One can only ponder what kind of legendary warrior managed to pip him to the post, however…. On his infinite quest for peace, 16 gains a deep understanding of what it means to be human, eventually sacrificing himself for a planet that was his as much as anyone else’s. For example, anything that happens in the Battle of Gods and Resurrection F arcs of Dragon Ball Super that doesn’t happen in either of the films is non-canon for the purposes of this countdown. He just doesn’t undergo the same level of development as our top four entries. He would never again approach that level of badassery as a young man, and we may never forgive him for that injustice. Beerus is an actual God, unlike the other DBZ villains who are simply playing God, and he destroys worlds because it’s in his job title. The Cell saga ends with Goku dead, the Earth at peace, and Gohan as its protector. There was something more significant about this villain from all of the others; it was as though you knew that daring to face him meant certain death. What is supposed to come across as light comic relief actually turns out to be an incredibly frustrating distraction from some of the best action in the franchise, for which he ultimately takes all the credit. As the very first DBZ anti-hero, Piccolo’s redemption (there’s that word again) is handled seamlessly, starting with his respect for Goku, and later his relationship with Gohan. Worry not, Tien, your sacrifice has secured you a place in these illustrious standings, and that makes it all worth it. If you were able to contain your fury and not immediately jump to the comment section, your reward is the true winner, the prince of all Saiyans (even though there’s only like three of them) and the harbinger of all things badass, Vegeta. It’s hard to quantify exactly how Dragon Ball Z captivated a generation so spectacularly back in the late 90s. Despite being from an alien race, Vegeta is much more human than it would seem at first. Raised in a reality where Vegeta could play the role of daddy, this young protégé is cocky, arrogant, and boorish. They sure are quick to forgive someone who has a history of transforming people into candy and devouring them. It rose rapidly to become crucial viewing material every morning before school, with kids eager to discuss what had just occurred in the last episode. His mysterious introduction to the series made him an instant fan favorite, while his origin story, The History of Trunks, remains by far the most popular of the original Dragon Ball Z movies. You think we’ve completely short sold the Masenko-blasting child with the hidden potential? She suffers no fools, and routinely steps toe to toe against even the mighty Saiyans. He’s the kind of boy you want to take home to meet your parents. But it became legendary all the same. Taking into account his motivation, it’s no wonder Trunks is flawed. He’s not the fittest, not the prettiest, and you may not have even considered the truth up until this point. We watch her grow into a loving wife and mother, but she remains someone you wouldn’t want to cross, which comes in handy when dealing with Goten, Trunks, and Satan during the World Tournament saga. Majin Buu has a childlike demeanour and a serious temper, but also shows that he has a soft side, befriending Hercule and eventually changing allegiances. We all know what happens next, but nothing can take away those moments. Goku is a legend, and ranking him as low as five in no way suggests that we think otherwise. Let us know in the comments! Unfortunately, there’s still no place for Yamcha, but among the honorable mentions are Goten, Videl, Android 17, and Tien Shinhan (who was particularly difficult to leave out). Admittedly, they were often treated to a whole bunch of filler, with Goku and his adversaries opting for discourse instead of throwing fists at one another. ), Krillin is one of the more crafty combatants in the arena, often using deception and misdirection to his advantage. From the very beginning of Dragon Ball Z, Gohan stands up to everyone who even comes close to threatening his friends and family: Raditz, Vegeta, the Ginyu Force, and even final form Frieza. How could we possibly survive, now that Goku was gone? Short of stature, big of heart – Krillin is the franchise’s perennial whipping boy, but he keeps right on coming back for more. It’s a testament to his bravery that he hadn’t packed it in after about the second or third death, despite his lacking physical talents and propensity to go pop. And Gohan was felled? On this evidence alone, it would be easy to pass her off as a plot device, but Bulma has made it this far because she is one of the most popular personalities within the series.