Dragon Ball has long been regarded one of the most enduring and popular anime franchises and has spawned several series, movies, and spin-offs in the process. With such a long-running property (beginning in 1984 with a manga), the franchise has given us an array of characters that have since gone on to become iconic and well-embraced by the fanbase, and has ignited quite a few conversations along the way. Perhaps the most popular and significant iteration of the Dragon Ball franchise, and the one with arguably the most beloved characters, is Dragon Ball Z.

With such a diverse cast, one's ranking of the best Dragon Ball Z characters can be a completely different story depending on who you ask. While some are bound to have heated discussions over this very subject, it's definitely still an exciting prospect to see which characters make it out on top! Without further ado, let's set our ranking to super saiyan mode and determine the top Dragon Ball Z characters.

10 Frieza

Frieza in Dragon Ball Z
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Dragon Ball has been host to quite a number of memorable villains, and Frieza more than qualifies in that department. With an androgynous appearance and chilling mannerisms, Frieza is a lethal and cunning adversary that caused more than a fair share of trouble for Goku and his friends throughout the duration of the original series. Frieza's darkly comic nature and intensity still remain chilling to this day and helped establish themselves as one of the show's earliest and memorable villains. While the Dragon Ball series has no shortage of villains, Frieza remains one of the iciest and most interesting in a franchise full of them.

9 Cell

Cell in Dragon Ball
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Another noteworthy antagonist from the early days of the franchise, Cell stands as one of the most intimidating and menacing villains ever faced in the series. His stoic demeanor and vicious fighting style alone made him a contender and several of his appearances rank among Dragon Ball Z's most haunting and visceral moments.

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As an adversary, Cell marked a notable shift for the series and significantly upped the ante and dramatic stakes of the show. From his first episode to his last, each arc Cell was a part of made a notable impression and helped impact the trajectory of the series. Cell is not just an entertaining villain but a character whose presence added gravitas and drama to the series.

8 Master Roshi

Master Roshi in Dragon Ball Z
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Both serving as an elder voice of wisdom and comedic relief, Master Roshi is one of the most endearing and purely delightful characters in the series. His teachings and shenanigans consist of the series' most hilarious scenes, although he also has provided some of its most heart-warming and sincere moments as well. As a supporting character, Master Roshi is one of the most moral and insightful members of the cast further solidifying his appeal. As both a comedic foil and voice of reason, Master Roshi remains an indisputable fan favorite.

7 Krillin

Krillin in Dragon Ball Z
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One of the series' most endearing and loyal characters, Krillin's scrappy nature and determination has contributed to his appeal. Krillin has faced many obstacles throughout the series, but despite often being overpowered his resolve and loyalty toward Goku have allowed him to remain a key figure within the series. During his arc, Krillin has gone through some significant events, such as being killed by Freiza (in one of several instances of Krillin's death), which prompts Goku's super saiyan transformation. Due to his resistant nature, Krillin has established himself as a central character in the franchise.

6 Android 18

Android 18 in Dragon Ball Z
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One of the most layered and haunting characters in the series, Android 18 has had one of the most fascinating arcs in Dragon Ball Z. Originating as a villain with a ruthless streak and a chilling nature, Android 18 eventually begins to showcase more humanity and becomes a well-rounded member of the ensemble. Throughout the series, Android 18 turns her back on her original programming and begins a relationship with Krillin. By the ends of the series, Android 18 presents themselves as one of the most multi-faceted characters in the Dragon Ball universe.

5 Bulma

Bulma in Dragon Ball Z
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One of the most essential characters of the franchise, Bulma has emerged as one of the most pivotal figures due to her resourcefulness and inventiveness. In both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, Bulma's tough and spunky nature has allowed her to fuel some of the most significant moments in the franchise. Over the course of the series, Bulma has evolved consistently and even ended up in a relationship with Vegeta. As a supporting character, Bulma has withstood the most progression and contributed to many highlights during the duration of the series. Bulma is considered an MVP in the series and remains a fan favorite and a key character.

4 Trunks

Trunks in Dragon Ball Z
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As a supporting character, Trunks has had quite the history. He's appeared as both the older future version during the Cell saga and later as the more youthful version, who's a result of Bulma and Vegeta's romance. Trunks has one of the more involved backstories in the series dealing with the weight of traversing two universes and his complex relationship with Vegeta.

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Trunk's arc contains a good deal of depth and carries some of the most dramatic weight of any storyline present. With such a varied arc to go off of, Trunks can be a challenging character to pinpoint, but regardless each aspect of his character is deeply complex and nuanced. This complexity has ensured Trunks is one of the most memorable characters in all of Dragon Ball.

3 Piccolo

Piccolo in Dragon Ball Z
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One of the most iconic and dynamic characters in all Dragon Ball lore, Piccolo has had a truly captivating trajectory. From Goku's most pointed adversaries, to reluctantly loyal friend, few have had quite as varied a presence in the series as Piccolo. Many fans agree, and he's consistently considered one of the best characters within the series. Due to his complex nature and visceral presence, Piccolo is a character who immediately made an impact upon arrival and has been considered one of the most powerful characters. With his layered motivations and powerful nature, Piccolo is without a doubt one of the most well-rounded and captivating characters Dragon Ball Z has had to offer and his arc resonates deeply with audiences to this day.

2 Goku

Goku in Dragon Ball Z
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No list of Dragon Ball characters could be complete without lead character Goku and for good reason. Goku's a consistently heroic character whose struggles throughout the series provide plenty of dramatic and emotional highs. His arc sees him evolving into a master fighter, all while discovering his inner strength and fighting to save humanity in the process. While it can be easy for powerful characters to feel one note, Goku is thankfully allowed to have genuine motivations which give him a great deal of depth.

In the grand scheme of the series, Goku remains an all important and rich protagonist whose journey is inspiring and exhilarating in equal measure, and he has been a mainstay in each of the many Dragon Ball sagas. Despite this, there's one other character whose equally if not more important in the lore of the series.

1 Vegeta

Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z
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Few characters have had quite the evolution Vegeta has during the duration of Dragon Ball Z. His arc has seen him become a tormented soul looking for approval, a ruthless antagonist, and a flawed individual looking to redeem themselves. These layers have ensured that his arc is never stagnant, and his motivations are consistently complex. Vegeta has been at the helm of many an iconic moment in the series and his evolution throughout the series has ensured his appeal. With many anime series, antagonist characters can easily come off bombastic or one-note, however Vegeta is one of the few that manages to feel truly multidimensional. With his nuanced arc and rich progression, Vegeta is arguably the most essential character in all of Dragon Ball's lore and his redemption arc is considered one of the best of the series.