The Best Episodes of Dragon Ball

#1 Fan Favorite
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8.8/10(710 votes)
#1 - The Fallen
S1:E1012/17/1988
The Kikouhou has left both fighters weary and exhausted. With all of their energy gone and the stage destroyed by the Kikouhou, Tenshinhan and Goku plummet towards the Earth, with the first to touch down losing the match! A new Champion is crowned today!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.6/10(589 votes)
#2 - Final Showdown
S1:E1228/10/1988
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?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.4/10(630 votes)
#3 - The Notorious Mercenary
S1:E594/22/1987
After finally managing to return to Red Ribbon Army Headquarters, Blue is killed by a single blow from Tao Pai-pai’s tongue. Tao Pai-pai then sets off for the Karin Holy Land to eliminate Goku! Meanwhile, Goku obtains his heart’s desire, the Four-Star Ball. He also hears the legend of the Super Holy Water, water received from a sage who lives at the top of Karin Tower, and that if drunk will multiply one’s power many times over. Tao Pai-pai then shows up. Bora stands to face him, but before Tao Pai-pai’s fearsome power he is killed in the blink of an eye!! Goku challenges Tao Pai-pai, but?!
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Keiji Terui
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Keiji Terui
8.4/10(499 votes)
#4 - Goku Strikes Back
S1:E1207/27/1988
Goku is back to face Piccolo Daimao, and not a moment too soon! As Tenshinhan and the rest of the resistance endure their most desperate hour, only Goku stands between Piccolo Daimao and the destruction of Metro West. It's more than just a rematch, it's the battle to save the world!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.3/10(552 votes)
#5 - True Colors of the Masked Man
S1:E768/26/1987
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!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.3/10(498 votes)
#6 - Enter King Piccolo
S1:E1022/24/1988
Kuririn is dead! As Goku sets out on a quest for revenge, his friends attempt to learn the identity of Kuririn's killer. All clues lead to the Turtle Hermit's past and an evil that could destroy the world!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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The 20 WORST Episodes of Dragon Ball

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8.3/10(489 votes)
#7 - Roshi's Gambit
S1:E1115/11/1988
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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.3/10(469 votes)
#8 - The Biggest Crisis
S1:E1218/3/1988
Piccolo Daimao puts all of Metro West on edge when he invades the King's Castle, but Goku is not about to let him take over without a fight. While Tenshinhan watches from the sidelines, the young warrior takes it on the chin and refuses to go down. It's a fierce battle but even Goku has his limits. How much can he take?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.3/10(478 votes)
#9 - The Victor
S1:E1483/8/1989
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!
Director:Osamu Kasai
Writer:Takao Koyama
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Director:Osamu Kasai
Writer:Takao Koyama
8.2/10(501 votes)
#10 - The Spirit Cannon
S1:E1002/10/1988
To test Goku’s ability, Tenshinhan uses his still even more secret technique, the Shiyou-ken! Two arms appear from his back, and Tenshinhan attacks with all four arms!! But Goku continues his attack without even flinching! In order to decide the match, Tenshinhan resolves to use his ultimate secret technique, the Kikouhou (Energy Cannon)! It’s a frightful technique that has destructive power many levels greater than the Kamehameha! The arena is then completely blown away by the Kikouhou!!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(522 votes)
#11 - Tao Attacks!
S1:E604/29/1987
Goku is completely helpless before the might of Tao Pai-pai, who is unaffected by even the Kamehameha. Goku is felled after taking a direct hit from Tao Pai-pai’s sure-to-kill Dodonpa! Tao Pai-pai steals the Dragon Balls, and heads to a town to get new clothes to replace his tattered ones. However, Goku survived!! The Four-Star Ball that he had on his breast protected him!! After resolving to use the Dragon Balls to restore Bora to life, Goku climbs Karin Tower in order to become stronger than Tao Pai-pai. However, no matter how far he climbs, he is still unable to see the top.
