Dragon Ball 5 Fights Gohan Won Because Of His Skills (& 5 Times He Needed Help)

Gohan was a strong fighter in plenty of battles but sometimes... he needed a bit of help!

There are dozens of shonen anime series that have become pop culture phenomena that have never completely left the public consciousness. It’s fair to say that audiences will always be discussing Dragon Ball and there will likely still be some kind of content for its audience to engage in.

Dragon Ball has created some fantastic characters, but Gohan is one of the most interesting of the lot, largely due to the potential he has at the beginning of Dragon Ball Z and what ultimately happens with all of that power. Gohan is one to fight with others and also tackle a challenge on his own, both of which have worked out for the Saiyan.

10 Skills: Botamo

Botamo is a rotund fighter from Universe 6 that Gohan doesn’t fight against during the character’s first appearance. Gohan gets to take a crack at Botamo when the character returns during the Tournament of Power. Gohan pummels the character with hits, which fail to make much of an impression against the character’s large size and natural insulation. Despite Botamo’s resistance to Gohan’s fists, he doesn’t realize that all of Gohan’s successive hits have pushed him closer to the edge of the ring. At that point, Gohan is able to knock him out with a trusty Kamehameha.

9 Needed Help: Garlic Junior

Garlic Junior benefits from being an extremely rare example of a villain from a Dragon Ball Z movie that is able to migrate over into the series proper, even if it takes place during a filler saga. Garlic Junior’s stint in the series doesn’t take many deviations than the events of The Dead Zone movie. This small collection of episodes is really Gohan’s opportunity to shine. He makes swift work of Garlic Junior’s Spice Boys, but when it comes to the beefed-up Super Garlic Junior, Gohan needs the reinforcements of Krillin and Piccolo.

8 Skills: Watagash

The Great Saiyaman remains a contentious element from Gohan’s adult life. The characters from Dragon Ball are already basically superheroes, so for Gohan to get blatant in that department is a step too far for some. Dragon Ball Super goes even further with how there’s essentially a Great Saiyaman film that’s being made.

Art mirrors reality when an invading parasite named Watagash possesses movie star, Barry Kahn. The fallout contains a massive battle that makes for the perfect climax to the movie that’s being filmed, even if Gohan also gets to help handle a Galactic Patrol priority.

7 Needed Help: Frieza’s Second Form

To be fair, Gohan doesn’t technically defeat Frieza when the characters first encounter the tyrant on Namek, but the whole altercation takes so long that it seems fair to consider each of Frieza’s separate forms to basically be their own characters. Frieza’s second form dons a more gladiatorial appearance. Gohan, Vegeta, and Krillin all work together here, but it’s Gohan’s rage that really makes an impact on Frieza. The combined efforts of these heroes ultimately push Frieza to progress onto his third form and successfully bide more time until Goku’s arrival.

6 Skills: Obni

Obni from Universe 10 isn't the most memorable opponent from the Tournament of Power, but he helps demonstrate how seriously Gohan takes his role as Universe 7's Team Leader. Gohan gets a number of opportunities to shine during the Tournament of Power. Obni briefly faces many fighters, but after Gohan eliminates Botamo he makes him his priority. Obni really isn't much of a challenge for Gohan, who powers up into his Ultimate form and then eliminates him with a Kamehameha. Obni is the last surviving member of Universe 10, so Gohan's defeat of him leads to the universe's temporary erasure.

5 Needed Help: Vegeta

Vegeta ultimately becomes one of the greatest heroes in Dragon Ball, but he’s introduced as a villain that’s determined to kill Goku. The first fight against Vegeta is one of the most suspenseful battles from the entire series and it involves help from everyone. Goku is, of course, the main player through the onslaught, but Krillin and Yajirobe both play fundamental roles.

Of course, the finishing touch that seals the deal is when Gohan becomes a Great Ape and crushes Vegeta, leaving him nearly crippled. He doesn’t die, but he has to leave the planet in defeat.

4 Skills: Bojack

The Dragon Ball Z movies can get criticism for their largely disposable nature and how they’re not considered to be canon. That being said, many of these feature strong villains that have gone on to become fan favorites. The ninth Dragon Ball Z film, Bojack Unbound marks a rare exception for the series since it’s set during Goku’s stay in Other World. This allows Gohan to step into the spotlight as he encounters Bojack and his team. Bojack's defeat is another example of Gohan’s strength and he continues the momentum that Gohan builds with his defeat of Cell.

3 Needed Help: Saonel And Pirina

The Tournament of Power from Dragon Ball Super features dozens of enemies that need to be eliminated and the series tries to feature many as creative team-ups as possible from the eclectic roster of Universe 7’s group. Universe 6’s team features two Namekians with poor attitudes, Saonel and Pirina. Piccolo is disgusted by these two and he uses them as an opportunity to work together with his intermittent protégé. Gohan and Piccolo easily take out these fighters and it’s a very satisfying moment from the Tournament of Power.

2 Skills: Cell Juniors

Gohan’s battle against Super Perfect Cell and his ascent to Super Saiyan 2 is one of the character’s biggest moments and crowning achievements, but other characters like Vegeta still technically play a part in Gohan’s success that it’s not a purely solo win. However, one of the first actions that Gohan takes as a Super Saiyan 2 is to eliminate all seven Cell Juniors without breaking a sweat. In many ways, this act is even more impressive than his eventual defeat of Cell since the Cell Juniors are able to do such damage before all of this.

1 Needed Help: Broly

The definitive Broly story has been told in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, but Gohan’s victory over the overly popular tyrant takes place in the tenth Dragon Ball Z film, Broly – Second Coming. The film may retread old territory, but one of the most iconic images from the entire Dragon Ball franchise occurs during the movie’s conclusion. Gohan, Goku, and Goten all take part in a “Family Kamehameha” that’s the overwhelming force that disintegrates Broly. It’s the perfect illustration of this family’s bond and how Dragon Ball has slightly passed the torch between the members of this family.