Most Powerful Dragon Ball Characters Ranked

Your favorite superhero may be able to deflect bullets, but can they draw in the energy from every living creature on earth, fuse it all into a giant ball of energy, and chuck it at a bubblegum-colored maniac threatening to destroy our entire planet? Depending on your answer, you are either a liar or have yet to discover the power of the Super Saiyans. 

Chances are high that you know of Dragon Ball's existence, whether you know it or not. You have no doubt stumbled across clips of muscular animated men screaming at the top of their lungs as a golden aura of undulating energy tussles their spiked blonde hair. Any journey through the world of Japanese animation will inevitably make a stop at Universe 7 to learn about the Saiyan race and their superhuman efforts to protect our planet, solar system, and even all of existence itself.

The effect Dragon Ball has had on the world of anime and manga is undeniable. Created by Akira Toriyama in 1984, the franchise has earned more than $20 billion across 20 animated feature films and multiple anime series, television specials, and spinoff series. The central plot line follows the heroic warrior, Goku, as he grows stronger and stronger, transforming into various representations of power which are visualized by drastic changes in hairstyle. But the search for the strongest entity in existence has shown that there is more to the measure of power than just a dye job. The argument itself is ferocious and seemingly eternal. Let's step into the fray.

The muscular physique of Mr. Satan leads one to view the man as being synonymous with strength. Along with a strong chin and macho persona, he projects massive confidence in his fighting prowess. However, this spastic glory hog's power level has to be measured in terms of clout. When the Z fighters engage in a reality-saving battle to the death, Mr. Satan swoops in, steps in front of the camera after it's all over, and claims to have saved the planet. This leads most of the general public on Earth to see Mr. Satan as Earth's strongest hero. His reputation allows him to coast down this path with no repercussions.

The real warriors of Earth don't care that Mr. Satan claims to be the source of all the world-saving. They do absolutely nothing to disrupt this chain of events. They're too busy training for the next world-ending villain. Goku is too humble, Vegeta is too arrogant, and Mr. Satan unwittingly serves his purpose by being a public figure in front of the chaos. His fighting power is almost non-existent, but he can flex like it's nobody's business.

Descending from the alien Triclops race, Tien is an intensely devoted devotee of the martial arts. Many years ago, in the World Martial Arts Tournament, he traded blows evenly with Goku. Other fighters were amazed by the fight because Tien was moving so fast they couldn't see him. While he tends to find himself lying in a pile of rubble during major battles, Tien has shown an ability to infuriate stronger opponents with his combat prowess and determination.

Tien has the ability to grow arms from his back and split into four people (an ability with many battle applications, but it unfortunately divides the power among the four clones). His third eye serves as another unique weapon in the form of a laser beam. In the early days of Dragon Ball when Goku was just a kid, Tien was an imposing force. Unfortunately, the universe has expanded beyond his abilities; nevertheless, he continues to train harder than most other fighters on Earth, and his power has grown to a level that surprises others in the Tournament of Power. His time training on King Kai's planet saw his power level rise into the thousands and beyond. The dedicated fighter has admitted countless times, however, that he is no match for the innate abilities of his Saiyan friends.

This stoic warrior from the planet Namek was once a villain hellbent on conquering Earth and destroying Goku. After realizing the error of his ways, as well as having his heart softened through his training of Gohan, Piccolo has become an integral part of Earth's fighting force. He has laser focus that can be both his greatest strength and a source of blind ambition. Since his early days clashing with the Kakarot, Piccolo has transformed from a maniacal nemesis to a steadfast ally. Even still, seeing Piccolo smile is a rare occurrence and most of his life is spent training or seeking solitude. 

Piccolo is blessed with eternal youth and the ability to regenerate any lost limbs as well as heal others. He is always able to read situations better than most, sensing weaknesses and drawing up battle plans that implement the strengths of all those around him. Goku turns to him for analyses on how to best beat new villains. As the Dragon Ball storyline has progressed, Piccolo has become outmatched by the new waves of fighters but continues to pull his own weight at crucial moments. The scowling green-skinned warrior always finds himself as a baseline for mediocrity among the power rankings: above fighters lacking the drive to excel, but below the truly gifted titans of the universe.

This stringbean comes off as an unimposing fighter and was given little attention from other contestants. There is a naive innocence to the Saiyan reminiscent of a young Goku. Don't let his stature fool you, though — Cabba is one of the strongest fighters from Universe 6, only less powerful than others due to his youth.

Developments in Dragon Ball Super showed that Cabba is adept at learning new techniques. He was able to learn the Super Saiyan transformation over a single match with Vegeta. The moment was historic for Universe 6, as this was the first Super Saiyan transformation in their dimension. As of right now, Cabba has an immeasurable level of promise. The Saiyans of Universe 6 have shown they might possibly be even stronger than those of the Z fighters from Universe 7. They have been forced to evolve without their tails, which has driven them to make up for the power inadequacy in other ways. We're eager to see where the story goes with Cabba, but as of right now, he isn't much competition for other major players.

