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

Goku’s quiet life with his family and friends is about to be interrupted. A new threat - a powerful and sinister alien - is on its way to Earth.

The New Threat

Goku and Gohan attend a reunion on Roshi’s island, where Goku introduces his son to all of his old friends. The smiles quickly fade, however, as an unexpected visitor - Raditz - lands on the island.

Reunions

Raditz has kidnapped Gohan, and unless Goku agrees to join the sinister Saiyan, he may never see his son again! All hope is not lost, however, as a second visitor arrives, and Goku forges an unlikely alliance!

Unlikely Alliance

Piccolo may have a way to stop Raditz - the Makankosappo! There’s only one problem. He needs time to gather energy for the blast, which means Goku must fight Raditz alone!

Piccolo's Plan

Gohan unleashes a mighty attack that not even Radtiz can resist! But as quickly as his power appears, it vanishes. When Raditz prepares to strike back, Goku must make the ultimate sacrifice to save his son!

Gohan's Rage

Piccolo takes Gohan into the wild for a harsh training program. Meanwhile, Goku embarks on a new adventure in the next world, as he travels the endless Snake Way to reach the legendary King Kai!

No Time Like the Present

Gohan begins his first day of Piccolo’s training. Alone in the wilderness, he must quickly learn to take care of himself. But that isn’t easy when he’s tired, hungry - and being chased by bloodthirsty dinosaurs!

Day 1

Korin wants Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu to report for special training! Meanwhile, Gohan’s grueling training causes him to undergo a shocking transformation!

Gohan Goes Bananas!

To escape a pack of wild animals, Gohan ventures into an ancient cave, where he meets an old Capsule Corp robot. The robot has lived alone in the cave for over 30 years, and he’s not happy to have visitors!

The Strangest Robot

Gohan’s wilderness adventure continues, as he makes a new dinosaur friend! He’s happy to finally have some company until he’s harshly reminded that not all dinosaurs are friendly!

A New Friend

On planet Arlia, Vegeta and Nappa become prisoners of the tyrant king who rules the planet. After a brief scuffle with the monster Yeddy, the Arlians realize that the two Saiyans are more than they can handle.

Terror on Arlia

Gohan spends his day tormenting a T-Rex. Across the planet, Tien and Chiaotzu find their training interrupted by Launch. Meanwhile, Goku tries to find King Kai on Snake Way.

Global Training

Goku encounters two giant ogres who want nothing more than to use the hero as a play toy! If he can defeat their challenges, the ogres vow to show him the way back to Snake Way.

Goz and Mez

Back on Snake Way, Goku comes across a house he believes might belong to King Kai! Unfortunately, the dwelling is inhabited by Princess Snake, and she’ll do anything to keep Goku as her prisoner forever!

Princess Snake

Piccolo flies off the handle during his fight with Raditz and splits in two! Meanwhile, Gohan decides to take a raft across the sea to visit his mother, gets caught in a storm, and suddenly remembers that he can’t swim!

Dueling Piccolos

Gohan finds shelter with a gang of orphans living on the run from meddling adults. The group’s leader hatches a plan to take the kids to a safer hiding place, but when the police show up everything goes wrong!

Plight of the Children

Earth’s top warriors visit Kami’s Pendulum Room where the past, present, and future co-exist. After a trip back in time, they realize they’ll need to train harder to stand a chance against the approaching Saiyans.

Pendulum Room Peril

Gohan continues training, but a full moon causes the young Saiyan to rampage out of control! Meanwhile, Goku makes it to the end of Snake Way only to mistake a friendly ape named Bubbles for King Kai!

The End of Snake Way

The intense gravity of King Kai’s planet makes Goku’s training difficult, but when he learns that the Saiyans are used to extreme fighting conditions, Goku is inspired to give it his all. Will it be enough?

Defying Gravity

After Goku struggles to bash Gregory with a hammer, King Kai inspires him with the story of the Saiyan race - and offers to train him personally! Will it be enough to stop the looming Saiyan invasion?

Goku's Ancestors

Goku’s training is complete, so the gang summons the Eternal Dragon to wish him back to life. There’s only one day left before the Saiyans arrive. Unfortunately, it will take Goku two days to return!

Counting Down

Vegeta and Nappa mark their arrival with the destruction of an entire city! When the Z-Fighters confront them, the heroes must face an onslaught of Saibamen under the command of the Saiyans.

