Dragon Ball’s power scale has grown so aggressively over the decades that many long-running characters have been left behind, despite having the history, experience, and narrative weight to justify far greater strength than their current iterations. As the story embraced new transformations and multiversal threats, the norms of their roles shifted permanently.
The effect was the creation of an uneven landscape in which the franchise’s early icons and long-standing allies never received the development their legacies deserved. As a result, this piece examines the franchise’s most prominent characters who should be far stronger than they are, given their potential, accomplishments, and contributions.
By comparing their current standing to where they logically should be, it highlights how much unused value still exists in Dragon Ball’s long-established cast. Each character demonstrates how overlooked training opportunities, inconsistent writing, or shifting narrative priorities prevented them from evolving in ways that would strengthen the series as a whole.
Yamcha
One of the most apparent signs of Dragon Ball’s move away from realistic martial arts stories is Yamcha’s narrative downfall. In Dragon Ball, he was an adept fighter who improved rapidly, mastering techniques under Roshi and demonstrating keen tactical instincts. Once Z-era threats intensified, the narrative moved past him so quickly that he never had the chance to adapt.
Years of peace, abundant mentors, and access to advanced training environments should have propelled him far beyond his stationary characterisation. However, what holds Yamcha back is not a lack of potential but the series’ refusal to treat him seriously. He still trains, retains his desert-bandit ingenuity, and has enough experience to grow meaningfully if given proper focus.
Even moderate improvements, such as enhanced Ki control or unique techniques, would restore value to a character who once represented the grounded human core of the franchise. Even from a neutral perspective, it is hardly unreasonable to say that Yamcha deserves far more than being the franchise’s running joke.
Tien Shinhan
Based on hard work alone, Tien’s determination should put him toward the top of the list of human combatants, but right now, he doesn’t demonstrate the discipline and intensity he’s known for. He is one of the few Dragon Ball martial artists who continues to train hard, focusing on technique, precision, and spiritual growth.
With his commitment and access to resources like the Room of Spirit and Time, and advanced Ki lessons from former allies, Tien’s progress should match his efforts. Instead, the story limits him to a reliable but constrained fighter, overlooking the potential of his peculiar techniques.
The Tri-Beam shows he can perform powerful, risky moves, and if he improved it further, he could become a real maestro. Sadly, Tien’s constrained growth thus feels like a wasted opportunity, especially when his persona is all about discipline and self-improvement.
Chiaotzu
Chiaotzu’s lack of improvement is one of Dragon Ball’s most noticeable cases of a character fading from the limelight. As a fighter who relied on psychic powers, he had a unique skill set that could have grown into a role similar to the support abilities seen in later plots. Speaking of exceptional skills, his mind over matter, paralysis moves, and mental attacks, though for a short time, once permitted him to help in fights against much stronger opponents.
If he had further developed these skills, he could have remained important even after pure strength was no longer enough. Lamentably, Chiaotzu was left out of most big battles, so his potential was never really delved into. If he had learned more psychic skills, energy moves, or support techniques, he could have become a key member of the Earth fighters.
Instead, he is stuck at his early-Z power level, even after years of practice with Tien. His lack of progress seems more about the story leaving him behind than about any fundamental limitations to his abilities.
Yajirobe
People often brush aside Yajirobe because he avoids fights, but his early actions show he has remarkable strength and toughness for a regular person. He cut off Great Ape Vegeta’s tail, survived harsh situations, and even demonstrated a level of physical resilience that other non-martial artists do not match.
If he had trained with Roshi, Korin, or even Kami, he could have undoubtedly become a sturdy fighter, as his innate abilities gave him a stronger starting point than others. All of this, however, can be attributed to his supportive role in the story. Nonetheless, this decision keeps him in the background and stops his potential from developing.
Even though he tends to look out for himself, the story could have developed him further without changing who he is. Thus, giving him more strength, better sword skills, or greater resilience would have made sense. All in all, Yajirobe is still a strong character with more hidden potential than his comic moments show.
Krillin
Krillin has long been the most powerful pure human on Earth, but his character development in Dragon Ball Super does not match the growth he portrayed during the Saiyan, Namek, and Android arcs. With his experience, ki control, and tactical skills, he should be a regular mid-tier fighter, especially since he can train with Goku and others.
