The BEST episodes of Dragon Ball Z

Every episode of Dragon Ball Z ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dragon Ball Z!

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.

Last Updated: 9/27/2024Network: Fuji TVStatus: Ended
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Transformed At Last
star
9.19
510 votes

#1 - Transformed At Last

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 6/19/1991

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?

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The End of Vegeta
star
9.14
449 votes

#2 - The End of Vegeta

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/17/1991

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?

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Free the Future
star
9.07
437 votes

#3 - Free the Future

Season 6 - Episode 29 - Aired 7/21/1993

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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Namek's Explosion...Goku's End?
star
9.06
425 votes

#4 - Namek's Explosion...Goku's End?

Season 3 - Episode 32 - Aired 9/4/1991

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.

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Save the World
star
9.04
494 votes

#5 - Save the World

Season 6 - Episode 26 - Aired 6/30/1993

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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Goku vs. Cell
star
9.02
435 votes

#6 - Goku vs. Cell

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/10/1993

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!

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Mystery Revealed
star
9.01
367 votes

#7 - Mystery Revealed

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/15/1992

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?

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A Hero's Farewell!
star
8.99
451 votes

#8 - A Hero's Farewell!

Season 6 - Episode 23 - Aired 6/2/1993

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?

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Final Atonement
star
8.97
554 votes

#9 - Final Atonement

Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired 8/24/1994

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?

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The Fight is Over
star
8.97
476 votes

#10 - The Fight is Over

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/7/1993

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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Super Saiyan 3?!
star
8.95
544 votes

#11 - Super Saiyan 3?!

Season 8 - Episode 26 - Aired 11/9/1994

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?

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Cell's Bag of Tricks
star
8.95
448 votes

#12 - Cell's Bag of Tricks

Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/17/1993

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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Vegeta's Respect
star
8.93
507 votes

#13 - Vegeta's Respect

Season 9 - Episode 27 - Aired 10/18/1995

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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Vegeta's Pride
star
8.93
505 votes

#14 - Vegeta's Pride

Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/15/1994

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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No More Rules
star
8.92
476 votes

#15 - No More Rules

Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/31/1993

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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Frieza Defeated!
star
8.88
404 votes

#16 - Frieza Defeated!

Season 3 - Episode 30 - Aired 8/21/1991

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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Buu's Mutiny
star
8.87
527 votes

#17 - Buu's Mutiny

Season 8 - Episode 27 - Aired 11/16/1994

Goku uses his new Super Saiyan 3 abilities to combat the evil Majin Buu, buying Trunks the time he needs to locate the missing Dragon Radar. But now that Goku has started the fight, he may not be able to escape!

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A Whole New Gohan
star
8.85
464 votes

#18 - A Whole New Gohan

Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/3/1995

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.

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Mighty Blast Of Rage
star
8.84
452 votes

#19 - Mighty Blast Of Rage

Season 3 - Episode 31 - Aired 8/28/1991

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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Magic Ball of Buu
star
8.83
522 votes

#20 - Magic Ball of Buu

Season 8 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/29/1994

Gohan and the Supreme Kai confront Babidi in the depths of his space ship. With the fight between Goku and Vegeta supplying vast quantities of energy for Majin Buu, there's not a moment to lose! Can Gohan muster up the strength to stop the evil wizard before it's too late?

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The Long Awaited Fight
star
8.83
586 votes

#21 - The Long Awaited Fight

Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/22/1994

Super Saiyan powers collide! The long awaited battle between Goku and Vegeta has begun! With Babidi's magic enhancing his already incredible strength, Vegeta matches Goku move for move. But every blow the Saiyan Prince lands is a boost for Majin Buu!

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Explosion Of Anger
star
8.82
426 votes

#22 - Explosion Of Anger

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 6/26/1991

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.

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Cell Juniors Attack!
star
8.78
457 votes

#23 - Cell Juniors Attack!

Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/5/1993

Gohan simmers with rage as the impish Cell Juniors wreak havoc on the other Z Fighters. Still, the young Super Saiyan refuses to bend to Cell's will and fight. Be careful Cell, Gohan is a powder-keg waiting to explode, and Android 16 just may have the spark that lights the fuse!

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Meet Vegito
star
8.76
428 votes

#24 - Meet Vegito

Season 9 - Episode 16 - Aired 7/5/1995

The fused Goku and Vegeta names himself Vegito, and begins to fight Buu. He clearly is far superior to even the new Super Buu. In Other World, Bulma, Videl, Chi Chi, and Dabora are looking for Gohan, whom they believe to be dead. Dabora has changed his ways, and is trying to help them. Back on earth, Dende and Hercule arrive at the battle scene, just as Buu has decided to destroy the earth. He creates a massive ball of energy, and throws it towards the earth. Vegito easily catches it, and deflects it back out into space. Buu claims that he has yet to fight at his full power. Vegito says the same, and powers up to a Super Saiyan.

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Spirit Bomb Triumphant
star
8.72
459 votes

#25 - Spirit Bomb Triumphant

Season 9 - Episode 33 - Aired 12/13/1995

Goku is ready to throw the Spirit Bomb, but Vegeta is in the way, and, despite Vegeta's pleas otherwise, he refuses to take out Vegeta along with Buu. Suddenly, old Buu gets up and holds Kid Buu down long enough for Hercule to pull Vegeta to safety. Old Buu is kicked aside, and Goku throws the Spirit Bomb. It hits Kid Buu, but he starts pushing it back. Goku uses all of the energy he has trying to push it back into Kid Buu, but Buu is too powerful. Vegeta suddenly remembers that they still have a third wish with Porunga. He instructs Dende to wish for Goku's power to be normal again. The wish is granted, and Goku is able to force the Spirit Bomb back at Majin Buu. As he does so, he silently wishes that Buu had been a better person, and hopes to fight him some day in the future. The Spirit Bomb hits with full force, driving Buu into the ground. Majin Buu is finally dead.

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