10 Dragon Ball Villains Who Deserve to Join Goku As a Z Fighter

In the Dragon Ball franchise, created by Akira Toriyama, villains often turn into allies of the protagonists. Vegeta and Piccolo are two of the primary examples of this – how they sought to kill Goku, but then they became his allies. This recurring pattern establishes a precedent for many redemption arcs in the anime.

In the anime, the current roster of heroes face increasingly more powerful multiversal threats that can use magic and are often immune to standard attacks, and the protagonists can use some more help from the former villains of the anime. Let’s explore ten such characters who used to be the villains but deserve a second chance.

TITLE	Dragon Ball
MAL RATING (as of June 13, 2026)	7.98 / 10
ORIGINAL CREATOR	Akira Toriyama
STUDIO	Toei Animation
WHERE TO WATCH	Crunchyroll

1 Broly – The Uncontrollable Berserker

Broly is a Saiyan who was born with very high power levels. While he lacks formal combat training, he is a genius of battle, who forced Goku and Vegeta to merge during a single fight. The Z Fighters need more massive physical assets to combat the cosmic-level threats.

Broly’s infinite power scaling can make him an unmatched weapon, and there is only one villain who is seemingly stronger than him. If his psychological trauma and anger issues calm down with the help of proper discipline and training, the chaos within him can be channeled for something good.

2 Cell’s Motivations Are a Lot Like Goku

Cell is a being that was engineered in a lab. To make him, the DNA of the strongest fighters was taken, which included Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and even Frieza. His original design made it so that he had to absorb other androids to reach a perfect form. Once this form was achieved, his focus shifted to proving that he is strong.

He had no motivation other than wanting to be stronger, which actually mirrors Goku. Both are obsessed with testing their limits against the strongest. Redirecting this competitive nature away from lethal fights and towards spars would provide the heroes with a very strong partner.

3 Raditz Could’ve Been a Perfect Ally for Goku

Raditz is a Saiyan warrior and the older brother of Goku. He arrived on Earth with the only objective of recruiting Goku to conquer planets. When Goku refused to take part in that, he kidnapped his own nephew to force him. He was a ruthless antagonist who was eventually killed in combat very early in the Dragon Ball timeline.

However, many fans argue that Raditz died too early. Many characters in this anime have gotten their redemption. Vegeta committed planetary genocide but was allowed to reform. Goku’s own brother deserved a similar opportunity for rehabilitation.

4 Nappa, the Brutal Henchman

Nappa is a hulking, elite Saiyan warrior who worked with Vegeta. He often relies only on brute force and widespread destruction. Meaning, he lacks tactical intelligence, and it’s best for him to follow the orders of someone stronger and smarter than him. Vegeta executed him for demonstrating weakness in battle.

Nappa’s lack of independent thought can actually be a strategic advantage. His defining trait is absolute obedience to established authority. He requires a commander to function properly. If Goku or a reformed Vegeta established permanent dominance over him, his allegiance would prove to be a great asset.

5 Captain Ginyu’s Fanaticism Can Be Useful

Captain Ginyu is the leader of an elite mercenary squad employed by the galactic tyrant Frieza. He possesses a unique biological technique that allows him to switch bodies with any target. Aside from his combat abilities, his defining characteristic is that he often strikes poses.

The current team of protagonists often fights alone rather than as a coordinated unit. Captain Ginyu’s entire methodology revolves around maximizing group efficiency. If his fanatical loyalty was reprogrammed toward defending Earth, his obsession with teamwork would radically alter the group’s combat approach.

6 Android 16 – The Pacifist Machine

Android 16 was constructed by the Red Ribbon Army. He was designed with only one object in life: the assassination of Goku. He possessed immense physical strength and heavy, built-in weapons. Despite the way he was coded, he had many empathetic contradictions inside of him. Which means, he can be led to a better path.

Furthermore, he doesn’t have organic energy, making him very stealthy. His peaceful disposition, combined with his stealth capabilities and heavy armor, makes him an optimal guardian for Earth’s vulnerable environments.

7 Hit – The Legendary Assassin

Hit is a centuries-old professional assassin from Universe 6. Basically, he is a very skilled killer who utilizes advanced martial arts combined with small-scale time manipulation. His signature technique allows him to skip time for brief intervals, bypassing defenses to strike vital points instantly.

The Z Fighters rely exclusively on brute force and massive energy blasts, which frequently cause catastrophic collateral damage in the anime. Hit, on the other hand, fights with precision and stealth. If he joins the protagonists, it would be a turning point, and most battles can be won without much destruction to begin with.

8 Dabura – The Demon King

Dabura is the ruling monarch of the Demon Realm. He was introduced as an antagonist after being subjected to the magical mind control of the wizard Babidi. During this time, he used his demon magic and combat skills to serve as a brutal enforcer.

Once freed from the influence of Babidi, his personality changed dramatically toward peace and empathy. Dabura’s mastery of demonic sorcery, including the ability to petrify targets with his saliva, would offer a lot of diversity in the combat. Recruiting him grants the team a dedicated magic user, covering a critical blind spot while utilizing an individual inherently capable of reform.

9 Moro Could Be the Perfect Magic User in the Team

In Dragon Ball Super, Moro is an ancient, goat-like sorcerer who has lived for millions of years. He is basically a galactic parasite, consuming the life energy of entire planets and their inhabitants to sustain his own insane amount of power. He is not working on instinct, as he is very intelligent. Overall, he is a ruthless entity who leverages complex magic over standard physical combat that characters like Goku are versed in.

While Moro’s morality is incompatible with the heroes’, his inclusion can be justified by tactical necessity. Under a magically binding contract or strict containment protocols, his spellcasting abilities could prove necessary for mutual survival against reality-warping threats in the anime.

10 Gas – The Muscle of the Heeter Family

Gas is the primary enforcer of the Heeter Force, which is an intergalactic crime syndicate in the Dragon Ball universe. He was enhanced by his older brother to become the strongest mortal in the universe. He fights using advanced energy constructs that he can make out of thin air, such as shields or weapons.

Gas’s massive power output was strictly tethered to the abusive manipulation of his older brother. He was used solely as a random tool for organized crime. Hence, he shares some parallels with Broly as well. Removing him from this toxic family and offering him genuine found family (Z Fighters) would redirect his loyalties.

CHARACTER	DEBUT
Broly	Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Cell	The Reunion – Dragon Ball Z
Raditz	The New Threat – Dragon Ball Z
Nappa	Gohan’s Rage – Dragon Ball Z
Captain Ginyu	Bulma’s Big Day – Dragon Ball Z
Android 16	Goku’s Assassin – Dragon Ball Z
Hit	The Matches Begin! We’re All Off to the “Planet with No Name!” – Dragon Ball Super
Dabura	The Wizard’s Curse – Dragon Ball Z
Moro	Joining the Galactic Patrol! (Manga Chapter)
Gas	Granolah the Survivor (Manga Chapter)

Which of these antagonists would you want to see taking the side of Goku? Let us know in the comments.

Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super are streaming on Crunchyroll.