Dragon Ball Super shot onto screens in 2015, reigniting the worldwide phenomenon that Akira Toriyama built decades earlier. With divine transformations, multiverse tournaments, and fan-favorite characters returning to the spotlight, the series delivered some of the most breathtaking battles in franchise history. Yet woven between the high-stakes showdowns are episodes that step away from the primary plot lines—commonly labeled as filler. For many viewers, these detours spark a familiar debate: are they an enjoyable breather or a frustrating pause? To understand their role, we first need to see how Dragon Ball Super’s unique production sets it apart from a typical manga adaptation.

What Are Filler Episodes?

In anime, filler refers to original content created for the broadcast version that does not appear in the source manga. Studios often insert filler to let the manga run further ahead, preventing the anime from catching up. Filler can take the form of self-contained comedy episodes, extended training sequences, or entire arcs that explore side characters. While some filler seamlessly enriches the world, other stretches feel disconnected from the narrative’s momentum.

Dragon Ball Super, however, complicates this definition because its anime and manga were produced in parallel, each drawing from rough outlines provided by Toriyama but executed independently. That means the anime rarely adapted pages directly; almost every episode was built for television first. As a result, the line between "canon" and "filler" becomes fuzzier, and many episodes that feel like side stories are technically part of the anime’s own continuity.

The Unique Production of Dragon Ball Super

To appreciate why filler lands the way it does in Super, it helps to look at how the series came together. After the success of the movies Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’, Toei Animation launched a weekly series that retold those films across its first 27 episodes. From the Universe 6 Tournament arc onward, the anime moved into wholly original territory while artist Toyotarou simultaneously crafted a separate manga for V Jump. Toriyama supplied the core plot beats, but the two mediums diverged in pacing, character moments, and entire subplots.

Because the anime was not directly adapting the manga page-by-page, some arcs that fans label as filler are actually expansive television-original narratives. The Copy-Vegeta mini-arc, the baseball episode, and many of the pre-Tournament of Power recruitment vignettes never existed in Toyotarou’s version, but they still nurtured the anime’s own tone. This dual-production model means that "filler" in Dragon Ball Super often carries more creative weight than in a traditional adaptation, blending canon-worthy character growth with pure entertainment.

A Comprehensive Look at Dragon Ball Super Filler Episodes

Online filler guides try to split Super’s run into essential and non-essential viewing, though the categories remain open to interpretation. Generally, the anime-original episodes that don’t advance the main conflict fall into two broad groups: the Copy-Vegeta arc and the extended lead-up to the Tournament of Power. Here is a detailed breakdown of the most widely recognized filler episodes, with context for each segment.

The Copy-Vegeta Arc (Episodes 42–46)

After the Universe 6 tournament concludes, the anime pivots to a lighthearted yet action-packed diversion on Planet Potaufeu. A sentient liquid called Commeson copies Vegeta’s abilities and appearance, creating an evil duplicate that threatens the heroes. This arc is pure anime filler—it does not appear in the manga and has no lasting consequences on the plot. However, it offers playful Vegeta family moments, gives Gotenks a chance to shine, and experiments with a villain that mirrors one of the show’s most iconic fighters. For fans who enjoy Vegeta’s softer side, these episodes are a charming bonus.

Pre-Tournament of Power Episodes (68–76)

When the anime entered the Universal Survival Saga, it faced the challenge of building suspense for the Tournament of Power while the manga was still developing its version of the same story. The result was a string of episodes that explored life on Earth, reintroduced classic side characters, and leaned into comedy. Episodes 68 through 76 are almost universally considered filler, even though some moments—like Krillin reclaiming his fighting spirit—feel important for the arcs that follow.

