Dragon Ball: Why Krillin Is Stronger Than You Think in March 2026
As someone who’s been playing Dragon Ball games since the Super Nintendo era, I’ve heard the same joke about Krillin countless times – he’s the weakest Z Fighter, the one who dies first, the comic relief. But here’s the truth that might surprise you: Krillin is officially the strongest pure human in the entire Dragon Ball universe, confirmed by creator Akira Toriyama himself in a 2004 interview. After decades of playing as Krillin in everything from Budokai to FighterZ, I’ve come to appreciate just how many characters this supposedly “weak” fighter can actually demolish.
In my experience across dozens of Dragon Ball games, from the classic Budokai series to the latest Dragon Ball FighterZ tier rankings, I’ve discovered that Krillin’s reputation as a weakling is one of the biggest misconceptions in anime gaming. Sure, when you’re standing next to universe-busting Saiyans, anyone looks weak. But put Krillin against 90% of the Dragon Ball roster, and you’ll see a completely different story unfold.
Let me share what I’ve learned from thousands of hours playing Dragon Ball games and analyzing the series’ power scaling. By the end of the Namek saga, Krillin’s power level reached approximately 75,000 after Guru unlocked his potential – that’s stronger than Captain Ginyu and approaching first-form Frieza territory. To put that in perspective, that’s over 40 times stronger than Raditz, who gave Goku and Piccolo the fight of their lives at the series’ beginning.
Understanding Krillin’s True Power Level in 2026
When I first started playing Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, I was shocked to discover how the game accurately represents Krillin’s power progression. His stats tell a fascinating story that most casual fans miss entirely. During the Saiyan saga, Krillin peaked at 1,770 – already making him stronger than Raditz (1,500) and matching Saibamen. But here’s where it gets interesting: by the time he reaches Namek, his power skyrockets exponentially.
I’ve spent countless hours analyzing power levels across different Dragon Ball games, and the consistency is remarkable. In Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle’s tier list, Krillin’s various cards often outrank characters you’d never expect. His Tournament of Power card, for instance, can hold its own against early DBZ villains’ cards, accurately reflecting his canonical strength.
The official Daizenshuu 7 databook confirms what I’ve observed in games for years: post-Namek Krillin could single-handedly defeat the entire Ginyu Force. Think about that for a moment – these were Frieza’s elite warriors who terrorized the galaxy, and Krillin could beat them all simultaneously. That’s not speculation; that’s official Dragon Ball canon backed up by power level mathematics.
Characters Who Can’t Match Earth’s Strongest Human
The Original Dragon Ball Villains
Playing through Dragon Ball FighterZ’s story mode reminded me just how far Krillin has come. Characters like Bacterian, who gave young Goku trouble in the original Dragon Ball, wouldn’t even register as a threat to modern Krillin. I’ve tested this in games that feature both eras – it’s not even close. Bacterian’s power level barely breaks 100, while Krillin’s sitting at tens of thousands.
General Blue, another formidable early villain with a power level around 180, once paralyzed young Goku with his psychic abilities. In today’s context, Krillin could defeat him with a single finger flick. I love how games like Dragon Ball Z Kakarot showcase these power differences through damage numbers – Krillin’s basic attacks deal more damage than these villains’ entire health bars.
The Supposedly Strong Earthlings
Here’s where things get controversial in the Dragon Ball gaming community. Yamcha, despite his meme status, peaked at around 1,480 during the Saiyan saga. I’ve played hundreds of matches as both characters in various Dragon Ball fighting games, and the power gap is undeniable. While Yamcha stopped training seriously after the Cell saga, Krillin continued improving, especially during Dragon Ball Super.
Chiaotzu presents an even starker contrast. With a power level that never exceeded 610, he’s officially the weakest Z Fighter. In my experience playing Dragon Ball Legends’ character rankings, Chiaotzu consistently ranks in the lowest tiers while Krillin maintains solid mid-tier placement. The game developers clearly understand the canonical power differences.
Yajirobe deserves special mention here. Despite his crucial role in cutting off Vegeta’s tail, his power level sits around 970 – impressive for a human, but nowhere near Krillin’s league. I always find it amusing when playing World Tournament mode in various Dragon Ball games; Yajirobe players often underestimate Krillin players, only to get destroyed by superior stats and abilities.
