best episodes of Dragon Ball poster

Long ago in the mountains, a fighting master known as Son Gohan discovered a strange boy whom he named Son Goku. Gohan raised him and trained Goku in martial arts until he died. The young and very strong boy was on his own, but easily managed. Then one day, Goku met a teenage girl named Bulma, whose search for the mystical Dragon Balls brought her to Goku's home. Together, they set off to find all seven and to grant her wish.

1 Seasons
153 Episodes
Ended
Animation Action & Adventure Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast & Characters
episode image The Fallen
8.7/10 (596 votes)

#1 The Fallen

S1:E101

The Kikouhou has left both fighters weary and exhausted. With all of their energy gone and the stage destroyed by the Kikouhou, Tenshinhan and Goku plummet towards the Earth, with the first to touch down losing the match! A new Champion is crowned today!

episode image Final Showdown
8.4/10 (496 votes)

#2 Final Showdown

S1:E122

The fierce battle between Goku and Piccolo Daimao continues, but Piccolo gains the advantage when he breaks Goku down limb by limb. To make matters worse, Tenshinhan is used as a pawn in the battle. Goku is forced to make an awful choice. Will he surrender to Piccolo Daimao and save his friend or choose to fight and risk his own life?

episode image The Notorious Mercenary
8.3/10 (577 votes)

#3 The Notorious Mercenary

S1:E59

After finally managing to return to Red Ribbon Army Headquarters, Blue is killed by a single blow from Tao Pai-pai’s tongue. Tao Pai-pai then sets off for the Karin Holy Land to eliminate Goku! Meanwhile, Goku obtains his heart’s desire, the Four-Star Ball. He also hears the legend of the Super Holy Water, water received from a sage who lives at the top of Karin Tower, and that if drunk will multiply one’s power many times over. Tao Pai-pai then shows up. Bora stands to face him, but before Tao Pai-pai’s fearsome power he is killed in the blink of an eye!! Goku challenges Tao Pai-pai, but?!

episode image Goku Strikes Back
8.3/10 (458 votes)

#4 Goku Strikes Back

S1:E120

Goku is back to face Piccolo Daimao, and not a moment too soon! As Tenshinhan and the rest of the resistance endure their most desperate hour, only Goku stands between Piccolo Daimao and the destruction of Metro West. It's more than just a rematch, it's the battle to save the world!

episode image True Colors of the Masked Man
8.2/10 (491 votes)

#5 True Colors of the Masked Man

S1:E76

Grabbing onto Goku’s tail, the fox mask man knocks Goku around! But then Goku’s tail comes off!! As Goku is about to counterattack, having lost his weakness, the man quickly surrenders. His identity was Goku’s adoptive grandfather Son Gohan after all!! Goku rejoices in their reunion! Thanks to Uranai Baba, Gohan was able to return from the afterlife for a single day. After the brief reunion, Gohan returns to the afterlife once again!

episode image The Spirit Cannon
8.2/10 (450 votes)

#6 The Spirit Cannon

S1:E100

To test Goku’s ability, Tenshinhan uses his still even more secret technique, the Shiyou-ken! Two arms appear from his back, and Tenshinhan attacks with all four arms!! But Goku continues his attack without even flinching! In order to decide the match, Tenshinhan resolves to use his ultimate secret technique, the Kikouhou (Energy Cannon)! It’s a frightful technique that has destructive power many levels greater than the Kamehameha! The arena is then completely blown away by the Kikouhou!!

episode image Enter King Piccolo
8.2/10 (448 votes)

#7 Enter King Piccolo

S1:E102

Kuririn is dead! As Goku sets out on a quest for revenge, his friends attempt to learn the identity of Kuririn's killer. All clues lead to the Turtle Hermit's past and an evil that could destroy the world!

episode image Roshi's Gambit
8.2/10 (442 votes)

#8 Roshi's Gambit

S1:E111

Global destruction is one wish away if Piccolo Daimao succeeds in calling fourth the Eternal Dragon. The Turtle Hermit answers the call for a hero by placing himself between the creature and the remaining Dragon Balls. However, in his attempt to save the world, he may pay the ultimate price.

episode image The Biggest Crisis
8.2/10 (425 votes)

#9 The Biggest Crisis

S1:E121

Piccolo Daimao puts all of Metro West on edge when he invades the King's Castle, but Goku is not about to let him take over without a fight. While Tenshinhan watches from the sidelines, the young warrior takes it on the chin and refuses to go down. It's a fierce battle but even Goku has his limits. How much can he take?