  • Episode 68 — "Come Forth, Shenron! Whose Wish Shall Be Granted?!" Various characters wish for trivial things, and the episode lovingly pokes fun at the mechanics of the Dragon Balls.
  • Episode 69 — "Goku vs. Arale! A Ridiculous Battle Will End the Earth?!" A crossover with Dr. Slump brings Arale back and turns logic on its head, delivering one of the funniest half-hours in Super.
  • Episode 70 — "A Challenge from Champa! This Time We Fight With Baseball!!" When Universe 6’s God of Destruction challenges Universe 7 to a baseball game, the episode becomes a showcase for Yamcha’s neglected skills and some absurd divine cheating.
  • Episode 71 — "The Death of Goku! The Assassination Order That Must Be Carried Out" Hit is hired to kill Goku, leading to a tense but ultimately non-canon rematch that tests Goku’s instincts.
  • Episode 72 — "Will There Be a Counterattack?! The Invisible Killing Strike!!" The Hit assassination plot concludes with Goku deducing how to counter time-skip techniques, though the events are never referenced again.
  • Episode 73 — "Gohan, Do Your Badly! Great Saiyaman, an Unprecedented Movie Disaster!" Gohan’s superhero persona lands a movie deal, and the filming goes ridiculously wrong, offering a meta-commentary on tokusatsu tropes.
  • Episode 74 — "For the Sake of Those He Loves! The Invincible Great Saiyaman!" Gohan and Videl confront a wannabe actor-turned-terrorist while Barry Kahn tries to ruin Gohan’s reputation. The episode doubles as a family story for the Son household.
  • Episode 75 — "Goku and Krillin’s Training — Back to the Old Days" Goku drags Krillin back to Master Roshi’s island to rekindle his friend’s fighting edge, revisiting the emotional bond that defined their friendship in Dragon Ball.
  • Episode 76 — "Defeat Your Formidable Foes! Krillin’s Fighting Spirit Has Returned!" Krillin faces his lingering fear in a psychological forest, emerging ready for the tournament. While the anime treats this as a turning point, the manga skips these events entirely.

The Recruitment Arc (Episodes 77–96)

Although the recruitment phase is not always categorized strictly as filler, the anime dedicates nearly twenty episodes to assembling Team Universe 7 and introducing fighters from other universes. The manga covers the equivalent material in a couple of chapters, so the expanded screen time counts as anime-original expansion. Episodes like 77 (Vegeta’s decision to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber while protecting his family), 79–81 (the exhibition match against Universe 9’s Trio of Danger), and 88–89 (Gohan’s training with Piccolo and the reconnection with his ultimate form) flesh out character motivations, but they also dilute the narrative thrust for viewers eager to reach the main event. The line here blurs because these episodes reflect Toriyama’s broad outline while devouring airtime that could have been compressed.

The Purpose of Filler: More Than Just Padding

Labeling all anime-original episodes as empty padding overlooks what they bring to the series. Dragon Ball Super’s filler often carries latent storytelling functions that reward long-time fans.

Character Development Outside Combat

When the narrative is nothing but fights, personalities can flatten into power-scaling numbers. Filler offers space to show Vegeta’s devotion as a father, Krillin’s post-traumatic anxiety, and Gohan’s struggle to balance academia with heroism. Episode 74, for instance, lets us see Videl’s protective instincts and Gohan’s awkwardness in civilian life. Episode 75 taps into the nostalgia of Turtle School training, reminding viewers why Goku values Krillin beyond his battle power. These moments don’t raise anyone’s power level, but they deepen the emotional stakes that make later fights meaningful.

Humor and Slice-of-Life Charm

Dragon Ball has always been a martial arts comedy, and Super’s filler excels at bringing back that original spirit. The baseball episode (70) is a perfect example: Yamcha finally gets to be competent, Beerus cheats outrageously, and the whole premise pokes fun at the absurdity of gods playing a human sport. Episode 69’s Arale crossover lets Toriyama’s gag-manga roots run wild, ignoring power scaling entirely in favor of slapstick. Such episodes provide a pressure release, especially before the intense tournament arcs, and they often become fan favorites precisely because they remember that Dragon Ball is allowed to be silly.

