The Dragon Team (ドラゴンチーム, Doragon Chīmu), also known as the Dragon Ball Gang, is a group of Earth's mightiest warriors; formed during Goku and Bulma's search for the Dragon Balls. Since then, they have fought many battles in order to test their skills and reach other goals, and in turn have become the unofficial defenders of Earth.
The sub-team of fighters who are a part of the Dragon Team are referred to as the Z Fighters (or the Z Warriors, Earth's Special Forces[1] and the Golden Fighters). Due to them just being a group of martial artists who group up from time to time, they have no official leader or particular positions. Members will act of their own accord at times, though most if not all have some sort of sense of justice (or eventually developed one) and will make drastic decisions to defend their home. Throughout the years, the group consistently bolstered its ranks through the addition of former enemies and new heroes, and routinely overcame seemingly insurmountable opponents; always emerging victorious against progressively more powerful foes.
The Saiyan conflict[]
The Saiyan conflict is commonly considered the first time Earth's Special Forces engaged enemies together. After Goku's death against Raditz, Piccolo trains Gohan to prepare for the arrival of the Saiyan warriors Vegeta and Nappa a year later, while Goku trains under King Kai in the Other World before being revived by the Dragon Balls. Though several of the members expressed distrust of their former enemy Piccolo, this first Z Fighter roster consisted of Goku, his inexperienced son Gohan, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Krillin, Yamcha and Chiaotzu. Yajirobe, though choosing not to join the fight, ended up playing an important role in repelling Vegeta by slicing off the Saiyan's tail, saving Goku's life. Unfortunately, several Z Fighters are decimated in the battle against Nappa and his Saibamen, with only Goku, Krillin, Gohan, and Yajirobe surviving the fight. Also noted is this is the saga in which Piccolo demonstrates his first step in redemption by sacrificing his life to save Gohan. The deceased would train in Other World with King Kai like Goku. At the end, Vegeta kills Nappa after the former loses to Goku, and Vegeta almost wins against Goku before Gohan transforms into a Great Ape and weakens Vegeta greatly. Vegeta barely escapes with his life and the surviving Z Fighters (Gohan, Krillin and, later, Goku) decide to accompany Bulma to Namek to use their Dragon Balls to revive their fallen comrades.
Battle on Planet Namek[]
During the Battle on Planet Namek, Earth's Special Forces would ally with the Namekian race against Frieza and his Galactic Frieza Army, this part of the series marked a turning point for the group, as Piccolo is fully reformed and Vegeta allies with the group, mainly out of necessity to take down Frieza and strongly hints his intentions to eliminate them once the battle is over. This is also the first time in the series in which a character actually refers to the group as the Z Fighters, when Gohan pleads with Chi-Chi to be allowed to go to Namek with Krillin and Bulma. He informs her that he too is a Z Fighter, and must be there to protect his friends.
The team members of this saga consisted of Goku, Gohan, Krillin and Piccolo (after being revived by the Dragon Balls). Although Vegeta aids them in battling Frieza, he had yet to become an official member due to his reluctant allegiance with them. During the battle, Vegeta and Krillin are killed by Frieza, and this causes Goku to transform into a Super Saiyan for the first time. A desperate Frieza prepares to blow the planet up to kill Goku while everyone besides the former are transported to Earth, including a revived Vegeta. In the aftermath, it was assumed Goku and Frieza died in the explosion, but Goku actually managed to escape. The group uses the Dragon Balls to revive Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu and wait for Goku's return.
