The BEST Episodes of Dragon Ball Z
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Jul 18, 2021
Network: Fuji TV
Many years have passed since Goku first searched for the Dragon Balls. He is a grown man, with a wife and son. He and his friends have settled into their own lives and, for the most part, things are rather peaceful. Then one day, Goku learns he is really a Saiyan and comes from another planet. Now begins new adventures for Goku and his friends as they defend their home against new, more powerful threats.
#1 - Namek's Explosion...Goku's End?
Season 3 - Episode 32 - Aired Sep 4, 1991
With Frieza gone, Goku flies to Frieza's spaceship to escape from Namek, but it looks like the ship doesn't work. Even though it looks like Goku is gone, Bulma and the others have an idea that could work; using the Namekian Dragon Balls, once restored, to bring everyone else back.
9.72 
#2 - The End of Vegeta
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired Apr 17, 1991
Goku has entered the battlefield stronger than ever and prepares to fight Frieza alone. It seems that Goku might become a Super Saiyan, as he easily deflects Frieza's energy attacks. As Vegeta taunts Frieza, the tyrant easily finishes him off with a cruel bout of laughter. With his last breath, Vegeta tells Goku of what Frieza has done to him and his people. Can Goku be able to defeat Frieza, the one person no one else has beaten?
9.71 
#3 - Mystery Revealed
Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired Jan 15, 1992
Goku finally arrives to Earth, but wonders who this mysterious man is. The young swordsman asks Goku to speak to him privately. Once he and Goku are out of nearly everyone's earshot, his identity is finally revealed, and he is from the future. But why is he here, and what news does he bring?
9.63 
#4 - Transformed At Last
Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired Jun 19, 1991
It looks like the battle is over, as Frieza seems to be defeated and the Ginyu Force has fallen down to Hell. As everyone celebrates, Frieza reappears and spares no time knocking Piccolo out and killing Krillin. Fueled by rage, Goku's power increases exponentially. Has Goku finally fulfilled the Super Saiyan legend?
9.54 
#5 - Goku vs. Cell
Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired Mar 10, 1993
The main event begins! Now free of distraction, Goku steps into the ring to face Cell. The earth shakes and the heavens tremble as these two mighty super-powers collide! And that's just the warm up!
9.50 
#6 - Mighty Blast Of Rage
Season 3 - Episode 31 - Aired Aug 28, 1991
As Guru enjoys seeing his people alive on Earth, the time has come for him to go, but gave his powers to Moori, as the next Eldest Namek. Back on Namek, Frieza has been cut in half by his own energy disk from behind, but Goku, being the kind person he is, gives Frieza some of his power to escape. However, Frieza will not accept defeat, as he uses the given power to finish Goku off, but Goku finishes off Freiza with a mighty attack.
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#7 - Free the Future
Season 6 - Episode 29 - Aired Jul 21, 1993
Even though peace and order have been re-established on Earth in the present, Trunks' future world is still a place of darkness and despair! Androids 17 and 18 are on a rampage, wreaking havoc on the defenseless citizens. But when Trunks arrives, the future is forever changed!
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#8 - The Fight is Over
Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired Apr 7, 1993
Victory! Goku blasts Cell with a Kamehameha Wave that reduces the android to a pile of cinders. But Goku's triumph is short-lived. Cell proves his resiliency by fully regenerating himself! The fight continues!?or does it?
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#9 - Frieza Defeated!
Season 3 - Episode 30 - Aired Aug 21, 1991
Frieza fires two copies of Krillin's Destructo Disk that will follow Goku until it hits him or anything else. Even so, Goku has the situation under control as the battle draws to a close and the mighty villain is going to lose.
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#10 - Pathos Of Frieza
Season 3 - Episode 29 - Aired Aug 14, 1991
As Namek gets closer to explosion it looks like Goku can beat Frieza with ease as his power keeps increasing. Finally, Goku decides to leave, knowing that he's more than a match for Frieza, but the tyrant won't give up that easily.
9.30 
#11 - Déjà vu
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired Mar 13, 1991
Piccolo arrives to the battlefield preparing to fight Frieza alone. Everyone thinks he's making his death wish, but Piccolo seems to hold his own and anticipates Frieza's moves, thanks to his fusion with Nail. But will it be enough?
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#12 - Cell's Bag of Tricks
Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired Mar 17, 1993
Cell attacks Goku with a dazzling array of moves: the Destructo Disk, the Special Beam Cannon, even the Kamehameha Wave! So far, Goku has been able to match Cell blow for blow, but how will the Super Saiyan fare against such a lethal arsenal?
