List of Most Popular Dragon Ball Z Characters Ranked:
30. Cabba
Cabba is a Saiyan warrior from Universe 6 who made his first appearance in Dragon Ball Super. He quickly gained popularity among fans due to his kind and gentle nature, which was a departure from the typical aggressive and ruthless Saiyan stereotype.
Additionally, Cabba’s unique fighting style, which emphasized speed and agility, made him stand out among other fighters in the series.
29. Great Saiyaman
Great Saiyaman is the superhero alter ego of Gohan, one of the main characters in Dragon Ball Z. Gohan created the persona to conceal his identity while fighting crime and saving people.
Great Saiyaman’s popularity stems from his comedic and light-hearted personality, which was a departure from the serious and intense tone of the series. His flashy and colorful costume also made him a memorable character among fans.
28. Android 16
Android 16 is an android created by Dr. Gero to destroy Goku in Dragon Ball Z. Despite being a villain initially, he gained popularity among fans due to his unique personality and design. Unlike other androids, Android 16 was programmed with a sense of compassion and respect for all living things.
His imposing size and powerful attacks also made him a formidable opponent in battle, earning him a place among the most iconic villains in the series. However, his eventual turn towards the side of the protagonists and his sacrifice in the Cell saga to save the Earth further endeared him to fans.
27. Hercule
Hercule, also known as Mr. Satan, is a character from Dragon Ball Z who gained popularity due to his humorous personality and exaggerated claims of strength.
Despite being a mere mortal with no extraordinary powers, Hercule positioned himself as the strongest fighter in the world and often took credit for defeating powerful enemies, much to the amusement of fans. His unique fighting style, which relied on deception and trickery rather than brute strength, also made him a memorable character in the series.
26. Pan
Pan is the granddaughter of Goku and one of the main characters in Dragon Ball GT. She gained popularity among fans due to her spunky and adventurous personality, which mirrored that of her grandfather. Despite being a young child, Pan displayed impressive martial arts skills and a determination to help her friends and family in battles.
Her character also served as a refreshing change of pace from the series’ typical male protagonists and added a new dynamic to the Dragon Ball universe.
25. Broly
Broly is a character from the Dragon Ball Z movies who gained popularity due to his immense strength and imposing presence. As a Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly was one of the most powerful characters in the series, capable of destroying entire planets with ease.
His tragic backstory and intense hatred for Goku also made him a complex and intriguing character, and fans were drawn to his relentless pursuit of vengeance. Broly’s popularity was so great that he was eventually incorporated into the main Dragon Ball canon, making him a permanent fixture in the series.
24. Nappa
Nappa is a Saiyan warrior and a former general of Frieza’s army who made his first appearance in Dragon Ball Z. He gained popularity among fans due to his imposing size and brute strength, which made him one of the most physically intimidating villains in the series.
Nappa’s sadistic and ruthless personality also made him a memorable character, as he took pleasure in destroying entire cities and causing chaos. Additionally, his interactions with Vegeta, his fellow Saiyan warrior and longtime partner, added depth to his character and made their dynamic a fan favorite.
23. Raditz
Raditz is a Saiyan warrior and Goku’s older brother who made his first appearance in Dragon Ball Z. He gained popularity among fans due to his unique design and powerful abilities, such as his ability to manipulate ki and his use of the Double Sunday attack.
Additionally, Raditz’s revelation that Goku was a member of an alien race and his claim that he had come to Earth to recruit Goku for their mission to conquer the planet added an exciting new dimension to the series’ lore.
22. Bulma
Bulma is one of the main characters in the Dragon Ball series and gained popularity due to her intelligence and resourcefulness. As a brilliant inventor, Bulma was responsible for creating many of the series’ most iconic gadgets, such as the Dragon Radar and the Capsule Corporation’s technology.
Additionally, her sarcastic and no-nonsense personality made her a fan favorite, as she often served as a voice of reason in the midst of the series’ chaotic battles. Finally, Bulma’s close relationship with Goku and her eventual marriage to Vegeta added a romantic subplot to the series that fans enjoyed.
21. Master Roshi
Master Roshi is one of the most iconic characters in the Dragon Ball series and gained popularity due to his eccentric personality and powerful abilities. As Goku and Krillin’s mentor, Master Roshi was responsible for teaching them many of their signature moves, such as the Kamehameha.
Additionally, his love of women and his tendency to act like a dirty old man added a humorous element to the series that fans enjoyed. Despite his age, Master Roshi’s strength and fighting ability also made him a formidable opponent in battle, and his wisdom and experience were instrumental in helping Goku and his allies overcome many of their greatest challenges.
