goku would rather die than win like that, and he isn't even fighting just for the Earth's sake. Trunks says that Goku won't last much longer, and Vegeta agrees that he will probably be killed by Cell. Trunks asks what they are supposed to do, be quiet and watch. Vegeta says all they can do now is hope Goku has a secret plan, like Trunks suggested. However, Goku admits that Cell still has strength to spare, and he cannot defeat him, so in a surprising turn of events, Goku says that he gives up, which leaves everyone shocked, including Cell and calls forth his son Gohan to take over.
In an attempt to bring out Gohan's true power, Trunks is forced to contend with Cell's offspring along with the other heroes. While he and Vegeta were the only ones strong enough to hold their own, they began slowly and gradually losing the fight. Meanwhile, Android 16 encourages Gohan to set his rage free and to not hold back in order to protect the wild animals and the forests he loved. Cell, however, finally has enough, and smashes Android 16's head, killing him off for good. Witnessing the peaceful android's death finally pushes Gohan over the edge and his hidden power erupts, transforming him into a Super Saiyan 2, shocking everyone present. First, Gohan takes back the stolen bag of Senzu Beans from Cell and then effortlessly defeats the Cell Juniors with simple, yet powerful blows. Afterwards, Gohan gives an awestruck Trunks the bag of Senzu Beans to treat to the fallen Z Fighters and heal their wounds while he faces Cell.
Despite his best efforts, Cell is no match for Gohan's new power, and ultimately, the boy forces him to regurgitate Android 18. Weakened and desperate, Cell pumps himself up like a balloon to self-destruct, threatening to take the Earth along with him in a final attempt to kill Gohan. Goku sacrifices himself by teleporting both himself and Cell to King Kai's Planet where he promptly explodes. However, Cell survives and upon his reappearance, impales Future Trunks through the chest with a Full Power Death Beam, mortally wounding him (while the Funimation dub states that this was intentional, the original version implies that he was just firing randomly, as evidenced by the line "Who was it that I hit? Trunks?"). As Cell boasts that he is better than ever, Vegeta is left stunned by Future Trunks' injuries. While Gohan prepares to fight Cell again, Trunks uses up the last of his life energy to vomit up blood. Yamcha and Tien Shinhan rush over to aid him, only to realize he had died that moment. This act causes a drastic change in Vegeta, who becomes enraged that someone who cared about him has been killed and reveals his affection for his son. Vegeta then gives everything he can give to try and take down Super Perfect Cell although he fails and is overwhelmed by Cell's power, who takes all his attacks without a scratch and severely cripples him with a halfhearted blow, preparing to kill him like he did Trunks (only to have Gohan shield him, but at the cost of the use of his left arm).
After Cell's defeat, the deceased Future Trunks is taken to The Lookout where he is revived by Shenron, along with everyone else killed by Cell. However, Goku isn't resurrected, because he had already been brought back to life by the Dragon Balls before. The Dragon Team plan to use the Namekian Dragon Balls to bring Goku back instead, but then Goku himself intervenes. Goku, speaking through King Kai, tells them that the world will be better off if he remains in the afterlife, because his presence seems to attract bad guys. He leaves the protection of the Earth to the much stronger Gohan and says a final goodbye to everyone. With their wishes granted, Tien leaves first, since Chiaotzu is likely worried about him. He tells the others they may never meet again and wishes Trunks good luck against the androids in the future before leaving. The rest of the group go their separate ways as well, with Trunks declaring that he plans to return to the future tomorrow. As they fly to Capsule Corporation, Yamcha revealed how Vegeta reacted to his death, which makes Trunks become shockingly proud of his father. After the celebrations for Cell's long-waited defeat, Trunks gives Bulma the Time Machine which Cell used to come to this era and Vegeta acknowledges Trunks while he says his goodbyes.
