The Most Emotional Dragon Ball Battles, Ranked

Summary

• Dragon Ball’s best battles involve high emotions, stakes, and character development.
• The series showcases powerful moments with characters like Vegeta, Goku, and Gohan.
• Akira Toriyama’s franchise continues to captivate fans with intense battles and emotional storylines.

Dragon Ball is a legendary shonen series that captured the attention of fans the world over. The focus on battles and transformations in Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super entertained many fans, who loved watching their favorite characters reach new heights of power and smack some sense into their enemies.

The best shonen battles involve a battle of ideologies along with wills, and Dragon Ball is no stranger in this department. As a result, the best fights in the series have heightened emotions and high stakes as the heroes do everything in their power to secure victory.

8

Vegeta & Trunks VS Cell

A Battle Against The Bio-Android Turns Into A Conflict Between Father And Son

• Takes Place In: Cell Saga in Dragon Ball Z

After Vegeta and Trunks’ training reaps major rewards, the duo decided to give Semi-Perfect Cell a piece of their mind. Vegeta takes over this battle and shows how strong he is, only to stop in his tracks after Cell promises that his Perfect form will make for a better fight.

Trunks can’t believe that his father allows this to happen, going against Vegeta and smacking him into the sea as he tries to stop Cell. Unfortunately, he fails, and Vegeta is subsequently humbled by Perfect Cell who shows just how powerful he is. It’s a huge blow to the Saiyan’s pride as he’s disposed of, and Trunks is spared by Perfect Cell who announces a tournament that will go down in Dragon Ball history.

7

Goku VS Majin Vegeta

The Saiyan Rivals Duke It Out To Settle Their Differences

• Takes Place In: Peaceful World Saga in Dragon Ball Z

After Cell’s defeat, Vegeta settled into his life on Earth and fathered a kid with Bulma too. It’s a change no one expected from Vegeta, with the Prince of all Saiyans himself being conflicted by the idea of losing his edge as a warrior. This is why he chooses to let Babidi take over his mind and help him channel his vicious side once again.

He did all of this to fight Goku, revealing his motivations in a speech that talked about his complacent spirit and how he started growing fond of his family despite his Saiyan pride. It gives Vegeta some much-needed character development, and it’s a shame that this emotional fight came to an abrupt standstill after the emergence of Majin Buu.

6

Goku VS Jiren

After Jiren Tries To Hurt Goku’s Friends, The Saiyan Loses It

• Takes Place In: Universe Survival Saga in Dragon Ball Super

The Tournament of Power is full of epic clashes, even if some people feel that the emotional weight of these battles couldn’t match up to the best Dragon Ball Z fights. However, things changed after Goku perfected his Ultra Instinct form and angered Jiren, who decided to get under his enemy’s skin by trying to kill his friends and family.

This doesn’t sit right with Goku at all, who’s rage boils over as he unleashes a beatdown for the ages on Jiren. It’s an amazing moment that showed just how powerful the protagonist had become, even though his body couldn’t handle the power of Ultra Instinct after a point.

5

Majin Vegeta VS Majin Buu

Vegeta Makes Amends For His Indefensible Actions

• Takes Place In: Buu Saga in Dragon Ball Z

After experiencing Majin Buu’s strength firsthand, Vegeta realizes just how selfish he had been in his bid to fight Goku in his Majin form. He knocks him out when his guard is down and incapacitates both Trunks and Gohan, imploring Piccolo to take them away as he decides to make the ultimate sacrifice against Majin Buu.

Realizing that his power wouldn’t be enough, Vegeta decides to unleash all his energy in a dramatic blast as he bids farewell to his family and friends in an emotional moment. It was a sacrifice that the old Vegeta would never have thought of, but Vegeta’s love for Trunks, Bulma, and Goku compelled him to take this drastic step.

4

The Z Warriors VS Nappa

The Power Of The Saiyans Is Too Much For Earth’s Heroes To Handle

• Takes Place In: Saiyan Saga in Dragon Ball Z

The Saiyan Saga is a major turning point in Dragon Ball Z, with the Z Warriors in awe of Nappa’s power when he single-handedly beats them down with little to no effort. Yamcha dies before Nappa even steps into the fray, Chiaotzu blows himself up in a bid to stop Nappa, and Piccolo sacrifices himself to save the one person on Earth who treated him like a normal person instead of a heinous villain.

It’s an emotional battle where several powerful warriors bite the dust, making things seem hopeless for the Z Warriors. Thankfully, Goku comes in the nick of time and beats Nappa down for all the pain he inflicted on his friends.

3

Vegeta VS Frieza

Vegeta Is Reduced To Tears After Being Unable To Match Frieza’s Might

• Takes Place In: Frieza Saga in Dragon Ball Z

Vegeta has always hated Frieza after the tyrant obliterated his planet and counted the days until he could enjoy his revenge. When this conflict arrived at his doorstep before Vegeta could prepare for it, he decided to use a Zenkai boost to fight on equal footing.

However, even being healed after being on the verge of death wasn’t enough for Vegeta to best Frieza. He’s humiliated by the tyrant to the point where his tears start flowing and he pleads with Goku to take revenge on Frieza for destroying everything he held dear before he’s unceremoniously killed with a Death Beam to the heart.

2

Gohan VS Cell

Android 16’s Death And The Plight Of His Friends Causes Gohan To Overflow With Unbridled Rage

• Takes Place In: Cell Games Saga in Dragon Ball Z

Gohan has always been a gentle soul. Fighting was never in his blood, but he needed to forsake this tenderness to fight Cell and save the world. This is something that Android 16 makes clear to Gohan before his head is crushed by Cell.

This brutal death sparks something in Gohan, who finally lets loose his range and transforms into an Ascended Super Saiyan. Watching his tears fly up moments before he kills all the Cell Juniors and incapacitates their parent with a single punch to the gut makes for a cathartic experience. While the return of Super Perfect Cell makes things trickier, Gohan reaches deep within himself and uses his father’s motivation to unleash a legendary Kamehameha that obliterates every cell in this villain’s body and ensures that he’s done away with for good.

1

Goku VS Frieza

The Death Of His Closest Friend Opens The Floodgates For Goku’s Anger

• Takes Place In: Frieza Saga in Dragon Ball Z

After Goku’s Spirit Bomb fails, the Z Warriors can only look on in horror as an enraged and injured Frieza picks them off one by one. Krillin’s death is especially brutal, with Goku realizing that his friend is gone for good since he can’t be revived by the Dragon Balls again.

This causes his rage to boil over as he transforms into a Super Saiyan, using this newfound power to humble Frieza and beat him into submission. Even after showing mercy to his enemy, Frieza spits in the face of his compassion and is rewarded with an energy blast that takes him out for good.