Dragon Ball was first released in 1984 by its now-legendary author, Akira Toriyama, and if there's been one motif constantly present throughout the series and its sequels, it is the inclusion of characters who persevere through dire circumstances. Goku and the Z Fighters have gone up against some of the most devastating threats in anime history, and despite suffering some losses along the way, they have largely been successful in defeating their opponents.
Frieza, Cell, and the rest of the show's antagonists push its characters to the breaking point on a regular basis. Thankfully, years of defending Earth from threat after threat has only increased the Z Fighters' willpower and commitment to the cause, providing them with the tools needed to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
10 The Z Fighters Team Up To Defeat Vegeta
Nappa and the Saibamen devastate Earth's protectors, yet they do little to prepare fans for the vindictive threat that is the Prince of Saiyans. Goku makes quick work of the royal Saiyan's companion, resulting in a fight between the villain and the remaining Z Fighters. Their conflict with Vegeta goes through what feels like countless phases, starting with Goku and Vegeta's iconic one-on-one clash.
The two push each other to their absolute limits, at which point Vegeta forcibly transforms into his Great Ape form. Yajirobe, Krillin, Goku, and Gohan all serve pivotal roles in the subsequent battle, and thanks to their war of attrition, they successfully defend Earth from the invading marauder.
9 Goku & Piccolo Join Forces To Repel Raditz
No single event affected the Dragon Ball franchise more than Raditz's arrival on Earth. He immediately made quick work of Earth's protector, demonstrating that the Z Fighters were but small fish in the universe's very dangerous ocean. It took the duo of Goku and Piccolo, the world's strongest beings, to even stand a chance against the Saiyan invader.
Despite their best efforts, Goku and Piccolo were entirely outclassed in the fight. Raditz dismantled the two combatants, and, had his hubris and Gohan not intervened, he would have likely annihilated the inhabitants of Earth. Thankfully, Goku proved his commitment to protecting Earth by sacrificing his own life, which allowed Piccolo, who had temporarily lost an arm at this point, to simultaneously take out Goku and his older brother.
8 Goku Achieves Super Saiyan To Defeat Frieza
Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation is one of the most important scenes in anime history, but many fans forget the trials and tribulations that the Saiyan went through in order to get to that breaking point. Frieza didn't just push Goku to his physical limits during their fight, the villain broke him down mentally and emotionally in the build-up as well.
Despite Goku gaining an incredible amount of power after recovering from his fight with Captain Ginyu, Frieza easily handled the Saiyan while only using 50 percent of his strength. Were it not for Goku's incredible endurance and response to Frieza's wrongdoings, he likely would have never achieved the legendary Super Saiyan transformation.
7 Trunks Finally Rids His Timeline Of The Androids
Future Trunks could very well have the most arduous journey in the entire Dragon Ball franchise. His timeline was devastated by the premature death of Goku, and as a result, Androids 17 and 18 wiped out the majority of human life on his planet, creating the catalyst for his time travel.
After going back in time, Trunks is then forced to endure the events of the Cell Saga, an event that saw the death of several major characters, including protagonist Son Goku. However, thanks to the Z Fighters' efforts, Cell is vanquished, leaving Trunks with one final task: defeating the Androids of his own timeline. Most fighters would have been unable to survive the Cell Games, let alone return to another timeline where deadly Androids were waiting for them.
6 Goku Travels Down Snake Way
Goku's death during the Saiyan Invasion arc remains one of his biggest setbacks in the franchise's history, but it also prompts what is arguably the most important period of growth in the hero's entire journey. There is only one thing separating him from his pivotal training under the leadership of King Kai: Snake Way.
Dragon Ball Z is no stranger to using time as a narrative device. However, Goku's 177-day journey is an exceptionally grueling endeavor, even by the show's extreme standards. It's stated in the show that King Yenma was the only other individual to ever traverse Snake Way, making it even more impressive that Goku was able to arrive at King Kai's planet in time to train for his fight with Vegeta and Nappa.
5 Gohan Puts An End To The Cell Games
Up until the Cell Games, Akira Toriyama had largely refrained from putting Gohan at the forefront of the show's conflicts. However, the penultimate fight against Dr. Gero's greatest creation signaled a change in this approach. With Goku stuck in the Other World after Cell's earlier self-destruction, the Z Fighters had no other choice than to rely on the half-human, half-Saiyan teenager.
After a grueling battle with Cell, Gohan was left physically exhausted and unable to use his left arm. Despite these circumstances, he mustered up enough strength to defeat Cell in Dragon Ball's best beam struggle... thanks to some unexpected help from his father.
4 Krillin, Gohan, & Piccolo Hold Off Nappa
The Z Fighters' standoff with Nappa and Vegeta couldn't have gone much worse for the heroes. Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha quickly bite the bullet, signaling a huge gap between the power levels of the two parties. While Goku hurries back to Earth, Krillin, Gohan, and Piccolo are left as the sole opponents standing between the Saiyans and their domination of the planet.
Nappa proves to be far too strong for the group to handle, and one of his attacks forces Piccolo to sacrifice himself to save Gohan. However, this enrages the young Saiyan, bringing out some of his latent potential and delaying the behemoth just long enough for Goku to arrive.
3 Goku Gets His Body Back From Ginyu
Were it not for Frieza, Captain Ginyu and his associates would almost certainly be the most memorable character introduced on Planet Namek. They wipe the floor with Vegeta, Krillin, and Gohan, only to then be reduced to props for Goku to display his vast increase in power.
The Ginyu Force's body-stealing captain pushes Dragon Ball's protagonist to the brink of defeat after forcibly stealing Goku's body for his own use. Against all odds, Goku is able to survive Ginyu's self-inflicted wound and eventually trick the villain into switching bodies once more, demonstrating an impressive ability to stay sharp in the face of dire circumstances.
2 Piccolo Survives His Battle Against Android 17 & Cell
Piccolo is the final antagonist of the original Dragon Ball series, but he is by no means the strongest character to be featured in its subsequent arcs. Moments like his battle against Cell and Android 17 are far and few between, making them a treat for fans when they crop up during Dragon Ball Z.
This fight is preceded by Piccolo's long-awaited merge with Kami, which provides him with one of the larger power-ups in the entire series. The fused Namekian provides the perfect counter to Android 17's unlimited endurance, and even though Imperfect Cell joins in the fight against the two combatants, Piccolo's grit allows him to escape and survive to fight another day.
1 Krillin, Gohan, Piccolo, & Vegeta Hold Off Frieza
When the Z Fighters finally rally to directly attack Frieza, the extended battle more than lives up to the anticipation. Krillin, Gohan, and Piccolo all desperately try to stop the galactic villain, only to be systematically crushed one by one as they await the return of the universe's greatest hope: Goku.
Krillin, Gohan, and Piccolo all get the chance to demonstrate their newfound strength, and although Vegeta remains largely inhibited by the fear ingrained into him by Frieza, they drive the world-destroyer to unveil his final transformation. Vegeta and Krillin ultimately give up their lives for the cause, but thanks to their collective determination, Goku is finally able to arrive and save the day once more.