Krillin’s potential is evident from his use of moves like the Destructo Disc and Solar Flare, which still work well even against much stronger opponents. Dragon Ball Super suggests that Krillin is invigorated, but he rarely gets fights that show real progress.
Though he excels only in battles focused on strategy, the series could do more with his creative fighting style. If given more focus, Krillin could become a connoisseur who brings more than just strength to the team. Right now, there is still a big gap between what he could do and what he actually gets to show.
Goten
Goten’s absence of growth stands out as a big overlooked opportunity in Dragon Ball. He was the youngest Super Saiyan in the series and showed outstanding natural talent, which should have set him up to reach the top. Practising with Trunks and fighting in real battles gave him a head start that most characters never get.
Unfortunately, rather than building on this, later storylines hinder his progress, leaving him a teenager with the same skills he had as a kid. Because Goten does not grow as a character, he becomes less essential to the story, and the potential shown in the Buu Saga goes untapped.
If he trained with Gohan, Vegeta, or Whis, he could effortlessly become one of the top fighters. His easy-going nature could lead to fascinating growth, combining his natural skill with more advanced techniques. Goten deserves real development that matches his background and early promise.
Trunks
Trunks, like Goten, was naturally gifted from a young age, easily becoming a Super Saiyan, and showed strong fighting instincts in fusion and tournament battles. With his background and Saiyan upbringing, he should have improved rapidly as a teenager. However, Dragon Ball Super depicts him mainly staying the same, without the development you would expect from his family line.
This lack of progress undermines his early potential and stands out even more when compared to the improvement his future self achieves. Trunks should have his own tale that highlights his confidence, creativity, and unique abilities as a half-Saiyan. Obviously, he has the potential to grow much stronger, and with proper training, he could reach power levels close to prime adult Gohan.
Right now, though, he is remembered chiefly for what he did as a child, not for any real strength in the present. His character would be stronger if he had new purposes and a clear path to becoming a vital fighter again.
Gohan
Gohan is known for his incredible potential in the Dragon Ball universe, but his growth has been nothing short of erratic. Even after reaching Ultimate Form and subsequently his Super Hero transformation, he spent years not living up to what he could achieve because his focus and priorities kept changing.
Arguably, Gohan’s natural strength is greater than that of almost all pure blood Saiyans. With regular training, he could stay at the top without the ups and downs that have shaped his story. However, the issue lies in commitment rather than capability. Gohan progresses when he balances scholarly pursuits with disciplined training.
Yet the story often pushes him to extremes; either neglecting his strength entirely or unleashing massive power spikes without continuity. When given direction, he becomes one of the franchise’s most alluring fighters, and further stability would finally align his narrative with his unrivalled potential. Gohan should never drift from the upper echelon.
Piccolo (pre–Super Hero)
Before Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Piccolo hit a long stretch where he stopped getting stronger, even though he had the intelligence, discipline, and versatility to keep up. As a Namekian, he possesses extraordinary powers, including regeneration, Ki control, and unique training methods.
Still, the series mostly kept him as a mentor, which held him back from reaching the higher potential hinted at earlier in Z. Even though he kept training, his power never really showed real improvement on screen. When the series finally gives him a significant upgrade, it is apparent that his character development was behind schedule.
Before this, his skills, experience, and fighting sense should have taken him further. He is still one of the most well-rounded fighters in the series, so his growth should mirror that. The way he stopped improving before Super Hero is one of the franchise’s most prominent examples of hard work not paying off.
Uub
Uub is the reincarnation of Kid Buu, so he has incredible potential from the jump. He is introduced as Goku’s successor, a fighter meant to protect Earth in the future and lead a new generation. Nonetheless, the series hardly uses him, leaving his potential unexplored.
With his natural power, he should be one of the most promising characters in Dragon Ball. If Goku trained him adequately, Uub could become one of the strongest fighters in the series, fusing human discipline with Buu’s power.
His background sets him apart from other characters, but he is rarely seen to grow on screen. Uub should have a bigger role and more development, especially as Dragon Ball faces bigger threats. Summarily, Uub’s unused strength is one of the series’ most significant missed opportunities.
Dragon Ball
- Release Date
-
1986 – 1989
- Network
-
Fuji TV
-
Masako Nozawa
Son Goku (voice)
-
Mayumi Tanaka
Krillin (voice)
