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Discover the complete guide to all Dragon Ball Arcs, including the list of filler episodes you may choose to avoid.
Dragon Ball is often called the father of shonen anime as it has inspired countless other anime, including Hunter x Hunter and One Piece. Created by Akira Toriyama, the series has one of the largest fan bases in anime and has stayed relevant for nearly four decades.
Featuring multiple shows under its banner, Dragon Ball has no shortage of story arcs. To assist fans and newcomers in finding their way across the series, we have prepared a Dragon Ball arc guide. There is also a separate filler list in the article for fans to refer to.
A Detailed List of All the Arcs in the Dragon Ball Anime Series
The Dragon Ball original anime series has a total of 9 arcs spanning across 153 episodes.
| Arc | Episodes | Chapters |
| Emperor Pilaf Arc | Episodes 1-13 | 1-23 |
| Tournament Arc | Episodes 14-28 | 24-54 |
| Red Ribbon Army Arc | Episodes 29-45 | 55-69 |
| General Blue Arc | Episodes 46-57 | 70-83 |
| Commander Red Arc | Episodes 58-67 | 84-96 |
| Fortuneteller Baba Arc | Episodes 68-83 | 97-112 |
| Tien Shinhan Arc | Episodes 84-101 | 113-134 |
| King Piccolo Arc | Episodes 102-122 | 135-161 |
| Piccolo Jr. Arc | Episodes 123-153 | 162-194 |
A Detailed List of All the Arcs in the Dragon Ball Z/Kai Anime Series
Dragon Ball Z is the sequel to the original Dragon Ball series. Dragon Ball Z Kai is a revamped version of Dragon Ball Z with fewer filler episodes and changes in visuals.
Dragon Ball Z has 19 story arcs covered in 291 episodes. Dragon Ball Z Kai has the same number of arcs covered in 167 episodes.
| Arc | Episodes | Dragon Ball Z Kai Episodes | Chapters |
| Raditz Arc | Episodes 1-6 | Episodes 1-3 | 195-206 |
| Vegeta Arc | Episodes 7-35 | Episodes 4-16 | 206-241 |
| Namek Arc | Episodes 36-67 | Episodes 17-31 | 242-281 |
| Captain Ginyu Arc | Episodes 68-74 | Episodes 32-35 | 282-290 |
| Frieza Arc | Episodes 75-107 | Episodes 36-54 | 291-329 |
| Garlic Jr. Arc | Episodes 108-117 | — | — |
| Trunks Arc | Episodes 118-125 | Episodes 55-58 | 329-336 |
| Androids Arc | Episodes 126-139 | Episodes 59-67 | 337-357 |
| Imperfect Cell Arc | Episodes 140-152 | Episodes 69-75 | 358-373 |
| Perfect Cell Arc | Episodes 153-165 | Episodes 76-82 | 374-388 |
| Cell Games Arc | Episodes 166-194 | Episodes 83-98 | 388-420 |
| Other World Arc | Episodes 195-199 | — | — |
| Great Saiyaman Arc | Episodes 200-209 | Episodes 99-105 | 421-431 |
| World Tournament Arc | Episodes 210-219 | Episodes 106-114 | 432-445 |
| Babidi Arc | Episodes 220-231 | Episodes 115-122 | 446-459 |
| Majin Buu Arc | Episodes 232-253 | Episodes 123-140 | 460-483 |
| Fusion Arc | Episodes 254-275 | Episodes 141-155 | 484-507 |
| Kid Buu Arc | Episodes 276-287 | Episodes 156-165 | 508-517 |
| Peaceful World Arc | Episodes 288-291 | Episodes 166-167 | 517-519 |
A Detailed List of All the Arcs in the Dragon Ball GT Anime Series
Dragon Ball GT isn’t strictly canon and can be classified as “filler.” However, many fans consider it to be a nostalgic adventure with beloved characters. While skippable, it’s worth watching for those who love the Dragon Ball universe.
