The 10 Best Dragon Ball Arcs, Ranked

Such an iconic anime is home to some of the best arcs in the medium, which is why this list will rank the ten greatest Dragon Ball arcs of all time based on popularity, critical acclaim, fan opinion, writing, action, animation, hype, originality, consistency, memorable moments, and overall quality. This list will not include any arcs from Dragon Ball GT or the manga, only canon arcs from the long-running anime adaptation.

10 Future Trunks Saga - 'Dragon Ball Super' Episodes 47-76

Dragon Ball Super is one of the more polarizing series in the franchise, but it is still home to some of the best arcs, including the Future Trunks Saga, featuring the return of Future Trunks. The blue-haired warrior comes back to the past to get the help of Goku and the gang one last time. After an alternate version of Zamasu turns into Goku Black, the future world is in tatters, and the real Goku is the only one who can save the day.

This anime is infamous for not having many real consequences or stakes, but the Future Trunks Saga fixes that fast, highlighting a bleak alternate timeline where the hope of the universe was actually the destroyer. Goku Black is a complex and intriguing villain who is a physical and mental threat, not to mention that he provides a sense of mystery that makes for an excellent Dragon Ball arc.

9 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai - 'Dragon Ball' Episodes 84-101

The original Dragon Ball anime doesn't get as much love as Dragon Ball Z, but it features some of the silliest and most engaging arcs in the franchise, including the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai, also known as the Tien Shinhan Saga. For the past three years, Goku and Krillin have been training intensely, and they will showcase their skills at the next world tournament, where all the strongest fighters gather.

Dragon Ball is a game-changing anime, and it all started with this original series jam-packed with humor, silly jokes, and classic slapstick comedy. It is also worth noting that the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai was the last arc to feature this distinct charm that hooked many fans. Combining its comedic approach with compelling fight scenes and character development, this was a top-tier original Dragon Ball arc.

8 Android Saga - 'Dragon Ball Z' Episodes 118-139

Here is where the list gets controversial, and not just because of this arc's placement, but because many fans like to include the Trunks Arc and Android Arc into the Cell Saga. While that is perfectly fine, this list will treat them as separate entities, merging the Trunks and Android arcs into this entry and leaving the rest for later. Starting with Future Trunks' first appearance, he warns the Z-Fighters of the Androids, who are wreaking havoc across the planet.

Dragon Ball has always bridged the gap between martial arts, sci-fi, and fantasy, but this arc fully leans into its sci-fi nature with time travel and androids. What starts as a gripping sci-fi slasher thriller becomes an all-out epic battle between good and evil. The Android Arc had plenty of memorable moments and was the first stop on Vegeta's world tour of magnificent character development.

7 Majin Buu Saga - 'Dragon Ball Z' Episodes 200-291

Some arcs are loved more than others, but the most polarizing is the Majin Buu Saga, which fans either love or despise. Years after Cell's defeat, most of the characters are in a new part of their lives, enjoying peace. However, the Supreme Kai warns of a great evil being awakened by Lord Babidi, a seemingly cute pink creature that begins to absorb the strongest fighters in the world.

The Majin Buu Saga is messy, and this is why many fans didn't appreciate it; that and the fact that the Cell Saga was a much better ending point. Still, this saga has its moments, including SSJ3, fusion, Vegeta's sacrifice, and Goku vs. Vegeta, making it by far the most underrated arc in Dragon Ball. The combat is fun, and it returns to the whimsy of the original Dragon Ball that made it so charming.

6 Tournament of Power - 'Dragon Ball Super' Episodes 77-131

Love or hate Dragon Ball Super, there is no denying that one of the most iconic modern anime arcs comes from it, and that is the Tournament of Power. After Zeno wills it, a battle to the death between ten universes commences, with each universe selecting its strongest fighters. Goku, Vegeta, Frieza, and the rest must fight against the best of the best across multiple realities.

The Tournament of Power isn't without its flaws, plus there is barely any story, and that is why it isn't higher. However, it is quintessential Dragon Ball, fit with remarkable animation, non-stop fights, and some of the most hype-inducing moments the franchise has ever seen. There hasn't been a collective gathering of hype and excitement for an anime since Goku vs. Jiren, which is a true testament to the arc and the anime in general.

