Dragon Ball’s OLDEST Villains Ranked

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Summary

  • Vegeta, originally a villain, is younger than Goku but older than other villains at 29 years old.
  • Nappa, a short-lived villain, is the oldest Saiyan in the series at around 50 years old.
  • Frieza, the iconic villain, is older than Goku and Vegeta, being in his 70s-80s during the Namek Saga.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the enduring greatness of the Dragon Ball series, which stands tall among the pantheon of Shōnen anime. This incredible achievement is largely due to the masterful storytelling of the late Akira Toriyama, whose action-packed narratives and vivid portrayals of epic battles between good and evil are second to none. But what truly sets this series apart are its unforgettable villains!

Each character from the Dragon Ball series possesses an individual background and driving forces, ranging from being purely malevolent to having a sorrowful past or seeking vengeance in a straightforward yet captivating manner. However, what sets these villains apart is their age, varying greatly – some are just a few months old, whereas others have lived for hundreds of years.

8. Vegeta: 29 Years Old

The Saiyan Prince is Young, But Still Older than Goku

In the Dragon Ball series, Vegeta started off as an antagonist but has since become one of the main characters, or a deuteragonist. Originally, he was part of Frieza’s army due to being one of the few surviving Saiyans following the destruction of their home planet. He and his companions Nappa and Raditz have been wreaking havoc on other planets since they were kids.

In the official storyline, Vegeta is five years senior to Goku, which means he was approximately 29 years old when he arrived on Earth. Compared to ancient villains like those who are centuries old, Vegeta is younger, but in contrast to characters such as Cell, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, and the Androids, he can still be considered relatively old.

7. Raditz: Late 30s

Goku’s Older Brother Was the First Villain in Dragon Ball Z

Raditz, the initial Saiyan to set foot on Earth, was dispatched as an advance scout by Nappa and Vegeta with the mission to enlist Goku into their group. Despite not appearing particularly powerful in hindsight, he served as the primary antagonist during a brief storyline, which ultimately resulted in Goku’s demise. It’s also worth noting that Raditz is significantly older than Goku.

In the movie “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” Raditz is depicted as a teenager when Goku first arrived on Earth as an infant. This implies that when he returned to Earth to recruit Goku later on, it’s plausible that he was approaching or had already reached his 40s, and at the very least, he was well into his 30s.

6. Nappa: Mid 50s

A Short-Lived Villain, But an Older Saiyan

During the Saiyan saga, Nappa worked as a henchman under Vegeta and Raditz, both aiming to take over Earth. At that point, they were all portrayed as antagonists. Interestingly, Nappa held a higher rank, being a commander in King Vegeta’s Saiyan Army, which made him older compared to the other Saiyans featured in the series.

As Vegeta approached his thirties upon their arrival on Earth, it’s believed that Nappa was already in his fifties, making him the eldest villainous Saiyan character in the Dragon Ball series. Despite this, Nappa didn’t have a long-lasting impact on the series as Vegeta ended up killing Nappa following his defeat by Goku during the Saiyan Saga.

5. Frieza: Around 70-80 Years Old

Not That Old, But Still Among the Older Villains

Frieza stands out as a legendary villain within the Dragon Ball series, with his battle against Goku being one of the most unforgettable clashes in the franchise’s history. His character can essentially be defined by the term ‘malevolent,’ but what makes him intriguing is that he is significantly older than both Goku and Vegeta.

It was Frieza who devastated Planet Vegeta, an event that transpired when Vegeta was still a child and Goku was merely an infant. Interestingly, Frieza is of an age that would have prevented him from encountering the mythical Super Saiyan, a being said to appear only once every millennium. This suggests that Frieza was in his 70s or 80s during the Namek Saga.

4. King Piccolo: Around 300 Years Old

As Old As Kami

Among the duo hailing from the Nameless Namekian, King Piccolo emerged as one. Noted for his antagonistic role in the classic Dragon Ball series, this particular Namekian’s story took an interesting turn. Upon the arrival of the Nameless Namekian on Earth, it split into two distinct entities with contrasting characters. King Piccolo embodied the wicked side, while Kami represented the virtuous. Over time, King Piccolo ascended to divine status and assumed the role of Earth’s guardian.

In about the 461st age, the Nameless Namekian split into two entities known as Piccolo and Kami. Meanwhile, Frieza annihilated Planet Vegeta in the 739th age. This means that King Piccolo was approximately three centuries old at the time Goku was born and sent to Earth.

3. Moro: A Few Thousand Years Old

An Ancient Wizard

Moro hasn’t shown up on-screen in the Dragon Ball anime so far, but he debuts after the Tournament of Power arc in the Dragon Ball Super manga. He is an ancient sorcerer who initially clashed with the Supreme Kais and was eventually locked up by the Galactic Patrol.

Moro, a formidable antagonist, gains immense power by siphoning ki from planets and their inhabitants. His capacity to assimilate this energy is nearly boundless. In his manga narrative, his initial battle against the Supreme Kais occurred millennia ago, implying that he’s incredibly ancient in terms of age.

2. Beerus: Several Million Years Old

The God of Destruction Was Momentarily a Villain

Initially, Beerus appeared as an enemy to the Dragon Ball team, intending to annihilate a planet. However, he developed a fondness for human cuisine which made him alter his destructive plans. Interestingly, it was Beerus who commanded Frieza to obliterate Planet Vegeta. Eventually, Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan God to engage in combat with Beerus, providing the necessary challenge that eventually caused Beerus to reconsider his actions.

Undeniably, given his role as a God of Destruction, Beerus is incredibly ancient, with an estimated age that places him among the oldest antagonists in the series. In fact, he’s roughly the same age as the Supreme Kais and angels, and it’s not unreasonable to speculate that he might be within the same age bracket as the Zenos.

1. Majin Buu: Incalculable Age

An Evil Being Who is Older Than Time Itself

It might be surprising for some to know that Majin Buu, who is famously known as “Kid Buu” in his purest form, is the oldest character in the series, and moreover, the oldest villain. The Supreme Kais were the ones who fought him before humanity even came into existence, which indicates that he is quite old indeed.

In the realm of Dragon Ball, I’ve noticed that they often refer to him as a character who has been around since the dawn of time. This ancient being, though wicked with a taste for chaos and devastation, is indeed one of the oldest characters in the series.

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2025-03-01 15:16