The Dragon Ball franchise has dominated the shonen landscape, and with Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero set to come out in 2022, the series is showing no signs of slowing down. Author Akira Toriyama has reinvented the title multiple times, but ever since the infamous introduction of Raditz, Dragon Ball has focused on one group more than any other: the Saiyans.

RELATED: 10 Dragon Ball Characters Who Would Make Great Demon Slayers

While Goku was not always aware of his background and its relationship to the warrior race, his Saiyan blood has consistently served a huge role in Dragon Ball's narrative post-Saiyan saga. In a series predicated upon power-scaling and combat, it only follows suit that some of Dragon Ball's best battles have exclusively involved Saiyans.

10 Gohan Gave A Glimpse Of His Potential Against Nappa

Gohan kicking Nappa in their fight during Dragon Ball Z.

Gohan's skirmish with Nappa is brief, but it serves a pivotal role in the development of the half-Saiyan child. Prior to Nappa and Vegeta's invasion of Earth, Gohan was only involved in combat once — when he was kidnapped by Raditz — and even then, he played a minor role in the fight.

As Nappa painstakingly demolishes the Z Fighters one by one, Gohan is forced to come to terms with the fact that combat is not always an option; sometimes, it is a necessity. His dilemma finally comes to a head when Nappa kills his father figure, Piccolo, right in front of him, pushing Gohan to the point of challenging Nappa more than any other Z Fighter.

9 Goku & Krillin Didn't Stand A Chance Versus Raditz

Raditz carrying Gohan after quickly dispatching Goku in Dragon Ball Z

The introduction of Raditz drastically changed Dragon Ball. Before the introduction of Goku's evil brother, the series relied more on Earthly mysticism than a science-fiction trope. Raditz's bombshell reveal that Goku was originally a member of the Saiyan race sent to destroy Earth changed all of that.

RELATED: 10 Dragon Ball Characters That Would Make Great Pokémon Masters

Raditz, with his power-scouter eyepiece, foreign armor, and otherworldly strength, made quick work of Goku and Krillin. Goku had slowly established himself as the strongest combatant on Earth throughout Dragon Ball, so the shock of watching Raditz decimate the lovable protagonist completely altered the tone of its sequel series.

8 Gohan Saved Earth From The Prince Of Saiyans

Gohan in his Great Ape form fighting against Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z.

While Nappa was enough of a threat to wipe out most of the Z Fighters, Vegeta's entrance introduced the Earthlings to the true potential of the Saiyan race. The Prince of Saiyans brought out his Great Ape form, multiplying his strength ten-fold and crushing the Earth's strongest defender: Goku.

Thankfully, Yajirobe was able to cut off the ape's tail and revert Vegeta back to his base form, which set up an underrated battle between the villain and his fellow Saiyan, Gohan. The child put up a surprisingly good fight against Vegeta, and after Gohan's own Great Ape transformation, he was able to take down the malicious invader.

7 Kale & Caulifa Brought Out Goku's Ultra Instinct

Kale and Caulifa in Dragon Ball.

The Universe Survival Saga introduced several new characters to Dragon Ball Super, including a few Saiyans who were scattered among these additions. Kale and Caulifa, two female contestants from Universe 6, brought some much-needed gender diversity to the race of warriors and gave fans one of the best fights in the Tournament of Power.

RELATED: 10 Funniest Moments From The Dragon Ball Franchise

Goku ends up awakening Kale's potential as the Legendary Saiyan of Universe 6 — were it not for his newly discovered Ultra Instinct form, she and Caulifa could very well have wiped out the rest of the Z Fighters. Seeing two female Saiyans not just appear in Dragon Ball, but also push one of the series' strongest fighters to his limits was a refreshing sight for the franchise.

6 Trunks & Vegeta Outclassed Goku Black

Vegeta gaining the upper hand against Goku Black in Dragon Ball Super.

Dragon Ball has never been the most original series, but its Goku Black arc drew particular inspiration from storytelling elements that were featured in prior arcs. Future Trunks reintroduced the time-traveling device used throughout the Android saga, while the body-snatching Goku Black harked back to Captain Ginyu-related hijinks.