20. Chi-Chi
Chi-Chi is a main character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to her fierce personality and devotion to her family. As Goku’s wife and the mother of Gohan and Goten, Chi-Chi was often portrayed as the voice of reason in the series, constantly reminding Goku and others to prioritize their responsibilities to their family and friends.
Additionally, Chi-Chi’s martial arts skills and her occasional forays into battle made her a formidable fighter in her own right. Her protective nature and her insistence on her sons’ education and manners also endeared her to fans.
19. Whis
Whis is an angelic being and the attendant to the God of Destruction, Beerus, who made his first appearance in Dragon Ball Super. He gained popularity among fans due to his enigmatic personality and his powerful abilities, such as his mastery of time and his ability to move at incredible speeds.
Additionally, Whis’s calm and collected demeanor provided a refreshing contrast to the often chaotic and unpredictable nature of the series. His close relationship with Beerus and his willingness to serve as a mediator and advisor to the series’ protagonists also made him an intriguing and well-liked character.
18. Beerus
Beerus is a God of Destruction and a major character in Dragon Ball Super. He gained popularity among fans due to his imposing appearance, his love of food, and his explosive temper. As one of the most powerful characters in the Dragon Ball universe, Beerus was a formidable opponent who could easily destroy entire planets with a single blow.
Additionally, his dynamic with his attendant, Whis, and his interactions with Goku and his friends added depth to his character and made him a fan favorite.
17. Videl
Videl is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to her strong will and martial arts skills. As the daughter of Mr. Satan, Videl was initially skeptical of the existence of ki and the supernatural abilities of the series’ protagonists.
However, after training with Gohan and learning to harness her own ki, Videl became a skilled fighter and an important member of the Dragon Ball Z team. Her relationship with Gohan also added a romantic subplot to the series that fans enjoyed.
16. Goten
Goten is the youngest son of Goku and Chi-Chi and a major character in the Dragon Ball series. He gained popularity among fans due to his playful personality and his impressive martial arts skills.
Despite his young age, Goten was a skilled fighter who could hold his own against much more experienced opponents. Additionally, his friendship with Trunks, the son of Vegeta, added a fun and lighthearted dynamic to the series that fans enjoyed. Goten also played a significant role in the Dragon Ball Z storyline, particularly in the Buu Saga, where he and Trunks merged to become the powerful fighter, Gotenks.
15. Android 17
Android 17 is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his rebellious nature and his impressive power level. Originally a human named Lapis, he was transformed into an android by Dr. Gero to serve as his ultimate creation and the ultimate weapon against Goku.
However, Android 17 rejected his programming and instead chose to live a life of freedom and adventure. His impressive fighting ability and his close relationship with his twin sister, Android 18, made him a beloved character among fans. Additionally, his role in the Tournament of Power in Dragon Ball Super cemented his status as a major player in the series.
14. Android 18
Android 18 is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to her beauty and her fearsome fighting ability. Originally a human named Lazuli, she was transformed into an android by Dr. Gero and programmed to kill Goku.
However, after being defeated by him, she and her twin brother, Android 17, chose to live a life of freedom and adventure. Her relationship with Krillin, whom she eventually married, added a romantic subplot to the series that fans enjoyed. Additionally, her role in the Tournament of Power in Dragon Ball Super demonstrated her strength and versatility as a fighter.
13. Tien Shinhan
Tien Shinhan is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his impressive martial arts skills and his stoic personality. Originally a villain who sought to defeat Goku and his friends, Tien later became an ally and one of Goku’s closest friends. His unique techniques, such as the Solar Flare and the Tri-Beam, and his willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good made him a respected and beloved character among fans.
Additionally, his rivalry with fellow martial artist, Yamcha, and his relationship with the Crane Hermit, his former mentor, added depth to his character and made his story arc one of the most interesting in the series.
12. Yamcha
Yamcha is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his charming personality and his impressive martial arts skills.
Originally a bandit who roamed the deserts, Yamcha later became an ally of Goku and his friends. His iconic Wolf Fang Fist technique and his role in the early Dragon Ball story arcs made him a beloved character among fans. Additionally, his romantic relationships with Bulma and later, with Puar, added a romantic subplot to the series that fans enjoyed.
11. Bardock
Bardock is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his tragic backstory and his fierce fighting ability. As the father of Goku, Bardock was a powerful Saiyan warrior who fought against Frieza’s army.
