Fusion is a familiar technique to Dragon Ball fans at this point. During the numerous manga issues, TV shows, and movies, characters occasionally join bodies into one being. That may sound utterly nonsensical, but it's hardly the weirdest move that Akira Toriyama's work has pulled.
That said, some truly oddball combos exist. Certain characters fuse together and make you shake your head in disbelief. Most of these come from the myriad of video games. The developers realize they aren't tied down to continuity and decide to go nuts with the concept. However, some crazy mergers sneak in through the manga and anime. One thing that all of these fusions have in common, though, is that they're utterly bizarre. Such gleeful strangeness should be immortalized in Dragon Ball history.
Updated May 16, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: Dragon Ball is a series full to the brim with crazy powerups that are pretty fun to watch. One such way in which the series creates powerful characters is through the process of fusion, which allows two powerful fighters to combine their strengths to enable something truly spectacular. Most people are aware of the show's iconic summons, but Dragon Ball has actually explored a bunch of unique fusions that are truly hard to believe. The most notable examples in this regard can be found below.
15 Future Gohan And Future Trunks
The Future timeline is pretty messed up in Dragon Ball. The destruction wreaked by the Androids is pretty horrifying as is, but things really take a turn for the worse after Gohan is killed in cold blood by these terrifying machines leaving Future Trunks to fend for himself.
In Dragon Ball Fusions, both characters can actually combine their powers with the Fusion Dance. It's a great transformation that lets these two steadfast friends team up in a way that no fan has ever seen before.
14 Raditz And Nappa
Most people argue that Raditz and Nappa are two of the weakest Saiyans to play a major role in Dragon Ball Z. This definition is pretty accurate, with both characters being disposed of early on during the series' run.
However, a fusion made up of them both could be slightly interesting, and this actually happens in Dragon Ball Fusions. Both characters can fuse in this game to form a unique character called Natz.
13 Krillin And Piccolo
The hilariously-named Prillin is another character that appears in Dragon Ball Fusions. Obviously enough, this character is a fusion made up of both Krillin and Piccolo, which is a really odd combination indeed.
Both of these characters actually present the Fusion Dance to Goten and Trunks in Dragon Ball Z without actually fusing. Thankfully, Dragon Ball Fusions makes this odd choice of fusion a reality.
12 Xeno Trunks And Xeno Vegeta
The Xenoverse has introduced new warriors called the Time Patrol, who are essentially intergalactic warriors who protect the timeline. A bunch of beloved characters from the Dragon Ball series have alternate versions that serve as members of the Time Patrol.
This includes Xeno Trunks and Xeno Vegeta as well. Watching this father-son duo fuse in Dragon Ball Heroes is highly enjoyable, although the name Vegeks could perhaps use some work.
11 Recoome And Burter
The Ginyu Force was a squad of powerful warriors who caused no end of problems for the heroes on Planet Namek. They were quite powerful and beat down many characters to a pulp, but were ultimately no match for the might of Goku.
Two of these members, Recoome and Burter, can actually fuse in Dragon Ball Heroes. It's a rather odd combination, but one which fans of the series will probably take some enjoyment from.
10 Krillin and Cell
During one of several What-If scenarios in the first Dragon Ball Z: Budokai, it's business as usual for Cell. The insectoid villain works furiously to absorb Androids 17 and 18. Unfortunately, he trips at the finish line and absorbs Krillin instead, transforming him into a pint-sized imp.
The nasal voice and Napoleon Complex would be funny enough, but the way Yamcha and Tien easily overwhelm him makes this a gloriously farcical fable. It's truly the lowest point for Cell.
9 Tien And Yamcha
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 goes to some strange places with its gameplay and customization. Take the random combos that emerge from using the Fusion Technique. A typically solo fighter like Tien could merge with Yamcha.
The three eyes and receding spiky hairline are ludicrous even by anime standards, but combining each fighter's ridiculously athletic moves – like the Volleyball Attack and Wolf Fang Fist – make this guy just as clownish as he looks. Oddly, though, it's not out of character for either of his halves. It makes one wonder why these two didn't fuse in the show. They might have stood a chance against Goku and the other alien freaks.
