The Z Fighters are Earth's mightiest defenders in Dragon Ball, with some of the Z Fighters even rivaling the Gods themselves. The Z Fighters haven't always been immensely powerful. The founding started back in the original Dragon Ball, and they're barely comparable to the current group of warriors.
Even if their powers and fighting abilities have changed over the years, their principals haven't. The Z Fighters have always been noble, putting the Earth before themselves on several occasions. Every member of the Z Fighters has died (at least once) for the sake of the Earth. With the usage of the Dragon Balls, however, they've all been brought back to life to continue protecting each other and their beloved home planet from whatever threats they have to face in the future.
13 Chiaotzu
Tien Shinhan's Right-Hand Man
Chiaotzu might be the weakest member of the Z Fighters, but he's still several times stronger than most of the people on Earth. Chiaotzu has died not once, not twice, but four separate times defending the Earth. Even though he's faced and gone through death several times, he's still more than willing to show up when his friends need him most to fight whoever is threatening them.
Chiaotzu was an antagonist in the original Dragon Ball before becoming an ally in Dragon Ball Z. His greatest act of courage came during the Saiyan Saga when he self-destructed in order to kill Nappa. While his attack didn't work, it did show just how far Chiaotzu was willing to go to protect Tien and the rest of his Z Fighters.
12 Yajirobe
An Underrated Hero of the Saiyan Saga
Yajirobe is one of the most underrated characters in Dragon Ball. He played a larger role in the original Dragon Ball series before playing a more ive role in Dragon Ball Z. He's a ronin (masterless samurai) who hangs out with Korin on the giant tower, handing out vital Senzu Beans when his fellow Z Fighters need them most.
Yajirobe's greatest moment came during the Saiyan Saga when Vegeta was going on a rampage. Vegeta used one of Dragon Ball at the time when he turned into a Great Ape, and Yajirobe dove into battle to slice Vegeta's tail off. He saved the Earth and his fellow Z Fighters at the same time, and even spared Vegeta's life at the same time.
11 Yamcha
One of the Most Powerful Humans on Earth
Yamcha is the end of a lot of jokes in Dragon Ball. His death at the hands of the Saibamen has become one of the most recognizable memes in anime, but the Z Fighter is much more than his defeat in battle. Yamcha is another Z Fighter who started as an antagonist before becoming a powerful and reliable ally of Goku's.
10 Times Yamcha Proved Dragon Ball Fans Wrong By Being a Total Badass
Yamcha might not be among the strongest fighters in the Dragon Ball franchise, but he does have moments that prove his worth as a Z Fighter.
He's one of the best martial artists on Earth, and even when he knows he's outmatched, Yamcha will never run from battle.
10 Master Roshi
The Sensei That Started It All
Master Roshi is the teacher of the Turtle School in Dragon Ball and the man who created one of the most iconic attacks in anime when he invented the Kamehameha. He's taught Grandpa Gohan, the Ox King, Yamcha, Krillin, and even Goku.
Without Master Roshi, Dragon Ball would be a completely different series. While he's an old man, he's also one of the Z Fighters' best assets. During the Tournament of Power, Master Roshi was able to unleash a devastating Kamehameha that proved that even after all these years, the Turtle Hermit has still got it.
9 Krillin
The Master of the Destructo Disc
Krillin is Goku's best friend in Dragon Ball and said to be the strongest human on Earth by series creator Akira Toriyama. He's another student of the Turtle School and the master of the Destructo Disc, one of Dragon Ball. Krillin could be a lot stronger, but he put his training aside to become a husband to Android 18, a father to Marron, and a police officer.
Krillin is the recipient of the most damage in Dragon Ball. There are few characters in anime who get as brutalized as frequently as Krillin does, and even then, he's never one to shy away from battle. Krillin might not enjoy diving head first into fights against some of the strongest foes the universe throws his way, but he'll do anything to protect his friends, family, and home.
8 Tien Shinhan
The Strongest Non-Saiyan or Android of the Z Fighters
Tien Shinhan is the strongest non-Saiyan or Android of the Z Fighters. While Akira Toriyama has stated that Krillin is the strongest human, and that was later reiterated in the Kanzenshuu, Tien never stopped training like Krillin did. In fact, Tien even opened up his own dojo, taking his training to new heights in Dragon Ball Super.
Krillin got a lot of his strength on Namek when his potential was unlocked. Even after getting a major power boost, Krillin wasn't able to do anything about Cell, whereas Tien was able to lock him in place with a series of Neo Tri-Beams that nearly killed Tien in the process.
7 Goten
The Youngest Character to Turn Super Saiyan
While Goten is the weakest of the Saiyans among the Z Fighters, he might have the most potential of them all. He's Goku's youngest son and the youngest character to ever turn Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball. He's about equal to Trunks in of strength, but Trunks takes the edge because he's a bit older than Goten.
Goten is one of the happiest characters in Dragon Ball. He takes more than just his looks from his dad, as the two have the cheeriest dispositions around. Still, when it's time for Goten to fight, he's not one to shy away. He's a great Z Fighter because of how willing he is to dive into action when needed, and with his best friend Trunks, there aren't many who can stand against him.
6 Trunks
One Half of the Incredible Gotenks
Trunks is Vegeta's eldest child and his only son in Dragon Ball. He's not as serious or intense as his dad, but he has the potential to be nearly as powerful. He's a bit stronger than his best friend Goten because he's a year older. When the pair were training to learn how to fuse into the powerful Gotenks, Goku had to tell Trunks to power down a little bit to match Goten.
Gotenks is one of the few characters in Dragon Ball capable of the (somewhat useless) Super Saiyan 3 form. He put up a good fight against Super Buu as Gotenks when he and Goten were less than 10 years old. In Dragon Ball Super, Trunks faced off against the revival of the Red Ribbon Army as well, proving that he's no push over on more than one occasion.
5 Android 18
One of the Strongest Villains in Dragon Ball Z
Android 18 was terrifying when she first made her appearance during Dragon Ball Z. She was once one of Dragon Ball. Now, she's a doting mother, a loving wife, and one of Earth's strongest protectors.
Dragon Ball Android 18 Cosplay Gives the Series' Strongest Woman the Live-Action Version She Deserves
Android 18 is brought to life through a cosplay of her iconic look from the Cell Saga that captures Dragon Ball's strongest woman's powerful attitude.
Android 18 has several key strengths that make her a force to be reckoned with. As an Android, she has unbelievable stamina and is strong enough to knock out several powerful opponents during the Tournament of Power.
4 Future Trunks
Vegeta's Son Got Incredibly Strong In Dragon Ball's Bleakest Timeline
Future Trunks has lived through the most brutal timeline in Dragon Ball. He's from a timeline in which Goku died of a heart virus, leaving the Earth without its mightiest protector at the time. He eventually made his way to the past, got much stronger, and saved his timeline from both the Androids and Majin Buu.
Future Trunks gained access to the rare Super Saiyan Rage form, one of the best transformations in anime, during his fight against Future Zamasu. It's a form that scared even the immortal Zamasu and gave Future Trunks enough power to stand toe-to-toe with a deity.
