10 Best Episodes of ‘Dragon Ball Z’
When people talk about the biggest moments in shonen history they almost always end up back in ‘Dragon Ball Z’. The series set the template for planet shaking battles, transformations that change the course of a story, and character arcs that unfold across years of training and rivalry.
This list pulls together ten episodes that move the story forward in clear and memorable ways. You will find first transformations, decisive finishes, and turning points for heroes and villains. Each entry notes what happens in the episode and why it matters later in ‘Dragon Ball Z’.
‘Transformed at Last’
On a shattered Namek, Frieza kills Krillin and leaves Piccolo near death. Goku tells Gohan to take Piccolo and Bulma to safety, then his rage releases the first Super Saiyan transformation in ‘Dragon Ball Z’. The shift changes his hair, aura, and power output, and the ocean around them erupts as the planet starts to crumble.
The episode resets the Frieza fight from a contest of endurance to a test of control. Frieza raises his power and trades blows, while Goku shows new speed and force and keeps the battle away from his friends. It also marks the moment Goku accepts the role of finishing the tyrant rather than searching for another way out.
‘Cell Juniors Attack’
Perfect Cell creates small versions of himself and sends them after the Z Fighters while he toys with Gohan. Android 16 speaks to Gohan about protecting life and Cell destroys him, which becomes the final push that unlocks Gohan’s second transformation. Lightning crackles, the air shifts, and the ground splits as Gohan powers up to Super Saiyan 2.
From that moment, the fight changes direction. Gohan dismantles the Cell Juniors in seconds and turns his attention to Cell. The episode clears the board of side threats and sets up the father and son Kamehameha finish that follows later, while also explaining why Gohan was the one Goku wanted to bet on.
‘Final Atonement’
After breaking free from Babidi’s control in his own way, Vegeta decides to destroy Majin Buu with a single blast. He knocks Trunks out to keep him safe and asks Piccolo about what happens to those who have done terrible things, then chooses to give up his life to try to save everyone on Earth.
Vegeta’s self destruction releases a massive explosion that turns to dust the area around Buu. The blast fails to erase Buu completely, but it buys time for Goku and the others and becomes a key reference point for Vegeta’s choices later in the saga. The episode sets the table for fusion plans, new tactics, and the final fight against Kid Buu.
‘Spirit Bomb Triumphant’
Kid Buu forces a fight on the Sacred World of the Kai after destroying Earth. Vegeta keeps Buu busy while Goku gathers energy from across Earth through a Spirit Bomb, with Mr Satan urging the world to help. Dende uses Porunga to restore Earth and revive those who died, which lets more people lend energy to the attack.
Goku launches the Spirit Bomb, but he runs out of strength as he tries to push it through. A final wish restores his energy and he transforms as he guides the blast into Buu. The result ends the threat and closes the long chain of events that started with Babidi’s plan, bringing the story back to Earth for the final epilogue.
‘Another Super Saiyan?’
A mysterious youth lands near the remains of Frieza’s ship as the tyrant returns to Earth with King Cold. The newcomer transforms and defeats Frieza and King Cold in minutes, then waits with the Z Fighters for Goku to arrive. When Goku returns from Yardrat, the youth speaks privately and explains the warning about future Androids.
He gives Goku heart medicine and reveals he is Trunks from a different timeline, the son of Vegeta and Bulma. The episode sets the schedule for training, the location where the Androids will appear, and the stakes of a world without Goku. It also introduces time travel as a tool and a problem that shapes the entire Android and Cell storyline.
‘Vegeta’s Pride’
At the World Martial Arts Tournament, Vegeta allows Babidi to draw out his darkness to gain a power boost. He blasts the crowd to force Goku to accept a rematch and the two leave to fight. The battle shows how Majin power interacts with Super Saiyan levels and how Vegeta measures himself against Goku after years of chasing him.
Their fight pulls energy that feeds Buu’s revival and also reveals why Vegeta chose the shortcut. He states his need to reclaim his edge and the life he had before he settled on Earth. The episode locks in the path that leads to ‘Final Atonement’ and explains why fusion is not possible yet, since Vegeta is not willing to put the rivalry aside.
‘The Long Awaited Fight’
After recovering in a healing tank, Goku reaches Namek to face Frieza while the planet nears collapse. Frieza stands in his final form and tests Goku with fast movements and energy volleys. Goku counters with clean technique and controlled power and starts probing for limits without risking his friends.
The episode opens the longest one on one fight in ‘Dragon Ball Z’ and lays out the tools both fighters will use. Goku tries different power settings and studies Frieza’s speed, while Frieza escalates and promises a higher level of power. It also positions the Spirit Bomb plan that unfolds shortly after, once Goku sees he needs a different option.
‘Final Flash’
After training and evolving into what he calls Super Vegeta, Vegeta steps up against Perfect Cell. He charges a massive beam with his hands outstretched while Trunks warns that the blast could shatter the planet. Vegeta fires and the attack blows off a large portion of Cell’s body and carves a trench across the landscape.
Cell regenerates and proves that raw power will not finish the job without control and planning. The episode highlights the limits of Vegeta’s approach and explains why the Cell Games become necessary. It also shows how regeneration changes the calculus of risk in a battle and why Trunks begins to rethink his own strategy.
‘Free the Future’
After the Cell Games, Trunks returns to his timeline with knowledge and power from the main story. He locates Android 17 and Android 18 and defeats them, then waits for Cell in his imperfect form and eliminates him before he can steal the time machine. West City sees peace restored, and Trunks reports back to Bulma.
The episode closes the loop that began with ‘Another Super Saiyan?’ and removes the threat in Trunks’s home world without needing help from the past. It clarifies how time travel in ‘Dragon Ball Z’ creates branch timelines rather than changing a single line, and it confirms that training and information from the past can still save lives in a different future.
‘The End of Vegeta’
On Namek, Vegeta falls to Frieza after pushing himself beyond his limits. He tells Goku about Saiyan history and pleads with him to defeat Frieza to end the cycle that began with the destruction of Planet Vegeta. Goku listens and then buries him, accepting the task even though he had planned to avoid direct revenge.
This episode finalizes Vegeta’s shift from enemy to rival and gives Goku the reason to finish the fight without hesitation. It also provides details about Frieza’s role in the Saiyan genocide and sets up Goku’s mindset for the transformation that happens in ‘Transformed at Last’. The scene becomes a foundation for how Goku and Vegeta relate through the rest of ‘Dragon Ball Z’.
Share your own picks for the best ‘Dragon Ball Z’ episodes in the comments.
