Dragon Ball 10 Ways Yamcha Ruined His Likability

Yamcha has had to endure a lot throughout the Dragon Ball franchise, and he isn't always the most lovable character either.

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is an iconic anime series that’s only gone on to experience greater levels of success and popularity since its debut in the 1980s. Dragon Ball has become emblematic of the shonen genre and this action-packed series has helped inspire a whole new generation of similar series.

Dragon Ball’s evergreen status has a lot to do with how it’s not afraid to change with the times and mix up its formula. This is often expressed through progressively powerful characters, which can also mean that other individuals fall to the wayside. Dragon Ball’s Yamcha is a pillar of the series when it begins, but the character slowly finds ways to wreck his reputation by the end of the anime.

10 He Knocks A Young Chi-Chi Unconscious & Manipulates Her Heart

Some of Yamcha’s most interesting adventures take place in the original Dragon Ball series, which is a bit of a shame. The initial meeting between Yamcha and Chi-Chi turns to fisticuffs, and Yamcha shows no restraint over this battle against a young girl. Yamcha renders a young Chi-Chi unconscious, and when she comes to, he lies to her and says that he loves her. Yamcha’s lie is to avoid getting hurt like the dinosaur that Chi-Chi annihilates, as well as avoid the wrath of Chi-Chi’s father, Ox-King. In the end, Yamcha just runs away in an ultimate act of cowardice.

9 His Failure To Make His Way Into The Tournament Of Power

Tournaments are regular events in the Dragon Ball franchise, but Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power is a battle royale between the strongest fighters in the multiverse. Universe erasure is at stake, and so it’s very important that the right ten fighters are selected for Universe 7’s roster. This gives neglected human characters like Tien, Master Roshi, and Krillin all great opportunities to shine. In Yamcha’s case, the characters actively avoid him and try to deflect the topic. He’s an embarrassment whom they don’t want involved in the situation. Yamcha just comes across as even needier here.

8 He's Completely Useless In The Dragon Ball Z Movies

The Dragon Ball Z movies are entertaining extra adventures that usually highlight the series’ supporting players before Goku saves the day. Yamcha, on the other hand, is almost entirely absent from any of the action across these 15 movies.

The third movie, Tree of Might, is the only time Yamcha gets in on the action, but his attack against Turles’ lackey, Cacao, is useless and results in his defeat. Furthermore, Yamcha’s new car gets ruined in the movie, and he progressively whines over it. He only experiences failure in this film.

7 The Dragon Ball Wish To Revive Him Is An Afterthought

There are dozens of wishes made on the titular Dragon Balls, and one of their most practical uses is the revival of deceased individuals. Yamcha, like many others, benefits from this power, yet it practically happens under duress. After Namek’s destruction, Dende uses his final wish to teleport Goku back to Earth. However, Goku refuses, and Dende instead decides to revive Yamcha. It reduces the remaining dignity of the character that Yamcha’s revival isn’t a priority. When he’s revived, he’s also dropped in a lake and becomes a punchline, which doesn’t happen to any of the other revived individuals.

6 He's Threatened By & Targets A Child

Yamcha may not be very respected by the end of Dragon Ball Super, but he’s one of the first characters who teams up with Goku in the original series, and he’s actually a big deal at the time. Yamcha has legitimate strength, yet it’s troublesome that he’s immediately ready to beat up a young child. Kid Goku can defend himself, but that’s beside the point. It’s even sleazier that Yamcha’s fight against Goku seems to also be an attempt to impress Bulma, and that Yamcha is even jealous of Goku’s bond with her to some extent.

5 He Seems To Trade Martial Arts For Baseball

Some individuals in Dragon Ball immerse themselves in training to overcome their shortcomings, but there’s nothing wrong with those that recognize their weaknesses and turn to something else in life. That being said, Yamcha is the only one in Dragon Ball who seems to completely turn his back on martial arts and training in favor of baseball.

Yamcha gets taken by the public image and reputation that comes along with a winning baseball team, but it turns out that he’s not even that strong of a player. The unexpected baseball match against Universe 6’s finest highlights Yamcha’s weaknesses.

4 He Can't Hold His Own Against The Saibamen

Dragon Ball Z hits the ground running, and early on in the introductory Saiyan Saga, there’s a major cleaning of house when lots of Dragon Ball’s main characters meet their ends. Vegeta and Nappa are formidable fighters unlike anything that’s previously been experienced. The Saiyan team bides their time with the release of Saibamen. Yamcha is one of the few who meets his end by these regressive creatures. It’s a tragic way to go out that underscores just how out of his element Yamcha is here. This is the beginning of the end for Yamcha.

3 The Backstory On His Face Scars Is Never Provided

The Dragon Ball franchise covers a broad timeline that allows its characters to experience a full lifetime. The original Dragon Ball jumps three years forward as it heads into the next World Martial Arts Tournament. Goku, Yamcha, Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu all train hard. Yamcha’s return marks the first look at the scars on his face, which go on to largely define the character’s appearance. Sympathy for Yamcha could be generated by revealing how he gets these scars and the character-forming lesson that he experiences. Instead, it’s left to mystery and implies these life events aren’t important.

2 His Loss Against The Cell Juniors

Admittedly, Yamcha is not the only one to lose to the Cell Juniors, which are technically the same strength as Cell, but he receives the worst of these beatings. It’s an especially brutal, humiliating defeat. This could have been an opportunity for Yamcha to redeem himself from the similar defeat he suffered back in the Saiyan Saga against the Saibamen. Instead, history just repeats itself and Yamcha is further humiliated rather than reaching an elevated status. It’s one of Yamcha’s last major fights, and it leaves him in an unsatisfying place where he never receives the catharsis of redemption.

1 He Loses Bulma As A Romantic Interest

The biggest area in which Yamcha ruins any goodwill that he has is the slow decline of his relationship with Bulma, only for her to find much greater fulfillment with Vegeta. Yamcha seems to take for granted that he’ll always have Bulma, which becomes a rude awakening for the character. If Yamcha took better care of Bulma then it’s possible their love could have been salvaged, and he’d end up being a much more important Dragon Ball character, even if he’s not directly fighting on the battlefield.