FEATURE: The Ultimate Dragon Ball Series Story Arc Guide

 

Dragon Ball has been going for a long time, and for both newcomers and long-time fans, it can be hard to keep track of all the sagas of the franchise. Don’t worry! Here’s a handy guide to take you all the way from Dragon Ball to the Dragon Ball Super films. 

Son Goku’s Boyhood Group - Dragon Ball

 

Pilaf Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 1-13)

The story of Dragon Ball starts with the introduction of Goku, Bulma and the Journey for the Dragon Balls. Along the way, they encounter Oolong, Yamcha and Puar, Master Roshi and, of course, Emperor Pilaf, an evil emperor searching for the Dragon Balls so he can rule the world.

Tournament Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 14-28)

Goku asks to train under Master Roshi, learning alongside rival Krillin. Roshi puts the two through turtle school training and signs them up for the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament so they can test their strength. Goku loses but continues the path of martial arts.

Red Ribbon Army Group 

 

Red Ribbon Army Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 29-45)

In seeking the Dragon Balls, Goku faces the Red Ribbon Army, fighting Colonel Silver and later arriving in Jingle Village, where he makes his way through Muscle Tower.

General Blue Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 46-57)

In the hunt for the Dragon Balls, Goku, Bulma, and Krillin must venture underwater, where they clash with General Blue, leading to a short Dr. Slump crossover.

Commander Red Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 58-67)

Goku faces Mercenary Tao, a killer hired by the Red Ribbon Army. The clash results in the death of a warrior by the name of Bora. Goku climbs Korin tower, where he gets strong enough to defeat Tao. 

Fortuneteller Baba Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 68-83)

In order to find the final Dragon Ball, Goku seeks fortuneteller Baba, who makes Goku and friends defeat her champions, which Goku manages to do, allowing him to revive Bora.

Piccolo Group 

 

Tien Shinhan Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 84-101)

Goku and Krillin compete in the next World Martial Arts Tournament, facing off against the powerful Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu. The tournament ends with Goku’s defeat and a stronger, more deadly enemy shows themselves at the end of the Tournament: King Piccolo.

 
King Piccolo Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 102-122)

King Piccolo is unsealed and seeks to take over the world. Fortunately, Goku manages to defeat King Piccolo after a series of trials and losses.

Piccolo Jr. Saga (Dragon Ball Episodes 123-153)

King Piccolo’s reincarnation, Piccolo Jr. is out for revenge! Knowing this challenge would arise in the future, the guardian of Earth trained Goku, who manages to defeat the villain.

Saiyan Group - Dragon Ball Z

 

Raditz Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 1-6)

Years later, Goku is shocked by the arrival of his brother Raditz, who reveals Goku is a Saiyan. With the help of Piccolo, they manage to defeat Raditz, though Goku dies in the process, deciding to train in Otherworld for the coming Saiyan threat.

Vegeta Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 7-35)

Goku trains under King Kai in Otherworld while his son and friends do the same on Earth. Goku and Vegeta eventually face off, resulting in Goku’s victory and Vegeta’s humiliating retreat. 

Frieza Group

 

Namek Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 36-67)

With Piccolo's death, the Dragon Balls can no longer be used, so Gohan, Krillin and Bulma travel to planet Namek to seek their Dragon Balls. There they encounter Frieza and his frightening army.

Captain Ginyu Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 68-74)

Goku arrives on Namek just in time to defeat Frieza’s elite squad, the Ginyu force, which leads to the final fight against Frieza.

Frieza Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 75-107)

Goku’s power is no match for Frieza’s transformations… that is until Goku unlocks a legendary Saiyan power, Super Saiyan, the power boost being more than enough to defeat Frieza. 

Frieza-Androids Interlude

Trunks Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 118-125)

When Frieza shows up for revenge on Earth, he is quickly defeated by a mysterious Super Saiyan who is revealed to be Trunks, Vegeta and Bulma’s son from the future who has come to warn of the coming Android threat.

Androids Group

 

Androids Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 126-139)

The Androids threat proves to be bigger than initially thought. Trunks’ warning told of Android 17 and 18, but Androids 19 and 20 show up first, the latter awakening 17 and 18, who in turn awaken Android 16.

Imperfect Cell Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 140-152)

Another android, Cell is revealed — a bio-android set on absorbing 17 and 18 to achieve his ultimate form. Meanwhile Vegeta, Trunks, Goku and Gohan train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Perfect Cell Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 153-165)

While Goku and Gohan are still training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Cell manages to achieve his perfect form, which proves too strong for anyone. 

Cell Games Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 166-194)

Cell decides to test his might with the Cell Games, a tournament wherein Gohan turns out to be the one to defeat Cell with a new, stronger Super Saiyan form.

