Dragon Ball has expanded far beyond its original manga and anime, branching into movies, video games, spin-offs, and alternate timelines. Along the way, it has introduced a wide range of characters, some leaving long-lasting impressions while others offering exciting new perspectives. From ancient Saiyans to dark gods and experimental androids, the Dragon Ball universe has so many creative possibilities.

However, not every addition has elevated the franchise. Some characters, while initially intriguing, have either become redundant due to better-executed counterparts or failed to make a meaningful impact. Certain characters now feel outdated or unnecessary, whether through overlapping with existing characters or having limited depth. Yet, while some may not have a place in the series anymore, others still have space to thrive and expand the universe for the better.

10 Forget: Turles

Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might

Turles, the main antagonist from Dragon Ball Z’s third movie, is essentially a darker version of Goku. His entire concept revolves around the idea of an evil Goku, which now feels repetitive with Dragon Ball Super’s interpretation of this idea. Goku Black already fulfilled the concept of an alternate Goku, and without that, Turles lacks the depth and complexity seen in other villains.

His motivations are generic: he seeks power and domination, so his presence wouldn’t add much to the series. Goku Black offers a far more interesting and complex take on the evil Goku idea. In comparison, Turles feels outdated, and at this point, the only thing that made him unique is no longer unique.

9 Canon: Janemba

Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn

Janemba is the main villain from Dragon Ball Z’s twelfth movie, and his existence alone offers the series an opportunity to expand the universe. His otherworldly nature and connection to the afterlife give Janemba a distinctive place within the franchise. With the power to warp reality and his demon-like appearance, he could appear in the future of Daima or the Demon Realm.

Unlike many other villains, Janemba has a more creative and unpredictable fighting style that could push the Z-fighters in unexpected ways. With his original design and powers, bringing him into the canon would be a much-needed breath of fresh air for the franchise. Although he may have been rather one-dimensional in the movie, that only means he has excellent potential for further exploration.

8 Forget: Lord Slug

Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug

Lord Slug, the villain from the fourth Dragon Ball Z movie, fails to stand out. He is yet another antagonist whose motivations don’t extend far beyond domination. Additionally, the series already had an evil Namekian ruler bent on domination through King Piccolo. Slug strives for immortality and to conquer Earth, which doesn’t offer anything new or compelling.

Had Slug offered a greater exploration of the Namekians or had a deeper motivation, perhaps he would have been more memorable as a villain. His impact is limited due to his being too similar to King Piccolo and falling into the same trouble that Turles would have if he had ever made canon. Lord Slug should be left behind in favor of more original threats.

7 Canon: Shadow Dragons

Dragon Ball GT

The Shadow Dragons from GT were one of the best aspects of the spin-off and offered a unique take on the narrative. The idea that overuse of the Dragon Balls would lead to dire consequences is exactly what the series needs. Each dragon embodies a negative aspect of humanity’s wishes and would allow for a deeper, more complex exploration within the series.

With their existence tied directly into the concept of balance and the cost of unchecked power, making the Shadow Dragons canon would raise the stakes like never before. Until this point, the main series never touched on any potential consequences of overusing the mystical orbs. Including the Shadow Dragons or a variation of them into the series would create a fresh challenge for Goku and his friends while adding immense depth to the storyline.

6 Forget: Android 13

Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!

Dragon Ball Z’s seventh movie features a memorable villain in Dr. Gero’s Android 13. His initial concept is very similar to the other Androids 16-19 with the goal of destroying Goku. At this point, with the introduction of Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, paired with the theory that Android 21 may soon become canon, the idea feels recycled and overdone. His transformation into Super 13 may have been iconic, but he remains a generic powerhouse without much depth.

Unlike other Dragon Ball villains that have the potential to add depth to the story, Android 13 is more likely to end up a stagnant character with bland motivations. While the movie was entertaining and one of the series’ best, his lack of distinctiveness compared to other androids, such as 21, is far too clear. Android 13 doesn’t have much to offer at this point in the franchise.