After saying his goodbyes, Trunks returns to his own time to exact revenge on the androids for murdering the Z Fighters. After reuniting with his mother, Bulma, Trunks hears a news update on the location of the androids and he quickly powers up into his Super Saiyan form, now greatly augmented by his two years of training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. At Parsley City, the Androids are about to kill another innocent man (in the manga he is killed before Trunks' arrival by being shot in the face by 17), when suddenly Trunks hurtles a very accurate energy attack which narrowly misses 17. The cocky androids foolishly underestimate Trunks and try to rush him. Trunks easily dodges their attacks and punishes them duly, obliterating 18 in a point-blank energy blast. 17 looks on in disbelief and anger, but he too is defeated with ease in a single blow, before being blown to dust effortlessly. The completely unscathed Trunks returns home since everything now seems at peace with the Earth, except he knows one thing remains: Cell who is likely around in his world.
Three years pass before the determined Bio-Android roams around in his Imperfect form and comes across Trunks and Bulma saying their goodbyes near the time machine. Trunks is age 23 at the time. As Trunks is about to leave for the past one final time to inform them of his success, he senses Cell and sends his mother away. The cocky Cell approaches the half-Saiyan under the false impression that Trunks is still at the level of power when he initially went back in time and warned Goku, even weaker than the future Androids who are in turn inferior to Cell's strength by a long shot. However, Trunks reveals he destroyed the androids and begins to taunt him with his knowledge from the alternate past. While Cell was angry, he realized that he could use the time machine to go back and absorb them, but Trunks attacks him. The fight begins and Cell is clearly outclassed as Trunks hurls him outside of the city with a simple energy wave in his base state. Once outside West City, Trunks then transforms into a Super Saiyan and then proceeds to clobber Cell with great ease. When declaring that Cell must die, Cell gets enraged and launches his tail at Trunks.
Trunks takes action by grabbing Cell's tail and swinging him around in a circle, building up momentum, and then hurling him high into the air. Cell realizes that he has no hope against the new powers of Trunks and prepares a Kamehameha large enough to destroy the planet, knowing all too well that he could survive in space. Cell begins the attack but is interrupted when Trunks powers up and unleashes a massive destructive wave of energy which incinerates Cell completely. With the future finally at peace, Trunks is seen looking towards the sky while thanking Goku and his friends in the past one last time.
Statistics
Key:History of Trunks | Pre-Hyperbolic Time Chamber | Post-Hyperbolic Time Chamber
Tier: At least High 5-B, Higher with Zenkai Boost | At least High 5-B, Higher with Super Saiyan, Sword, and Zenkai Boost | At least High 5-B, 4-B with Super Saiyan Grade Three, Higher with Zenkai Boost
Alignment:Neutral Good (Trunks wants to protect the people he cares about, such as his mother Bulma. He likes to end his fights as quickly as possible in order to save the world as fast as he can. This is best seen when he killed Frieza and his army really fast in order to relay a message to Goku in order to save Goku's life and to save the world from destruction)
Durability:Large Planet level, Higher with Zenkai Boost | At least Large Planet level, Higher with Super Saiyan | At least Large Planet level, Solar System level
Striking Strength:Large Planet Class, Higher with Zenkai Boost | At least Large Planet Class, Higher with Super Saiyan | At least Large Planet Class, Solar System Class with Super Saiyan Grade Three
'Range:Standard Melee, Extended Melee with his Sword | Standard Melee, Planetary with ki attacks | Standard Melee Range, Interstellar with Ki Attacks (Ki attacks can reach out of the planet and to other planets. All ki attacks should be comparable to Goku's Kamehameha, which reached all the way to the sun)
Intelligence:Genius (Trunks was able to outsmart and outskill Frieza and King Cold the first time that they met. Superior to Vegeta, who was able to outsmart Frieza’s entire army and lay low during the Frieza Saga, and managed to trick the likes of Doctor Gero into fleeing by feigning confidence after trashing Android 19. Knows Cell is as overconfident as he was and tricked him into standing absolutely still while he charged his Final Flash. Noted by Piccolo that Vegeta might be even more of a combat genius then Son Goku. Trunks was able to find Super Saiyan Grade Three after a year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber)
Future Trunks Sword: Trunks wields a sword that he can amplify in order to slice through his opponents very easily with it. He used this sword in order to kill Mecha Frieza in one blow.
