Dragon Ball: 7 Badass Goku Moments That Prove He’s the Strongest

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Throughout the many years of Dragon Ball, Goku has consistently shown incredible strength and had some truly epic moments, solidifying his place as one of the most powerful fighters ever. The series began over 40 years ago in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, created by Akira Toriyama, and has since become a huge phenomenon. The original manga was a big hit with fans, and that popularity has continued with new anime series, movies, video games, and other exciting releases, all filled with unforgettable scenes.

Goku is at the heart of many of the most iconic scenes in the series, largely because he consistently strives to surpass his own limitations. Throughout the show, he’s faced powerful opponents – both allies and enemies – and repeatedly demonstrated his incredible strength. Here are seven particularly impressive moments that prove he’s among the most powerful characters ever.

7). Goku Defeats Vegeta the First Time

The Saiyan Saga was a fantastic start to Dragon Ball Z, immediately showcasing Goku at his most impressive. While his return from death and quick defeat of Nappa were exciting, the highlight was definitely his battle with Vegeta. That fight truly demonstrated the full extent of Goku’s power and abilities.

After his death, Goku trained with King Kai and became significantly more powerful. He discovered new limits to his strength and ki, reaching levels that would define his future battles. This initial defeat marked the beginning of a powerful new phase for Goku.

6). Goku Finally Wins the World Tournament

The World Tournament arcs in early Dragon Ball were consistently exciting, but Goku surprisingly never actually won one. Sometimes Master Roshi intervened to prevent Goku from becoming overconfident, and other times, unfair rules cost him the victory, even when he was the stronger fighter. However, his final battle against Piccolo Jr. was a high point – Goku had never looked more confident and capable, marking the end of a great era for the series.

Goku surpassed his previous limits, using everything he’d learned to prove just how powerful he’d become. This incredible achievement could have been the perfect ending to his story, but his journey continued beyond this point.

5). Goku Debuts Super Saiyan 3 for the First Time

Throughout the Dragon Ball series, Goku has many impressive Super Saiyan transformations, but the first time we saw Super Saiyan 3 stands out as particularly epic. It happened during a somewhat strange part of the Majin Buu arc, and while the transformation drains Goku’s energy quickly, it’s a moment fans still remember vividly. A big reason for this is how drastically different it looked compared to previous Super Saiyan forms. Plus, it was a power unique to Goku for a long time – Vegeta didn’t achieve his own version for many years, making it all the more awesome.

4). Goku’s Ultimate Spirit Bomb

Throughout the Dragon Ball series, Goku used the Spirit Bomb several times, but the fight against Majin Buu showcased its most powerful use. This Spirit Bomb wasn’t just the largest he’d ever created – drawing energy from across the universe – it was the only way to truly destroy Majin Buu, completely eliminating him. Despite the immense effort and trouble Buu caused, Goku remarkably hoped to battle him again someday. Ironically, this desire was indirectly fulfilled through a student he briefly trained, who is never mentioned again after that.

3). Goku Transforms Into Ultra Instinct for the First Time

Throughout the Dragon Ball series, Goku has become incredibly powerful, but Ultra Instinct was a game-changer. It was the first truly major new transformation in decades, taking his power to a completely different level. Unlike previous ‘Super’ forms, Ultra Instinct was unlike anything Goku had achieved before. He’d been working towards it, but he finally unlocked the transformation thanks to the energy from a Spirit Bomb.

This was a truly incredible moment, and the first time we’d seen anything like it. It happened during a special double-length episode of Dragon Ball Super, and the new form Goku achieved was so powerful that even the gods showed their respect. It completely changed Goku – and the entire Dragon Ball Super series – forever.

2). Goku Sacrifices Himself the First Time

Throughout the Dragon Ball series, Goku has faced death several times, but his first truly impactful death remains the most memorable. While he nearly died fighting King Piccolo and witnessed the deaths of friends, this experience was different. Dying in this instance transported Goku to a completely new realm, and it was through this experience that he gained the strength to become the powerful warrior he always aspired to be.

Goku’s willingness to sacrifice himself, choosing to protect everyone else even at the cost of his own life, is what made that moment so powerful. He’s made similar selfless decisions many times, but this first instance – taking Piccolo’s attack to save the Earth – was truly the most impressive.

1). Goku Transforms Into Super Saiyan for the First Time

One of the most iconic moments in the Dragon Ball series is undoubtedly Goku’s first transformation into a Super Saiyan. Even with all the more powerful forms he’s achieved since then, nothing compares to the impact and sheer coolness of that very first change. It truly revolutionized everything about the series.

Goku’s first Super Saiyan transformation was a pivotal moment, not just for the future of Dragon Ball – where power levels continued to escalate – but for anime as a whole. It sparked a trend of impressive and powerful transformations, and it all began with that iconic scene. It was truly a game-changer.

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2025-11-11 04:11