Akira Toriyama has never been one to craft his array of fictional universe characters poorly. So when it came to villains, he went all out to keep us entertained and maybe distressed. From wizards, gods, aliens to androids, a Dragon Ball antagonist never disappoints with power and bile.
So we deduce the nine Dragon Ball Z villains whose personas invoke all the emotions you can feel while watching their cruel actions. See below as we tell you all about them:
1. Mercenary Tao
Mercenary Tao would have stolen some spotlight had he succeeded in killing Goku, but thanks to the 4-star dragon that saved the latter from death in the hands of this villain. He was an assassin who described his duty at the back of his custom uniform; ‘Kill You.’
He made his first appearance when the Red Ribbon Army hired him to assassinate Goku and bring the Dragon Balls in his care to them. It took only his tongue to kill General Blue while his spear took out Bora. Goku would have joined the statistics, but it turned out to be the other way round when Goku and Mercenary Tao had another confrontation, and he was assumed dead in the explosion that took place.
He made it alive out of the explosion but had to undergo a modification that had him appear as a cyborg. He disguised as a cyborg to participate in the Tournament, but his student, Tien Shinhan, overthrew him.
2. Doctor Gero
When a scientist becomes a villain, there’s no limit to the vicious creations meted on an enemy. Doctor Gero was the foremost scientist of the Red Ribbon Army. His quest for vengeance against the main character, Goku, made him unleash a collection of deadly Red Ribbon Androids. Upon developing Androids 16, 17, and 18, he took his creation to the next level by infusing his brain into a copy (artificial human) of him, making Android 20 the most advanced of his deadly series.
Android 19, a spherical pale, and devoted creation of Dr. Gero, plus android 20, had the power to absorb the vitality of their enemies using portable equipment on their hands. When both androids struck Goku and his team, 19 could absorb Goku’s energy causing Goku’s heart to stop. Eventually, Vegeta eliminated 19, thus influencing Dr. Gero’s desperate retrieval to his lab, releasing both android 17 and 18.
Typical of such deadly scientific creations, Android 17 used his power on his brutal maker, killing Dr. Gero due to a confrontation.
3. King Piccolo
Kings are the unwanted enemies of any man. The Great Demon King Piccolo lived up to his epithet as an evil half. Although connected to a good half, Kami, he still was as dreadful as any antagonist. As he goes about terrorizing the world, Mutaito got a hold of him, confining him into a rice cooker.
Nonetheless, the evil half owed his release to Pilaf. To prevent future imprisonment, he endeavored to murder those who could recapture him, including Master Roshi. He was also able to eliminate Shenron, rendering them worthless after reclaiming his youth through the Dragon Balls.
Subsequently, King Piccolo overtook the palace of the King of the World, influencing the king to declare him as his heir. Luckily, Goku thwarted his evil visions, the same way he largely stabbed his abdomen.
True to his villain character, he brought back his incarnation Piccolo Jr., to help seek his retribution.
4. Red Ribbon Army
Dragon Ball Z featured a paramilitary group called Red Ribbon Army. Commander Red, a vertically challenged man, was the head of the group. The members of the Red Ribbon Army, at their commander’s order, would often invade the town to search for the missing Dragon Balls in their bid to rule the world.
Commander Red’s real motive, however, was to use the Dragon Balls to wish for some heights for himself. In the Red Ribbon Army is also Adjustant, who plays second fiddle to Commander Red. His utmost loyalty was with him until he discovered Red’s real ambition was to use the Dragon Balls to grow taller. Upon discovery, he shot Commander Red. Goku killed Adjustant following the significant execution of most of the members of the army.
5. Frieza
Frieza was a pure evil that seemed indestructible with the universe at his hand, but as always, Goku happened. The behemoth wasn’t a regular tyranny; he destroyed planets and races. The massive killing of children had nothing on his conscience while also giving Goku a hard time.
He lorded over Universe seven. He made his first entrance into the series when he killed countless Namekians to secure the Dragon Balls and make his wish for everlasting life. He almost wiped off the Saiyans, but he was intimidated by their power and thus left a very few, including Raditz, Vegeta, and Nappa, whom he kidnapped.
Goku and Frieza would go on to confront each other after the killing of Krillin. However, Goku overpowered him. Thus, he sought to destroy the planet Namek. In the process, he ended up damaging himself while also at the mercy of Goku.
He made a return to earth to seek vengeance following the humiliation he suffered at Goku’s hand. But then, Trunks gave him a final blow putting him to rest.
The villain wouldn’t be such easy prey. Therefore, he resurrected with the help of his allies but not too long; he was deceased and made to go back to Hell courtesy of Goku.
6. Cooler
Cooler was furious because Goku managed to ruin the reputation of his brother, Frieza, and, by extension, his family as the undefeatable villains of the Universe. So he sought to kill Goku even though Frieza wasn’t exactly in his good book.
It was another show of shame for their family when Super Saiyan Goku dealt with Cooler even after the latter had assumed a more superior form than Frieza.
As common to most prominent villains in the series to resurrect after their death, he made a comeback targeting New Namek for destruction. Yet again, Goku and Vegeta saw to his ultimate downfall.
7. Raditz
Like most villains, he lost. Raditz was the elder brother Goku didn’t want to be. He is a Saiyan warrior who arrived on earth to enroll Goku, his younger brother, in overthrowing other realms.
Triggered by Goku’s rejection, he captured his son, Gohan, leading Goku to form an ally with Piccolo. Nonetheless, their union couldn’t take down the tyrant. Hence, Goku, as a sacrifice, enabled Piccolo to destroy himself and Raditz with the Makankosappo.
Raditz’s torturous death was aggravated by Piccolo’s revelation of redeeming Goku through the Dragon Balls. He successfully informed Vegeta and Nappa of this confession hoping those two would revive him also using the Dragon Balls. However, they came on Earth for their pursuits living the character to his condemnation.
8. Cell
Nothing prepares you for Cell. Doctor Gero used the cells of major personas in the anime to create this skilled artificial life form. He transformed severally during his appearances. From a cicada-like form to an insect-like form, he had a long tail that absorbed the energy of his enemies, making him a formidable competition.
During one of his self hosted games, he succeeded at whipping Goku. However, Gohan made him draw his last breath.
9. Broly
Broly became mentally unstable for many reasons, like because he was unlucky enough to be next to Infant Goku at birth. He witnessed the Frieza’s genocide and had too much power he could barely contain. He was destructive but was managed by the scientific machine gotten by his father, Paragus, from scientists.
With the diverse characters of these villains, Dragon Ball Z became the fascinating series that we know it to be. Broly has become over the years a top-tier villain-character that the brand dragon ball decided to create multiple merchandise surrounding Broly. Such as dbz lamps with broly pictured, tshirts, figures, and more.