Before Majin Buu was unleashed on our universe, Babidi's right hand man was the devilish Dabura. The hulking fighter is the strongest being in the Demon Realm and is said to wield power equal to that of the bio-android Cell. Added to his combat power are his magical abilities, particularly his ability to turn his opponents to stone with his spit (only his death can free his victims from their stone prison). Dabura was able to rival SSJ2 Gohan and likely would have continued an ascension to power had he not been betrayed by Babidi. The evil sorcerer orders Majin Buu to eliminate him, and he does so by turning Dabura into a cookie and eating him.

Dabura bears a striking resemblance to a certain Lord of The Underworld and he certainly displays similar characteristics with his sadistic nature. Added to the menace of his actions is a deep voice he uses to speak in very articulate sentences. Honestly, Dabura was underutilized. He was capable of much more destruction and had plenty of fights left in him. The Z fighters would have had their hands full with Dabura had he not become a snack.

New villains crop up in Dragon Ball Z with every new arc. Each confrontation forces our heroes to push themselves beyond known limits, to the point that some characters have become nigh-godlike in power. But there is one being whose immense power challenges even the strongest fighters: Cell. This bio-android has spent years obliterating every opponent thrown at him. He's so powerful that writers had to introduce different timelines in order for him to be defeated. Even then, he manages to take control of time and travel backwards, to make himself even stronger. 

Cell was created by a supercomputer using cells from some of the universe's strongest heroes. He is able to increase his power by draining energy from other entities, which is why he roams the Earth, drinking up the life forces of entire cities. Cell is, without question, one of the strongest life forms in existence. The only reason this outrageously powerful warrior finds himself at the bottom of this list is because of his recent absence from the Dragon Ball Z storyline. Fans haven't seen Cell since GT, when he is briefly allied with another villain and defeated by Goku, but  GT isn't considered part of the canon. Cell's power has not grown in quite some time: Today's heroes would not struggle against him as their predecessors did. But given his uniquely adaptive powers, he shouldn't ever be counted out for good.

It might be the way his soothing lavender hair flaps in the wind. It may be his stylish jean jacket. Whatever the reason, Trunks has been a fan favorite for decades. He first appears as a mysterious young boy capable of transforming into a Super Saiyan. We learn later that he is the offspring of Vegeta and Bulma, and has traversed several timelines before settling into the one we know today. His father's cocky, arrogant demeanor is tempered by his mother's humanity, resulting in a cool, level-headed warrior. Trunks can call forth massive power surges, but only does so when the time is right.

Ranking Trunks' power level is complicated, given his time-traveling nature. We've seen Future Trunks achieve greatness, but the main storyline currently features Trunks as a young, playful kid. He also tends to implement a right-place-right-time fighting technique that dazzles, but doesn't display much sustainability. The promise of Future Trunks places him on a pedestal among fans — one he deserves. But all these competing factors make us reluctant to place him anywhere but just below legendary status and right above his defeated foe, Zamasu. Trunks is no slouch: He has helped the gang defeat Cell, beat the tar out of Frieza, and sliced an immortal in half. Trunks is entirely worthy of the praise he receives. But we're still waiting for more.

For a long time, Broly technically wasn't considered part of the Dragon Ball canon. Thankfully, fans latched on to their favorite rage monster and never let go. In 2018, Dragon Ball Super: Broly was released, officially bringing this outrageously strong character into the canon. Broly was born in a pod next to Goku on the Saiyan home planet, with a power level that was, you guessed it, over 9000. His power was so great that it scared King Vegeta, who ordered Broly and his father executed. This decision stoked the primal fury now synonymous with his legendary bloodline.

Pain and betrayal have become all this misunderstood warrior knows. Broly's path leaves him devoid of any appropriate training for his immense power.  Because of this, he doesn't analyze and adapt to situations. When faced with challenges, Broly simply calls forth more power and bashes the problem in with his fists. His story is left open-ended in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, implying we have yet to see just how strong Broly can truly become. Some may think Broly should be much higher on this list, but he lacks adaptability. He may be a bottomless pit of raw power, but he's just not honed. Still, the future is unwritten. It's a bit scary to imagine what he might be capable of, given the proper training and some caring friends.

It goes without saying that the son of the first Super Saiyan would inherit a solid amount of power through genetics alone. Gohan has shown time and again in moments of crisis that there is an immense amount of power lying inside his docile heart. His strongest aspects shine through in his protective instincts, drawing power from a limitless well of energy when seeing his loved ones in danger. At times he displays a power beyond that of Super Saiyan, surpassing even Goku. It is Gohan who, while not delivering the final blow, ultimately defeats the bio-android Cell when the rest of Earth's heroes have fallen.

