Best Sagas In The Dragon Ball Franchise

Key Takeaways

• The Shadow Dragon Saga in Dragon Ball GT has its bright moments despite plot holes and execution issues.
• The Red Ribbon Army Saga in Dragon Ball embodies the spirit of the franchise at its best.
• The Tournament Saga was a cornerstone, setting a powerful start for martial arts combat trends in the anime.

Goku and his friends have been around for quite a while, considering Akira Toriyama’s initial manga was written in 1984 and there are still upcoming storylines as part of the franchise. Way past the 800th episode mark across six anime series, there is so much Dragon Ball content out there, which is one of the many reasons the anime are so beloved worldwide.

Like any long-running franchise, the series has ups and downs, with some filler-worthy arcs but also unforgettable sagas that made Dragon Ball what it is. Even though every saga is filled with great episodes, there are storylines in Goku’s universe that stand out and deserve to be recognized as the best.

Updated October 26, 2024, by Ana Micaela Leite Scheidemantel: To celebrate Dragon Ball’s 40th anniversary, a new anime series has been released, reinventing some popular tropes and storylines in the franchise. Pushing the franchise’s boundaries with new places and a heavy dose of references, Dragon Ball Daima is yet to claim its spot among the greatest sagas in the previous anime series. For now, the new series is slowly conquering a space in fans’ hearts dedicated to the previous animes. There are a plethora of incredible sagas that fans want to see surpassed and represented in the anime, be it for their innovation, epic battles, incredible villains, or bingeworthy plotlines.

14 Universe 6 Saga – Dragon Ball Super

Dragon Ball’s Big Expansion With New Characters And Paths

The Universe 6 saga expands the Dragon Ball universe with an unfamiliar location, innovative ideas, and numerous new characters. Yet, the changes also come with a staple of Dragon Ball, present in all the anime series: tournaments. While the stakes are different and the context new, tournaments are an all-too-familiar part of Dragon Ball.

By introducing this new world to the franchise in a well-known format, the Universe 6 saga definitely ranks among the best in Dragon Ball Super. While the fights are not as epic or memorable as in other tournaments, this arc sets up new directions and paths for the anime series to follow.

13 Android Saga – Dragon Ball Z

An Arc Marked By High Stakes And Great Character Evolution

While the Android saga may not reach the heights of its sister saga, the Cell Story arc, it still holds a high position among Dragon Ball Z storylines. By bringing the threat back to Earth, the episodes feel more personal, especially as the audience learns more about what the androids are capable of.

Moreover, Trunk’s arrival from a bleak future with no Goku or most of the Z fighters heightens the stakes, making sure the audience knows the consequences of failure. The different Androids also give obstacles that increase in difficulty with every fight. This increases the focus on the character’s evolution, especially as Goku leaves the fight, leaving some space for other characters to step in.

12 Tien Shinhan Saga – Dragon Ball

The Introduction Of A Crucial Character And A Great Dragon Ball Trend

Sometimes overlooked, Tien Shinhan has been a character that completely changed the original Dragon Ball anime, being one of the constants until nowadays. Up until this point in the anime, Dragon Ball was still quite inconsistent with its storylines, sagas and characters. Yet, Tien Shinhan’s introduction signifies a change.

The character’s arc, going from villain to a Z fighter, was not only well-executed through an intricate plot. It also featured incredible fights in a memorable tournament. This kind of storytelling became a trend in the anime, which is a testament to the quality of the saga, especially by having the character stick around as a crucial member of the Z Fighters.

11 The Shadow Dragon Saga – Dragon Ball GT

An Honorable Mention To Dragon Ball GT’s Best

Despite not being the greatest of the franchise’s anime as it is filled with plot holes and poorly executed ideas, Dragon Ball GT does have its bright moments. The last arc of the series, for instance, was able to wrap it up quite well with great moments, more dragons, and an emotional finale.

Even though its execution might not be the greatest, the concept, humor, and ideas brought forward by this saga make up for some of the mistakes in the series.

10 Red Ribbon Army Saga – Dragon Ball

Original Dragon Ball Concept At Its Best

Young Goku trying to get his four-star Dragon Ball back makes this saga light and fun, filled with down-to-earth combat and fighting. Having innocent Goku going against a whole army to retrieve his prized possession makes for a pleasurable and exciting adventure that was at Dragon Ball’s core.

Embodying the original spirit of the franchise, this saga makes it easy to see why the world of a kid with a monkey tail on an adventure to get a magical ball is so beloved. The saga was also responsible for starting some storylines later explored in other anime, all wrapped up in a storyline that made the initial show so fun to watch.

9 The Future Trunks Saga – Dragon Ball Super

A Fan-Favorite Returns In A Saga Filled With Twists

As one of Dragon Ball Super’s best sagas, Future Trunks also has deep connections to another great Dragon Ball Z saga. Bringing back the fan favorite, the Trunks from a future timeline, the 29 episodes in this storyline were able to keep up the twists in a compelling story.

