Summary
Starting as a terrifying villain who was a threat to the entire world, Piccolo has had one of the greatest character redemption arcs in all ofDragon Ball. Over the years, he has endeared himself to the hearts of fans and is often regarded as one of the most beloved and popular characters in the series, so much so that the legendary creator of the series, Akira Toriyama, is on record stating that Piccolo is his favorite character!
Moreover, Piccolo is also the strongest Namekian to have ever lived, a point that is shown repeatedly throughoutDragon Ball,as his strength is so great that now that he has finally entered the same tier of power as Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Broly. Piccolo has had some of themost incredible and pivotal momentsin the entire franchise, so let’s take a look at what these are.
Story Arc
Raditz Saga
Before the beginning ofDragon Ball Z, the only exposure that fans of the franchise had to Piccolo was back when he was the Demon King inDragon Ball. Due to this, he was remembered as a villain, but once Raditz invaded Earth and kidnapped Gohan, Piccolo was forced to team up with Goku to bring the evil Saiyan down. In this battle, fans saw the piercing power ofPiccolo’s iconic move; the Special Beam Canon.
So you’re going to sacrifice yourself, Goku. How very noble of you, and how convenient for me!
Significance
Not only was this the first time fans saw Piccolo’s true strength with his new attack, but it also signified a new direction for the franchise. Goku and Piccolo had been enemies for years, with the latter almost killing the Saiyan multiple times throughout the early years of the franchise. However, their team-up against Raditz showed the Namekian to have turned over a new leaf and joined forces with the same Saiyan he once sought to destroy.
Saiyan Saga
Though his team-up with Goku against Raditz showed the beginning of a change in the Namekian, his true redemption would be complete afterNappa and Vegeta made their way to Earth. After laying waste to all of the Z-Fighters with little effort, Nappa eventually launched an attack at Gohan that would have surely killed him if Piccolo had not jumped in the way, killing himself but saving Gohan.
Gohan, you’re the only real friend that I’ve ever had. I want to thank you.
Many in theDragon Ballcommunity believe this to be Piccolo’s finest moment in the series. After spending close to a year with the boy and training him, Piccolo came to think of Gohan as an actual friend rather than just a burden, so he made the decision in a split second to sacrifice his life for the Saiyan, completing his redemption arc and officially marking himself as a good guy.
Frieza Saga
Piccolo had been dead for quite a while by the time the Z-Fighters made their way to Namek. After gaining substantial strength through his training with King Kai on Otherworld, Piccolo was eventually wished back with the Namekian Dragon Balls and fused with Nail. This incredible power-up was strong enough to fight againstFrieza’s terrifying Second Form, and even overpowered it!
They didn’t say that Piccolo was a Namek. Oh wow, this is incredible!
Piccolo’s fight against Frieza showed him to have become an absolute powerhouse. His training with King Kai in tandem with his fusion with Nail made him the strongest Namekian on the planet, driving Frieza to the edge and almost defeating him. This version of Piccolo proved himself to be superior to the Galactic Tyrant’s Second Form but was eventually defeated by his Third.
Android Saga
Ever since the firstSuper Saiyan transformation made its debutwithin theDragon Ballfranchise, the non-Saiyan characters had been pushed back a little in terms of strength. Piccolo realized this and fused with Kami to make up for the strength to fight Android 17 on equal footing. The fight that ensues shows both fighters to be equal in one of the greatest battles in all ofDragon Ball.
If it’s just him, I won’t have any problems shutting him down!
More than just serving to cement Piccolo as being on the same strength as his Super Saiyan allies, this fight goes to show just how intelligent of a warrior he is. Although he and Android 17 were equal in strength, Piccolo realized that 17 had the advantage due to his unlimited energy, so he used his regeneration, unique Ki blasts, and all sorts of tactics to make up for it. Just as the battle reaches its climax, Cell enters the arena.
Super Hero Arc
Though he was still a prominent character in the series, Piccolo did not have too much importance as a fighter for much ofSuper. Aside from his great showing alongside Gohan in the Tournament of Power, Piccolo finally got a new form in theSuper Heromovie, after Gamma 2 attacked him and he realized that he needed to get stronger. However, Shenron also included a bonus with his potential unlocked form;the incredibly powerful Orange Piccolo.
Well now, thank you, Shenron. That little extra went a long way!
Orange Piccolo is the Namekian’s answer to all the strong Saiyans with their unique and divine forms. After being relegated to the side for far too long, Piccolo’s new form was powerful enough to contest Cell Max, showing that it is enough to finally put him in the same tier of powerhouses like Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Broly. In the manga, Goku even remarked on Orange Piccolo’s incredible new strength.
