Who was the best leader of the Z-Warriors in Dragon Ball Z

[PiccoloFan7289]

This is a topic that I don't believe has ever been discussed in great detail. Throughout Dragon Ball Z there are many times where one of the Z-Warriors has to step up, take charge of the situation, and lead the others. Goku, Piccolo, Gohan, Kuririn, Vegeta, and Future Trunks all had to take on the role as leader at one point or another in the series, some taking on the role more than others. My pick for the best leader is hands down Piccolo. During the series Piccolo is usually the one to take charge above all others when Goku is either dead/missing in action for long periods of time. When the Saiyans first arrived, Piccolo was the one who led everyone against them, even coaching some of the Z-Warriors in battle against Nappa. During the Namek Saga, Piccolo was a great leader during Vegeta and Goku's battles with Freeza. During the Garlic Jr. Saga, Piccolo was the one who led Gohan and Kuririn against Garlic Jr. and his minions. When the Androids first attacked, Piccolo was the one in charge from until Goku came down with the heart virus until he gets a hole blasted through his stomach by Cell. Piccolo also took charge twice during the Majin Boo Saga from until he returned to normal to Goku's Arrival on the Lookout, and also from when Goku went back to Other World to Gohan returning to Earth to fight Super Boo. Piccolo's leadership skills are top notch, and he takes charge for a long period of time during every saga at one point or another. Goku and Vegeta might be stronger warriors than Piccolo later on, but I believe Piccolo is a better leader than either of them.

[OzzyApu]

Out of the whole group, Piccolo was the only one to show leadership qualities, I think, besides Kuririn or something on Namek. Vegeta could give a rats ass about everyone else, and if needed, he'd use them as fodder or something to weaken the enemy. Strength in numbers, but not actually having the leader mentality. Goku I could see more as the advisor / focal role than the de facto mastermind of the group. He was the main guy, yes, but it was Piccolo that knew how to keep things reigned in.

Piccolo:

Only one still standing after the Raditz fight and came up with the finishing blow. Got Gohan trained to the point where he was critical in keeping the Earth from being wasted. Bought the gang time from Freeza until Goku could haul his ass over. Acted as a second to Goku in taking charge against the artificial humans / androids and, when they came, showed the most leadership qualities during the fight (Vegeta was like the hound dog you send in the woods after you give him a scent of your prey). When Cell was introduced, it was also Piccolo that took charge to power up and get information, as well as having to deal with the artificial humans when no one else had a plan. During the mid stages of the Boo saga, he was also the one that used Kami's place as their home base and was able to get Fusion going after Goku had to go. Went drill sergeant on the boys and was able to (more or less, considering the world was wiped out) keep the peace until Gohan came back.

The ideas for using ROSAT and Fusion against their enemies, of course, is credited to Goku, so he has a critical place in the group. Also pretty much saved everyone from Cell by using Gohan the way he did.

As for Future Trunks, I never considered him a leader. He was a strategic / tactical advisor, at best. He was an honorary member, really.

Where guys like Kuririn, Yamucha, and Tenshinhan fail in being leaders is, to me, because of their confidence, tactical superiority, and commitment. Tenshinhan steps up a lot at times, but he's still just in it for himself and his buddy while being friends with the other guys. Yamucha had some leader role in DB, sort of, and Kuririn of course had moments where he was looked to as the guy to get things done for the benefit of the group. However, a guy like him can't be looked upon as the one who can bail out everyone else, nor as someone that's very strategic.

I don't think anyone really, REALLY thought Gohan would carry the flame for the Z gang like Goku did. Piccolo was still alive and well enough to keep the group on call for the 7 years of peace. Vegeta went back to being an otaku in the gravity room, and the human guys mainly opted out of fighting or fighting as a Z-member. However, during the beginning of the Boo stuff, Gohan does seem to be the one that the group revolves around. But that has more to do with his strength than his actual tactics and skill in battle.

They needed some one who knew battle, who loved fighting, who could think on their feet, have a place of power to begin with (Kami's other half / Dende's advisor of sorts) and who could be committed to whatever cause the group had. The Super Namek is that guy.

[FNF]

Piccolo.

That is all.

[PiccoloFan7289]

I think Kuririn did an excellent job leading Bulma, Gohan, and Dende during the Namek Saga. He really did take charge during that point in the series up until they leave Earth to go to Namek until their team up with Vegeta against the Ginyu Force. That time period was probably the high point for Kuririn during the entire series.

[Tekkaman-James]

"The who-warriors?"

But, seriously, I have to agree with the suggestion of Piccolo. What makes him a great leader is that he is a tactician first and a fighter second. Saying anything more would just be repeating what has already been said, so I'll just leave it at that.

[Michsi]

I have to agree with Piccolo. He does sorta kinda take charge of the group a lot of the time.

[DarkPrince_92]

I also agree. Piccolo was the most rational character in most of Z.

[PiccoloFan7289]

Piccolo is a much better leader than Goku. Akira Toriyama basically wrote the entire story to keep Goku out of the picture until he needed him, then puts the spotlight on someone else for a while by making Goku die, disappear, train, leave, or get ill.

[MCDaveG]

Piccolo! I always wondered about his insight trough Androids and Buu saga, when he had the best picture about the situation.

for example
Android 19 fight:
Tenshinhan and Yamcha: ''Goku owns him!''
Piccolo: ''No, he don't....''

