You’re Not a True Dragon Ball Fan Until You’ve Seen These 10/10 Episodes

The following article contains spoilers for Dragon Ball, its sequels and spinoffs.

Dragon Ball is likely the most well-known anime series globally. Over the years, the original series and its many sequels and spin-offs have greatly expanded its world, becoming famous for its incredible power-ups, transformations, and distinctive sense of humor.

With so many different anime series and movies in the Dragon Ball universe, it’s tough to pick the most memorable ones – everyone has their own favorites! But here are some episodes that most fans likely remember fondly.

DB Episode 120: “Goku Strikes Back”

The Battle Against King Piccolo

• This Dragon Ball episode is often considered a classic. While Goku battles King Piccolo, his friends – Yamcha, Bulma, Launch, and Tien – watch from West City, amazed by how strong he’s become and how well he’s fighting. Their battle is exciting and well-done, especially considering the animation technology available when it was made.

As a Dragon Ball fan, I always get chills when Goku pushes Piccolo to unleash his full power – it’s amazing, but also heartbreaking knowing it costs him years of his life! That whole scene, with Piccolo powering up and everything around him crumbling, really feels like a preview of the epic scale the series would eventually reach. And then Goku gets ready to fire off a massive Kamehameha, completely shocking everyone! Honestly, the fight that follows over the next two episodes is just incredible – some of the best Dragon Ball has to offer, in my opinion.

DBZ Episode 93: “Keep the Chance Alive”

Goku Preparing the Spirit Bomb

Any dedicated Dragon Ball fan remembers the episodes featuring Goku charging and throwing the Spirit Bomb. It takes two episodes – Goku starts gathering energy in episode 92 and finally launches the attack in episode 94. Throughout episode 93, Frieza relentlessly attacks Goku, who is defenseless while collecting energy. Piccolo bravely steps in to protect him. These episodes are also memorable because many viewers actively participated by raising their hands to contribute energy to the Spirit Bomb. While the animation might not be the best, these episodes are incredibly tense and stand out as a highlight of the series.

DBZ Episode 95: “Transformed at Last”

Goku Unleashes SSJ1 for the First Time

For many fans, this is the most beloved episode of Dragon Ball. The fight with Frieza appeared to be over, but just as everyone began preparing to return to Earth, a shocking turn of events occurred: Frieza was still alive, and he was furious.

Frieza immediately attacks Goku, but Piccolo jumps in front of the blast to protect him, and the fight continues. Everyone is stunned when they realize Frieza not only survived, but has become even more powerful. Even Goku’s Spirit Bomb couldn’t defeat him. Krillin is seriously injured in the battle. Goku and Piccolo decide to keep fighting, while Gohan is tasked with getting Krillin to safety so he can receive medical attention.

But Frieza won’t let things go that far. He brutally kills Krillin, which, let’s face it, isn’t new for that character. Seeing his friend die like that sends Goku into a furious rage, causing him to unlock a strange and powerful new transformation. This is the iconic moment when the first Super Saiyan appears in anime, and it’s something every fan should experience.

DBZ Episode 191: “Save the World”

Gohan Defeats Perfect Cell

Everyone remembers Gohan’s powerful Kamehameha wave during the final battle with Cell! Initially, Cell appears stronger, but even though Goku is gone, he still encourages Gohan. It’s a really moving scene, but surprisingly, Gohan’s attack isn’t enough to win. He’s still struggling, which leads Piccolo to jump into the fight. Before long, almost everyone else joins in—except, predictably, Vegeta.

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Goku persistently encourages Gohan to tap into his full potential, and for a brief moment, Gohan manages to do so, but the situation quickly deteriorates. Just when Cell appears to win, Vegeta intervenes, buying Gohan the crucial time he needs to gather energy for a devastating Kamehameha wave, aided by his father. Their combined Kamehameha ultimately destroys Cell in a truly spectacular scene. Gohan was incredibly popular at this point in the series, and many fans believed he would eventually become stronger than Goku. However, the creator, Toriyama, had different ideas for the next storyline involving Buu.

DBZ Episode 237: “Final Atonement”

Vegeta Makes A Huge Sacrifice

This part of the story is crucial for Vegeta’s growth as a character. After initially accepting Babidi’s power-up and claiming to be completely evil, he finds himself suffering at the hands of Majin Buu. Seeing his father in pain, Trunks steps in to help, along with Goten. However, with Majin Buu and Babidi proving too strong, Vegeta makes a heartbreaking choice: he decides to destroy himself with the Final Explosion in order to defeat Majin Buu and save everyone he cares about.

He asks Piccolo to protect his sons, and appears haunted by his past actions and the people he’s hurt. As Vegeta says goodbye to Bulma, Trunks, and Goku, he uses all his remaining energy in a final, devastating attack that ultimately costs him his life. This episode is deeply moving and considered a highlight of the series, particularly for fans of Vegeta.

DB Super Episode 130: “The Ultimate Survival Battle”

Ultra Instinct Goku Fights Jiren

The last four episodes of Dragon Ball Super are particularly impressive. While the big fight with Jiren begins a few episodes earlier, the final moments are filled with suspense and strong feelings as Goku and Vegeta fight to win. In episode 129, Goku achieves Perfected Ultra Instinct, and the transformation is fantastic, like most times a new power-up is revealed. However, the following episode, where he actually uses this new ability, is even more exciting.

Although Dragon Ball Super always featured incredibly high power levels, the fight between Goku in his Mastered Ultra Instinct form and Jiren really showcased what was coming in future storylines. While the manga has since introduced even stronger characters and transformations, like Black Frieza, that battle remains a standout moment in the anime.

DB Daima Episode 18: “Awakening”

Kid Goku Transforms into SSJ4

The animation in Dragon Ball Daima is consistently good, and the story has some exciting twists, particularly for viewers who are new to the original Dragon Ball series. It successfully captures the adventurous spirit of the classic anime while still delivering the new transformations that fans expect – even if some of those transformations aren’t universally popular. Notably, Dragon Ball Daima has officially made Super Saiyan 4 (SSJ4) part of the official story, a form many previously considered non-canon because it only appeared in Dragon Ball GT.

The episode featuring Kid Goku’s SSJ4 transformation is beautifully done, with a particularly delightful transformation sequence. Even if you’re not a fan of SSJ4, it’s a worthwhile episode that adds important context to the Dragon Ball story.

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2026-02-26 01:37