The Dragon Ball universe is renowned for its explosive battles and characters who constantly push their limits. Power scaling in the franchise is a topic of much debate, with characters seemingly surpassing each other in strength with each new arc. This list aims to rank the 20 strongest characters in the canon Dragon Ball storyline, considering feats from the original manga, the Dragon Ball Super manga, and Dragon Ball Super anime.
Understanding Canon in Dragon Ball
Before diving into the rankings, it’s crucial to define “canon” in the Dragon Ball context. For this article, canon refers to the main storyline established by Akira Toriyama, which includes the original manga, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super. This excludes non-canon movies, video games, and spin-offs like Super Dragon Ball Heroes. While some characters from the movies like Broly have been integrated into the main canon, their original movie appearances are not considered.
The Top 20 Strongest
Here are the 20 strongest canon Dragon Ball characters, ranked by their overall power and feats:
20. Kefla
A fusion of Caulifla and Kale, two powerful Saiyans from Universe 6. Kefla’s power is immense, able to push even Goku to his limits in his Super Saiyan Blue form. Her raw strength and speed make her a formidable opponent.
19. Hit
Hit, the legendary assassin from Universe 6, possesses the unique ability to manipulate time. His “Time-Skip” technique, along with his incredible speed and strength, makes him a dangerous adversary. He has consistently challenged Goku in combat.
18. Toppo (God of Destruction Mode)
A former member of the Pride Troopers, Toppo was a powerful fighter even before becoming a God of Destruction candidate. Upon embracing his Destroyer powers, Toppo gains a massive boost in strength and destructive capabilities.
17. Goku Black (Super Saiyan Rosé)
A corrupted version of Goku, Goku Black, possesses immense power and a unique transformation called Super Saiyan Rosé. His fighting style and abilities are similar to Goku’s, but with a more sinister edge.
16. Android 17
After his re-introduction in Dragon Ball Super, Android 17 demonstrates incredible stamina and strength, even able to contend with powerful characters like Jiren. His energy-based abilities and fighting prowess make him a significant threat.
15. Ultimate Gohan
Gohan’s “Ultimate” form unleashes his full potential, making him one of the strongest Z-Fighters. While he sometimes lacks the drive for combat, his raw power rivals that of Super Saiyan Blue Goku. He is one of the most powerful non-fused fighters.
14. Future Trunks
Future Trunks, hailing from an alternate timeline, displays impressive strength, resilience, and skills that have evolved over time. His Super Saiyan Rage form allows him to fight against powerful foes like Goku Black and Zamasu.
13. Golden Frieza
After intense training, Frieza achieves a new form: Golden Frieza. This transformation grants him a massive power increase that rivals that of Super Saiyan Blue Goku, showcasing his terrifying potential.
12. Moro (Post-Absorption)
Moro, the planet-consuming sorcerer, becomes incredibly powerful after absorbing the energy of others. His magic and raw power make him a major threat to the universe, especially after he has absorbed the powers of others.
11. Vegeta (Super Saiyan Blue Evolution/Ultra Ego)
Vegeta, Goku’s eternal rival, is a powerhouse who has achieved his own divine transformations. His Super Saiyan Blue Evolution form and his latest Ultra Ego transformation put him on par with Goku in terms of raw power and skill.
10. Broly (Full Power Super Saiyan)
The legendary Saiyan Broly, reintroduced into the canon, is a brute force of nature. His raw power and near-limitless potential make him an exceptional threat, capable of challenging even the strongest fighters, and pushing them to their limits.
9. Jiren
Jiren, from Universe 11, is known for his incredible strength, able to withstand attacks from the Gods of Destruction. He is a disciplined fighter with immense ki control and power, making him a difficult opponent for anyone to face.
8. Goku (Super Saiyan Blue/Perfected)
Goku, the main protagonist of the series, is a prodigy who constantly surpasses his limits. His Super Saiyan Blue form, combined with his mastery of divine ki, makes him a force to be reckoned with.
7. Beerus
The God of Destruction of Universe 7, Beerus, possesses immense destructive power and is one of the strongest Gods of Destruction. His power is far beyond what most fighters can hope to achieve, and is only surpassed by a select few.
6. Merged Zamasu
The fusion of Goku Black and Zamasu, this entity is an immensely powerful being who possesses the combined power of a god and Saiyan. His near immortality and incredible power make him a formidable and nearly unstoppable foe.
5. Whis
An Angel and the attendant of Beerus, Whis possesses power far beyond that of the Gods of Destruction. His skill, knowledge, and abilities are unmatched, and he serves as a mentor to both Goku and Vegeta.
4. Vados
Vados, the Angel attendant of Champa, is stated to be slightly stronger than Whis. Her power is immense, showcasing how strong the Angels are compared to even the Gods of Destruction.
3. The Grand Priest
The father of all Angels, the Grand Priest, is one of the most powerful beings in the Dragon Ball multiverse. His power and abilities are still largely unknown, but his position indicates that he is extremely strong.
2. Grand Zeno
The Omni-King, Zeno, holds absolute power over all universes. He can erase entire universes with a thought, making him the most dangerous being, even if he is not a fighter, his power is still the most formidable.
1. Tori-Bot/Akira Toriyama
While not a character within the story, Tori-Bot, representing Akira Toriyama himself, is often depicted as an omnipotent being within the Dragon Ball universe. This puts him above even Zeno, as he is ultimately the creator of all things Dragon Ball.
Conclusion
The power scaling in Dragon Ball is constantly evolving, making it a difficult task to definitively rank the characters. However, based on current feats and established power levels within the canon, these 20 characters represent the pinnacle of strength in the Dragon Ball universe. As the story continues, there will likely be more powerful characters introduced and these rankings will certainly shift, keeping the series exciting and unpredictable.
