Dragon Ball has seen a roller coaster ride ever since the show started airing. The series has never shied away from killing off important characters when necessary. Neither has the show ever done anything merely for fan service. This is the beauty of Dragon Ball. The show has always been true to its core and went on with whatever the script asked for. Hence, today, we have handpicked some of the most shocking deaths in Dragon Ball history.
They have been numerous times that important characters have said goodbye in the show. Even our powerful protagonist had to sign off a couple of times. There have been many such deaths in Dragon Ball that we will always remember. Check out the list here:
13. Bardock
Bardock was never really a prominent character in the Dragon Ball series. It was not until the DBS series came out that we learned the real events that took place during Planet Vegeta’s destruction. Bardock was a resident of the Saiyan planet when he found out about Frieza’s evil plans to destroy his home. In what we can call one of the most epic battles of Dragon Ball, Bardock puts his life to save his planet against Frieza. However, he fails miserably and dies with the blow that took even the planet Vegeta.
12. Android 16 – Cell Games Saga
Dragon Ball Z has always been full of sacrifices. It becomes especially heartbreaking when a gray character decides to take his own life for the sake of a child. Nothing was more emotional than watching Android 16 giving up his life in the Cell Games Saga. During the last few minutes of his breath, he inspired Gohan to become like his father and break off all the limits of his power. The death of Android 16 inspired Gohan to take down Cell ultimately.
10. Nappa
This is easily one of the most shocking deaths in Dragon Ball sheerly because it contains one of the biggest betrayals of the show. We are aware that Vegeta cannot be trusted. But we didn’t know that even his friends cannot trust this man. Nappa was his most loyal companion and his closest acquaintance. During the first battle on Earth, Nappa was about to attack Gohan just when Goku arrives. Angered by this, Vegeta charges an attack on his own partner, causing him to lose his life.
9. Chi-Chi and Goten
We have seen time and again how much Goku loves his family and, most of all, Chi-Chi. It was during the Black Goku arc that Zamasu uses the Dragon Balls to switch into Goku’s body. This form was called Black Goku. Soon after entering Goku’s safehouse, he murders Chi-Chi with the use of his God Split Cut and kills Goten too. All of the family dies in a single arc. This one was easily the most heartbreaking arc in the entire Dragon Ball series.
8. Piccolo – Saiyan Saga
Piccolo was always portrayed as a character who cared for none but himself. But when a character as selfish as him decides to sacrifice in the face of adversity, there is nothing more heartbreaking. It was during the Saiyan Saga that Piccolo gave up his life saving a baby Gohan. No one expected that Piccolo would ever even think of giving up his life for somebody. This sacrifice is always mentioned when one talks about heart-touching moments. Besides, this is also one of the reasons that fans like to call Piccolo as Gohan’s real father.
7. Future Gohan
It’s the time in the future when all the major Saiyans have taken their places in heaven with Gohan and Trunks alone on Earth. The two become very close after losing all their loved ones. But when Trunks has to see his only friend die at the hands of the Androids, there is nothing more saddening than this. The death of the last member of Goku’s family is nothing but hard to watch. With the end of this Saiyan, we have to say goodbye to the family of champions.
6. Krillin
Another shocking death that came in Dragon Ball Z was of Krillin. Well, he has been a good friend of Goku ever since the beginning of the show. Even though he is a human, he has been with Goku in all his battles. But this one proved to be dangerous for him. This time, they were facing Frieza. Krillin’s brutal murder was as much a shock to Goku as it was to the fans. In a rage, Goku turned into a Super Saiyan and took down Frieza. Frieza is long gone, but it still hurts to know that Krillin will never return with his quirky jokes.
5. Cyborg Frieza And King Cold
This is definitely a good sign that the two evil beings were terminated. But the shocking factor is that no one knows who killed the two. So, Frieza returned in Dragon Ball Z as a Cyborg being, even stronger than before. Along with him, his father’s army is also on guard to destroy the Earth. However, a mysterious Saiyan pops out of thin air to save Earth. To date, fans are making theories upon who the warrior was who killed Cyborg Frieza and King Cold.
4. Master Roshi
Master Roshi has been Goku’s teacher since the beginning of Dragon Ball Z. We lost this old man at the hands of King Piccolo. The old master tried his best martial art skills to save his students. But fate waits for no one, and Master Roshi eventually died against King Piccolo in one on one combat. What was more heartbreaking was the fact that he would never return to beat Goku with his stick. As for Piccolo, is still regrets his early actions and tries to undo them whenever he gets a chance.
3. Vegeta
Another man who Frieza mercilessly murdered was Vegeta. In the battle against the evil antagonist, Vegeta is hit in the heart by a strong blow. No one expected him to die with a mere wound. But this blow was fatal, and Vegeta couldn’t make it. On his deathbed, he asked Goku to take revenge for planet Vegeta and kill Frieza. Goku abides, and we witness the ultimate defeat of the strongest villain of Dragon Ball Z.
2. Dende
This Namekian was a victim of all the wars between races. The cute little green child had no business to be around any conflict. But in the face of evil, all victims must suffer. The same happened to the young child Dende. He was an innocent child who faced Frieza’s wrath for no reason. Moreover, Frieza mercilessly killed the baby in a single blow which brought tears to many eyes. This scene still remains one of the most numbing scenes of DBZ.
1. Goku
We witnessed the shock of Goku’s death when he and Radiz were up against Piccolo. The power-hungry Piccolo blindly pierced the Special Beam Cannon through both of them. Well, this was undoubtedly one of the most shocking deaths in Dragon Ball. While Goku was resurrected later, Radiz was gone forever from the picture. Even after that, Goku has faced death many times in the show. And each time, the shock was equally painful.
So this was the list of the 13 most shocking deaths in Dragon Ball. Which one of these scenes was the most surprising for you? How many times have you cried watching Dragon Ball? Please share your experiences with us in the comment section. For more such nerd stuff on DBZ, keep an eye on this corner.