- Future Trunks: Defeats Freeza and King Cold, the main villain of the previous arc. The whole story of the Androids and the future is explained by him, first Super Saiyan other than Goku, saves Goku's life with the medicine, fights Cell's second form, is the character who triggers the entire arc.
- Goku: Fights Android 19, trains with Gohan to become Super Saiyan, saves Piccolo and Tien's life from Cell when he was about to kill both of them in his second form, fights Pefect Cell to test his strength, tries to save the Earth by transporting Cell to King Kai's planet before he blows up.
- Vegeta: Kills Android 19, fights Android 18, becomes the first ascended Saiyan, fights Cell's second form, then puts up his strength against Perfect Cell and the Cell Jr's. Shows concern when Trunks is killed and first signs of him showing affection for someone other than himself.
- Gohan: The savior of the entire saga, the one who kills Cell, saves the planet, first Super Saiyan 2. Gohan's potential is finally realized to its fullest.
- Piccolo: Pretty much defeats Dr. Gero forcing his retreat to his lab. Fights Cell's first form and outsmarts him to regrow his arm. Merges back with Kami and becomes the strongest fighter. Fights Android 17 to the point where they're pretty much even. Fights Cell again until he's blown to the water, fights in the Cell games.
- Tien: His attack is able to hold down Cell's second form just enough for Android 18 to escape. Considering Cell's second form is stronger than Super Saiyans, Androids, etc...the fact that Tien got this moment of glory is great. Also fights Cell Jr's later on and helps attack Perfect Cell in the end.
- Krillin: Goes with Trunks to destroy Dr. Gero's lab as well as the present day Cell. Although this is filler, fights Cell's first form at the airport. Contemplates using the device to shut down 18 since he falls for her, fights the Cell Jr's and contributes to the finale.
- Android 18: Fights Vegeta and wins. The fact that she is the first character shown to be stronger than a Super Saiyan says a lot. Vegeta humbled by a teenage girl is fantastic.
- Android 16: Puts up fight against Cell's first form to try and save 17. Fights long enough to stay alive so he can escape with 18. Him being destroyed is the catalyst for Gohan's SSJ2 transformation.
- Android 17: Takes out all the other fighters after 18 takes out Vegeta. He is shown to be even with Piccolo, puts up fight against Cell before absorbed.
- Bulma: Shows up when Freeza comes to Earth, shows up again when the Androids first appear, makes the device to shut down the Androids, helps rebuild 16. Stays with the cast at Kami's and when the villains appear most of the time.
- Yamcha: Dr. Gero nearly kills him, but after that he's the one who takes Goku back to Roshi's Island after he is affected by the heart virus. He then fights against the Cell Jr's and at least shows up at the Cell games to do what he can. The fact that Yamcha even showed up at the Cell Games when he could have stayed behind always said a lot.
- Yajirobe: Arrives with senzu beans when the Androids first appear. Used for comedy as usual.
This is literally the last (and first?) saga where almost the entire main cast is well utilized. Sure Chiaotzu does absolutely nothing as usual, but that's besides the point.
If you think about it the entire main cast got to contribute something at some point of the saga, this is really one of those arcs where nobody felt sidelined completely.
