TheDragon Ballfranchise has no shortage of villains, but not all of them get the attention they deserve. While the main canon primarily focuses on iconic villains like Frieza and Cell, many fan favorites come from movies, games, and spin-offs. Despite their popularity, without official recognition, they remain stuck in the shadows with no room to develop.
With Broly’s reintroduction inDragon Ball Super: Broly, it showed that legacy characters can be smoothly added into the main continuity. His shift from a non-canon berserker to an emotionally layered character opened the door for others like him. There is a large list of characters who deserve a spot in the official timeline, but some deserve it more than others.
10Gamelan
First Appears in Dragon Ball Online
Gamelan is the General of the Dark Namekians inDragon Ball Online. As a Narak-type Namekian,his main goal is to become the God of the Narak, leading a corrupted clan in a rebellion against Grand Elder Moori and the peaceful Namekians.Gamelan is an evil force willing to brainwash unwilling Namekians to serve him.
Introducing Gamelan into the official timeline would allow for adeeper exploration of the Namekiansand provide fans with a canon evil Namekian. His presence could challenge long-standing assumptions about Namekian pacifism and push characters like Piccolo and Dende to confront a new and unfamiliar aspect of their heritage.
9Garlic Jr.
Garlic Jr. is one of the few movie villains to cross into the anime, but that doesn’t quite make him canon sincehe only appeared in a filler arcof the series. With his immortal body and vendetta against Kami, and by extension, Piccolo, he stands as a compelling threat that never received the recognition he deserves.
What makes Garlic Jr. more intriguing is the fact thathe nearly succeeded in corrupting the entire Earth and seizing the Lookout.Bringing him back or even referencing the arc in canon would enrich the series' lore. As a character who challenged the Z-Fighters without Goku’s presence, he remains one of the most interesting and rewarding villains in the series.
8Cumber
First Appears in Super Dragon Ball Heroes
Cumber, the Evil Saiyan fromSuper Dragon Ball Heroesknown as the “God Slayer,”remains a formidable force despite being sealed in a straitjacket that barely contains his power and imprisoned on Prison Planet. His primal bloodlust, ancient origins, evil aura, and overwhelming strength position him as one of the franchise’s darkest villains.
Super Dragon Ball Heroescan be watched in full on YouTube.
As an ancient Saiyan predating even King Vegeta’s lineage, he offers a deeper exploration of Saiyan lore. InSuper Dragon Ball Heroes, Cumber proves to be powerful enough to effortlessly battle Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta. His aura alone is so oppressive that it can corrupt the minds of those around him, including Goku.
Introducing Cumber into the main continuity would not only deepen Saiyan lore, buthe could also become one of the series’ most fierce and dark villains, raising the stakes like never before.While the Saiyans in the anime tend to be heroic, Cumber would be a relentless force of nature with the potential to completely turn the tide of battles.
7Shadow Dragons
First Appears in Dragon Ball GT
The Shadow Dragons resulted from overusing the Dragon Balls and remain one of the boldest concepts introduced inGT. Born from the negative energy of selfish wishes, each dragon reflects a twisted version of the series’ history, starting from their very first wish.Their existence raises the stakes in the series and questions the Z-Fighters' dependence on the Dragon Balls.
As one of the best arcs inGT,the Shadow Dragons contributed a lot to the franchise. With Goku and his friends overly depending on the wish-granting orbs to fix or solve any disaster that arises, the stakes become less meaningful. Without real consequences, no threat feels truly serious because fans know that the dragon acts as a reset button.
The Shadow Dragon flipped the script by turning the Dragon Balls into a danger. Introducing this idea or a similar one into the canon would let the series explore the cost of overreliance on the artifacts and unchecked power. The Shadow Dragons challenged the core of the series and became a memorable concept that deserves further exploration.
6Towa
Towa is a dark scientist and sorceress from the Demon Realm who was first introduced inDragon Ball Onlineand later became a key figure inXenoverseandSuper Dragon Ball Heroes. She’s the sister of Demon King Dabura, but unlike him, she is much more calculating, manipulative, and enjoys experimentation, especially with time travel and demonic enhancements.
In multiple storylines, she played puppet master without ever needing to throw a single punch herself, making her dangerous in a completely different way.
