10 Bravest Dragon Ball Characters Ranked

The Dragon Ball franchise has a plethora of courageous characters than constantly risk their lives to save the universe from many, many, MANY threats.

The Z Fighters of Dragon Ball fame are the fiercest, most daring warriors in the universe. Their might made them famous, but their courage and willingness to protect Earth from the many threats that lurk in the universe made them legends. And Goku may be the star of Dragon Ball, but he isn't the only brave character.

Indeed, other warriors also display considerable willpower, and some even give Goku a run for his money. The series does an excellent job at showing that heroism can come from all sorts of places and that even those who might not come off as brave at first glance can have great courage in them.

10 Mr. Satan

Poor Mr. Satan is often the butt of the joke in Dragon Ball. His excessive pride and his non-existent abilities make him the perfect target for the show's particular brand of humor. Indeed, Satan may be one of the funniest characters in the series.

However, for all his buffoonery, there's a courageous side to Mr. Satan that only comes out in extreme circumstances. During the Majin Buu saga, Satan shows his bravery several times, protecting Buu from Vegeta and even venturing into the blast range of a Spirit Bomb to rescue the proud Prince of the Saiyans.

9 Bulma

As one of the few non-powered, non-physically strong Z Fighters, Bulma is at a considerable disadvantage. And still, she joins the group during most of their adventures, going so far as to travel to other planets to aid Goku and company in their multiple battles.

Bulma is the most intelligent character in Dragon Ball, and she's also one of the most daring. She once slapped a literal God for ruining her birthday party! Bulma's courage can sometimes border on recklessness, but she remains one of the bravest characters in the franchise, for the most part.

8 Tien Shinhan

Tien Shinhan's character development is one of the many storylines that Dragon Ball abandoned. However, his contributions to the Z Fighters are unforgettable, confirming that he always was one of the bravest members of the already impressive team.

What makes his actions more impressive is that he lacked the Saiyans' might. Tien was a more than capable warrior, but he wasn't as overwhelmingly powerful as Goku or Vegeta. And still, he went to their aid time and again, stopping Cell from pursuing Android 18 or rescuing Gohan from Buu.

7 Chiaotzu

Like his best friend and mentor, Chiotzu became less prominent as the series progressed. His presence was never necessary per se because he was always one of the least impressive warriors of the group, however, he made up for his lack of strength by an abundance of enthusiasm.

Chiaotzu was also very brave, especially when it came to defending his friends. His most memorable moment sees him sacrificing to take down Nappa during the Vegeta arc in Dragon Ball Z. And even though Nappa survives Chiaotzu's suicide attack, the boy proves his courage and his worth as a Z Fighter.

6 Krillin

The consensus among fans is that Krillin is the strongest human fighter in the show. As Goku's best friend, Krillin is part of the Saiyan's adventures and battles almost from the beginning, displaying enviable courage every step of the way.

Krillin fights a myriad of opponents throughout the show, dying multiple times. Still, he never backs away from a battle and is always there to support Goku and the Z Fighters. Krillin also knows his limitations and accepts when it's time for him to step away, showing that he's also brave enough to admit his weaknesses.

5 Piccolo

Piccolo is arguably the character who changes the most throughout the show. Starting as a villain during the now-iconic King Piccolo arc in the original Dragon Ball, Piccolo soon becomes an ally to Goku. Through it all, Piccolo displays impressive strength and bravery, despite his stoic nature.

Piccolo sacrifices his life to protect Gohan, his unofficial adopted son. He also destroys the door to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to prevent Buu from escaping, even if it meant his own doom as well (and Trunks and Goten's). Piccolo always had the courage to do what was necessary, even if it meant sacrificing it all.

4 Trunks

Like his father, Trunks had a nearly unbreakable will. However, unlike his father, Trunks didn't allow pride to cloud his judgment. Growing up in a dystopian nightmare made Trunks resilient, strengthening his body, but most importantly, his spirit.

Trunks also had to see everyone he loved die, including his mentor, Gohan, and his mother, Bulma, but he kept fighting and believing because he knew the importance of his mission. All the best Trunks episodes in Dragon Ball Z prove his courage and willingness to stop the Android threat, cementing his place as one of the Z Fighters' bravest members.

3 Vegeta

In the pantheon of legendary anti-heroes, no one comes close to Vegeta. The proud Prince of the Saiyans is the textbook definition of the term, gravitating more towards the light side during later episodes of Z and all of GT and Super.

For all his flaws, Vegeta was never a coward. His motives remain mostly selfish during the show, but his courage always shines through. Vegeta becomes more heroic as time passes, to the point where he sacrifices his life to try and kill Majin Buu. He is always there when the universe needs him, proving that a hero isn't always a knight in shining armor.

2 Gohan

Gohan was brave from childhood. Many fans might remember him as a cry-baby who constantly whined about missing his mom and resenting Piccolo's training. However, he never quit. On the contrary, Gohan thrived, no matter how difficult things were. He learned that there was something more important than fear, discovering his courage in the process.

Slowly but surely, he becomes a mighty warrior, capable of destroying Perfect Cell. As a teenager, he even becomes a quasi superhero, protecting those in danger. And even after he abandons martial arts to focus on his studies, he never lets go of his courage. In the dystopian future, he is even the leader that Trunks needs him to be. Gohan is brave not because he needs to prove something but because the fighting spirit is in his blood, literally.

1 Goku

Goku is many things: a naive, child-like man with a voracious appetite, a bonafide animated himbo, and a mighty warrior that never backs away from a challenge. In short, Goku is a hero in every sense of the word. He thrives on danger, enjoying every minute of his fights against all the powerful enemies he faces through the years.

Through all the danger, Goku never succumbs to despair. Indeed, his courage comes from his unbreakable spirit, a force that always keeps him fighting, even when everything seems to be against him. Goku never gives up and never stops fighting. He is the ultimate warrior, a man so brave that he can face literal Gods without so much as a previous warm-up.