Top 10 Favorite Dragon Ball Z Moments
You've seen the battles. You've memorized the screams. You've shouted "Kamehameha" in your room and probably spiked your hair with gel at least once. Dragon Ball Z didn't just raise the bar for anime action. It blasted that bar into orbit and kept charging up.
This is the series that took yelling at your enemies for five straight minutes and somehow made it the most intense thing on television. It gave you moments that made your heart race, your jaw drop, and maybe, just maybe, got you to believe that yelling louder could make you stronger too.
Now it's your turn to pick the scenes that punched you right in the soul. The transformations that left you slack-jawed. The sacrifices that had you blinking fast like, "Nah, I'm not crying." The fights where time stood still, or at least dragged across six episodes because Frieza just wouldn't go down.
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Goku turns Super Saiyan against Frieza
Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3, Legendary Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 4, Super Saiyan God, and Super Saiyan God 2. Out of all these defining moments, when Goku turned Super Saiyan for the first time, it was spectacular! This was my favorite moment in DBZ before it was overused by Vegeta, Trunks, Gohan, Goten, and Kid Trunks! It was awesome! It proved that Super Saiyan 1 was like having the power of a god until Goten and Kid Trunks made it look pathetic!
Legendary, breathtaking moment.
For those who haven't experienced DBZ, I feel sorry for you. It is the greatest show there has ever been, and that's not just opinion: it's fact. This moment, where Goku first transforms into the most awesome Super Saiyan, remains a classic, fan-favorite moment that changed the series forever. Though there are other amazing moments, this has to be the best moment, despite the tough competition.
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Vegeta's Final Explosion
"And so, one of the Earth's greatest warriors has vanished in a blinding flash of light, having made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of his loved ones. His name was Vegeta, a proud Saiyan prince."
Greatest moment in anime.
SHOULD BE #1! The most epic moment in DBZ history still gives me super chills every time I watch it. I love DBZ, and I will never forget this amazing moment. Vegeta, the proud Saiyan Prince!
Favorite moment, without a doubt. Also by far the saddest death in the series.
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Gohan kills Cell
This is the best moment for me alongside SSJ1. The conversation he has with his dad is just absolutely beautifully executed. I'm a big fan of the Faulconer score, and that Time Chamber theme is used to perfection to get the best out of Gohan's innocence and the way he looks up to his dad. This is topped off with the SSJ1 theme when he powers back up with one hand to enter the Kamehameha. Absolutely spine-tingling. When you can see the split second of fear in the seemingly confident Cell, it puts the cherry right on top.
This is by far the best DBZ moment.
It features all three top characters. The Father-Son Kamehameha and Vegeta's blast at Cell make it the most perfect moment. The legendary music (Vegeta Super Saiyan theme) also makes it the best.
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Gohan turns Super Saiyan 2 for the first time
This moment is easily number two to Goku going Super Saiyan against Frieza, but Vegeta's final atonement is up there too. It's all neck and neck. But for me personally, I wish the series ended at the Frieza saga. It would have been a perfect ending. But in saying that, I'm also glad it didn't, or I wouldn't have been able to see these other breathtaking moments.
Goku going SSJ may have been groundbreaking in anime, but for me, it does not compare to the amount of buildup around Gohan and his power, which makes this scene all the more fulfilling. After all the pain, suffering, and PTSD, he could not take it anymore and he let go. In my opinion, the best scene in anime, and trust me, I've watched many.
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Trunks kills Frieza and King Cold
Remember how shocked you were when Goku turned Super Saiyan? It turned out that it was an actual thing, not just a legend for an insanely powerful warrior. When the original Dragon Ball aired, it told the story of a child trying to become the strongest on the planet. By the end of it, he had. Those who had watched it before Z couldn't really grasp how much more powerful he had become until now. Suddenly, Goku wasn't just the most powerful child on the planet, but the most powerful warrior in the entire galaxy. It was insane.
Then the next season starts (like, actually starts. Screw filler). Vegeta's on Earth, and everyone is just kind of chilling out, when suddenly they find out that after being beaten horribly, cut into pieces, and blown up by a planet, Frieza is still alive. He's stronger than he ever was, he's coming to Earth to kill everyone, and he brought backup in the form of his dad, who's just as powerful as him. None of them could even handle Frieza's third form back on Namek, and now there are two ultra-powerful final forms coming at them.
