Dragon Ball Heroes is fanservice at its finest. The over-the-top spin-off franchise has remained self-aware for nearly 15 years now, existing only to bring fans every fight they can imagine through a plot that only exists to set the stage. Super Dragon Ball Heroes serves as the game’s animated adaptation and is streamed online. The series showcases some of the best face-offs and plot twists that Heroes has had to offer. But even after mining the depths of the arcade title’s history, there are still several fan-fueled fights that have yet to happen.
Super Dragon Ball Heroes has given surprising spotlights to less-than-popular and less-than-canon characters. Despite that, there remain even deeper corners of conflict in the Dragon Ball Universe that it hasn’t found time to explore just yet — corners whose non-canon roots don’t give them a chance to be explored anywhere else. Fans likely won’t ask or complain about whatever excuse the game ends up using story-wise to make these non-canon matchups happen.
Cooler vs. Frieza is a Sibling Rivalry Waiting to Boil Over
Cooler’s Revenge and Return of Cooler rank among the most action-packed of DBZ’s anime-only film series. The eponymous villain was Frieza’s older brother, sporting an extra transformation and fun spins on his younger sibling’s soldiers, abilities, and even mechanical makeover. But through two movies and several cameo appearances in anime filler, Cooler and Frieza have never meaningfully interacted.
In Heroes, Cooler finds himself as a circumstantial ally of Trunks before being converted into Meta-Cooler by the villain Fu. While he eventually joins his brother in a team for the Super Space-Time Tournament, fans would love to see these two supposedly contentious siblings finally face off against each other.
Z Broly vs. Super Broly Could Destroy Planets
Drafting this match-up on paper doesn’t sound especially exciting. DBZ Broly’s ceiling has long since been surpassed by series regulars come Dragon Ball Super, and the new version of the character is training with Goku and the God of Destruction. That said, the fun of Dragon Ball’s fights is the spectacle, not the math.
A matchup between both versions of the Legendary Super Saiyan could be one of the most hard-hitting, destructive matchups Dragon Ball has ever seen. Two warriors who can level a city by breathing letting loose with no regard or remorse for the damage around them would be an incredible sight.
Gogeta vs. Vegito Deserves its Own Series
The two fusions of Goku and Vegeta are consistently shown as head and shoulders above the power of their competition. But if the cool-headed combination warriors were to cross fists with each other, fans would undoubtedly be excited to see how equally they match up. Unfortunately, two fusions of the same characters don’t have a lot of chances to throw hands.
Vegito and Gogeta represent uniquely separate power sets and equally terrifying takes on the concept of a Goku/Vegeta fusion. Super Dragon Ball Heroes briefly touched on the matchup as part of a larger skirmish, but a dedicated showdown would be a dream come true for most fans of the franchise.
Shenron vs. Black Smoke Shenron Could Answer a Lot of Questions
The eternal dragons are no stranger to conflict, in canon or non-canon instances. Shenron was on the receiving end of a vicious blast from King Piccolo, and even in Heroes, Dragon Ball GT’s evil Black Smoke Shenron was on the losing end of a skirmish with Gotenks. It’s a bit awkward seeing these magical beasts take on normal humanoids, but it would definitely be exciting to see them take on each other.
While the dragons themselves don’t seem to be especially powerful in a combat context, the spectacle of seeing them battle would be unforgettable. With no definition or limits to what they’re able to do, Heroes could have the chance to blend the best parts of Dragon Ball and Godzilla to make something fans could only see in their series.
King Vegeta vs. Bardock has a Thematic Interest
Goku and Vegeta have fought some of the greatest battles of the Dragon Ball franchise, but their fathers never got the chance to do the same. The two have never come to blows, despite many moments and alternate universes that could have explored it. The Heroes game teased a showdown between the two, but it didn’t go further.
Despite the extra-canon adventures Bardock has taken, a fight with the King of the Saiyans has never been in the cards. There’s nothing groundbreaking to be gained in a fight between the two, but seeing the fathers of the greatest Saiyans of their generation battling with the same ferocity as their sons would be a treat.
Gokule vs. Tiencha is a Long Overdue Grudge Match
The pair of joke fusions featured in Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2 have become quiet legends over the years. Both have been acknowledged in the series since, but neither have featured prominently in the Dragon Ball Heroes universe. In fact, while Gokule appears as a character, Tiencha has yet to make any sort of appearance at all.
With no canon appearances, Gokule's and Tiencha's power levels have never been measured. Hercule's lack of superpowered combat prowess could lower the fusion to the level of a combined Tien and Yamcha. But maybe the parts of Goku's world-beating powers that still exist in there would be enough to help one goofy hero grind out the other.
Ginyu Force vs. Cooler’s Armored Squadron Would be Flashy and Funny
As far as measures of power, the Ginyu Force against their Cooler’s Revenge counterparts doesn’t exactly redefine the scales. But for sheer flair, few could match the output of the two squads of stooges. Seeing the Ginyu Force in full force against Cooler’s Armored Squadron would be fun for the few minutes it would last.
Cooler’s Armored Squadron were obvious offshoots from the Ginyu Force. Dore had Recoome’s brutality and strength. Leader Salza was a mix between Jeice and a Backstreet Boy, even being retconned into the same race. Completing the trio was the lizard-like Neiz. They're not especially strong, but for a mix of hijinx and action, few matchups would strike the same balance as this.
Kale vs. Z Broly Would be a Legendary Throwdown
Dragon Ball Super initially shocked fans when the Saiyan Kale seemed to take Broly’s functional spot in the series’ canon. Direct comparisons between the two were common until Broly found a way back to the franchise in his titular film. While his reintroduction made the issue moot, there’s still beef to be explored on the battlefield.
Dragon Ball Z’s version of Broly has found plenty to do in the Heroes universe but has yet to match against his less direct Super adaptation. While the transformations and transmutations of Broly in the subseries likely put him out of Kale’s league, a fresher version of the character crossing paths with her would be good fun.
Janemba vs. Majin Buu is a Candy-Coated Gorefest in the Making
Janemba wasn’t a character as much as an object. Created as a more sinister pastiche of Majin Buu, the barely-speaking, barely-thinking creature played the villain in the non-canon Fusion Reborn. Its plot was a series of excuses to animate Goku firing pretty attacks, not bothering to give Janemba motivation or purpose. If cool animation and attacks were the goal, though, the team knocked it out of the park.
As a reflection of Majin Buu, Janema is the jagged edge to the pink villain’s soft exterior. His twisted horns and blade-based arsenal along with a maniacal sadism and power level that seems to match Buu’s own could make for a thrilling battle. Heroes seems to know this, teasing a flash of Kid Buu vs. Janemba in the Super Space-Time Tournament, but the match-up has yet to be meaningfully explored.
Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta vs. Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta Would Be Absolutely Epic
The battle between Ultra Instinct Goku and his Super Saiyan 4 counterpart was one of Super Dragon Ball Heroes’ best bouts — but it still left something lacking in the fanservice department. The Gogeta fusion has been displayed as the flashiest and most powerful version of Goku or Vegeta across several continuities, and those versions have yet to duke it out.
Heroes has given some impressive fights to Gogeta’s Super Saiyan 4 form. The Super continuity variant has likewise been given forms that fuse Goku’s Ultra Instinct and Vegeta’s Ultra Ego. Seeing the ceilings of their powers in battle against each other still represents the pinnacle of potential Dragon Ball fanservice.
