Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series has practically become synonymous with the shonen and action genres of anime. Dragon Ball has persevered for over 35 years and it’s still going strong with plenty of new content on the way. There are many ways in which Dragon Ball has changed and evolved since its start, but one of the most significant shifts is that many of the characters grow stronger and more dangerous, often to astronomical proportions.
The anime follows Goku and the other characters who fight to become stronger, which leaves a number of important Dragon Ball characters who could seriously benefit from some dedicated training.
10 Yamcha’s Lack Of Training Has Turned Him Into Dragon Ball’s Punchline
It’s a little disappointing that Yamcha is one of the first characters Goku encounters in the original Dragon Ball series, and at that point, he’s not only a central figure in the anime but someone who can confidently keep up with Goku in strength. Yamcha’s decline begins before Dragon Ball Z, but by then, the damage is done and he struggles to remain relevant. Sadly, one of Yamcha’s most exciting arcs and instances of training comes from filler material when he spends some time with King Kai. He’s even ignored during the Tournament of Power.
9 Serious Training Could Help Chiaotzu Become More Than Just A Sidekick
The original Dragon Ball series is full of familiar faces who are still in the franchise, but some of the first anime’s most intimidating fighters, like Chiaotzu and Tien, are barely in the picture. Chiaotzu is an individual who accepts the fact that he just can’t keep up with the other formidable fighters around him. Dragon Ball Super returns to both Chiaotzu and Tien, the latter of which has kept up training and retained his strength. Chiaotzu has turned into more of a glorified sparring partner for his friend, and he’d seriously benefit from someone giving him the same attention.
8 Videl Enters Dragon Ball With Serious Potential That Is Quickly Lost
The time jump that takes place in Dragon Ball Z after the events of the Cell Saga leads to the introduction of many characters who become vital figures in the series. Videl is particularly exciting because she’s a strong female fighter, who’s human and also becomes Gohan’s love interest.
Videl makes her mark in the World Martial Arts Tournament, but after she gets together with Gohan, she trades in fighting for a domestic life. Videl still has tremendous potential, and now that her life has settled down, she could benefit a lot from a return to training.
7 Goten & Trunks Can Benefit The Most From Focused Training
One of the perks of Dragon Ball lasting for hundreds of episodes is that it allows a generational aspect to enter the series where Goku grows older, begins a family, and then watches that family grow. Goku’s second child, Goten, becomes best friends with Vegeta’s son, Trunks, and the two become so inseparable that fusion is a usual tactic for them in battle. Trunks and Goten become Super Saiyans faster than anyone else in their family, but their growth gets stunted and they’re pushed to the sidelines. It’s time for them to train, grow, and become valuable fighters again.
6 Yajirobe Embraces A Life Of Leisure
In the earlier days of Dragon Ball, Goku holds quite a bit of reverence toward Yajirobe, a skilled swordsman who is close with Korin, Kami, and the Senzu Beans. Yajirobe frequently gets dismissed, which makes the crucial role that he plays in Vegeta’s initial defeat such a cherished moment from the series. Yajirobe doesn’t seem like he wants to improve as a fighter, but if he just applied himself a little more, he might surprise himself. He’d be a great person to help Trunks develop his sword skills and maybe the young Saiyan could help Yajirobe improve, too.
5 Krillin Remains On The Crossroads Of Greatness
Dragon Ball is a series that frequently positions strength as the most important thing due to Goku and Vegeta’s obsession with it, but there are plenty of characters who arguably live fuller lives beyond that.
Krillin is one of Goku’s first training partners, but he allows himself to accept his limits, and his life as a police officer is actually quite noble. Goku helps Krillin train again in Dragon Ball Super for the Tournament of Power, but it seems to only be temporary. He makes such progress that he should definitely keep up with this work.
4 Broly Has Immense Strength But Lacks the Discipline
Love it or hate it, Dragon Ball Super: Broly brings the burly Super Saiyan properly into the series’ canon and there are some significant tweaks made to the character’s backstory. Broly remains an incredibly dangerous fighter who’s spent most of his life being manipulated by his father and others. Broly’s sense of right and wrong has been skewed for too long, but Goku helps him finally clear his head. Broly is now in the perfect position to take up training with a disciplined mentor and truly grow as a fighter.
3 A Dedicated Training Schedule Could Actually Legitimize Hercule Satan
One joke that develops throughout the latter half of Dragon Ball Z is that Hercule Satan becomes the face of strength and safety as far as Earth’s population is concerned. Hercule is a showboat performance artist who has martial arts abilities but in a very rudimentary capacity, and he prefers to inflate his image and coast off of the success of others. At the same time, Hercule does have the foundation for a decent fighter, and it’d make for an interesting change of pace if he tried to become an honest fighter, only to get ignored.
2 Frieza’s Limited Stints With Training Have Unleashed Incredible Power
Dragon Ball is rich with fascinating villains, yet the series frequently returns to Frieza as a persistent thorn in the sides of Goku and the rest of the heroes. One of Frieza’s most prominent returns also showcases his new Golden Frieza transformation. Frieza reveals that he’s always been so strong that he’s never needed to train before, but this new plateau of power is the result. It’s for this very reason that Frieza should continue to push his limits in this area and see what comes of it as a result. Maybe a Platinum Frieza is around the corner.
1 Proper Training Can Earn Gohan His Rightful Place As The Strongest
Gohan is one of the most frustrating characters throughout the Dragon Ball franchise. Akira Toriyama very clearly sets Dragon Ball Z up to have Gohan transition as the series’ protagonist after Goku’s passing, but his backpedaling of this decision ultimately hurts Gohan’s character more than anything else. Gohan’s return to normalcy and domestication while a powerful fighter lies inside of him becomes a major aspect of his arc in Dragon Ball Super, but he still needs to go further here and lose himself in training to the point that a different Gohan emerges from the other side of the experience.
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