Is Krillin Stronger Than Bardock? An In-Depth Analysis of Dragon Ball’s Underdog and Saiyan Legend

Oh boy, this is a question that’s sparked more than a few heated debates in my own living room, let me tell you. My buddy, Mark, a die-hard Saiyan fan, was absolutely convinced that no Earthling, not even one as seasoned as Krillin, could ever stand a chance against a pure-blooded Saiyan warrior like Bardock. “He’s Goku’s dad, man!” Mark would exclaim, “He took on Frieza’s whole army! Krillin’s just… Krillin!” I found myself chuckling because, while I totally get the sentiment – Bardock is undeniably awesome – the truth, especially when you consider the whole Dragon Ball saga, is actually a lot more nuanced and, frankly, quite surprising for many. So, to get straight to it: yes, Krillin, particularly in the later stages of Dragon Ball Super, is demonstrably and unequivocally stronger than Bardock ever was.

It might sound wild at first, especially if your last memory of Krillin is him getting impaled by Frieza or constantly being outclassed. But Dragon Ball, more than any other series, is all about growth, shattering limits, and the sheer, unadulterated power of pushing past your perceived potential. Krillin’s journey is a testament to this, an epic saga of an underdog who, through relentless training, courage, and an iron will, has transcended his humble beginnings to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the universe’s most formidable fighters. Let’s really dig into this, peeling back the layers of lore, power levels, and character development to see why our bald bestie takes the cake.

Bardock’s Power: A Saiyan Legend’s Might

First off, let’s give Bardock his due respect. He’s a legendary figure in Dragon Ball lore, and for good reason. As Goku’s father, Bardock is depicted as a low-class Saiyan warrior, albeit one with exceptional combat prowess and a uniquely strategic mind for his kind. We first really got to know him in the TV special, “Bardock – The Father of Goku,” and his story was later beautifully re-imagined and expanded upon in the movie Dragon Ball Super: Broly. In both iterations, he’s a fierce, determined fighter who, despite knowing the grim fate awaiting Planet Vegeta, bravely confronts Frieza’s forces.

Pre-Frieza Force and Saiyan Hierarchy

Bardock was never one of the Saiyan elite, like King Vegeta or Prince Vegeta himself. Saiyan society was, to put it mildly, brutal and class-structured. Power levels dictated everything. Most low-class Saiyans were cannon fodder, sent to conquer weaker planets. Bardock, however, was noted for leading his own squad and excelling in their missions. This already set him apart from the average Saiyan warrior. He was tough, resourceful, and had a knack for pushing his limits in battle, a trait his son Goku would famously inherit.

Power Level Estimations: What We Know

In the original TV special, Bardock’s power level was stated to be around 10,000. This was a significant number back then, putting him far above early Goku or even Vegeta when he first arrived on Earth (Vegeta was around 18,000). To put it into perspective, the average Saiyan warrior during that era was likely in the hundreds or low thousands. Bardock was a cut above, capable of wiping out entire planetary forces on his own, especially after receiving Zenkai boosts. These boosts, a unique Saiyan ability, occur when a Saiyan recovers from near-fatal injuries, resulting in a dramatic increase in their power. Bardock experienced this several times, further enhancing his battle capabilities.

In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, while specific power levels aren’t thrown around as much, Bardock’s portrayal reinforces his status as a formidable warrior of his time. He’s shown fighting against Frieza’s soldiers with skill and ferocity, demonstrating a keen sense of combat and an almost prophetic understanding of the danger Frieza posed. His final stand against Frieza’s Supernova, though ultimately futile, was a moment of incredible bravery, showing a warrior who refused to back down even in the face of insurmountable odds. His power, at its absolute peak during his life, was undeniably impressive for his era, pushing into the upper tens of thousands.

