Akira Toriyama deserves more recognition as a writer. While he didn’t invent the shonen genre, his work on Dragon Ball dramatically changed what shonen series could achieve. Dragon Ball is famous for its amazing artwork and exciting battles, but it also features surprisingly well-developed characters, particularly its villains.
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The villains in the Dragon Ball series are incredibly well-crafted, boasting memorable designs, compelling reasons for their actions, and strong writing that sticks with you long after you’ve seen their stories. Across Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and even Dragon Ball GT, Akira Toriyama, Toyotarou, and the team at Toei Animation have created some of the most memorable and well-developed villains in all of anime and manga.
10. Baby is the Best Villain in Dragon Ball GT
Baby is a villain created for Dragon Ball GT who feels similar in power and threat level to classic Dragon Ball Z villains like Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu. He was created by Dr. Myuu during the Black Star Dragon Ball Saga and is motivated by a single goal: revenge. Baby is the last survivor of the Tuffle race, a people destroyed by the Saiyans long before the events of Dragon Ball. When he learns that Goku and Vegeta are among the last remaining Saiyans, he dedicates himself to destroying them and everyone they protect.
One of the most interesting things about Baby is how gradually he takes over the planet, possessing Saiyans one by one until only Goku and Pan remain to oppose him. His possession of Vegeta feels particularly significant given their history, and their resulting fight is a highlight of Dragon Ball GT, leading to Goku’s incredible transformation into Super Saiyan 4. It’s worth noting that Baby is the only major villain in DBGT that Super Saiyan 4 Goku actually defeats.
9. Majin Buu Has Surprisingly Great Character Development
While later forms of Majin Buu lose some appeal, his original, plump form is one of the most well-developed characters in Dragon Ball Z. Initially presented as a naive monster with no sense of morality, Majin Buu gradually changes for the better thanks to the unlikely influence of Mr. Satan, who spares his life instead of trying to destroy him.
Mr. Satan and Majin Buu develop a genuine friendship, even adopting a dog named Bee together. When Bee is critically injured by humans, Majin Buu loses control of his anger and splits off his evil side, creating Evil Buu. Later in the story, Fat Buu returns to help defeat Kid Buu, completing his character arc. Though Majin Buu might be considered the weakest villain in Dragon Ball Z, it speaks volumes that even Toriyama’s least powerful villain has a surprisingly well-developed, emotional, and heartwarming story.
8. Cell Mirrors DBZ’s Main Characters Perfectly
Cell is a fascinating villain in Dragon Ball Z, standing out both for his unique appearance and how Akira Toriyama developed his personality. Throughout the Cell Saga, he subtly reflects the traits of several main heroes. Initially, Cell projects an eerie, demonic aura reminiscent of Piccolo. After reaching his Semi-Perfect form, he becomes boastful and takes charge, much like Vegeta often does.
Once Cell reaches his Perfect Form, he becomes remarkably composed and focused on finding the ultimate battle. In the Dragon Ball manga, creator Akira Toriyama even begins to draw Cell with expressions similar to Goku’s, emphasizing their roles as literary opposites. During the Cell Games, Super Perfect Cell’s unpredictable and somewhat childish behavior contrasts sharply with Gohan, whose own internal struggles are central to his growth and eventual unlocking of Super Saiyan 2.
7. Akira Toriyama Turned Broly From a Mindless Grunt Into One of Dragon Ball’s Most Nuanced Villains
The original Broly from the Dragon Ball Z movies was mostly just incredibly strong, particularly in Broly – The Second Coming and Bio-Broly. When it was announced that Akira Toriyama would officially include Broly in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, fans were worried. However, the final result was surprisingly good. Toriyama transformed Broly from a one-dimensional villain into a sympathetic young man who was manipulated and never had the opportunity to live a normal life.
Toriyama created a surprisingly sympathetic character in Broly, especially considering his difficult and painful relationship with his father, Paragus. Through connections with new friends like Cheelai and Lemo, and his battles with Goku and Vegeta, Broly begins to change, realizing there’s more to life than just fighting to survive. The movie ends with Goku introducing himself by his birth name, ‘Kakarot’ – a nod to Broly’s past animosity – symbolizing Broly’s transformation. Since then, Broly has evolved into a complex anti-hero, and is now positioned as a powerful ally for the Z-Fighters against Black Frieza.
6. Beerus Changed Dragon Ball For the Better
Beerus is unique as the first Dragon Ball villain who proved unbeatable. Even after Goku achieved the Super Saiyan God transformation, he couldn’t win against Beerus in their climactic fight in Battle of Gods. Beyond being a powerful opponent, Beerus reinforced a core Dragon Ball idea – that there’s always someone stronger – and gave Goku a new goal to strive for. He also significantly expanded the Dragon Ball universe by introducing concepts like Gods of Destruction, God Ki, and the existence of a multiverse.
