The seven Dragon Balls are not only iconic symbols of the Dragon Ball franchise but also the centerpiece of countless pivotal moments in the story. From humorous wishes in the early days to reviving millions or erasing humanity’s memories, every appearance of Shenron leaves a lasting impact.
Here are the 10 most memorable wishes in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, moments that changed the fate of many characters.
10. Oolong’s wish for a pair of women’s underwear to stop Pilaf from ruling the world
The very first wish in Dragon Ball history is also one of the funniest. Just as Pilaf was about to summon Shenron to wish for world domination, Oolong suddenly interrupted and shouted out a wish for a pair of women’s underwear.
Although absurd, this wish accidentally saved the world by ruining Pilaf’s chance to carry out his ambition.
9. Upa revives his father Bora
This was the first time Shenron demonstrated the power to bring the dead back to life.
After Bora was killed, young Upa used his wish to bring his father back. At that time, overcoming death was seen as a miracle, making this moment deeply emotional.
Later on, reviving the dead became a common occurrence in Dragon Ball, but Bora was the first to benefit from this miracle.
8. King Piccolo restores his youth
Not all wishes go to the heroes. King Piccolo once used the Dragon Balls to restore his youth, regaining his peak power before facing Son Goku.
Afterwards, he even destroyed Shenron to prevent anyone from using the Dragon Balls against him, creating one of the most memorable twists in early Dragon Ball.
7. Yamcha revives all victims of King Piccolo
Often seen as a punching bag in Dragon Ball, Yamcha actually made one of the most compassionate wishes. After King Piccolo spread death everywhere, Yamcha used Shenron to bring back all the victims.
This started the tradition of using the Dragon Balls to undo the damage after major battles.
6. Master Roshi revives Son Goku
Early in Dragon Ball Z, Goku sacrificed himself to defeat Raditz. Thanks to Master Roshi’s wish, Goku returned quickly to continue training with King Kai before facing Vegeta and Nappa.
Without this wish, Dragon Ball Z’s story would have taken a very different path.
5. Reviving all Namekians killed by Frieza’s forces
The Namek saga was one of the most brutal arcs in Dragon Ball. Many Namekians were killed by Frieza and his henchmen, pushing their entire race to the brink of extinction.
Thanks to Mr. Popo’s wish and the support of the Namekian Dragon Balls, all the dead were revived, and the Namekian people were safely evacuated before their planet exploded.
4. Yamcha revives the victims of Cell
Once again, Yamcha made a deeply humanitarian wish. After Perfect Cell caused widespread destruction, Yamcha asked Shenron to bring back everyone who died.
While some argue that frequent revivals reduce story tension, this wish highlights the Z Fighters’ respect for life.
3. Krillin removes bombs from Android 17 and 18
Not all wishes are about fighting. After learning that Android 17 and 18 had bombs implanted, Krillin used the Dragon Balls to remove them.
This decision not only saved the two Androids from being exploited but also paved the way for the beloved romance between Krillin and Android 18.
2. Bulma revives the victims of Majin Vegeta
During the Majin Buu arc, Vegeta was controlled by Babidi and killed many spectators at the World Martial Arts Tournament. After regaining his senses, Bulma used the Dragon Balls to revive all the innocent victims, including Kibito.
This wish helped undo much of the damage caused by Majin Vegeta before the decisive battle with Majin Buu.
1. Erasing humanity’s memories of the Majin Buu disaster
Perhaps the most unique wish in Dragon Ball Z. After Majin Buu was defeated, the Z Fighters realized humanity would forever carry the trauma of the global massacre.
They asked Shenron to erase nearly everyone’s memories of the disaster, allowing society to quickly return to normal life. Unlike previous wishes that saved lives, this one healed the emotional wounds of all humanity.