Capsule example #1
Capsule example #2
Capsules: Trunks possesses multiple small capsules that he can store multiple items inside of them. He stores them in his pockets and has a case to contain them in
Capsule Corp. Time Machine: Trunks has a time machine that allows him to travel in any point in timeline in alternate universes. He keeps in in a capsule for better transportation
Senzu Beans: Senzu Beans are mystical beans with immense rejuvenation properties in the Dragon Ball franchise. Senzu beans are capable of healing holes in one body that misses their vital organs and possibly regrowing arms.
Notable Techniques
*Flight: The ability to fly using ki.
Ki Blast: The most basic form of energy wave.
Ki Sense: An ability that allows the user to sense ki and power levels.
Saiyan Power: A Saiyan genetic trait that allows their performance to continually increase against adversity, either by recovering from a near death experience, or by fighting a strong opponent.
Healing: In the manga, due to being a disciple of Future Shin, Future Trunks possess the ability to heal people - a fact revealed to him by Shin and Gowasu. Prior to knowing this, Future Trunks unknowingly kept Future Mai and Gowasu alive on the occasions where they were nearly dead thanks to his healing ability.
Mimicry: The coveted ability to copy another fighter's technique after seeing it used only once.
Burning Attack: Future Trunks performs a series of rapid arm movements before placing his palms forward, with the thumbs and index fingers touching each other to form a diamond shape. Then, he fires an energy sphere from his palms towards the opponent.
God Breaker: Trunks extends his hand forward and fires a yellow energy wave at his opponent, inflicting a large amount of damage.
Buster Cannon: Future Trunks draws his hands back down to his sides and charges two blue energy spheres in his hands. Then, he combines them together in front of him to fire the energy wave at the opponent, inflicting a great amount of damage.
Super Buster Cannon: First, Future Trunks draws his hands back and gathers up energy. Then, he thrusts his arms forward and discharges a massive golden-yellow beam of energy towards his opponent.
Change the Future: First, Future Trunks says "This is for Gohan!" and charges at the opponent, but stops right in front of them with his hand over their face. Then, he charges a yellow energy sphere and fires it in the form of a large blast of energy against the opponent, inflicting a great amount of damage.
Finish Buster: First, Trunks raises his hands into the sky and charges a large energy sphere. Then, he swings his hands down and fires the ball of energy at the opponent, inflicting a huge amount of damage.
Heat Dome Attack: First, Future Trunks throws his opponent up in the air and points both his hands up in the air. Then, he charges a large dome of yellow energy around himself. From this energy dome expels a gigantic Finish Buster up at the opponent, inflicting an enormous amount of damage.
Solar Flare: The user places their hands close to the center of their face with the fingers spread toward their eyes. The user then calls out the name of the technique, which provokes a white light to fire out and blind everything watching except the user, since they are projecting the light. Future Trunks reveals he learned the technique from Future Gohan.
High Strike: A sword slash attack. Named in the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game.
Shining Sword Attack: Future Trunks flies up and comes down to vertically slash the opponent with his sword. Next, he slashes the opponent multiple times, chopping them up into bits. Finally, Future Trunks draws his hand back and brings it forward to fire a yellow energy wave at what's left of the opponent, inflicting a high amount of damage.
Rapid Sword Stream: First, Future Trunks says "Excuse me" as he slashes the opponent with his sword. Then, he slashes the opponent multiple times in rapid motions. Last, Future Trunks slashes the opponent with a large amount of force, inflicting a great amount of damage.
Burning Breaker: First, Future Trunks says, "See if you can take this!" as he charges at the opponent to punch them in their stomach and sends them up into the air. Then, he flies up to the opponent and attacks them with an elbow strike to their stomach followed by a powerful barrage of punches. Finally, Future Trunks punches the opponent twice before front flipping and double axe-handle punching them down to the ground, inflicting a huge amount of damage.
Blazing Rush: As he shouts "I will defeat you!", Future Trunks punches the opponent in the stomach, knees and roundhouse kicks them, and then knocks them up into the air with a backflip kick. Future Trunks then appears in the air behind the opponent and double axe-handles them down to the ground, inflicting a huge amount of damage.
