Many of anime’s most famous and beloved villains come from 706z87″ title=”akira”>Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus, the Dragon Ball franchise. Some of the series’ villains have gone down in media history, becoming household names for media consumers of all generations and recognized by people who don’t watch anime.
Dragon Ball has graced the anime community and industry with some of the most renowned enemies put to paper. They come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from human martial artists like Tao Pai-Pai to extraterrestrial emperors like Frieza. Most of these adversaries have become so famous that they eclipse several of Dragon Ball‘s heroes in popularity and recognizability.
10 Mercenary Tao
Mercenary Tao was an assassin the Red Ribbon Army hired to kill Goku. More than 50 episodes in, he was the first Dragon Ball villain who overwhelmed Goku in a one-on-one fight, truly humbling the monkey-tailed Saiyan for the first time. It was a landmark moment, and it forced Goku to change.
After his fight with Tao, Goku retreated to study and train for the first time. This became a major trope in the series, opening the way to Hyperbolic Time Chambers and training montages as the best way for the heroes to defeat their overpowered foes. Although Goku quickly outgrew him, Mercenary Tao occupies a special place in older fans’ hearts as a symbol of a simpler time in the franchise.
9 Baby
Baby was the antagonist of the Baby Saga from Dragon Ball GT. During the Saiyan-Tuffle war, King Vegeta’s forces destroyed his planet and massacred his people. Like a handful of Dragon Ball villains, Baby acts out of a burning desire for vengeance. What makes Baby unique is how he sees his actions as justified. He believes himself to be the sole survivor who will avenge and revive his race.
Unfortunately, Baby’s hatred consumed him. Over the course of the arc, he grows crueler. Ironically, after he swore to destroy all Saiyans, he became a Saiyan. Perhaps in a different story, Baby could have been a protagonist or a redeemable antagonist. However, he’s an icon because of the way he managed to turn the Z-Fighters against each other and make them doubt that they were in the right.
8 Zamasu
Zamasu was the Supreme Kai apprentice of Universe 10. He killed his master after succumbing to his dark desires for power. He then swapped bodies with his universe’s Goku, becoming Goku Black. However, stealing the protagonist’s look isn’t enough to give him iconic status. If that were the case, Turles would be iconic too. Zamasu has a lot more going for him.
Zamasu had meticulousness and wit at his disposal. He traversed multiple universes effortlessly and convinced his past self to help him. His antics with the Time Rings enabled Dragon Ball Super to delve deeper into multiverse theory than the franchise ever had and usher in the Tournament of Power. Zamasu might have won in the end if he had hidden his intentions better, making him one of the franchise’s greatest threats and villains.
7 Buu
Majin Buu is a primordial being who reflects all the evils of humanity. He first appeared as the childish Innocent Buu, whose pink and plump design heavily contrasted with his talent for destruction. This dichotomy caught both the audience and the Dragon Team off guard. His opponents underestimated him, allowing Buu to gain the upper hand and absorb them.
As Buu absorbed the Dragon Ball cast, he grew stronger and changed his appearance with each incarnation. Nearly all his forms are fan favorites, but the lethal and destructive Kid Buu stands above the rest. Buu is an excellent example of how looks can be deceiving and one of the few pop culture villains who can make the color pink and a sweet tooth look terrifying.
6 Broly
Broly, the Legendary Super Saiyan, was an instant icon. His key characteristics are his overwhelming power, split personality, and obsessive hatred for Goku. He was a one-note character but still beloved. That changed in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, where he finally found his feat and a few more facets to exhibit.
This version of Broly calmed down after an isolated childhood. Throughout the film, Broly meets other people and tries to grow accustomed to socializing. Broly is not a malicious person at heart, despite what others think. He still struggles to control his anger, but he’s currently improving. Perhaps one day, he can become another full-fledged ally to Goku and the gang. However, as one of the franchise’s deadiest Saiyans, he represents the hazards that come with incomperable power.
5 Android 18
Android 18 first appeared as a threat from Future Trunks’ timeline. Initially, she was an unsympathetic murder machine hellbent on killing Goku. Her snarky personality, fighting prowess, and gorgeous design immediately ensured her iconic status. She only got more popular over time as she went on to marry Krillin, becoming a full-blown ally to the Z Fighters.
Ladies don’t get much chance to shine in Dragon Ball, especially as villains. What few female villains exist often vanish into obscurity or come from non-canon spinoffs. 18 sets herself apart from the rest of the female rogues’ gallery by remaining relevant since her debut. Hopefully, her well-deserved reputation can set an example for future villains in the franchise.
4 Beerus
Beerus is the God of Destruction of Universe 7 and the main antagonist of Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. As a God of Destruction, he is one of the strongest beings in Universe 7. People have joked about cats secretly being eldritch entities capable of world domination since ancient times. With his Egyptian-inspired outfit and feline appearance, Beerus does that concept justice.
Beerus’s design suits him perfectly, as he has a flippant outlook on life and prioritizes excitement over his duty. His lackadaisical attitude and overwhelming power make Beerus a character that’s hard to love but harder to hate and his feline personality makes him an icon for many DB fans.
3 Cell
Cell is Dr. Gero’s ultimate creation and the physical embodiment of evolution. Throughout the Cell Saga, he continues to grow and adapt. Cell started out as an unthinking weapon but sought perfection once he realized he was too weak to fulfill his mission. Consuming humans bolstered his intelligence and his arrogance, ultimately making him more human in the worst possible ways.
The Cell Saga’s theme is rooted in life and growth, with a heavy emphasis on nature over nurture. He and the other androids became more human over time, for better or worse. While others, like Android 16, grew compassionate and peaceful, Cell inherited all the worst traits of humanity. He was a cold, calculating menace with a memorable voice, sleek design, and compelling narrative. He’s best rememberd for the Cell Games and for his epic victory over Vegeta when the Saiyan allowed him to achieve his Perfect Form.
2 Frieza
When people think about Dragon Ball villains, Frieza is one of the first names that come to mind. As a villain Goku couldn’t reach, he was the young Saiyan’s perfect early foil. In his first story arcs, Goku made allies out of enemies like Yamcha and Tien with his innate kindness. However, the sheer scope of Frieza’s villainy brought Goku to a very dark place.
Villains who can break the hero and bring out their dark sides are always welcome. While the debut of the Super Saiyan will always be an important moment for Dragon Ball, it isn’t a triumphant one. In the end, it changed Goku for the better and opened the way for other Saiyans to become stronger but getting there exacted a heavy price on the hero. Frieze truly challenged Goku, morally and physically, making him the perfect villain for his era.
1 Vegeta
Vegeta is easily the most iconic rival in anime history. As the main antagonist of the first arc of Dragon Ball Z, he was the first villain for overseas fans. Everything about Vegeta set him up to become a pivotal character. His voice, design, backstory, strength, and status culminated to make him Goku’s perfect evil opposite. All of those traits later served to help Vegeta come into his own as a character.
The Saiyan Prince always pushes himself to be on equal footing with Goku, spurred on by jealousy and pride. He’s suffered through constant internal and external conflict, even more so than the protgaonist. Ask the average Dragon Ball fan, and they’ll agree that Vegeta is easily one of the best-written characters in the franchise. The fact that he’s become a hero didn’t hurt his iconic status as a villain, it just showed that even icons can change.