Dragon Ball GT has four main arcs in its 64 episodes.
| Arc | Episodes | Chapters |
| Black Star Dragon Ball Arc | Episodes 1-16 | — |
| Baby Arc | Episodes 17-40 | — |
| Super 17 Arc | Episodes 41-47 | — |
| Shadow Dragon Arc | Episodes 48-64 | — |
A Detailed List of All the Arcs in the Dragon Ball Super Anime Series
Dragon Ball Super has a total of 11 arcs split across 131 episodes and two movies.
| Arc | Episodes | Chapters |
| God of Destruction Beerus Arc | Episodes 1-15 | 1-4 |
| Golden Frieza Arc | Episodes 16-27 | — |
| Universe 6 Arc | Episodes 28-41 | 5-13 |
| Copy-Vegeta Arc | Episodes 42-46 | — |
| “Future” Trunks Arc | Episodes 47-76 | 14-26 |
| Universe Survival Arc | Episodes 77-131 | 27-42 |
| Broly Arc | Dragon Ball Super: Broly Movie | — |
| Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc | — | 42-67 |
| Granolah the Survivor Arc | — | 67-87 |
| High School Arc | — | 88-90 |
| Super Hero Arc | Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Movie | 91-103 |
A Detailed List of All the Arcs in the Dragon Ball Daima Anime Series
Dragon Ball Daima is the latest Dragon Ball Project and currently has only one arc and saga. It is creator Akira Toriyama’s final project and takes place canonically in between Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super.
| Arc | Episodes | Chapters |
| Daima Saga Arc | Episodes 1-20 | — |
A Detailed List of Filler Episodes in Dragon Ball
- Episodes 30-33
- Episode 45
- Episodes 79-83
- Episodes 127-132
- Episodes 149-153
Here are the filler episodes fans can skip in the original Dragon Ball series to stick to the canon story. Dragon Ball has plenty of hilarious moments and fun adventures, and fans believe the fillers enhance the experience. So with relatively few filler episodes, they’re worth a watch.
A Detailed List of Filler Episodes in Dragon Ball Z
- Episodes 9-10
- Episodes 12-16
- Episodes 39-43
- Episode 100
- Episode 102
- Episodes 108-117
- Episodes 124-125
- Episodes 170-171
- Episode 174
- Episodes 195-199
- Episodes 202-203
- Episode 274
- Episode 288
These are the filler episodes from Dragon Ball Z. While they showcase different sides of the characters, they often interrupt the canon storyline. Viewers may prefer to skip them initially and revisit them after finishing the series.
A Detailed List of Filler Episodes in Dragon Ball Z Kai
- Episode 101
- Episode 165
A Detailed List of Filler Episodes in Dragon Ball Super
- Episode 4
- Episode 15
- Episodes 42-46
- Episodes 68-70
- Episodes 73-76
Dragon Ball Super fillers are often considered the best in the franchise, offering enjoyable slice-of-life breathers. Though they can be skipped, many fans believe that experiencing all the episodes adds to the series’ charm.
Which Are the Longest and Shortest Arcs in Dragon Ball?
When strictly considering the canon content from the entire Dragon Ball franchise, the longest arc is the Frieza Arc from Dragon Ball Z, which takes place over 32 episodes. It followed Goku’s battle against Frieza in the Planet Namek, and it was the first time he transformed into a Super Saiyan.
The shortest arc is the Peaceful World Arc from Dragon Ball Z which is just three episodes. It concluded Dragon Ball Z and showed what’s next for our characters after their battle against Kid Buu.
What are the Fan-Favorite Arcs in Dragon Ball?
Dragon Ball Z is viewed as the best part of Dragon Ball by a majority of fans and hence the most popular arcs are also featured in it.
The Frieza Saga, which primarily contains the Namek Arc and Frieza Arc, is considered the best and blew fans away with their drama, characters, and exhilarating battles.
The Cell Saga, and the Cell Games Arc in particular, is another fan favorite Dragon Ball Arc. Right from the creation of the iconic villain Cell and Gohan’s ascendance to Super Saiyan 2, the arc features several landmark moments of Dragon Ball.
What is the Current Dragon Ball Arc?
The latest installment to the Dragon Ball series is Dragon Ball Daima. Termed as the “Daima Saga,” it follows Goku and his friends as they mysteriously turn small. In order to fix their condition, they decide to head off to the Demon Realm for the adventure of a lifetime.
Conclusion
The Dragon Ball series is an epic saga that has spanned several decades and captivated fans for generations. With newer versions of the story as well as the timeless originals, this guide is designed to help you keep track of the Dragon Ball arcs and savor its best moments.
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