Who would you say are the 5 main characters in Dragon Ball?

[TheZFighter]

1. Goku.
2. Bulma.
3. Vegeta.
4. Piccolo.
5. Gohan.

Tricky picking five because, looking at the series in its entirety, Goku is the only one who has been active on the "front line" from the start till now. Bulma has to be right up there as well because she kicked the whole thing off and, although not in a fighting sense, has been an important character for a long time. Vegeta has grown and grown in terms of popularity since his debut, and is now very much seen as leading the line with Goku. I'd say that is about it really, in terms of definitive "main characters". Otherwise you have a load of characters who could be seen as being "there or thereabouts".

Piccolo is like a "lite Vegeta" and has been a big player for a long time, but isn't really right up there with Goku and Vegeta. Gohan has threatened to step up for a long time but, for whatever reason, it hasn't happened. I think Krillin's importance is perhaps overstated by some, but nobody can say that he hasn't been a visible presence for a long time.

[ekrolo2]

Goku, Goku's hair, Goku's gi (post-Namek obvs), Goku's battle junkieness and the Kamehameha.

[Lord Beerus]

Goku, Goku's hair, Goku's gi (post-Namek obvs), Goku's battle junkieness and the Kamehameha.

But what about Goku's Power Pole and and his Flying Numbus? Where do they fit in?

[Grimlock]

In Dragon Ball Super, the main characters are Goku, Goku Z's gi, Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, Kamehameha and Freeza.

[precita]

In Dragon Ball Super, the main characters are Goku, Goku Z's gi, Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, Kamehameha and Freeza.

Heh, I hope Gohan stays relevant even after this tournament ends. I don't want to see him pushed to the sidelines again.

[GoldenOozaru]

As a whole including dragonball, dragon ball z, and dragon ball super my opinion on the 5 main characters in order would be:
1.) Goku
2.) Bulma
3.) Vegeta
4.) Piccolo
5.) Gohan

[jaiOtaku]

goku, vegeta, gohan, trunks, piccolo

[Raizenx28]

1. Goku
2.Vegeta
3.Gohan
4.Kuririn
5.Piccolo

[FortuneSSJ]

5 really wouldn't be accurate for all series.

Dragon Ball: Goku and Bulma.
Dragon Ball Z: Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo and Bulma.
Dragon Ball GT: Goku, Pan and Trunks.
Dragon Ball Super: Goku, Vegeta, Bulma, Beerus and Whis.

[ThatFanaticJackatoo]

In the Saipan saga: Gohan, Piccolo, Killin, Goku and Tien (Chiaotzu and Yamaha were also parts)
Frieza: Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Frieza and Killin
Cell/Android: Gohan, Future Trunks, goku, Vegeta and Cell

[Puaru]

I always consider the franchise as a whole to have 6 main characters, namely Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Bulma, Piccolo and Krillin.

Goku is the obvious number one, being the only character who is truly relevant in every single arc.

Vegeta has got to be number two, NEARLY always being a big part of the arcs aver since being introduced.

Gohan is then the definite number three, being of about equal importance to Goku and Vegeta throughout the entirety of DBZ, even if he did fade more into the background later.

Bulma is fourth, nearly always playing a part in every arc since the very beggining of the series.

Piccolo and Krillin are mostly sort of on the same level of prominence, usually appearing as at least supporting characters in most arcs, but Piccolo has a slight edge over Krillin due to the later occasionaly being related to nothing more than a background character in certain arcs. Piccolo nearly always gets to do at least SOMETHING in every arc.

[omaro34]

1) Goku
2) Gohan
3) Vegeta
4) Piccolo
5) Bulma

Bulma has constantly been useful with her technological help. She knows how to make scouters, dragonball radars, and even invented a time machine, which was a driving force for Z's plot in the Cell arc.

Piccolo is extremely important to the story especially early on due to his link with the Dragonballs. If he died, the Dragonballs would turn to stone. His death in the Saiyan arc is the main catalyst which lead to the good guys going to Namek in the first place, and people forget that.

[Doctor.]

Goku, Goku's hair, Goku's gi (post-Namek obvs), Goku's battle junkieness and the Kamehameha.

Needs more kid Goku penis.

[omaro34]

Goku, Goku's hair, Goku's gi (post-Namek obvs), Goku's battle junkieness and the Kamehameha.

Needs more kid Goku penis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIo-DysAq4c

[ekrolo2]

Goku, Goku's hair, Goku's gi (post-Namek obvs), Goku's battle junkieness and the Kamehameha.

Needs more kid Goku penis.

Nah, it got phased out too soon to count.

[8000 Saiyan]

Goku, Bulma, Vegeta, Gohan and Piccolo.

[Doctor.]

Goku, Goku's hair, Goku's gi (post-Namek obvs), Goku's battle junkieness and the Kamehameha.

Needs more kid Goku penis.

Nah, it got phased out too soon to count.

But it makes a return appearance in GT.

[precita]

I think if we were solely referring to Super:

Goku
Vegeta
Bulma
Beerus
Whis

Trunks was important too but only for one arc. And only just now are characters like Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, etc. starting to get some focus.

[GreatSaiyaJeff]

It changes quite a bit.
Pilaf saga: Goku, Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Puar
21st tourney: Goku, Bulma, Yamcha, Kuririn, Muten Roshi
Piccolo Daimao: Goku, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Muten Roshi, Bulma
Piccolo Jr: Goku, Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Chaozu
Saiyajin arc: Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Kuririn, Yajirobe
Freeza arc: Goku, Gohan, Kuririn, Vegeta, Piccolo
Cell arc: Gohan, Goku, Vegeta, Future Trunks, Piccolo
Buu arc: Gohan, Goku, Vegeta, Trunks, Goten

Pretty much, although you could replace Chaozu and Yajirobe with Piccolo in the Piccolo Jr and Saiyan arc respectivly. Although Yajirobe could stay since he has been more useful then Chaozu ever has.

[MajinMan]

If we go arc by arc with a strict rule of 5, it would be:

1. Hunt for the Dragon Balls - Goku, Bulma, Oolong, Yamcha, Puer

2. 21st Tenkaichi Budokai - Goku, Muten Roshi, Kuririn, Yamcha, Tournament Announcer

3. Red Ribbon Army - Goku, Bulma, Kuririn, Upa, Muten Roshi

4. 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai - Goku, Tenshinhan, Muten Roshi, Kuririn, Chaozu

5. Piccolo Daimao - Goku, Tenshinhan, Muten Roshi, Yajirobe, Bulma

6. 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai - Goku, Tenshinhan, Kuririn, Kami, Chi-Chi

7. Saiyan - Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Kuririn, Yajirobe

8. Freeza - Goku, Gohan, Kuririn, Vegeta, Bulma

9. Cell - Goku, Trunks, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo

10. Buu - Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Mr. Satan, Goten/Trunks


Overall it is - Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Kuririn, Bulma