Whether you’ve read or watched Dragon Ball, chances are you can recognize just how good the fights can be. For all of Akira Toriyama’s quirks as a writer, no one can deny that he is a master of choreography. From the shortest fights to the longest, it’s clear that he can grasp action like few others. Every single fight in the original manga is incredibly clean in the sense you can just read along without having to second guess the action, something not many artists can pull off.

What makes Dragon Ball’s action more impressive, however, is how it integrates story into each fight. When characters punch one another, they’re also growing. There are several instances throughout the series original run where Toriyama developed the cast through the action. Of course, there are also a fair share of weaker fights throughout the course of the series. Fights that either contribute little or honestly just lose their way as Toriyama struggles to find a way to end them. Looking back at only the original series, Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, these are the 15 best, and 10 worst, fights Toriyama ever worked on.

25 BEST: Vegeta Versus Android 18

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Female fighter representation was easily one of Dragon Ball’s biggest problems before Super. Until the Android arc, the only two notable women involved in action scenes are Ranfan, a gag character from the 21st Budokai, and Chichi, a character who gets easily defeated by Goku in the 23rd. Android 18’s introduction marks the first instance of a proper female villain, and she’s given one of the best introductory fights in the series.

Her battle with Vegeta is brutal. Up to this point, Vegeta has solidified himself as a formidable Super Saiyan, but that gets thrown out the window once 18 steps into the picture. Vegeta puts up a good fight, but 18 starts to break him. When she kicks Vegeta’s arm broken, you can feel the pain. What’s more, this gift establishes just how terrifying the Androids are. Their infinite stamina needs they’ll never get tired in a fight. Even though Vegeta gives her some trouble, she leaves perfectly fine while Vegeta is left behind battered and broken.

24 WORST: Gotenks Versus Super Buu

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What’s particularly disappointing about this fight is that the choreography is actually pretty good. Gotenks tosses out some of the most creative techniques in the series, and Buu fights back in a very engaging, almost hopeless, way. After Buu being virtually unbeatable, it’s cathartic to see him take serious damage. So why is it one of the worst? Easy. It’s too long.

This fight is a drag. From the moment Buu enters the Room of Spirit and Time to when Gotenks’ fusion runs out, the fight seems to go on forever. What’s worse is the fact Gotenks can’t win. Not in an in-story sense, but from a narrative perspective. Gohan is still training on Kaioshin’s planet. Gotenks isn’t just going to defeat Buu, rendering Gohan’s training useless. It’s almost filler-sequel in nature. Every time the tide of battle turns in Gotenks’ favor, we know it can’t last. It makes it incredibly difficult to stay invested in the fight once they leave the RoSaT.

23 BEST: Gohan Versus Super Buu

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Gohan versus Super Buu is basically the Gotenks and Buu fight done right. There’s a good chance Gohan could actually win, the fight doesn’t last any longer than it needs to, and the choreography is one of the most melee based in the Z-era. The first round of the fight has Gohan absolutely pummeling Super Buu, but unlike the Gotenks fight, it’s entirely serious. Gohan genuinely makes Buu fear for his life until the tides turn.

Once Buu absorbs Gotenks and gains control of the battle, Gohan is put through a beatdown unlike any other. It’s terrifying watching Buu utterly toy with Gohan. His back fist is easily one of the scariest attacks an enemy has ever dealt a main character. He doesn’t even land the punch, he just gently stops right before it hits Gohan’s cheek, letting him now that he could end the fight any second he wanted to.

22 BEST: Goku Versus Krillin

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The 22nd Budokai stands out as one of the only moments in eh series where just about every main character is equal in power. Despite being outshined by Goku from his introduction, Krillin puts up an amazing fight here and actually manages to push Goku back quite a few times. While Goku wins, it does feel like Krillin has a chance. Both characters have similar proportions so their blows flow far naturally than most fights during the early series.

The strategy at play is also worth mention. Krillin shoots off a weak Kamehameha at Goku, which he just absorbs, but this was actually a diversion. While Goku is preoccupied with the Ki attack, Krillin sneaks up behind him to take control of the fight. It’s the last time Goku and Krillin are ever equal in the context of Dragon Ball, but it’s a great note to end their rivalry on, showing just how fearsome Roshi’s pupils have become.

21 WORST: Yamcha Versus Kami

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Yamcha has always deserved better than he’s gotten. He stalemates his first fight with Goku, loses his second, gets knocked out of the ring by Jackie Chun without ever landing a punch, and gets bodied by Mummy Man during the Baba tournament. While these match ups certainly paint Yamcha in a poor light, no fight humiliates, embarrasses, or utterly shames Yamcha more than his battle with Kami during the 23rd Budokai.

