Shōnen anime series are defined by their signature attacks. There aren’t many more exciting moments in anime than when a shōnen character has their back against the wall and decides to unleash their strongest attack, ending the battle in decisive action. While all great shōnen series have a few signature attacks, none do it better than theDragon Ballfranchise.
Dragon Ballhas the best signature attacks in anime.Each character in the series has an attack they are known for, and some of the more important characters in the series, like Goku and Vegeta, even have a couple of great attacks they can use in any fight. Even people who have never seen anime before are familiar with some of the attacks inDragon Ball,showing just how influential both the series and the attacks themselves really are.
10Solar Flare
Used Well By Many Z Fighters
There aren’t many attacks inDragon Ballthatareas purely useful as the Solar Flare. It’s a move used by most of the main characters. While Tien Shinhan might use it the most, as it’s a move that originally came from the Crane School he studied at, Krillin, Cell, Goku, Future Trunks, and even Android 18 have all used the move to spectacular effect.
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At its core,the Solar Flare is one of the most simple abilities in the series.It’s useful both for getting into a fight and getting out of one. To use the move, the user needs to simply raise their hands towards their face and say “Solar Flare”. The user will then create a huge beam of light, blinding their opponent and creating a great opportunity to attack or retreat. It’s one of the few signature moves that doesn’t actually do any damage, but its strategic use makes it practical in almost every situation.
9Super Ghost Kamehameha
Gotenks' Hilariously Effective Ability
The Super Ghost Kamehameha is one of thefunniest moves inDragon Ball Z.It’s made by Gotenks, who is already one of the funniest characters in the series without the move. The move only proves just how hilarious Gotenks is, and how brave he is in the face of the world’s greatest threat.The Super Ghost Kamehameha is a unique variation of the Kamehameha where Gotenks summons a bunch of explosive ghosts with his personality.
The second the ghosts touch either their target or one another, they explode. It’s a useful ability against Buu, as each of the ghosts can operate on their own, giving Gotenks an advantage where he can sit back and let his minions do the work for him. It’s one of the most unique attacks inDragon Ball,as most of the other attacks in the series are either more direct or require the user to be involved the entire time.
8Neo Tri-Beam (Shin Kikōhō)
Tien’s Ultimate Ability
The Neo Tri-Beam is used by Tien Shinhan almost exclusively. When Tien uses it against Cell, it’s one of the coolest moments in the series and thebest moment in Tien’sDragon Ballcharacter arc. Even though Tien is severely outclassed by the Androids and by Cell himself, he wants to make himself useful. Before Cell can absorb Android 18, he makes his final stand. He forms his hands into a triangle and blasts Cell for hours.
Even though Tien didn’t do much damage to Cell, he was able to force him into the ground with every blast. It’s one of the greatest moments of sacrifice in anime, asthe Neo Tri-Beam actually uses Tien’s life force.If it wasn’t for Tien, Cell would have gotten to his final form much sooner. Goku was able to fly in at the last second and save Tien as well, allowing Tien to live and fight another day.
7Final Flash
Vegeta’s Devastating Attack
All ofVegeta’s best attacks inDragon Ball arerelated to his character arc. Unlike Goku who might think things through in the middle of battle,Vegeta goes for pure devastation every time.It’s why he’s a good candidate to become a God of Destruction at a future point inDragon Ball Super.One of his most famous, re-creatable, and devastating attacks is his Final Flash. He comes up with the attack in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber when training before his fight with Cell, and uses it against the Bio-Android with relative effectiveness.
While Vegeta’s Big Bang Attack is another staple of his arsenal, it isn’t as easy for fans to do as the Final Flash. Vegeta’s Final Flash starts with the Prince of Saiyans reaching his hands out as wide as possible to gather an unreal amount of energy. He then throws them forward, launching a final attack at whoever is unlucky enough to stand in front of him.
6Death Beam
Frieza’s Iconic Ability
Dragon Ball Zis one of thebest anime series of all timebecause even the villains in the series have iconic attacks. Frieza has a few iconic attacks, and like Vegeta, his moves are directly related to his personality. While other characters have big, boisterous, flashy attacks, Frieza’s are incredibly simple. At his core, he’s a vicious emperor who doesn’t like to waste his time on those he looks down on, which is everyone. His attacks reflect that, as they usually can’t even be seen due to their sheer efficiency.
