Top 10 Villains That Changed the Series Forever

Over the many decades that Dragon Ball franchise aired, it went on to introduce some of the most important and iconic antagonists not just in the anime industry, but across fiction in general. The villains of this series have defined the trope more than any other franchise.

Although many of the villains in the story are iconic, there are 10 whose inclusion in the Dragon Ball drastically changed the direction of the series as a whole. So, in this article, we'll go through the top 10 villains of the franchise whose inclusion changed a major aspect of the story in one way or another.

10

Jiren was the reason for Goku's strongest form

Debut Arc: Universe Survival Saga

The franchise's already insane performance boost has been shot to even crazier heights Dragon Ball Superwhich eventually saw the heroes stand against the mighty Jiren. Jiren was unlike typical antagonists in that he wasn't actually evil and just needed to fight for the survival of his universe, with his unique power eventually leading to Goku's ultimate Ultra Instinct form. Through Jiren, the direction of the franchise was changed forever with the introduction of the powerful Divine Transformations.

9

Goku Black/Zamasu might be the worst character

Debut Arc: Goku Black Arc

Future Trunks' timeline just couldn't catch a break as Goku Black ended up destroying everything long after defeating the Androids. Because of this, Goku and Vegeta's help was once again needed, eventually leading to the release of Infinite Zamasu, a version of the villain that infected the entire universe and timeline. Because of this, Future Zeno had to be summoned to erase the timeline and add a new component to the Tournament of Power.

8

Broly set the table for the main characters moving forward

Debut Arc: Broly Arc

Broly has technically been a part of the franchise for over 30 years, though it wasn't until 2018 that he finally became canon. Like Jiren, Broly wasn't truly evil, it's just that his potential and rage were so great that it would force him to lose his mind and become an impossibly powerful monster in the process. At the end of this arc, Broly was defeated by Gogeta, though instead of dying, he was recruited by Goku to become one of the main heroes of the series, further strengthening Universe 7's power as one of its greatest protectors.

7

Majin Buu was the greatest threat to the universe

Debut Arc: Buu Saga

Millions of years before the franchise began, Majin Buu was perhaps the greatest threat Universe 7 had ever faced. In modern times, he was reincarnated and became Babidi Dragon Ball the villain with the most devastating success in the entire series. Not only did he defeat some of the strongest characters in the series thanks to his multiple forms and incredible strength, but he also managed to destroy the Earth, making him one of the few villains ever to do so.

6

Androids were terrifying villains

Debut Arc: Android Saga

Future Trunks arrived in the current timeline after having his entire future destroyed due to the powerful androids created by Dr. Germ. In his native timeline, Goku died of an unknown heart disease, allowing the villains to do whatever they wanted as no one could oppose them, not even Future Gohan. This forced Future Trunks to travel back in time to give Goku the antidote to the disease, effectively changing the entire trajectory Dragon Ball story.

5

Beerus changed everything with his debut

Debut Arc: God of Destruction Beerus Saga

As the God of Destruction for Universe 7, Beerus is the single most powerful character in the universe, and his battle against Goku in the arc bearing his name proved that. Despite Goku achieving a form that was far more powerful than all those that came before it, it was no match for a fraction of the Destroyer's power, leading to the hero's defeat. Although many felt that Beerus would then destroy the Earth, he actually did not, becoming an important ally of the Z-Fighters in the process. Although he usually seems disinterested in everything, Beerus also acts as a mentor and teacher to Vegeta to hone his skills as a destroyer, which may be one of the best aspects Dragon Ball Super as a whole.

4

Demon King Piccolo transformed into a vital figure

Debut Arc: King Piccolo Saga

The greatest enemy of the original Dragon Ball series was none other than the Demon King Piccolo, who proved to be Goku's ultimate test. Not only was he the franchise's first major villain, but his immense power was unlike anything the series had seen up to that point, which many saw as a blueprint for the direction Dragon Ball Z eventually, upon his defeat, Piccolo Jr. was born, eventually redeeming himself and becoming one of the best and most important heroes of the series.

3

Perfect Cell was the ultimate test for Gohan

Debut Arc: Android Saga

When people think Dragon Ball villains, it's likely that Perfect Cell or Frieza immediately come to mind. In the case of the former, he is one of the most charismatic and iconic villains of all time, who proved to be the toughest test for the heroes at the very end of the Cell Games. Many believe that he changed the series forever due to his importance not only to the story itself, but especially to Gohan's journey, as his villainy allowed the young Saiyan to break his limits and become one of the few characters besides Goku to defeat the main villain.

2

Frieza is the best villain in the entire franchise

Debut Arc: Namek Saga

On reflection Dragon Ball villains as a whole, none match Frieza in terms of power, importance, icon status, and overall presence. From the first days Dragon Ball ZFrieza was set up as the ultimate antagonist, whose actions led to arguably the most important moment in anime history, which was Goku's ascension to Super Saiyan. Since then, Frieza has continued to appear in the series due to the fans' love for the character as well as what he means to the overall story, and is currently at his strongest, making him the universe's greatest threat that continues to be a thorn in the side of the heroes.

1

Vegeta went through the biggest redemption arc of all time

Debut Arc: Saiyan Saga

At this point, it's pretty hard to remember a time when Vegeta was a villain. In the Saiyan saga, he was a ruthless tyrant who believed in Saiyan supremacy, which was partly why he roamed the universe, destroying planets and enslaving their people. However, since then, Vegeta has become perhaps the best-written character in the series, leaving this life to become a protector of the weak, a path that has led to him gaining far more power than he would have otherwise. While no longer a villain in the traditional sense, and by no means a greater adversary than Frieza, Vegeta's journey from villain to vital hero is easily one of the biggest additions to the game. Dragon Ball the story as a whole and that's why it's so high.

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Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball DAIMA

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