Akira Toriyama created one of the shonen genre’s greatest protagonists with Dragon Ball’s Goku. Goku has proven himself to be courageous, selfless, and deeply dedicated to his craft, but he’s also grown progressively stronger to the point that he’s now more powerful than several Gods. Goku’s overwhelming strength has even become an occasional problem for Dragon Ball as it struggles to introduce new adversaries who can trump the Saiyan’s strength.
Goku’s power and abilities aren’t going anywhere, but his current accomplishments put greater value on his past defeats and setbacks. Goku has been bested by some incredibly strong enemies, like Vegeta and Cell, but even relatively weak characters have managed to get the upper hand against Goku.
10 Yajirobe Is A Coward Who Holds His Own Against A Young Goku
Dragon Ball, Episode 105, "Here Comes Yajirobe"
To be fair, Goku’s first encounter with Yajirobe in the original Dragon Ball concludes in a draw rather than Goku’s outright defeat. That being said, Goku still doesn’t manage to defeat Yajirobe and their clash is quickly followed up by Yajriobe making swift work of Cymbal, one of Demon King Piccolo’s Dark Vassals. Dragon Ball Z fans are used to viewing Yajirobe as a weak, cowardly, and reluctant human.
He’s introduced in the original series with a surprising degree of strength, especially when he’s got his trusted blade in tow. Anyone who’s able to slice someone like Cymbal in half clearly has some impressive skills. Yajirobe just doesn’t really refine his assets after the original Dragon Ball. Goku and Yajirobe first come to blows because Goku mistakenly presumes that he’s working for Tambourine. It’s a short fight, but one where Goku is still humbled by someone who’s significantly inferior to him.
9 Yamcha Makes An Excellent First Impression During His Duel Against Goku
Dragon Ball, Episode 5, “Yamcha The Desert Bandit”
Yamcha has become Dragon Ball’s greatest punchline, but learned to cut his losses & shift gears from martial arts and saving the world to a career in baseball. Yamcha’s human limitations increasingly get in the way during Dragon Ball Z, yet the original Dragon Ball is a series where humans can confidently dominate on the battlefield. Yamcha is surprisingly intimidating when Goku first meets him and his desert bandit persona in Dragon Ball’s earliest episodes. Goku and Yamcha are responsible for Dragon Ball’s first full-length fight and it’s a suspenseful endeavor.
Goku lands some solid strikes on his opponent, courtesy of his Power Pole, but Yamcha’s Wolf Fang Fist is an impressive special attack that knocks Goku out and puts him on the defensive. Goku and Yamcha’s fight gets interrupted when Bulma enters the scene and causes Yamcha to get exceedingly distracted and embarrassed. However, it’s very likely that Yamcha would have won the fight if it continued. It’s also worth addressing that Yamcha technically beats Goku – while he’s in his rampaging Great Ape form – with the help of Puar, Oolong, and Bulma, when Puar cuts off Goku’s tail and ends his destructive ways.
8 General Blue Dominates Goku With His Telekinetic Techniques
Dragon Ball, Episode 53, "Blue, Black And Blue"
Goku's quest for the Dragon Balls makes him a target to the collective forces of the Red Ribbon Army. General Blue is one of the organization's fiercest fighters and has absolutely zero qualms with murdering children. A fierce battle breaks out in Pirate Cave where General Blue initially beats up Krillin. Goku steps in to defend his friend, but faces his own share of setbacks.
Goku and General Blue evenly trade physical blows (although Goku holds the advantage in the manga), only for General Blue to undergo a bulky physical transformation and make use of a dangerous telekinetic attack, Psychic Eyes, which transfixes Goku and makes him an easy target. General Blue also gains a shotgun and is ready to finish Goku off with the weapon until he's distracted by a mouse and Goku succeeds in disabling General Blue's powerful ability through juvenile tricks. Pirate Cave's collapse breaks up their fight, but the two have a proper rematch later -- with Dr. Slump's Arale Norimaki lending help, no less -- that goes more in Goku's favor.
7 Tambourine Sets A Scary Precedent When It Comes To King Piccolo’s Demon Fighters
Dragon Ball, Episode 103, "Tambourine Attacks!"
Demon King Piccolo sets a new status quo for Dragon Ball villains and instills a true sense of danger into the series as it begins to mature. King Piccolo is a seismic foe, but he first subjects Goku and company to his demonic Dark Vassals. Tambourine executes Krillin, which understandably ignites an intense rage in Goku for revenge. Goku rushes to take on Tambourine, but his efforts fall short. Goku launches a fast and furious attack against the airborne Tambourine, courtesy of his Flying Nimbus.
Tambourine's Mouth Energy Wave destroys Goku's Nimbus in a devastating turn of events. Goku attempts to save face and shoulder his fall with his Power Pole, but Tambourine retaliates and bombards Goku with a series of brutal blows that are so intense, the villain assumes Goku is dead. Goku miraculously survives the attack and eliminates this threat five episodes later in “Goku’s Revenge.”
6 Mercenary Tao Is An Evil Assassin Out For Blood
Dragon Ball, Episode 60, “Tao Attacks!”
It takes some time for death to properly rear its head in the original Dragon Ball. Mercenary Tao, the Red Ribbon Army's signature assassin, is a distinct enemy because he's so dedicated to killing others. Goku engages in combat with Tao Pai Pai, shortly after the assassin kills Bora, Upa's father. Mercenary Tao's strength is on a whole other level than Goku and the boy doesn't get very far in this fight. Not only does Tao effectively dodge all of Goku's physical attacks, he's barely hurt by a direct hit from his Kamehameha.
