Dragon Ball has been going strong for over forty years. Between the manga, anime, and multiple adaptations and spin-offs, there's no shortage of Dragon Ball content out there. In the nearly half-century that the series has been around, it has introduced fans to a myriad of characters.
Many characters have had their highs and lows throughout the series, with some reaching new heights and others falling into relative obscurity. Although the future of the series is uncertain, we left things with a new pecking order that may surprise some. These are the strongest characters in Dragon Ballat least right now.
Piccolo
New shape, new Piccolo
For the longest time, Piccolo was a character relegated to a supporting role. Although he stood as Goku's equal during their fight at the World Martial Arts Tournament, Piccolo gradually became a supporting character with Goku, and later Vegeta and other Saiyan characters taking the spotlight.
He may still lag behind Vegeta and Goku, but Piccolo is definitely more powerful now than he was in the beginning Super. Now that he's unlocked his Orange Piccolo transformation, Piccolo will definitely be able to have a more direct impact on the story if it ever continues.
Broly
Broly instantly became one of Dragon Ball's strongest
As far as exclusive non-canon movie villains go, Broly was probably the most popular among fans. After years of wanting him to enter the series officially, he finally got his time to shine with his debut in the Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
In terms of raw power, Broly has some of the greatest potential in the series. He demonstrated his ability to adapt and keep up with Goku and Veta's various transformations during their first clash. Now that he's getting better at controlling his legendary Super Saiyan form, it looks like Broly could end up as one of the show's strongest characters.
Vegeta
Everyone's favorite anti-hero finally caught up
Vegeta and Goku may finally be equals for the first time in years. While Goku seems to be leaning more towards Whis' training and mastering the angelic skills, Vegeta seems to be doing well under Beerus' tutelage, with the God of Destruction teaching him some valuable new tricks.
Goku may have Ultra Instinct, but Vegeta managed to gain Ultra Ego, with the more aggressive fighting style suiting him perfectly. We know that Vegeta will only get stronger from here, so it will be interesting to see how things turn out when he fully masters Ultra Ego.
Goku
Goku still does incredible things
Speaking of Goku, it might be a surprise to some to see that he isn't higher up here. While we know that Goku has often beaten the odds and pushed himself beyond what many expected him to be able to do, Super has found that there are units out there even if he can't hope to match. At least not yet.
From the looks of it, Goku has developed well under Whis's tutelage. As you would expect from Goku, he has not only improved his mastery over Ultra Instinct, but he has also unlocked a form of it unique to him called True Ultra Instinct. At the end of Super Hero Saga, it is hinted that Goku has become even more skilled with Perfected Ultra Instinct. That would make him hard to beat, at least for mortal characters. But there are a couple that have a pretty good shot.
Gohan
Is Gohan back for good?
Gohan has been on an up and down journey all along Dragon Ball. Fans know he has the potential to be the strongest character in the series, and now that he's unlocked his Beast form, he's likely to remain a powerhouse going forward.
While sparring with Goku in Beast form, Gohan looks comfortable keeping up with his father while using Perfected Ultra Instinct. Keep in mind that Gohan routinely slacks off on his training, and Goku is much more dedicated. While Goku was able to keep up thanks to him being more hands on than his son, Gohan definitely has a higher ceiling.
Frieza
A surprise reveals Frieza as the strongest mortal right now
Bringing back Frieza may have been a controversial decision, but you can't say the series hasn't been fun since his return. Frieza briefly reached a point where he could stand as Dragon Ball's strongest villain once again, but he was quickly taken care of by Goku and Vegeta.
But with the shocking revelation at the end of Granolah The Survivor Saga that he has unlocked a new transformation, Frieza looks set to once again become the strongest League of Death in the universe. It was a powerful moment, as not only did he destroy Awakened Gas, but he also took out Goku and Vegeta in their True Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego forms with one hit. You can bet that Frieza will once again be the enemy to beat when the series returns.
Beerus
The God of Destruction is no pushover
As Universe 7's God of Destruction, there aren't many characters as strong as Beerus. We saw how powerful he was during that time Battle of Gods movie, where Goku struggled to keep up with the Destroyer despite gaining the incredibly powerful Super Saiyan God form.
Goku and Vegeta benefit from Whis and Beerus taking an interest in them, and they are definitely much stronger now than they were before. But there's no indication that they, or other incredibly powerful characters like Broly, Gohan, or Frieza, are anywhere close to matching Beerus' terrifying power.
The Angels and Grand Zeno
Some people just can't be beat
If there is anyone stronger than a fighter, it is Grand Zeno and the angels who guide them. Angels are far stronger than the Gods of Destruction and have almost immeasurable power. While Grand Zeno, who may not be strong in the traditional sense, is arguably the most powerful being in the universe, thanks to his ability to wipe everything in the universe out of existence.
We probably won't see Goku and company reach this level of power, but it could be good. As good as it is to have characters in Dragon Ball universe with this level of power and ability, Goku and the rest of the main and supporting cast are a bit more grounded and keep the story interesting.
Dragon Ball
- Release date
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1986 – 1989
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Osamu Kasai, Daisuke Nishio, Kazuhisa Takenouchi, Minoru Okazaki, Mitsuo Hashimoto, Yoshihiro Ueda, Yutaka Satoh, Yûji Endô
- Author
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Akira Toriyama, Keiji Terui, Toshiki Inoue, Takao Koyama, Michiru Shimada, Yasushi Hirano, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Yuichiro Oguro, Miho Maruo, Shunichi Yukimuro
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Masako Nozawa
Son Goku (voice)
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Mayumi Tanaka
Krillin (voice)