His defiance of Frieza and his willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good made him a beloved character among fans. Additionally, his role in the TV special Bardock: The Father of Goku added depth to his character and gave fans a glimpse into Goku’s backstory.
10. Majin Buu
Majin Buu is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his unique appearance and his unpredictable nature. Initially a villain who sought to destroy the world, Buu was later reformed by Goku and his friends and became a valuable ally.
His ability to absorb other characters and gain their powers made him a formidable opponent, and his childlike personality and love of sweets added a fun and quirky dynamic to the series. Additionally, his various forms, such as Fat Buu, Super Buu, and Kid Buu, demonstrated his versatility as a character and kept fans engaged throughout the series.
9. Cell
Cell is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his unique abilities and his role as a formidable opponent. Created by Dr. Gero using cells from some of the strongest fighters in the Dragon Ball universe, Cell was designed to be the perfect fighting machine. His ability to absorb other beings and gain their powers made him a difficult opponent for Goku and his friends.
Additionally, his various transformations and his cunning personality added depth to his character and made him one of the most interesting villains in the series.
8. Frieza
Frieza is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his sadistic personality and his role as one of the most powerful villains in the series.
As the leader of the Planet Trade Organization, Frieza was a ruthless dictator who sought to conquer the universe. His ability to transform and increase his power level made him a formidable opponent for Goku and his friends. Additionally, his backstory and his relationship with his family, particularly his brother Cooler, added depth to his character and made his story arc one of the most interesting in the series.
7. Future Trunks
Future Trunks is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his unique backstory and his impressive fighting ability. Hailing from a future timeline where Goku died of a heart virus and the world was ravaged by androids, Trunks traveled back in time to prevent this future from happening.
His iconic sword, his Super Saiyan transformation, and his relationship with his mother, Bulma, added depth to his character and made him a fan favorite. Additionally, his role in the series Dragon Ball Super demonstrated his continued growth and development as a character.
6. Trunks
Trunks is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his unique backstory and his impressive fighting ability. As the son of Vegeta and Bulma, Trunks was a half-Saiyan, half-human warrior who possessed incredible strength and speed.
His iconic sword, his Super Saiyan transformation, and his time-traveling abilities added depth to his character and made him a fan favorite. Additionally, his role in the series Dragon Ball Super demonstrated his continued growth and development as a character.
5. Krillin
Krillin is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his loyalty and his role as Goku’s best friend. Despite being human and lacking the superhuman strength of his Saiyan and Namekian allies, Krillin was a skilled martial artist who proved time and again that he was a valuable member of the team.
His relationship with his wife, Android 18, added a romantic subplot to the series that fans enjoyed, and his role in the early Dragon Ball story arcs made him a beloved character.
4. Piccolo
Piccolo is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his complex backstory and his role as a mentor to Gohan. As a Namekian warrior, Piccolo possessed incredible strength and fighting ability. His fusion with Nail and later, with Kami, added depth to his character and made him one of the most interesting characters in the series.
Additionally, his relationship with Gohan, particularly in the early Dragon Ball Z story arcs, demonstrated his role as a mentor and father figure to the young Saiyan.
3. Gohan
Gohan is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his growth and development as a character. Initially introduced as a timid and weak child, Gohan’s hidden potential was revealed when he transformed into a Great Ape during the Saiyan saga. His subsequent training with Piccolo and later with his father, Goku, helped him develop into one of the strongest warriors in the Dragon Ball universe.
Additionally, his relationship with his father and his eventual transition from warrior to scholar added depth to his character and made him a fan favorite.
2. Vegeta
Vegeta is a character in the Dragon Ball series who gained popularity due to his complex backstory and his role as a fierce rival to Goku.
As the prince of the Saiyan race and a former antagonist, Vegeta was initially introduced as a villain. However, his eventual transition to a hero and ally of Goku added depth to his character and made him one of the most interesting characters in the series. Additionally, his relationship with his wife, Bulma, and his role as a father to his son, Trunks, added a more human element to his character.
1. Goku
Goku is the main character of the Dragon Ball series and has remained popular throughout the franchise’s history. His pure-hearted nature, his love for fighting, and his unwavering determination to protect his friends and family have made him an iconic hero.
Additionally, his numerous transformations, such as Super Saiyan and Ultra Instinct, have kept fans engaged and excited about his character development. Furthermore, his relationships with other characters, including his family and friends, have added depth to his character and made him one of the most beloved characters in anime history.
