In the Dragon Ball universe, where Saiyan warriors constantly break power limits with Super Saiyan, Ultra Instinct, and planet-shattering battles, Krillin might seem like just a minor side character at first glance.
Unlike Goku’s overwhelming aura or Vegeta’s pride, and without any special bloodline, Krillin was once seen as just a filler character. But looking back at his entire journey, he might actually have the most impressive comeback in the whole series.
When Krillin first appeared in Dragon Ball, he wasn’t a hero at all.
The bald little monk from the Orin Temple was initially quite sly and cunning, even cheating Goku several times to get ahead. Compared to typical heroic characters, Krillin back then felt more like comic relief than a serious fighter. But training under Master Roshi changed everything. From a rival, Krillin gradually became Goku’s closest friend. Without overwhelming power, Krillin earned respect through his intelligence, agility, and never-give-up spirit. He’s also one of the few pure human characters who kept pace with the super-powered fighters for a long time.
What makes Krillin special is that he’s not the strongest, but he always finds ways to be important. His Destructo Disc (Kienzan) is a perfect example, a seemingly simple move that’s deadly enough to make even Frieza wary. During the Namek saga, Krillin wasn’t just a supporting teammate but a key figure in Dragon Ball’s biggest turning point: his death at Frieza’s hands triggered Goku’s legendary Super Saiyan transformation. In other words, Krillin wasn’t the final boss fighter, but he was the crucial link that gave birth to a legend.
But what truly makes Krillin a winner in life happens off the battlefield. Among characters constantly under the pressure of fighting, Krillin quietly achieves the ending many dream of: marrying Android 18, the cool and stunning beauty who’s one of the franchise’s most beloved female characters.
From a guy once seen as weak and ordinary, often the victim in battles, Krillin ends up with a happy family, a beautiful wife, a well-behaved child, and a stable life. While Goku is busy training and Vegeta obsessed with power, Krillin reaches his peak in a more everyday but much more fulfilling way.
Krillin may never be the strongest fighter, but he clearly shows that in Dragon Ball, winning isn’t just about who hits harder. From a background character, Krillin steadily became Earth’s strongest human, holds a special place in fans’ hearts, and lives a life many other characters envy.
Sometimes, the biggest winner isn’t the one who saves the world the most, but the one whose comeback makes everyone stop and take notice. Krillin is exactly that kind of winner.