However, the derivative aspects of Goku Black's battle against Trunks and Vegeta don't prevent this Saiyan-on-Saiyan conflict from being entertaining — in fact, Dragon Ball Super is able to refine them and create what feels like a brand-new, well-animated fight. Watching Vegeta and pseudo-Goku clash is undeniable evidence of not only the Prince of Saiyans' astronomical growth since fighting Ginyu, but also the growth of the franchise as a whole.

5 Goku Showed His Improvement By Demolishing Nappa

Goku holding Nappa's limp body during Dragon Ball Z.

Goku made a noble decision to sacrifice his life during the fight against Raditz, yet as a byproduct of his choice, the Z Fighters were left largely defenseless upon Nappa and Vegeta's invasion of Earth. This sacrifice set up one of the best moments in Dragon Ball: Goku's iconic return to Earth during Nappa's rampage.

The bald, muscle-bound Saiyan annihilated the strongest fighters that Earth had to offer, but in mere seconds Goku turned the tables, demonstrating his newfound strength by wiping the floor with the bulky Saiyan. Their battle, accentuated by Vegeta's legendary "It's over 9000!" line, signaled Goku's shift from Earthly presence to universal force.

4 Goku & Piccolo Barely Defeated Raditz

Raditz and Goku in Dragon Ball.

Raditz's initial dismantling of Goku and Krillin was crushing for the Z Fighters, but as long-time Dragon Ball fans are more than aware, it takes an unbelievable amount of punishment to knock Goku out of commission. Following a brief recovery, Goku proceeded in the only way that he knows how: with unfazed, dogged determination.

After forming an unlikely duo with then-rival Piccolo, the Saiyan tracked down and fought Raditz for the return of his son, Gohan. In a time when being wished back by the Dragon Balls was significantly less common, Goku sacrificed his life in order to guarantee that Piccolo could land his Special Beam Cannon attack, resulting in the highest-stakes battle the series had seen up to that point.

3 Goku & Vegeta Combined Forces To Beat Broly

Gogeta versus Broly in Dragon Ball.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly brought about many firsts for the franchise, notably the official addition of the Legendary Saiyan, Broly, to the series' canon. Broly was the primary antagonist of three films before this appearance, so fans were appropriately excited to see a modern, canonical take on the character.

The fight, animated with a movie-quality budget, pushed Goku and Vegeta to their Super Saiyan God limits against the golden-haired berserker. Watching the two combine into Gogeta, only to then transform further into a combined Super Saiyan Blue form, doesn't just result in a fun battle against Broly — it creates arguably the greatest spectacle in Dragon Ball.

2 Goku & Vegeta's First Fight Set The Stage For Dragon Ball Z

Goku vs Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z.

From the first arc of Dragon Ball Z, it is clear that Goku and his eternal rival, Vegeta, are on an imminent collision course, and throughout Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super, the two Saiyans' animosity repeatedly spills over into an all-out battle.

RELATED: 10 Best Villains From The Dragon Ball Franchise, Ranked

This animosity birthed a pivotal conflict in the Dragon Ball narrative: Goku and Vegeta's first fight. Despite Nappa virtually eradicating the Z Fighters, Goku and Vegeta were clearly a notch above their Saiyan peer, and by trading blows, undergoing multiple transformations, and utterly brutalizing each other, they laid the groundwork for the future of the series.

1 Majin Vegeta's Fight Against Goku Captured The Nuance Of His Character

Goku vs Majin Vegeta in Dragon Ball.

Goku's fight against Majin Vegeta is a rare instance of a scene capturing everything that fans love about a character. Vegeta, originally one of Dragon Ball's antagonists, was slowly brought into the Z Fighters' stable of "good guys," but despite his growing attachment to human life, his malevolent nature was the source of constant internal tension.

This tension came to a head when Vegeta relinquished himself to Babidi's Majin mark, leaning into all the negative emotions that he'd been holding back. The Prince of Saiyan's full character was on display: his obsession with living up to his royal title, his perceived inferiority to his rival, Goku, his refusal to be a pawn to manipulative individuals like Babidi, and ultimately, even his willingness to grow and sacrifice his own life against Buu for the sake of Earth and his child. Dragon Ball hasn't always been the most nuanced anime, but in this fight, Akira Toriyama captures everything that's right about the series.

NEXT: 10 Worst Villain Costumes In Shonen Anime, Ranked