The Saiyan Saga Threats
This might shock newer Dragon Ball fans, but Krillin is definitively stronger than several Saiyan saga villains. Raditz, with his power level of 1,500, was a planet-conquering warrior who seemed invincible when he first arrived. Current Krillin could defeat him without breaking a sweat. I’ve recreated this matchup countless times in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2’s parallel quests – it’s a complete stomp.
The Saibamen, those green plant creatures with power levels of 1,200 each, gave the Z Fighters serious trouble during Vegeta and Nappa’s invasion. One even killed Yamcha in that infamous scene we all remember. Modern Krillin could destroy an entire field of them with a single Destructo Disc. When playing survival modes in Dragon Ball games, I often use Krillin specifically to showcase this power difference.
Even more surprisingly, pre-Namek Vegeta himself would struggle against current Krillin. Vegeta’s initial power level of 18,000 seemed godlike during his first appearance, but Krillin’s post-Guru potential unlock of 75,000 dwarfs it. Of course, Vegeta has long since surpassed Krillin, but it’s fascinating to consider that Earth’s strongest human exceeds what the Saiyan Prince once considered elite-level power.
Tournament of Power Participants Who Fall Short
Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power introduced us to fighters from across the multiverse, and surprisingly, many of them are weaker than Krillin. I’ve analyzed every fight from this arc, both in the anime and through Dragon Ball games that feature these characters, and the results might surprise you.
Majora from Universe 4, despite his size-changing gimmick, proved to be one of the tournament’s weakest participants. Krillin eliminated him with ease, using strategy and experience rather than raw power. When playing Tournament of Power events in mobile Dragon Ball games, Majora consistently ranks as one of the easiest opponents while Krillin presents a genuine challenge.
The Universe 10 team was particularly weak, with fighters like Murisam and Jirasen barely qualifying as threats. Krillin’s performance against these fighters in the anime translates perfectly to gaming – in Dragon Ball Legends, his Tournament of Power variant significantly outranks these characters in both stats and abilities.
Even some Universe 6 fighters like Zarbuto and Zirloin, who were eliminated quickly, demonstrate power levels below Krillin’s. I find it interesting how game developers consistently place these characters in lower tiers than Krillin, accurately reflecting their canonical strength differences.
Gaming Performance: How Krillin Stacks Up in 2026
Let me share my experience with Krillin across different Dragon Ball games in March 2026. In Dragon Ball FighterZ, Krillin sits comfortably in B-tier – not top-tier like the Saiyans, but far from bottom. His Solar Flare/Destructo Disc mixups can catch even experienced players off-guard. I’ve won numerous ranked matches using Krillin as my anchor, proving he’s viable at competitive levels.
In Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Krillin’s Spread Shot Retreat and Destructo Disc make him a zoning monster. I’ve built entire strategies around his unique moveset, particularly his ability to control space better than supposedly stronger characters. His small hitbox also gives him advantages that power-scaling doesn’t account for.
Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero (formerly Budokai Tenkaichi) showcases Krillin’s versatility perfectly. His speed and technique-based fighting style translates into quick combos and excellent meter building. I consistently perform better with Krillin than with characters like Yamcha or Tien, despite community tier lists sometimes ranking them similarly.
The mobile games tell an even more interesting story. In Dokkan Battle, Krillin’s best cards provide excellent support abilities that make them valuable even in end-game content. His “Earthlings” category leader skill creates teams that can clear difficult events, something characters like Raditz or Nappa cards could never accomplish.
The Human Power Debate: Settling It Once and For All
The Krillin versus Tien debate has raged in the Dragon Ball community for decades, and I’ve been part of countless forum arguments about it. But here’s the thing: Toriyama himself settled this debate in 2004. He explicitly stated that Krillin is the strongest human, and that’s been consistently reflected in official media since.
Some fans argue that Tien’s Neo Tri-Beam against Semi-Perfect Cell proves he’s stronger, but that’s missing the point. That technique nearly killed Tien while only stalling Cell briefly. In contrast, Krillin’s power is sustainable and practical. When I play fighting games, Tien’s moves often have huge drawbacks or long recovery times, while Krillin’s toolkit remains consistently useful.
Master Roshi’s Tournament of Power performance sparked new debates, but we need to remember that Roshi explicitly stated he’d been surpassed by his students long ago. His tournament showing relied on experience and technique, not raw power. In gaming terms, Roshi plays like a technical character with tricks, while Krillin has solid fundamentals backed by genuine strength.
