Dragon Ball Z: Ranking Goku's 10 Best Fights
6. Raditz
The first battle of the DBZ series is oddly enough a family affair, reaching deep into Goku's relatively unknown past and pulling out his brother Raditz. The elder sibling arrives on the scene, attempting to recruit his Saiyan brother in his quest to continue taking over worlds, as their race had done for generations.
When the ever wholesome Kakarot refuses, Raditz kidnaps his son Gohan, forcing Goku into a very unexpected alliance with Dragon Ball antagonist and heated rival Piccolo.
The action is tense throughout, as the seemingly overpowered Raditz fends off two warriors struggling to get on the same page. Piccolo losing an arm, and the arrival of Gohan, who shocks Raditz with his power reading, adds to the drama of the waging war. However, nothing can hold a candle to the climax.
After Gohan briefly distracts Raditz, Goku is able to grab his brother and hold him from behind, giving the one-armed Piccolo time to power up his Special Beam Cannon and take out the enemy. Raditz implores his brother not to sacrifice himself, as Piccolo's attack will kill them both if he continues to hold on.
In true Goku style, and shockingly to the audience considering it's only the start of the series, Kakarot goes through with his sacrifice, allowing Piccolo to kill not only his brother, but himself in the process.
A dramatic, and at times heart-wrenching, finale.