Because Goku tends to make friends with his greatest enemies thanks to their shared interest in the martial arts, The Z Fighters have an ever-growing roster of increasingly powerful warriors. That’s ultimately a good thing, because they’ll definitely need it if Goku and the others are going to have any hope of defeating the apparently infinite stream of terrifying villains who seem to grow stronger as the series goes on.

10. Android 18 Went From Feared Villain To Family Woman

When she was first introduced to the series in Dragon Ball Z, Android 18 was one of the most feared villains on Earth. She was so strong that Future Trunks had to travel back in time to warn Goku about her arrival0.

Despite her unmatched levels of evil and extreme power, even her unparalleled strength wasn’t enough to fight off Krillin’s love, resulting in one of Dragon Ball‘s most beloved power couples. Android 18 might not train or fight nearly as much as she once did, but she still remains one of the Z Fighters’ greatest secret weapons when the Earth is in danger.

9. Gotenks

While other characters can preform fusions and have done so in the past, none are quite as inseparable as Goten and Trunks. The pair has only become better friends throughout the years, with the latest arc in Dragon Ball Super‘s manga only further expressing their connection.

Individually, both Goten and Trunks are powerful Super Saiyans who can easily take down many of the universe’s most devious villains. When they use the fusion dance to become Gotenks though, there’s rarely an enemy strong enough to bring them down. Of course, that’s assuming they can pull off the dance without making a mistake, which happens much more frequently than it really should.

8. Android 17

Android 17 is yet another example of a powerful villain eventually having a change of heart and joining on the side of the Z Fighters. While he began as a ruthless thug who loved nothing more than to hurt innocent people, Android 17 is now a dedicated park ranger who works to protect the environment, and who wants nothing more than to spend time with his wife and children.

In Dragon Ball Super, Android 17 received a sizable power-boost, showing himself to be comparable to Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue from. 17 was even the last man standing in the Tournament of Power: an amazing feat and testament to how strong he has become.

7. Future Trunks

Even before Dragon Ball Super, Future Trunks was already one of the Z Fighters’ greatest allies in a number of battles in the past. However, more recent developments have proven him undoubtedly one of the strongest in their ranks.

Future Trunks’ Super Saiyan Rage form is still one of the most polarizing aspect of the Dragon Ball Super anime. It came seemingly out of nowhere with minimal build-up, and Trunks used it to take down a combined force of two literal Gods. As much of an undeserved power up as it was, it still ultimately proved that Future Trunks has an incredible well of untapped potential just waiting to come out.

6. Majin Buu

No one could have predicted that the embodiment of pure evil would become one of the Earth’s greatest protectors down the line, but such is the way of Dragon Ball. Normally, it would be Goku who’s overwhelming strength humbles the villain and convinces them to change their ways. In Majin Buu’s case though, it was Hercule’s friendship that did the job.

Hercule very often gets credit for things that he didn’t actually accomplish, but this time his unwavering courage in protecting Majin Buu from himself is what pushed Buu over the edge in embracing Hercule as his best friend. There are few friendships more endearing in anime than Majin Buu and Hercule’s, even if the latter was mostly coaxed into the relationship by fear at first.

5. Piccolo

For a long time Piccolo seemed to play the background as a fighter who was not quite strong enough to fight the main villains. Usually, he finds himself fighting the secondary bad guys that are slightly too strong for Krillin and the other human Z Fighters, but who aren’t really worth the saiyan’s time.

However, in Dragon Ball Super‘s most recent arc, that all has finally turned around in Piccolo’s favor. His new Orange Piccolo transformation has even been said to place him up there with the Super Saiyan Gods, though a definitive test of his power in relation to them has still yet to be seen.

4. Gohan

Gohan has always had the potential to be the strongest according to Akira Toriyama, and at times he has even briefly reached that point throughout the series. In the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie, Gohan once again seemed to catch up to his father and Vegeta with his new Beast transformation.

As strong as this form seems, there’s no confirmation as to how it stacks up to Goku and Vegeta’s latest forms in the manga, so it’s impossible to say just how powerful Gohan is right now. Even if it were only a small increase in power though, Gohan would still have to be one of the most powerful members of the Z Fighters, and definitely the one with the most innate talent.

3. Broly

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan

For a long time, Broly was a non-canonical villain who was even stronger than both Goku and Vegeta combined. As the true Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly’s rage gave him a boost of strength that went far beyond Goku’s own Super Saiyan transformation.

In Dragon Ball Super though, Broly was not only finally made into a canon character in the series, but he even ended up becoming friends with Goku and joining him in training on Beerus’ planet. It’s safe to say at this point that he’s an actual member of the Z Fighters, and Goku’s definitely better off fighting with him than against him.

2. Vegeta

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 5 (with a brief cameo in Episode 2)

Signature Move: Galick Gun

Vegeta may have a bit too much pride at times, but it would be disingenuous to say that he can’t back it up. While he wished to be relegated to Goku’s rival and the weaker of the two, Vegeta has seen a significant power boost in Dragon Ball Super by way of his new Ultra Ego form that arguably puts him on equal footing with the series’ main protagonist.

In fact, Vegeta actually beat Goku in a one-on-one fight in the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie, seemingly suggesting that he might actually be the strongest of the Z Fighters now. At the very least, he’s so equal in skill to Goku that either of them could beat the other on any given day.

1. Goku

First Appearance: Dragon Ball, Episode 1

Signature Move: Kamehameha

No matter who joins the Z Fighters or leaves their ranks throughout the years, at the end of the day, the one staple of the group will always inevitably be Goku. His friends have seen great increases in power at times, to the point that they even come to rival Goku himself, but it almost always somehow ends up being Goku who delivers the final finishing blow on the villain by surpassing his limits and reaching new, previously unattainable levels of power.

Dragon Ball Super has introduced some incredibly powerful new warriors to the fray like Hit and Jiren who sometimes manage to beat the Super Saiyan warrior at first, but that only sets Goku up to redeem himself and grow stronger. Even if their greatest efforts prove fruitless, the rest of the Z Fighters can always count on the fact that Goku will turn things around and save the day.

Source: CBR.com