17 Most Powerful 'Dragon Ball Z' Characters, Ranked

DBZ Debut:“The New Threat"

What He's About: GokuGoku is a Saiyan and the main character of the franchise. His first appearance was in Dragon Ball, and fans watched him grow into the man he became in Dragon Ball Z. A head injury stole Goku's memories, stopping him from using his full power to conquer the planet. This amnesia let Goku become one of Earth's top defenders. Goku trains and improves himself constantly, making him one of the franchise's strongest characters.

Why He's So Strong:Goku's willingness to keep learning makes him strong. He always finds masters to learn techniques. Each time, he gets stronger. The concussion and amnesia after landing on Earth sparked Goku's need to learn. This let him take in more abilities, making him stronger than almost everyone else over time.

DBZ Debut:Cameo: "Reunions" / Full Appearance: "Gohan's Rage"

What He's About: VegetaVegeta first appeared as a villain, but his story changed as his background developed. He left the Frieza Force for a peaceful life on Earth. Still, he joins Universe 7's strongest fighters when needed to protect the planet and his loved ones. Many think he beat Goku's power.

Why He's So Strong:Vegeta is a Saiyan who trains his physical skills to godlike levels. He is naturally powerful; being the Saiyan Prince likely added to his strength. Saiyans get stronger after surviving near-death experiences, which Vegeta has done, upgrading him during his adventures.

DBZ Debut: "The New Threat"

What He's About: Gohan is Goku's oldest son, making him half-Saiyan and half-human. He is also the older brother to Goten and father to Pan. Gohan does not want to fight like his father; he prefers reading books. Gohan is very strong and skilled in fighting, so he joins his father and other warriors to defend Earth when necessary. Gohan can use his hidden power to turn the battle to Earth's side.

Why He's So Strong:Gohan has several strengths beyond his biology. He also has great training making him a powerful fighter. Being a hybrid lets him use his hybrid vigor, making him stronger than his parents. This impresses people, especially since his father, who started Gohan's training as a child, already had impressive power. Gohan's potential is huge, and his unlocked power increases his strength.

DBZ Debut:"Brood of Evil"

What He's About: FriezaFrieza acts as a main villain and commander of the imperial army as the emperor of Universe 7. Frieza ruled his empire with tyranny and was feared everywhere. He is Goku's arch-nemesis; every fight makes Frieza stronger. Frieza also killed nearly all the Saiyans, so Goku and the remaining Saiyans do not like him.

Frieza possesses immense power.Frieza ranks among the strongest characters in the Dragon Ball.Dragon Ballfranchise. Frieza was born a mutant and is considered the strongest mortal. Unlike the Saiyans, he does not need training to boost his stats; he is naturally strong and immensely powerful. However, he started training to improve because he could not beat his enemy. Still, Frieza is overpowered in many ways and can easily destroy whole worlds if he wants to.

DBZ Debut:"Buu Is Hatched"

What They’re About: Majin BuuMajin Buu has many forms, each with a different personality. Kid Buu is Majin Buu's original form. Innocent Buu appears first in an episode. This form split into Good Buu and Evil Buu. Super Buu results from Evil Buu taking over his counterpart. Uub is a human reincarnation of Kid Buu, so they call him Majin Buu because that is how all of them are addressed.

Majin Buu gains strength from absorbing others.Majin Buu differs from other characters because he is impossibly old and magical. He is technically older than time and has endless stamina. He can even heal his allies after they fall in a fight, bringing them back to full health. Also, he can change shape, absorb other beings to get stronger, and turn people into candy.

DBZ Debut:"The Reunion"

What He's About: CellCell is arguably the strongest and most powerful of all Dr. Gero's creations. Gero built him using the combined genetics of the best fighters on Earth. Cell took the genetic material from Vegeta, Frieza, Piccolo, King Cold, and Goku. This makes him overpowered. Once Cell reached perfection, he decided to rule the world.

Cell's strength comes from his unique biology.Cell became the strongest fighter. His DNA mixed the greatest powers from many characters. Cell launched Vegeta's Big Bang Attack, Goku's Kamehameha, and Frieza's Death Beam. Cell also healed almost instantly from any injury. This made taking him down in a fight nearly impossible.

DBZ Debut:“The Mysterious Youth”

What He's About: TrunksTrunks is Vegeta and Bulma's firstborn son, half-human/half-Saiyan. Two Trunks exist: present and future. Time travel sends Trunks back to warn Goku about the Androids and the Red Ribbon Army. Goku trained him, so Trunks is a skilled, strong, and determined fighter.

Trunks' strength comes from something specific.Trunks is a hybrid. He has Saiyan traits plus infinite potential. He taps into this hybrid vigor, making him stronger than most others. Future Trunks is older and trained more, putting him at the level he reaches.Dragon Ball Z.

DBZ Debut: “The New Threat"

What He's About:Initially,Piccolo was a villain in theDragon Ballseries, but things changed. Piccolo stopped villainy when he trained Goku's son, Gohan. This built a strong bond despite their past. Piccolo became a permanent part of the Dragon Team. Most people call him one of the planet's greatest heroes.

Piccolo's strength stems from this.Piccolo is Namekian. This gives him superhuman strength, regeneration, speed, and hearing. He started training on his birth day and never stopped. He mastered many forms over his life. As Orange Piccolo, he reached Goku's and the Saiyans' power level.

DBZ Debut: "Nightmare Comes True"

What He's About: Android 17Dr. Gero created Android 17 but started as a human named Lapis. Lapis turned against her creator, killing him. She and Android 18 intended to kill the Z-Fighters but focused on Goku. They aimed to kill him. 17 fought Cell and returned with Dragon Balls' help. Afterward, she sought a peaceful life. She mostly achieved this, but Goku needed his Spirit Bomb, pulling her back into action.