Android conflict[]
Two years after the battle with Frieza, the group finds out Frieza is alive and heading for Earth with his father King Cold, prompting them to set out for battle. However, Future Trunks suddenly appears and effortlessly kills the two monsters about three hours before Goku returns from space. Future Trunks then tells Goku that he comes from the future to warn everyone about the Androids that have caused apocalyptic mayhem in his time and had killed all the Z Fighters, with the exemption of Goku (who died from a heart virus beforehand). After his defeat on Earth and then brief alliance on Namek, Vegeta chose to remain on Earth to fight Goku once more, but after learning about the Androids, he decides to stay and train for the upcoming conflict with the androids rather than prepare to battle Goku, though like previously with Piccolo, most of the other Z Fighters do not fully trust him and are unwilling to consider him a true ally. During this time, Vegeta is successful in becoming a Super Saiyan and forms a relationship with Bulma, resulting the birth of their son Trunks. Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu also begin training for the fight with the androids. It is evidently around this time that the series refers to the group of warriors as the "Z Fighters". When the androids do arrive, Future Trunks returns as well, bolstering the team's ranks. With Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Vegeta and Future Trunks, the group fully forms and it is shown through the opening sequence at this time in the series (the final image is of the aforementioned fighters and Goku as he transforms into a Super Saiyan). Chiaotzu, however, does not participate in any actual battles during this saga and his role within the group becomes more and more reduced as time goes on. It is also worth noting that while this version of the Z Fighters is a prominent one during the series history, it is the only period of time in which the team consists of these certain members, the largest roster of the Z Fighters.
Although the sequence of events is altered due to Future Trunks' intervention, Goku is cured from his illness and everyone avoids being killed by Androids 17 and 18. However, they are horrified to face off against an unexpected enemy: Cell, who tries to absorb the Androids to achieve the power to destroy Earth. To test the world's Fighters abilities, Cell holds a tournament called the Cell Games. Everyone trains relentlessly to prepare for the event, and Gohan is able to transform into a Super Saiyan. During the battle, Goku decides he is unable to win and chooses Gohan to take the lead, although Gohan struggles to keep up. After Cell uses his Cell Jr. army to attack the Z Fighters and he brutally murders Android 16, Gohan ascends to Super Saiyan 2, and is able to turn the battle into the Z Fighters' favor. However, Goku sacrifices himself to stop Cell, who survives and kills Future Trunks, but is later killed by Gohan. By end of the Cell Games, Future Trunks is revived and returns to his timeline more powerful than ever, thanks to his training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with Vegeta, and proceeds to finally destroy the evil versions of Androids 17 and 18 in his world, as well as his timeline's Cell a while later.
Meanwhile, Tien Shinhan bids farewell to the Z Fighters and plans to live in seclusion with his best friend Chiaotzu, realizing he can no longer compete with the powers of the Super Saiyans. Yamcha retires from fighting for the same reasons as Tien. Krillin continues to live with Master Roshi, and after a few years, eventually reunites with and later marries Android 18. They soon have a daughter named Marron, and thus Krillin stops training as well. Piccolo decides to live with Dende and Mr. Popo on Kami's Lookout, continuing to train and meditate there. Vegeta resolves to never fight again now that Goku is dead and marries Bulma as they continue raising their son Trunks together. Some time after Goku's death, Chi-Chi gives birth to their second son Goten. Finally, Gohan keeps his promise to his mother Chi-Chi and gives up fighting to study and become a scholar.
Majin Buu conflict[]
By the beginning of the Majin Buu conflict seven years later, the Z Fighters consists of many "next-gen" type characters. Gohan is seventeen and is the primary hero of Earth, both as a Super Saiyan and his alter ego "Great Saiyaman". At school, he meets and falls in love Videl. The Z-Team is not really continued, per se, based on the fact that their opponent Majin Buu was so powerful, it mainly called upon one single person to fight him. However, considering the fighters in this time period, it can be said that the new Z Fighters consist of the following: Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, his son Trunks, and Goku's second son Goten. An additional member is Mr. Satan, Videl's father who took credibility for defeating Cell, but ends up serving as a positive influence on Majin Buu. The Z Team almost lost the battle against Majin Buu after the monster kills almost the entire human population and defeats all the living warriors until it was just Piccolo, Trunks and Goten left. Gohan was thought to have been killed, but was saved by the Supreme Kai and Kibito, and sent to their world for training. However, Gohan, Goten, Trunks and Piccolo were ultimately all absorbed by Super Buu. Goku is finally brought back to life after the Old Kai transferred his life force to him, and performs the Fusion technique with Vegeta to stop Buu (succeeding in freeing Gohan and the others in the process), but Buu succeeds in blowing up the Earth. However, Goku and Vegeta were able to win the battle and defeat Majin Buu for good with the aid of Mr. Satan and Good Buu. Also worth noting is that unlike the Androids and Cell Games Saga, the Majin Buu Saga is when Vegeta voluntarily became a hero, despite a brief betrayal when he allowed Babidi to take control of him in order to force Goku to fight him. He fought for his family and to save the Earth, even sacrificing himself in an attempt to kill Majin Buu. He also later came up with the idea of Goku using a Super Spirit Bomb that destroyed Kid Buu at the very end, confirming his redemption and ultimately leading him to reconcile with the rest of the team.