Limitations of Bardock’s Power

However, it’s crucial to remember that Bardock’s story takes place long before the events of Dragon Ball Z really kick off, and certainly eons before Dragon Ball Super. The power scaling in Dragon Ball has, shall we say, gone a little wild since then. Bardock existed in a time when a power level of 10,000 was considered extraordinary. He never had the benefit of training with martial arts masters like Master Roshi, the gravity training on King Kai’s planet, the hyperbolic time chamber, or sparring with deities like Beerus and Whis. He also never achieved the Super Saiyan transformation in the main canon, though a non-canon special depicted him as one.

Krillin’s Journey: The Earthling Underdog’s Growth

Now, let’s talk about Krillin. Our man Krillin started as Goku’s rival, a little bald kid with a mischievous streak, training under Master Roshi. And let’s be honest, for a good chunk of *Dragon Ball Z*, Krillin often felt like the lovable, but ultimately outmatched, comic relief. He was the guy who’d get a heroic moment only to be instantly overshadowed or tragically killed off. Yet, to dismiss him based on those early struggles would be a massive disservice to one of Dragon Ball’s most enduring and, surprisingly, one of its strongest characters.

Humble Beginnings and Early Training

Krillin’s journey began with intense martial arts training alongside Goku at Kame House. Under Master Roshi, he learned the fundamentals of combat, Ki control, and the importance of discipline. His initial power level was modest, much like Goku’s. By the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, he was a formidable human fighter, but still far from the universe-shattering threats that would soon emerge. His early power levels were in the low hundreds, respectable for an Earthling, but nothing compared to a Saiyan like Bardock.

The Namek Saga: A Turning Point

This is where things start to get really interesting for Krillin. On Planet Namek, facing off against Frieza’s deadly forces, Krillin underwent a profound transformation. The Grand Elder Guru, the patriarch of the Namekians, unlocked Krillin’s hidden potential. This wasn’t just a minor boost; it was a massive leap, pushing his power level from around 1,500 to an astounding 13,000. Think about that for a second: 13,000. That’s already higher than Bardock’s stated power level of 10,000.

And it didn’t stop there. Krillin, always pushing through adversity, later received a Zenkai-like boost himself after being impaled by Frieza (a recurring theme, bless his heart). While Earthlings don’t get traditional Saiyan Zenkai boosts, facing near-death and recovering often provides a significant power increase for any Z-Fighter. This further elevated Krillin’s strength, enabling him to briefly hold his own against Frieza’s second form. While still outmatched, his ability to even slightly contend speaks volumes about his exponential growth. He was now operating on a completely different plane of power compared to Bardock.

Training During the Cell and Buu Sagas

After Namek, Krillin continued to train, though the focus of the story shifted heavily towards the Saiyans. He married Android 18 and settled down for a time, raising their daughter Marron. However, he never truly stopped training. While he might have fallen behind Goku and Vegeta’s stratospheric levels, his power continued to grow. By the Cell Games, he was significantly stronger than his Namek Saga self, capable of handling Cell Juniors for a short while, and by the Buu Saga, he was still a very capable fighter, even if his role was more supportive. Each crisis pushed him further, demonstrating his commitment to protecting his loved ones and Earth.

Crucial Development in Dragon Ball Super: Krillin’s True Ascendance

Here’s where the debate is truly settled. Dragon Ball Super has been incredibly kind to Krillin, showcasing his growth in ways many fans never expected. He might not have achieved Super Saiyan God or Ultra Instinct, but his development has been staggering. Think about his training with Goku, facing off against Beerus’s training partners, and his pivotal role in the Tournament of Power.

