This article contains all of Goku's best moments from the canon series, so those from GT and Super Dragon Ball Heroes aren't included.
Throughout the entire anime industry, there is perhaps no character who is more iconic and beloved than the protagonist of Dragon Ball, Son Goku. What initially started as a kids' cartoon series eventually morphed into one of the most successful and recognizable media properties of all time that has inspired generations, and this is in no small part thanks to Goku himself.
Throughout the Dragon Ball franchise, naturally, Goku has been a part of almost all the most important moments to ever occur in the series. Because of this, the list of his accomplishments is long and varied, but a few instances stand out above the rest in terms of how crucial they are, not only for Goku and Dragon Ball, but for the entire anime industry as a whole. So, let's take a look at the best Goku moments of all time.
Dragon Ball: Why Gogeta Is A Better Fusion Than Vegito
The debate about the superior Goku and Vegeta fusion has been ongoing for years, but one simple fact places Gogeta as the better option!
Goku Defeating King Piccolo Was The Highest Point Of His Initial Journey
A Legendary Fight
|
Occurrence |
Dragon Ball, Episode 122, "Final Showdown" |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
King Piccolo Saga |
- The highlight of the original Dragon Ball series.
The original Dragon Ball series did not place the same amount of importance on world-ending stakes as Z and Super did, but it often did have moments such as these, and none were more prevalent than with Demon King Piccolo. This villain was Goku's greatest adversary in Dragon Ball, and he was hell-bent on taking over the world and ruling over it as a tyrannical king.
That's the problem with the human race. No respect... For the superior species!
His strength was quite formidable as well, since he managed to defeat all of Earth's mightiest warriors who stood in the way of him achieving this goal. However, only Goku was left as his major opposition at the end, where the young Saiyan proved to be powerful and skilled enough to defeat the Demon King by punching straight through the villain in perhaps the most iconic scene of the original Dragon Ball series.
Goku vs. The Ginyu Force Goes Down As One Of His Greatest Battles
A Humiliating Defeat For The Ginyu Force
|
Occurrence |
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 66, "Goku's New Power" |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Namek Saga |
- This showed how strong Goku had gotten.
Very similar to the original battle against Nappa and Vegeta in the Saiyan Saga, the heroes' adventures on Namek saw them going up against foes far stronger than themselves. This was the Ginyu Force, the elite of Frieza's underlings who greatly dwarfed Gohan, Krillin, and Vegeta in power, so the heroes were very quickly overwhelmed by their incredible strength.
Recoome! Burter! Jeice! Guldo! Ginyu! Together we are... The Ginyu Force!
However, this power superiority wouldn't last long, since Goku's arrival on Namek immediately changed the tide of battle. Due to his training in 100x Earth's gravity on his way to Namek, Goku became far stronger and faster than he had ever been before, to the point where he managed to defeat the entirety of the Ginyu Force on his own. This showed a massive change in the series as a whole, as Goku showed exactly why he was such a powerhouse.
Dragon Ball: Gohan Beast Is A Bad Transformation, And Here's Why
Beast was a really cool form that finally made Gohan relevant again, but everything considered, it's not a good transformation for Dragon Ball!
Super Saiyan 3 Allowed Goku To Go Even Further Beyond Against Buu
The Ultimate Saiyan Power
|
Occurrence |
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 245, "Super Saiyan 3?!" |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Buu Saga |
- This showed how essential Goku's training in Otherworld was.
At the close of the Cell Saga, Gohan had established himself as the strongest in the universe with his Super Saiyan 2 transformation. However, this wouldn't last very long as Goku and Vegeta unlocked this form for themselves as well, and the villains from later on in the story got even stronger, forcing the heroes to unlock further stages in their power. However, none could match up to Goku's power-up, which came in the form of Super Saiyan 3.
And this... Is to go... Even further beyond!
This transformation is remembered as one of the greatest in the entire series since it shook the entire universe due to Goku's incredible power output. It eventually led to the most interesting and different-looking Super Saiyan form that the series had up to that point, and though it greatly sapped away at Goku's remaining time on Earth, it proved to be one of the highlights of the franchise as a whole.
The Awakening Of Ultra Instinct Is One Of The Franchise's Best Moments
Goku's Ultimate Form
|
Occurrence |
Dragon Ball Super, Episode 129, "A Transcendent Limit Break! Autonomous Ultra Instinct Mastered!" |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Tournament of Power Arc |
- Goku awakened the technique of the Angels.
Ultra Instinct was first teased a long time before Goku even awakened his version of it, in the very first episode of Super. Throughout the series, before the Tournament of Power started, little tidbits of information kept being given about the form, subtly teasing that Goku would eventually unlock it without giving anything away. Eventually, he awakened this powerful technique within himself, though not completely at first.
Look at that brilliant form... There can be no doubt! This is the true power, complete in all its majesty! This is... Autonomous Ultra Instinct!
Although he was far stronger than everyone, except for Jiren, initially, Ultra Instinct Sign wasn't very efficient, meaning that Goku still had a long way to go with this state. Later on in the arc, however, Goku mastered this incredible transformation, marking him as the first and only mortal to house the technique of the Angels of the multiverse within him and cementing himself as the strongest mortal in the entire Tournament of Power. The scene of him unlocking the form and being revered by all the Destroyer Gods was absolutely incredible to witness.
Dragon Ball Super: The Most Important Characters in the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga, Ranked
The Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga, or more commonly known as the Moro arc, had many great characters, but who was the most important?
Nothing Will Ever Top Goku's First Time Going Super Saiyan Against Frieza
The Most Iconic Scene In Anime
|
Occurrence |
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 95, "Transformed at Last" |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Frieza Saga |
- Arguably the most iconic anime moment of all time.
Throughout every genre and franchise, there often stands a single moment that perfectly captures the essence of the series. While Goku's first transformation into a Super Saiyan undoubtedly does this for Dragon Ball, many even argue that this may be the single most iconic and important moment in the anime industry as a whole. Through this one instance, Akira Toriyama inadvertently changed the entire art form and steered its growth for the better, as transformations are now a staple of the genre.
I am the hope of the universe! I am the answer to all living things who cry out for peace. I am protector of the innocent. I am the light in the darkness. I am truth. Ally to good... Nightmare to you.
After taking a lot of damage in his battle with Frieza, Goku eventually saw the Galactic Tyrant kill his childhood best friend, Krillin. In doing so, however, Frieza awoke a rage inside Goku unlike anything that he had ever seen before, one that called back to the unbridled strength and fury of his ancestors. Through this, Goku became the first Super Saiyan in centuries and the ultimate nightmare for Frieza, while, at the same time, the greatest hope of the entire universe.
Dragon Ball can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
One Piece: This Logia May Have Been A God Fruit All Along
While there are many powerful Devil Fruits throughout the series, there is only one that is considered the perfect counter to all others!
Dragon Ball Z
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1989 - 1996
