How Strong was Zamasu Before Acquiring His Powers?

When reviewing the strength of Zamasu before acquiring his powers, it becomes evident that the anime and manga versions offer different perspectives. Our understanding of his strength can greatly vary depending on how we interpret the narrative.

Power Scaling in the Anime

In the anime, Zamasu is depicted as a formidable opponent who can reach incredibly high levels of power once his abilities are unlocked. This is largely based on the assumption that Goku surpassed Super Saiyan God in his base form and then stacked subsequent transformations on top of that. This makes Zamasu a significantly stronger character than any in the original Dragon Ball series, pre-Super Saiyan God.

Conservative Scaling in the Manga

The manga version provides a more conservative scaling for Zamasu's power. Here, Zamasu's strength is comparable to that of Supreme Kai. Various interpretations place him around this level, with his overall power being roughly equivalent to that of Supreme Kai. However, he is only considered a major threat due to his immortality rather than his raw power. In the narrative, even Super Saiyan Trunks dismisses Zamasu as a significant threat.

Impact of Goku and Vegeta's Strength

The scaling and assumed power of Zamasu can be heavily influenced by the perceived strength gains of Goku and Vegeta post-acquisition of God powers. The manga and anime series both feature significant power fluctuations, as seen with Goku Black's numerous Zenkai boosts and his eventual catch-up with Goku and Vegeta. Goku Black's power, at one point, approached that of Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta, which underscores the complexity and uncertainty in Zamasu's power scaling.

Considering these factors, if Goku and Vegeta continue to catch up and surpass Zamasu, his base power would likely increase substantially. This is evidenced by base Goku's ability to resist attacks that even Supreme Kai must struggle against. Such a scenario would suggest that, if we were to place Zamasu in the late Black arc, he would be at least dozens of times stronger than a Supreme Kai-level fighter. This would roughly place him in the mid to high Buu arc, depending on the scaling.

Training and Early Strength Indicators

Before acquiring his powers, it's difficult to ascertain Zamasu's initial strength. Since he was born with ki, it is reasonable to assume that he received extensive training under his sensei over a lifetime. Additionally, he sparred with Super Saiyan 2 (SSJ2) Goku, indicating that he had at least some significant combat experience and skills.

Overall, Zamasu's pre-power acquisition strength remains a subject of interpretation, but his potential for significant growth post-acquisition adds to the intrigue and complexity of the Dragon Ball universe.