Android 17's strength is this.Android 17 possesses strength because he is a bio-mechanical organism with cybernetic enhancements. These enhancements give him endless energy, meaning he never loses stamina and heals injuries fast. A self-sustaining fusion reactor in his chest powers him, and nanotechnology runs through his body. He was built for immense power. He only failed to meet expectations by killing his creator.

DBZ Debut:"Nightmare Comes True"

What She's About: Android 18Android 18 began as a human named Lazuli. Dr. Gero made her the eighteenth Android. She is Android 17's twin. After finishing, she chose to fight Goku. She joined the Z Fighters, married Krillin, and had a daughter named Marron.

Android 18 possesses great strength.Dr. Gero powered Android 18 with a fusion reactor in her chest. This grants her unlimited stamina and energy, making her intensely powerful in combat. She also has cybernetics, nanotechnology, and artificial Ki. Her conditioning reaches the highest level, and it does not weaken. She never needs food. She is an unstoppable killing machine.

DBZ Debut:"Goku's Assassin"

What They’re About: Android 16Dr. Gero created Android 16, and Android 16 caused Android 17 to kill Gero. When Android 18 tried to awaken Android 16, Dr. Gero died in the resulting fight. Android 16 is extremely tall, towering over other Androids and many other franchise characters. He looked like Dr. Gero's son, Gevo. Dr. Gero did not approve of Android 16, who was built to defeat Gero. Still, Android 16 is not a good friend to Goku.

Android 16 has great strength.Android 16 is very powerful. He has a self-destructive device, but using it is just a threat since it would destroy him. He is slightly stronger than Imperfect Cell. His design makes him a more gentle Android than the others. This does not make him weak; he can fight well.

DBZ Debut:"Big Trouble, Little Trunks"

What They’re About:Shin is the East Supreme Kai, often calledSupreme KaiShin rules the Eastern area of the Other World and the living world in the universe. He is also the Supreme Kai of Universe 7. This makes him inherently powerful and godlike. He is the strongest being in his universe.

Supreme Kai has great strength.Shin is a Supreme Kai, a divine being with godlike powers. He is the strongest character in Universe 7 because the Supreme Kai sits above everything else. Shin’s natural abilities include telepathy, telekinesis, and materialization. Only Gods of Destruction are stronger, but this is because Shin lacked training after other Supreme Kais fell.

DBZ Debut:"The Wizard's Curse"

What They’re About: DaburaDabura is a demon, the King of the Demon Realm. For thousands of years, Babidi's wizard controlled him as his right-hand man. Majin Buu's arrival changed things; Dabura switched to serving Buu. Dabura functions as a main antagonist in the Majin Buu Saga, a bad guy.

Why They’re So Strong:Lore states Dabura, King of the Demon Realm, is the strongest character. He holds the highest recorded power level. Dabura is a trained, seasoned fighter who reached his peak long ago. He uses magical abilities whenever needed.

DBZ Debut:"Global Training"

What They’re About: Tien ShinhanTien Shinhan is a human martial artist. He is one of the strongest fighters on Earth. He is also one of the strongest Earthlings in the franchise. His DNA comes from the Triclops race; he is a distant descendant. Tien studied martial arts for years. He vowed to beat Goku after Goku defeated his master. Tien Shinhan joined the Z Fighters to stop major Earth threats. He fights enemies much stronger than himself.

Why They’re So Strong:A lifetime of training made Tien Shinhan a powerful martial artist, possibly the best in the world. His ancestry gives him an advantage. Most of his power comes from his training and skill. He mastered many techniques, including the Four Witches Technique, Tri-Beam, Dodon Ray, and Solar Flare.

DBZ Debut: "The New Threat"

What They’re About: KrillinKrillin is a highly skilled martial arts master. He had a short rivalry with Goku, but they became close friends. Goku treats Krillin like family. Krillin is a Z Fighter. Although smaller than many opponents, Krillin usually holds his own in a fight. Krillin stops fighting to settle down with his wife, Android 18, and their daughter, Marron.

Why They’re So Strong:Krillin is human, so he lacks the power of some other characters. However, his martial arts skill makes him the strongest human fighter on Earth. His intense training keeps him in top shape. He received boosts and awakened his dormant ki. Krillin is much more than just a good fighter.

DBZ Debut:"Frieza's Counterattack"

What They’re About: King ColdKing Cold is Frieza's father and the former emperor of Universe 7. He is a main villain. After Frieza falls, King Cold vows revenge on the Super Saiyan who defeated him. This ruthless villain orders human deaths without issue. Future Trunks arrives just in time. He kills Frieza and then slays King Cold. Trunks leaves his genetic material for Dr. Gero to make Cell.

This explains why they possess great strength.Like his son Frieza, King Cold is a mutant. His natural power level beats nearly everyone in the franchise. His race makes him a strong being. He controls his powers so well he avoids transformations. King Cold's Ki surpasses Frieza's, but official sources say he is not naturally stronger than his son.

Captain Ginyu made his Dragon Ball Z debut." Bulma's Big Day."

This explains what these characters are about. Captain Ginyu.Captain Ginyu leads the Ginyu Force. This unit is an elite mercenary group fighting for him. Ginyu is a major villain from the Frieza Saga. Though honorable, he fights mercilessly. He acts arrogant yet fair. Ginyu did not break Goku's neck when he could; he thought that move would look dishonorable.

This explains why they possess great strength.To join the Ginyu Force, a person must be a mutant. Thus, it is not surprising the leader is one. His strange genetics let him switch bodies. This grants him his opponents' powers and abilities. He only needs to swap minds. He endures beatings easily due to high endurance. Ginyu also strikes poses during fights and seeks attention.