Dragon Ball: 8 Most Underrated Characters, Ranked

Dragon Ball is undeniably one of the most popular franchises in the world, and there are several reasons why. Not only does this amazing series have some of the most exciting battles in all anime, but it also has an amazing cast of characters, many of whom are among the most powerful anime characters of all time.

While iconic warriors like Goku and Vegeta have the fans’ full confidence, seeing as they have proven just how mighty they can truly be, several others are not as favored by audiences. Even though these cast members boast power and ability far superior to a large majority of the universe, they are seen as either too weak or useless during combat, disregarding their achievements and amazing traits that make the series better.

8

Without Chi-Chi, Goku’s Family Life Would Be a Mess

Goku’s wife, as well as the pillar that keeps her family afloat, Chi-Chi, is by far one of the most controversial figures in the Dragon Ball franchise. She is a loving yet stern and hot-headed housewife who takes the role of caregiver to not only her children, but her husband as well. Her constant bickering with Goku, as she often criticizes the man for putting training before his family, has caused many fans to see her as a source of annoyance rather than a compelling character.

The fact that Toriyama himself stated in the past that Chi-Chi was his least favorite character did nothing but add fuel to these allegations. This has resulted in Chi-Chi’s many amazing qualities and efforts being overlooked by the fandom, who focus mostly on her overbearing parenting rather than on her struggles as a mother. Chi-Chi might not be a powerful warrior like the rest of her family, but it is thanks to her that Goku and his kids grew up to be the respectable individuals fans admire.

7

Master Roshi Has Proved Himself Many Times

Hailed as one of the best mentors in anime history, Master Roshi is far more than one of the world’s greatest martial artists; he is the man who helped Goku become the hero he is today. For several decades, this charismatic warrior held the title of the strongest human, capable of battling against the most dangerous opponents without an issue. He created some of the most iconic techniques in the series, like the Kamehameha or the Evil Containment Wave.

Lamentably, Roshi soon saw himself being surpassed not only by his students but also by the new enemies that threatened to destroy the planet, assuming a supporting role. He has proven himself to be a capable opponent, as he was able to hold his own during the Tournament of Power arc up to a certain extent, earning the praise of Beerus himself. While many fans still admire him for his past feats and teachings, there are many who doubted whether he was capable of fighting opponents from other universes.

6

Hercule Would Be a True Monster in Real Life

Praised by the inhabitants of the Dragon Ball universe as their savior, Mr. Satan is one of the franchise’s most hilarious and beloved characters. Despite his official title as the one who protected Earth against Cell and the Androids, he is among the weakest members of the main cast. He has been forced to rely on tricks or bribery over the years to simply maintain his facade, as he knows that being discovered as a fraud would be devastating to his career.

It is an undoubted fact that Hercule is nowhere near as strong as the rest of the world believes him to be, but he is still much more powerful than most fans give him credit for. Mr. Satan does not have access to Ki, meaning all the feats he has demonstrated through the years, such as moving an entire line of buses or breaking hundreds of tiles, are the result of his innate strength. In the real world, Hercule would not only be one of the most skilled fighters, but one of the strongest as well.

5

Demon King Dabura’s Reputation Was Stained by a Single Bad Match-up

Introduced as the fearsome and ruthless ruler of the Dragon Ball’s Demon Realm, Dabura was a loyal servant to the wizard Babidi. He was an imposing warrior whose very presence was enough to make most fighters tremble in fear. Not only was he far stronger than most other characters during the Buu Saga, one of the best in the series, but he also had incredibly dangerous powers like turning his opponents into stone.

Despite this, Dabura is often seen as a weak opponent due to his devastating defeat at the hands of Majin Buu. During their brief encounter, the Demon King tried to harm his opponent by using his overwhelming strength and Ki Blasts, which did nothing to the pink monster. Buu did not waste time before turning him into a cookie and eating him entirely. Dabura was undoubtedly a mighty opponent, but he was unfortunately fighting an enemy who could overcome his strength, tarnishing his legacy.

4

Yajirobe Is Brave When Push Comes To Push

A character who is more often than not forgotten by fans due to his decision to stay away from fights, Yajirobe is one of Goku’s oldest friends. He is a cowardly, but loyal samurai who uses his skills to help his friends and protect the planet. Among the powerful members of the Z Fighters, Yajirobe stands near the bottom, having no real superhuman abilities or unique transformations.

The fact that he decided to retire from fighting in fear of losing his life confirmed for many just how weak and powerless he was when compared to his cast members. Yet, even when fearing for his life, Yajiroibe has proved to be a true fighter, not only standing against Vegeta during the Saiyan Saga, but also being one of humanity’s leaders in Trunk’s future when Goku Black took over.

3

Tien Shinhan Is Always There When the Planet Needs Him

One of the franchise’s most iconic characters and a fighter who has been a part of the main cast since near the beginning of the series, Tien Shinhan is a noble and stoic warrior who appears to have no fear. Introduced as an enemy of Goku during the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, he acted as a valuable ally during most of Z’s most important sagas, despite the fact that he was soundly defeated every time.

A large majority of the fandom adores Tien, as he is not only a truly iconic character but also one of the coolest cast members in the franchise, even when many disregard his contributions for being weak. Nevertheless, whenever he was needed, Tien would launch into action without hesitation. He fought against opponents he knew he had no chance against, such as Nappa and Cell, only to make sure that the planet would stay safe.

2

Krillin Is Canonically The Strongest Human Alive

After joining Goku and training under Master Roshi, Krillin became a skilled and powerful warrior, with only a few characters able to outmatch him in terms of raw strength. This would, lamentably, not last long, as once enemies such as King Piccolo or the Saiyans arrived, Krillin’s power became less and less impressive.

Seeing as he’s also died more than anyone else throughout the series, many fans understandably came to see Krillin as a weakling. This perception, while not outlandish, takes away from his bravery and skill. Even when he knows the dangers of fighting an opponent, Goku’s best friend never backs down. It is also important to note that, in terms of technique and overall strength, Krillin is currently the strongest human alive.

1

Yamcha Is Nowhere Near as Weak as Fans Think

Yamcha has to be the character fans underestimate the most. Introduced during Goku’s first-ever adventure, this bandit-turned-friend, became a key part of the Dragon Team in the original series and DBZ. Like most other humans in the franchise, Yamcha was quickly overpowered by the villains in Dragon Ball Z, not only falling at the hands of a Saibaman, but being defeated time and time again.

Yamcha quickly became one of the hilarious anime memes ever. There is no denying how weak Yamcha is when compared to characters with god-like power such as Goku or Frieza. Still, this does not justify the fact that fans treat him like a joke, even when he has proven to be not only a courageous warrior, but also a truly impressive fighter who can defeat opponents far superior to the average human.

TV Show(s)

Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball DAIMA

First TV Show

Dragon Ball

Created by

Akira Toriyama

Latest TV Show

Dragon Ball DAIMA

Upcoming TV Shows

Dragon Ball DAIMA

First Episode Air Date

February 26, 1986