Maximum Blow: He punches the opponent in the face with all of his might, then punches the opponent twice to send them flying.
Another End: Future Trunks charges at the opponent and kicks them away. Then, he jumps up into the air and fires a God Breaker down at the opponent, inflicting a high amount of damage.
Aero Blast: Future Trunks raises up his hands and lets out a powerful Kiai that sends the opponent flying.
Power up to the Very Limit: A technique which allows the user to instantly regain all of their ki.
Inexperienced Power Up: One of Future Trunks' Blast 1 in his Super Saiyan Third Grade form in the Budokai Tenkaichi series.
Final Flash: Technique inherited from his father, Vegeta. He draws both hands back while gathering ki. Then, the user place bottom of their palms together, forming a sphere of energy that emits sporadic bolts of electric yellow ki that shoot out in all direction. Finally, the user discharges a massive golden beam of energy with electric ki streaming around it towards his opponent.
Final Explosion: To begin the attack, Future Trunks gathers his life force and converts it into energy, creating flame-like ribbons of energy that spiral around his body. Both his and his opponent's bodies begin emitting small flecks of golden light, resembling dust blowing off of their skin.
*
Super Saiyan: In the manga, Future Trunks is already able to achieve Super Saiyan when shown training his mentor Future Gohan, making it somewhat likely he simply is able to transform naturally, as his present timeline self did; he however struggles with even Future Gohan's base state in the form, which may suggest that it was rather recently reached due to its meager power, despite his harsh training. In the TV special The History of Trunks, Future Trunks transforms for the first time after seeing his mentor Future Gohan killed at the hands of the androids in his timeline. In the manga, Future Trunks involuntarily transforms into his Super Saiyan form out of grief in a nearly identical scene to the TV special, though with the only difference being he already had achieved the transformation in the manga as previously stated. The energy involved in the transformation causes Future Trunks' hair to stand on end and turn a golden color. His facial expression is sharpened, and the color of his eyes turns a bright emerald green. When in this state Trunks' power level increases dramatically. Even so, he always maintains his sincere, serious demeanour. He is weaker than his present counterpart as a Super Saiyan, prior to becoming Xeno/Super Trunks, due to inexperience.
Super Saiyan Second Grade: After their defeat at the hands of Android 17 and Android 18, he and Vegeta underwent severe training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, during which Trunks gained the ability to take this form. When taking this form, Future Trunks' muscles swell, making his body several sizes larger than normal, and his power and speed are elevated beyond his previous Super Saiyan limits. He first used this form to fight against Semi-Perfect Cell, in an attempt to keep him from absorbing Android 18 and reaching completion. This fight scene only happened in a filler part of the anime, while in the manga, he was about to fight Semi-Perfect Cell but was knocked away by Vegeta, and when he struck Vegeta with his energy blast to repel him away in surprise, but was blinded by Cell's Solar Flare and was forced to see Cell complete himself inside a barrier when his vision returned. After witnessing Vegeta's defeat at Perfect Cell's hands, he transformed to Super Saiyan Third Grade, but lost due to his severe speed decrease. As a result, Trunks entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber a second time to focus on increasing his strength as a regular Super Saiyan to its highest possible point.
Super Saiyan Grade Three: Future Trunks is usually referred to as Super Trunks while in this state. It is another form he gained while training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and he utilizes this state while fighting the recently completed Perfect Cell. In this form, Future Trunks' muscles swell even larger than in his Super Saiyan Second Grade, his hair gets spikier and larger, and his power grows immensely. In this stage, however, the heavily increased muscle-mass comes at a cost of reduced speed and mobility, and because of the massive energy required to maintain this form, it is not sustainable for long periods of time, which ultimately puts him in a life-threatening disadvantage. Future Trunks also temporarily uses this form in order to trick Vegeta in Dragon Ball Super.
Other
Standard Tactics: Future Trunks will always try his best to finish the fight as fast as he can without interruption. He likes to get in close and slash his opponents with his sword for a quick kill.