[PiccoloFan7289]

I may also be a little biased in my opinion because Piccolo is by far my favorite character. Something else I would like to point out is that if Piccolo suggests a specific course of action, everyone usually follows his lead. Two great examples during the Android Saga was when Piccolo led the group in following after Dr. Gero and during the Cell Games when Piccolo was the first one to enter the beam struggle between Gohan and Cell. Everyone followed suit right after Piccolo to help Gohan out just like Piccolo did. I also like how he became Dende's mentor in the Majin Buu Saga.

[OzzyApu]

I'm watching the Majin Boo stuff right now and Piccolo, despite being scared like everyone else, knows to keep that to himself because it wouldn't do any good. Let's not count Chichi into not acting scared because that's just facepalm stuff. Piccolo had to keep this beast under control and it's neat to see how he controls and guides everything to a certain outcome. The universe would be toast if it weren't for these crucial decisions of his. Although you can argue even if Boo killed Gotenks and Piccolo, Gohan could have arrived JUST in time before the Earth was toast to annihilate Boo. Boo would have no one worthy to absorb except Gohan himself, but that's for another thread to go down.

[Jackal puFF]

I really liked Krillin's leadership on Namek. Piccolo's okay lol. It's just that one scene where he deliberately gets attacked by Dr. Gero and falls to the ground, pretending to be hurt. Like what are you doing dude?

[PiccoloFan7289]

I'm watching the Majin Boo stuff right now and Piccolo, despite being scared like everyone else, knows to keep that to himself because it wouldn't do any good. Let's not count Chichi into not acting scared because that's just facepalm stuff. Piccolo had to keep this beast under control and it's neat to see how he controls and guides everything to a certain outcome. The universe would be toast if it weren't for these crucial decisions of his. Although you can argue even if Boo killed Gotenks and Piccolo, Gohan could have arrived JUST in time before the Earth was toast to annihilate Boo. Boo would have no one worthy to absorb except Gohan himself, but that's for another thread to go down.

You are exactly right. Piccolo's crucial decisions during Dragon Ball Z really do keep dire situations under control. Without his leadership skills during Goku's many absences throughout the series situations would have gone from bad to worse. Goku was a great leader when he was around, but that's just it, he was almost never around. In fact he is missing in action for about 1/3 of the entire series. Piccolo was always around leading the group against different threats. The only time Piccolo wasn't around or was missing in action was when he was dead.

[OzzyApu]

The only time Piccolo wasn't around or was missing in action was when he was dead.

When he was dead, he was probably keeping the training up on his dead-mates Ten, Yamucha, and Chaozu. You know Kaio was too busy doing Mr. Miyagi stuff.

[KakaR0T]

I would say Piccolo would be the best. In order from best to "worst", I'd say.

1. Piccolo
2. Krillin
3. Future Trunks
4. Goku
5. Gohan
6. Vegeta

Krillin is sort of like Piccolo's right hand man (e.g. When Piccolo was teaching Goten and Trunks how to fuse, who was there help with the demonstration? Krillin. True everybody else ran away like bats out of hell and he was the only one left but still)

To me, Vegeta is more of a loner than a leader. That's just his nature. This is one of the reasons he is one of my favorite characters.

[Piccolo Daimao]

No bias here, but I've always said that Piccolo's the most intelligent character, with his highly observational and strategic skills constantly outweighing the others. So he's the best "leader" of the Z-Warriors, and replaces Gokuu in his absence as the guy to count on when shit goes down.

After that, it's Son Gokuu, because despite his naivety and lack of smarts in anything outside of battle, everyone, including even Piccolo, always seems to rely on him for his strength, courage, and overall optimism in even the most dire of situations, and despite all of his retarded decisions, it always works out in the end to whatever cost.

Then it's Kuririn, who does show low self-esteem at times because of his percieved inferiority complex to such characters as Gokuu and poor luck with the ladies, but he shows confidence and true tactics multiple times throughout the series, and took over the mission on Namek as he carried Gohan, for lack of a better word.

Following him is Blooma, which people seem to forget about. No, she's not really a Z-Warrior or a leader per se, but again, she carried Gokuu for the first arc and helped the main characters throughout the series with her know-how and gadgets. An integral, albeit diminishing as time went on, part to the series.

Afterwards, Vegeta. He doesn't give a shit about anyone up until the late Boo arc, so I can hardly call him a leader of any sorts. But he showed tactics in the Freeza arc, and helped Gohan and Kuririn as well.

Future Trunks wasn't a leader at all. He was an advisor, offering caution and knowledge of the future to the warriors, while being, at his roots, an inexperienced youngster.

[TheNamekGio]

Thats why I say Mr.Piccolo is the real deal Holyfield!! He knows sometimes he's gonna get his ass handed to him but he still keeps fighting.(Movie 8 anyone?) Piccolo's a G!!!

[Squall]

When I saw the title of this thread, the 1st name that popped into my head was Piccolo as well.

[MasterVampire]

Future Trunks knew what had to be done and didn't waste any time screwing around like toying with the enemy.

[Saiyajin no Tatsujin]

The way I see it..

In the end, everyone put all of their trust, beliefs, hopes and inspirations into Goku. Therefore, he was the leader. Real-life leadership qualities are obsolete in the Dragon Ball universe. It's all about strength and sometimes strategy when fighting. And Goku had the advantage of both during most of the great battles. When there was a threat, Goku was always the only one who could stand up to it.

The title of leader shifted to Gohan between the Cell Games and the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai. But when Goku came back for that long ass one day, everyone, (with the exception of Vegeta) was happy that their leader was back.