When it comes to crazy, over-the-top fights, look no further than Dragon Ball Z. The entire series is built around them, with pretty much every arc ending in an epic brawl. But which are the best of the best? We've broken it down.

These are Dragon Ball Z’s 13 flashiest, most epic, and most meaningful battles.

13. Earth’s Fighters vs Frieza’s Army

Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F Movie

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The first entry in our list is also one of the most recent. In Dragon Ball Z Resurrection F, the most recent DBZ movie, we are treated to a great fight sequence between Frieza’s army and the defenders of Earth. These warriors are often left out of the spotlight, since their power simply doesn’t compete with that of Goku and the many supervillains. But during Resurrection F we get to see Krillin, Tien and others blasting away Frieza’s henchmen with one special Ki blast after another. Even Master Roshi joins in on the fun, which is a rare sight indeed, making the fight scene all the better!

12. Goku vs Beerus

Battle of Gods

This fight is especially memorable for showcasing the new God Form that Goku was able to achieve with the help of the other Saiyans. Although the fight is ultimately stopped, we get to see Goku back in action and with new powers at his fingertips.

Like the legendary Goku vs Vegeta fight, this one presents the heroes a new challenge that is so intense they have no choice but to become stronger than ever before. The fight between Goku and Beerus is still intense, raging through underground caverns and into space, with Goku firing off one of his biggest Kamehamehas to date.

11. Tien, Yamcha, Krillin & Piccolo vs The Evil Saiyans

The Saiyan Saga

As we mentioned earlier, it’s rare to see the non-saiyans holding their own in a fight. Sadly, this entry doesn’t show them in the best light, as they get thoroughly bodied by Nappa and the Saibamen. There are a few stand-out moments however, with one in particular standing the test of time.

We are of course speaking about Tien. After having an arm cut off and seeing his friend Chiaotzu killed, Tien launches his signature attack at Nappa in a fury. For a brief moment, it looks like he may have won. It’s a powerful moment, as we see Tien’s anger building, and we all cheered on the inside when Tien finally cut loose and let fly his attack. Ultimately, it’s not enough, but that doesn’t diminish the impact of this moment, or the ones leading up to it.

Of course, we would be remiss not to give an honorable mention to Tien’s other valiant, but doomed attack later in the series against Cell. Another great example of Tien’s courage, even when there is no hope of success.

10. Future Trunks vs Mecha Frieza & King Cold

Trunks Saga

Sometime a fight doesn’t need to be meaningful - it simply needs to be really, really cool. That’s where this pick comes in. Frieza lives, and has come to Earth with his father King Cold to get revenge on the planet and Goku for his prior defeat.

That’s when Future Trunks appears and utterly annihilates Mecha Frieza in just a few brief attacks. It was a crazy thing to see, given how strong we know Frieza to be, as we all were surely expecting a much larger battle. Instead Trunks kills him in just a few seconds, and not content with that, he goes on to also kill King Cold, taking them both out in less time than it takes Goku to finish a single Kamehameha. Not every fight has to be a 20 episode struggle, so it’s great to sit back and watch Trunks wreck an opponent so easily for once!

9. Vegeta vs Android 19

Android Saga

Goku is often the center of attention in Dragon Ball Z, so we had to make sure to highlight those moments where the other fighters stepped up to win a battle. One of the best examples is found in the Android Saga as Vegeta battles with Android 19.

When the Androids first appear, they seem to be a force that cannot be stopped. They drain the power of their victims, and are impossible to track. Up until this point, the fights with them were all very brief, and always in favor of the Androids. All that changes when Vegeta finally appears, and surprises everyone by going Super Saiyan for the first time. He promptly demolishes Android 19, who simply can’t compete with the power of a Super Saiyan.

It’s Vegeta’s cold and nearly sadistic nature that truly make the fight memorable. He toys with Android 19, trying to scare it and demoralize it, knowing that the Android simply doesn’t stand a chance. It’s a good reminder to fans that Vegeta was at one point the villain of the series, and still had a long way to go at this point in the timeline before he would be considered a hero.

8. Goku vs Vegeta

Saiyan Saga

Throughout Dragon Ball Z Vegeta and Goku get into a few fights, but it’s their first battle that still stands out years later. Goku and Vegeta trade punches, kicks and beam attacks until Goku lays beaten on the ground, and Vegeta looks primed to defeat him.

The fight would of been lost had Krillin, Gohan and Yajirobe not stepped in. Even though Yajirobe valiantly cut off Vegeta’s tail, forcing him out of his Great Ape form, Vegeta would ultimately live to fight another day thanks to Goku showing him mercy. In hindsight, this is one of the single most important moments in the series. The rivalry between Goku and Vegeta has ensured that the two constantly trained to be the very best, and without that, neither would have been strong enough to face the challenges the future had in store. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why this fight holds such importance for the series.

7. Goku & Group vs Broly

Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan Movie

Although Broly appears a few times throughout Dragon Ball Z, it’s his first fight that still holds the most weight. Broly does not care about conquering worlds, or becoming the strongest. He simply wants to put an end to Kakarot. He’s ruthless in his attacks, and is such a large, intimidating enemy that he makes Goku and everyone else seem tiny by comparison.

One moment really stands out. After a lengthy battle, Goku fires a last-ditch Kamehameha into Broly at near point black range. The explosion is huge, and it seems he surely must be dead. However, as the smoke clears, we see Broly standing there, unphased by the attack. He even goes so far as to laugh at Goku, mocking him for his weak attack. This lasts just a few seconds, but it showcases the incredible might of Broly, and what it is that makes him such an intimidating force.