Tao responds with his own intense energy attack, the Dodon Ray, which defeats Goku and would have killed him if not for the conveniently placed Dragon Ball shielding his heart from the attack. Goku's defeat by Tao is a terrifying moment for the hero, but it becomes the catalyst for Goku's training on Korin Tower, where he gains incredible strength and skills. Goku, in the span of only a few days, becomes powerful enough to beat Mercenary Tao in Episode 64, “The Last of Mercenary Tao.” It’s a testament to how much stronger Goku can become when he’s properly committed to a cause.
5 Earth’s Guardian, Kami, Shows His Skills Against An Eager Goku
Dragon Ball, Episode 125, "Earth's Guardian Emerges"
Some of the original Dragon Ball's most satisfying material is set during the heroes' training period as they prepare for the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. Goku separates from his friends and commits to growing stronger at Kami's Lookout. He begins to train with Mr. Popo, which proves to be a taxing exercise. However, Goku faces even greater struggles when he briefly takes on Kami.
Goku initially mistakens Kami for Demon King Piccolo -- which is understandable, considering that they're both ancient Namekians who used to share a body -- and launches an attack on him. Kami pulls off some impressive psychic attacks that completely neutralize Goku. This doesn't become a full-on fight, but it's clear that Kami holds the advantage and is stronger than Goku. He tells the boy to continue to train with Mr. Popo in order to eliminate his weaknesses and become stronger.
4 Raditz Introduces Dragon Ball’s Heroes To New Terror
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 5, "Gohan's Rage"
The original Dragon Ball is full of deadly villains, but Dragon Ball Z immediately raises the stakes by introducing Saiyans, an alien warrior race with a history of planetary conquests. Raditz is the first Saiyan in Dragon Ball Z and reveals to Goku that he’s the hero’s brother and that he too is a Saiyan. Raditz is so powerful that he forces Goku and Piccolo to work together for the first time. Even as a team, Raditz continues to overpower Goku and his ally.
Goku devises a controversial strategy that secures Raditz’s defeat, but at the cost of his own life. Goku restrains Raditz so Piccolo’s Special Beam Cannon can take out the villain, but this also means that he must sacrifice himself in the process. Goku’s plan results in the enemy’s defeat, but it’s hard to view this as a victory for Goku when both he and Raditz end up dead.
3 Captain Ginyu Pulls Off An Unscrupulous Scheme To Conquer Goku
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 71, "Goku Is Ginyu And Ginyu Is Goku"
The Ginyu Force are Frieza’s top mercenary team and the galactic tyrant dispatches them to handle his frustrations on Planet Namek. Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin do their best against this powerful group, but they’re only able to make headway against Guldo. Goku’s arrival on Namek leads to the speedy defeat of Recoome, Burter, and Jeice. It looks as if Goku’s ready to apply the same treatment to the team’s leader, Captain Ginyu, before he puts into motion a risky gambit.
Goku and Ginyu’s fight begins with Ginyu punching himself in the chest and dealing incredible damage. Before Goku can ascertain what’s going on, Ginyu executes his signature body swap technique on Goku and leaves him stranded in a wounded body. Goku, in Ginyu’s body, is left with little recourse and can only depend upon Krillin and Gohan. A very unusual battle plays out and Goku narrowly manages to reset the slate to recover his original body.
2 Android 19 Gets Lucky When Health Issues Afflict Goku
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 129, "Upgrade To Super Saiyan"
Androids 17 and 18 are the dominant threats during Dragon Ball Z's Android invasion, but the heroes first have to contend with Androids 19 and 20, the latter of whom is also responsible for the Androids' creation. Android 19 is an outdated model who lacks many of Androids 17 and 18's perks, but is able to absorb energy through his palms and convert it into power. Android 19 uses this to his advantage and turns several of Goku's Kamehameha into fuel.
Android 19 is the weakest of the Androids, but he gains a crucial advantage over Goku when the Saiyan begins to experience symptoms of his heart virus. Goku can't properly defend himself and Android 19 doesn't waste this opportunity. He asserts his physical strength and heavy weight to humiliate and weaken Goku. Goku’s defeat against Android 19 is hard to watch, but it at least creates a thrilling scenario where Vegeta gets to triumphantly make his Super Saiyan debut and completely decimate this Android enemy.
1 Universe 6’s Frost Stoops To Duplicitous Tactics To Cheat His Way To Success
Dragon Ball Super, Episode 33, "Surprise, 6th Universe! This Is Super Saiyan Goku!"
Dragon Ball Super eventually engages in all-out multiversal combat with its Tournament of Power battle royale. Before this, Universe 7 and Universe 6 engage in their own high-stakes competition, the Tournament of Destroyers. Goku takes on Frost, Universe 6's version of Frieza, who's initially introduced as a peaceful hero who's done his universe a lot of good. This proves to be a lie, but it leads to Goku showing mercy on Frost and he takes no pleasure in using brute force against his opponent.
Frost and Goku both cycle through their transformations as Goku continually pushes Frost to turn to his final form. Goku, as a Super Saiyan, is still much stronger than Frost and it seems like the Universe 6 enemy has power that's comparable to Z-era Frieza. However, Frost technically wins the fight once Goku grows disoriented and he's knocked out of the tournament's ring. It's later revealed that Frost has cheated and poisoned Goku -- a tactic that he also uses against Piccolo -- but it's still technically a victory for Frost.