Weaknesses: Due to the nature of ki draining stamina and energy, Dragon Ball characters ki usage requires them to usually use their higher levels of energy in short bursts, allowing them to not be able to tank or die to far lower attacks such as attacks that havedestroyed theplanets of several worlds. Future Trunks can not breathe in space. He has not mastered his Super Saiyan Grade Three and it is very slow despite its great power increase.
Trivia
Like the rest of his family (apart from Vegeta), Trunks' name is a pun on an undergarment.
Composer for the Funimation dub of the Dragon Ball Z, Bruce Faulconer, stated on his website that Future Trunks was his favorite Dragon Ball character. American voice actor Christopher Sabat has agreed, saying that apart from Vegeta, Trunks is his favorite character from the series. He has liked how his character is "lone survivor of the apocalypse, son of the most angry and the most headstrong characters." He additionally liked Future Trunks' fights, such as the one in which he easily killed Frieza and his father.
Despite having been officially stated that Goku was the one who defeated Frieza and King Cold in Cell's and Future Trunks' timeline, Cell implies that Future Trunks was as responsible for Frieza and King Cold's defeat in his/Trunks' timeline as he was in the main timeline while telling Piccolo about his origins as well as the cells that were infused to him.
Trunks and his father, Vegeta, were both killed by a Death Beam through the chest by a major supervillain. While Frieza used a normal death beam on Vegeta, Cell used a Full Power Death Beam on Trunks.
In the Character Illustrations section of the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series, it is stated that Future Trunks obtained his sword from Tapion, although this is contradicted in every other official source which has discussed its origin. Not to mention, in Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and 3, if Trunks and Tapion fight, they clearly recognize each other, Trunks even says "Long time, no see."
Future Trunks is referred to as Time Patrol Trunks in Dragon Ball Online and Xeno Trunks in Dragon Ball Heroes, while retaining his name Future Trunks in the Xenoverse series.
Due to time travel, Future Trunks has multiple incarnations/counterparts in addition to his main timeline counterpart. It was the Future Trunks from Cell's Timeline who caused other timelines to be distorted.
The Future Trunks from Cell's Timeline who was killed by Cell.
Future Trunks from Dragon Ball Super who's timeline was devastated by Fused Zamasu and Erased by Future Zeno, forcing him and Future Mai to live in the future timeline created when Whis warned Future Beerus.
Future Trunks who lives in the Future Timeline created by Whis' warning Future Beerus. Lives with his timeline's Future Mai. Sharing this timeline with their counterparts from the erased Future Timeline.
It is implied in the Xenoverse series that this counterpart may have eventually been recruited by Chronoa to be her attendant and works to defend history as a member of the Time Patrol (otherwise known as Time Patrol Trunks) as his timeline still exists, however this was disproven in Xenoverse 2's 4th DLC Pack as Time Patrol Trunks has zero memory of encountering a 2nd version of himself. It's possible he never met the Future Trunks from Super.
Future Trunks has a younger counterpart mentioned in Xenoverse 2 who exists in the altered future timeline created by Time Patrol Trunks which saves Future Gohan in Age 780.
It is also implied in Xenoverse 2 that Time Patrol Trunks has two alternate counterparts of his own, one being the Time Patrol Trunks who obeyed Chronoa and did not prevent Future Gohan from dying and the Time Patrol Trunks who prevented Future Gohan's death which may have created a new future timeline provided that Chronoa chose not to erase or fix said change.
Xeno Trunks is the Xeno world incarnation of Time Patrol Trunks featured in the Dragon Ball Carddass series and media related to Dragon Ball Heroes/Super Dragon Ball Heroes.
In Super Dragon Ball Heroes: Dark Demon Realm Mission!, Xeno Trunks' recruitment by Chronoa is shown and he is revealed to have originated from the Xeno world incarnation of the Future Trunks timeline which never experienced the Project Zero Mortals conflict presumably due the history of the Xeno world main timeline playing out like the main timeline in Dragon Ball GT.
The Prison Planet Saga, Universal Conflict Saga, and Universe Creation Saga all confirm that Xeno Trunks and the Dragon Ball Super incarnation of Future Trunks are separate incarnations of Future Trunks from different versions of Future Trunks' timeline.
