Despite being mainly a show about epic fights and galactic threats, theDragon Ball franchiseis no stranger to wise and brilliant characters. Throughout the years, we have seen some of the most intelligent anime characters in existence being introduced to this anime.
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Among the outstanding minds that are part of Dragon Ball’s cast, some have been shown to perform feats of intelligence that outshine the rest. Below, we will discuss the most intelligent individuals among Goku’s allies and enemies.
Spoiler Warning: Beware of major spoilers for the Dragon Ball franchise!
The only son of theinfamous King Piccolo, Piccolo Jr. had only one mission: avenging his father by killing Goku. Unlike his progenitor, who relied on strength and intimidation to defeat his opponents, the green warrior was much more insightful.
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Piccolo likes learning and analyzing his opponents before starting a fight. He may not be a scientist, but he is a wise individual who always has advice for his friends. However, Piccolo does not know much about science, math, or even technology, putting him at a disadvantage when compared to other smart characters.
The Z Warriors have faced many terrifying and imposing enemies during their time in the show. Still, the most imposing one was surely Cell – due to his high intellect and frightening strategies. This advanced cyborg was created by combining small DNA samples of the best warriors in the universe.
This also meant that Cell had access to the brainpower of fighters like Piccolo, Frieza, and even Gohan. Sadly, Cell also had the recklessness of Goku, the stubbornness of Vegeta, and the ego of Frieza, which caused him to act irrationally on several occasions.
Arguably the most iconic villain in the franchise, Frieza, was first introduced asthe cruel and egotistical Emperor of most of the Galaxy. Since he was young, Frieza received a high education, preparing him for his time to rule over his species.
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This white, Humanoid alien is not afraid to play dirty if it means gaining the upper hand in combat. He is also a masterful tactician who can even trick and confuse his allies with his complicated plans. Woefully, Frieza often allows his ego and superiority complex to get in the way, a weakness that has brought him to defeat several times in the past.
7Dr. Brief
Capsule Corp. is one of the most powerful technology companies in the world of Dragon Ball. This success came mostly from the brilliant man behind its creation, Dr. Brief. Despite not appearing often in the show, his contributions had an impact on the world of Dragon Ball from the beginning.
Not only was he the creator of the flying vehicles that most people drive in the anime, but he was also the inventor behind the small capsules that can contain massive objects. Without him, it is unlikely that the show would have ever started. Nonetheless, as time passed, Dr. Brief faded into the background, leaving his company and the future of science to his daughter Bulma.
When their first child was born, Goku and Chi-Chi had two different futures in mind for the baby. Goku wanted the child to become a fighter like him, while Chi-Chi wished for the boy to become a researcher. In the end, his mother won, and Gohan began studying when he was a toddler.
Related:Dragon Ball: Gohan’s Best Fights, Ranked
Over the years, the young halfling has shown how intelligent he can be. As only a child, he was already reading books about advanced subjects, all while fighting to save the Earth. When we last saw Gohan, he was working as a world-famous investigator. Nevertheless, his dutyas a savior of the planethas taken a toll on Gohan’s time to study and work.
For many years, the Red Ribbon Army (RRA) terrorized the world of Dragon Ball with its highly-advanced weaponry and robots. Although this criminal organization had many brilliant scientists among its ranks, none of them quite compared with the stoic and unforgiving genius Maki Gero.
Dr. Gero is responsible for the creation of the most technological advances used by the RRA, such as Mech-Suits. He is also the man behind the birth of Cell and the existence of Androids 17 and 18. Tragically, his thirst for power and hatred of Goku prevented him from using his powerful mind to its fullest, as he mostly focused on creating weapons.
To accomplish his dream of ridding the universe of mortals, the Supreme Kai apprentice Zamasu spent many years planning how to acquire the power needed for such a task. He studied Goku and his friends for a long time, figuring out how to take control of the Saiyan’s body. He also tricked his mentor, which was not an easy task as Gowasu was still a Supreme Deity at the moment.
Related:Dragon Ball: Times Goku Needed Help
He had a Machiavellian mind and the patience to use it completely. Before setting his plans into action, Zamasu made sure that he had a contingency plan for every situation that could arise. Still, his superiority complex often led him to underestimate his opponents, which ended up being his downfall.
It is said that intelligence tends to run in the family. Dr. Hedo, the grandson of the talented Dr. Gero, is more than enough proof of this old saying. Similar to his grandfather, Hedo became interested in robotics and technology when he was young. He began creating small but deceivingly powerful robots to fulfill his dream of becoming a real-life superhero.
When the Red Ribbon Army rose once more, he was tasked with creating androids that could defeat Goku and the rest of the Z Warriors. This was extremely easy for the young man, who did not only create Gamma 1 and 2 (equally powerful as Goku and Vegeta) but also the terrifying Cell Max. Woefully, he allowed himself to be manipulated by the RRA, proving he was not as mature as his grandfather was.
As the attendant to theGod of Destruction of Universe 7, Whis is in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly. Thankfully, Whis has proven to be a wise individual who has spent millennia studying different planets’ cultures, fighting styles, food, and philosophy.
Out of all the skilled and clever teachers Goku has had, Whis is arguably the smartest. The Angle has taught our hero much more than simple fighting styles. He has told Goku about the history of Universe 7, about different planets’ inhabitants and their customs, and even about deities. However, there is still someone who has discovered many secrets of the universe without the need for Godly powers.
1Bulma Brief
It is hard to imagine Dragon Ball without the brilliant and beautiful Bulma as a member of the cast. The story of this iconic anime began when Bulma used her high intellect to create the Dragon Radar. From that moment on, Bulma has been there to help the Z Warriors with all gadgets they may need.
She created the ship that took her, Gohan, and Krillin to Namek. She designed the armor the Saiyans used during the Cell Saga. She even broke the laws of physics by manufacturing a time machine that has been vital to the survival of Universe 7 on more than one occasion. Bulma did all this by using her intellect alone, something that has surprised even Whis.
