Dragon Ball: Strongest Characters Who Are No Longer Alive

Key Takeaways

• Some of the most powerful characters in Dragon Ball didn’t survive despite their power.
• Cell, Kid Buu, and Goku Black are just a few antagonists who met their end in intense battles.
• Raditz, Nappa, Dabura, and Android 16 were formidable characters, meeting their demise at the hands of others.

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular shonen anime of all time, with Toriyama’s legacy being a joy to behold for fans who love how this series single-handedly got them into this creative medium. The eponymous wish-granting orbs are a huge part of the series, reviving people after their untimely deaths.

This may make it seem like death has no meaning in Dragon Ball, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Some of the most powerful characters in Dragon Ball have breathed their last and are currently residing in the afterlife with little to no hope of coming back.

1 Cell

Killed By: Son Gohan

• Death:Save the World (Episode 191 of Dragon Ball Z)

Cell is one of the best antagonists in Dragon Ball, arriving as an imperfect being who has to absorb both Android 17 and 18 to reach the true pinnacle of his being. His obsession with being perfect makes him a fun antagonist who goes toe-to-toe with both Goku and Gohan in the Cell Games.

After coming back following his self-destruction, he injures Gohan’s arm and seemingly has the upper hand in their beam clash. However, Gohan doesn’t give up and lets out all his energy in one last push that obliterates every cell of this bio-android and leaves him down and out for the count.

2 Kid Buu

Killed By: Son Goku

• Death:Spirit Bomb Triumphant (Episode 286 of Dragon Ball Z)

Kid Buu’s murderous personality made him one of the most intimidating antagonists in Dragon Ball Z. His first act as a villain was to destroy all of Earth, following which he reaches the Planet of the Kais and engages in a final confrontation with the surviving heroes.

His fight against Goku makes it clear to the Saiyan that he needs to use his patented Spirit Bomb to take out this foe once and for all. After getting a burst of energy from Porunga, Goku delivers a farewell message before blasting Kid Buu with his Spirit Bomb and taking him out for good.

3 Goku Black

Killed By: Future Zeno

• Death:With New Hope in His Heart – Farewell, Trunks (Episode 67 of Dragon Ball Super)

The Future Trunks arc in Dragon Ball Super has a nightmarish start with the death of Bulma in this twisted timeline where Goku Black and Zamasu try to carry out their Zero Mortals plan. He’s more than a match for Goku and Vegeta during their first fight, only for the duo to come back after training and show him who’s boss.

Undeterred, Goku’s stolen body and Zamasu merge to create a twisted being. This half-immortal body starts melting away after Future Trunks’ Spirit Bomb-fuelled sword attack. Thankfully, Goku uses the button he received from Zeno to summon the entity from this timeline, who wipes Zamasu out in one fell swoop.

4 Future Zamasu

Killed By: Future Zeno

• Death:With New Hope in His Heart – Farewell, Trunks (Episode 67 of Dragon Ball Super)

Future Zamasu is one of the most dastardly villains in Dragon Ball Super, bringing back a new wave of hell to Future Trunks’ timeline after he’d eradicated the threat of the Androids. He has nothing but hatred for mortals and looks down on them, enacting a complex plan that sends chills down a viewer’s spine.

Watching him be split apart by Trunks and erased by Zeno is an amazing sight. After Beerus is made aware of Zamasu’s ill intent, he quickly confronts this divine being and takes him out in a flash.

5 Raditz

Killed By: Piccolo

• Death:A Life or Death Battle! Goku and Piccolo’s Desperate Attack! (Episode 3 of Dragon Ball Z)

The arrival of Raditz brings several revelations to Dragon Ball. Goku is an alien sent from another planet to conquer Earth, only to lose his memory as his brother is sent to do his dirty work. As one would expect, Goku refuses to let this happen and teams up with his once-nemesis Piccolo to take on Raditz.

It’s a gruesome fight where the duo realize just how strong and out of their league Raditz is. Thankfully, Piccolo debuts a special attack that hits both Raditz and Goku at once. While Raditz is nothing compared to other characters mentioned here, he proved to be too difficult a foe for Goku or Piccolo to take down own their own at the start of the series due to how vastly they differed in terms of power.

6 Nappa

Killed By: Vegeta

• Death:Lesson Number One (Episode 29 of Dragon Ball Z)

Just like Raditz, Nappa’s strength and prowess in battle was nothing in comparison to villains in later story arcs, but the danger he posed to Earth was undeniable. At the time though, Nappa’s demolition of the Z Warriors was hard to witness, even if Gohan managed to get a few good shots in. Thankfully, Goku arrived to save the day in the nick of time, making it clear that Nappa was no match for him.

Vegeta can’t bear to team up with a weakling and makes short work of Nappa after he’s unable to defeat Goku and is too hurt to continue fighting. It’s a cruel moment that shows the difference in Goku and Vegeta’s mentalities, setting the stage for one of the greatest clashes in anime history.

7 Dabura

Killed By: Majin Buu

• Death:Meal Time (Episode 235 of Dragon Ball Z)

The Demon King Dabura makes a strong first impression, going toe-to-toe with Gohan and almost defeating the Saiyan. However, after Majin Buu’s debut, it was clear that Dabura was surplus to requirements for Babidi and his monster.

After an insult to Majin Buu causes this villain to beat Dabura down, it’s clear that the Demon King’s days are numbered. A single hit of this monster’s beam was all it took to turn Dabura into a cookie who was devoured emphatically by Buu.

8 Android 16

Killed By: Cell

• Death:Cell Juniors Attack! (Episode 184 of Dragon Ball Z)

Despite being a faulty android, 16 shows more of a human side throughout the Android and Cell Sagas than his brethren. He loves the world and doesn’t want it to be destroyed at Cell’s hands, giving Gohan the words of encouragement he needs to unlock his Ascended Super Saiyan form.

There’s no denying that Android 16 was a strong character who could hold his own in battle when Cell hadn’t absorbed either android yet, but Perfect Cell was an opponent too powerful for him to defeat. Till the very end, he has a hopeful smile on his face before Cell smashes his face and ends the Android’s mechanical life.

• 

  Dragon Ball

  Release Date

  February 26, 1986

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creator

  Akira Toriyama

• 

  Dragon Ball Z

  Release Date

  April 26, 1989

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creator

  Akira Toriyama

• 

  Dragon Ball Super

  Release Date

  July 5, 2015

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creator

  Akira Toriyama