Summary
Dragon Ballis a franchise that mainly revolves around Goku and his buddies. Yet, if they were the only characters, Dragon Ball,Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, andDragon Ball Superwould be very dull. So, all the anime include their fair share of villains, too.
Some want to take over the world, several want to kill Goku, and a few just want to prove themselves to be the strongest in the universe. In most cases, they fail in their plans and are humbled by the likes of Goku and Gohan. But they still leave a lasting legacy, whether it’s due totheir immense power, exciting arc, or because they’re just compelling characters. Here are the ones that stand out the most.
This collection only contains true villains, not just antagonists. So, Jiren and Beerus aren’t included.
8Mercenary Tao
By today’s standards of Dragon Ball villains, Mercenary Tao is very weak. Yet, when Goku first faces him in the original Dragon Ball series, he’s a significant threat. In fact, the experienced warrior swiftly dispatches the little hero. He does it in style, too, showcasing some nice techniques.
Initially, his arrogance and ruthlessness make him seem so cool. Yet, later in the series, he becomes less cool and more comedic, as he’s no longer able to match the heroes in strength. However, his humor allows him to still be entertaining, regardless of how weak he is.
7Broly
Broly is undoubtedly one of the most visually striking villains in the Dragon Ball series once he’s transformed into his full-power legendary Super Saiyan form. In the DBZ movies, he was let down by a horrible backstory where he had a life-long hatred of Goku because the heroic Saiyan cried a lot as a baby. This is why they’re not amongthe best Dragon Ball filmsever released.
Thankfully, Super changed his tale. He now has a deep and compelling backstory involving isolation and abuse. The character also has one of the most enjoyable fighting styles in the series. He is a berserker who is very physical, and this leads to some eye-catching battles.
6Vegeta
Many argue that Vegeta is the greatest Dragon Ball character ever. Much of that reputation comes from his time as an anti-hero and, eventually, just a hero. He is also an excellent villain in the early Dragon Ball seasons.
In those years, he’s as bad as they come. The man is egotistical, self-centered, and ruthless. He is not above killing his own allies and innocent people. Much of his actions are a result of his relentless desire to be the strongest fighter alive. It’s a simple but compelling pursuit for the man to have. Plus, it leads to some excellent fights, particularly the one against Goku and his friends.
5Androids 17 And 18
What has always been interesting about Android 17 and 18 is how much they differ from other Dragon Ball villains. After all, they look and dress like regular humans because that’s what they were before Dr. Gero turned them into androids.
Plus, they’re a lot more cavalier about achieving their goals and causing mayhem. They barely seem like they care about any of it. This is likely due to them being Androids without many emotions. Also, the mere fact that they’re a true duo who never betray one another makes them stand out among the usual Dragon Ball rogues.
4Majin Buu
Dragon Ball villains aren’t always the most intelligent people. They often make silly errors, typically due to overconfidence. That said, Majin Buu is still much dumber than the others—except when he’s absorbed someone intelligent. He doesn’t really have objectives or plans; he’s just a pink menace capable of ungodly amounts of destruction. This is what makes him distinct from other Dragon Ball antagonists.
Additionally, due to his ability to regenerate, he’s the closest thing to indestructible that any major DB villain has ever been. His fights are unique, too, as he doesn’t dodge like the traditional fighter. He soaks up blows and energy blasts, feeling little in the process. He is truly one-of-a-kind.
3Demon King Piccolo
No villain in the original Dragon Ball series is quite like Demon King Piccolo. Others may desire world domination to a degree but get nowhere near achieving that. Piccolo and his gang actually take over in what is a very Dragon Ball Z-like arc. None of the previous antagonists in the original series come close to the evil and dominant nature of The Demon King.
Despite being much stronger than everyone else, he rarely gets too overconfident. He is as strategic as he is powerful. This is shown when he hunts all the best martial artists so nobody can use the evil containment wave technique on him, which previously stopped his reign of terror. Plus, he kills Shenron, so nobody can make any more wishes after he’s made his. This mix of intelligence and strength makes him such an imposing and compelling villain.
2Cell
One of the most interesting things about Cell is the fact that he has the Z-Fighters' DNA. Not only does this mean he has their techniques - which leads to some fascinating battles - but he also has elements of their personality, particularly the Saiyans. He is way too prideful like Vegeta and loves fighting a bit too much like Goku, which creates an interesting dynamic between him and the heroes.
Another unique element of the character is his desire to track down the Androids, absorb them, and become perfect. Add to that the fact that he’s a physical threat to evenGoku’s new Super Saiyan form(at the time), and you’ve got an almost perfect villain.
1Frieza
The series does an incredible job of building up Frieza before he even does anything. They continually talk about him being the most powerful being in the universe, immediately giving the character a mystique. Then, when he does get physical, he proves that all the hype was justified.
His immense power is only part of what makes him a good villain, though. He is also perhaps the most pure evil antagonist in the series. The evildoer kills and tortures people, mostly for his own amusement, as he is truly a monster with no redeeming qualities. As such, few have taken as many lives in Dragon Ball as Frieza. And he’s often entertaining while he does it, as he has a litany of humorous lines. So, he’s a tyrant that can make you laugh.
