The Top 13 Best Dragon Ball Z Fights

[Lord Beerus]

IGN did a fun little article on what they thought were the 13 best fights in the Dragon Ball Z anime, movies and TV specials. Here's the full list:

1. Kid Gohan vs Cell (Cell arc)
2. Majin Vegeta vs Buu (Majin Buu arc)
3. Goku and Vegeta vs Kid Buu (Majin Buu arc)
4. Goku vs Freeza (Freeza arc)
5. Super Saiyan Blue Goku vs Golden Freeza (Resurrection F)
6. Goku, Gohan, Goten vs Broly (Broly: The Second Coming)
7. Goku & Group vs Broly (Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan)
8. Goku vs Vegeta (Saiyan arc)
9. Vegeta vs Android 19 (Android arc)
10. Future Trunks vs Mecha Freeza & King Cold (Trunks arc)
11. Tien, Yamcha, Krillin & Piccolo vs The Evil Saiyans (Saiyan arc)
12. Goku vs Beerus (Battle of Gods)
13. Earth’s Fighters vs Freeza’s Army (Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F)

Here's the article for anyone interested.

What are your opinions on the list?

Personally, Goku vs Vegeta (Saiyan arc) is the undisputed number one fight in the entire series and the fact that it's not even in the top three is staggering. The exclusion of Goku vs Cell and Majin Vegeta vs Goku is also inexcusable. I can understand why Vegeta vs Majin Buu is so high on the list because the battle marks a major turning point in his character but the second best fight in all of DBZ? Nah. I'm also certain the Goku, Gohan, Goten vs Broly made the list purely for that Family Kamehameha that sent Broly into the sun. Other than that, the fight was boring and shouldn't be on the list, let alone higher on the list than Goku vs Vegeta from the Saiyan arc. I'm kinda shocked that SSJB Goku vs Golden Freeza made into the top five. I mean, I enjoyed that battle but it lasted a bit too long and got a bit boring. Plus, no fights from The World Strongest? Get out of here.

Also, "God Freeza"? Um... what? Did they even watch Resurrection F? And why is "Teen Gohan" still used to described Gohan at the Cell Games? Ugh...

[precita]

Vegeta Vs. 19 was nothing special at all. Aside from the surprise of seeing Super Saiyan Vegeta for the first time, the actual fight was pretty much nothing. Just 19 draining away Vegeta's energy and him kicking his face off.

[DBZAOTA482]

Can't spell IGNorant without IGN.

[Cipher]

1. Kid Gohan vs Cell (Cell arc)
2. Majin Vegeta vs Buu (Majin Buu arc)

These are barely even fights. In terms of match-ups that utterly one-sided, I'd give it to Beerus vs. everyone in Battle of Gods, which manages to be whimsical and entertaining thanks in part to its budget.

The best fight in the Z portion of the series is Goku vs. Freeza, in the manga. Everyone vs. Vegeta and Gotenks vs. Boo are strong contenders in either version.

[Soppa Saia People]

Kid Gohan vs Cell (Cell arc)

Spoiler:

UGH! It's not even a fight it's Gohan beating up on Cell for like 50 minutes. Also is this a show list or manga list ?

[Doctor.]

No Piccolo Jr. vs Goku, huh.

[Super Saiyan Swagger]

This is the only list I've ever seen that Goku vs Vegeta isn't in the top 5. I've never really thought all that highly about the fight and never understood all the praise about it. It only got exciting for me when Goku went Kaioken x3 up until Vegeta gets blasted to the sky by Goku's Kamehameha. Other than that I thought that it was a pretty decent fight.

I'd put Goku vs Majin Vegeta as no. 1 (which didn't even make it on the list ). I don't agree with Gohan vs Cell being that high on the list. Sure, the fight has a fantastic and intense climax, but everything before that consisted of Gohan and Cell taking turns at beating the shit out of each other. Goku vs Cell was a much better fight.

I'm glad that they included the fight with Freeza's army and Goku vs Golden Freeza on the list. Resurrection 'F' had some fantastic fight scenes. I kinda wish Goku vs Beerus was a bit higher because I love the scene where Goku and Beerus beat the crap out of each other through clouds with 'Hero' by Flow playing in the background.

I'm also REALLY glad that Goku and Vegeta vs Kid Buu is so high on the list. I feel as though that fight doesn't get enough praise. SS2 Goku vs Kid Buu was a spectacle thanks to its great animation. Vegeta constantly getting back up after getting pummelled by Kid Buu was some really awesome stuff. Can't forget to mention that it includes Vegeta's respect for Goku, my favourite scene in the entire franchise. And Goku decimating Kid Buu with the Spirit Bomb always gives me chills. Such a great fight.

[Bullza]

12. Goku vs Beerus (Battle of Gods)
13. Earth’s Fighters vs Freeza’s Army (Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F)

These two are my favourite.

[Danfun64]

No Piccolo Jr. vs Goku, huh.

That takes place just before Z. I think the list would have been more fair if it wasn't limited to DBZ fights, but rather the whole franchise.

[apex_pretador]

bad list.

Goku vs beerus >>> Gohan vs cell
Goku vs vegeta (saiyan arc) is too low
Was future trunks vs freeza & cold even a fight?
Nappa vs team is low

Goku vs cell ???
Piccolo vs 17 ???

[Lord Beerus]

Kid Gohan vs Cell (Cell arc)

Spoiler:

UGH! It's not even a fight it's Gohan beating up on Cell for like 50 minutes. Also is this a show list or manga list ?