episode image The Victor
8.2/10 (433 votes)

#10 The Victor

S1:E148

The end of the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai finds Goku struggling for survival as Ma Junior gets the upper hand, poised to take the Title and his life. God devises a way to rescue the young hero, but his plan calls for the ultimate sacrifice!

episode image The Strong Ones
8.1/10 (473 votes)

#11 The Strong Ones

S1:E75

The fox mask-wearing fifth man is no ordinary person! A breathless offensive-defensive battle unfolds!! And then the fox mask man fires a Kamehameha of all things! But Goku doesn’t lose, and returns fire with his own Kamehameha, knocking the man down! In the instant it seemed like Goku had won, the fox mask man grabs onto Goku’s weakness, his tail! Seeing this, the Turtle Hermit realizes the fox mask man’s identity. He says that the opponent’s identity is Son Goku’s dead adoptive grandfather, Son Gohan!!

episode image Stepping Down
8.1/10 (437 votes)

#12 Stepping Down

S1:E94

It’s the blazing white-hot match of Jackie versus Tenshinhan! Tenshinhan gets serious, and uses the Taiyou-ken! Flinching at the flash, Jackie is downed by a knee kick! After standing back up, Jackie tries to persuade Tenshinhan to walk on the true path. But Tenshinhan realizes that Jackie is the Turtle Hermit, and fires a Kamehameha of all things! Jackie deflects the Kamehameha, and jumps down from the arena, willingly receiving an out of bounds loss!

episode image Tien's Insurrection
8.1/10 (439 votes)

#13 Tien's Insurrection

S1:E99

Goku has suddenly become unable to move his body! This is due to Chiaotzu’s psychic powers!! He sealed up Goku’s movement on the Crane Hermit’s orders. But Tenshinhan realizes the Crane Hermit’s trick, and puts a stop to it! The heart of a proper martial artist has sprouted in Tenshinhan!! The Crane Hermit is mad with rage, but he is knocked off into the distance by the Turtle Hermit’s Kamehameha. And then this time for sure, Goku and Tenshinhan’s earnest match begins!!

episode image Changes
8.1/10 (452 votes)

#14 Changes

S1:E133

Warriors the world over are lining up to compete as the Tenkaichi Budokai prepares to get under way. Unfortunately, all of the Turtle Hermit's pupils are missing, including Goku. With the entry-deadline approaching, the competitive future of our heroes look bleak, as does Muten Roshi's patience.

episode image Tao Attacks!
8.0/10 (469 votes)

#15 Tao Attacks!

S1:E60

Goku is completely helpless before the might of Tao Pai-pai, who is unaffected by even the Kamehameha. Goku is felled after taking a direct hit from Tao Pai-pai’s sure-to-kill Dodonpa! Tao Pai-pai steals the Dragon Balls, and heads to a town to get new clothes to replace his tattered ones. However, Goku survived!! The Four-Star Ball that he had on his breast protected him!! After resolving to use the Dragon Balls to restore Bora to life, Goku climbs Karin Tower in order to become stronger than Tao Pai-pai. However, no matter how far he climbs, he is still unable to see the top.

episode image Sacred Water
8.0/10 (461 votes)

#16 Sacred Water

S1:E62

After going to retrieve the Four-Star Ball that Karin-sama dropped, Goku makes the round trip up Karin Tower in three hours, even though it took him an entire day when he first climbed up! Furthermore, Goku copies the sleeping Karin-sama‘s breathing and movement during the night, and is then able to read Karin-sama‘s movements and finally obtain the jar of Super Sacred Water. But it contains ordinary water?! It turns out that the act of obtaining the jar was itself training that increased his power many times over!! At that time, having obtained brand new clothes, Tao Pai-pai sets out for the holy land once again.

episode image Yamcha's Big Break
8.0/10 (435 votes)

#17 Yamcha's Big Break

S1:E88

Yamcha and Tenshinhan violently clash! Yamcha uses the Shin Roga fu-fu ken against Tenshinhan, but is gradually pushed back and is in a pinch. As his final hand, Yamcha fires a Kamehameha!! But Tenshinhan deflects the Kamehameha and defeats the faltering Yamcha in midair! Furthermore, he strikes the already unconscious Yamcha with a finishing blow! Goku burns with intense anger at the coldhearted Tenshinhan!!

episode image Goku vs. King Piccolo
8.0/10 (422 votes)

