7 Best Anti-Heroes In Dragon Ball

Beyond incredible fights, iconic transformations, and engaging story arcs, Akira Toriyama was also a master at writing compelling anti-heroes. Such characters blurred the lines that traditionally separate good and evil. Throughout Dragon Ball,Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super, several of Toriyama’s characters went from simply being antagonists, to more complex individuals. Their emotional growth was unusual for characters who were originally portrayed in a villainous light.

Over each successive story arc, Toriyama has redefined the archetype of a great anti-hero through several members of the series’ cast. Each one brings a unique perspective to the role. On this note, here is a list of the best anti-heroes in Dragon Ball.

7 Hit

An Honorable Assassin-For-Hire

Manga Debut	Dragon Ball Super Chapter #7
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Super Episode #32

Introduced in the Universe 6 Saga of Dragon Ball Super, Hit was the most powerful opponent that Goku and his allies from Universe 7 had to confront. A legendary assassin, Hit is calm, composed, and confident in his abilities. He displays a sense of justice and morality despite his profession. He treats his targets and opponents with respect, while showing mercy to individuals whom he is not obligated to kill.

At heart, Hit is a warrior who relishes a challenge. This was evident during his battle against Goku, who pushed him to his limits after activating his Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken form. Over the course of the battle, Hit continued to drive forward in pursuit of victory. In the end, Hit displayed humility by feigning defeat in the final match of the Universe 6 Saga, after Goku did the same against him in the previous match.

6 Android 16

Cherished Life Despite Being Created To Kill Goku

Manga Debut	Dragon Ball Chapter #350
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Z Episode #134

Android was created in the image of Gevo, the son of the Red Ribbon Army’s head scientist, Dr. Gero. His sole purpose was to kill Goku. This was due to Gero’s vendetta against Goku for his role in taking down the Red Ribbon Army when he was only a child. When introduced, Android 16 accompanied Androids 17 and 18 on their travels to seek out and eliminate Goku and the Z Fighters.

Over time, Android 16’s outlook changed considerably, and he began to care deeply for nature as well as the human race. This led him to oppose Cell, whom he viewed as a grave threat to the planet and all life on it. His gentle and kind-hearted character led him to form a strong friendship with Gohan, as they aided the Z Fighters in their battle against Perfect Cell. In the end, it was Android 16’s death that sent Gohan’s rage over the edge during the Cell Games Saga, triggering his emphatic Super Saiyan 2 transformation.

5 Broly (Dragon Ball Super Version)

A Victim Of His Explosive Power

Manga Debut	Dragon Ball Super Chapter #42
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Super: Broly

While both versions of the character have considerable differences between them, it is hard to count the original Broly as anything more than a deranged villain. That’s why only the version from Dragon Ball Super makes it to this list. The son of the Saiyan Paragus, Broly was put through harsh training on the inhospitable planet of Vampa, in order to fulfill his father’s desire for revenge against King Vegeta. Broly’s bouts of rage are a lot less unhinged as compared to his counterpart from Dragon Ball Z. However, he does enter an animalistic berserker state when pushed past his limits.

He is naive, simple-minded, and unusually friendly towards those who earn his trust. At his core, he is a gentle and reserved warrior who is fiercely loyal. He only gives into his violent instincts when forced into combat. That being said, Broly’s Legendary Super Saiyan transformation is awe-inspiring, regardless of which version of him it is. Even this more peaceful version of the character is more than capable of giving Goku and Vegeta a run for their money.

4 Android 17

A Reckless Anarchist Devoted To Nature

Manga Debut	Dragon Ball Chapter #349
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Z Episode #133

Originally created by Dr. Gero to kill Goku, Android 17 — whose original name was Lapis — was portrayed as a rebel without a cause. His only real goal was to stir panic and pursue whatever aroused his interest. Seeing everything as a game, Android 17 was prone to taking decisions on a whim. He despised the cybernetic enhancements that were forced on him, and he personally killed Dr. Gero, his creator, when the latter threatened him with deactivation.

Later, when he was revived at the end of the Cell Saga, Android 17 chose to live a peaceful life as a park ranger, exhibiting a completely different personality after being consumed by Cell. This newfound respect for life was likely due to Android 16’s influence. Android 17 went on to get married and have a child with his wife, in addition to adopting two more children. By the Tournament of Power, he displayed a sense of selflessness by putting himself in harm’s way to protect an injured Goku, although he still retained some of his initial nonchalant personality.

3 Android 18

From A Murderous Robot To Krillin’s Wife

Manga Debut	Dragon Ball Chapter #349
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Z Episode #133

If Android 17’s transformation was impressive, his sister Android 18 (originally known as Lazuli) underwent an even greater metamorphosis due to her relationship with Krillin. Initially, like her brother, she was calm, confident, and displayed a sarcastic slant to her manner of speech. She also had a sociopathic side, driven by her hatred towards her creator, Dr. Gero, and her perceived superiority above humans. She was also preoccupied with her appearance, and disliked having her hair or clothing damaged in battle.

Upon witnessing the difference in power between her and Cell, Android 18 began to fear for life when her brother was absorbed. Her unspoken attraction towards Krillin also grew stronger over the course of the Cell Saga, and his selfless actions to protect her struck a chord in Android 18’s mind. By the World Tournament Saga, she and Krillin were married and had a daughter, Marron. Her authoritative side and love for battle were still present, but were toned down by the start of Dragon Ball Super.

2 Piccolo

Goku’s Former Sworn Enemy

Manga Debut	Dragon Ball Chapter #161
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Episode #123

The son of King Piccolo was the final antagonist of Dragon Ball’s Piccolo Jr. Saga. Piccolo was one half of the Nameless Namekian alongside Earth’s Guardian Kami. Originally motivated by his desire for revenge against Goku, Piccolo only cared for vengeance and world domination. He showed a violent side during his fight against Goku in the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament Final, when he broke all of Goku’s limbs.

Even in the face of all this, Piccolo did exhibit a sense of honor, along with a measured pragmatism. In one instance, he put aside his differences with Goku and fought alongside him against the threat of the Saiyans. Soon after, he began training Goku’s son Gohan. The pair developed a strong bond, to the point where Gohan saw Piccolo as a surrogate father. In time, his villainous traits were toned down in favor of a stern and grumpy demeanor. Eventually, he went on to become a sworn defender of Earth and an ally to Goku.

1 Vegeta

Goku’s Greatest Rival

Manga Debut	Dragon Ball Chapter #204
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Z Episode #5

From his initial appearances as an antagonist, to his radical development throughout Dragon Ball Z, few anime anti-heroes are as influential as Vegeta. His impact on battle shonen manga and anime is unparalleled, and he is hailed as the archetypal rival and anti-hero. The character started as a bloodthirsty warrior whose Saiyan pride and lust for battle were second to none. Vegeta’s character arc changed considerably over the course of the Namek and Frieza Sagas, where he was dealt a rude awakening about how his strength paled in comparison to that of Goku and Frieza.

Refusing to admit inferiority, Vegeta trained like a madman to surpass his new Saiyan rival. Meanwhile, his budding relationship with Bulma saw many ups and downs, and he struggled to reconcile his old persona with his new peaceful life on Earth. All this came to a head during the Majin Buu Saga. Vegeta tried to return to his old ways, but realized that he had grown to care deeply for his new family and home. This led him to sacrifice himself in a failed attempt to kill Buu. Upon being brought back to life, he resolved to continue defending his new home on Earth while keeping up his efforts to surpass Goku.