On March 8, 2024, legendary mangaka Akira Toriyama passed away at the age of 68. Toriyama leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered even for generations to come. Although Dragon Ball is praised for its fight scenes, it was a lot more than that. The popular series was a testament to the importance of hard work and determination—lessons that the mangaka has lived by himself.
Dragon Ball is regarded as one of the big three in the anime universe. The series boasts some of the best fight scenes in the anime universe, which paved the way for many contemporary shows. Goku is considered among the best anime characters, but the Saiyan would have been nothing without the villains who shaped the character he is today.
Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus has delighted the anime community with some of the most renowned enemies ever created. Dragon Ball villains come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from extraterrestrial emperors like Frieza to Gods like Zamasu. So, to honor his legacy, here are some of the best-ranked Dragon Ball villains.
5. Piccolo
Many new-gen Dragon Ball viewers have known Piccolo as one of the good guys, but fans of the original series have a different story to tell. The charismatic green alien is the child and reincarnation of an entity once regarded as the greatest threat to Earth.
King Piccolo’s battles against Goku built the perfect setup for the Dragon Ball franchise, despite falling short in power compared to other villains. The inception of the Piccolo Jr. Saga in Dragon Ball marked a rising crescendo, until he finally turned to the good side in Dragon Ball Z.
4. Majin Buu
As the end of Dragon Ball Z approached, Akira Toriyama had to dig deeper to create the perfect final boss for the series. However, lacking considerable space in the plot like Frieza and Zamasu, Majin Buu made up for it in terms of strength. This primordial being compensated with his phenomenal powers and unique abilities.
Although he possesses a childlike demeanor, Buu’s flair for wreaking havoc is nearly unmatched. He annihilated nearly all the Z warriors, killed Vegeta, and even defeated the renowned Vegito. Buu stood as the fitting ultimate adversary in the DBZ saga.
3. Vegeta
The proud Saiyan Prince is one of the most complicated characters in the Dragon Ball Series. Although he does not remain the antagonist for too long, his villain arc is still one of the most iconic in the story.
The transition from villain to rival was not easy for Vegeta, as his wicked tendencies would often resurface on multiple occasions. In the Majin Buu Arc, fans began to recognize the proud prince for the hero he could be.
2. Cell
The Cell arc was not only one of the best arcs in the Dragon Ball franchise, but also one of the most memorable in the entire shonen genre. Cell made a name for himself with his unique design, character, formidable backstory, and epic one-liners.
Cell is Dr. Gero’s ultimate creation and the physical embodiment of evolution. He possessed the DNA of Goku, Frieza, Vegeta, Piccolo, and many others. His arrival led to some of the greatest moments in the series, one of them being the Father-Son Kamehameha. Apart from his strength, Cell was a clever enemy. He was smart enough to trick Vegeta into letting him absorb Android 18.
1. Frieza
One of Akira Toroyami’s best creations is the Universe Emperor Frieza. He is the most recurring villain in the Dragon Ball franchise. Over the years, the series has explored a vast troupe of enemies that eventually become allies and friends. However, this did not apply to someone like Frieza, who is known for his arrogant, brutal, and unmerciful nature.
Being the main reason for Goku’s arrival on Earth, Frieza became the perfect nemesis Goku needed. He is also one of the few villains who grew stronger in a fight despite him claiming it is all talent and not hard work. In Dragon Ball Super, fans experience the surprising collaboration of Frieza and Goku to fight against Jiren. Whether or not a redemption arc is on the cards for Frieza, he remains Dragon Ball’s best villain by a mile.
