Piccolo, Krillin and Yamcha: The Z Fighters' Best Figures

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The Fighters Behind Goku and Vegeta

Goku and Vegeta get most of the shelf space, but no Dragon Ball collection feels complete without Piccolo, Krillin, and Yamcha. They are the original Z Fighters: the mentor, the loyal best friend, and the comeback martial artist. Their figures tell a different story from the Saiyans' story. Where Goku figures are about transformations and power, figures of these three are about character design, personality, and the long history of the series. This guide looks at each fighter's figure history in general terms, what makes a good figure of each one, and how to display the trio together.

Piccolo: The Quiet Powerhouse

Piccolo has one of the most distinctive designs in Dragon Ball, and that is exactly why his figures stand out. Green skin, pointed ears, antennae, a weighted cape, and a turban make him instantly recognizable even in silhouette. Early figures of Piccolo were relatively simple, but modern lines capture the weight of his cape, the calm of his expression, and the drama of his signature poses, from the Special Beam Cannon stance to his arms-folded mentor pose. When you judge a Piccolo figure, look at the skin tone first: it should be an even, rich green with clean paint around the eyes and mouth. Then check the cape and turban, because a stiff or poorly shaped cape can ruin an otherwise good sculpt. Later forms, including his fused and powered-up looks, give collectors more choice, but the classic capped Piccolo remains the essential version for most shelves.

Krillin: The Human Heart of the Team

Krillin is the shortest of the Z Fighters, and that is precisely what makes his figures tricky to get right. A good Krillin is instantly recognizable: a bald head with six small dots, an orange gi, and an expressive face that can shift from nervous to determined. Because he is small, a Krillin figure that is too tall looks wrong the moment you place him next to Goku, so scale matters more for him than for almost any other character. The best Krillin figures nail his proportions, give him clean dots and crisp gi folds, and include expressive alternate faces or his Destructo Disc effect. Collectors often overlook Krillin, but a good Krillin anchors a group display: he shows the true scale of the team and adds warmth and humor that a shelf of scowling Saiyans cannot.

Yamcha: The Comeback Character

Yamcha is the comeback character of the Z Fighters, and his figure history reflects that. He has worn more looks than most of the cast: the long-haired desert bandit of the early series, the short-haired Z-era fighter, and the baseball uniform of his later appearances. Because Yamcha gets fewer figures than Goku or Vegeta, each release matters more, and collectors tend to remember the good ones. His Wolf Fang Fist fighting style is acrobatic, so poseable figures suit him particularly well, while statues tend to capture one confident moment, often with his scar and smirk on full display. When you judge a Yamcha figure, look at the hair sculpt first, then the gi and the pose. A Yamcha that looks relaxed and confident is a Yamcha that looks right.

Displaying the Trio Together

The three fighters look best as a group, and the key is keeping them in the same line and scale. Piccolo should be the tallest, Yamcha in the middle, and Krillin clearly the shortest: that height order is what sells the display. Place Piccolo slightly behind the other two, arms folded, and let Krillin and Yamcha take dynamic fighting poses in front. If you collect poseable figures, angle them as if they are facing the same opponent, which gives the shelf a story. If you collect statues, choose poses that share a similar energy, so the trio reads as one team rather than three unrelated figures that happen to stand together.

What to Look For Before You Buy

Start by deciding whether you want articulation or a fixed statue, because the trio exists in both forms and the experience is very different. Then check the accessories: a Piccolo with a charging energy effect, a Krillin with a Destructo Disc, or a Yamcha with alternate hands will display far better than a bare figure. Study the paint on small details, especially Krillin's dots, Piccolo's eyes, and Yamcha's scar, because sloppy paint shows up fast at display distance. Finally, check authenticity carefully. Popular trio sets and well-known figures of these three are frequently bootlegged, so compare the sculpt, paint, and packaging with official product photos and buy from sources you trust.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is buying the three fighters in mismatched scales, so Krillin towers over Piccolo or Yamcha looks like a different character entirely. Always check the height and the line before you buy. A second mistake is skipping Krillin and Yamcha altogether and ending up with a shelf of Gokus and Vegetas that all look alike. A third mistake is chasing a single rare version of one character while ignoring a strong, widely available version that displays just as well. Start with the classic look of each fighter, keep the scale consistent, and let the trio grow together over time.

Piccolo, Krillin, and Yamcha are the soul of the Z Fighters, and their figures reward collectors who pay attention to character. Get Piccolo's presence right, get Krillin's scale right, and get Yamcha's confidence right, and the three of them will make every Goku and Vegeta on your shelf look better.