It's the DBZ show as a whole. Including the movies and TV specials.

[Soppa Saia People]

Kid Gohan vs Cell (Cell arc)

Spoiler:

UGH! It's not even a fight it's Gohan beating up on Cell for like 50 minutes. Also is this a show list or manga list ?

It's the DBZ show as a whole. Including the movies and TV specials.

Then why the hell isn't Goku vs Majin Vegeta on here ? As DBZAOTA already said, can't spell ignorant without IGN.

[MajinMan]

Sounds like whoever made this list hasn't seen the show in a long time. That's all I can say about it.

[Cipher]

I actually think Goku vs. Majin Vegeta is kind of a crappy fight, minus a good cut of animation or two (but not even the best in the series).

Not a lot happens. It's nearly all anime-only, which means they kind of pad it out into an uneventful back-and-forth until it ends. There's no narrative to it.

The fights in the series that really get me are ones where the hero is a clear underdog, but you actually get to see them exhausting all sorts of tactics so there's a real flow and narrative within the fight itself. Everyone vs. Vegeta, Goku vs. Freeza, Goku vs. Piccolo Jr.--those really nail that for me. Short of that, the absolute absurdity (especially with a dire situation surrounding it) of fights like Goku vs. Jackie Chun or Gotenks vs. Boo will do.

Ones that are very one-sided or are just back-and-forth in the way Goku vs. Majin Vegeta or Piccolo vs. #17 are don't get me as invested.

Goku vs. Beerus in Super is in the same category for me -- a lot happens, but not a lot happens. It's why I don't find a lot of the movie fights memorable either, unless they have absolutely stellar choreography -- and they sometimes do.

[Kuririn Fan]

The 11th fight is just awesome. Wow, they don't know shit about good fights. And they shouldn't limit it to DEEBEEZEE like usual, Goku vs Piccolo Jr is the best fight in the entire franchise.

[Khin]

SSj Goku and Freeza shouldn't be in the list.IMO,i think it's one of the worst fights in the series.A 19 episode fight with so many powering up and talking isn't good.And no Piccolo vs. 2nd Form Freeza ? The top two are both mediocre fights.There's hardly fighting at all,more like curbstomp.

[Kuririn Fan]

For some reason i thought the 11th one was the filler evil saiyans, wow. Dragon Team vs Nappa is great, but still, a lot of these fights don't deserve the spot here.

[Kakacarrottop]

IGN did a fun little article on what they thought were the 13 best fights in the Dragon Ball Z anime, movies and TV specials. Here's the full list:

1. Kid Gohan vs Cell (Cell arc)
2. Majin Vegeta vs Buu (Majin Buu arc)
3. Goku and Vegeta vs Kid Buu (Majin Buu arc)
4. Goku vs Freeza (Freeza arc)
5. Super Saiyan Blue Goku vs Golden Freeza (Resurrection F)
6. Goku, Gohan, Goten vs Broly (Broly: The Second Coming)
7. Goku & Group vs Broly (Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan)
8. Goku vs Vegeta (Saiyan arc)
9. Vegeta vs Android 19 (Android arc)
10. Future Trunks vs Mecha Freeza & King Cold (Trunks arc)
11. Tien, Yamcha, Krillin & Piccolo vs The Evil Saiyans (Saiyan arc)
12. Goku vs Beerus (Battle of Gods)
13. Earth’s Fighters vs Freeza’s Army (Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F)

Here's the article for anyone interested.

Personally, Goku vs Vegeta (Saiyan arc) is the undisputed number one fight in the entire series and the fact that it's not even in the top three is staggering. The exclusion of Goku vs Cell and Majin Vegeta vs Goku is also inexcusable. I can understand why Vegeta vs Majin Buu is so high on the list because the battle marks a major turning point in his character but the second best fight in all of DBZ? Nah. I'm also certain the Goku, Gohan, Goten vs Broly made the list purely for that Family Kamehameha that sent Broly into the sun. Other than that, the fight was boring and shouldn't be on the list, let alone higher on the list than Goku vs Vegeta from the Saiyan arc.

American fans in general tend to underrate the Saiyan Saga/early DBZ material due to a lack of nostalgia, as it never got the "classic" dub treatment (FUNi voices + Bruce Faulconer soundtrack). Personally i would have also included Vegeta vs Zarbon and maybe something from the early movies like Goku vs Tullece.

[Soppa Saia People]

I actually think Goku vs. Majin Vegeta is kind of a crappy fight, minus a good cut of animation or two (but not even the best in the series).

I don't like it ether, hell I don't really even like the Z era fights. But IGN is usual a popularity contest and so many people like that fight.

[emperior]

Thank me later IGN


1. Goku vs Freeza (Freeza arc)
2. Goku and Group vs Vegeta (Saiyan arc)
3. Goku vs Cell (Cell Games arc)
4. Goku vs Piccolo (23rd Budokai Tenkaichi)
5. Goku vs Vegeta (Buu arc)
6. Vegeta vs Majin Buu (Buu arc)
7. Goku and Vegeta vs Kid Buu (Buu arc)
8. Gohan vs Cell (Cell Games arc)
9. Goku vs Beerus (BoG)
10. Goku vs Freeza (RoF)
11. Future Trunks vs Mecha Freeza & King Cold (Trunks arc)
12. Tien, Yamcha, Krillin & Piccolo vs Nappa (Saiyan arc)
13. Vegeta vs Android 19 (Android arc)