The Darkest Day

Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan stand face to face with the sinister Saiyans and their diabolical henchmen. The villains have already proven terrifyingly powerful. Can Earth’s heroes hold out until Goku arrives?

Saibamen Attack!

Enraged over the loss of Yamcha, Krillin unleashes a powerful attack that destroys the maniacal Saibamen once and for all. Now Earth’s defenders must battle the Saiyans themselves - starting with Nappa.

The Power of Nappa

Chiaotzu sacrifices himself to save his friends from Nappa, but when the smoke clears, the villain still stands! Luckily, Tien has one trick left that could forever silence the Saiyan warrior!

Sacrifice

Vegeta has called a halt to the fighting, and Nappa uses the time to go on a rampage! Meanwhile, Goku reaches the end of Snake Way and races to rejoin his friends - but is he already too late?

Nappa's Rampage

Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin do their best to stop the Saiyans from finding the Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Goku rushes back to Earth on the Flying Nimbus, armed with more power than ever before!

Nimbus Speed

Piccolo makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Gohan from the rampaging Saiyans. Just when all seems lost, Goku returns to Earth with an incredible new level of power and confronts the invaders.

Goku's Arrival

Locked in battle with the Saiyans, Goku gives Nappa a brutal demonstration of the training he received from King Kai. Broken and defeated, Nappa must now face the ferocious wrath of Vegeta!

Lesson Number One

Goku decides to take on mighty Vegeta all by himself! The two appear evenly matched, but both are hiding their true strength. The epic battle is underway - which mighty warrior will claim victory?

Goku vs. Vegeta

Vegeta and Goku continue trading brutal blows, but the action intensifies when Vegeta reveals the secret power of the Saiyans: the ability to transform into a giant, planet-destroying ape!

Saiyan Sized Secret

Goku feels the brunt of Vegeta’s fully-realized Saiyan power! Earth’s greatest hero is left with no choice except to use the Spirit Bomb. If his attack fails, he may find himself completely doomed!

Spirit Bomb Away!

With Goku caught in the clutches of the giant ape Vegeta, Krillin attacks with his Destructo Disk! When his effort falls short, an unlikely hero steps out of the shadows!

Hero in the Shadows

Goku passes the power of the Spirit Bomb to Krillin, who - with King Kai’s guidance - launches the bomb at Vegeta. The Saiyan is sent flying into the sky, but is the evil warrior really gone for good?

Krillin's Offensive

Vegeta is crushed beneath the full weight of Gohan’s giant ape form! With the Saiyan battered and defeated, Krillin moves to finish the Saiyan with a final blow - but Goku has other plans.

Mercy

The gang mourns the loss of Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo. With Kami gone, Earth’s Dragon Balls have disappeared. Will the surviving heroes find a way to wish their fallen friends back to life?

Picking Up The Pieces

Bulma accidentally destroys the Saiyan spaceship! Luckily, Mr. Popo reveals the existence of another ship that may be able to reach Namek. Can they find it in time, and will the old ship still work if they do?

Plans for Departure

Goku, Krillin, and Gohan prepare for the return of the Saiyans. Meanwhile, Bulma and Mr. Popo search for a second spaceship capable of transporting her to Planet Namek.

Nursing Wounds

Gohan, Bulma, and Krillin blast off for Planet Namek in search of the magic Dragon Balls, but their journey quickly turns chaotic when they encounter a bizarre situation in the vacuum of space!

Friends or Foes?

Bulma, Gohan, and Krillin are mistaken for friends of Frieza and taken prisoner by an angry army of children! To regain their freedom and continue on their mission, the gang must convince the kids of their innocence.

Held Captive

A near-fatal crash landing turns out to have a silver lining when Bulma, Gohan, and Krillin are rescued by two friendly Namekians who agree to help them locate the seven Dragon Balls.

Look Out Below

Gohan, Krillin, and Bulma continue their search for the Dragon Balls with the help of their new friend Zaacro. Back on Earth, Goku has escaped from the hospital to begin training for his upcoming re-match with Vegeta.

The Search Continues

As Bulma, Krillin, and Gohan close in on the last of the Dragon Balls, they uncover a shocking secret about their Namekian friends. Meanwhile, Goku works to build up his strength, and Vegeta sets his sights on revenge!

