Summary
Dragon Ballis one of the most popular shonen series of all time, and it’s full to the brim with awe-inspiring battles, incredible powerups, and powerful antagonists that strike fear in the hearts of both the heroes and viewers. It’s amazing to see how much this series has evolved from its roots, starting as an adventure manga before eventually devolving into the battle shonen masterpiece that countless fans know and love.
During its stellar run, the series' many characters have been through their fair share of ups and downs in battles, winning some and losing others. For the most part, the heroes and other major characters have racked up an impressive win record in their battles,taking on numerous foesand either bodying them or surviving by the skin of their teeth. Regardless, a win is a win, and someDragon Ballcharacters have come out victorious more often than not.
Updated on Jul 23, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime series of all time, with the advent of Dragon Ball Z introducing many people to the mind-blowing battles of this series. The sheer number of amazingtransformations and memorable victories present in this series makes it clear why fans can’t get enough of the epic conflicts in Dragon Ball. Some of the most notable characters in the series have participated in numerous battles and come out victorious, either by dominating their opponent or unlocking new reserves of power and taking out a foe who was giving them a hard time before.
8Piccolo
15 Wins, 15 Losses, 4 Draws
Piccolo initially appeared as an antagonist who served as a reincarnation of Demon King Piccolo. After losing to his rival at the end ofDragon Ball, Toriyama wasted no time helping this villain turn over a new leaf. Being surprised by Gohan’s kind nature, Piccolo eventually joined the side of good in a heroic sacrifice, in which he bid a tearful farewell to Gohan before passing away.
He was brought back not long after and fused with several Namekians to become stronger than ever before.Dragon Ball Superwent a step further to make Piccolo stronger than ever before, courtesy of a new form unlocked with a wish, which is the first instance of a transformation being achieved in such a manner in theDragon Ballseries.
7Master Roshi
15 Wins, 3 Losses, 1 Draws
Roshi didn’t make the greatest of impressions inDragon Ball Z, with his lecherous activities turning him into a one-dimensional creepy character. Fans couldn’t believe that this man was a retired martial artist who’d helped accomplished warriors like Goku and Krillin take the first step to becoming the defenders of Earth, helping them develop iconic attacks that have become a staple of the series ever since.
He had his moments inDragon Ball, and it wasn’t untilDragon Ball Superthat Roshi finally regained the respect he deserved all along. He played a major role inboth Resurrection F and the Tournament of Power, taking out numerous enemies with his powers and reminding people why he’s such a competent sensei, despite his odd personality traits.
6Android 17
15 Wins, 2 Losses, 5 Draws
Android 17 debuted as an imposing villain who could take on the Z Warriors without getting a scratch. However, as the arc progressed, a greater threat arrived in the form of Cell, who needed to absorb both him and his sister to reach his Perfect Form. He was promptly absorbed before eventually being revived at the end of the arc.
After a lengthy hiatus, Android 17 resurfaced in the final arc ofDragon Ball Superwhen Goku was rounding up fighters to join him in the Tournament of Power. It was a treat to witness a gentler 17 elaborate on his love for nature, which is something that would’ve pleased Android 16 greatly. He joined the Universe 7 team and was one of the most competent fighters in the group, winning numerous battles and emerging as the final warrior standing at the end of the carnage in this tournament, helping Universe 7 win this high-stakes tournament at the end ofDragon Ball Super’s best arc.
5Krillin
20 Wins, 15 Losses, 3 Draws
Krillin became a punching bag of sorts as the show went on and left him behind on the power scale. However, most fans forget that Krillin was a part of the series from the beginning and wasGoku’s equal in strengthat one point, which is hard to believe. So, it’s only a given that he enjoyed his fair share of victories in the series, especially early on.
As for his later wins, Krillin usually teamed up with other fighters who were stronger than him and played more of a support role. Still, that takes nothing away from the role he played in defeating certain adversaries, making it clear why this character has somehow racked up an impressive twenty wins throughout the series' run. Of course, there’s no denying that his losses are remembered more by fans who started watching the series withDragon Ball Z, but that’s beside the point.
4Frieza
20 Wins, 6 Losses, 4 Draws
A tyrant who made entire planets bow to his will and was so arrogant that he didn’t even feel the need to train, Frieza was a menace forthe majority of the Namek Saga. His insurmountable strength was so hard to fathom that Goku needed to fulfill a legend to finally overpower this foe, and this was far from an easy task. If things stopped here, then Frieza wouldn’t have racked up an impressive win-loss record, butDragon Ball Superdecided to bring back this iconic nemesis in resounding fashion.
With two new forms under his belt now with a bit of training, it’s easy to see why Frieza has racked up his win column against the peasants who stand in his way. His appearance in the Tournament of Power made it clear that this Emperor isn’t messing about, and watching him team up with his sworn nemesis to take out Jiren is one of the greatest moments inDragon Ballhistory by a country mile.
3Gohan
22 Wins, 15 Losses, 5 Draws
Ever since Gohan’s debut inDragon Ball Z, he was touted as a character with a ton of potential who needed a push to achieve new levels of strength. He showed flashes of his brilliance against Raditz and Frieza, but it wasn’t until he was pushed to his very limit against Cell that Gohanunlocked the Ascended Super Saiyan formand let fans witness the true extent of his unfathomable power.
A single punch was all it took for Perfect Cell to become a shell of his former self, even if he managed to return stronger than ever and lock Gohan in an incredible beam clash that has gone down inDragon Ballhistory as one of the greatest moments in the series. Unfortunately, his tendency to focus on his academic talents meant thatGohan did regress from time to timeas the series progressed, but he still managed to rack up an impressive array of wins against tough opposition as he continued to unlock his true potential.
2Vegeta
31 Wins, 21 Losses, 9 Draws
Goku’s rival didn’t make his presence known until the start ofDragon Ball Z, with this Saiyan appearing as a villain who wanted to get his hands on the Dragon Balls. The journey this character has taken since this moment is nothing short of incredible, with Vegeta slowly coming to like his life on Earth. The fact that he might be a better father than Goku shows how far he’s come since his debut, unlocking numerous powerful forms and saving the universe from powerful threats time and time again.
The sheer number of fights he’s been a part of makes it clear why he has the second-highest number of wins in the entire series. Unlike Goku, Vegeta fights to kill and has no problems dealing the mortal blow to foes who are begging for their lives. Whilehe may always be one step behind Gokumore often than not, that should take nothing away from Vegeta’s pride and power as the Prince of all Saiyans.
1Goku
79 Wins, 28 Losses, 26 Draws
It’s only a given that the protagonist ofDragon Ballwould have the highest number of victories in the series, but it’s still sobering to see the sheer number of timesGoku has prevailed against his opponents. This lovable Saiyan always found a way to unlock a new level of power, obliterating his foes time and time again after letting his rage boil over or showing the fruits of his training.
Watching Goku achieve a new form never ceases to be engaging, making it clear why this battle-hardened warrior is one of the most iconic protagonists of all time. His screams are rife with power and a will to overcome the odds stacked against him, bringing the pain to his foes and making them either fear or respect his might as they go toe-to-toe with the strongest Saiyan who ever lived.
