Krillin
CharacterKrillin is the strongest pure human fighter on Earth and one of Goku's oldest friends. A former monk of the Orin Temple, he trained under Master Roshi alongside Goku and has fought in nearly every major battle throughout the series, proving that courage and skill can compensate for raw power.
Also Known As
First Appearance
Allegiances
Occupations
From Monk to Warrior
Krillin arrived at Kame House as a selfish, scheming child who had been bullied mercilessly at the Orin Temple. His initial rivalry with Goku was motivated by jealousy, but the grueling training regimen that Master Roshi imposed on them, which involved impossible physical tasks like delivering milk across entire islands and plowing fields by hand, forged a deep bond between the two boys. By the time they entered the World Martial Arts Tournament together, Krillin had transformed from a sneaky opportunist into a genuinely skilled fighter. His performance in the 21st and 22nd tournaments shocked audiences, as this small, bald fighter consistently punched above his weight class. The death of Krillin at the hands of Tambourine, one of King Piccolo's children, was the first time Goku experienced the loss of someone close to him, and it drove the young Saiyan into a rage that shaped the rest of the original Dragon Ball story.
The Saiyan and Namek Sagas
When the Saiyan threat arrived on Earth, Krillin was among the warriors who trained under Kami and Mr. Popo to prepare. He fought bravely against the Saibamen and contributed what he could against Nappa, though the gap in power was staggering. On Planet Namek, Krillin found his stride as a tactician and support fighter. The Grand Elder Guru unlocked his dormant potential, granting him a significant power boost. Krillin's Destructo Disc proved dangerous even to opponents far above his level, and his quick thinking helped the group survive encounters with the Ginyu Force. His death at the hands of Frieza became the emotional catalyst for Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation, arguably the most iconic moment in the entire franchise.
Life Beyond the Battlefield
Following the Cell Games, Krillin used the Dragon Balls to remove the self-destruct devices from Androids 17 and 18, an act of compassion that led to an unexpected romance with Android 18. Their relationship is one of the most endearing in the series. Krillin, the short, noseless former monk, married one of the most powerful beings on Earth, and together they had a daughter named Marron. He eventually retired from active fighting to become a police officer, using his extraordinary abilities for civilian peacekeeping. This transition reflected his maturation from a fighter who always measured himself against warriors he could never match to a man who found purpose in protecting ordinary people.
Return to the Fight
Despite his retirement, Krillin was pulled back into action for the Tournament of Power, where Universe 7 needed every capable fighter. Training with Android 18 and even sparring with Goku, he sharpened his skills and overcame the psychological scars left by his many deaths. In the tournament itself, Krillin demonstrated clever tactics, using his Solar Flare and Destructo Disc in combination to eliminate opponents who vastly outstripped him in raw power. Though he was eliminated early, his contribution mattered, and his willingness to stand alongside gods and Super Saiyans knowing he could never match them remains the purest expression of his character.
The Strongest Human
Krillin holds the distinction of being widely regarded as the strongest fully human martial artist in Dragon Ball. While Tien Shinhan and Yamcha are formidable in their own right, Krillin's potential unlock by Guru on Namek, combined with his continuous training and combat experience, gives him the edge. His signature Destructo Disc is a razor-thin disc of concentrated ki that can slice through nearly anything, having threatened opponents as powerful as Frieza and Cell. The technique's ability to cut regardless of the target's power level makes it one of the most dangerous moves in the series when it connects.
Tactical Innovation
Beyond the Destructo Disc, Krillin's Solar Flare is a blinding flash of light that temporarily incapacitates even the strongest opponents, buying crucial seconds in battle. He later developed an enhanced version, the Solar Flare x100, specifically for the Tournament of Power. His Kamehameha, learned from observing Goku, is competent if not overwhelming. What truly sets Krillin apart from other human fighters is his battlefield awareness. He consistently reads situations accurately, knows when to fight and when to retreat, and positions himself to support stronger allies at critical moments. His value to the Dragon Team has always been less about raw power and more about reliability, resourcefulness, and an unbreakable willingness to put himself on the line for his friends.
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Dragon Ball anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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