7 Best Heroes That Dragon Ball Doesn’t Have The Guts To Kill Off For Good

Death is a sad part of many action-packed anime series, and Dragon Ball is no exception. Because of the Dragon Balls’ power to grant wishes, dying doesn’t always mean a character is gone for good. By now, most of the main characters in Dragon Ball, including Goku himself, have experienced death at least once.

If the story needs them to, Dragon Ball characters can always be brought back to life, no matter how permanently they’ve died before. However, a few characters seem almost impossible to kill, and some are so essential to the story that they technically can’t stay dead for good.

Mr. Satan Is A Symbol Of Peace Whose Death Would Disillusion The Public

I always found Mr. Satan to be a bit of an oddball in Dragon Ball. He kind of unexpectedly stepped into the hero role during the Cell Games and really cemented it during the Buu Saga. It’s funny, because he’s actually one of the weakest fighters in Dragon Ball Z, but he’s the only major character who makes it through the whole series unscathed. Considering he’s been credited with defeating villains like Cell and Majin Buu, it makes sense they wouldn’t kill him off – it would be hard to explain how the world would react to losing someone seen as such a huge hero.

Watching Dragon Ball, I always found Mr. Satan to be a funny character, but he’s surprisingly the one who really grounds the story emotionally. Sure, plenty of strong fighters could step up if something happened to him, but to the general public, his loss would be devastating. They truly believe he’s the world’s greatest hero, and that image is so important for their morale. He even refuses to lose a match on purpose to Majuub, because he knows how much people rely on him. It’s like his death would be unbearable, and it’s even suggested it could bring back the really dangerous version of Buu – the one everyone fears.

It’s Impossible To Picture Modern Dragon Ball Without Vegeta

As a longtime fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Vegeta’s journey! He started as this incredible villain in Dragon Ball Z, and even went through two really impactful deaths that shaped who he became. Since then, he’s consistently been one of the main heroes, fighting alongside Goku. Honestly, given his tendency to throw himself into the thick of things against the strongest opponents, it feels statistically likely he’ll sacrifice himself again. But, and I say this as someone who loves his character arc, he’s already died quite a bit, and another death at this point would just feel… unnecessary, you know?

It’s interesting because Goku often acts like he’d make a dramatic, self-sacrificing exit, even potentially at the end of Dragon Ball Super. While he’s died before, he seems like he’d be happier finding peace in the afterlife or becoming a divine guardian. It would be more emotionally impactful if Vegeta was the one left to continue fighting and honor Goku’s memory.

Gohan Represents Dragon Ball Z’s Innocence & An Undying Purity

Throughout Dragon Ball Z, we see Gohan grow up, constantly thrown into fights before he fully understands them. It’s amazing to think he battled Frieza at just five years old, and even managed to scare and survive against such a powerful enemy. The series largely focuses on Gohan discovering just how strong he can become, especially as more experienced fighters begin to struggle.

Gohan has always felt protected in the story, but in a way that makes sense given everything he’s been through. He’s endured immense hardship, seen terrible loss, and pushed the boundaries of Saiyan strength. Now that he’s reached a new peak with his Beast form and finally found happiness with his family, it would feel unnecessarily harsh to have him defeated.

Master Roshi Is An Eternal Presence Who Will Always Be Around

I’ve been a Dragon Ball fan forever, and honestly, Master Roshi is one of my all-time favorite characters! When Goku first trained with him way back in the original Dragon Ball, who knew he’d become such a legend? Seeing him step back into the action in Dragon Ball Super after playing more of a mentor role in DBZ was so awesome. And it wasn’t just a cameo – he really pulled his weight during the Tournament of Power! I was especially blown away to see him use a basic form of Ultra Instinct – talk about a hidden power! It just proves he’s still got it after all these years.

I remember when Master Roshi seemingly sacrificed himself fighting Piccolo – it really pushed Goku into the hero role. I don’t think we need to repeat that again, especially since Roshi being older doesn’t have to limit him. His sister, Fortuneteller Baba, is much older and still incredibly capable! To me, Roshi always feels like the kind of wise figure who’ll just be there on his island, offering guidance whenever it’s needed. And honestly, that fun, older design they gave him in Dragon Ball GT showed how great he could still be, even with more years under his belt.

Pan Is The Face Of Dragon Ball’s Future & Needs To Stick Around

For over forty years, Dragon Ball has remained popular by constantly evolving its story and characters. It’s especially satisfying to watch Goku and Vegeta mentor the next generation of heroes, equipping them for future challenges.

The Buu Saga in Dragon Ball Z introduces Goten and Trunks as the future generation, with Gohan’s daughter, Pan, also being set up for great things. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero shows just how much potential Pan has, and she could become the youngest person ever to achieve the Super Saiyan transformation if she keeps developing at this pace.

Dragon Ball GT also focuses on Pan and her adventures fighting alongside her grandfather. While Pan isn’t always popular with fans, it wouldn’t be typical for Dragon Ball to permanently kill off a character, especially a young one like her. The series hasn’t shown a tendency towards such harsh outcomes, and it would feel unusually cruel to kill off Pan, Goten, or Trunks. This suggests Pan is likely safe from permanent death.

Krillin’s Death Has Been Used To Motivate Heroes Too Many Times

Krillin isn’t as naturally powerful as Saiyans like Vegeta, and he can’t transform into different states like they can. However, he’s been Goku’s closest friend and training partner for most of their lives. The story often uses Krillin’s death to create dramatic moments and motivate Goku. When Krillin dies for the first time in the original Dragon Ball, it shocks both Goku and the viewers, and sparks a furious reaction in young Goku. Later, Frieza killing Krillin on Namek is the final straw that pushes Goku to unlock the Super Saiyan transformation for the very first time.

Krillin has died many times already, and now he has a family who cares about him deeply. While Dragon Ball GT tried a storyline where his peaceful home life was disrupted, his death at the hands of Android 17 remains a controversial moment for fans. Bringing that pain back by killing him off again would be a risky move.

Bulma Is A Constant Who Has Been Around Since Dragon Ball’s Start

Bulma is often overlooked in Dragon Ball because she doesn’t fight or use energy powers. However, she’s created essential technology for the series, like the Dragon Radar and even a time machine. Plus, she’s the one who initially meets Goku and sets his adventure in motion – without her, none of the events in Dragon Ball would have happened.

While Bulma took on a more supportive role as the Dragon Ball series went on, she was still a victim of Super Buu in Dragon Ball Z. Thankfully, Dragon Ball Super has given her a much more important place in the story – more so than she had in DBZ. A touching moment in the finale of Dragon Ball GT was seeing Goku and Bulma reflect on everything they’d been through, and Dragon Ball Super deserves a similar, satisfying conclusion for these characters.

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2026-04-12 04:11