No fight humiliates, embarrasses, or utterly shames Yamcha more than his battle with Kami during the 23rd Budokai.

This is a sad fight, it really is. Yamcha can barely land a hit in, his Soukidan does nothing against Kami, and he gets headbutted in the crotch. All the while, Kami’s putting up a goofy front, acting like he’s getting by entirely by accident. Yamcha’s fight against the Saibaiman isn’t anything too special, but his fight against Kami really makes you appreciate how serious Yamcha’s last battle ends up being. At least Toriyama let him die on a good note.

20 BEST: Piccolo, Krillin, And Gohan Versus Nappa

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What a sincerely incredible fight this is. Toriyama rarely ever did group battles during Dragon Ball’s ten year run but, whenever he did, they were amazing. Nappa is so much stronger than everyone of our heroes, but he’s not so overwhelmingly strong where he can’t be beaten by a group effort. Krillin and Piccolo manage to deliver a serious tag team against him, and Krillin actually almost defeats him with his Kienzan at one point. Gohan’s role is less helpful, but it’s still important as his unwillingness to fight seriously adds to the drama.

This fight isn’t just good for the action, it's good for developing the characters as they battle.

At one point, Gohan actually gets an opening where he could have defeated Nappa, but he chokes and ends up fleeing. Gohan’s cowardice ultimately results in Piccolo’s death, giving us one of the best character moments in the entire series. This fight isn’t just good for the action, it's good for developing the characters as they battle. By the time Goku appears, Gohan has new resolve, Piccolo has redeemed himself, and Krillin has proved himself a dangerous martial artist.

19 WORST: Vegeta Versus Cui

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Vegeta’s fight against Cui is a bland fight in an arc full of amazing, personal battles. After being set up as a rival for Vegeta, Cui ends up losing relatively quickly once Vegeta gets to Namek. Their fight, while featuring some cool choreography on Vegeta’s end, is over and done with within just a few pages. Of course, this is done to show us how Saiyans grow through the use of Zenkais, but it can leave a poor taste in someone’s mouth if they were taking the Cui build up seriously. The rest of arc is thankfully very strong when it comes to action, but it Vegeta versus Cui isn’t exactly the most exciting start to the Namek arc.

18 BEST: Goku Versus Cell

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You know which fight isn’t lacking, though? Goku versus Perfect Cell. This fight is so good, that it honestly would have been a perfect exit for Goku had Toriyama decided to keep him dead after this arc. In many ways, this fight is kind of a Hail Mary to Goku as a martial artist. The hand to hand combat is choreographed perfectly, Goku’s Instantaneous Movement Kamehameha is one of the most creative blends Toriyama does in the entire franchise, and Goku puts up an amazing fight even if Cell is holding back.

More importantly, however, this fight is important for Goku’s arc. He actually gives up and recognizes that he can’t defeat Cell. He shows humility and allows his son to take the torch. Once Gohan actually turns Super Saiyan 2, we can see what Goku saw in his own son. IT’s a moment that transitions Goku from a simple martial artist to a proper master.

17 BEST: Goku Versus Piccolo

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Goku gets a lot of amazing fights during the original Dragon Ball, but few come close to the sheer level of quality present in his final battle with Piccolo during the 23rd Budokai. Both characters are perfectly equal in power, they each unleash technique after technique onto one another, and both characters get beaten to the point of exhaustion. This is a fight that cements Toriyama as a master of his craft.

There are few endings better than Goku finally learning how to fly and knocking out Piccolo once and for all.

Each punch and kick is refined, with choreography that reflect Goku's taller physique. Ki attacks are used more frequently than ever, but they serve a purpose and genuinely damage Goku and Piccolo. Piccolo’s stretchy arms and ability to become a giant are almost as creative as Goku firing a Kamehameha out of his feet. There are few endings better than Goku finally learning how to fly and knocking out Piccolo once and for all. It’s a match that pushes both characters to their limits, showcasing some of the best action the series would ever know.

16 WORST: Trunks Versus Androids 17 and 18

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This isn’t a bad fight so much as it is disappointing. After spending the entire Android arc getting stronger in our main timeline, Trunks returns to his finally ready to take out his Androids. Since he’s grown so strong, however, there’s no real fight here. He quickly defeats both of them and then later takes out Cell with relative ease. This is coming off the end of the Cell fight, so it makes sense Toriyama wouldn’t want to dedicate so much to another final battle, but it is a bit of a shame since the choreography here is relatively unexciting. Thematically, though, it is satisfying and cathartic to see Trunks defeat his lifelong enemies with ease so he can bring back hope to his future.

