Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball series has definitely provided many glorious battles. The martial arts fantasy franchise has remained in the public eye for over three decades, so audiences have plenty of iconic fights to choose from. Considering many of the most iconic ones involve Goku, though, it can be easy to forget about some of the side characters that have stuck around through the years.
One of the most enduring of these is Krillin, Goku's best friend and fellow Turtle Hermit student. While some fans make fun of him for dying so often, this plucky little cueball keeps coming back for another scrap. You have to admire the guy for trying – he's far from a pushover. Krillin has fought in thrilling battles, and some of these rank among the most memorable in the series.
10 Krillin & Piccolo's Standoff Against Nappa
This was a losing battle from the start, as the homicidal Saiyan Nappa is too strong for any of the Z-fighters. To delay him as long as possible. Krillin and Piccolo team up for an all-out war against the supersized villain.
The team uses everything: precise strikes, sly strategy, and overwhelming flurries. Their efforts even put Nappa on his back foot a few times. The whole fight speaks volumes as to Krillin and Piccolo's resilience and determination. Without their valiant effort, the Saiyans would have ravaged the Earth long before Goku returned to save the day.
9 Krillin Beats Up His Old Bullies
This admittedly isn't much of a battle, but it is Krillin's first true victory in more ways than one. His fellow monks at Orin Temple always picked on him and berated his dream of becoming a great martial artist. When they meet him again at the World Tournament preliminaries, he reverts to the timid victim.
His fight against them, though, reveals the fruits of Master Roshi's intense training. Krillin instinctively dodges the monk's strike and delivers a devastating kick that sends the bully flying into a wall. Not only is this exactly the confidence booster Krillin needed, but it perfectly exemplifies the Turtle Hermit's mantra of going beyond what you believe is possible.
8 He Makes Short Work Of A Show-Off
The World Tournament prior to the Majin Buu arc is more comedic than most. Among the more ridiculous contestants is a flamboyant guy named Pintar. Despite his immense size, he flips around the arena to intimidate his tiny foe.
Sadly, this doesn't help him when Krillin takes him out with a few blows. The little guy may not take much personal pride in such an easy victory, but it does make his daughter think he's the strongest guy around. As a family man at this stage in his life, Krillin couldn't ask for a better reward.
7 The Quip That Helps Him Defeat Bacterian
Fans shouldn't forget that Toriyama started in satire and visual gags. Dragon Ball sometimes harkens back to those sensibilities, and the battle with Bacterian is one such occasion.
This guy uses his extreme filth to put his opponents off-guard, asphyxiating them with his odor. Krillin appears to suffer from this – until Goku reminds him that he doesn't have a nose. That's right, an artistic quirk in character design lets him triumph over his disgusting foe. This whole fight is low-hanging fruit, but those can often be the funniest gags. Dragon Ball never claimed to be high art.
6 Krillin Takes On The Saibamen To Avenge A Friend
The Saiyan saga is easily one of the darker arcs. The heroes constantly fight for their lives, and several longstanding characters perish in the battles. While the Z-fighters' training initially helps them against the Saiyans' monstrous Saibamen, Yamcha is killed in a surprise attack.
To avenge his fallen friend, Krillin unleashes a furious multi-pronged blast that wipes out the other creatures in one fell swoop. Not only is this an effective demonstration of Krillin's newfound power, but it's a poetic way to honor his ally, who previously boasted about taking on the Saibamen himself.
5 He Regains Strength By Fighting Forest Demons
After Dragon Ball Z sidelined many of the supporting characters, Dragon Ball Super set out to restore their relevance. One method was the Universe Survival Arc, which called for several Z-fighters to partake in a Battle Royale against other universe. To train for this, Krillin and Goku enter the Forest of Terror, where they combat ghostly visions of past villains.
Krillin rarely fares well against the series' big bads. A few of them have even killed him. What better way to restore his fighting spirit than by forcing him to confront these literal demons? It may be on-the-nose (no pun intended), but it gets the job done.
4 Krillin Gives His All Against Piccolo
Insurmountable odds can lead to tremendous breakthroughs. When Piccolo first shows up at the World Tournament, no one expects much when Krillin is matched up against him.
Despite that, the former monk gives the demon spawn a run for his money. He saves himself from falling out of bounds by learning to fly, and manages to land a few good shots against his foe. Although he ultimately forfeits, it doesn't feel like a betrayal or copout. Krillin did better than he thought. In fact, he did all that was possible against such a powerful enemy, and he's satisfied enough to not beat a dead horse. Not everyone can so gracefully bow out.
3 He Uses His Wits Against Chiaotzu
Krillin's sneaky resourcefulness often benefits him when strength cannot, and this is the first time it wins him a battle. Chiaotzu is a cheap little weasel, relying on trap attacks. When he rains down energy blasts from the air, Krillin unleashes his first Kamehameha, wisely compensating for his lack of practice by not clashing with Chiaotzu's Dodon Ray.
Afterwards, when his enemy freezes him in a telekinetic hold, Krillin tricks Chiaotzu with math problems. It goes to show that it's sometimes the smarter one who wins the fight, which is why nobody should count Krillin out of even the toughest battles.
2 Krillin and Android-18 Vanquish Shosa
One of the most unexpected love stories turns into one of the deadliest tag teams. Krillin and Android 18 have obviously built a synergy through their marriage, and they use that here to creative effect.
Launching an energy blast back and forth – a move they practiced prior to the battle – is a great and unique way of showing their skill as a unit. No wonder their canine opponent can't keep up. The resulting victory reaffirms both Krillin's slick strategy and deep-seated connection with his wife. If nothing else, it'll make a heck of a bedtime story for their daughter.
1 His Spirited Test Of Strength With Goku
Seeing the story's first two Turtle Hermit disciples go at it would always be interesting, but no one is more excited than them. Krillin and Goku spend much of this fight sussing each other out, appreciating the fruits of their training and admiring the other's skills. It's a refreshing change of pace from the life-or-death scenarios the series is known for.
The battle brilliantly plays to both characters' strengths. From reflecting sunlight off his shiny head to grabbing Goku's tail, Krillin pulls out seemingly every trick in the book, doing his best to outwit his physically superior opponent. This contrasts well with Goku's natural power and sharper battle instincts. Though the monkey boy comes out on top, both are grateful for the thrill of such a fun match. It encapsulates the series' spirit of using martial arts for betterment and challenge, rather than selfish gain.