Androids were originally introduced in Dragon Ball during the Red Ribbon Army arc. Goku met and allied with Android 8 (who he nicknamed “Hatchan,” or Eighter,) a docile Artificial Human who hated fighting. Flash forward to the Z-era, and the Red Ribbon Army comes back to haunt Goku through Dr. Gero – a previously unnamed scientist who desperately wants revenge.
The Androids are at the core of the Cell arc, participating in some of the most violent fights in Dragon Ball Z. The entire premise of the arc rests on Trunks time traveling back from a future where the entire main cast is dead, after all. Frighteningly powerful and bloodthirsty, the Androids are arguably Dragon Ball’s best villains.
10 Goku Vs Android 19
The first fight against an Android in Dragon Ball Z is short, but significant as it marks the first time Goku fights as a Super Saiyan since Namek. What should be an easy battle that Goku trained years for is turned on its head as the Heart Virus suddenly takes effect. Goku is caught on the tail end of a vivacious beatdown that leaves him on the cusp of cardiac arrest. Despite a goofy design, Android 19 proves to be a genuinely menacing threat. Absorbing Goku’s Kamehameha makes 19 even stronger. It takes Vegeta’s interference for Goku to get out in one piece.
9 Goten & Trunks Vs Android 18
Following the end of the Cell arc, Android 18 reforms and marries Krillin. By the Majin Buu arc, she’s a proper member of the main cast and even gets to compete in the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai. Unbeknownst to her, Goten and Trunks have entered the tournament disguised as Mighty Mask. Alongside Mr. Satan, the two are the last fighters left standing at the end of the battle royale. Android 18 puts up a solid fight against two hybrid Saiyans, but what’s impressive is how she defeats them. Upon realizing Mighty Mask is Goten & Trunks, she fires a Kienzan that forces them to split apart and disqualify themselves.
8 Trunks, Piccolo, & Tenshinhan Vs Android 17
The plan heading into the Android invasion is to more or less stop Dr. Gero and Android 19 in their tracks – who the main cast believe to be the only Androids. Unfortunately, a combination of Goku’s Heart Virus and Vegeta’s petulant desire to fight stronger Artificial Humans spirals into Dr. Gero activating Androids 17 and 18 (who in turn activate 16.)
While Vegeta personally takes on Android 18, the rest of the supporting cast (save for Krillin) find themselves face to face with Android 17. 17 beats Trunks, Piccolo, and Tenshinhan into submission, leaving Vegeta to be broken in by his sister.
7 Trunks Vs 17 & 18 (DBZ)
Considering the whole reason Future Trunks travels back in time in the first place is to find some way to stop Androids 17 and 18 in his timeline, it’s incredibly cathartic when he returns at the end of the arc. Having trained with Vegeta and hardened himself through battle, Trunks returns to his future supremely powerful. Where the Androids once brought him to the brink of death more than once, Trunks is able to vaporize Android 18 with a single blast before effortlessly killing 17 where he stands.
6 Vegeta Vs Android 19
Vegeta’s return at the start of the Cell arc is one of his best moments in Dragon Ball. While he’s there to save Goku, Vegeta is still very much a villain. Even worse, Vegeta’s Super Saiyan is actually stronger than Goku’s at this point in the story. Vegeta succeeds where Goku fails, destroying Android 19 piece by piece. Vegeta let’s himself get absorbed to rip off 19’s arms and then pushes the Android into feeling legitimate terror before he’s killed on the spot. Vegeta being Vegeta, however, such an easy victory isn’t exactly what he’s looking for.
5 Future Gohan Vs 17 & 18
The manga features Future Gohan and Future Trunks before the Cell Games more as a means to contrast Gohan’s development in the prime timeline than anything else. As a result, Gohan’s defeated by the Androids off page. Not so in History of Trunks, where Future Gohan gets to go out in spectacular fashion.
A blend of strong art direction, fight choreography, and animation make Gohan’s last dance with Androids 17 & 18 a tragic, yet visually epic affair that serves as the catalyst for Future Trunks’ transformation into a Super Saiyan.
4 Android 16 Vs Imperfect Cell
Android 16 surprisingly only fights once in Dragon Ball, but it’s at least one of the cooler fights in the Cell arc. After Cell interrupts Piccolo’s fight with 17 to absorb the Androids, 16 steps in to protect his friends. A completely artificial human unlike the other Androids, 16 can’t be drained by Cell but can detach his limbs to fire ridiculously powerful blasts.
Cell’s unfortunately absorbed enough Earthlings where he’s able to survive his encounter with 16 long enough to absorb 17 (and severely damage 16 in the process,) but it’s jaw dropping just how much power Android 16 was hiding within himself. Goku never would have stood a chance.
3 Vegeta Vs Android 18
Letting Dr. Gero activate Androids 17 and 18 proves to be a terrible mistake. While 17 is holding Trunks, Piccolo, and Tenshinhan at bay, Android 18 beats Vegeta into utter submission. Even as a Super Saiyan, there’s little Vegeta can do in the face of 18’s infinite stamina. Before he knows it, the Prince of all Saiyans has exhausted all his stamina. With a single kick, Android 18 breaks Vegeta’s arm and knocks him out of Super Saiyan.
2 Piccolo Vs Android 17
Piccolo’s last major fight in Dragon Ball, at least he goes out on a high battling Android 17. Merging with God puts Piccolo’s Battle Power about even with 17. Their battle takes place on a series of islands, setting a tropical stage for the showdown. The fight is one of the best showcase of both fighter’s abilities. There’s a balance of ki attacks and proper martial arts (with especially heavy hits,) and Piccolo fights Android 17 to exhaustion – their fight only interrupted by Cell sensing Piccolo’s Ki from afar.
1 Trunks Vs 17 & 18 (History Of Trunks)
History of Trunks is one of the best pieces of animated Dragon Ball media. Few fights in the series are as sincerely tense as Trunks’ final battle against 17 and 18. He might be a Super Saiyan, but Trunks is forced to hide between attacks as the Androids stalk him throughout a theme park. Watching Trunks give it his all only to hit the exact same wall Gohan did is a heartbreaking sight, but an important one. This fight puts into full perspective why Trunks needs to go back in time and the sheer danger that awaits the main cast if he doesn’t.
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