The android question occasionally comes up – if we count Androids 17 and 18 as humans, then obviously Krillin isn’t the strongest. But they’re cyborgs with infinite energy reactors, which puts them in a different category entirely. It’s like comparing a professional athlete to someone with cybernetic enhancements – technically both might be “human,” but the comparison isn’t fair.
Surprising Characters Krillin Could Defeat
Through my extensive gaming experience and series analysis, I’ve identified several surprising characters that Krillin could theoretically defeat. King Cold, Frieza’s father, never demonstrated power beyond his son’s second form (around 1 million). While that’s still above Krillin’s peak, the gap isn’t insurmountable with Krillin’s techniques and battle experience.
The Spice Boys from the Garlic Jr. saga, despite their intimidating appearance, showed power levels well within Krillin’s range. When these characters appear in Dragon Ball games, they’re consistently ranked below Krillin in tier lists, accurately reflecting their canonical strength.
Even more surprisingly, many of Babidi’s minions from the Majin Buu saga would fall to Krillin. Pui Pui, who Vegeta destroyed effortlessly, showed no feats suggesting he could handle Krillin’s power level. Yakon might pose more of a challenge with his energy-absorption ability, but Krillin’s combat intelligence could overcome that gimmick.
Why Krillin’s Reputation Doesn’t Match His Power?
After years of defending Krillin in gaming forums and chat rooms, I’ve realized why his reputation suffers so much. The problem isn’t his actual strength – it’s his company. When you’re constantly standing next to Super Saiyans who can destroy planets with a finger flick, anyone looks weak by comparison.
The death count doesn’t help either. Yes, Krillin has died multiple times throughout the series, but let’s examine those deaths. Tambourine killed him as a child when his power level was probably under 100. Frieza killed him at his second strongest form – a being who could destroy planets casually. Buu killed him when he was literally one of the universe’s strongest magical entities. There’s no shame in losing to opponents of that caliber.
In gaming contexts, this translates to Krillin often being portrayed as a joke character or given comedy-focused movesets. But developers who understand the source material, like Arc System Works with FighterZ, give him the respect he deserves with viable, competitive movesets that reflect his actual capabilities.
Krillin’s Greatest Gaming Moments
Throughout my gaming journey, I’ve experienced some incredible Krillin moments that perfectly capture his true strength. In Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3, landing his Destructo Disc ultimate against Cell feels incredibly satisfying, especially knowing it could have ended the android threat if not for plot armor.
Dragon Ball FighterZ gave us the best playable Krillin ever, in my opinion. His ability to set up Senzu Bean assists for teammates while controlling space with ki blasts perfectly represents his support role in the series. I’ve turned around countless matches using his Level 3 Destructo Disc super, catching opponents who underestimated the “weak” human.
One of my favorite gaming memories involves Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2’s Parallel Quest where you play as Krillin defending Android 18. The mission perfectly captures his character – not the strongest fighter, but brave enough to face any threat for those he loves. Successfully completing it on the highest difficulty really drives home how capable Krillin actually is.
The Technical Fighter Advantage
What many players don’t realize is that Krillin’s “weakness” often translates to technical advantages in games. His smaller hitbox makes him harder to combo in fighting games. His energy management is more efficient than power-hungry Saiyans. His techniques, while not planet-busting, have practical applications that work in gameplay contexts.
I’ve noticed that skilled players gravitate toward Krillin specifically because he requires finesse rather than button mashing. You can’t win with Krillin by spamming powerful moves like you might with Goku or Vegeta. You need to understand spacing, timing, and resource management – skills that transfer across all fighting games.
This technical requirement makes Krillin victories feel earned. When I beat a Gogeta player with my Krillin team in FighterZ, it’s because I outplayed them, not because my character was overpowered. That satisfaction keeps me coming back to play as Earth’s strongest human.
Community Recognition and Tier Placement
The competitive Dragon Ball gaming community has slowly begun recognizing Krillin’s true potential. In early 2026 tier lists, he’s consistently moved up from bottom tier to solid mid-tier across multiple games. Professional players have demonstrated his viability in tournaments, with some even using him as a counter-pick against certain popular characters.
The anime that revolutionized gaming culture has always struggled with power scaling in video games, but modern developers better understand how to represent characters like Krillin. Instead of making him objectively weak, they give him unique tools that reward smart play over raw power.