5 Saiyan Saga - 'Dragon Ball Z' Episodes 1-35

Dragon Ball was a great anime that got many fans into the series, but Dragon Ball Z is on another level in terms of popularity, influence, and enjoyment, and it all starts with the Saiyan Saga. A mysterious Saiyan comes down to Earth, looking for someone named Kakarot, later revealed to be Goku. The two brawl it out, but the dangers are still lurking, with a new, formidable opponent called Vegeta on his way.

The Saiyan Saga is a soft reboot of the franchise, bringing it into more sci-fi realms after revealing Goku is an alien. Some fans didn't like this, but this saga proved there was much more potential to the story, and it soon became gospel. The tension is palpable, creating a sense of dread unlike anything fans had previously experienced. Plus, it introduced the iconic Goku/Vegeta rivalry, making the first arc an excellent one that makes Dragon Ball Z one of the best anime series of all time.

4 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai - 'Dragon Ball' Episodes 123-153

Before Dragon Ball Z shifted the tone, the final arc in Dragon Ball was the last thing fans had in a martial arts-centric series with the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, also known as the Piccolo Jr. Saga. After the death of the evil King Piccolo, his reincarnation soon arrives, taking on Goku in the next world tournament and introducing yet another high-stakes battle.

While it is fun watching Goku's childhood and his coming-of-age story, this is a significant shift that brings him into adulthood. This bittersweet change, however, comes with some of the best fights in all of Dragon Ball and one last world tournament. The 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai has sophisticated fight choreography and an emotional payoff that ended the original anime better than anyone could've expected.

3 King Piccolo Saga - 'Dragon Ball' Episodes 102-122

Right before the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, the King Piccolo Saga takes place, being an even more engaging and epic story. After Krillin's sudden death, it is revealed that a monster took a list of all the fighters in the tournament, going on a quest to kill them all. However, this revelation only pisses Goku off, who goes off to find and defeat this heinous villain.

The stretch from the King Piccolo Saga to the Majin Buu Saga is one of the greatest in all anime, highlighting the creative prowess of Dragon Ball. King Piccolo is a truly formidable villain who immediately showed off his skills. The story isn't afraid to kill characters off, also using its tight pacing and emotional payoff to create the most hype-inducing feeling in the original Dragon Ball. Overall, this anime has aged like fine wine, and it's all thanks to storylines like the King Piccolo Saga, which remains among anime's most iconic.

2 Cell Saga - 'Dragon Ball Z' Episodes 140-194

Even though the Androids were the biggest threat to the Z Fighters, a new villain appears, Cell, a biologically engineered creature comprised of the cells of some of the strongest fighters in the world. After perfecting his form and achieving his goal, Cell forms the Cell Games, a massive tournament to test his skills and new powers.

Dragon Ball Z is all about Goku; he is the protagonist after all, but one of the best things about the Cell Saga is the focus on its side characters, including Gohan's defining moments and Vegeta reaching a new layer of depth. This arc did have a lot of messy writing, but the sheer excitement and moments make up for it. Gohan's transformation and ultimate defeat of Cell are particularly memorable, making the Cell Saga one of the best in Dragon Ball.

1 Frieza Saga - 'Dragon Ball Z' Episodes 36-107

After the devastating battle on Earth against the Saiyans, Goku travels to the planet Namek in order to revive his friends. There, he encounters Vegeta trying to overthrow his previous master, and Frieza trying to gain immortality with the power of the Dragon Balls, thus starting the Frieza Saga, also known as the Namek Saga. The Z-Fighters are now in a game of cat-and-mouse as they, Vegeta, and Frieza all try to find the Dragon Balls.

Everyone will agree that the top two arcs/sagas in Dragon Ball are Cell and Frieza, and while the order can be swapped, more people prefer the latter. If there is one blight in this arc, it is the overly long final fight between Goku and Frieza. However, this saga as a whole is still Dragon Ball at its best. This race is full of twists, cunning ploys, dynamic relationships, unexpected moments, and narrative wonders. Frieza is one of the best villains in anime, and the constant stakes and remarkable story points make the Frieza Saga one of the best arcs in anime, not just Dragon Ball.