#18 Goku vs. King Piccolo

S1:E109

Son Goku must stand alone as he faces the wrath of Piccolo Daimao. Without aid, and protecting the One-Star Dragon Ball, Goku defends his life as the dastardly alien seeks revenge for the deaths of Cymbal and Tambourine, two of his prized soldiers. The Turtle Hermit finds himself between a rock and a hard place as he quests for the Three-Star ball.

episode image Battle Cry
8.0/10 (426 votes)

#19 Battle Cry

S1:E119

There's a new beast in town and his name is Drum. Tenshinhan must go through him before he can fight Piccolo Daimao. The problem is, Drum moves faster than Tenshinhan's eyes - all three of them! Goku is on his way, but will he arrive in time to save the day?

episode image Kami vs. Piccolo
8.0/10 (420 votes)

#20 Kami vs. Piccolo

S1:E142

Goku is eager to fight Ma Junior, but God fears his inexperience will be his downfall. Shen takes on Ma Junior in the last round of the semi-finals, where his shocking agenda is revealed.

episode image Goku Hangs On
8.0/10 (415 votes)

#21 Goku Hangs On

S1:E147

The Tenkaichi Budokai begins to fall to piece as Ma Junior unveils a technique that not only threatens to destroy Goku, but his friends as well. Even the mighty God believes that there is no way for Goku to survive in this winner-take-all massacre!

episode image The Kamehameha Wave
7.9/10 (584 votes)

#22 The Kamehameha Wave

S1:E8

Having thrown away the Basho Fan, Muten Roshi heads to Mt. Frypan to extinguish its flames himself!! Muten Roshi’s grand attack, the Kamehameha, puts out the blazing flames! Goku and the others safely obtain the Dragon Ball, and are about to head off in search of the final one. But Bulma is detained by Muten Roshi, since she promised to let him fondle her breasts if he put out the flames. Bulma gets out of this pinch by asking Oolong to transform into her.

episode image A Wish to the Eternal Dragon
7.9/10 (526 votes)

#23 A Wish to the Eternal Dragon

S1:E12

Shen Long finally appears! Pilaf tries to say his wish, in order to rule the world!! Because Oolong said his wish of “Give me a girl’s panties” a moment sooner, his wish ended up being granted! With the wish granted, Shen Long returns again to the Dragon Balls, and they scatter to the four winds. Enraged, Pilaf imprisons Goku and the others in a room covered in fortified glass and iron plates, intending to kill them with the sun’s hot rays, but…?!

episode image The Legend of Goku
7.9/10 (517 votes)

#24 The Legend of Goku

S1:E13

Goku and the others have been captured once again by Pilaf. That night, Goku looks at the full moon, and suddenly turns wild and starts transforming into an Oozaru!! He smashes the prison that they are imprisoned in, and Yamcha and the rest manage to escape, but having lost his reason, Goku continues to rampage!! Yamcha then cuts off Goku’s weakness, his tail! Goku wakes up after returning to normal. The party promises to reunite, and the Dragon Team splits up.

episode image Number One Under the Moon?
7.9/10 (567 votes)

#25 Number One Under the Moon?

S1:E27

Becoming serious against Goku, Jackie uses the Yoiko Min-Min Ken! Goku enters a deep sleep. He somehow manages to escape this pinch, but he is assaulted by Jackie’s special attack, the Bankoku-Bikkuri-Sho! With a shockwave like an electric current running up his entire body, Goku is robbed of the ability to move. But just as he’s about to surrender, his eyes catch sight of the full moon! Against Goku, who has transformed into an Oozaru once again, Jackie fires an extra-large Kamehameha!! What is Goku’s fate…?!

episode image The Final Blow
7.9/10 (577 votes)

#26 The Final Blow

S1:E28

Jackie blew away the moon, guarding against Goku ever becoming an Oozaru again!! At the same time, Goku returns to his normal form, and the match is restarted. With their energy rapidly falling from exhaustion and hunger, the two muster the last of their power, and their clash unfolds. Having received slightly less damage, Jackie declares that he has won the championship, and he achieves victory. Having learned that there are many strong people in the world, Goku and Kuririn vow to train even harder!

episode image Blue, Black and Blue
7.9/10 (503 votes)

#27 Blue, Black and Blue

S1:E53

Goku overwhelmingly dominates in his battle against Blue! Beaten about, Blue uses his psychic powers to paralyze Goku, and pulls out a rifle! Goku is in a pinch!! But Blue is surprised by a mouse that passes by, and his psychic powers are undone! Counterattacking, Goku KO’s Blue!! Bulma and Kuririn try to escape in a pirate submarine, and Goku follows after them once he’s found the Dragon Ball. The cave is about to collapse.

