Ever since his days as a villain, the Namekian Piccolo has been one of the most popular characters in the Dragon Ball universe. Much of that is because of his attitude, but fans respect him as a warrior too. His fighting style is unique as he uses his stretchable limbs to attack his opponents from a distance, and he's also more tactical than the average brawler. Plus, he boasts some of the best techniques in the series.
Unfortunately, he's not always the strongest Z Warrior around. The Saiyans' seemingly limitless potential means he's often left trailing in that department. Still, he's had plenty of important and exciting battles over the years. Here are his best.
10 Piccolo Vs Dr. Gero (Dragon Ball Z)
Due to a case of mistaken identity, Android 19 and 20 (aka Dr. Gero) were built up to be an incredibly destructive force. And even though they didn't quite live up to the billing, they were still not far from the level of a Super Saiyan. So, it was impressive when Piccolo absolutely dominated Dr. Gero in a one-on-one fight.
The machine was completely outmatched and couldn't land a single blow. At one point, the Namekian even cut off one of his opponent's hands. The whole thing made Piccolo look like the powerful fighter he is, and it was great to see.
9 Piccolo Vs Goku (Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest)
The most famous Piccolo Jr. versus Goku fight will always be their epic battle at the World's Martial Tournament. However, the two had another exciting brawl a few years later during one of the series' better movies, The World's Strongest.
Piccolo was under the influence of Dr. Wheelo and Dr. Kochin, so he was more aggressive than usual as he attempted to take the fight to Goku. Gohan's interruptions added an extra element to the duel as he tried to snap the Namekian out of his trance. Goku had to make some last-ditch saves to protect his son from the evil Piccolo.
8 Piccolo Vs Gohan (Dragon Ball Super)
Once upon a time, Gohan was the most powerful character in the series. But by Super, he'd grown soft, which was a problem heading into the Tournament of Power. Piccolo was determined to bring the best out of his former student.
To do so, he fought the Saiyan in a serious and exciting sparring match. While the purpose of the brawl was to unlock Gohan's power, it was also a showcase of how strong Piccolo had become. The Namekian was even too much for Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 form.
7 Piccolo And Goku Vs Raditz (Dragon Ball Z)
The first significant fight in Dragon Ball Z saw mortal enemies Piccolo and Goku team up to take on Raditz. While these days, Bardock's less-celebrated son isn't among the strongest Saiyans ever, he was a real threat back then
Even the combined strength of Piccolo and Goku wasn't enough to overpower the villain – the duo had to use strategy instead. Goku grabbed his brother, and Piccolo used his deadly Special Beam Cannon to kill them both. Weaker warriors besting their mighty opponents is rare in Dragon Ball, so this was a unique battle.
6 Piccolo Vs Krillin (Dragon Ball)
When Piccolo took on Krillin in the 23rd World's Martial Tournament, it seemed a way to illustrate the Namekian's power. Yet, Krillin showed plenty of spirit and used some clever techniques to give Piccolo a real challenge. The two had an enjoyable battle on the tournament stage.
In the end, the Demon King's offspring Piccolo managed to come out victorious. However, the encounter made him question his ability to take over the world as he planned.
5 Z Warriors Vs Nappa (Dragon Ball Z)
Few villains have ever dominated the Z Warriors as much as Nappa did. Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu all failed to take the big brute down in what is one of Dragon Ball's longest ever battles.
Despite its length, the brawl was perpetually engaging due to the variety of the fighters involved. Plus, the dynamic of a bunch of heroes facing off against one juggernaut was compelling. Piccolo was one of the stars of the fight, as he displayed great determination against a beast of an opponent.
4 Piccolo Vs Imperfect Cell (Dragon Ball Z)
Partway through the Android saga, Piccolo fused with Kami to raise his power level significantly. Then, he quickly tracked down Imperfect Cell to test out his newfound strength. The two had a fairly even contest, with the Namekian gaining the upper hand at several points.
The action itself was enjoyable, and the insight it revealed on the mysterious villain made it even more compelling. Plus, it's always great to see Piccolo hold his own against an important antagonist.
3 Piccolo Vs Second Form Frieza (Dragon Ball Z)
Several years before joining with Kami, Piccolo fused with another strong Namekian named Nail. This gave him the power to match the seemingly unbeatable second form Frieza. Not long later, the two warriors clashed in an entertaining duel.
Piccolo had a slight advantage over the villain because of Nail's previous experience battling the tyrant. However, it was still a back and forth contest, and both fighters landed some significant blows. Unfortunately for Piccolo, he wasn't able to finish the Emperor off before he transformed.
2 Piccolo Vs Goku (Dragon Ball)
During the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, Piccolo fought Goku in a classic Dragon Ball battle. The Namekian was attempting to get vengeance for Demon King Piccolo, and begin his quest to take over the world.
However, besting Goku proved difficult as the two were very similar in terms of strength. Their violent brawl went on for a long time as each warrior enjoyed periods on the offensive. Towards the end, it got very dramatic and it seemed like the protagonist had no chance of winning, since he could barely move.
1 Piccolo Vs Android 17 (Dragon Ball Z)
Most evenly-fought battles in Dragon Ball follow a pattern where each fighter has spells of dominance. Yet, Piccolo versus Android 17 was different. The two matched each other blow for blow, with neither getting the upper hand for more than a few seconds. It was brilliant to watch.
Much of the brawl consisted of powerful strikes, but there were some cool energy blasts too. The most notable was the Hellzone Grenade that Piccolo delivered, in which his flurry of Ki blasts converged on the Android all at once. From start to finish, it was an action-packed duel that rivals the best in the entire franchise.