10 Greatest Dragon Ball Arcs in the Franchise, Ranked

The Dragon Ball series isn’t just a shonen anime – it’s the legacy of the late legendary mangaka Akira Toriyama. With years of manga arcs and anime episodes to back it, the series has become a gold standard for many subgenres – martial arts, powerscaling, adventure, action, and more.

With that being said, we find ourselves often wondering the same question: which are the greatest Dragon Ball arcs to have been created? To answer your dilemma, we’ve come up with our own ranking of the best arcs in the series.

TITLE	Dragon Ball
CREATOR	Akira Toriyama
IMDb RATINGS (As of June 11, 2026)	8.5/10 (DB) 8.8/10 (DBZ) 8.3/10 (DBS)
MAL RATINGS (As of June 11, 2026)	7.98 (DB) 8.21 (DBZ) 7.47 (DBS)
WHERE TO WATCH	Crunchyroll

10 Red Ribbon Army Arc – Dragon Ball

In the original series, the Red Ribbon Army was a pivotal arc that transformed young Goku from a naive wanderer into a determined fighter – he took on the entire organization as a one-man army, showing his raw talent and heart.

The introduction of Android 8 and the tragic story of Muscle Tower add emotional depth; a narrative that firmly establishes Goku’s unwavering moral code and his drive to protect the innocent, laying down the roots of his long-term character development for years to come.

9 God of Destruction Beerus Arc – Dragon Ball Super

While Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z became iconic pillars of the franchise, Dragon Ball Super was all about expanding the domain and powerscaling even further, and that’s exactly how they started the series with the God of Destruction Beerus Arc. The series announced itself with a bang by introducing Beerus, a god so overwhelmingly powerful that even Super Saiyan 3 Goku is swatted aside like an insect.

The opening arc brilliantly recaptures the series’ sense of wonder and humor – while also giving us an iconic Goku transformation – the majestic and awe-inspiring Super Saiyan God transformation.

8 Saiyan Arc – Dragon Ball Z

If we are on the topic of introduction arcs in the series, we cannot deny the Saiyan Arc a position among our listing – the arc essentially reinvented the series moving forward. Raditz’s arrival shatters everything fans thought they knew about Goku, and the looming threat of Vegeta and Nappa raises the stakes to impossible heights.

From the sacrifices that hit us hard – Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu – to one of the most one of anime’s most iconic climactic battles, the arc set the template for every major arc that followed.

7 Future Trunks Arc – Dragon Ball Super

The series was hectic but vibrant up until this point, but then the Future Trunks Arc happened. A genuinely dark and emotionally resonant story, the Future Trunks Arc revisits the beloved alternate timeline while introducing the chillingly ideological villain Zamasu.

Zamasu’s divine megalomania and Goku Black’s unsettling origin are two discrepancies that elevated the series to a whole new level of dark and intriguing narrative. The arc balances tragedy and spectacle beautifully – culminating in a bittersweet conclusion that ranks among Super’s most memorable and emotionally affecting sequences.

6 King Piccolo Arc – Dragon Ball

The King Piccolo Arc wasn’t just a random arc in the series; it was the arc that grew the Dragon Ball anime series. King Piccolo is the franchise’s first truly terrifying villain – a demon king who slaughters with casual indifference and actually kills beloved characters – creating an air of trauma for the very first time in the series.

The story strips Goku down to nothing – and forces him to claw back from defeat through grit alone. This was the arc that shifted the laid-back and light action shonen anime series to a high-stakes drama.

5 Universe Survival Arc – Dragon Ball Super

The Universe Survival Arc isn’t a name that strikes the mind immediately, but what strikes us is the name – the Tournament of Power Saga. Yes, it is the arc that features the ambitious tournament-of-champions arc with the ultimate prize – survival. With entire universes at stake, the Tournament of Power becomes a breathless spectacle showcasing fighters from across the multiverse.

Despite the emotional and high-octane fights throughout the tournament, something felt abrupt and incomplete, which was delivered as the final payoff of the arc. Being pushed to his limits, an Ultra Instinct Goku emerges to fight Jiren. This is Goku’s strongest form to date in the series.

4 Majin Buu Arc – Dragon Ball Z

The Majin Buu Arc was Dragon Ball Z‘s longest and most emotional arc – swinging from childlike absurdity to genuine horror and back again with surprising control. While Vegeta’s sacrificial turn and Gohan’s long-overdue return as a powerhouse deliver outstanding character moments, Majin Buu’s multiple forms keep the threat constantly evolving, becoming one of the strongest Dragon Ball characters.

The final Spirit Bomb, fueled by all of humanity’s combined energy, remains one of the most emotionally resonant climaxes in anime history – delivering an emotionally heavy and powerful payoff the arc rightfully deserved.

3 Android/Cell Arc – Dragon Ball Z

From Future Trunks’ arrival to the terror of the Androids to Cell’s grotesque evolution across three absorbing forms, the Android/Cell Arc created a relentless momentum of events that kept us glued to our television sets. Furthermore, it culminates in the Cell Games, a showcase for some of the franchise’s best fight choreography.

And to top everything off, Gohan’s Super Saiyan 2 awakening – triggered by rage and sacrifice – stands as the series’ single greatest transformation moment. His transformation made someone as cold and calculated as Cell, one of the greatest villains from Dragon Ball, even panic.

2 Namek/Frieza Arc – Dragon Ball Z

Frieza is hands down the most iconic villain in the Dragon Ball series; he keeps coming back even stronger than before, no matter how many times our heroes beat him. It only makes sense that his introduction arc, the Namek/Frieza Arc, be a high-ranking arc in the series.

Frieza’s slow, methodical unveiling across four transformations was a masterwork of villain building by Akira Toriyama, and the stakes, like universal genocide and the death of Krillin, felt genuinely immense. Goku’s Super Saiyan awakening atop a crumbling Namek remains one of the most electric moments in anime.

1 Piccolo Jr. Arc – Dragon Ball

The final arc of the original series, the Piccolo Jr. Arc, was the peak of Dragon Ball. Goku, now a young man, faces the reincarnation of King Piccolo in a final World Tournament battle that feels like the culmination of everything the series has built.

The fights are creative and technically brilliant – but it’s the emotional weight that elevates it – rivals, growth, and a hard-fought victory that closes Goku’s childhood journey on a deeply satisfying note. The final arc, also known as the 23rd Tenka-Ichi Budoukai Saga, is the best arc of the series, hands down.

RANKING	ARCS
1	Piccolo Jr. Arc
2	Namek/Frieza Arc
3	Android/Cell Arc
4	Majin Buu Arc
5	Universe Survival Arc
6	King Piccolo Arc
7	Future Trunks Arc
8	Saiyan Arc
9	God of Destruction Beerus Arc
10	Red Ribbon Army Arc

What are your thoughts on our ranking of the best Dragon Ball arcs? We’d love to hear your opinions and preferences in the comments below.

The Dragon Ball series is available to watch on Crunchyroll.