episode image Korin Tower
7.9/10 (466 votes)

#28 Korin Tower

S1:E61

Goku struggles his way to the top of the tower, and there he meets the cat sage Karin, who has the appearance of a cat. In order to drink the Super Sacred Water that will multiple his power many times over, Goku must actually steal the jar that contains the Super Sacred Water from Karin-sama! Goku pursues Karin-sama with all his might, but is unable to even touch the jar!! Karin-sama says that the only one to have ever drunk the Super Sacred Water was Muten Roshi, 300 years ago. Yet Karin-sama says it took him three years to manage to drink the water!!

episode image The Return of Goku
7.9/10 (461 votes)

#29 The Return of Goku

S1:E63

Arriving in the holy land, Tao Pai-pai attacks Upa in order to learn the location of the Four-Star Ball. Tao Pai-pai loses patience with Upa, who won’t say anything, and tries to kill him, but that’s when Goku comes running in! Goku and Tao Pai-pai confront each other once again! This time, the powered up Goku has a firm advantage!! After realizing that Goku has obtained more power through the legendary Super Sacred Water, Tao Pai-pai climbs the tower in order to drink the water himself. However, Goku doesn’t try to follow him.

episode image Tail's Tale
7.9/10 (437 votes)

#30 Tail's Tale

S1:E96

A battle where neither side gives an inch unfolds in the semi-finals! Kuririn has grown far more since last time, but Goku has become even stronger than that!! As Kuririn begins to be gradually pushed back, he takes advantage of an opening and grabs Goku’s weakness, his tail! But this doesn’t affect Goku, who during his training strengthened even his tail!! Goku moves at such high speeds that he can’t be seen and attacks Kuririn, knocking him from the arena and winning the match!!

episode image Victory's Edge
7.9/10 (429 votes)

#31 Victory's Edge

S1:E98

Tenshinhan uses his secret technique, the Haikyu-ken, to smash Goku into the floor! But Goku gets up easily, and faces Tenshinhan not with the power he uses for matches, but rather the power he uses for battle! Their techniques smash furiously against each other! Goku’s Zanzouken is effective, and Tenshinhan is downed!! Tenshinhan uses his even more secret technique, the Taiyou-Ken, but Goku counters it with sunglasses and instead Tenshinhan is the one to be knocked down! The two continue their super-intense match, but Goku’s condition suddenly becomes strange!!

episode image King Piccolo's Wish
7.9/10 (416 votes)

#32 King Piccolo's Wish

S1:E112

Piccolo Daimao has called forth the Eternal Dragon. The Turtle Hermit is down, Tenshinhan can't get up and Chiaotzu is scared stiff. With no one to oppose him, Piccolo Daimao prepares to make a wish, which if granted, could become the world's greatest nightmare!

episode image Anonymous Proposal
7.9/10 (423 votes)

#33 Anonymous Proposal

S1:E137

Goku takes on his most lovely opponent yet in the second match of the Tenkaichi Budokai. Know only as Anonymous, the beautiful warrior's identity is a mysterious as her fierce anger toward Goku, who must win the match in order to learn her real name.

episode image The Four Faces of Tien
7.9/10 (417 votes)

#34 The Four Faces of Tien

S1:E141

Goku has always been able to handle himself in the ring, but when his fight with Tenshinhan turns into a war against an army, he finds himself in serious jeopardy. Tenshinhan's new technique may spell the end for our hero!

episode image Super Kamehameha
7.9/10 (415 votes)

#35 Super Kamehameha

S1:E144

The battle to save the planet continues as Goku tries to take down Ma Junior in the final match of the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai. Goku has an ultimate weapon: The Ultimate Super Kamehameha Wave. However, if he uses it to destroy Ma Junior, God will be sacrificed, having been trapped inside Ma Junior's stomach.

episode image Goku's Trap
7.9/10 (415 votes)

#36 Goku's Trap

S1:E146

As the exhausting battle between Goku and Ma Junior continues, Goku avoids disaster by taking the battle within. Ma Junior surprises all when he unveils a new threat!

episode image The Trap is Sprung
7.8/10 (523 votes)

