I’ve been working on this debate for a while now, an embarrassingly long time, and now I think it’s ready to be shared. Now before I get started, let me make a few things obviously:
I don’t mean to offend any Nanomech fans with this post. The purpose of this debate/post is to explain my reasoning on why a DNAlien is a plausible transformation, and sadly Nanomech got caught in the mix during my research.
While I expect comments on this post, I respectfully ask that you keep it friendly and respectful.
If you have a counterclaim/statement, please share it, and I’ll do my best to reply to each and every one.
This isn’t me requesting a DNAlien transformation, but just giving something to think about
Now with that out of the way, let me get started.
So while I was researching non-cannon aliens, I came across a transformation that was cannon for a short amount of time, and that transformation was a Xenocite/DNAlien transformation. The only known name for this transformation was BenDNAlien, using the same logic applied to the Anur gang (Blitzwolfer, Snare-Oh, and Frankenstrike) before their official names, I’ll be the name used throughout this debate. The Omnitrix had sampled one in the episode ‘Max Out,’ but the Codon Stream noticed that they are non-sapient (I’ll touch back on this later), so it deleted the DNA. This means that, for a short time, Ben had access to a Xenocite/DNAlien transformation. Unfortunately, that’s all the cannon information we have on BenDNAlien; I do, however, have to mention an Ultimate Alien commercial (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz_az8H57cM) where every so often a DNAlien appears amongst Ben’s aliens, but more than likely this was an error when making. Powers and appearance-wise, he’d probably be like most human DNAliens hybrids (https://ben10.fandom.com/wiki/DNAliens), possibly with clothing, with the Omnitrix position near the waist or collar. Now that you all are familiar with BenDNAlien, let’s get started.
The first subject I’d like to bring up is how this transformation would work. Much like the cannon state of Nanomech, he’d be a hybrid transformation between Xenocite and Human. We know the Omnitrix can create hybrids, as mentioned with Nanomech, so it could be possible for something similar to happen to BenDNAlien. There is only one problem I could find was, and quote, “As they are hybrids (of sentient species with a non-sentient species), they are not a species.” If this statement was true, then the same logic should’ve applied to Nanomech as he too is a hybrid of a sapient and non-sapient species. Throughout my research, there’s been no evidence on why Nanomech is an exception to this hybrid statement other than a comment made by Derrick J Wyatt ( I will mention that in another section) and the logic/convenience of the movie. Since Nanomech and BenDNAlien are very similar in multiple ways (both are transformations based on villains, both are hybrids) so I wonder why Nanomech was an exception, especially since he comes from a non-organic ‘species’ (more on that at the end).
Now is the argument of rather or not BenDNA has the sapience required for the Omnitrix. Now the Xenocite species itself is non-sapient and not able to be accepted by the Omnitrix (although the Omnitrix did scan one), but DNAliens do seem, at minimum, Semi-sapient (Can perform complex tasks and even communicate with sapient creatures to a higher degree than non-sapient ones.) and the Omnitrix is known to have semi-sapient species such a Dolphin, *Muroid (hinted at by DJW), and Vulpimancer. I hate to bring Nanomech back into things. Still, Nanochips fall under a similar, yet worse, situation by being a non-sapient with only the queen appearing to be semi-sapient possibly. Now the nanochips on their own would be deemed as a hive mind species, which, unfortunately, isn’t considered a sapient title. Going back to DNAliens, they are very obedient, but that’s because they are easily timid (more than likely a genetic coding inserted when created), not because they are a part of a hivemind. So they seem plausible by the sapient level, just not as a Xenocite themself; I mean, if a Muriod can pass, so can a DNAlien.
How would BenDNAlien work with the lore of 5YL? Well, there are two ways he could work, the first being a part of the Parasite playlist. Like Nanomech, BenDNAlien would remain a hybrid transformation and have the ability to use the Xenocite part of the hybrid to merge with other species to make different DNAliens (For examples, look at some DNAliens from Ben 10: Alien Force the game). Much like Overkill, there would be aliens that wouldn’t work, such as Chromeastone, Diamondhead, EchoEcho, and any other silicon-based lifeforms. Another way could be that the Highbreed genetically reprogramed Xenocites to make them sapient (or at least semi-sapient like Wildmutt). While this one seems unlikely but not impossible, a reason why the Highbreed could reprogram them is to help repopulate Augstaka after Ben saved their species and, to some extent, Augstaka.
Now here’s the big question, does BenDNAlien even make sense? Just as a heads up from this point going forward, Nanomach will be targeted negatively (only parts are based on biased opinions, but the majority are based on fact). To start this off, DNAliens are an organic species, but Nanochips have never been confirmed to be Biomechanical, just a regular piece of technology that, according to some statements, isn’t accepted by the Omnitrix (for the record, Clockwork isn’t a machine, just machine-like). I mean, even if we go by Derricks’ head-cannon about Nanomech being an evolved Nanochip, that still doesn’t mean he has DNA which, as proven in ‘Max Out,’ Xenocites and DNAliens are known to have. I’m not saying Nanomech is a terrible alien, despite my negative feelings about him. Still, there are other/better concepts for aliens with his powers while staying within the series’s rules and its creators (but this isn’t the time or place or for that).
I know this doesn’t sound like an official/professional debate, but as I am not the best at writing (a common problem plus some autistic problems I have) and wrote this within a day, try and give me some slack. I hope you all consider this, and please ask questions and try to argue the points made. However, I do request that you refrain from using stuff like “Your wrong Nanomech is cool” or “He took down *Insert a win against a larger opponent*” unless you provide proper reasoning. Again thank you, and good day/evening/night (depending on when you read this).