Piccolo is one of Dragon Ball’s oldest and most iconic characters who has had many great moments. Here’s a look at them.
Highlights
- Piccolo’s character redemption arc is one of the greatest in Dragon Ball, earning him a spot as a beloved and powerful fan favorite.
- From teaming up with Goku to sacrificing himself for Gohan, Piccolo’s pivotal moments mark his transformation from villain to hero.
- Piccolo’s new form, Orange Piccolo, showcases his strength and puts him on par with Saiyan powerhouses like Goku and Vegeta.
Starting as a terrifying villain who was a threat to the entire world, Piccolo has had one of the greatest character redemption arcs in all of Dragon Ball. Over the years, he has endeared himself to the hearts of fans and is often regarded as one of the most beloved and popular characters in the series, so much so that the legendary creator of the series, Akira Toriyama, is on record stating that Piccolo is his favorite character!
Moreover, Piccolo is also the strongest Namekian to have ever lived, a point that is shown repeatedly throughout Dragon Ball, as his strength is so great that now that he has finally entered the same tier of power as Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Broly. Piccolo has had some of the most incredible and pivotal moments in the entire franchise, so let’s take a look at what these are.
Related
Dragon Ball: Are The Fusions Stronger Than Beerus?
Goku and Vegeta’s fusions are widely considered to be Dragon Ball’s strongest, but can they take down Universe 7’s God of Destruction?
Piccolo And Goku vs. Raditz
First Appearance | Dragon Ball Z, Episode 5, “Gohan’s Rage” |
---|---|
Debut Date | May 24, 1989 |
Story Arc | Raditz Saga |
Before the beginning of Dragon Ball Z, the only exposure that fans of the franchise had to Piccolo was back when he was the Demon King in Dragon Ball. Due to this, he was remembered as a villain, but once Raditz invaded Earth and kidnapped Gohan, Piccolo was forced to team up with Goku to bring the evil Saiyan down. In this battle, fans saw the piercing power of Piccolo’s iconic move; the Special Beam Canon.
So you’re going to sacrifice yourself, Goku. How very noble of you, and how convenient for me!
Significance
Not only was this the first time fans saw Piccolo’s true strength with his new attack, but it also signified a new direction for the franchise. Goku and Piccolo had been enemies for years, with the latter almost killing the Saiyan multiple times throughout the early years of the franchise. However, their team-up against Raditz showed the Namekian to have turned over a new leaf and joined forces with the same Saiyan he once sought to destroy.
Piccolo’s Sacrifice
First Appearance | Dragon Ball Z, Episode 28, “Goku’s Arrival” |
---|---|
Debut Date | November 29, 1989 |
Story Arc | Saiyan Saga |
Though his team-up with Goku against Raditz showed the beginning of a change in the Namekian, his true redemption would be complete after Nappa and Vegeta made their way to Earth. After laying waste to all of the Z-Fighters with little effort, Nappa eventually launched an attack at Gohan that would have surely killed him if Piccolo had not jumped in the way, killing himself but saving Gohan.
Gohan, you’re the only real friend that I’ve ever had. I want to thank you.
Significance
Many in the Dragon Ball community believe this to be Piccolo’s finest moment in the series. After spending close to a year with the boy and training him, Piccolo came to think of Gohan as an actual friend rather than just a burden, so he made the decision in a split second to sacrifice his life for the Saiyan, completing his redemption arc and officially marking himself as a good guy.
Related
The 20 Best Dragon Ball Villains of All Time
Goku and his friends have come up against some memorable villains throughout Dragon Ball, although some made a much bigger impression than others.
Piccolo vs. Frieza’s Second Form
First Appearance | Dragon Ball Z, Episode 80, “Piccolo the Super-Namek” |
---|---|
Debut Date | March 6, 1991 |
Story Arc | Frieza Saga |
Piccolo had been dead for quite a while by the time the Z-Fighters made their way to Namek. After gaining substantial strength through his training with King Kai on Otherworld, Piccolo was eventually wished back with the Namekian Dragon Balls and fused with Nail. This incredible power-up was strong enough to fight against Frieza’s terrifying Second Form, and even overpowered it!
They didn’t say that Piccolo was a Namek. Oh wow, this is incredible!
Significance
Piccolo’s fight against Frieza showed him to have become an absolute powerhouse. His training with King Kai in tandem with his fusion with Nail made him the strongest Namekian on the planet, driving Frieza to the edge and almost defeating him. This version of Piccolo proved himself to be superior to the Galactic Tyrant’s Second Form but was eventually defeated by his Third.
The Fight Against Android 17
First Appearance | Dragon Ball Z, Episode 148, “The Monster is Coming” |
---|---|
Debut Date | July 15, 1992 |
Story Arc | Android Saga |
Ever since the first Super Saiyan transformation made its debut within the Dragon Ball franchise, the non-Saiyan characters had been pushed back a little in terms of strength. Piccolo realized this and fused with Kami to make up for the strength to fight Android 17 on equal footing. The fight that ensues shows both fighters to be equal in one of the greatest battles in all of Dragon Ball.
If it’s just him, I won’t have any problems shutting him down!
Significance
More than just serving to cement Piccolo as being on the same strength as his Super Saiyan allies, this fight goes to show just how intelligent of a warrior he is. Although he and Android 17 were equal in strength, Piccolo realized that 17 had the advantage due to his unlimited energy, so he used his regeneration, unique Ki blasts, and all sorts of tactics to make up for it. Just as the battle reaches its climax, Cell enters the arena.
Related
Dragon Ball: Vegeta’s Final Flash, Explained
Vegeta is an extremely powerful character with some of the strongest moves in the entire series, but none are as iconic as his Final Flash.
Piccolo Finally Reaches The Saiyans Again
First Appearance | Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero |
---|---|
Debut Date | June 11, 2022 |
Story Arc | Super Hero Arc |
Though he was still a prominent character in the series, Piccolo did not have too much importance as a fighter for much of Super. Aside from his great showing alongside Gohan in the Tournament of Power, Piccolo finally got a new form in the Super Hero movie, after Gamma 2 attacked him and he realized that he needed to get stronger. However, Shenron also included a bonus with his potential unlocked form; the incredibly powerful Orange Piccolo.
Well now, thank you, Shenron. That little extra went a long way!
Significance
Orange Piccolo is the Namekian’s answer to all the strong Saiyans with their unique and divine forms. After being relegated to the side for far too long, Piccolo’s new form was powerful enough to contest Cell Max, showing that it is enough to finally put him in the same tier of powerhouses like Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Broly. In the manga, Goku even remarked on Orange Piccolo’s incredible new strength.
Dragon Ball can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
More
Jujutsu Kaisen: The Weird World of the Itadori Family
Chapter 257 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga dropped a bombshell reveal about Yuji’s already strange family, so let’s see how it looks now.
Dragon Ball Super
ActionAdventure
Release Date
July 5, 2015
Creator
Akira Toriyama
Number of Episodes
131
Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Anime