1. Overcoming Mental Blocks: During his training with Goku early in Super, Krillin confessed to having a mental block, a fear of fighting opponents stronger than himself, stemming from his many past defeats and deaths. Goku helped him overcome this by forcing him to confront his fears head-on. This psychological breakthrough was as crucial as any physical power-up. It allowed him to tap into his full potential without hesitation.
2. Mastering Technique: Krillin always had a knack for clever tactics and powerful, unique techniques. In Super, he refines these. His “Solar Flare x100” becomes an incredibly potent blinding technique, capable of affecting even Super Saiyan Blue Goku. His Destructo Disc, always a dangerous, Ki-based cutting attack, also sees improvements, with him being able to create multiple discs simultaneously and control their trajectory. This focus on technique over raw power makes him exceptionally unpredictable and effective.
3. Tournament of Power Performance: This is Krillin’s shining moment in Super. He fights alongside universe-level combatants, eliminating several opponents himself. He demonstrates incredible speed, agility, and strategic thinking. He’s able to trade blows with characters who, even in their suppressed forms, are operating at power levels that would make Namek Saga Frieza look like a pebble. While he gets eliminated, his contribution is undeniable. He’s not just a distraction; he’s an active, dangerous participant.
4. Sparring with Goku: The fact that Krillin, in his regular state, can actually spar with and even tag Base Form Goku (who has trained with Whis and achieved God Ki) is mind-blowing. Goku, even in his base form, is now hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of times stronger than his Namek Saga self. For Krillin to be able to keep up and push Goku even slightly means his own power has skyrocketed to previously unimaginable levels for an Earthling. We’re talking about a power level that would utterly dwarf Bardock’s peak by an unfathomable margin.

Krillin’s courage, adaptability, and unwavering determination to protect his friends and family have consistently driven him to new heights. He exemplifies the idea that true strength isn’t just about raw power, but about spirit and technique.

Direct Comparison: Power Levels and Beyond

Let’s lay it out clearly. This isn’t really a close contest once you account for the entirety of Dragon Ball’s timeline.

Estimated Power Levels at Their Peaks:

As you can plainly see, Krillin surpassed Bardock during the Namek Saga, and by the time of Dragon Ball Super, the gap between them became astronomical. It’s not just about raw numbers anymore, but the entire scale of power in the Dragon Ball universe. The baseline for “strong” has been raised so incredibly high that even the most powerful fighters from Z-era are considered weak by Super standards, let alone pre-Z Saiyans.

Different Fighting Philosophies and Techniques

Beyond raw power levels, their combat styles differ significantly. Bardock relies on brute force, Saiyan aggression, and tactical combat experience gained from countless planetary conquests. He’s a brawler, using techniques like the Riot Javelin (a powerful Ki blast). His strength is in his directness and ferocity, a true warrior spirit.

Krillin, on the other hand, embodies the ingenuity of Earthling martial arts. He’s not as physically imposing, but he compensates with speed, agility, and a diverse range of techniques. The Destructo Disc (Kienzan) is an iconic move, capable of cutting through opponents far stronger than himself. His Solar Flare is a superb tactical move, and he’s incredibly quick-witted in battle. In Super, he often uses his intelligence and experience to outmaneuver or stun opponents that might have superior raw strength. He’s the ultimate example of “work smarter, not harder,” though he does work incredibly hard too!

The Evolution of Power Scaling in Dragon Ball

One of the biggest factors in this comparison is how power scaling has evolved throughout Dragon Ball. In the early days, specific power levels were a huge deal. They were how we understood a character’s strength relative to another. Vegeta’s scouter, Frieza’s various forms – it was all about the numbers.

However, as the series progressed, especially into Dragon Ball Z‘s later sagas and certainly by Dragon Ball Super, these numerical power levels became less and less relevant. Characters like Goku and Vegeta, with the introduction of Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3, and then God Ki forms like Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue, broke through any previously imaginable ceiling. The power creep became so immense that putting a number on it became meaningless. When characters can punch holes through dimensions or threaten universal destruction with their energy, what’s a “power level of a million” anymore?

This immense power inflation, while sometimes criticized, has a direct impact on Krillin. As a consistent trainee and participant in these newer, higher-stakes conflicts, he too has benefited from the raised “floor” of power. While he hasn’t reached godly levels, his base strength and Ki control have been elevated to a point where he’s operating in a realm that would have been incomprehensible to Bardock. The very air around Super Saiyan Blue Goku would crush someone with Bardock’s power level, yet Krillin can train with him, indicating his own proportional, if not equal, growth.

