Saibamen

When Vegeta and Nappa arrived on Earth, they used six Saibamen seeds as a preliminary test for the Dragon Team. Each Saibaman possessed a power level of approximately 1,200, comparable to Raditz and far beyond what most Earthling fighters could handle. The creatures were sent out one at a time to fight the human warriors in a gauntlet-style format.

Tien, Krillin, and Yamcha each engaged Saibamen in individual battles. While Tien dispatched his opponent cleanly and Krillin proved capable, the fight against Yamcha ended in tragedy. After seemingly defeating his Saibaman, Yamcha lowered his guard, and the creature latched onto him and self-destructed, killing them both. This death cemented Yamcha's reputation in the fandom as a symbol of underperformance, though the scene was genuinely shocking when it first aired.

The remaining Saibamen were destroyed by Krillin's Scattering Bullet attack and by Vegeta and Piccolo. They served their narrative purpose perfectly: establishing the power level of the incoming Saiyan threat and claiming a casualty that raised the stakes before Nappa and Vegeta even entered the fight.