While Frieza has the Death Ball, which is core to his array of abilities, even the Death Ball isn’t as iconic as the Death Beam.The Death Beam is quintessentially Frieza.He simply points his finger at his target and sends a single, tiny beam of energy directly through them. Most characters can’t even see it. Frieza has no use for prolonged fights, and his Death Beam proves it.
5Destructo Disc (Kienzan)
Krillin’s Most Lethal Ability
At one point in the series, Krillin’s Destructo Disc looked unbeatable. While other Energy Wave attacks can be countered with other Energy Wave Attacks, or even dodged, there’s nothing stopping the Kienzan.It’s a circular beam of light that can cut through nearly anything in an instant.It’s such a devastating ability that many characters in the series learn how to do it and add it to their arsenals. Vegeta and Goku are some of the protagonists that use this move, and evenpowerfulDragon Ballvillains like Frieza, Cell, and Babyhave their own versions.
Krillin is Goku’s best friendand one of the stronger characters in Dragon Ball despite his reputation. OnceDragon Ball Zcomes around, and thenDragon Ball Super,Krillin isn’t anywhere near as strong as his Saiyan allies and their new enemies. When Goku brings the Kienzan back in the Tournament of Power, it’s a beautiful homage to his best friends and his best move in a tough, meaningful fight against Jiren.
4Special Beam Cannon
Created by Piccolo, Also Used by Gohan
The Special Beam Cannon is one of the most recognizable attacks fromDragon Ball.Not only might it be the easiest to recreate, but it’s one of the most famous attacks because it was the one used to kill Goku at the beginning of the series. Nobody saw Goku’s death coming so early, making his death with Raditz one of the most shocking moments in the franchise. Piccolo is the main character to use the ability, but Gohan and even Cell have added it to their arsenal as well.
Piccolo is a pensive character. He might be thesmartest Z Warrior inDragon Ball, and his Special Beam Cannon directly reflects that. It’s an attack that takes the user some time to charge, making sure they’re committed to attacking whoever is in front of them. The user also has to touch their forehead, quite literally pointing to their brain while they charge it.
3Galick Gun
Vegeta’s First Signature Ability
Vegeta has been one of the best characters in Dragon Ball since his debut. His character arc itself is one of the best reasons to watch the series. He starts the series as a villain before becoming one of Earth’s mightiest defenders. His Galick Gun has always been a staple. He first used it against Goku to try and destroy the Earth, later using it with his son Trunks to defend the very same planet.The Galick Gun is one of the few attacks that shines in a bright purple light, making it stand out from the rest of the blue and gold attacks in the series.
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Like most of the attacks inDragon Ball,the Galick Gun can only be used after the user shouts the name of it out. Trunks and Vegeta used it together against Zamasu in a fulfilling father-son moment. Goku and Vegeta’s fusions, Vegito and Gogeta, both use the Galick Gun in combination with other attacks, like the Kamehameha.
2Spirit Bomb (Genki Dama)
Taught by King Kai Himself
The Spirit Bomb is supposed to be Goku’s strongest attack. While it’s incredibly effective in theDragon Ballmovies, it’sless than useful in the mainDragon Ballseries. At its core, it’s supposed to be a ridiculously powerful attack created by drawing massive amounts of energy from tons of different life sources around the user.Goku has used this ability on almost every villain in the series, and while it rarely works, it’s still a visual feat every time he does it.
Like the Special Beam Cannon, the Spirit Bomb is very easy to recreate. To use the ability, Goku simply thrusts his palms towards the sky and asks either the world, the galaxy, or the entire universe to send him energy. He then amasses a giant ball of morally good energy, sending it straight at his opponent. Only characters who are pure of heart can use the Spirit Bomb as well.
1Kamehameha
The Signature of the Turtle School
The Kamehameha isn’t just themost iconic attack inDragon Ball,it’s the most iconic attack in all anime. Even people who have never seenDragon Ball,or anime in general, not only know what this attack is, but they probably know how to do it too. While it isn’t supposed to be Goku’s strongest attack, it just might be.It’s such an amazing attack that there are dozens of variations used by villains and heroes in the series alike.
What started as a simple Energy Wave attack from the Turtle School has become legendary. Goku is the best-known user, but several other characters know this attack as well. Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha, Master Roshi, Cell, Vegito, Goten, Gogeta, Gotenks, Buu, and more have used the ability, making it the most diversely used attack inDragon Ball.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
