The strongest Earthlings in Dragonball

The strongest Earthlings in Dragon Ball Z always spark debate because “Earthling” here means an 100% human, born on Earth (so no Saiyans, Namekians, Androids, or hybrids). Even without crazy transformations, these characters reached incredible levels through training, technique, and sheer grit.

1) Uub

Appears in DB GT, the Earthling who is the reincarnation of the terrible Majin Buu, being the Earthling with the greatest potential in the history of Dragonball.

2) Krillin
In DBZ, the common consensus is that Krillin is the strongest human. He trained under Master Roshi, then with Kami, fought Vegeta and Nappa, and on Namek had his potential unlocked by Guru. He also bridges power gaps with deadly techniques—his Destructo Disc (Kienzan) is one of the most dangerous moves in the series, capable of cutting opponents far above his weight class.

3) Tien Shinhan
If Krillin represents overall strength, Tien is the “specialist.” He lives in constant training and has an absurd toolkit: the Tri-Beam (Kikoho/Shin Kikoho), Solar Flare, and strong aerial combat. In terms of discipline and raw grind, he’s the human who stays the most committed to the warrior path throughout DBZ.

4) Master Roshi
In DBZ he fights less on the front lines, but he’s impossible to ignore: he’s the foundation of everyone’s early training. Even if he isn’t the strongest by DBZ-era power levels, he remains one of the most dangerous humans thanks to experience, fight IQ, and technique mastery.

5) Yamcha
He became a meme, but in DBZ he’s still an above-average human fighter, trained by Roshi and later by Kami. He ranks below Krillin and Tien, yet remains among the top Earth-born humans.

Conclusion:
If you want the direct answer, the most accepted DBZ ranking is Krillin #1, Tien #2, then Master Roshi/Yamcha depending on whether you prioritize legacy and technique or raw combat power. And that’s the point: humans don’t win because of their “race”—they win through technique, creativity, and heart.