In the film Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan, Paragus refers to him as Prince Trunks though this was part of his ploy to convince Vegeta to lead his New Saiyan Empire. Though Future Trunks is only technically a Prince as his father (Future/Main timeline) never held the title of King due to the Genocide of the Saiyans wiping out the original Saiyan Empire, leaving Vegeta without a kingdom to rule over, hence the young Vegeta's line in Broly about never becoming King after being informed about Planet Vegeta's destruction.
When Future Trunks is tagged out in Budokai Tenkaichi 2, he says "back to the future"; a reference to the time traveling film Back to the Future.
Trunks is the second to last person to have his power level stated with the use of a scouter, being only 5 because he suppressed his true power to avoid detection and mislead Frieza and King Cold.
Angelo's hair from Dragon Quest VIII strongly resembles Future Trunks' base form with shorter hair.
Akira Toriyama was the art director for the Dragon Quest games, so it is highly possible he based his designs on Trunks.
The Yu-Gi-Oh! card character Tyler the Great Warrior seems based on Future Trunks.
Future Trunks has killed both villains that killed his father. He killed Frieza in the present timeline and the Androids in his own future timeline, who both killed Vegeta. Also, in killing Frieza he avenged the deaths of his paternal grandfather and the Saiyans killed by Frieza during the Genocide of the Saiyans, which is somewhat fitting considering his royal Saiyan heritage.
According to the Databooks:
Trunks' favorite food is convenience store bento.
Trunks' favorite vehicle is the time machine.
Trunks has altered the flow of time twice in his life, radically changing events and saving Goku on both occasions. The first is when he went back in time to save Goku from the heart virus and killing Frieza and King Cold as well, drastically altering the course of the future. The second time Trunks saved Goku, he wasn't aware he saved him when he retreated to the past to get help from Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan to fight Goku Black. Trunks unknowingly traveled back to a point to where Goku hasn't met Zamasu yet. Due to Trunks' interference, Beerus and Whis caught wind of Zamasu's evil heart and were able to stop him from carrying out his plans and saving Goku from what was supposed to be his death and the creation of Goku Black.
Three times if one counts Time Patrol Trunks saving his mentor Future Gohan from dying in Age 780 in the Unknown History Saga of Xenoverse 2, though this timeline may have been fixed/erased depending on whether or not Chronoa chose to do so (as her final decision is left ambiguous).
Trunks has fought with and defeated a version of every major villain from Dragon Ball Z. Upon arrival to the present timeline, he kills Mecha Frieza, along with his father. While in the present, he kills an unborn Present Cell with Krillin, and upon returning to his timeline after the Cell Games, he kills Future Cell. Roughly 7–9 years after this, Trunks fights and kills both Future Dabura and Future Babidi, effectively disabling Future Innocent Buu.
As of the events of Xenoverse 2, Future Trunks is effectively responsible for killing King Cold and both of his sons, as he kills Cooler in Xenoverse 2 when he reprograms the Big Gete Star to self-destruct, which ends up killing Cooler in his Meta-Cooler Core form.
In Dragon Ball Fusions in Ziku-kan Quest: "Darkness Cometh", it is shown that Pan thinks more highly of Future Trunks than his main timeline counterpart (which includes Kid Trunks and his adult self from the GT Timeline) and she even passingly refers to him as the "Cool" Trunks.
In Dragon Ball Fusions, Future Trunks is the first Saiyan/Human hybrid to attain a divine Saiyan form (Super Saiyan Blue). However his acquisition of Super Saiyan Blue is only mentioned in passing as he is only depicted in his God-like Saiyan state, after he is said to have obtained it through training with Tekka's Team against Vegito Blue.
