The BEST Episodes of Dragon Ball Z
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Nov 26, 2019
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 - Final Atonement
Season 8 - Episode 18
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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#2 - Save the World
Season 6 - Episode 26
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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#3 - Transformed At Last
Season 3 - Episode 21
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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#4 - A Hero's Farewell!
Season 6 - Episode 23
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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#5 - Spirit Bomb Triumphant
Season 9 - Episode 33
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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#6 - Awakening
Season 6 - Episode 20
Gohan attacks! Spurred on by Android 16's dying words, Gohan's hidden power is unleashed! With his amazing new strength and speed, Gohan easily destroys the wicked Cell Juniors. Now the young Super Saiyan has his sights set on a bigger target, Cell himself!
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#7 - Super Saiyan 3?!
Season 8 - Episode 26
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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#8 - Vegeta's Respect
Season 9 - Episode 27
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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#9 - Explosion Of Anger
Season 3 - Episode 22
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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#10 - End of Earth
Season 9 - Episode 24
Supreme Kai explains to the Elder Kai that there were once five Supreme Kais. Four of them ruled over a quadrant of the universe, and the fifth was their leader. He says that Kid Buu was his original form. North and West Kai perished against Majin Buu. South Kai was absorbed. The leader, Dai Kaio, was also absorbed, but this absorption changed Buu into the fat, happy Buu that came out of the ball. The absorption of the Kais weakened Buu. Back on earth, Kid Buu creates a massive ball of energy and throws it at the earth. Goku and Vegeta try to grab their sons and Piccolo, but are only able to grab Dende and Hercule. Goku Instantly Transmits to the world of the Kais.
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#11 - Call To Action
Season 9 - Episode 31
The people of earth come back to life, including the Z Fighters and their friends. Goku gets into position to create the Spirit Bomb, and with the help of King Kai, Vegeta speaks to the entire population of earth. He tells them what's going on, and that do defeat Buu, they need to raise their hands up and offer their energy. Only Goku and Vegeta's family and friends comply. No one else is willing to listen to a mysterious voice from the sky. Vegeta repeatedly pleads with the earthlings, but to no avail. While this is going on, old Buu is buying them time by fighting Kid Buu, but it's not going well. Goku hasn't gathered nearly enough energy to destroy Buu.
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#12 - The Long Awaited Fight
Season 8 - Episode 11
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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#13 - People of Earth Unite
Season 9 - Episode 32
Vegeta continues to plead with the people of earth, but no one will listen to him. Old Buu has finally lost all of his energy, so Vegeta is forced to fight Kid Buu. He is no match for him, and gets pounded. Now Goku asks the earthlings to raise up their arms, and small pockets of people who recognize his voice do so, but the vast majority remain uninterested. Piccolo, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks spread out into the city, hoping to convince people to raise their arms. Hercule has finally had enough, and he speaks to the people of earth. When they hear the familiar voice of the World Champion, all of the people of earth raise their arms and offer their energy. The Spirit Bomb is finally ready.
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#14 - Goku's Next Journey
Season 9 - Episode 38
Goku and Uub begin to fight, and it's clear that Uub doesn't know much about fighting. But as the match goes on, he learns more and more, and is able to go toe to toe with Goku. Uub nearly falls out of the ring, but Goku saves him from hitting the ground. He realizes that Uub doesn't even know how to fly, so he decides to live with Uub in his village and train him. Despite his friends and family pleading with him to stay, he flys away with Uub. Goku is training Uub to defend the earth when he's gone. He hopes one day, when Uub's training is complete, to have a real all-out match with him to test their power.
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#15 - The Last Wish
Season 3 - Episode 27
With Guru back to life, the Namekian Dragon Balls have been restored as well, with Porunga ready to grant the third wish. As Dende prepares to complete the final phase of King Kai's plan, Frieza flies towards Porunga to have his wish granted as well.
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#16 - A Whole New Gohan
Season 9 - Episode 10
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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#17 - Minute of Desperation
Season 9 - Episode 28
Goku continues to fight Buu, and he seems to have the upper hand. He deals out a lot of damage to Buu, but as the fight goes on, his hits become weaker and weaker until they have no effect at all. He tells Vegeta that it's his turn, but Vegeta declines, citing that he is no match for Buu. He tells Goku that he's better than him. Goku says that he nees one minute to power up enough to destroy Buu. While Goku is powering up, Vegeta steps in, knowing that if he dies again, he will no longer exist in any form. Buu thrashes Vegeta, but every time he gets knocked down, he gets up, ready for more. Buu stretches out his arm, wraps it around Vegeta's neck, and begins choking him. It's been more than one minute, but Goku still has not generated enough power.
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#18 - Say Goodbye, 17
Season 5 - Episode 13
The battle between Android 16 and Cell continue. Cell tries to counter-attack but falls short to 16's Inferno Flash. 16 warns 17 and 18 to quickly leave the battlefield. But before they could do so, Cell sneaks up behind 17 and quickly absorbs him. Cell has transformed, and his next task is to absorb 18 to become complete. Android 16 is no match for the second form of Cell, and is mortally wounded. Is there anyone left who can stop Cell from achieving perfection?
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#19 - Earth Reborn
Season 9 - Episode 30
The old Buu is no match for Kid Buu, who begins to wail on him. Hercule continues to try to help the old Buu, but is ineffective. Vegeta suddenly comes up with a plan. He communicates with Dende, telling him to go to the new planet Namek and gather the Dragon Balls. The Supreme Kai and the Elder Kai take him there, and the Namekians are waiting with the seven balls. Porunga is summoned, and Vegeta tells Dende his two wishes: bring back the earth and restore it to its original state, and bring back all of the non-evil people that died since the morning of the World Martial Arts Tournament. These wishes are granted, and even Vegeta himself comes back to life. He finally reveals the main part of his plan to destroy Buu: the Spirit Bomb.
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#20 - Pathos Of Frieza
Season 3 - Episode 29
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.
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#21 - Namek's Destruction
Season 3 - Episode 23
Not willing to be beaten, Frieza fires an attack to destroy Namek so Goku will be killed, as the Super Saiyan can't do anything to stop the attack. Will this be the end of everyone on Namek?
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#22 - Meet Vegito
Season 9 - Episode 16
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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#23 - I Kill No More
Season 8 - Episode 34
While the Z Fighters continue their training to battle Majin Buu, the Champ devises some sneakier plans to take him down. But will he even need to carry them out? Is Majin Buu having a change of heart?
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#24 - A Final Attack
Season 3 - Episode 24
Namek is about to explode in 5 minutes, as Gohan finds Bulma and gets back to the ship. Meanwhile, Frieza powers up to 100% of his maximum to finish the fight. Instead of stopping him, Goku has let Frieza go full power, but is this power increase too much for even a Super Saiyan to handle?
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#25 - Mystery Revealed
Season 4 - Episode 15
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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