Dragon Ball: Krillin Might Be Weak, But He’s Still Stronger Than These Characters

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Ever since the advent of Super Saiyan forms in Dragon Ball, it feels like the human characters have been gradually fading into the background. Compared to the Saiyans, characters like Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien Shinhan seem to have fallen significantly behind when it comes to power levels. Even Goten and Trunks, the younger Saiyan-human hybrids, seem to be outpacing them in terms of strength! It’s an exciting time for Saiyan enthusiasts like myself!

Nevertheless, though they might not be able to stand against overwhelmingly strong aliens or hybrid beings, these characters are extraordinarily powerful when contrasted with typical humans. For example, Krillin is among the strongest Earthlings in the Dragon Ball universe, as evidenced by Yamcha’s confirmation at the end of the Buu Saga, where he was capable of defeating tough opponents.

Krillin Post-Buu Could Easily Defeat the Ginyu Force

During the Namek Saga, He Couldn’t Match Ginyu

During the Namek Saga, the Great Elder awakened Krillin’s hidden abilities. Given his growth in strength throughout the series, it’s plausible that by the conclusion of the Buu Saga, Krillin could have defeated the entire Ginyu Force.

Excuse me, did anyone manage to note down the bus number? That experience was excruciatingly intense, like every bone in my body had been shattered. Yet, please don’t fret over me, I assure you I will be perfectly okay. Pardon me if I seem impolite, but I believe I’ll rest for a bit.

— Krillin

In the Namek Saga, his power surpassed every other Force member, save for Ginyu alone. Consequently, it’s not surprising that, given some training, he could overpower each one of them.

Early Vegeta and Other Saiyans

Krillin Almost Killed Nappa in the Saiyan Saga

During the Saiyan Saga, Krillin came very close to killing Nappa with his Kienzan/Destructo Disc attack. However, Nappa was saved by Vegeta’s intervention, helping him survive. Given this, it can be inferred that after unlocking his full potential (even without additional training), Krillin could have defeated Nappa. Since Nappa is stronger than Raditz, Krillin would also have an edge against him. In simpler terms, Krillin nearly killed Nappa with a powerful attack, and had Vegeta not intervened, he might have won. Moreover, being stronger than Raditz, Nappa implies that Krillin could defeat him as well.

In addition, it’s plausible that Krillin could have bested Vegeta during this saga. Although he wouldn’t stand a chance against the power Vegeta eventually gained in the series, Krillin might have managed to defeat early Vegeta after unlocking his potential, though it would have been an extremely challenging fight. This may not seem remarkable, but for a human to conquer a member of a powerful warrior race is a significant feat.

Any Human Earthling

Yamcha and Tien Are Weaker than Him

It’s not surprising that Krillin, by the end of the Buu Saga, could outmatch any “regular human” on Earth, as Yamcha attested to Krillin being the strongest Earthling. Given this, other Earthlings like Yamcha and Tien/Tenshinhan might need additional training to overcome Krillin when he’s at his peak. It’s unlikely that Krillin would defeat Launch/Lunch, mainly due to her unpredictability.

All Classic Dragon Ball Villains

At Least, in Their Early Forms

Given that Krillin can defeat some Saiyans, even in their weakest forms, it’s reasonable to assume he could take on any Dragon Ball villain alone. The antagonists in Dragon Ball Z are significantly stronger than those in Dragon Ball, so a fight with them would likely be easier for Krillin (provided none of them grew stronger over time).

Although it might seem surprising, even the powerful old King Piccolo could be overpowered by a post-Buu Krillin. Despite Piccolo often being stronger, Krillin’s power level significantly increased after his encounter with Buu.

Androids from the Cell Saga

But He Would Have a Tough Time

In Dragon Ball Super, it’s plausible that Krillin might outmatch certain Androids from the Cell Saga due to his enhanced abilities. Despite their seemingly limitless energy sources, in the context of Dragon Ball Super, Krillin would at least have a fighting chance against the initial versions of Android 17 and Android 18. However, considering the current power levels, it’s unlikely that Krillin would win under today’s circumstances.

Perhaps Some Frieza Forms

But He Would Struggle Against 100% Full Power Frieza

In a controversial interpretation, it’s plausible that Krillin, harnessing his full abilities, might have stood a chance against some of the weaker transformations of Frieza. However, taking on 100% Full Power Frieza from the Namek Saga would likely be too much for him. Still, he could potentially make Frieza work harder than before; it’s debatable that Krillin could defeat several Frieza forms, especially if he caught Frieza off guard.

  • By the end of the series, Krillin can defeat many of the classic Dragon Ball villains in their older forms.
  • While this might not seem impressive, it’s hard for any Earthling to reach the same power level as him.

From where I stand, it’s clear that Krillin may not measure up to Saiyans in terms of strength, but he’s remarkably powerful for a human. With Dragon Ball Super introducing transformations that aren’t race-restricted, there’s a good chance human characters could unlock new forms as the narrative unfolds. It’s all fun and games when fans speculate about Yamcha awakening Ultra Instinct next, but truth be told, introducing some transformative abilities for them wouldn’t be such a far-fetched idea at all.

You can find the manga “Dragon Ball” on MANGA Plus, however, only premium subscribers are granted access to every single chapter.

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2025-08-20 21:36