Majin Buu Group

 

Great Saiyaman Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 200-209)

Now in high school, Gohan takes on the superhero identity “The Great Saiyaman” and is discovered by Mr. Satan’s daughter, Videl. Later, he teaches her to fly and enters the next World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku returns to life to enter too.

World Tournament Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 210-219)

Goten and Trunks face off in the junior division, Videl nearly perishes against her opponent, and two godly strangers reveal a great threat…

Babidi Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 220-231)

The warriors of Earth fly off to face Babidi, an evil wizard seeking to revive the dreaded Majin Buu, achieving his goal thanks to Vegeta’s return to evil under Babidi’s control.

Majin Buu Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 232-253)

Buu awakens and Vegeta dies trying to defeat him. Later, Goku teaches Trunks and Goten fusion so they can combine their power to fight Buu. 

Fusion Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 254-275)

Mr. Satan befriends Buu, who turns out to not be so evil. Unfortunately, his evil side does come out, absorbing his good side and causing him to become Super Buu, who challenges and defeats Goten and Trunks’ fusion. Gohan trains with the Kais, unlocking ultimate power that Buu ultimately absorbs, forcing Goku and Vegeta to fuse as well. The fusion manages to enter Buu’s body and remove all the people he absorbed.

Kid Buu Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 276-287)

Vegeta and Goku struggle to defeat Kid Buu. The saga is finally brought to an end when the world is wished back and all of its people send their energy to Goku for a massive Spirit Bomb that destroys Buu once and for all.

Gods of the Universe Group - Dragon Ball Super

 

God of Destruction Beerus Saga (Dragon Ball Super Episodes 1-15)

The God of destruction Beerus shows up on Earth looking to fight a Super Saiyan God, threatening to destroy the Earth if he can’t. Goku eventually unlocks this form with the borrowed powers of all the other Saiyans, giving Beerus an exciting battle. 

Golden Frieza Saga (Dragon Ball Super Episodes 16-27)

With peace between Earth and Beerus, Goku and Vegeta begin training under his angel attendant, Whis, unlocking even greater power that they use when Frieza comes back for revenge.

Zeno Group

 

Universe 6 Saga (Dragon Ball Super Episodes 28-41)

Beerus’ brother Champa, the god of destruction of Universe 6, challenges his brother to a tournament between their universe’s strongest fighters.

Copy Vegeta Saga (Dragon Ball Super Episodes 42-46)

This short saga sees Goku face off against and defeat a cloned version of Vegeta that has stolen his power and life force, leaving him with a ticking clock before he disappears. 

“Future” Trunks Saga (Dragon Ball Super Episodes 47-76)

Future Trunks returns when his time is threatened again, this time by the evil Goku Black. With the help of Goku and Vegeta, Trunks manages to defeat the villain.

Universe Survival Saga (Dragon Ball Super Episodes 77-131)

A tournament between every single universe in the multiverse is held, their strongest warriors coming together in a battle royale where the losers universes are erased — an epic finale that sees Universe 7 as the victor.

Universe 7 Group

 

Broly Saga (Dragon Ball Super: Broly)

An extra powerful Saiyan at birth, Broly was sent away by King Vegeta. He and his father Paragus side with Frieza to take their revenge on Prince Vegeta, leading to an epic battle.

Super Hero Saga (Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero)

The upcoming Dragon Ball Super movie appears to focus on Gohan, with the villains being part of the Red Ribbon army.

Dragon Ball Super Manga

The Dragon Ball Super manga, written and drawn by Toyotarou, is slightly different from the anime and continues on into two original sagas. The first is the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga and the second is the Granolah the Survivor Saga.

Ending Group

 

 

Peaceful World Saga (Dragon Ball Z Episodes 288-291)

The final saga of the original manga run of Dragon Ball and of Dragon Ball Z is the Peaceful World Saga. The arc sees Goku reunite with his friends as they enter the World Martial Arts Tournament once more and Goku sets off on a new journey.

Non-Canon Sagas

 

Also worth mentioning are the non-canon sagas, just for the sake of a complete list. These include Dragon Ball Z filler like the Garlic Jr. Saga, the non-canon film events and the entirety of Dragon Ball GT.

 

There you have it, all the story arcs and saga of the massive Dragon Ball franchise! But like Goku’s journey to be stronger, the story never ends, with more on the way in the form of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero!

 

 

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Sean Aitchison is a writer and researcher from LA who watches too much anime and knows too much about Sonic the Hedgehog. Follow him on twitter @Sean8UrSon for his work and listen to his podcast, Sonic Podcast Adventure (@SonicPod).

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