Despite all that power, Gohan's Saiyan fighting instincts are tempered by some of his more human attributes. The desire to fight and grow stronger are of little interest to this gentle soldier. His interests lie in raising a family and studying to become a renowned scholar. With training and a drive to surpass his competitors, there is no doubt that Gohan could become a fighter of extremely potent power and prestige. Alas, his preference for a simple life lowers this member of the endangered Saiyan race down near the bottom of the list.

The primary antagonist in the Dragon Ball series, Frieza, appears multiple times as Goku's arch-nemesis. He plays a major part in the Saiyan timeline as the character responsible for the destruction of their homeworld, the obliteration of the planet Namek, personally killing Vegeta's father, and has led multiple invasions of Earth. The Emperor of Universe 7 possesses an incredible knack for drawing upon vast amounts of energy. His strongest, original form is buried beneath a series of transformations in order to help his body contain his incredible might.

Frieza is extremely hard to kill (he can survive in the vacuum of space!) and is so talented as a fighter that he achieved his Golden form with only four months of training. His power is second only to his enormous ego, which is damaged so badly by his defeat to Goku that it takes years of mental training for him to regain his strength. The mark of a true villain shines through in Frieza's cruelty via torture and genecide. Should this tyrant be able to temper his arrogance and psychopathic tendencies, he will no doubt rival the universe's strongest heroes.

An infinite supply of anger courses through the Saiyan bloodline in the form of Prince Vegeta. Originally destined to rule his doomed home planet, the reluctant anti-hero's power levels always seem to be just a step behind Earth's strongest — occasionally crossing into the mightiest of the Dragon Ball pantheon through displays of pure rage. Few are liked by the sardonic warrior prince (who only displays humor when mocking his opponents) and even fewer are as dedicated to the achievement of ultimate power. Vegeta's dedication to martial arts and the cultivation of his ki are unparalleled. Combined with his regal bloodline, these characteristics make for one of the most dominant fighters in the universe.

While he repeatedly says Goku is his mortal enemy, his actions show respect and acknowledgement in the competitive drive supplied by his Saiyan companion. Once sent to Earth in the form of an enemy in search of the dragon balls, his disdain for "Kakarot" is pacified by his desire to pass him in terms of power. He repeatedly falls short in this endeavor as his anger tends to overwhelm him and cause him to rush into dangerous situations without analysis. An extraordinarily high opinion of himself results in Vegeta underestimating his opponents and charging in ill-prepared. His immense amount of pride calls forth endless pools of power and at other times serves as a debilitating weakness. Regardless, he continues to be one of Universe 7's strongest heroes.

The Dragon Ball series begins with Goku as a child teaming up with Bulma in a hunt for the mythical Dragon Balls. All these years later, the loveable defender of Earth continues to grow in strength while maintaining a gentle disposition that seems to disarm even the Gods of Destruction. Seemingly devoid of any negative emotions, Goku has ambitions that stem from his desire to protect those he loves. It is in moments of despair, when his loss in battle would spell death for those around him, that the Saiyan draws forth epic new levels of power to overwhelm his enemies. Whether it be through his signature move the Kamehameha, or by channeling ki from nearby lifeforms to form the almighty Spirit Bomb, the admirable hero always finds a way. Goku continually forces his body to new limits through never-ending training regimens and a constant stream of challengers.

After climbing through several layers of Super Saiyan, Goku was met with another moment of desperation in the final minutes of the Tournament of Power. The losers of the tournament face the destruction of their universe, a fate which is unacceptable for Earth's mightiest defender. Our favorite Saiyan displays a fighting form normally reserved for the gods in Ultra Instinct — a transformation in which the mind separates from the body, leaving it to operate on pure instinct, resulting in the most effective fighting methods known thus far. While Jiren arguably possesses more raw base power, Goku has shown us repeatedly that few can match the limitless well of energy that flows through the cheery protector of Universe 7.

When we first meet this lean, aloof individual, it is not readily apparent that great power lies behind his carefree smile. While Beerus zips around the universe imposing his will on anyone who dares annoy him, Whis stands by his side — appearing as no more than a gentle companion, complacent in running trivial errands. As the story unwinds, it becomes clearer that the immortal angel possesses an unfathomable amount of power. When Beerus begins wreaking havoc on surrounding worlds after consuming a large amount of wasabi, Whis knocks him out with a single chop to the neck. In Dragon Ball Super, he appears to exert little effort in a sparring session against both Goku and Vegeta, even going as far as autographing the unwitting Saiyan's outfits in the middle of their dual onslaught.

Whis has the ability to rewind time up to three minutes without creating any paradoxes or time loops — a necessary power when one's sole responsibility is to mitigate the powers of a God of Destruction. Beerus has flat out stated that Whis is stronger than him and that most of his training was under the angel's tutelage. Despite all these abilities, his effortless displays of speed and strength come paired with a penchant for table manners and a love of Earth cuisine. There is no other being in Universe 7 with as much power, which makes his serene disposition all the more sensible. What need is there for any displays of anxiety or negative emotion when nothing in your realm of existence is capable of causing you harm?