Beerus quickly transitioned from a villain to something of a hero during the Resurrection F arc, though he’s not a traditional Z-Fighter. He isn’t reliable in a crisis and doesn’t always get along with Goku. While he’s unlikely to return to villainy, Goku’s ongoing quest to become stronger than Beerus suggests they’ll probably have one final battle before the series concludes.
5. Zamasu is the Most Complicated Villain in Dragon Ball
Most villains in Dragon Ball have straightforward reasons for their actions, which is typical for the shonen style. That’s what makes Zamasu stand out – he’s a much more complicated character. He struggles with his own contradictions, self-doubt, and inner issues. Zamasu genuinely thinks mortals are inferior to gods, and he reacts strongly when he sees humans like Goku gaining power that rivals, or even exceeds, that of the gods.
The connection between Zamasu and his alter ego, Goku Black, creates a fascinating contrast, highlighting how different situations can drastically change someone’s character. Seeing Zamasu gradually lose his grip on reality and develop an inflated sense of self-importance—culminating in the destruction of all other gods in his universe—makes him a particularly captivating villain. What sets Zamasu apart from most Dragon Ball antagonists is that he largely succeeds in carrying out his plan to eliminate all mortals, facing only minor setbacks.
4. Tien’s Villain Arc Set the Mold For Dragon Ball’s Best Characters
Tien is a surprisingly important character in Dragon Ball, often overlooked despite laying the groundwork for the character arcs of both Piccolo and Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z. He starts as an antagonist, a contrast to Goku. While Goku enjoys the challenge of fighting and improving, Tien initially wants only to be a cold-blooded killer, having never faced a true rival. However, his fight with Jackie Chun begins to change him.
Initially presented as a ruthless villain, Tien’s encounters with Roshi and Goku spark a change within him. He discovers a passion for martial arts and the excitement of combat. Over just a few episodes, the author transforms Tien from a detestable antagonist into a valued ally, fighting alongside Goku against powerful threats like King Piccolo and his son.
3. Frieza is a Masterclass in Writing a Villain Fans Love to Hate (& Straight Up Love)
Frieza is an incredibly compelling villain. He’s charming and polite on the surface, but utterly ruthless, and has nearly wiped out entire races like the Saiyans and Namekians. What makes him stand out is his personal connection to many of the heroes. He destroyed the Namekian people, giving Piccolo a strong motive for revenge, and he tormented Vegeta for years after decimating the Saiyan race. Even in a short amount of time, he forms a memorable rivalry with Goku.
Frieza is a fantastic villain because he truly lives up to his boastful and arrogant personality. Without the Super Saiyan transformation, Goku would have been defeated on Namek. What’s more, Frieza remains a compelling character in Dragon Ball Super, arguably even more so than before. Making him an uneasy ally during the Tournament of Power was a brilliant move, and seeing Goku and Frieza forced to cooperate was a highlight of the series.
2. Piccolo Went From Dragon Ball’s Greatest Villain to One of DBZ’s Greatest Characters
As a long-time Dragon Ball fan, I always thought King Piccolo was the series’ first truly scary villain. It was shocking to see so many characters fall to him – Krillin, Master Roshi, even Shenron! Goku was pushed to his absolute limit, and even after getting a huge power boost, he barely won. But what really makes Piccolo a fantastic villain, in my opinion, is what happens after. His reincarnation, just called Piccolo, starts out totally evil, but over time, thanks to his rivalry and eventual bond with Goku and especially Gohan, he starts to show a more human side. It’s a surprisingly complex character arc for a villain, and it’s what makes him so memorable.
Piccolo’s development throughout the Saiyan Saga is truly remarkable. Through training Gohan, we see Piccolo’s softer side emerge as he forms his first genuine friendship. His selfless sacrifice to save Gohan from Nappa remains one of the most powerful and moving scenes in Dragon Ball Z. Later, during the Frieza Saga, Toriyama cleverly explores Piccolo’s connection to his Namekian roots, contrasting it with Goku’s struggle to accept his Saiyan heritage.
1. Vegeta is the Best Written Villain in All of Dragon Ball
Vegeta is arguably not just the best villain in Dragon Ball, but the most well-developed character Akira Toriyama ever created. Though Toriyama initially wasn’t fond of Vegeta, he kept him in the story because Vegeta’s actions and motivations naturally pushed the plot forward. As the proud Prince of all Saiyans, Vegeta was a compelling figure who inspired both heroes and villains, all while struggling with his own hidden vulnerabilities in a complex and engaging way.
From his first appearance through the Cell Saga, and with a brief return to villainous behavior during the Majin Buu arc, Vegeta consistently struggles with internal conflicts. Both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super explore Vegeta’s personal growth, but Super especially excels at building on his earlier development. The series pushes him to confront his past mistakes and ultimately accept his connection to Earth and its people, becoming as much an Earthling as Goku.
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2026-02-22 20:06