Android 16’s absence from resurrection attempts within the Dragon Ball narrative stems from a confluence of factors. Primarily, the circumstances of his death during the Cell Games saga left a lasting impact. He was completely destroyed by Cell, leaving no remains from which to reconstruct him, even with the Dragon Balls. While the Dragon Balls possess considerable power, they are subject to limitations regarding the revival of individuals obliterated to the point of non-existence.
The decision to prioritize other characters in revival requests also played a significant role. After the Cell Games, Krillin expressed a wish to restore all good people killed by Cell. This wish, though broad, inherently excluded Android 16. While good-hearted, 16 was ultimately an android, a creation rather than a naturally born being. Furthermore, characters like Goku held a higher priority due to their crucial role in defending Earth, making their resurrection more critical to the planet’s safety.