With great characters, unpredictable moments, and great fights, this saga keeps fans guessing until the end, making it one of the most entertaining arcs to watch in the franchise. Despite its original take with a different hero and outcome, this saga just lacks some of the magic that the highs of the first two anime series had.

8 Tournament Saga – Dragon Ball

The Start Of A True Dragon Ball Tradition

Goku’s first martial arts tournament was filled with down-to-earth battles that further established Goku’s character, especially concerning his friends. Despite not having some of the flair that other tournaments have, this one is the reason why a lot of Dragon Ball fans stuck around, making such tournaments a cornerstone of the franchise.

Not only did this set a powerful start to the tournament trends in the anime, but it also did a great job of establishing characters and their relationships. Mixing levity with great martial arts combat, this is definitely a must-watch saga among the many episodes in the Dragon Ball franchise.

7 Majin Buu Saga – Dragon Ball Z

Highest Highs But Lowest Lows Of Dragon Ball

Although this saga has its fair share of issues, sloppy storylines, and senseless loose ends, it also contains some of the most iconic moments in the franchise. Not only does it offer fans the fusion dance and another Goku and Vegeta face-off, but it also has the two coming together like never before.

The Buu Arc is responsible for setting back Gohan’s character arc and creating a repetitive storyline, yet it also provides an emotional fight as Goku collects energy for his Spirit Bomb. Overall, the Majin Buu saga is filled with unforgettable moments.

6 Piccolo Jr. Saga – Dragon Ball

Great Tournament Storyline And The End Of An Era

This saga has one of the most significant time-skips of the whole franchise as it picks up after Goku’s time training with Kami to prepare for Piccolo Jr. Not only did Goku change in appearance, but there was a shift in his characterization, setting him and the other Z fighters up for Dragon Ball Z.

Besides the grandiosity of Piccolo Jr. and Goku’s face-off, which sets up the antagonists’ arc in the franchise, this saga also puts forward one of the best tournaments in the franchise, with some epic matches —Tenshinhan against his idol Tao, Goku and Chi-Chi rekindling and Piccolo versus Krillin. The Piccolo Jr. saga was the perfect goodbye to Dragon Ball and the greatest welcome to Dragon Ball Z.

5 The Universal Survival Saga – Dragon Ball Super

The Tournament Of Power Is Filled With Classic References

Even though Dragon Ball Super is not known for being the best series in the franchise, it still manages to have one of the best sagas. The Universal Survival storyline introduces new characters and brings back some fan favorites in a tournament that has several incredible fights.

As a longer saga, this one was filled with great references and fan service, featuring one of Goku’s greatest achievements in the franchise. Despite the powerful villain being its main letdown, the saga has everything that makes a memorable Dragon Ball saga.

4 Saiyan Saga – Dragon Ball Z

The Start Of The Greatest Rivalry And Friendship To Set Up Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball would not be the same without one of the best duos in all anime history. Vegeta and Goku have been enemies, rivals, allies, and friends, but regardless of their relationship status, they push each other to be better and to get stronger. Not only does the Saiyan saga introduce this relationship with incredible battles, but it also sets up the rest of Dragon Ball Z.

Moreover, this saga has moments that affect the rest of the series, including Piccolo and Goku’s alliance, the introduction of other Saiyans, and, of course, a glimpse of little Gohan’s power. This saga helped establish the anime series as one of the best.

3 King Piccolo Saga – Dragon Ball

Turning Point In The Franchise When The Villain Wins

This saga signifies a pivotal point in the Dragon Ball universe as it heightened the stakes to levels not done before, incorporating a new seriousness to the fights. King Piccolo presents a real threat, hitting the audience close to their hearts, with Krillin’s fate serving as a trigger for the saga.

This whole arc is probably the darkest part of the original Dragon Ball series as it sees Goku and his friends losing for the first time against a properly evil villain. Yet it changes the anime, opening the door to new and exciting threats that kept fans on the edges of their seats.

2 Cell Saga – Dragon Ball Z

High Stakes Mixed With A Tournament Of Surprises

Goku’s defeat, Gohan’s rise to hero in an incredible underdog moment, and the general rivalry in the Cell games are some of the many surprises that permeate this saga. As Cell reaches his perfect body, the heroes have to prepare to fight in a tournament like no other, even unearthing a new and more powerful Super Saiyan transformation.

As with any long saga, it has its faults and prolonged and repetitive storylines that do not always come to their full potential, yet the saga features intense fights, high stakes, and unforeseen twists, reaching a height that most sagas do not.

1 Frieza Saga – Dragon Ball Z

The whole Frieza arc features some of the most iconic moments in the franchise. The Z fighters go against a universal tyrant, the infamous Frieza, and his forces as they look for the Dragon Balls in Namek.

Yet, with a flick of his finger, the villain was able to do so much, making him seem terrifyingly powerful, unmatched by all. The mix of the classic Dragon Balls, with an intimidating villain and the iconic Super Saiyan transformation, means this saga has some of the best moments and fights in the franchise, managing to keep the quality despite the plethora of episodes.