Krillin has been a staple of the Dragon Ball franchise for years. Even when he doesn’t take part in fights, Goku’s best pal always seems to be around in some form another, lending his talents against menaces like Frieza or offering his insights and martial arts knowledge against enemies like Buu.
Though an undeniably skilled warrior and a great friend, Krillin’s not perfect. He’d be much further along as a fighter, for instance, if he stopped making certain decisions that hold him back. At the same time, however, there are plenty of things Krillin gets right consistently, both in and out of battle.
10 MISTAKE: Keeps Retiring From Fighting
A major reason Krillin has fallen behind is that he’s quit the martial arts lifestyle repeatedly. The first time was after the Cell Saga so he could focus on starting a family with Android 18. He returned to martial arts briefly when Babidi appeared, but was unable to do much against the wizard and his underlings, including Buu.
After Kid Buu’s defeat, Krillin once again retired. He took part in the second battle against Frieza on Earth, but didn’t start training seriously until the end of Dragon Ball Super’s Future Trunks arc. By then, he’d weakened to the point to where even bullets could lightly hurt him.
9 DOES RIGHT: Always Comes Up With Clever Techniques & Strategies
Krillin’s most defining trait as a martial artist is that he fights smart. He famously defeated Chiaotzu, for instance, by getting him to count with his fingers so he couldn’t use his psychic powers on Krillin.
This can further be seen in the techniques Krillin uses. The Destructo Disc, his signature move, can slice through the skin of significantly more powerful foes, and he uses the Solar Flare even more than its originator, Tien. Another of Krillin’s strategy-first techniques is the Scattering Bullet, an energy attack that splits into multiple beams to attack several opponents simultaneously (e.g. the Saibamen).
8 MISTAKE: Doesn’t Fight Alongside Android 18 Enough
Android 18’s strength has exceeded Krillin’s since her introduction. Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F,’ confirmed she was still stronger than Krillin years later, which likely remained the case even after Krillin resumed training in Dragon Ball Super, as 18 did the same shortly thereafter.
Krillin rarely taking 18 into battle with him, therefore, seems like a massive oversight. To be fair, 18 only seems interested in fighting under certain conditions, such as when there’s money involved. Thankfully, 18 at least participated with Krillin during the Tournament of Power, and also fought against Moro.
7 DOES RIGHT: Has No Problem Fighting In Groups (& Is Great At It)
Certain martial artists in Dragon Ball, particularly Goku and Vegeta, like to fight alone. While this gives them the chance to test out their limits, it also isn’t always the best idea, especially against vastly more powerful foes like Fused Zamasu and Kid Buu.
Krillin, on the other hand, is all about teamwork. He fought Nappa alongside virtually every major martial arts hero on Earth and fought many battles together with Gohan on Namek. When Frieza was resurrected years later, Krillin again teamed up with his Earth allies, whom he also fought alongside at the Tournament of Power.
6 MISTAKE: Doesn’t Learn The Evil Containment Wave
While he’s fallen behind his stronger friends and allies, Krillin could easily level the playing field for himself with the Evil Containment Wave. The technique has been used multiple times by martial artists to seal away much more powerful foes, like when Master Mutaito imprisoned King Piccolo and Master Roshi temporarily trapped his Tournament of Power opponents.
The Evil Containment Wave can be lethal to those below a certain power level, but Krillin has grown more than strong enough to withstand the technique’s drain on the user’s life force, so long as he doesn’t use the technique too many times in a short period.
5 DOES RIGHT: Often Keeps Senzu Beans Handy (When Available)
While the Senzu Beans themselves are grown by Korin and frequently provided by Yajirobe, Krillin is often the go-to fighter when it comes to carrying around the special beans in battle. A single Senzu Bean can restore a fighter’s stamina and cure them of virtually any physical injury, making the person guarding them one of the most important fighters in group situations. Krillin has given his friends Senzu Beans on many occasions, including during the Cell Games and Frieza’s debut as Golden Frieza, proving he can be valuable in a support role even when his enemies greatly exceed his strength.
4 MISTAKE: Never Fuses With The Potara
While Krillin knows the Fusion Dance, he knows few fighters that match his strength and height, making it difficult for him to perform the technique. However, he has a perfectly decent alternative, namely Potara earrings, that can fuse any two fighters together.
While Krillin doesn’t own any Potara himself, he could definitely borrow the Supreme or Elder Kai’s and fuse with one of his human friends, finally closing the gap between himself and Goku. Alternately, he could fuse with Goku himself, introducing himself to whole new worlds of power while complementing Goku’s already impressive fighting smarts with his own.
3 DOES RIGHT: Is A Great Family Man
While Krillin didn’t have to outright retire to become a husband and a father, the fact that he placed greater value over his family than martial arts proves just what a true man of character he is. He even goes out of his way to provide for his family, e.g. by getting a job as a police officer—something Goku often has to be coaxed into doing for his own wife and children. Even if Krillin never comes close to Goku’s strength again (one can never say for sure in Dragon Ball), when it comes to family dedication, he’s got his best friend beat.
2 MISTAKE: Doesn’t Get His Hidden Power Unlocked Again—This Time By Old Kai
A major moment for Krillin on Namek was meeting Guru, the creator of Porunga. By placing his hand on Krillin’s head, Guru awakened the Earth’s fighter’s hidden power, making him several times stronger than before.
Given how Krillin has continued to train (albeit on and off), it’s likely he’s built up hidden power again since Namek. The next natural step seems to be asking the Elder Supreme Kai to bring out what new dormant energy he’s developed. Better still, the Elder Kai can push a person’s power even beyond its traditional limits, which would likely give Krillin power like he’s never experienced.
1 DOES RIGHT: Is Compassionate Toward Others
Krillin has become a deeply caring individual over the years, a far cry from his more self-centered and opportunistic nature in his early youth. His compassion, especially as an adult, allows him to bond quickly with others, as seen by the fast friendship he and Gohan established after the Saiyan Saga.
Perhaps an even more notable example was his befriending of Android 16 shortly before the Cell Games. Despite 16’s programming to kill Goku, Krillin noticed that 16 was an otherwise caring individual, and accepted the android’s offer to fight in the Cell Games.