Death is a natural part of life, especially in Dragon Ball where mass resurrections and revivals become all too common. Despite how haphazardly Dragon Ball uses the titular Dragon Balls by the end of the series, negating virtually any and all tension the series might have, Toriyama always did a good job at making deaths feel impactful.
More often than not, the bigger arcs would take the Dragon Balls out of commission, making deaths feel permanent if nothing else. Very few characters stay dead forever in Dragon Ball, but that doesn’t invalidate a powerful, emotional death. Of which Dragon Ball has many.
10 Vegeta (Majin Buu Arc)
Vegeta’s stint as Majin Vegeta is tricky to discuss. On one hand, it’s the culmination of years of character development, transitioning Vegeta into someone ready to give his life for others. On the other hand, Vegeta kills a bunch of people because he’s having what basically amounts to a midlife crisis.
It’s not a pretty look, but it’s emotional writing on Toriyama’s part. He handles Vegeta’s sacrifice with so much tact and grace. It’s probably the best crafted moment in the entire Buu arc. Where later moments will feel painfully rushed, Vegeta’s sacrifice is a powerful end to the Prince of All Saiyans.
9 Android 16 (Cell Arc)
The only remotely allied character to die and stay dead over the course of Dragon Ball’s run, Android 16’s death is a serious shock. Not just because he’s an undeveloped character with no real stakes in the plot, but because he serves as the visual trigger for Gohan’s emotionally charged transformation into a Super Saiyan 2.
While undeveloped, Android 16 is very likable and genuinely quite cool. His fight against Cell earlier in the arc if nothing else gives him some connection to the antagonist so his death isn’t completely hollow. What 16 represents for Gohan is also quite poignant and gives the moment some maturity it might not have had with a more well known character.
8 Goku (Cell Arc)
Goku’s death during the Cell Games doesn’t end up being permanent, but it certainly feels permanent. In the moment, it truly does read as if Toriyama is saying goodbye to Goku. Given how well choreographed Goku’s fight with Cell was in comparison to Gohan’s, it certainly seems like Toriyama was partially focused with saying goodbye to Goku in the right way.
His death is emotional, and handled in a moment of genuine tension. Goku saying goodbye to his friends and his son is a powerful image— and that it immediately smashes to Goku inadvertently blowing up Kaio’s planet is a degree of whiplash that only Toriyama would pull off.
7 Krillin (Demon King Piccolo Arc)
Krillin’s death is both the end of the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai and the start of the Demon King Piccolo arc. Opening with Goku clutching Krillin’s lifeless body, Dragon Ball transitions towards darker storytelling and never looks back. This is the first time a main character has died and seeing Krillin’s corpse in such a matter of fact way is quite morbid.
It also ends up affecting Goku considerably, causing him to fight Tambourine unprepared. Losing Kintoun and Krillin, Goku is arguably at his lowest point in the entire franchise. It’s interesting to note just how much ends up stemming from Krillin’s death.
6 Vegeta (Freeza Arc)
Vegeta’s not a good man in the Saiyan and Freeza arcs. He may team up with Gohan and Krillin on Namek, but he is not their friend. The first chance he gets, he intends on betraying him. Said chance never comes, though, and Vegeta is forced to endure Freeza’s wrath until his death. Watching him beg Goku to defeat Freeza is surprisingly gut wrenching.
Vegeta’s lost everything, but he wants Goku to feel the pride of a Saiyan nonetheless. It’s a powerful moment and could have very comfortably served as Vegeta’s permanent death. Goku burying the only other living member of his race in a lone grave on a dead planet is strong imagery.
5 Bora (Red Ribbon Army Arc)
Bora is the first character who dies on-screen whose death has some meaning. While he’s killed very quickly after his introduction, he’s killed by the assassin Tao Pai Pai right after Goku finally finds the four star Dragon Ball. It’s a dramatic twist for Dragon Ball and one that nudges the series towards more serious storytelling.
Bora’s death is simple, but brutal, his own spear killing him. This death ends up leading to a great character moment for Goku, though. After spending all arc just trying to find his own Dragon Ball, Goku decides to gather all seven to revive Bora back to life on his son Upa's behalf.
4 Krillin (Freeza Arc)
The Dragon Balls have been used, Freeza’s not dead, Piccolo’s bleeding out, and suddenly Krillin is being thrust into the sky where he’s violently blown up by Freeza. Seemingly losing his best friend for good, Goku’s rage peaks and he transforms into the legendary Super Saiyan. Of course, it doesn’t take long for the Dragon Balls to re-enter the picture, but this is still a powerful death.
This is the last time Toriyama manages to make it seem as though the Dragon Balls are out of the picture. It’s the very last time he’s able to fool the audience. From here on out, there will always be a clear loophole. Here though? Krillin’s dead and that could very well have been in.
3 Muten Roshi (Demon King Piccolo Arc)
From as early as the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai, Muten Roshi’s arc centers itself around the next generation. At first, he recognizes that Goku and Krillin aren’t ready to taste victory yet, entering the tournament to ensure their losses. For the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai, Tenshinhan proves to him that the next generation is advancing at a rapid pace, outdoing Roshi already.
When his Mafuba fails to seal Piccolo, Muten Roshi leaves him with the warning that the next generation will rise up and stop it. Roshi’s words prove true as Goku and Tenshinhan end up working together to defeat Piccolo in the end. Roshi comes back, but he dies a dignified death on his own terms— certain that this isn’t the end.
2 Goku (Saiyan Arc)
Goku had come close to dying a few times, but Dragon Ball always made sure he had just enough strength to carry on. Until Raditz. With Raditz’s introduction, Goku finds himself unable to keep up. He’s pushed back at every turn and his only choice is to hold Raditz down while Piccolo charges a technique designed to kill Goku.
It’s a shocking way to kill Goku, but it ends up opening up Dragon Ball’s scope considerably. Following Goku’s death, the series formally introduces the afterlife and begins dedicating some serious time to both Gohan & Piccolo’s character arcs. Goku’s death ends up doing a lot of good for Dragon Ball.
1 Piccolo (Saiyan Arc)
No death is quite as powerful or emotional as Piccolo’s during the fight against Nappa. Sacrificing his life against Gohan, the only character who absolutely needed to survive ends up dying mere moments before Goku can even arrive. It’s a sad fate, and Piccolo’s tears as he opens up to Gohan only sell the moment.
He genuinely thanks Gohan for the companionship he offered him during their time together, and Piccolo dies not as the Demon King, but a martial artist— someone who fought to protect the Earth and died to protect his friend. It’s the best bit of character writing to come out of Dragon Ball, period.
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