Interestingly, in Xenoverse 2 DLC Pack 4, the Future Trunks in Dragon Ball Super is referred to by Chronoa as a different version of Trunks. Time Patrol Trunks is stated to be the very same Future Trunks who was present during the Android and Cell saga. The Future Trunks of Dragon Ball Super is stated to have gone through the same events as Time Patrol Trunks but was never recruited to the Time Patrol. That would make Trunks, in addition to already possessing numerous incarnations of himself throughout all the timelines, having four very different versions of himself. The original Future Trunks who lost his life from Cell, Future Trunks who exists during the Cell Saga who became Trunks: Xeno, his present timeline counterpart, and the Super version, also from the Cell Saga, who was never recruited by the Time Patrol. Time Patrol Trunks also didn't know that Android 18 was married to Krillin and had a child, thus thinking that she is still evil, until being informed by Chronoa.
Future Trunks from Super is a lot more powerful compared to his other counterparts who only possessed the basic Super Saiyan. Unlike his other counterparts, he unfortunately lost the lives of his family and the people he knew due to Goku Black and Future Zamasu. In order to end the Project Zero Mortals, Future Zeno erased the entire timeline. This would mean he lost the existence of his family and the people, except Future Mai, in his own biological timeline.
Future Trunks holds the rank of "Commander" by Earth's Resistance in his timeline, and Time Patrol Trunks is referred to as both Captain and Commander of the Time Patrol in the Xenoverse series.
Despite his close attachment to Future Gohan, Future Trunks does not seem particularly concerned with his his present timeline counterpart. For example, when Gohan was beaten senseless by Perfect Cell, Future Trunks does not frantically rush to his aid, only watching the younger version of his mentor suffer at Cell's hands.
When Future Trunks foretells of the Androids in the manga, he mentions them as Nos. 19 and 20. Because of Akira Toriyama's editor expressing dissatisfaction when they appeared, Toriyama created Androids 17 and 18 to be the androids Future Trunks foretold of, thus creating a plot hole. The plot hole is fixed in the anime, where Future Trunks doesn't mention them by name.
Future Trunks is the only character that met and fought against all 3 of Cell's forms.
The red bandanna Future Trunks wears around his neck in Dragon Ball Super resembles the one Bulma wore in Resurrection ‘F’ and Dragon Ball Super.
Future Trunks has various hairstyles throughout the series. A bowl cut, long hair with ponytail, and long hair. Thus he has three different Super Saiyan hairstyles.
In Kakarot, it is revealed by the Despondent Man during the Sub Story: "Android Admirer", that the identity of the warrior who defeated Future Androids 17 & 18 (as Future Cells existence is unheard of by the general population of Earth due to him being eliminated by Future Trunks as soon as he attempts to steal the Time Machine) is unknown to the general populous as he refers to Future 18's killer as the mysterious warrior. Due to his infatuation with Future 18, the Despondent Man expresses anger when talking about the mysterious warrior unaware that he is Future Trunks. Fortunately he never learns that Future Trunks is responsible and thanks to Future Oolong disguising himself as Future 18, they are able to trick the suicidal man that Future 18 faked her death and plans to travel the world alone, which along with Future Oolong messing up Future 18's facial features convinces the man to not take his own life.
However it is shown that knowledge of Future Trunks' role in the Androids' (Future 17, Future 18, & Future Cell) defeat is known to the Future Z Fighters and their remaining supporters such as Future Chi-Chi and Future Ox-King.
It is unknown if Future Trunks' role was revealed to Earth's general population after the release of Future Bulma's book the Legend of Dragon Ball (as Future Trunks has little reason to hide it given that the Brief family are already well-known for running the Capsule Corporation thus could easily handle the notoriety & fame) or in the aftermath of Project Zero Mortals (though its possible rank-and-file members of Earth's Resistance are aware of Future Trunks' role in their defeat given his power and abilities).
Upon first meeting Future Shin and Future Kibito in Kakarot, Future Trunks is briefly worried that they might be more Red Ribbon Androids he didn't know about after Future Shin refers to him by name and shows awareness of his ability to use Flight. This shows that Future Trunks remains vigilante of the possibility that more Androids may appear in his timeline either created by Future Dr. Gero's Supercomputer following the failure of Future Cell and/or older models that may be activated one day to wreck havok.
In a Tweet, Bandai Namco claimed Future Trunks' birthday was November 21st.