Director:Daisuke Nishio
Writer:Keiji Terui
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Director:Daisuke Nishio
Writer:Keiji Terui
8.1/10(518 votes)
#12 - The Strong Ones
S1:E758/19/1987
The fox mask-wearing fifth man is no ordinary person! A breathless offensive-defensive battle unfolds!! And then the fox mask man fires a Kamehameha of all things! But Goku doesn’t lose, and returns fire with his own Kamehameha, knocking the man down! In the instant it seemed like Goku had won, the fox mask man grabs onto Goku’s weakness, his tail! Seeing this, the Turtle Hermit realizes the fox mask man’s identity. He says that the opponent’s identity is Son Goku’s dead adoptive grandfather, Son Gohan!!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(480 votes)
#13 - Stepping Down
S1:E9412/30/1987
It’s the blazing white-hot match of Jackie versus Tenshinhan! Tenshinhan gets serious, and uses the Taiyou-ken! Flinching at the flash, Jackie is downed by a knee kick! After standing back up, Jackie tries to persuade Tenshinhan to walk on the true path. But Tenshinhan realizes that Jackie is the Turtle Hermit, and fires a Kamehameha of all things! Jackie deflects the Kamehameha, and jumps down from the arena, willingly receiving an out of bounds loss!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(484 votes)
#14 - Tien's Insurrection
S1:E992/3/1988
Goku has suddenly become unable to move his body! This is due to Chiaotzu’s psychic powers!! He sealed up Goku’s movement on the Crane Hermit’s orders. But Tenshinhan realizes the Crane Hermit’s trick, and puts a stop to it! The heart of a proper martial artist has sprouted in Tenshinhan!! The Crane Hermit is mad with rage, but he is knocked off into the distance by the Turtle Hermit’s Kamehameha. And then this time for sure, Goku and Tenshinhan’s earnest match begins!!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(458 votes)
#15 - Goku vs. King Piccolo
S1:E1094/20/1988
Son Goku must stand alone as he faces the wrath of Piccolo Daimao. Without aid, and protecting the One-Star Dragon Ball, Goku defends his life as the dastardly alien seeks revenge for the deaths of Cymbal and Tambourine, two of his prized soldiers. The Turtle Hermit finds himself between a rock and a hard place as he quests for the Three-Star ball.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(456 votes)
#16 - Battle Cry
S1:E1197/20/1988
There's a new beast in town and his name is Drum. Tenshinhan must go through him before he can fight Piccolo Daimao. The problem is, Drum moves faster than Tenshinhan's eyes - all three of them! Goku is on his way, but will he arrive in time to save the day?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(486 votes)
#17 - Changes
S1:E13311/9/1988
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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(457 votes)
#18 - Kami vs. Piccolo
S1:E1421/25/1989
Goku is eager to fight Ma Junior, but God fears his inexperience will be his downfall. Shen takes on Ma Junior in the last round of the semi-finals, where his shocking agenda is revealed.
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Yuichiro Oguro
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Yuichiro Oguro
8.1/10(449 votes)
#19 - Goku Hangs On
S1:E1473/1/1989
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!
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Toshiki Inoue
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Toshiki Inoue
8.0/10(766 votes)
#20 - The Kamehameha Wave
S1:E84/16/1986
Having thrown away the Basho Fan, Muten Roshi heads to Mt. Frypan to extinguish its flames himself!! Muten Roshi’s grand attack, the Kamehameha, puts out the blazing flames! Goku and the others safely obtain the Dragon Ball, and are about to head off in search of the final one. But Bulma is detained by Muten Roshi, since she promised to let him fondle her breasts if he put out the flames. Bulma gets out of this pinch by asking Oolong to transform into her.
Director:Yoshihiro Ueda
Writer:Keiji Terui
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Director:Yoshihiro Ueda
Writer:Keiji Terui
8.0/10(647 votes)
#21 - Number One Under the Moon?
S1:E278/27/1986
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…?!
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Yasushi Hirano
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Yasushi Hirano
8.0/10(659 votes)
#22 - The Final Blow
S1:E289/3/1986
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!
Director:Daisuke Nishio
Writer:Michiru Shimada
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Director:Daisuke Nishio
Writer:Michiru Shimada
8.0/10(510 votes)
#23 - Sacred Water
S1:E625/13/1987
After going to retrieve the Four-Star Ball that Karin-sama dropped, Goku makes the round trip up Karin Tower in three hours, even though it took him an entire day when he first climbed up! Furthermore, Goku copies the sleeping Karin-sama‘s breathing and movement during the night, and is then able to read Karin-sama‘s movements and finally obtain the jar of Super Sacred Water. But it contains ordinary water?! It turns out that the act of obtaining the jar was itself training that increased his power many times over!! At that time, having obtained brand new clothes, Tao Pai-pai sets out for the holy land once again.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.0/10(513 votes)
#24 - The Return of Goku
S1:E635/20/1987
Arriving in the holy land, Tao Pai-pai attacks Upa in order to learn the location of the Four-Star Ball. Tao Pai-pai loses patience with Upa, who won’t say anything, and tries to kill him, but that’s when Goku comes running in! Goku and Tao Pai-pai confront each other once again! This time, the powered up Goku has a firm advantage!! After realizing that Goku has obtained more power through the legendary Super Sacred Water, Tao Pai-pai climbs the tower in order to drink the water himself. However, Goku doesn’t try to follow him.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.0/10(480 votes)
#25 - Yamcha's Big Break
S1:E8811/18/1987
Yamcha and Tenshinhan violently clash! Yamcha uses the Shin Roga fu-fu ken against Tenshinhan, but is gradually pushed back and is in a pinch. As his final hand, Yamcha fires a Kamehameha!! But Tenshinhan deflects the Kamehameha and defeats the faltering Yamcha in midair! Furthermore, he strikes the already unconscious Yamcha with a finishing blow! Goku burns with intense anger at the coldhearted Tenshinhan!!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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