Dragon Ball 10 Times Piccolo Was A Better Father Figure Than Goku

Dragon Ball fans know how horrible of a father Goku is to his children. Because of that, it's more evident how great a father Piccolo is to his own.

There are few anime series that have resonated for as long and as strongly as Dragon Ball. The inventive shonen series tells the long-running story of Goku’s growth from a child into an adult that’s one of Earth’s strongest defenders. Dragon Ball can juggle action and lighter characters moments, but it’s an anime that explores some exciting father and son relationship dynamics.

There are several families in Dragon Ball, yet Piccolo is a former villain who cobbles his own community through friendships. In some ways, Piccolo’s relationship with Gohan is even more paternal than what he shares with his own father, Goku.

10 He Sacrifices Himself To Save Gohan’s Life

What’s arguably Piccolo’s most selfless action towards Gohan also doubles as one of the most touching moments of the series and an early highlight from Dragon Ball Z’s Saiyan Saga. Piccolo’s status as a hero is still up in question at this point, but his decision to shield Gohan from Nappa’s blast confirms that Piccolo is officially one of the good guys. Piccolo perishes from the act, but it’s the ultimate gesture and something that means, even more, considering that Gohan’s father killed Piccolo’s dad and that they used to be enemies.

9 He’s Willing To Blow Up The Moon To Keep Gohan Safe

Piccolo experiences quite a few adventures with Gohan during his earliest days as a warrior. It takes some time for the two to find their rhythm and understand each other, but it pays off when it happens. One of their more awkward training sessions triggers Gohan’s Great Ape form. Piccolo improvises and attempts to destroy the moon, only to demolish the projector broadcasting the lunar image. The fact that Piccolo is willing to mess with the Earth’s tides and day cycles to save Gohan is a serious gesture, even if it’s one reserved for Dragon Ball’s filler content.

8 He Chastises Goku For His Mentality Towards Gohan's Fighting

The Cell Saga features a slightly older Gohan who can hold his own and is steadily pushed into the role of Dragon Ball’s main character. Goku is confident that Gohan has what it takes to defeat Cell, but it won’t be easy to achieve. Goku wants to push Gohan this extra mile, but Piccolo is frustrated over this approach.

He reiterates to Goku that Gohan is still young and doesn’t approach fighting in the same compulsive way. He disapproves of Goku’s reckless nature with his son and seems to understand Gohan better genuinely.

7 He Gifts Gohan New Battle Attire

Strength and a varied arsenal of attacks are crucial elements in any fight, but aesthetics also shouldn’t be underestimated, and a fighter’s look goes a long way. There are several moments in Dragon Ball Z where Piccolo creates a new training gi for Gohan. He does it in the wilderness with his infamous “clothes beam,” but he provides Gohan with a version of his traditional outfit in the Cell Games. It’s touching that Gohan wants a look that pays respect to his first real mentor, but Piccolo proudly provides him with it, too. Clothing and branding seem secondary for Goku.

6 His Teamwork With Gohan During The Tournament Of Power

Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power is an especially thrilling arc of episodes since it takes the anime’s traditional competitions and turns them into a chaotic battle royale. Gohan is the team leader for Universe 7, which is a role that he doesn’t squander. There’s tremendous strategy involved with all of Universe 7’s fighters, but Piccolo and Gohan instinctively work together and fight by each other’s sides. Goku adopts a largely solitary strategy in the tournament, but Piccolo and Gohan bring out the best in one another.

5 He’s Willing To Remain In Hell For The Greater Good

Dragon Ball GT remains a controversial chapter in the larger Dragon Ball canon. The sequel anime makes some especially reckless decisions when it comes to the death of major characters. Several lives are carelessly lost, but once a gateway is opened between Hell and Earth, there’s an excess of villains that escape alongside the updated Android 17.

Piccolo chooses to make a serious sacrifice by staying behind in Hell and policing those that reside there. He does this not just for Gohan but the entire planet, and Goku doesn’t step up to the plate in the same way here.

4 He Trains With Gohan More Than Goku Does

The characters in Dragon Ball are so strong that it’s natural that they’re constantly training and trying to better themselves. Often characters have foresight on an upcoming attack and use the time to train and push themselves. Goku helps Gohan train during the Cell Games, but it’s an effort that largely feels more about Goku’s pride and the larger threat, Cell. Piccolo trains Gohan first, and for a longer span of time, during the Saiyan invasion while Goku is out of the picture. Piccolo’s training tactics work better for Gohan, and he’s there for him when Goku can’t be.

3 He Helps Teach Gohan Some Signature Attacks

Physical strength is important in Dragon Ball, but there’s been an increased emphasis on the powerful energy techniques that the characters master and the new transformations they unlock. The Kamehameha is Dragon Ball’s signature ability and a move that Gohan has under his belt, but Piccolo’s training with Gohan helps him learn even more powerful abilities. The Masenko is a strong energy attack that becomes one of Gohan’s signature attacks, and he learns it courtesy of Piccolo. It feels like, in some ways, it’s a variation and combination of Piccolo’s Special Beam Cannon and Gohan’s Kamehameha.

2 He Defends Gohan Against Frieza’s Second Form

The heroes in Dragon Ball have faced many deadly villains, but Frieza is by far the most persistent of these threats and has caused countless fatalities over time. Goku ultimately defeats Frieza, but Gohan, Piccolo, and others need to keep the tyrant at bay until Goku arrives on Namek. Piccolo receives a major power boost after he fuses with Nail, and the first thing that he does with this new strength is to keep Gohan safe from Frieza’s intimidating second form. It’s a touching rescue that gets echoed much later in Dragon Ball Super.

1 His Moment With Gohan Before His Decision To Go Out With The Black Star Dragon Balls

Various rules are associated with the powerful Dragon Balls revealed and revised throughout the different anime series. Dragon Ball GT’s Black Star Dragon Balls are more of a hassle than they're worth since their use can trigger the Earth's destruction if they’re not retrieved. Since Piccolo is the Earth’s current guardian, he decides to take these volatile Dragon Balls out of the equation through his own sacrifice. During Piccolo’s final moments, he chooses to say goodbye to Gohan, and it’s an emotional message, and Goku’s eventual exit doesn’t compare.