Pilaf Gang

Original villains seeking world domination with the power of the Dragon Balls.

The Pilaf Gang is a criminal organization led by Emperor Pilaf. The group consists of Pilaf and his two loyal henchmen, Mai and Shu. They are driven by a desire for world domination and pursue the Dragon Balls to achieve this goal. Their pursuit of the Dragon Balls makes them an obstacle for Goku and his allies. They are the primary antagonists during the early chapters of the Dragon Ball manga, which are covered by the first anime adaptation.

Quick Facts

Leader: Emperor Pilaf
Core members: Mai, Shu
Primary goal: World Domination via Dragon Balls

Lore & Background

The Pilaf Gang is led by Emperor Pilaf, with Mai and Shu as his henchmen. Their primary goal is world domination, which they seek to achieve by gathering the seven Dragon Balls to summon the dragon and make a wish. They appear in the Dragon Ball anime, which covers the first 194 chapters of the manga. After initially succeeding in obtaining the Dragon Balls, they are foiled when Oolong's wish is granted by Shenron just before Pilaf can say his. The gang reappears periodically throughout the series, always attempting to seize power. They rely on technology and schemes rather than martial arts.

Reader's Guide

The Pilaf Gang operates with Emperor Pilaf, a small impish blue creature who dreams of ruling the world, as its leader. His two minions are Shu, a humanoid dog in a ninja outfit, and Mai, a woman who resorts to weaponry and technology. Their primary objective is to locate all seven Dragon Balls and summon Shenron to wish for global control. In the early episodes of Dragon Ball they obtain the Dragon Balls, but Oolong interrupts Pilaf's wish for world conquest with his own: a pair of underpants. They return to antagonize Goku a few more times, when they attempt to obtain the Dragon Balls again and when they release King Piccolo from his confinement.