With her creations like Mira and her manipulation of time itself, Towa is a major behind-the-scenes threat. Her mastery of science lets her revive villains, create hybrids, and tamper with events across timelines. In multiple storylines, she played puppet master without ever needing to throw a single punch herself, making her dangerous in a completely different way.
With the release ofDragon Ball Daimaand an in-depth look at the Demon Realm, there’s never been a better time to bring Towa into the main universe.Her presence could enhance the magical and demonic elements the series has started to explore, presenting a threat that stays one step ahead of the heroes at every turn.
5Android 13
First Appears in Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13
Android 13 debuted in the seventhDragon Ball Zmovie as one of Dr. Gero’s creations, designed to carry out the mission of destroying Goku. Unlike the more prominent androids from the main storyline, Android 13 lacked human emotion or internal conflict.He was a cold, purpose-driven machine with no regrets about his destructive nature.
13’s existence represents the full extent of Gero’s hatred for Goku. Even his design, including his super form, is one of the most brutal and intimidating android appearances, setting him apart from other creations. With the reemergence of the Red Ribbon Army inSuper Hero, Android 13 could appear in the main timeline as one of the coldest villains yet.
4Bojack
First Appears in Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound
Bojack is the leader of the Galaxy Soldiers, a group of ruthless space pirates who were sealed away by the Kais long before Goku’s journey began. When King Kai’s planet was destroyed during the Cell Games, Bojack was released, setting the stage for a brutal showdown ata martial arts tournament on Earth.
Bojack stands out from otherDragon Ballvillains because of his powerful crew and memorable design. After Cell’s defeat, his strength rivaled that of the Z-Fighters, and the team dynamic added excitement to the movie. As a conqueror with a dark past and arrogance matching his intimidating appearance and attitude, he was the perfect villain for Gohan to push further into his potential.
Bringing Bojack into the main story wouldopen the door for bigger galactic criminals and give the Galactic Space Patrol, which is already established, a stronger presence in the franchise.His return could also give Gohan a more personal storyline, emphasizing his growing power and responsibility as the Saiyan with the most potential.
3Janemba
First Appears in Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn
Janemba is a monstrous byproduct of the overloaded Soul Cleansing Machine in the afterlife after being mishandled by a young ogre. The negative energy mutated him into the reality-warping villain that would become known as Janemba.Despite his initial childlike form, he quickly undergoes a dramatic shift unlike anything the heroes had faced before.
With the ability to tear open dimensions, regenerate, and wield a blade of pure energy, Janemba is unpredictable and poses a grave threat that can only be defeated by the fusion of Goku and Vegeta. With a unique design and eye-catching abilities, Janemba became a fan favorite and would push the Z-Fighters to their limits if introduced into the canon.
2Android 21
First Appears in Dragon Ball FighterZ
Android 21 made her debut inDragon Ball FighterZ, instantly capturing fans with her distinctive design and dual personality. Created from the genetic material of numerous fighters, including Saiyans, Namekians, and Majin Buu,her character combines the brilliance of a scientist with the unpredictability of a monster.
Among all non-canon villains, Android 21 is the most likely to join the official continuity after Broly.
Her origin is one of the most intriguing in the franchise, starting as Vomi, Dr. Gero’s wife and the mother of Gevo, who was also the model for Android 16. InDragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Vomi briefly appears in a photograph, hinting thatAndroid 21’s introduction intoDragon Ball’scanon might already be in motion.
Among all non-canon villains, Android 21 is the most likely to join the official continuity after Broly. With her connections to Gero, ties to the Red Ribbon Army, and her growing popularity among fans for her complex good-versus-evil personality, she could introduce new, higher stakes and easily become one of the franchise’s most popular characters.
1Cooler
First Appears in Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge
Cooler was first introduced inDragon Ball Z’sfifth movie as the older brother of Frieza, possessing a more calculated and cold personality.Unlike Frieza, who reveled in his rage and power, Cooler was more restrained and acted with precision.He quickly became a favorite among fans and returned for the sixth movie,The Return of Cooler.
With Frieza’s return asBlack Frieza in theDragon Ball Supermanga, it’s the perfect time to bring Cooler into the canon universe. His presence would add tension and a personal rivalry toDragon Ball’smost recurring villain. With a fifth form and plenty of potential, Cooler could shake up the power balance in ways few characters can.