Later, they battle Abo and Kado, as well as their fusion Aka.
Battle of Gods[]
During Bulma's 45th birthday party, the God of Destruction Beerus and his attendant Whis unexpectedly show up looking for the Super Saiyan God. Beerus finds Goku first and has a sparring session at Goku's request, and easily beats him in two blows before heading to Earth. Remembering Beerus and knowing how dangerous he is, Vegeta makes sure nothing angers Beerus into blowing up the Earth. After Mr. Buu enrages Beerus and he decides to destroy the Earth, the various fighters make a futile effort to stop him.
Although they fail they do manage to stall him long enough for Goku to show up, who has the idea to ask Shenron about the Super Saiyan God. Confirming with Shenron that they need to pool the hearts of five righteous Saiyans into another, Trunks, Goten, Gohan, Vegeta and Videl (who is pregnant with her and Gohan's daughter Pan) do as instructed and transform Goku into a Super Saiyan God who fights Beerus.
Although Goku fails to defeat the godly foe he does stall him long enough for his stamina to run out and fall asleep. Afterwards Whis takes Beerus back home.
Frieza's revenge[]
Following Beerus's retreat, Vegeta and later Goku convinces Whis to take them on as students who puts them through grueling intensive physical and Ki Control training with the goal of mastering their godly Ki. During this time, they both achieved the new Super Saiyan Blue transformation. Meanwhile, the remnants of the Galactic Frieza Army travel to Earth and secretly use the Dragon Balls to resurrect Frieza and similarly puts himself through grueling training for about four months to draw out his full potential. Frieza then sets out to Earth to kill Goku in revenge.
The Z-Fighters are informed of what is happening and try to contact Goku and Vegeta to no avail. The Z-Fighters unite to fend them off when they arrived on Earth looking for the Saiyans. After the Z-Fighters have been severely injured from attacks by Frieza and Captain Ginyu (in Tagoma's body), Gohan flares up his Ki and Goku is able to use it as a beacon to lock onto the group and use his Instant Transmission technique to transport both himself and Vegeta to Earth, with Beerus and Whis following them shortly after.
After an intensive fight with Frieza, during which Goku endures his Golden Frieza form, Frieza's subordinate Sorbet fatally wounds Goku when he lets his guard down, prompting Vegeta to step in to finish off the resurrected tyrant and almost succeeds in destroying him as Frieza realizes he is no match against Vegeta. Unfortunately Frieza destroys the Earth at the last second and all the Z-Fighters with it with the exception of those standing next to Whis at the time. Realizing Frieza may still be alive, Whis rewinds time for three minutes and Goku rushes in to kill Frieza seconds before he can destroy the planet.
Universe 6 and 7 Gods of Destruction Selection Martial Arts Competition[]
While Goku and Vegeta are training on Beerus's home world one day, they receive a unexpected visit from Beerus's twin brother Champa who has come to boast of Universe 6's delicacies. Instead he learns of Earth's vastly superior quality of food and after confirming that his Universe's Earth has been destroyed he proposes a fighting tournament with Universe 7's Earth, in which the winning universe will keep the Earth. For the tournament, Goku and Vegeta recruit fellow Z-Fighters Majin Buu and Piccolo and Beerus recruits Monaka.
