The Dragon Ball world is filled with warriors capable of annihilating planets, rewriting reality, and making a dent in anime history. Not all Saiyans, however, are galactic game-changers like Goku and Vegeta, though. With every god-tier warrior, there is a Saiyan who stumbles from one warm-up round to the next. Today, we’re taking a countdown of ten of the weakest Saiyan characters in Dragon Ball—from those with unfulfilled potential to those that make you wonder just how powerful Saiyan blood can be.
10. Goten – The Young Super Saiyan Who Hasn’t Hit His Stride
Goten came onto the stage as one of the youngest Super Saiyans in history, pretty much a miniature Goku with an edgy personality. He had great potential early in the series, but most of his moments came with Trunks. Aside from their fusion into Gotenks, he hasn’t had a lot of time to shine alone. In Dragon Ball GT, he was too busy concerned about dating rather than fighting, and even in Dragon Ball Super, he hasn’t had his moment yet. With his lineage, the potential is there—but for the time being, he’s still in the shadows of the people who surround him.
9. King Vegeta – The Royal Who Couldn’t Dominate the Battlefield
As the father of Vegeta and ruler of the Saiyan race, you’d expect King Vegeta to be one of the greats. In reality, he was more concerned with power in the political sense. He never had the strength to stand up to Frieza, and his son quickly surpassed him. He’s remembered more for his status and lineage than for anything he did in a fight.
8. Bardock and His Team – The Low-Class Saiyan with a Hint of Greatness
Bardock is a popular character among fans due to the years, largely owing to his determination and sad history. Nevertheless, he was a low-class Saiyan. Although he had moments of greatness, he never got the opportunity to demonstrate them. His group—Tora, Shugesh, and others—was even weaker and lost more often in battles. Bardock’s tale is riddled with “what ifs,” but ultimately, fate and Frieza ended his story prematurely.
7. Paragus – The Plottner Who Needed Broly’s Brawn
Paragus, Broly’s father, was less of a brawler and more of a plotter. His whole presence was all about having control over Broly’s vast power, but doing little himself. Apart from his son, Paragus was basically powerless and had to use schemes instead of brute force. There’s no indication he ever possessed any true hidden talent—his reputation comes through Broly, not by his deeds.
6. Tarble – Vegeta’s Brother, the Saiyan Nobody Remembers
Many forget that Vegeta even has a brother. Tarble was exiled because he was too weak to be of any use, and nothing that has transpired since indicates anything has changed. He supposedly beat a few Frieza soldiers, but his power has never been anything special. With such a well-known sibling, Tarble’s low standing feels particularly disappointing.
1. Pan – The Quarter-Saiyan with Hidden Potential
Pan is Gohan and Videl’s daughter and Goku’s granddaughter. That’s a whole lot of powerful genes, and she’s certainly given indications of being special—flying in infancy, assisting her mother in accessing Saiyan power, and leaping into combat in childhood. But up till now, she hasn’t had the opportunity to demonstrate what she can do. In GT, she was courageous but frequently on the losing team. She has the spark, but she’s still developing it.
4. Nappa – The Muscle Who Was All Bark, Little Bite
Nappa arrived on Earth in the form of a wrecking ball and completely ran roughshod over the initial fights. But when Goku arrived on the scene, Nappa’s limits were quickly revealed. He was unstoppable one moment and outclassed the next, and Vegeta didn’t mind adding the final touches. Nappa looked like a beast but lacked the endurance.
3 . Raditz – The Lower-Level Saiyan Who Set the Stage
Raditz was the first Saiyan we encountered in Dragon Ball Z and made a large impact by beating both Goku and Piccolo. However, as the series went on, it was evident that Raditz was a weakling compared to Saiyans. His role was primarily to introduce the race and start the Saiyan Saga. The moment more powerful characters came along, Raditz became obsolete.
2. Gine – The Kind Mother with No Fighting Background
Gine, the mother of Goku, is remarkable for being gentle and warm-hearted among a sea of merciless warriors. Strength-wise, however, there’s not much to work with. She wasn’t a fighter and didn’t possess any combat prowess or desires. Her greatest contribution was the birth of Goku, and that’s about the extent of it. Among Saiyan warriors, she’s ranked lowest.
1. Bulla (Bra) – The Saiyan Who Wasted the Most Potential
Bulla would otherwise be called Bra and is the child of Vegeta and Bulma, and by all measures, she would be ridiculously powerful. But she’s never had a taste for fighting and has never exhibited any combat-ready skills. Her potential is through the roof, but none of that has been tapped into. Among all of the Saiyans, Bulla is the biggest waste of what could have been. Perhaps someday she’ll surprise us, but as it stands now, she is last.
For every Goku or Vegeta, there’s a Saiyan who never quite measured up. Whether it’s bad timing, lack of training, or simply not being built for battle, these characters remind us that Saiyan strength isn’t guaranteed. Some are born to protect the universe—others are just along for the ride.