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The Best Episodes of Dragon Ball

Every episode of Dragon Ball ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Dragon Ball!

The Best Episodes of Dragon Ball

Long ago in the mountains, a fighting master known as Son Gohan discovered a strange boy whom he named Son Goku. Gohan raised him and...

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  1. 9.0/10(6 votes)

    #1 - Anonymous Proposal

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    S1:E137

    Goku takes on his most lovely opponent yet in the second match of the Tenkaichi Budokai. Know only as Anonymous, the beautiful warrior's identity is a mysterious as her fierce anger toward Goku, who must win the match in order to learn her real name.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  2. 8.9/10(7 votes)

    #2 - The Final Blow

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    S1:E28

    Jackie blew away the moon, guarding against Goku ever becoming an Oozaru again!! At the same time, Goku returns to his normal form, and the match is restarted. With their energy rapidly falling from exhaustion and hunger, the two muster the last of their power, and their clash unfolds. Having received slightly less damage, Jackie declares that he has won the championship, and he achieves victory. Having learned that there are many strong people in the world, Goku and Kuririn vow to train even harder!

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  3. 8.9/10(7 votes)

    #3 - Roshi's Gambit

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    S1:E111

    Global destruction is one wish away if Piccolo Daimao succeeds in calling fourth the Eternal Dragon. The Turtle Hermit answers the call for a hero by placing himself between the creature and the remaining Dragon Balls. However, in his attempt to save the world, he may pay the ultimate price.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  4. 8.8/10(6 votes)

    #4 - Changes

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    S1:E133

    Warriors the world over are lining up to compete as the Tenkaichi Budokai prepares to get under way. Unfortunately, all of the Turtle Hermit's pupils are missing, including Goku. With the entry-deadline approaching, the competitive future of our heroes look bleak, as does Muten Roshi's patience.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  5. 8.8/10(6 votes)

    #5 - Preliminary Peril

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    S1:E134

    The Tenkaichi Budokai gets underway as Goku and the others compete in the exciting preliminary round. But the competition threatens to turn ugly when Goku gets a visit from an old adversary.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  6. 8.8/10(6 votes)

    #6 - Goku Gains Speed

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    S1:E140

    As the battle between Tenshinhan and Goku rages, Goku unloads a heavy burden, one that may shift the balance in the extraordinary showdown. All eyes turn to Tenshinhan as an embarrassing moment spurs him to make a dangerous choice.

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    Director:Osamu Kasai
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Dragon Ball

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  8. 8.8/10(6 votes)

    #7 - Battle for the Future

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    S1:E143

    Goku faces the ultimate test as he confronts his greatest nemesis in the final round of the Budokai. This time his fight is for more than the title. The future of the free world is at stake!

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  9. 8.8/10(6 votes)

    #8 - Super Kamehameha

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    S1:E144

    The battle to save the planet continues as Goku tries to take down Ma Junior in the final match of the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai. Goku has an ultimate weapon: The Ultimate Super Kamehameha Wave. However, if he uses it to destroy Ma Junior, God will be sacrificed, having been trapped inside Ma Junior's stomach.

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  10. 8.8/10(5 votes)

    #9 - Junior No More

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    S1:E145

    Ma Junior reveals a startling secret that shocks the tournament. Goku finds himself facing a huge dilemma, as he fights for the championship becomes the fight for survival!

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  11. 8.8/10(5 votes)

    #10 - Goku's Trap

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    S1:E146

    As the exhausting battle between Goku and Ma Junior continues, Goku avoids disaster by taking the battle within. Ma Junior surprises all when he unveils a new threat!

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  12. 8.8/10(5 votes)

    #11 - Goku Hangs On

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    S1:E147

    The Tenkaichi Budokai begins to fall to piece as Ma Junior unveils a technique that not only threatens to destroy Goku, but his friends as well. Even the mighty God believes that there is no way for Goku to survive in this winner-take-all massacre!

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  13. 8.8/10(6 votes)

    #12 - The Victor

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    S1:E148

    The end of the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai finds Goku struggling for survival as Ma Junior gets the upper hand, poised to take the Title and his life. God devises a way to rescue the young hero, but his plan calls for the ultimate sacrifice!

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    Director:Osamu Kasai
  14. 8.8/10(4 votes)

    #13 - Dress in Flames

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    S1:E149

    Eager to announce their wedding plans, Goku and Chichi return to her father's kingdom. The good news is short-lived when the Gyumao's castle goes up in flames! Goku embarks on a quest to find a sacred tool, which can save the Gyumao and his future with Chichi.

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  15. 8.8/10(3 votes)

    #14 - The Fire-Eater

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    S1:E150

    Goku and Chichi's search for the Basho-sen leads them into the heart of a fiery volcano. Once inside, they must face a mighty creature that consumes flames: the Fire-Eater!

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  16. 8.8/10(4 votes)

    #15 - The End, the Beginning

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    S1:E153

    Goku and Chichi must travel to Mt. Gogyo in a last ditch effort to save her father, the Gyumao, from the deadly magical flames, which threaten to consume his kingdom. Before Goku can complete his quest, he must fan the flames of Fate and hope he does not get burned!