After Group's numbers are reduced to four following Buu's failing the written exam Goku is the first to fight and defeats Botamo before being defeated in turn by Frost. Although the ruling is later reversed following the revelation about Frost's use of a anesthetic needle. Piccolo is the second to fight and after a prolonged Battle against Frost resigns after Frost's cheating is exposed so that Vegeta could give him the beating that he deserves.
Vegeta goes on to defeat Auta Magetta after a fight that eats away his stamina and destroys most of the arena in the process. Vegeta then goes onto fight Cabba and train him a little bit by forcing him to go Super Saiyan before defeating him using Super Saiyan Blue. Vegeta is finally defeated by Hit using his Time-Skip power to brutally subdue Vegeta allowing Goku to fight once again. With Goku the assassin finally meets his match as Goku is able to figure out how to counter Time-Skip.
The fight against Goku forces Hit to improve upon his skills for the first time in his life and as a result of the all out battle Hit and Goku, who recklessly uses the combination of Super Saiyan Blue and Kaio-Ken to fight with the Assassin and ultimately withdraw when he realizes the technique has put too much strain on his body and he can't make the assassin fight all out. Unexpectedly however, Universe 7 still wins when Hit resigns the final match against Monaka, whom he realizes is actually a weakling.
Zero Mortals Plan[]
Future Trunks travels to the main timeline again after a new threat, Goku Black, drives the human race of the Alternate timeline onto the brink of extinction again. After fending off Black for a short while Trunks trains with his father while Goku visits Zen-Oh and investigates Black's origins. After a couple of visits to the Alternate timeline The Z-Fighters learn about Black's ally, the rogue Kai deity Future Zamasu and how he came to be.
After trying to eliminate the present Zamasu before he can become Black fails to neutralize the threat Goku instead learns the Evil Containment Wave to contain the immortal and insane Future Zamasu. When that plan fails The two villains use their Potara to fuse together and become Fusion Zamasu and their body is eventually destroyed by the combined efforts of Goku, Vegeta and Future Trunks though their soul still survives and attempt to become one with both the alternate twelve universes and the present set.
When all hope seems lost Goku uses the Button Zen-Oh gave him and summoned the Future Zen-Oh who becomes enraged with the actions of the disembodied Supreme Kai and destroys him alongside the entire Alternate timeline. Goku takes the Future Zen-Oh and brings him to meet the present Zen-Oh while Whis decides to alter the history of the alternate timeline and restore it this time without the mad Supreme Kai to interfere with it.
Universe 6 and 7 Baseball Match[]
Later, Team Universe 7 re-groups to play a friendly game of baseball against Team Universe 6. This time Majin Buu and Monaka are not included. Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha and Trunks are included, and Vegeta and Goten join Team Universe 6 to even the number of players. Goku, Vegeta, and most of the Universe 6 players do not know how to properly play baseball and play agressively against one another. Team Universe 7 wins the game after Yamcha scores a point, having ran around and landed on home base.
Tournament of Power[]
The present and future Zen-Oh arrange the Tournament of Power by having eight universes battle one another in order to eliminate the ones that lose. For the Tournament of Power, team members were not chosen solely on sheer strength and skill but also their teamwork and perseverance. As the tournament would be a single battle royal match between each team, team members were given merit to join based on a combination of their strength, versatility, combat tactics and skills, and most importantly compatibility with the other team members. To which, rather than searching the entire Universe 7 for powerful warriors, Team Universe 7 was instead assembled with warriors who live on Earth and are closest to its two strongest warriors: Goku and Vegeta. Gohan is chosen, based on his merit of both intelligence and strength, as leader of the team. There were two exceptions however, Android 17 was collected as a team member due to his strength and relation with Android 18 - also meeting Goku for the first time, and the tyrant Frieza was recruited from Hell with help from Fortuneteller Baba due to Majin Buu being unable to participate.
Team Universe 7 defeats Team Universe 9, which is immediately erased by the present and future Zen-Oh.