Why Krillin Surpasses Bardock: A Summary

Let’s consolidate the key reasons why Krillin, the Earthling underdog, ultimately outshines the Saiyan legend:

• Exponential Growth: Krillin’s power has grown consistently across multiple sagas, starting from Namek and reaching unprecedented levels in Dragon Ball Super. Bardock’s power peaked and was static in a much earlier, less powerful era.
• Potential Unlocks: Guru’s unlocking of Krillin’s potential provided a massive, permanent boost that put him beyond Bardock’s known power. Bardock had Zenkai boosts, but these were incremental compared to Guru’s unlock or the training methodologies in Super.
• Modern Training & Power-Ups: Krillin has benefited from training in a universe where power levels have shattered all previous limits. Sparring with God-level characters, overcoming mental blocks, and participating in events like the Tournament of Power have honed his abilities to an extreme degree. Bardock never had access to such advanced training or power amplification.
• Strategic Acumen & Techniques: Krillin’s mastery of unique techniques like the Destructo Disc and Solar Flare x100, combined with his sharp battle intellect, allows him to contend with foes far stronger than him. Bardock was a skilled fighter, but Krillin’s arsenal is more versatile and refined.
• Sheer Scale of Dragon Ball Super: The very existence of Dragon Ball Super means that even baseline characters in that era are orders of magnitude stronger than those from earlier sagas. Krillin operates within this new, higher power ceiling.

Krillin’s journey is a powerful narrative of perseverance. He might not have the Saiyan bloodline or their explosive transformations, but his human spirit, dedication to his training, and his love for his family and friends have propelled him to heights no one, not even a legendary Saiyan like Bardock, could ever reach.

Debunking Misconceptions

It’s natural to lean towards Bardock in this debate. After all, he’s a Saiyan, Goku’s dad, and he’s portrayed as a hardened warrior. These are compelling factors that make many believe he must be inherently superior. Let’s address some common arguments for Bardock:

“But Bardock is a Saiyan! Saiyans are naturally stronger than Earthlings!”

Absolutely true, *initially*. Saiyans do possess a natural warrior’s physique and the potential for incredible growth through Zenkai boosts and Super Saiyan transformations. However, Krillin’s journey perfectly illustrates that natural advantage isn’t the sole determinant of power in Dragon Ball. Through sheer hard work, unlocks, and access to more advanced training environments (relative to his time), Krillin has overcome this racial disparity. The “natural ceiling” for Earthlings, while lower than Saiyans, is still incredibly high when pushed.

“Bardock fought Frieza’s army! Krillin usually gets beaten up!”

Bardock’s fight against Frieza’s army and then Frieza himself was heroic, but it also highlights the limitations of his power. He was utterly decimated by Frieza’s single attack. Krillin, on Namek, briefly held his own against Frieza’s second form (which was far stronger than his first form that obliterated Bardock), even after being gravely injured. And in Super, Krillin is operating in a realm where he could easily handle Frieza’s original forms with little effort. His combat record in Super, especially in the Tournament of Power, shows him actively contributing to universal survival, not just getting “beaten up.”

The key here is perspective and timeline. Bardock was incredibly powerful *for his time*. Krillin, through continuous development across many sagas, has simply moved beyond that era’s power scale. It’s like comparing a top-of-the-line fighter jet from the 1950s to a modern stealth bomber – both are impressive for their era, but one is vastly more capable by contemporary standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bardock a Super Saiyan?

In the main, canon story of Dragon Ball, no, Bardock is not a Super Saiyan. He never achieved this transformation during his lifetime, and his power peaked before the concept of Super Saiyan was even introduced in the primary narrative. The only instance where Bardock becomes a Super Saiyan is in a non-canon OVA (Original Video Animation) titled “Episode of Bardock.” In this special, he’s sent back in time and transforms to defeat a predecessor of Frieza. While a fun “what if” scenario, this is not considered part of the main Dragon Ball continuity established by Akira Toriyama’s manga and the core anime series. Even if he were canon as a Super Saiyan, his power as a “Super Saiyan of the past” would still pale in comparison to the power levels attained by Krillin in Dragon Ball Super, given the extreme power creep.