5 Canon: Towa

Dragon Ball Online

Towa, the powerful sorceress from Dragon Ball Online, who is better known for her roles in Xenoverse and Super Dragon Ball Heroes, offers a massive and unique opportunity for the future of the Demon Realm introduced in Daima. As a mastermind who manipulates time and space, Towa can bring forward a darker and more strategic element to the series. Her intelligence and manipulation of powerful figures like Mira make her formidable and different from the usual threats the Z-fighters face.

As the sister of the previous Demon King Dabura, Towa has a strong connection to the Demon Realm and could be used to explore the three worlds shown in Daima. With many aspects of the Demon Realm left unexplored, including the Bugs that were never used, there is a strong possibility that Goku and his friends may return one day. When or if that happens, Towa’s ability to manipulate timelines and use dark energy would make her an intriguing villain with great potential to explore.

4 Forget: Cooler

Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge

Cooler debuted in the fifth movie and returned as the main antagonist in the sixth movie, The Return of Cooler. As iconic and memorable as Frieza’s brother is, there is little he can add to the storyline at this point in the story. His design, power level, and personality all fit to make him an imposing character, but devastatingly, he has nothing to offer the series that Frieza cannot.

Though Cooler is one of the most unforgettable villains from the Dragon Ball Z movies, his lack of originality makes him unlikely ever to become canon. The driving force behind Cooler’s appearance in the film was his desire to get revenge upon the death of Frieza, however, at this point in the series, with Frieza alive and well and more powerful than ever, there is simply no place for him in the canon universe, disappointing as it may be.

3 Canon: Gamelan

Dragon Ball Online

Gamelan is a character from the video game Dragon Ball Online, and offers the canon universe the rich concept of Dark Namekians. Dark Namekians, also called Evil Namekians, are far different from the peaceful and wise race we’ve seen in the canon universe. Gamelan is the General of these Namekians and led a rebellion against the peaceful Grand Elder Mori in his quest to become the God of the Narak.

Unlike Lord Slug, Gamelan introduces an array of fresh possibilities to the narrative, making him a potentially interesting addition to the main lore. As the leader of a dark faction of Namekians who are against pacifism, and with an eye-catching and unforgettable design, Gamelan is a unique Namekian warrior who stands out in comparison to King Piccolo and could open the door to exploring Namekians in greater depth.

2 Forget: Baby

Dragon Ball GT

Baby is one of the main antagonists from GT and signaled a turning point for the spin-off. However, as interesting as Baby’s arc was, it now shares too many similarities with Granolah from Dragon Ball Super. Both characters are driven by a deep-seated desire for revenge and a complex backstory that involves the destruction of their respective races at the hands of the Saiyans.

His body-snatching ability may be cool, but it's more likely that if that ability is ever seen in the series, it will be through a different antagonist.

While Baby’s powers are different from Granolah’s, his plot to take over Goku’s body and conquer the universe doesn’t offer anything unique to the story. The key factor that made Baby so interesting was his backstory, and with Super’s introduction of Granolah, it’s already been done. Baby lacks the depth necessary to remain relevant now that another, deeper explored character shares a similar background. His body-snatching ability may be cool, but it's more likely that if that ability is ever seen in the series, it will be through a different antagonist.

1 Canon: Cumber

Super Dragon Ball Heroes

The menacing Evil Saiyan from Super Dragon Ball Heroes offers a unique touch of psychological warfare paired with immense power that would make him a perfect fit into the universe. Cumber, who is also known as “The God Slayer,” poses a significant threat to the Saiyans of Universe 7, making him an ideal antagonist for a future arc.

Cumber’s evil ki is strong enough to infect the mind of anyone who gets too close, including Goku, who is sent into a berserk state and attacks Vegeta. With his raw power and intriguing backstory, Cumber is an unpredictable force that would make for a fantastic villain in the future of the series. His dark aura and hatred for the Super Saiyan God position him perfectly for the main storyline of Dragon Ball and would serve to push the series into a darker and more complex territory.