10 Dragon Ball characters who can easily adapt to any situation, ranked weakest to strongest

Dragon Ball characters come in a lot of shapes and forms but one element that is quite interesting to analyze is how they adapt to various situations. While this is a series where power levels and fighting are extremely prominent, there are examples of characters who have managed to make do with what they have and deal with different variables that are thrown their way.

Moreover, it is also worth pointing out that there are Dragon Ball characters who are very strong and capable fighters but also manage to come up with ways to deal with different circumstances. There are examples such as Piccolo and Frieza who are very strong but have proven themselves capable of dealing with certain obstacles when they are facing greater challenges.

10 Dragon Ball characters who can adapt to any situation and why, ranked from weakest to strongest

10. Bulma

Bulma is definitely one of those Dragon Ball characters who can adapt to anything (Image via Toei Animation).

There is no denying that Bulma is one of the most important Dragon Ball characters in the entire franchise, to the point that there wouldn't be a story if she had never met Goku at the beginning of the story. And when push comes to shove, while she has never been a fighter, she has always managed to adapt to a lot of circumstances throughout the years.

Bulma is a certified genius who has created a lot of gadgets and technology that have been pivotal for Goku and his friends, which is something that has allowed her to be useful at all times despite not being a fighter. The creation of the Dragon Radar and structuring the spaceship to go to Namek are just two examples of what she has done to help the heroes in complex circumstances.

9. Mr. Satan

Mr. Satan is known for adapting to a lot of crazy situations (Image via Toei Animation).

When it comes to Dragon Ball characters who can adapt to a lot of different circumstances, Mr. Satan might be one of the first names that come to people's minds. While it is true that he has been mostly a gag character since he made his debut during the Cell Games, his ability to adapt to the circumstances he ends up in is notorious.

The most prominent example of his capacity to adapt is how he managed to become Majin Buu's friend and even went as far as convincing him to stop killing people. He even ends up as one of the most important characters of the Buu arc, and that was without having any real fighting abilities to help with.

8. Dr. Gero

One of the smartest Dragon Ball characters out there (Image via Toei Animation).

Dr. Gero deserves a lot of recognition for his achievements in the series because he created Androids who were far stronger than Super Saiyan Goku and Frieza, which is a major accomplishment for a human scientist. This was a direct result of how the protagonist destroyed the Red Ribbon Army and Gero wanted to get even, which is why he created these androids.

Moreover, when Dr. Gero faced Goku and his friends and realized that he was being overwhelmed, he chose to retreat to his lab so he could awaken Android 17 and 18. While a lot of Dragon Ball characters would have chosen to fight to the death, he probably made the right decision, not to mention that he also had backup plans such as Android 16 and Cell.

7. Krillin

Krillin is one of those Dragon Ball characters who can adapt to a lot of things (Image via Toei Animation).

It's no secret that Krillin was left behind in the series' powerscale during the days of the Saiyan saga, but his willingness to help Goku when push came to shove was unparalleled. That is one of those cases where he has managed to adapt to a lot of different things, which is shown even to this very day in Super during the Tournament of Power arc.

A good example of Krillin's ability to adapt was during the events of the Namek saga, as he managed to evade Vegeta and most of the Frieza Force to get the Dragon Balls with Gohan and get an edge over the rest. Even Goku highlights his intelligence and capacity for strategy when preparing for the Tournament of Power, which is something that makes a lot of sense.

6. Cell

Cell reached his perfect form by adapting to the circumstances (Image via Toei Animation).

The interesting thing about Cell as a villain is the fact he wasn't the strongest in his arc until he reached his perfect form. For the vast majority of the arc, Cell stood out among Dragon Ball characters, particularly villains, because he had to plan and adapt to the circumstances.

A good example was how he chose to escape from Piccolo when he realized that the latter was stronger than him and lay low for a while to absorb people and grow stronger. And when he was Imperfect Cell, he managed to persuade Vegeta to help him absorb Android 18, with all of this being a byproduct of his ability to adapt.

5. Android 17

One of the most popular Dragon Ball characters (Image via Toei Animation).

It is fair to say that Android 17 really did become a character capable of adapting to different circumstances during the Tournament of Power arc, where he won the competition and was pivotal for the victory of Universe 7. Whether it was the direct result of being older and wiser or simply that he was rewritten, this was a major aspect of his character in Dragon Ball Super.

He is one of the few Dragon Ball characters who tried to stop a transformation midway through a battle, formed an alliance with Frieza because he knew they could make something happen in the tournament, and oftentimes came up with strategies to get an edge over the other universes. Coupled with the fact he became strong enough to keep up with Super Saiyan Blue Goku, he was an absolute menace in this arc.

4. Piccolo

Definitely one of the smartest Dragon Ball characters (Image via Toei Animation).

Very few Dragon Ball characters are as known for their intelligence and wits as Piccolo, and there is a very good reason for that. During the vast majority of the series, the Namekian has been the voice of reason and someone who has managed to adapt to a lot of different circumstances, even when it could be considered out of character for him at certain times.

He was the one willing to ally with Goku to fight Raditz; at the time, they were mortal enemies, and most Dragon Ball characters didn't think it was possible. He adapted to become Gohan's master, adapted to fuse with Nail and Kami, and was always the one coming up with plans and strategies to deal with different circumstances throughout the years.

3. Vegeta

The Saiyan Prince can adapt when his pride isn't on the line (Image via Toei Animation).

Vegeta is one of the most popular Dragon Ball characters of all time and is very likely that a lot of people might not associate him with the ability to adapt. The Saiyan Prince has a proven track record of falling victim to his own ego and pride, although his characterization is a bit more complex than that.

From the moment he fought Goku in the Saiyan saga, he adapted and overcame all the different tactics the protagonist and his friends threw at him. During the Namek saga, he was always on the run against the Frieza Force and came up with tactics to get the Dragon Balls, even going as far as forming an alliance with the Z Fighters and hurting himself to get a Zenkai boost.

Even in more recent arcs, Vegeta has been more willing to try different things and has been open to fusing with Goku despite his dislike of the process. That shows he is willing to compromise to get the job done, making him one of the most capable Dragon Ball characters when it comes to adapting.

2. Gohan

Gohan is one of the smartest Dragon Ball characters (Image via Toei Animation).

There is no denying that Gohan is one of the most powerful Dragon Ball characters because of his sheer potential, as recently shown by his Beast transformation. Furthermore, he is also one of the smartest individuals in the series, and that has allowed him to adapt to a lot of circumstances.

Gohan is someone who has had to fight and deal with powerful enemies since he was only four years old, which goes to show how capable he is at adapting. He has made mistakes along the way, of course, but that didn't keep him from learning and becoming a much more balanced fighter.

1. Frieza

Frieza as seen in the Super anime (Image via Toei Animation).

The galactic tyrant is an interesting case because his original introduction, during the events of the Namek saga, depicted him as rigid and unwilling to compromise. That is very much true, but it is interesting how his defeat at the hands of Goku made him a lot more willing to compromise during the events of Super.

Frieza is one of the few Dragon Ball characters, especially when it comes to the villains, where his methods changed heavily, now being willing to train and develop his skills. He was also willing to join Universe 7 for the Tournament of Power (granted, out of convenience) and adapted to a lot of circumstances, manipulating and lying to get results for his team.

Final thoughts

There are other Dragon Ball characters who have managed to adapt to a lot of different circumstances, oftentimes relying on their wits and intelligence to come up with solutions. That is a very good example that not everything in this series is centered around being stronger.

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Edited by Somava