Top 14 Dragon Ball Z Strongest Characters

If you are an anime viewer, you already know what is coming in this article. Since shonen exists, there has always been a never-ending debate. Regardless of the anime title, we all want to know: who is the strongest character? 

Dragon Ball is undoubtedly one of the most popular anime franchises ever. Some of the most famous characters include Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo. They are characters that have sparked intense debates among fans of the series. It's an anime with extremely powerful characters and god-like action sequences. Of course, all of this only makes us sink deeper into the debate of who is the strongest.

Today, we will talk about Dragon Ball Z, and we will try to rank the strongest characters in this season of 291 episodes.

Krillin

Krillin is one secondary protagonist and an old friend of Goku. While all of his full strength is not completely explored during Dragon Ball Z, Krillin had always acted as a barrier to distract the villains before the strongest character arrived. Krillin is known for catching enemies off guard and misdirecting them.

In a fight against Frieza's soldiers, the anime tells us that Krillin's power rivaled that of Master Roshi, making him part of the more powerful Earthlings in the series.

One thing we love about Krillin is that he understands he is human. Like every human, he has certain limitations. Even so, he doesn't let this discourage him.

Master Roshi

Master Roshi is part of the more powerful earthlings in Dragon Ball. He has trained Goku, Gohan, Yamcha, and Krillin.

The scouter said his power level was at 139. Even so, this doesn't take into account his true power. Roshi's signature move, called Max Power, permits him to make ki attacks at the maximum potential. Those attacks are strong enough to even destroy the moon.

Even if he is a classic character, in Dragon Ball Z, he doesn't get that much time to shine. Dragon Ball Z plot moves forward with new protagonists, leaving other ones like Roshi some time to rest.

As time passes, his students overshadow him. Still, his 300 years of experience and creativeness make him a great character in the series. Besides, he shines again in Dragon Ball Super.

Piccolo

Many fans consider him the best character in Dragon Ball. We can't blame them! He is the kind of character with more development than others in the show. When we first see him, he is a villain, and he, later on, becomes an ally. This transformation made him a fan favorite.

Don't get us wrong, he only begins to lose his antagonistic manners in Dragon Ball Z as he becomes friends with Gohan. Over time Piccolo converts to someone with respectability and honor. As time passes, he becomes someone with goodness in him without realizing it. There are still times when he shows that inside he is rude and violent, but it is understandable: he was a villain, and it's hard to change his old ways.

Frieza

He is, without any doubt, one of the most iconic figures in Dragon Ball. Besides being an Emperor, he is the main antagonist of Dragon Ball.

He is the one who destroys Planet Vegeta, making him one of the most terrific antagonists. Villains come and go, but he keeps always being at the top.

In the first part of the series, Frieza is cruel and threatening, and in Dragon Ball Z, he keeps being that way.

His strength, along with his speed, allows him to do whatever he wants. He tortures Vegeta, nearly kills Gohan, severely injures Nail, assassinates Krillin, and deflects Piccolo after reaching his third form.

All this and much more make him one of the strongest characters in the Dragon Ball world.

Android 18 

This android is one of Dr. Gero's creations and the sister of Android 17. In the Cell Saga, she confronts Vegeta, and what is more surprising, she can take his punches.

During the fight, she achieves the upper hand for one magnificent reason: she cannot lose stamina for being an android. If that wasn't enough, she is the one who ends the fight when she breaks Vegeta's arm.

She was originally a human, and as an android, she overpowers a Super Saiyan. The best thing about her includes endless energy and brute strength. Together, it makes Android 18 powerful without any training abilities.

Android 17

He is the twin brother of Android 18 and part of Dr. Gero's different creations. In Cell Saga, we see Android 17 take on three characters simultaneously: Trunks, Piccolo, and Tien. This by itself is enough to show the viewer how powerful he is.

Android 17 also has amazing abilities due to the improvements made by Dr. Gero. However, he lacked training, and it shows when he is defeated by Imperfect Cell. Still, we think he deserved a place on this list along with his sister.

Pikkon

Manga readers, please don't get mad at us! Pikkon is one of the characters that only appear in the anime. He fights Goku in the final battle. He has the advantage until our hero finds the weak spot of his technique. Even Goku points out that Pikkon is a good fighter with no blind spots.

He is one of the most straggling Dragon Ball Z characters that not everyone remembers. Still, that doesn't make him any less powerful.

Future Trunks

He is the Saiyan-Earthling son of Bulma and Vegeta. He comes from an alternative universe. Under Future Gohan's guidance, Future Trunks becomes exceptionally skilled.

He is the only one who survives in the alternate future, and aesthetically he looks badass. He kills Frieza, Cell, and prevents Buu from causing more disaster. 

Some say he is one of the most underrated characters in Dragon Ball Z, and some go so far as to say the entire Dragon Ball universe.

Cell

He is the latest creation of another feared character, Dr. Gero. It was created with the genetics of favorably experienced fighters such as Vegeta, Goku, King Cold, Frieza, and Piccolo. Unlike the other creations, Android 17 and Android 18, Cell can increase its power by absorbing life forms. His absorbing power is one of the most feared powers, and characters like Android 17 and 18 were victims. That is part of the reason both of them are on this list! Cell achieves his Perfect form after he absorbs them.

Good Buu

Good Buu results when Innocent Buu splits into good and evil while using fission. Majin Buu used to be entirely evil, and after he absorbs the Southern Supreme Kai, he turns into an innocent Buu. When Mr. Satan tells him he shouldn't literally kill people, he stops doing it. He later suppresses his evil side.

Despite being inferior to his other forms, fans still consider Good Buu one of the most powerful fighters.

Son Gohan

He is known as the son of Chi-Chi and Goku. What makes him so great? After Dragon Ball Z finishes, Gohan becomes the most powerful warrior, superior to Goku and far above Vegeta. This is confirmed after he is capable of easily defeating the fearsome and genocidal Super Buu. This Buu was the most terrible of all forms of Majin Buu (maybe except for the absorptions of Z-Warriors).

Gohan's transformation is one of the main plots of Dragon Ball Z, right after the Cell Saga, when Goku dies, and his son has to be the new Earth's protector. At least until Uub's appearance.

Uub

Uub appears in the Dragon Ball Z saga but proves he is the more powerful earthling.

Right after Kid Buu's death, Goku wanted to train with a capable fighter, but not necessarily to save the Earth. Uub had Kid Buu's latent strength and kindness.

Despite being untrained, we saw Uub evenly fight with Goku. While Goku doesn't become Super Saiyan, the fact that Uub could hurt Goku in his normal form without any training is admirable.

In the end, Goku sees great potential in Uub and instead trains him.

Vegeta

Vegeta, also known as the Prince Vegeta of the Saiyan race. Vegeta can fight against Perfect Cell even though Cell is much more powerful than him. Vegeta also resists Babidi's mind control, exemplifying mental toughness.

While Majin Vegeta and Super Saiyan 2 Vegeta can't keep up with Super Buu, Vegito (Goku fusion) finally takes down one of the most powerful antagonists in the series.

Vegeta's transformation as a strong being but also from villain to ally is thanks to the impeccable storytelling of Dragon Ball Z.

Son Goku

Goku is the most powerful Saiyan in the universe, especially after DBZ ends. He has a natural fighting ability, and his keen senses during battle help him go through the toughest battles.

Goku also helps in the development of different characters on this list. Besides, he is the main character! Goku really is an exceptionally mighty and balanced fighter, capable of fighting toe-to-toe with anyone in the DBZ canon.