Krillin’s Surprising Death Count in Dragon Ball

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Akira Toriyama’s work, particularly Dragon Ball, is widely acclaimed for various reasons, but it wouldn’t have achieved such popularity without a well-chosen cast of characters who embody heroic values. One of the earliest Dragon Ball characters introduced is Krillin, and his combat entry sets the stage for more action-packed storytelling. While many human characters in Dragon Ball possess immense power, they often find it challenging to maintain their relevance against the increasing strength of the Saiyans. Despite this, Krillin consistently remains at the forefront of battles, regardless of who the opponent may be.

In my excitement for the thrilling world of Dragon Ball, it’s a given that characters face the grim reaper often, especially with powerful artifacts capable of resurrection in play. And Krillin, dear friend, is no exception to this rule. His initial demise remains one of the most memorable moments in the original Dragon Ball series. However, when compared to other characters, Krillin has met his end more times than the average Dragon Ball character.

Krillin’s Murder Pushes Goku Down A Dark Path

In the original Dragon Ball series, finding myself just moments away from joining Goku in a well-deserved celebration following his second place finish at the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, I noticed an unusual sense of unease settling over him. His old allies and I looked on as he suddenly remembered his Power Pole left behind. As he retraced his steps to retrieve it, an unexpected, heart-wrenching sight awaited us all – the lifeless body of Krillin. This shocking discovery not only served as a grim reminder of the dangers that lurked within their martial arts world, but also set Dragon Ball on a new, dramatic course in its narrative.

The chilling murder of Krillin by Tambourine, depicted off-screen and shrouded in shadows, stands out due to its impact. Although this isn’t the first major death in Dragon Ball, it marks the tragic end of a main character, Krillin. This event sparks an intense reaction from Goku, leading him to act impulsively and recklessly, brushing with death himself. The exploration of these darker emotions becomes a significant aspect of Goku’s character development during the King Piccolo Saga.

Krillin’s demise serves as a strategic move to eliminate the most powerful contenders in the World Tournament, allowing a tyrant’s actions to remain unchallenged. Later on, Goku avenges Krillin’s death by slaying Tambourine, and in the process, eliminates other Dark Vassals such as Drum. However, due to his untimely death, Krillin is mostly absent during the King Piccolo Saga; yet, his bond with Goku becomes more profound than ever.

Krillin’s Death On Namek Brings Forward Complicated Feelings In Goku

In the initial “Dragon Ball”, there are some characters who meet their end, but it’s in “Dragon Ball Z” where the stakes significantly rise with an unexpected number of casualties. Krillin manages to survive most of the Saiyan Saga, even though he seemingly perishes during a filler episode involving the Pendulum Room experiment. With his survival, Krillin assumes a crucial position when a journey to the planet Namek is planned, as they aim to gather the Dragon Balls residing there.

During the Frieza Saga, Krillin demonstrates his abilities and even manages to keep pace with not only the Ginyu Force, but also before Goku assumes control. Goku’s self-assurance against Frieza prompts him to advise Gohan and Krillin to depart from the planet while they have the chance. However, Frieza, who had previously killed Vegeta and inflicted a near-fatal wound on Piccolo, vented his anger on the rest of Goku’s family members.

— Witnessing the heart-wrenching event of a psychic assault leading to the catastrophic explosion of my dear friend Krillin, I was compelled to unleash my Super Saiyan form for the very first time. This transformative moment in Dragon Ball Z is undeniably one of its most memorable and triumphant scenes. The loss of Krillin, though painful beyond words, holds immense weight and leaves an indelible mark on the entire Dragon Ball series. It’s a sorrowful reminder of our friends who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good.

Future Krillin Meets A Grim Finish

In the Cell Saga arc of Dragon Ball Z, Future Trunks goes back in time to safeguard the main timeline’s heroes from suffering a similar grim future where Earth is bereft of its mightiest champions. As time passes, Future Trunks manages to build up his strength and eventually returns home. Yet, he never hides the fact that his world has transformed into a merciless wasteland due to the tyranny of Future Androids 17 and 18.

In the future timeline where Goku has passed away due to natural causes, there comes a point when not even revival techniques can bring anyone back once Future Androids have eliminated Future Piccolo. Unfortunately, this includes Future Krillin, marking yet another instance of his demise – albeit in an alternate reality.

In the typical version of Dragon Ball Z’s anime, Future Krillin is solo killed by Future Android 17 using a lethal Photon Flash attack. Yet, there’s another scene where both Future Androids 17 and 18 eliminate Future Krillin with Finger Beams. While the latter death may seem less honorable, they both lead to the same outcome. It’s interesting to note that in Dragon Ball Z’s primary timeline, Krillin and Android 18 form a family, but in an alternate storyline, it’s Future Android 18 who ends up killing Future Krillin.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 260, “Feeding Frenzy”

In Dragon Ball, there have been many formidable villains, but Majin Buu stands out as an entirely different level of menace, bringing unparalleled danger to the planet. The heroes are at a loss on how to respond effectively against Buu, considering various options such as fusion, or utilizing Gohan’s latest Ultimate transformation.

In Dragon Ball Z’s Buu Saga, Krillin hasn’t abandoned martial arts entirely. He does engage in battles, yet he isn’t as effective in dealing with critical situations against the numerous Majin minions. Krillin gets turned to stone by Dabura and suffers a quick, humiliating defeat shortly after. As retribution for the heroes’ impudence and his growing irritation, Super Buu starts transforming the Z-Fighters into food.

Krillin and his entire family were changed into chocolate bars by Super Buu, satisfying his sweet craving along with others in the Lookout Tower. This transformation was harsh, but given the destructive nature of Super Buu’s rule, it’s possible that Krillin would have met his end anyway. Remarkably, Krillin survived the Human Extinction Attack due to being dead at the time. Fortunately, the Dragon Balls undid these disasters, but it was a terrifying era for Earth.

Dragon Ball GT’s Super 17 Saga Once Again Turns Krillin Into A Casualty

In simpler terms, “Dragon Ball GT” is filled with nostalgic callbacks, and these references are quite abundant. The narrative introduces the comeback of Dr. Gero, Android 17, Frieza, and Cell, among others. Moreover, a gap between Hell and Earth emerges, allowing numerous past adversaries to launch an attack on Earth. During this battle, Hell Fighter 17 manipulates Android 17, compelling him to mercilessly eliminate Krillin.

In Dragon Ball GT, Krillin’s passing is particularly heartbreaking as he’s an elderly man simply spending time with his family, not a world-saving hero at that moment. Tragically, he gets ensnared in the conflict instead. Krillin’s demise prolongs throughout the series due to the Dragon Balls being compromised, rendering them useless until the situation is resolved. While it might seem harsh, his death serves as a catalyst for Android 18 to rekindle her fighting spirit and give her best against Super 17. Her cooperation is vital to Goku’s victory over this lethal machine. In Dragon Ball GT’s final episode, there’s a touching scene between Krillin and Goku, reflecting on their bond before Goku departs to the other side.

In Dragon Ball GT, it’s Krillin who technically meets his demise again, and this is true for most characters except Pan. Given that it’s quite unexpected for Krillin to still be alive considering the timeline in Dragon Ball, it marks another transition point in the series where he’s no longer present. Despite surviving significant perils in Dragon Ball Super (with Universe 7’s loss in the Tournament of Power being a close call), Krillin has managed to avoid major injuries. Here’s hoping this trend continues until the end of the series. At this point, Krillin has died enough times that one might argue he’s due for a permanent farewell.

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2025-05-06 04:11