Everyone’s favorite Namekian, Piccolo has a rather sordid past with a lot of the characters in the Dragon Ball universe. Originally an antagonist for Goku, intent on world domination, his plans changed when a more powerful threat arrived on the planet in the form of Raditz. The two rivals teamed up to take the powerful Saiyan down at the cost of Goku’s life, and his willingness to fight on the side of justice has been cemented ever since. In Dragon Ball Super, Piccolo’s character remains relatively unchanged. Without any imminent threats intent on destroying the world, he has time to take it easy and spends most of his free time training. When confronted by the powerful God of Destruction, Beerus, he comes through in a pinch to help his friends, even if he doesn’t have the strength to go toe-to-toe with Beerus on his own. Watch out for his signature move, the Special Beam Cannon.

A far cry from his shape-shifting, people-eating ways as depicted in the Buu Saga plot arc of Dragon Ball Z, these days Majin Buu lives a quiet life with the Earth-dwelling heroes of the series, having reverted back to his pudgier, more benevolent form. But that doesn’t mean that he can’t pack, or take, a punch. He also steps in to help alleviate the threat Beerus poses to Earth, although he can’t hold a flame to the God of Destruction. Once things have settled down, he agrees to take part in a tournament with powerful warriors from an alternate dimension, in order to decide who has the rights to inhabit Earth, proving that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

Gotenks is a super-powered combination of two young Saiyans, Goten, the second son of Goku, and Trunks, the son of Vegeta and Bulma. In order to achieve greater strength and balance the scales in the fight against Majin Buu, Piccolo and Goku taught the young boys how to combine their power by utilizing the secret power of fusion. Despite his age, Gotenks is no pushover. He can achieve multiple levels of Super Saiyan (complete with the requisite hairstyle makeover), and valiantly throws himself into battle to defend Earth and those he cares about. While he isn’t quite strong enough to take on the big bads, he holds his own against a newly-revived Frieza’s most powerful henchman and buys the warriors of Earth enough time to regroup and continue fighting.

Like every firstborn child, Gohan started off as a gentle, if somewhat spoiled, young boy. This all changed when he became the pupil of Piccolo, in order to train his innate abilities as a Saiyan to combat the impending threat posed by Vegeta and Nappa. Since then, he has been a fearsome warrior on the front lines, going head to head with iconic foes like Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, and Buu. In Dragon Ball Super, Gohan is a far cry from the young boy he used to be. As a grown man with a child on the way, he understands the heavy responsibility that comes with being a defender of Earth and has even more incentive to bring everything he has to every battle. While his adulthood has some unintended consequences, such as enraging Beerus, it hasn’t dulled his combat prowess. The jury is out on whether he’s strong enough to handle the trials of raising a daughter!

Hit is an assassin of an unknown race (though he resembles a purple palette crossover of Cell and Frieza) that inhabits Universe 6. He agrees to participate in a tournament against the heroes of Universe 7 for the rights to inhabit Earth and is so confident in his abilities that he believes he has already won a bet he made at the tournament’s outset. Although an assassin, Hit has a strong sense of honor and is even willing to show his opponents compassion by taking it easy on them, and giving them the chance to bow out. He may seem cold and dispassionate, but he fights with the same moral fortitude as Goku and appreciates a good fight with the best of them. His signature ability is Time Skip, which allows him to momentarily freeze time and gain an advantage on his opponents.

Frieza made a name for himself as a ruthless conqueror and destroyer of planets, having destroyed the Saiyan home world out of a prudent fear of their combat prowess, and the threat they represented to his power. His ambition took him to Namek, where he intended to wish for immortality so that he could conquer the entire universe, but his plans were thwarted through the combined efforts of the defenders of Earth, although the planet was destroyed in the process. Not one to go down without a fight, Frieza reappeared on Earth as a cyborg some time later to exact his revenge, only to be summarily executed by Trunks, sent from the future. Third time's a charm, right? When Frieza’s remaining men gather the Dragon Balls and resurrect him, he decides to harness his innate power in order to ensure that his confrontation with Earth’s defenders goes his way. His assault on Earth pushes all of the heroes to their limits, especially the reveal of his impressive golden form, which is powerful enough to go blow for blow with Goku’s powerful Saiyan God form. Without spoiling anything, his confrontation with Goku and co. is a grudge match no fan wants to miss.

Vegeta is a classic antihero, and widely considered one of the series’ most complicated characters. His is the only Saiyan who acutely feels the weight of his heritage; he understands the innate combat prowess of his race and seeks to uphold their proud legacy as its surviving prince. While his initial arrival on Earth is under the employ of Frieza, with designs for destruction, his respect and envy for the strength of Goku lead him to form an uneasy alliance, eventually resulting in a real, if flawed, friendship. While he has happily settled into family life by the time of Dragon Ball Super, his ambition means that he won’t rest on his laurels until his is the strongest Saiyan in the universe. This part in the series represents the only time that Vegeta might be as strong as Goku, if not stronger, as he is also able to achieve the Saiyan God form, while having inherently more ruthless tactics in combat. He joins Earth’s forces in the tournament with Universe 6 to fight for the future of his friends and family.

Easily the most iconic character in the series, fans have watched Goku mature from a wild young boy into a proud father and a warrior with an indomitable spirit. Whenever a threat faces the residents of Earth, or his friends and family, Goku answers the call (usually late, but better late than never) and acts as Earth’s champion. Time and time again he has proved himself to be the most powerful warrior in the series. Until now. While Goku’s natural combat instincts and warrior spirit lead him down a path of constantly increasing strength, his encounter with the powerful God of Destruction, Beerus, proves that the furthest corners of the universe may hold threats that even the loveable Saiyan warrior might not be able to overcome. But of course, that won’t stop him from trying.

Beerus might not look like much beyond a purple cat in traditional Egyptian garb, but his role as the God of Destruction means he travels the universe destroying planets to bring about balance. He has another passion outside of destruction; finding the most delicious foods the universe has to offer. This, combined with his desire to fulfill a prophecy and fight the legendary “Super Saiyan God” lead him to Earth. While he enjoys the libations offered at Bulma’s part, it isn’t long before the drunken antics of Gohan remind him of his true nature, and set him against the forces of Earth. While he never quite fights at his full strength, he proves too powerful for all of Earth’s mightiest defenders, even Goku, who unlocks the magnificent Saiyan God form. While the fight is never beyond his control, it does tucker him out. He is moved by the resolve of Goku and friends and decides to spare Earth and its citizens.

Whis is a waifish blue humanoid with an uneasy air, who is usually seen attending the needs of his ward, the God of Destruction, Beerus. While his whims may seem trivial, underneath his calm, inscrutable exterior is a warrior without equal. Because Whis isn’t just the attendant of Beerus, but his trainer. He is the only warrior who has ever been able to match Beerus in combat, which is no small feat. Unlike Beerus, he has a much more even temperament, more befitting of a teacher and martial arts master without ego. When Beerus’ ambition to destroy the Earth disappear, he eventually becomes a trainer for the two powerful Saiyans, Vegeta, and Goku. His powers transcend time and space, and it will be quite the feat if a warrior that proves his equal arrives on the scenes.