A Friendly Surprise

Bulma, Krillin, and Gohan finally continue their quest to locate all seven Dragon balls. Unfortunately, the gang soon discovers that they aren’t the only ones seeking the magical orbs!

Brood of Evil

Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma are horrified to see Vegeta’s space pod land on Planet Namek, but the Saiyan Prince is the least of their problems. Yet another epically evil villain has come to Namek in search of the Dragon Balls!

Frieza Strikes!

With the odds are rapidly mounting against them, Krillin and Gohan will need some serious help if they hope to recover the Dragon Balls from Frieza and his henchmen.

Defying Orders

Krillin and Gohan get their first glimpse of Frieza’s cruelty as the villain unleashes his henchmen upon an unsuspecting Namek village. Frieza wants the fifth Dragon Ball, and he is prepared to learn its location by any means necessary!

Namek's Defense

Gohan risks his life to rescue a Namek boy from the clutches of Frieza’s evil henchmen. Now Gohan and Krillin have an even bigger problem on their hands: Dodoria is chasing them, and he won’t stop until he has his revenge!

The Hunted

Dodoria’s search for Krillin and Gohan brings him face to face with an unexpected foe - Vegeta! The Saiyan prince has a score to settle with Dodoria, and the time for a final showdown between these two powerful villains has arrived!

The Prince Fights Back

Goku’s journey to Namek takes an unexpected detour when his spaceship is knocked off course by an asteroid! Goku has to act fast to get his ship back on track because he’s headed straight for the fiery center of a star!

Unexpected Problem

With his new abilities, Vegeta quickly tracks down and forcefully acquires another Dragon Ball. Now, there is only one magic orb left to find, and Dende knows who has it - the Eldest Namekian!

Vegeta has a Ball

King Kai becomes concerned after learning that Goku is on a collision course with the ruthless Frieza. Meanwhile, back on Planet Namek, the battle between Vegeta and Zarbon has begun!

The Past and Future

Vegeta’s latest battle heats up as Zarbon reveals his true power: the ability to transform into a monstrous beast! With his increased size and strength, Zarbon seems ready to turn the lights out on the Saiyan Prince - permanently!

Zarbon's Surprise

When Krillin speaks to the Eldest Namekian, he gets a double surprise! Not only does he receive a Dragon Ball, but the sleeping powers within him are awoken! Will Krillin’s incredible new strength be enough to save his friends?

Guru's Gift

Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu continue training, but their workout gets intense when Piccolo challenges them all to a three-on-one bout! Back on Namek, Frieza’s henchmen try to revive Vegeta in order to obtain the missing Dragon Ball.

Piccolo vs. Everyone

Vegeta escapes from the clutches of Frieza, and steals the Dragon Balls in the process! Elsewhere, Goku’s journey through space grows perilous as his ship is caught in a powerful magnetic storm!

Zarbon's Mission

Krillin returns from his meeting with the Eldest Namekian only to be greeted by a pair of unwelcome visitors: Vegeta and Zarbon! Meanwhile, Gohan discovers the seventh and final Dragon Ball!

Gohan, the Hunted

The Ginyu Force has been dispatched to Planet Namek to help search for the Dragon Balls. Unaware of this new threat, Krillin and Gohan struggle to keep the seventh Dragon Ball from falling into Vegeta’s evil hands.

Unknown Enemies

While Krillin and Gohan visit the Eldest Namekian, they leave the seventh Dragon Ball their hidden camp. When the Dragon Ball mysteriously disappears, Bulma must embark on a daring underwater adventure to get it back!

Destination: Guru

Bulma is taken hostage by Frieza’s evil henchmen, who force her to lead them on an underwater quest for the Dragon Balls. Without Gohan and Krillin to save her, she’ll have to outsmart her captors — or wind up sleeping with the fishes!

Bulma's Big Day

Krillin and Gohan complete their journey to Guru’s house, but little do they know, Vegeta is hot on their trail! Can Guru unlock Gohan’s hidden powers in time to hold off the rampaging Saiyan’s wrath?

Hidden Power

The Ginyu Force has arrived on Planet Namek! Now, Vegeta, Krillin, and Gohan must form an uneasy alliance as they stand face to face with five of the fiercest warriors in the universe!

New Ally, New Problem

The battle with the Ginyu Force begins, as Gohan and Krillin launch a barrage of explosive energy blasts at Guldo! The Heroes are rendered helpless by Guldo’s Mind Blind technique, and this time, there is no one to save them!