Then Frieza lands, and there you are wondering how the Z Fighters could possibly deal with them. Just as Frieza and King Cold are about to launch an attack, a mysterious swordsman appears out of nowhere and kills their army. This was insane, as we knew even Vegeta, the second-most powerful Saiyan, couldn't handle them all. And this new guy just does it without even blinking. Then he goes Super Saiyan. This is when everybody's mouths dropped.... read more
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Goku turns Super Saiyan 3
This is clearly the most epic moment in DBZ. Goku is a boss and will never be surpassed. This moment encapsulates that.
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Vegeta's Final Flash
Wow, how amazing. He gets his ass handed to him in a fashion that makes everyone realize that Cell is ten times stronger than him. Charges up this attack for about 5 minutes with ever-increasing intense music. Challenges Cell, who is evidently the most powerful being in the universe. *Piano hits* and Cell is like, Oh!
One of the best moments, only equaled by Gohan killing Cell and Goku turning Super Saiyan 3.
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Piccolo sacrifices himself for Gohan (Saiyan Saga)
Piccolo completes his character arc by leaving behind his evil nature in order to save his former enemy's son. It's a heartwarming conclusion to his development training Gohan throughout the saga and started the close friendship between the two that still holds to this day 20 years later in Dragon Ball Super. It also meant the end of the titular Dragon Balls, which led the main cast to planet Namek, Frieza, and Super Saiyan. Still gives me chills to this day.
Imagine Frieza, Cell, or Buu sacrificing themselves to save Gohan. That is what it felt like. The main villain from Dragon Ball sacrificing himself to save his archenemy's child is just unbelievable. Great writing.
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Vegeta's death on Namek
Vegeta really gets on my nerves, always babbling about how much better he is than Goku. Frieza is my favorite character in the whole of Dragon Ball Z mainly because he absolutely dominated him and actually made Vegeta cry! Perfect saga and a great moment.
Best moment in DBZ. One of the few moments Vegeta really opens his heart and even starts crying.
The darkest scene in the franchise deserves to be #1.
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Goku vs Vegeta (Majin Buu Saga)
Honestly, the best pure fight in the entire series. No BS talking or stalling, just Goku and Vegeta continuously kicking the crap out of each other.
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Super Buu kills the people of Earth
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Goku uses Kaioken x20
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Vegeta allows Babidi to turn him evil
This was a defining moment for our favorite character! This shows that he doesn't envy his rival but only wants to be stronger. Goku made more sacrifices, is stronger, and has more love. All Vegeta wanted was to take the honor of being the strongest person on Earth, which was stripped from him by Goku. This meant all the efforts he put in for 7 years were still nothing when Goku showed up.
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Goku's Kamehameha vs Vegeta's Galick Gun (Saiyan Saga)
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Goku dies to save the world (Cell Saga)
Look, people die and come back all the time. But Goku was on his last life. He chose to make the sacrifice knowing he couldn't be wished back! When he says "Goodbye," you really felt it. Like he was truly saying goodbye forever.
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Vegeta's pride
When Babidi commands Vegeta, he refuses to take his orders with the greatest moment and quote, "You may have invaded my mind and body, but there's something a Saiyan always keeps - HIS PRIDE!"
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Gohan kills the Cell Juniors (Super Saiyan 2)
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Goku defeats Buu with the Spirit Bomb
EPIC! Goku's legendary Spirit Bomb draws an end to the chaos of the monster Majin Buu.
It was the most satisfying moment in anime history. We were all like, FINALLY!
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Vegeta turns Super Saiyan for the first time
Are you ready? To witness a power not seen for thousands of years? Epic.
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Vegito is born
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Krillin throws a rock in Super Saiyan Goku's face
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Zarbon transforms and pounds Vegeta with multiple headbutts, roundhouses, pinwheels, and piledrivers
Massive brute with unstoppable tactics! Toppled Vegeta with vicious finesse!
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Mystic Gohan faces Buu
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Zarbon and Dodoria vs Namekians
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Goku "kills" Frieza
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Frieza kills Krillin
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Vegeta executes Zarbon by slamming his fist through him and sending him to a watery grave in the Namekian sea