Community-created content also reflects this shift. Krillin combo videos, strategy guides, and tournament highlights have exploded in popularity. Players are discovering what manga readers have known for years – Krillin isn’t weak, he’s just surrounded by gods.
Speaking of anime gaming evolution, I’ve noticed how modern Type Soul Bankai tier lists handle power scaling much better than older Dragon Ball games. These newer anime-inspired games understand that technique and strategy matter as much as raw power, something Krillin embodies perfectly.
The rise of anime gaming tier lists has also helped legitimize characters like Krillin who excel in specific contexts. Rather than blanket “weak” labels, modern tier systems recognize situational strengths and technical mastery.
I’ve also found that players who excel with Krillin often perform well in other anime gaming environments where strategic thinking trumps button mashing. The skills transfer beautifully across different anime-inspired games.
For players interested in exploring similar strategic gameplay, I highly recommend checking out comprehensive character guides that emphasize technique over raw power. Krillin’s playstyle translates well to these technical fighting systems.
The modern anime gaming scene, particularly with titles like anime-inspired RPGs, has created space for characters who win through intelligence and strategy rather than overwhelming force – exactly what Krillin represents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Krillin really the strongest human in Dragon Ball?
Yes, Akira Toriyama confirmed in a 2004 interview that Krillin is definitively the strongest pure human in Dragon Ball. This excludes androids, aliens, and half-Saiyans, focusing solely on naturally-born Earth humans. His power level and feats consistently support this claim throughout the series.
What is Krillin’s highest power level?
Krillin’s highest confirmed power level was approximately 75,000 after Guru unlocked his potential on Namek. While power levels became less relevant after the Frieza saga, evidence suggests Krillin continued growing stronger, particularly during his training for the Tournament of Power in Dragon Ball Super.
Can Krillin beat Yamcha in a fight?
Absolutely. While Yamcha peaked around 1,480 during the Saiyan saga and largely stopped training afterward, Krillin continued improving throughout DBZ and into Super. In every Dragon Ball game I’ve played, Krillin consistently has better stats and abilities than Yamcha, accurately reflecting their canonical power difference.
Why does Krillin seem so weak compared to other characters?
Krillin only appears weak because he’s constantly compared to Saiyans, gods, and universe-level threats. In the broader context of Dragon Ball’s universe, Krillin is extraordinarily powerful – stronger than 99% of all beings. He could single-handedly conquer most planets, but that gets overshadowed when standing next to Super Saiyan Blue Goku.
How strong is Krillin in Dragon Ball FighterZ?
In Dragon Ball FighterZ’s current March 2026 meta, Krillin sits in solid B-tier. He’s not top-tier like UI Goku or Vegito, but he’s absolutely viable in competitive play. His Solar Flare mixups, Senzu Bean assists, and excellent space control make him a strong anchor or mid character for players who master his technical gameplay.
Could Krillin have killed Cell with his Destructo Disc?
Theoretically, yes. The Destructo Disc is one of Dragon Ball’s most lethal techniques, capable of cutting through opponents much stronger than its user. If Krillin’s Destructo Disc had connected with Cell’s neck as intended, it likely would have decapitated him. However, Cell’s regeneration ability would have allowed him to recover unless his core was completely destroyed.
Final Thoughts on Earth’s Strongest Human
After decades of playing Dragon Ball games and analyzing the series, I can confidently say that Krillin is one of the most underrated characters in anime history. He’s not weak – he’s human in a series filled with alien gods. The fact that he can stand on the same battlefield as Super Saiyans and contribute meaningfully is a testament to his incredible strength.
My gaming experience has taught me that Krillin represents something important in Dragon Ball’s narrative – the peak of human potential. While he’ll never match a Super Saiyan’s raw power, his courage, technique, and determination make him formidable against opponents who should theoretically crush him instantly.
The next time someone jokes about Krillin being weak, remind them that he’s stronger than iconic villains like Raditz, Nappa’s Saibamen, and even surpasses what Vegeta considered elite Saiyan power. In the context of Dragon Ball’s universe, Krillin isn’t just strong for a human – he’s one of the universe’s most powerful mortals who happens to lack transformation hacks.
Whether you’re playing the latest Dragon Ball game or rewatching the series, take a moment to appreciate Krillin’s journey from a jealous monk to Earth’s mightiest human warrior. His power level might not break scouters anymore, but his impact on the series and gaming culture remains immeasurable.