World-Building Across Universes

Although the main plot introduces multiple universes, filler episodes give them texture. Universe 6’s Champa and Vados appear in the baseball game, hinting at the sibling rivalry between gods. The recruitment arc lets us visit Universe 9’s desolate landscape, meet Universe 11’s Pride Troopers, and watch Universe 2’s magical-girl warriors rehearse for the stage. This expanded exposure makes the Tournament of Power feel like a convergence of cultures rather than a checklist of disposable opponents. Without the anime-original interludes, those worlds would feel far more two-dimensional.

How Filler Shapes the Pacing and Narrative Flow

Filler’s greatest variable is pacing. In a weekly broadcast, a comedic detour can feel refreshing after a brutal fight, but an extended run of side stories during a high-tension arc can test patience. Dragon Ball Super’s pre-tournament stretch exemplifies the double-edged impact: episodes 68–76 are individually entertaining, yet collectively they delay the promised Tournament of Power, leading some fans to complain of sluggish momentum.

The impact shifts depending on how you consume the show. Weekly viewers who waited seven days for a baseball gag after a year of buildup sometimes felt cheated. Binge-watchers, on the other hand, can appreciate the lighter episodes as palette cleansers between major events. The anime’s home-release schedule and streaming platforms have softened the historical irritation with filler, making it easier to skip or savor at will.

The Fan Debate: Essential Viewing or Skippable Fluff?

Few topics divide the Dragon Ball community as cleanly as filler. On one side, purists argue that Super’s anime-original episodes dilute the story that Toriyama intended, padding the runtime to meet a weekly quota. They point to arcs like Copy-Vegeta, which ultimately changes nothing for the main cast, and to the assassination subplot with Hit, which pretends to raise the stakes only to reset them entirely.

On the other side, a passionate segment of the fandom celebrates these episodes as a return to the character-driven comedy of early Dragon Ball. For them, seeing the Z Fighters interact during peacetime, and watching Goku do something other than transform and scream, revitalizes the franchise. The Great Saiyaman movie disaster (73) and Krillin’s forest-of-fear (76) may not be mandatory canon, but they provide emotional texture that a manga fight panel cannot.

Top 5 Must-Watch Filler Episodes in Dragon Ball Super

If you’re looking to filter Super’s filler down to its highlights, these episodes stand out for humor, heart, or sheer creativity. Each one rewards fans who know the cast’s history.

  1. Episode 70 (Baseball Game) – A universally beloved comedic masterpiece that lets Yamcha triumph, Beerus sulk, and every character get a moment to shine.
  2. Episode 69 (Goku vs. Arale) – A chaotic love letter to Toriyama’s earlier work, proving that gag characters can defeat any power scaling.
  3. Episode 75 (Training with Krillin) – A heartfelt tribute to friendship that revisits the simplicity of Master Roshi’s island and grounds the series emotionally.
  4. Episode 74 (Great Saiyaman vs. Barry Kahn) – A rare glimpse into Gohan and Videl’s married life, blending superhero parody with genuine family warmth.
  5. Episodes 42–46 (Copy-Vegeta Arc) – An action-comedy mini-saga that gives Gotenks, Monaka, and Vegeta’s pride center stage while delivering a unique enemy concept.

Filler, Canon, and the Future of the Series

As Dragon Ball Super continues with new films and the manga moving into untold storylines, the role of anime-original content will evolve. The announcement of upcoming anime projects raises the question: will future adaptations stick more tightly to Toyotarou’s pages, or will they again forge their own path? Given the franchise’s history, a balance between faithfulness and expansion seems likely.

Understanding Super’s filler episodes means accepting that the anime is its own entity. The Copy-Vegeta arc, the baseball game, and Krillin’s resurrection of his fighting spirit might never appear in another format, but they live in the memories of fans who experienced them weekly. To dismiss them entirely is to ignore the playful, human side of Dragon Ball that made the series a global touchstone in the first place.

For those mapping out a watchlist, resources like animefillerlist.com offer episode-by-episode breakdowns, and streaming services such as Crunchyroll make it easy to skip or revisit these side stories at your own pace. In the end, filler in Dragon Ball Super is less about wasted time and more about a different flavor of storytelling—one that reminds us why we care about these characters beyond their power levels.