What order to watch Dragon Ball? [Guide + Episode List]

We know that for newcomers, Dragon Ball can seem to be a bit messy as there are so many episodes.

Watching this fabulous saga in the wrong order could have a somewhat negative effect on your experience, or even leave you unsatisfied, but above all to miss essential parts necessary for a proper understanding!

In the Dragon Ball world, there are few Saiyan as famous and admired as Son Goku, be sure!
Before moving on to the viewing order, we have to show our respect to the creator of Dragon Ball, appoint Akira Toriyama!

Akira Toriyama was born in April 1955 in the Nagoya circle of Japan.
In 1974, he entered the higher school of the industrial prefecture to study advertising design. In 1977, he left this branch to devote himself to comics. Shortly afterward, he joined Shueisha, Japan’s largest current publisher, as a “mangaka” (cartoonist) and published his first work as a professional. Then followed a long path to release the first publication of Dragon Ball in 1984.

While Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga is unique and linear, its animated adaptation is divided into four series:

Dragon Ball, which faithfully follows the first 17 volumes of the manga with kid Son Goku

Dragon Ball Z, which follows with adult Son Goku up to volume 42, with more unpublished episodes;

Dragon Ball GT, a “filler” saga (unpublished) that follows DBZ but not present in the manga;

Dragon Ball Kai, reassembly of the original DBZ anime in HD, 16:9 format and shorter.

Here is a guide to the animated episodes of these different series, with the titles!

Dragon Ball Episode List

Emperor Pilaf Saga (1986)

1. The Secret of the Dragonballs
2. The Emperor’s Quest
3. The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi
4. Oolong the Terrible
5. Yamcha the Desert Bandit
6. Keep an Eye on the Dragonballs
7. The Ox-King on Fire Mountain
8. The Kamehameha Wave
9. Boss Rabbit’s Magic Touch
10. The Dragonballs are Stolen
11. The Penalty is Pinball
12. A Wish to the Eternal Dragon
13. The Legend of Goku

World Tournament Saga (1986):

1. Look Out for Launch
2. Find That Stone!
3. Milk Delivery
4. The Turtle Hermit Way
5. The Tournament Begins
6. Elimination Round
7. Smells Like Trouble
8. Quarterfinals Begin
9. Monster Beast Giran
10. Krillin’s Frantic Attack
11. Danger From Above
12. The Grand Finals
13. Number One Under the Moon?
14. The Final Blow

​Red Ribbon Army Saga (1986-1987):

1. The Roaming Lake
2. Pilaf and the Mystery Force
3. Wedding Plans?
4. The Flying Fortress — Vanished!
5. The Legend of a Dragon
6. Cruel General Red
7. Cold Reception
8. Major Metallitron
9. Ninja Murasaki is Coming
10. Five Murasakis
11. Mysterious Android No. 8
12. Horrifying Buyon
13. The Fall of Muscle Tower
14. The Secret of Dr. Flappe
15. A Trip to the City
16. Master Thief, Hasky
17. Danger in the Air

​General Blue Saga (1987):

1. Bulma’s Bad Day
2. Kame House Found!
3. Deep Blue Sea
4. Roshi Surprise
5. The Trap is Sprung
6. Beware of Robot
7. The Pirate Treasure
8. Blue, Black, and Blue
9. Escape From Pirate Cave
10. Penguin Village
11. Stange Visitor
12. Arale vs. Blue

​Commander Red Saga (1987):

1. The Land of Korin
2. The Notorious Mercenary
3. Tao Attacks!
4. Korin Tower
5. Sacred Water
6. The Return of Goku
7. The Last of Mercenary Tao
8. Confront the Red Ribbon Army
9. A Real Bind
10. The End of Commander Red

​Fortuneteller Baba Saga (1987):

1. The Last Dragon Ball
2. Who is Fortuneteller Baba?
3. We are the Five Warriors
4. Deadly Battle
5. Goku’s Turn
6. The Devilmite Beam
7. The Mysterious Fifth Man
8. The Strong Ones
9. True Colors of the Masked Man
10. Pilaf’s Tactics
11. The Eternal Dragon Rises
12. Terror and Plague
13. Goku vs. Sky Dragon
14. Goku Goes to Demon Land
15. The Rampage of Inoshikacho
16. Which Way to Papaya Island

​Tien Shinhan Saga (1987-1988):

1. Rivals and Arrivals
2. Preliminary Peril
3. Then There Were Eight
4. Yamcha vs. Tien
5. Yamcha’s Big Break
6. Full-Moon Vengeance
7. The Dodon Wave
8. Counting Controversy
9. Goku Enters the Ring
10. Tien Shinhan vs. Jackie Chun
11. Stepping Down
12. Goku vs. Krillin
13. Tail’s Tale
14. Final Match: Goku vs. Tien
15. Victory’s Edge/ Battle Power
16. Tien’s Insurrection
17. The Spirit Cannon
18. The Fallen

​King Piccolo Saga (1988):

1. Enter King Piccolo
2. Tambourine Attacks
3. Mark of the Demon
4. Here Comes Yajirobe
5. Terrible Tambourine
6. Tien’s Atonement
7. Goku’s Revenge
8. Goku vs. King Piccolo
9. Piccolo Closes In
10. Roshi’s Gambit
11. King Piccolo’s Wish
12. Siege in Chow Castle
13. Conquest and Power
14. Awaken Darkness
15. A Taste of Destiny
16. The Ultimate Sacrifice
17. Prelude to Vengeance
18. Battle Cry
19. Goku Strikes Back
20. The Biggest Crisis
21. Final Showdown

​Piccolo Jr. Saga (1988-1989):

1. Lost and Found
2. Temple Above the Clouds
3. Earth’s Guardian Emerges
4. Eternal Dragon Resurrected
5. Quicker Than Lightning
6. Secret in the Woods
7. The Time Room
8. Goku’s Doll
9. Walking Their Own Ways
10. Hotter than Lava
11. Changes
12. Preliminary Peril
13. Battle of the Eight
14. Tien Shinhan vs. Mercenary Tao
15. Anonymous Proposal
16. The Mysterious Hero
17. Rematch
18. Goku Gains Speed
19. The Four Faces of Tien
20. Kami vs. Piccolo
21. Battle for the Future
22. Super Kamehameha
23. Junior No More
24. Goku’s Trap
25. Goku Hangs On
26. The Victor
27. Dress in Flames
28. The Fire-Eater
29. Outrageous Octagon
30. Mystery of the Dark World
31. The End, the Beginning

Congratulations Saiyan!

You’ve successfully watched all the Dragon Ball episodes, we hope you enjoyed it!

You are now ready to watch Dragon Ball Z!

Be sure to check our Dragon Ball Z watching guide (soon)