Guldo's Mind Binds

The battle with Guldo may be over, but the real nightmare is just beginning! Recoome, the most massive member of the Ginyu Force, is ready to fight, and even the mighty Vegeta’s attacks have no effect on this monstrous foe!

Recoome Unleashed

With Krillin and Vegeta both out of commission, only Gohan remains to carry on the fight against Recoome! The young Saiyan must summon every ounce of his strength and courage in order to face this powerful foe.

Let the Battle Begin

Goku has arrived on Planet Namek, and without a second to lose! Gohan and Krillin are hanging by a thread, held at the mercy of the Ginyu Force! Has Goku’s training in 100-times gravity prepared him to face these powerful foes?

Goku's New Power

As Vegeta, Krillin, and Gohan look on, Goku easily deflects the attacks of Jeice and Burter, two of the Force’s fiercest warriors. Could Goku have become what Vegeta thought was only a legend: a Super Saiyan?

A Legend Revealed

When Goku proves too much for Burter and Jeice to handle on their own, Jeice retreats in search of reinforcements. Now, the real test for Goku and his newly-acquired powers is about to begin as Captain Ginyu enters the fight!

Ginyu Assault

As the battle between Goku and Captain Ginyu rages on, Gohan and Krillin steal the unguarded Dragon Balls from Frieza’s ship. It’s a race against time, and our heroes must unlock the power of the Dragon Balls before it’s too late!

Incredible Force!

Goku astounds Captain Ginyu with his amazing new powers, but the Captain still has a few tricks up his sleeve! Meanwhile, Frieza arrives at the home of the Eldest Namek and begins a battle with the noble warrior, Nail!

Frieza Approaches

In an attempt to save the Elder, Nail fights a hopeless battle against the ruthless Frieza. Meanwhile, finding himself no match for Goku’s superior abilities, Captain Ginyu unleashes his ultimate attack, the Body Switch Technique!

Goku Is Ginyu and Ginyu Is Goku

Armed with the Dragon Radar, Gohan and Krillin recover the seven Dragon Balls from their hiding places. But before they can summon the Eternal Dragon to make their wish, they are confronted by a powerful new enemy - Goku?!

Calling the Eternal Dragon

After taking control of Goku’s body, Captain Ginyu turns his attention to Gohan and Krillin! With Goku trapped in the Captain’s broken body, it’s up to Gohan to stop the rampaging Ginyu!

Gohan, Defeat Your Dad!

As the bout between Captain Ginyu and Vegeta heats up, Goku summons the last of his strength and tricks his foe into reversing the Body Switch Technique. Now, Goku, Krillin, and Gohan must join forces with Vegeta for the battle with Frieza.

Captain Ginyu... The Frog

Having acquired all seven Namekian Dragon Balls, Krillin and Gohan are ready to summon the dragon and make their wish. There’s just one problem: they don’t know the password!

Password Is Porunga

With the help of young Dende, Krillin and Gohan learn they will be granted three wishes! But even as Krillin and Gohan call upon the dragon, Vegeta races to the scene on a mission to wish for mortality!

Piccolo's Return

With the Dragon Balls gone and his plan in ruins, Frieza unleashes his fury upon Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin. Elsewhere, the newly-revived Piccolo finds himself on Planet Namek. Will his arrival be enough to turn the tide?

The Fusion

Frieza reveals a dark secret from Vegeta’s past, but the villain has an even more shocking secret in store for the Z-fighters! As the monster’s power level rises to terrifying new heights, all hope for the universe seems lost!

Fighting Power: One Million??

Frieza claims his first victim, Krillin, and Gohan must summon every ounce of his strength in order to save his friend. Can the young Saiyan put a stop to Freiza’s ruthless onslaught, or is he destined to become the next victim?

Gohan Attacks

Gohan and Krillin continue their struggle against the overwhelming powers of Frieza, but as the fighting reaches its peak, a new warrior arrives on the battlefield to aid them in their efforts!

Piccolo the Super-Namek

Piccolo quickly takes control of the battle with Frieza, and the putrid purple monster is shocked to learn the secret behind his opponent’s powers!

Déjà vu

Just as it appears that Piccolo has gained the upper hand, Frieza quickly dashes all hopes for victory by revealing his second monstrous transformation!