#37 The Trap is Sprung

S1:E50

Treasure is supposedly hidden in the pirate’s cave. And to protect that treasure, naturally traps were set! Goku and the others somehow manage to pass through these traps, such as a wall that shoots spears, or a trap door that opens above lava. The Red Ribbon troops are completely wiped out, except for Blue!! Goku and the others come to the end of the path, and come out into the pirate’s sea-bottom dock. Goku can sense that something is moving. A skeleton-type battle robot appears, and immediately starts attacking them!!

episode image The Last of Mercenary Tao
7.8/10 (461 votes)

#38 The Last of Mercenary Tao

S1:E64

Having climbed Karin Tower, Tao Pai-pai tries to get the Super Sacred Water by threatening Karin-sama. However, Karin-sama successfully tricks Tao Pai-pai, and sends him back to the surface! After descending back to the holy land, Tao Pai-pai unleashes a violent attack, but Goku is unharmed!! Tao Pai-pai turns pale and uses a bomb, but Goku kicks it back and Tao Pai-pai ends up blowing himself away. After gathering the four Dragon Balls, Goku flies off to the Red Ribbon Army Headquarters to gather the remaining ones!!

episode image The End of Commander Red
7.8/10 (454 votes)

#39 The End of Commander Red

S1:E67

The Red Ribbon Army is on the brink of annihilation because of Goku. Captain Violet steals the money in the vault and flees! The cornered Commander Red attempts to kill Goku as well as Black. It turns out that Red’s objective was merely to use the Dragon Balls to make himself taller. Having survived, Black kills Red and confronts Goku in the Battle Jacket! Goku is KO’d by the Jacket’s formidable power, and cannot move! A sure-to-kill beam aims for Goku!!

episode image Counting Controversy!!
7.8/10 (424 votes)

#40 Counting Controversy!!

S1:E91

The Kamehameha that Kuririn fired hits Chiaotzu head-on! Angered, Chiaotzu uses his psychic powers to prevent Kuririn from moving, and attacks him! But Kuririn realizes that Chiaotzu releases his psychic powers through his hands, and instantly throws out a math question! He then defeats Chiaotzu as Chiaotzu tries to use his hands to do the calculations!! That night, Goku is attacked by the Crane Hermit! However, Tenshinhan enters and stops him, vowing that he will defeat Goku in their match!!

Cast & Chracters

character image Son Goku (voice)

Son Goku (voice)

Actor: Masako Nozawa
character image Krillin (voice)

Krillin (voice)

Actor: Mayumi Tanaka
character image Bulma (voice)

Bulma (voice)

Actor: Hiromi Tsuru
character image Yamcha (voice)

Yamcha (voice)

Actor: Toru Furuya
character image Oolong (voice)

Oolong (voice)

Actor: Naoki Tatsuta
character image Puar (voice)

Puar (voice)

Actor: Naoko Watanabe
character image Lunch (voice)

Lunch (voice)

Actor: Mami Koyama
character image Emperor Pilaf (voice)

Emperor Pilaf (voice)

Actor: Shigeru Chiba
character image Narrator (voice)

Narrator (voice)

Actor: Joji Yanami
character image Tao Pai Pai (voice)

Tao Pai Pai (voice)

Actor: Chikao Ohtsuka
character image Tien Shinhan (voice)

Tien Shinhan (voice)

Actor: Hirotaka Suzuoki
character image Muten Roshi (voice)

Muten Roshi (voice)

Actor: Kohei Miyauchi
character image Announcer (voice)

Announcer (voice)

Actor: Kenji Utsumi
character image Piccolo Daimao (voice)

Piccolo Daimao (voice)

Actor: Takeshi Aono
character image Piccolo Jr. (voice)

Piccolo Jr. (voice)

Actor: Toshio Furukawa
character image Shuu (voice)

Shuu (voice)

Actor: Tessyo Genda
character image Chaozu (voice)

Chaozu (voice)

Actor: Hiroko Emori
character image Mai (voice)

Mai (voice)

Actor: Eiko Yamada

The highest rated episode of Dragon Ball is "The Fallen" (S1E101) with a rating of 8.70.

This episode received 596 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Dress in Flames" (S1E149) with a rating of 6.70.

This episode received 389 votes.

The highest rated episode is "The Fallen" (S1E101) with a rating of 8.70.

This episode received 596 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Dress in Flames" (S1E149) with a rating of 6.70.

This episode received 389 votes.

Name Department Job
Gen Fukunaga Production Executive Producer
Kenji Shimizu Production Producer
Hiroki Takahashi Sound Theme Song Performance
Shunsuke Kikuchi Sound Original Music Composer
Akira Toriyama Writing Comic Book

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