Summary
Dragon Ballis one of the most popular shonen manga of all time, introducing many fans to a series that started as an adventure story before adopting a battle-heavy focus and letting people enjoy some awe-inspiring transformations and earth-shattering fights. The creator ofDragon Ball, the late great Akira Toriyama, left an enduring mark on pop culture that won’t fade away anytime soon.
There are many races that have appeared in theDragon Ballseries, withSaiyans and Earthlingsbeing the most popular ones that have shaped the narrative time and time again.The demon raceis also worth a mention, with some of the most powerful antagonists the Z Warriors have faced appearing in the form of demons who try their hardest to become stronger and beat down the heroes by any means necessary.
5King Piccolo
The Great Demon King And One Of Kid Goku’s Strongest Villains
Dragon Ballsets the stage for the power of the eponymous wish-granting balls and how strong they can be. However, when an antagonist like King Piccolo gets his hands on the Dragon Balls, it spells doom for all of Earth; he wishes for his youth to be restored so that he can fight to the fullest of his ability.
Goku has a tough time with this powerful antagonist before going for a Hail Mary attempt andbarreling his tiny figure through King Piccolo’s torso. This move is successful and ends the Demon King’s life, but not before he ejects an egg so that his offspring can continue pursuing plans of world domination.
4Garlic Jr.
An Anime-Original Villain Who Wants To Take Revenge On Kami For Sealing His Father
Despite being a villain who wasintroduced in a movie, Garlic Jr. gets so much screen time in the series that a lot of people remember him even though he should’ve been forgettable. Garlic Jr. harbors a grudge against Kami and tries his hardest to enact his revenge by any means necessary. He summons the Dead Zone and almost succeeds in trapping Kami, only for an enraged Gohan to put him in his place.
However, after the Frieza Saga, Garlic Jr. makes another appearance and forces the Z Warriors to take out his threat without Goku helping out. The fight is a grueling one that shows Garlic Jr.’s power despite a misleading first impression, but the protectors of Earth manage to save Kami in the nick of time once again.
3Dabura
A Demon King Who Fell Under Babidi’s Mind Control Magic
Dabura is a powerful demon king who appears in the Buu Saga, serving as Babidi’s lackey. The evil wizard’s mind-control powers enhance the strength of whoever he captures, with Dabura’s heightened powers making him a force to be reckoned with. He manages to give Gohan a run for his money, even though the fighter hadn’t been engaging in serious training.
However, despite boasting a ton of strength and being more powerful than theantagonists of the previous arc, Dabura’s presence in the story diminishes after Buu steps into the picture. In a bid to try and establish his superiority, Dabura engages in a battle with the pink blob, only to be turned into a cookie in no time as fans get to see just how strong Majin Buu is.
2Hirudegarn
A Demon God Who Was Transformed Into A Phantom Majin
Afterthe Buu Saga wraps up, the Z Warriors assume that most major threats have been done away with for good. This makes the events of Wrath of the Dragon quite a surprise, with this full-length movie introducing a new character named Tapion and showcases how he’s struggling to hold the evil power of Hirudegarn in his being.
This kaiju appears from time to time, with the Z Warriors struggling to stop this beast in his tracks because of his immense power. This prompts Goku to ascend to his Super Saiyan 3 form and unleash an attack called the Dragon Fist, with the power of this blow taking out a mindless monster who used to be the Demon King of Konats before being transformed into a Phantom Majin.
1Piccolo Jr.
A Villain-Turned-Friend Who Forms A Special Bond With Gohan
Piccolo Jr. is one of the most beloved characters inDragon Ball. The son of King Piccolo was hell-bent on fulfilling his father’s wishes, only for Gohan’s tenderness to make him experience a change of heart and become a member of the Z Warriors. His power continues to escalate as thethreats that everyone facesincrease in power, culminating in him unlocking a transformation called Orange Piccolo.
Super Herooffered a great showcase of Piccolo’s entertaining character and how powerful he is. He has become one of thestrongest demons in theDragon Ballseriesand can give any powerful fighter in the universe a run for their money.