Frieza's Second Transformation

Unable to watch as Piccolo is overwhelmed by Frieza, Gohan springs into action! Meanwhile, Vegeta devises a risky plan for transforming himself into a Super Saiyan!

Another Transformation?

Having reached his ultimate form, Frieza is determined to destroy the remaining Z-fighters one by one, but Vegeta boldly announces the end of Frieza’s tyrannical reign! Are Vegeta’s claims true? Has he become a Super Saiyan?

Dende's Demise

Despite his new powers, Vegeta proves no match for Frieza! Meanwhile, Goku’s time in the rejuvenation chamber is nearly complete! Can he reach the battlefield in time to save his friends?

The Renewed Goku

Goku rejoins his friends on the battlefield, but not before Vegeta is defeated by Frieza! As the Saiyan Prince clings to life by a thread, he reveals the secrets of his violent past.

The End of Vegeta

Feeling a new sense of connection to the dwindling Saiyan race, Goku wages war on the monstrous Frieza! As the fight intensifies, Frieza directs his energy blasts at Namek itself, turning the planet into a lava-spewing war zone!

The Ultimate Battle

Goku and Frieza continue their epic battle! An underwater attack puts Goku on top until Frieza traps him in an energy ball! It's fun and games for Frieza, but the exploding ball may prove deadly for Goku!

Clash of the Super Powers

Frieza vows to beat Goku without using his hands, but the mighty Saiyan soon makes the mosnter eat his words! Elsewhere, Captain Ginyu uses his Body Switch Technique on Bulma, leaving her trapped in the body of a frog!

Frieza's Boast

Captain Ginyu returns to the battlefield in Bulma's body! Can Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan handle this Femme Fatale? Later, Frieza powers up to fifty percent of his maximum, and Goku finds himself completely outmatched!

Bold and Fearless

Goku’s powerful Kaio-Ken attack has no effect on Frieza, who is still only fighting with fifty-percent of his power! Just as it seems Frieza has won the battle, a dream-like vision helps Goku ascend to a higher level of power and strength!

Embodiment of Fire

Once again, Goku is rescued by a vision! This time, Vegeta talks to Goku from beyond the grave to offer new hope and encouragement! But when Goku realizes that the battle against Frieza is futile, he turns to his last resort: the Spirit Bomb!

Trump Card

Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu find themselves in serious trouble when the Ginyu Force invades King Kai’s planet! Meanwhile, as Frieza thwarts Goku’s efforts to gather energy for the Spirit Bomb, Piccolo must enter the battle!

Keep the Chance Alive

Chaos erupts on King Kai’s planet as the Z-fighters battle the Ginyu Force! Back on Planet Namek, the life and death struggle between Piccolo and Frieza rages on, and Goku completes his Spirit Bomb!

Power of the Spirit

A victory celebration comes to a halt when Frieza reappears! With no reserves left, Goku watches helplessly as Frieza directs his fury at Piccolo and Krillin. Enraged by the loss of his friends, Goku undergoes a wild transformation!

Transformed at Last

Engulfed in golden light, Goku announces that he is now a Super Saiyan! Frieza is unimpressed - until the fighting begins! In a raging battle, Frieza is horrified when he realizes that Goku is now superior to him in every way!

Explosion of Anger

Finding himself no match for Goku, Frieza attacks Planet Namek! Unable to react in time, Goku is forced to watch helplessly as the fiery blast rips through Namek’s core! Can anyone survive such incredible destruction?

Namek's Destruction

With only minutes to go before the planet explodes, Frieza reaches his maximum power! Meanwhile, Gohan and Bulma race back to Goku’s spaceship. Can Goku defeat Frieza in time to rejoin his son and fly to safety?

A Final Attack

The battle between Goku and Frieza rages on! Back on Earth, the seven Dragon Balls have been restored, but with Namek’s destruction imminent, can Kami and Mr. Popo summon the Eternal Dragon before it’s too late?

Approaching Destruction

Frieza’s victims have been wished back to life, but as they begin to rise, Goku falls - overwhelmed by Frieza’s devastating assault. Sensing his father’s defeat, Gohan rushes to the scene as the universe’s final hope.

The Best Seasons of Dragon Ball Z

The Best Seasons of Dragon Ball Z

Season 4

Season 7

Season 5

Season 2

Season 6

Season 3

Season 1

Season 8

Season 9