Could Krillin beat Frieza’s original form from the Namek Saga in Dragon Ball Super?

Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt. By the time of Dragon Ball Super, Krillin has become exponentially stronger than he was during the Namek Saga. To put it simply, his power level in Super, while unquantified by numbers, allows him to spar with Base Form Goku, who himself possesses God Ki and is thousands, if not millions, of times stronger than Frieza’s original form. Frieza’s first form on Namek had a power level of 530,000. Krillin, after his potential unlock and near-death boost on Namek, was likely in the tens of thousands himself, allowing him to briefly contend with Frieza’s second form. Now, in Super, Krillin could effortlessly dispatch Frieza’s original form with a single Ki blast or a well-placed Destructo Disc. The power gap between Super-era Krillin and Namek-era Frieza is simply immense, favoring Krillin by a cosmic margin.

What’s Krillin’s strongest attack or technique?

Krillin possesses several incredibly potent techniques, but his strongest and most iconic is undoubtedly the Destructo Disc (Kienzan). This technique involves him creating a razor-sharp, spinning disc of Ki that can slice through almost anything, regardless of the target’s power level. It’s been shown to cut off Frieza’s tail and even graze his head. In Dragon Ball Super, Krillin further refines this technique, learning to create multiple discs simultaneously and control their trajectories, making it even more dangerous and versatile. While other techniques like the Solar Flare x100 are tactically brilliant for stunning opponents, the Destructo Disc remains his primary offensive tool capable of seriously injuring or eliminating even vastly stronger foes.

How much stronger is Krillin in Super compared to Z?

Krillin in Dragon Ball Super is incomprehensibly stronger than he ever was in Dragon Ball Z. During the Namek Saga, Krillin’s peak was likely in the high tens of thousands. By the end of DBZ (Buu Saga), he had surely grown further, but still remained a tier below the Super Saiyans. In DBS, however, his power has surged to a level that would place him in the “tens of millions” or potentially “hundreds of millions” range if we were to still use the old power level system, though such numbers become meaningless at this scale. His ability to spar with a Base Form Goku, who has God Ki and is capable of fighting universal threats, signifies a power boost that makes his DBZ self look like an ant. He’s not just stronger; he’s operating on an entirely different plane of existence within the Dragon Ball power hierarchy.

Did Bardock ever train with Whis or Beerus?

No, Bardock never had the opportunity to train with Beerus, the God of Destruction, or his Angel attendant, Whis. Their existence and their roles as divine mentors for mortals like Goku and Vegeta were only revealed much later in the Dragon Ball timeline, specifically in Dragon Ball Super. Bardock lived and died long before these cosmic entities became involved with Earth’s defenders. His training was limited to the brutal Saiyan combat methods and the challenges he faced conquering planets for Frieza. If Bardock had ever received training from Whis, his potential and power would undoubtedly have reached unfathomable heights, but unfortunately, that was never his fate.

Conclusion

So, the next time someone tries to tell you Krillin is just a weak Earthling, remember this deep dive into his journey. While Bardock holds a special, revered place in Dragon Ball lore as Goku’s father and a formidable Saiyan warrior from a bygone era, the cold hard truth, backed by the narrative progression and power scaling of the series, is that Krillin has long since surpassed him. Our bald hero has consistently defied expectations, pushed through his limitations, and proven that spirit, dedication, and cleverness can elevate even an underdog to stand among the strongest fighters in the universe. Krillin’s story isn’t just about power; it’s about the relentless pursuit of self-improvement and the indomitable will to protect what you love, making him, unequivocally, stronger than Bardock.