Until Goku Black shows up, of course, but that’s a story for another day.

15 BEST: Everyone Versus Freeza

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Remember when I said group fights were awesome? The final fight against Freeza involves Vegeta, Gohan, Krillin, Dende, Piccolo, and finally Goku, and, the amazing thing is, it never loses its steam. From start to finish, it’s an endurance match with amazing choreography that actually develops the cast. Vegeta grows humble, Gohan shows true agency against Freeza, Krillin puts his life on the line for his friends, Piccolo embraces his Namekian heritage through a ritualistic merging with Nail, and Goku finally accepts that he is a Saiyan without rejecting his Earthling background.

From start to finish, it’s an endurance match with amazing choreography that actually develops the cast.

This is easily the longest fight in the entire manga, but it never gets boring. Every moment, every shift in the status quo, is necessary in crafting a showdown that moves the story and character forward without compromising the action. By the time Goku turns Super Saiyan, Vegeta, Krillin, and Dende are all dead, Piccolo is unconscious, and Gohan doesn’t have what it takes to fight. It’s a tense marathon filled with genuine strategy and an unforgettable conclusion.

14 WORST: Mr. Satan Versus Cell

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The Android arc was in desperate need of some brevity by the time the Cell Games rolled around. It’s easily the darkest storyline in the series’ original run, and Toriyama likely felt he needed to lighten the tone a bit before the finale. Unfortunately, he does the worst way possible by adding in Mr. Satan during the last act of the arc. In the manga, his fight is over and done with quick enough, but the anime drags it out to a crawl. What was supposed to be a quick gag fight turns into a living nightmare where Mr. Satan’s lackeys joke around and stall the conclusion to an already long arc. Mr. Satan goes on to be one of the most likable characters in the Buu arc, but his introduction is very hard to appreciate so close to the end.

13 BEST: Goku Versus Vegeta

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The single greatest fight in Dragon Ball might actually be the greatest fight ever drawn in manga history. Goku versus Vegeta is reflective of everything good about Dragon Ball. This is a fight that pushes both characters to their limit without favoring one over the other. Every fight in this list has someone who was clearly stronger, but not here. This fight ends in a tie. There’s genuine tension to how the action plays out, especially since Kaioken hurts Goku as he uses it.

This is a fight that pushes both characters to their limit without favoring one over the other.

Their beam struggle is easily one of the best moments in the series. As they push each others’ techniques back, it’s hard to tell who’s in control. When Goku finally decides to throw it all away, he pushes Kaioken to its limit, utterly breaking his body and Vegeta with it. The fight doesn’t end there, though. Vegeta turns into an Oozaru and delivers a punishment unlike any other onto Goku. This is a fight where both characters brutalize each other to the point of no return.

12 WORST: Goku Versus General Blue

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Long, blandly choreographed, and downright dumb, Goku’s fight against General Blue is easily a low point in the series, if not the low point. Blue is not a compelling enough villain to stick around as often as he does. His psychic powers are interesting, but they put Goku in a position where he can only survive through sheer luck. Before Blue can land the finishing blow on him, Goku is saved out of nowhere as a rat.

The arc, and its fights, feel like a regression.

Really, this fight exemplifies all the problems with the Red Ribbon Army arc. It’s a step back. After giving the story a more serious tone in the 21st Budokai, Toriyama stumbled with the RRA. The arc, and its fights, feel like a regression. What’s worse is that there’s no real closure to the fight. Blue is just unceremoniously defeated by Tao, making his entire presence feel like an utter waste of time.

11 BEST: Goku Versus Jackie Chun

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Depending on how your view the fight between Goku and Yamcha or Namu, Goku versus Jackie Chun could seriously be considered the first real fight in the series. For the first time in the manga’s run, a battle doesn’t have gags thrown in, isn’t done in just a few short chapters, and actually has stakes. This isn’t just a fight in a tournament, it’s a battle to become the Strongest Under the Heavens.

For the first time in the manga’s run, a battle doesn’t have gags thrown in, isn’t done in just a few short chapters, and actually has stakes.

In regards to choreography, the battle itself is incredibly satisfying to watch or read. Goku and Jackie Chun do serious damage to one another, and their proportions allow for some creative panels on Toriyama’s part. Ki also doesn’t play a big role yet so it’s meaningful when they both use the Kamehameha. Toss in a setting sun, Goku turning into an Oozaru, and the double knockout and you’ve got an outstanding climax to the series’ first tournament arc.