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#13 - Explosion Of Anger
Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired Jun 26, 1991
Goku's hair has turned blonde and his eyes blue, as he is surrounded by a gold aura; the fuel of this power being his anger towards Frieza. As Gohan takes Piccolo to Goku's ship, our hero starts to pound on Frieza as the tyrant fires back, but none of his attacks are working against Goku now that he is a Super Saiyan. It looks like Frieza will finally be defeated.
9.25 
#14 - Vegeta's Pride
Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired Jun 15, 1994
The possessed Vegeta gives Goku an ultimatum: fight with him, or watch him annihilate more innocent lives! Goku vows to settle the score between them once and for all, but the Supreme Kai steps between the Saiyans with a bold declaration. To fight Vegeta, Goku will have to destroy the Supreme Kai first!
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#15 - Save the World
Season 6 - Episode 26 - Aired Jun 30, 1993
The final showdown begins! Cell has returned more powerful than ever, and it's all up to Gohan to put him down! While Goku coaches him telepathically from the Other World, the Z Fighters jump in for a five-sided attack! Gohan may have the potential inside him, but can Goku show him how to bring it out?
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#16 - No More Rules
Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired Mar 31, 1993
As the battle intensifies, Cell quickly becomes tired of the rules he has imposed on the tournament. With a flick of his finger, he destroys the fighting ring. Now there's only one way to win the Cell Games...it's a fight to the finish!
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#17 - A Hero's Farewell!
Season 6 - Episode 23 - Aired Jun 2, 1993
Clearly outmatched by the powered-up Gohan, Cell initiates his last line of defense: a self-destruct program that will blow up the entire planet! With only seconds to act, Goku uses his Instant Transmission technique to transport Cell away from the Earth. The planet is saved, but at what cost?
9.14 
#18 - Super Saiyan 3?!
Season 8 - Episode 26 - Aired Nov 9, 1994
Trunks searches frantically for the lost Dragon Radar, as Goku powers-up to an unimaginable level...Super Saiyan 3! But will this newfound strength be enough to stop Majin Buu from destroying West City?
9.13 
#19 - Final Atonement
Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired Aug 24, 1994
Trunks and Goten save Vegeta from a savage beating, but the headstrong Super Saiyan is determined to destroy Majin Buu by himself. Vegeta is prepared to risk everything to defeat this foe, but is he really ready to give up his own life?
9.11 
#20 - Z Warriors Prepare
Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired Jan 29, 1992
As Goku and Piccolo train with Gohan, Vegeta trains under very high gravity levels in an effort to become a Super Saiyan, but can he survive it?
9.11 
#21 - Bold And Fearless
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired May 15, 1991
To ensure Goku is defeated, Frieza powers up to 50% of his maximum and it seems that not even Goku can handle it. Captain Ginyu finds the other heroes in Bulma's body and prepares to have his revenge. Can the others see through Ginyu's trickery?
9.11 
#22 - Lesson Number One
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired Dec 6, 1989
Locked in the final battle with Earth's Saiyan attackers, Goku begins to demonstrate the skills and training he received from King Kai beginning with a devastating attack on Nappa. But when Nappa concedes defeat under the command of Vegeta, he turns on Gohan and Krillin only to be stopped by Goku's Kaio-Ken attack. Broken and defeated, Nappa is finally vanquished by Vegeta leaving Goku to face him alone.
9.11 
#23 - Piccolo the Super-Namek
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired Mar 6, 1991
Krillin is healed, thanks to Dende's special powers, and then he distracts Frieza long enough for little Namekian to heal Gohan as Vegeta just stands there in awe. The three warriors fire at Frieza with everything they got, but it seems that they can't win, but an old friend is just moments away.
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#24 - A Whole New Gohan
Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired May 3, 1995
Gohan arrives at the scene, and everyone is shocked at how much power he has. As Gohan begins pounding him, Buu steps up the intensity, but Gohan still has the upper hand. He is easily picking Buu apart.
9.10 
#25 - Vegeta's Respect
Season 9 - Episode 27 - Aired Oct 18, 1995
Goku and Buu continue to fight, each taking powerful blows from each other. Buu tries his ball trick again, and hits Goku hard. Goku puts all of his energy into a massive Kamehameha, but Buu just reforms afterward. Goku powers down to his normal state and collapses. Vegeta steps in, but he is no match for Buu. Buu cleans his clock, and just as he's about to give Vegeta his finishing blow, Goku pushes him out of the way. He then powers back up to Super Saiyan 3 and continues their furious fight. Vegeta reminisces about all of the fights he and Goku were in. He finally admits that Goku is better.
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