The most powerful characters who are no longer alive

Key recommendations

• Some of the strongest characters in Dragon Ball didn't survive despite their power.
• Cell, Kid Buu, and Goku Black are just a few antagonists who met their end in intense battles.
• Raditz, Nappa, Dabura, and Android 16 were formidable characters, meeting their demise at the hands of others.

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular shonen anime of all time, with Toriyama's legacy a joy to behold for fans who love how the series single-handedly brought them into this creative medium. The eponymous wish-granting orbs are an important part of the series, reviving people after their untimely deaths.

This can make death seem meaningless Dragon Ballbut this could not be further from the truth. Some of the strongest characters in Dragon Ball they have breathed their last and are currently living in the afterlife with no hope of return.

1 Cell

Killed by: Son Gohan

• Death:save the world (Episode 191 of Dragon Ball Z)

Cell is one of the best antagonists in Dragon Ballending up as an imperfect being who must absorb both Android 17 and 18 to reach the true pinnacle of his being. His obsession with being perfect makes him a fun antagonist, going toe-to-toe with both Goku and Gohan in the Cell Games.

After returning from self-destruction, he injures Gohan's arm and appears to have the upper hand in their clash. However, Gohan doesn't give up and unleashes all of his energy in one last push that wipes out every cell in this bio-android and leaves him down and out of the count.

2 Kid Boo

Killed by: Son Goku

• Death:Spirit Bomb Triumphant (Episode 286 of Dragon Ball Z)

Kid Buu's murderous personality made him one of the most intimidating antagonists in the Dragon Ball Z. His first act as a villain was to destroy all of Earth, after which he arrives on Planet Kais and engages in a final showdown with the surviving heroes.

His fight against Goku makes it clear to the Saiyan that he must use his patented Spirit Bomb to eliminate this enemy once and for all. After receiving an energy blast from Porunga, Goku sends a goodbye message before blasting Kid Buu with the Spirit Bomb and taking him out for good.

3 Black Goku

Killed by: Future Zeno

• Death:With a new hope in my heart – Goodbye, Trunks (Episode 67 of Dragon Ball Super)

Future Trunks enters Dragon Ball Super gets off to a nightmare start with Bulma's death in this twisted timeline where Goku Black and Zamasu try to carry out their Zero Mortals plan. He is more than a match for Goku and Vegeta during their first fight, only for the two to return after training and show him who's boss.

Undeterred, Goku and Zamasu's stolen body fuse to create a twisted being. This half-immortal body begins to melt after Future Trunks' Spirit Bomb powered sword attack. Luckily, Goku uses the button he received from Zeno to summon the entity in this timeline, which wipes out Zamasu in one hit.

4 Future Zamasu

Killed by: Future Zeno

• Death:With a new hope in my heart – Goodbye, Trunks (Episode 67 of Dragon Ball Super)

Future Zamasu is one of the most villainous villains in the Dragon Ball Superbringing back a new wave of hell in Future Trunks' timeline after he eradicated the Android threat. He has nothing but hatred for mortals and looks down on them, enacting a complex plan that sends shivers down the viewer's spine.

Watching him be torn apart by Trunks and wiped out by Zeno is an amazing sight. After Beerus is aware of Zamasu's evil intent, he quickly confronts this divine being and takes him out in an instant.

5 Raditz

Killed by: Piccolo

• Death:A life or death battle! Goku and Piccolo's Desperate Attack! (Episode 3 of Dragon Ball Z)

Raditz's arrival brings more revelations Dragon Ball. Goku is an alien sent from another planet to conquer Earth, only to lose his memory as his brother is sent to do his dirty work. As expected, Goku refuses to let this happen and teams up with his nemesis Piccolo to fight Raditz.

It's a gruesome battle where the duo realize how powerful and out of their league Raditz is. Luckily, Piccolo launches a special attack that hits both Raditz and Goku simultaneously. While Raditz is nothing compared to other characters mentioned here, he proved to be too difficult a foe for Goku or Piccolo to defeat on their own early in the series due to how much they differ in power .

6 Nappa

Killed by: Vegeta

• Death:Lesson number one (Episode 29 of Dragon Ball Z)

Like Raditz, Nappa's strength and skill in battle was nothing compared to the villains of later arcs, but the danger he posed to Earth was undeniable. At the time though, Nappa's demolition of the Z Warriors was hard to watch, even if Gohan managed to land some good shots. Luckily, Goku arrived to save the day at just the right time, making it clear that Nappa was no match. for him.

Vegeta can't stand teaming up with a weakling and makes short work of Nappa after he fails to defeat Goku and is too injured to continue fighting. It's a brutal moment that shows the difference between Goku and Vegeta's mindsets, setting the stage for one of the biggest clashes in anime history.

7 Dabur

Killed by: Majin Buu

• Death:Meal time (Episode 235 of Dragon Ball Z)

Demon King Dabura makes a strong first impression, going toe-to-toe with Gohan and nearly defeating the Saiyan. However, after the debut of Majin Buu, it was clear that Dabura was more than enough for Babidi and his monster.

After an insult to Majin Buu causes the villain to beat up Dabura, it's clear that the Demon King's days are numbered. A single hit from this monster's beam was all it took to turn Dabura into a cake that was devoured vigorously by Buu.

8 Android 16

Killed by: Cell

• Death:Cell Juniors Attack! (Episode 184 of Dragon Ball Z)

Despite being a flawed android, 16 shows more of a human side in the Android and Cell Sagas than his siblings. He loves the world and doesn't want it to be destroyed at Cell's hands, giving Gohan the words of encouragement he needs to unlock his Super Saiyan Ascended form.

It couldn't be denied that Android 16 was a strong character who could hold his own in battle when Cell hadn't absorbed any androids yet, but Perfect Cell was too strong an opponent to defeat. By the end, he has a hopeful smile on his face before Cell smashes his face and ends the android's mechanical life.

• 

  Dragon Ball

  release date

  February 26, 1986

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creative

  Akira Toriyama

• 

  Dragon Ball Z

  release date

  April 26, 1989

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creative

  Akira Toriyama

• 

  Dragon Ball Super

  release date

  July 5, 2015

  Studio

  Toei Animation

  Creative

  Akira Toriyama