8 Goku and Hercule/Mr. Satan
When Super Buu thwarts his plan to fuse with Gohan, Goku doesn't have many options. He desperately looks around at the remaining characters, and it's here he imagines himself merged with Mr. Satan, the clownish martial champion.
The nightmare scenario comes complete with the mustache, afro, and blowhard demeanor. It would have been an amusing fight for two minutes until Buu killed them. Luckily for Earth, Vegeta soon arrives and paves the way for Vegito, which is never a bad thing.
7 Goku and Vegeta (Fat)
These two Saiyans have fused several times, both in and out of the official canon. However, the way Gogeta comes into play during the Fusion Reborn film is just farcical. Goku and Vegeta mess up the Fusion Dance, so the resulting fighter is a rotund clod. His specialties are bouncing around, running away, and paralyzing his opponent with gas attacks.
Fusions have failed before, but the shows never dwelled on those flubs for this long. It makes for an odd aside that harkens back to early Dragon Ball in tone.
6 Super Buu Absorptions
If Super Buu activates his Absorption Technique in Budokai 2, there's no guarantee he'll repeat his transformations from the show. Instead, he might consume Frieza, Cell, or one of the other characters just hanging around.
Adding to these guys' power to his own also changes Super Buu. With the purple head tentacle and/or insect spots, the pink menace is now even more of a freakshow. It's even more surreal when his voice and posture start copying those he absorbs. Suffice it to say, the developers were having way too much fun.
5 Elder Kai
The elder Supreme Kai has been a recurring character for a while. Many might assume he got his old appearance through natural aging, but that's not the case.
In actuality, he was a youthful Kai until a wrinkly witch swiped one of his Potara earrings. After they inadvertently combined, the poor sap became the elderly sap. He also gained immense knowledge of various mystical rituals, so the tale did have a silver lining. However, was that really worth the cost of his health? Most people would probably say, "No."
4 Tapion and Hirudegarn
Tapion sure gets the short end of the stick. While his movie, Wrath of the Dragon, is one of the more popular Dragon Ball flicks, he has a hellish monster sealed inside him. Yes, this exiled warrior (and amateur musician) must live with the monstrous Hirudegarn constantly plaguing him. He doesn't even get any power boost, adding insult to injury.
All joking aside, this remains one of the stranger methods of merging two beings. Considering all the wacky ways of fusion that Dragon Ball has dished out, that's no small statement. The forlorn swordsman is like a living lamp for a demonic genie.
3 Piccolo and Dr. Mashirito
Crossover titles are already a chance for contrasting characters to come closer. Dragon Ballis no stranger to this, but what happens if this is taken to the next level? Jump Super Stars answers that question by combining Piccolo with Dr. Mashirito, the villain from Dr. Slump (Toriyama's big hit before Dragon Ball).
The guy that emerges hardly qualifies as a fighter. He only knows one move, the Rejected Demon Cannon, which is probably a reference to the author's frustrations with his editor. That alone should make it clear that this was never meant to be anything more than a joke character. A tongue-in-cheek attitude permeates everything from his abilities to his mere existence. All that's left to do is fuse Goku with Arale.
2 Piccolo and King Piccolo
Being on a handheld system didn't stop the developers of Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors from going big with the story. In one instance, Piccolo needs more power and fast. He's already reunited with Kami, so his solution is to resurrect Demon King Piccolo (his evil predecessor) and pile on another Namekian.
Few people expected to see this villain again after so long. His inclusion is such a random twist that it leaves you dumbfounded. Teaming up with his son feels like a callback one might see in fan fiction, but who says that's a bad thing? After all, Dragon Ball fan fiction is a huge part of the franchise.
1 Frieza, Cell, Pinich, Wanta, and Paprika
A game called Dragon Ball Fusions obviously sports countless combined fighters, but it also introduces the concept of five-way fusions. As the name suggests, five fighters can merge and somehow not turn their brains to mush. Frieza and Cell trick new characters Pinich, Wanta, and Paprika into joining them, forming Ultra Pinich.
This thing is an abomination. Not two parts look like they go together. He looks less like a coherent lifeform and more like the result of a randomizer in a character creation menu. You have to admire the creators' insanity for crafting something like this. They clearly had no inhibitions about being too weird. If nothing else, it shakes up the idea of fusions. Maybe the series would benefit from going this nuts in the future.