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  17. 8.7/10(7 votes)

    #16 - The Grand Finals

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    S1:E26

    The finals for the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai have been decided! Goku is knocked out of bounds by Jackie. But he spins his tail like a propeller and comes back! Goku and Jackie at last put forth their best. The two fire a Kamehameha at the same time!! Goku’s Kamehameha evenly matches Jackie’s, and knocks it back!! Demonstrating a back-and-forth display of such attacks as the Zanzouken, the Suiken, and the Saruken, their red-hot battle continues!

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  18. 8.7/10(7 votes)

    #17 - Number One Under the Moon?

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    S1:E27

    Becoming serious against Goku, Jackie uses the Yoiko Min-Min Ken! Goku enters a deep sleep. He somehow manages to escape this pinch, but he is assaulted by Jackie’s special attack, the Bankoku-Bikkuri-Sho! With a shockwave like an electric current running up his entire body, Goku is robbed of the ability to move. But just as he’s about to surrender, his eyes catch sight of the full moon! Against Goku, who has transformed into an Oozaru once again, Jackie fires an extra-large Kamehameha!! What is Goku’s fate…?!

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  19. 8.7/10(6 votes)

    #18 - The Roaming Lake

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    S1:E29

    Searching for the Dragon Balls, Goku comes to a desert region where he hears the legend of the moving lake. There, Goku rescues Namu as he is attacked by monsters. Namu has gone upstream to investigate why the river has dried up! After discovering that Giran and his tribe had damned up the river, Goku breaks the dam with a Kamehameha, but this time a sandstorm buries the river!! The villagers despair, but after the sandstorm leaves, it leaves behind the legendary lake.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  20. 8.7/10(6 votes)

    #19 - True Colors of the Masked Man

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    S1:E76

    Grabbing onto Goku’s tail, the fox mask man knocks Goku around! But then Goku’s tail comes off!! As Goku is about to counterattack, having lost his weakness, the man quickly surrenders. His identity was Goku’s adoptive grandfather Son Gohan after all!! Goku rejoices in their reunion! Thanks to Uranai Baba, Gohan was able to return from the afterlife for a single day. After the brief reunion, Gohan returns to the afterlife once again!

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  21. 8.7/10(6 votes)

    #20 - Final Showdown

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    S1:E122

    The fierce battle between Goku and Piccolo Daimao continues, but Piccolo gains the advantage when he breaks Goku down limb by limb. To make matters worse, Tenshinhan is used as a pawn in the battle. Goku is forced to make an awful choice. Will he surrender to Piccolo Daimao and save his friend or choose to fight and risk his own life?

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  22. 8.7/10(6 votes)

    #21 - Battle of the Eight

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    S1:E135

    The preliminary round continues as Goku, Yamcha, Kuririn, and Tenshinhan battle one opponent after another in hopes of advancing to the semi-final round. Meanwhile, the Turtle Hermit is confronted by an old rival.

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  23. 8.7/10(6 votes)

    #22 - The Mysterious Hero

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    S1:E138

    The Budokai continues with a double header! First up, Kuririn battles Ma Junior, Piccolo Daimao's alter ego, and every bit as powerful. Yamcha jumps in the ring next, opposing Shen, whose meek appearance may hide a darker threat.

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  24. 8.6/10(7 votes)

    #23 - Monster Beast Giran

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    S1:E23

    At last it’s Goku’s turn! The one facing Goku in the fourth match was the powerful opponent Giran!! Goku is knocked around by Giran’s stream of unfair attacks! Giran traps Goku in the rubbery Guru-Guru Gum that he shoots from his mouth!! Goku is in an absolutely desperate pinch! Just as he is about to be thrown out of the ring, his chopped-off tail suddenly grows back, and his power multiplies! Seeing this, Giran surrenders!!

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    Director:N/A
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  25. 8.6/10(7 votes)

    #24 - Krillin's Frantic Attack!

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    S1:E24

    The fifth match is the semi-finals fight, Kuririn vs. Jackie Chun. Kuririn and Jackie’s battle unfolds at ultra-fast speed that the eye can’t follow!! The spectators who came to watch the Tenkaichi Budokai are extremely excited by the pair’s high level battle!! Kuririn puts up a good fight against Jackie, but he rushes to win! Because of this, he is hit by Jackie’s karate chops after Jackie goes around behind his back, and is downed!! Sadly, Kuririn is defeated during the semi-finals.

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    Director:N/A
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  26. 8.6/10(7 votes)

    #25 - Danger From Above

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    S1:E25

    The sixth match is Goku and Namu’s semi-finals fight. Goku attacks Namu by imitating the Zanzouken that Jackie displayed during his fight with Kuririn. Namu skillfully dodges this attack! Namu attempts to finish Goku off with his special attack, the Tenku pekeji-ken! Goku is hit by the attack and downed, but revives right before the count of ten! Namu further comes out him with the Super Tenku pekeji-ken, but Goku breaks through the technique. Goku then advances to the finals!

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    Director:N/A
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Best Episodes Summary

"Anonymous Proposal" is the best rated episode of "Dragon Ball". It scored 9/10 based on 6 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 12/7/1988. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Final Blow".