Favorite World Martial Arts Tournament/Tenka'ichi Budōkai?

[Nikkolas]

So I've finally getting around to buying the Dragonball seasons and I was contemplating how to go about this. I didn't know if I wanted to buy them all at once or get most now and buy the last couple later.

Thinking about it, I don't really feel like spending money on Season 1. The Pilaf Saga is too episodic for me and the 21st, while having some nice fights, is just a standard shounen fighting tournament. Apart from Nam, there's really very little in terms of the story behind it.

So I decided I'm at least going to buy the 3rd and 4th Season. Not only because I think the King Piccolo arc is possibly the best thing to ever happen to DB or Z, but also because it has the 22nd Tournament/Budokai. I remember thinking Goku vs. Tien/Tenshinhan was one of the best fights in the series and most importantly, this time the fighting did have a real story purpose. It was about helping Tien see the light and avenging Yamcha. That kind of emotional investment in the story is why i prefer it so much to the first.

And then I'm really drawing a blank on the 23rd. I think I was kinda burnt out after how epic Piccolo Daimaō was. I remember Kami was possessing some poor dude and then Goku got married in a rather retarded fashion and then he fought Piccolo Jr. I know a lot of people say that last fight is one of the best but I can't remember much of it at all.

So...the topic. I guess I kinda dragged the OP on a bit. Which tournament did you think was best and why?

P.S.
I know name usage is a somewhat touchy subject for some DB fans... I tried to use both the dub and "correct" names for things. I am a dub anime watcher but I try to cater to all sensibilities.

[GotenDaisuki]

I think the 23rd was the best. You get a fresh, new Goku fighting a fight you have waited for since the old Piccolo died. The anxiety factor made it all the more satisfying when you watched the fight.

[Gyt Kaliba]

Honestly, I'd be hard pressed to pick one, as the original three tournaments in the series were some of the best stuff in the series, and I enjoyed them all.

That said though, I think...I'll go with the 23rd Budokai, the final one where Goku fought Piccolo in the finals. From that point through the Raditz fight maybe, is actually that small window where the fighting style of the series is my favorite. There's still a lot of planning to the fights, a lot of strategy, and still a lot of focus on the physical side of fighting. That way, when really huge energy beam struggles do occur, they actually still feel really legit as an 'OH SHI-' moment.

[BrodieK41]

It's the 23rd for me. I do like the other tournaments (the 22nd comes really close) but I just love how the fights are drawn and it goes by a pretty good pace. I think in the anime the tournament only lasts around a dozen or so episodes and it never feels tedious or slow paced.

[Piccolo Daimao]

The 23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai, due to the beautifully choreographed fight that is Son Gokuu vs. Piccolo (best fight in DB, IMO), and the other great matches. After that, it's the 22nd, then the 21st, then the 25th, then lastly the 28th.

[TripleRach]

The three original tournaments are some of the highest points of the series, so it's hard to choose between them.

I haven't read or watched the 22nd and 23rd in a while, but I've been writing about the 21st lately, so that one's really fresh in my mind. As much as I like the first arc with Pilaf, I feel like Toriyama really hit his stride with the 21st Budoukai. It's a perfect mix of humor, action, and drama from start to finish, and does a great job of using both new and old characters. It's also full of all kinds of wacky attacks, and so many different swerves that keep the fights eventful and exciting.

It doesn't feel completely fair to say this when I haven't seen the others in a while, but maybe the 21st really is my favorite.

[Jackal puFF]

Definitely 22nd for me. I really like the seriousness of Muten Roshi and the introduction of Tien to the series.

[son veku]

Alright if you want the tenshinhan saga/tournament? You have to buy 3 and 4 Because season 4 only has the second half while the 3rd contains the first half.

[Kid Buu]

I was going to say the 23rd, but I think the 21st edges it out. Perfect balance of humor and action there.

[NessMudkip]

22nd easily. Goku vs. Tenshinhan was just amazing. I use that fight as an example when people say that Dragon Ball has no action because it was just so good, and is my favourite fight in the entire series.

[Shiyonasan]

Going to have to go with the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai. The fight between Goku and Tenshinhan is very well choreographed in my opinion. I also think some of the early fights in this Budokai are well thought out and, in the case of Kuririn vs. Man-Wolf, clever and funny. This Budokai has just about every kind of fight in it and is entertaining from start to finish.

I'm going to have to agree with Jackal puFF about Muten Roshi as well. The interaction between him and Tsuru-Sen'nin in this Budokai is always interesting to watch.

[Gokuman1993]

23rd Tenkaichi. Had some kickass fight scenes (ex. Goku vs. Piccolo), really funny moments (ex. Yamcha vs. Kami) and a really sweet moment between two lovers (ex. Goku's proposal to Chichi) Not to mention, it set the standard of what's gonna come next in DBZ

[SylentEcho]

I enjoyed the 22nd Budokai more because it was more Dragon Ball-ish. Goku was still a kid and there was way more hand-to-hand combat.

The 23rd action-wise felt more like the start of Z than the ending of DB.

[thedarkuniter]

It's really, really hard to pick just one, but my favorite one has to be the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament, I just love the fight between Goku and Piccolo; plus it's like the only time you get to see Piccolo as a huge ass giant!

[OzzyApu]

I'd go with the Tenshinhan one. That had so much tension, which was trumped by the Piccolo one, of course, but it had a better atmosphere to it. The journey factor was still in there, and while I love the characters being more grown up in the next tournament, this one still has that original DB charm. Tenshinhan was an asshole and a good villain for the amount of time, and his changeover was a nice addition. The fights were fun and had a deeper impact than the previous tournament. The Piccolo tournament formed the legs of DBZ, but the Tenshinhan tournament stands on its own and has a great follow-up story with Piccolo Daimao. Plus the final fight with Goku and Tenshinhan was the heaviest, coolest fight up to that point in the series. The Piccolo vs Goku fight at the final tournament of DB had more on the line, and it had some awesome scenes going for it, but I love the pairing of Goku and Tenshinhan more. The Kikouhou build-up and shot I'd still put in the top coolest moments of DB.

[Kingdom Heartless]

Definitely 22nd for me. I really like the seriousness of Muten Roshi and the introduction of Tien to the series.

Wait, the filters have been dropped/not brought over?

Hercule and Tien?

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Hercule and Tien?

What the...!?

[Makaioshin]

The 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai. It is my favorite arc of the series. It had the perfect mix of hand to hand combat and use of chi.

[Kingdom Heartless]

That's my point of view as well.

[dprez]

For me it's the 22nd.

The rivalry between the two martial arts schools of Tsuru-sennin and Kame-sennin. The introduction of Tenshinhan. Roshi once again joining the tournament in disguise to test the new generations strength. Goku vs. Kuririn. Tenshinhan vs. Yamucha. Kuririn vs Choutzu was hilarious, and of course the incredible battle between Tenshinhan and Son Goku, which had them both using every bit of power and strategy they had. The tournament also ends on an alarming note with the death of Kuririn and the introduction of the first true villain of Dragon Ball, Piccolo Daimao.