10 WORST: Gohan Versus Cell

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Gohan’s fight against Cell is widely considered to be one of the best fights in the series, but I strongly urge you to reconsider that opinion if you have it. Thematically, it’s great and the story surrounding it likewise. Gohan transforming into a Super Saiyan 2 is handled perfectly and seeing Cell lose his upper hand is satisfying. The problem is the actual action. Once Gohan goes SSJ2, the fight is basically over.

It’s narratively a good conclusion to the arc, but it skews too heavily in one character’s favor at any given moment.

The actual melee portion is dominated by relatively uneventful choreography and the Father-Son Kamehameha, while incredibly important for Goku, Gohan, and Vegeta’s character arc, lacks the tension of, say, Goku trying to escape Namek. It’s narratively a good conclusion to the arc, but it skews too heavily in one character’s favor at any given moment. It certainly doesn’t help that Gohan isn’t really built up to take this role within the actual arc. Conceptually great, but ultimately lacking.

9 BEST: Goku Versus Grandpa Gohan

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Throughout the first three arcs of Dragon Ball, quite a bit of emphasis is put on Grandpa Gohan’s role as a martial artist. Yamcha, Roshi, and Gyumao all refer to him as one of the strongest martial artists in the world, debatably even stronger than Roshi. When the time comes for Goku to actually come face to face with his deceased grandfather at the end of the Red Ribbon Army arc, he puts up a truly tremendous fight and manages to push Goku back hard.

Like the battle between Goku and Jackie Chun, this is a very melee heavy fight. Grandpa Gohan’s punches and kicks have a brutal elegance to them, and he truly doesn’t hold back while he trades blows with Goku. The biggest moment in the fight has to be when Gohan grabs Goku’s tail. Wincing in pain and completely drained of stamina, it seems like Goku is down and out… until he rips his tail off. It’s a fun fight with a heartwarming ending that reminds us where Goku came from.

8 WORST: Tien Versus Drum

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This fight is more insulting than it is outright bad. During the second half of the King Piccolo arc, Tien spends a fair amount of time trying to learn the Mafuba. While Goku is struggling to down the Super Holy Water, Tien is putting everything on the line to learn a technique that will certainly drain him of all life should he pull it off. When the time comes to finally face King Piccolo, Tien realizes he broke the electric cooker he was going to seal Piccolo in.

Tien spends most of the arc learning a specific move he doesn’t get to use and then gets throttled by a nobody monster

Resolving to fight anyways, Tien approaches King Piccolo and is instead faced with a new underling, Drum. The worst part about this fight is that Tien doesn’t even put up a match. Tien spends most of the arc learning a specific move he doesn’t get to use and then gets throttled by a nobody monster until Goku can come and save the day. It’s an incredibly disappointing battle that wastes the struggle Tien just went through.

7 BEST: Goku Versus TaoPaiPai

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This is one of the most important fights in Dragon Ball. In one single battle: the first named character dies on screen, Goku suffers the worst defeat he’s ever had, and the Red Ribbon Army seizes control of most of the Dragon Balls. TaoPaiPai’s introduction marks the end of whimsy for Dragon Ball. Characters can die, Goku’s losses will have consequences, and the bad guys are more than just gag villains. From him Dodonpa, to his crane style martial arts, Tao is an absolute legend when it comes to DB villains.

Their rematch is just as good, if not better than the first fight. Goku baffles Tao with his newfound power from training with Karin. It’s a brutal showdown that highlights Toriyama’s increasingly impressive choreography. You feel the weight behind Goku’s blows, and Tao’s desperation is expressed wonderfully without resorting to overt gag humor. Goku kicking Tao’s grenade right back up at him stands out as one of the most iconic action moments in Dragon Ball, ending the first truly terrifying fight in the series.

6 WORST: Namu Versus Ranfan

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Namu versus Ranfan during the 21st Budokai represents Toriyama at his worst. Female characters who exist only to be sexualized, phoned in action, Roshi acting like an overwhelming pervert to the point of unlikability, and characters the audience has no reason to care about fighting each other. The series is rarely ever this bad, let alone actually bad, but early Dragon Ball, as cherished as it is, does have several rough patches that don’t get ironed out until the 22nd Budokai. Dragon Ball was never a full fledged gag manga like some fans like to say it was as a defense for the juvenile humor. This fight is simply a representation of Toriyama relying on all of his crutches at once. At least it’s short.