Because Dragon BallIts roots as a martial arts story, Goku Is one of the few characters that never lets up on his training. Since the early days of the series, Goku has always sought higher power through self-improvement and the teachings of others, and this has led to him becoming one of the strongest characters in the entire franchise.
Goku’s immense raw power is one thing, but even that would be nothing without the specific techniques used to channel it. Whether they’re martial arts techniques or some of the more fantastical energy-based abilities that have become staples of the franchise, Goku has always had a wide range of powers and abilities at his disposal Dragon BallAll of which are almost always the deciding factors in his biggest fights. Some of​​​​Goku´s powers have been iconic parts of Dragon Ball And anime, in general, and with this kind of iconography, they are all worth highlighting.
15
Goku’s first signature move weaponized a classic game
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Episode 3
Goku’s first-ever signature technique in Dragon Ball was rock paperA martial art combo that, as the name implies, involves punching someone, poaching them in the eyes with two fingers, and then finishing them off with a palm strike. Goku stopped using it as he got older, but it remains one of the most iconic techniques from early on Dragon Ball Thanks in large part to how often Kid Goku uses this move in video games.
14
The Kamehameha is one of the most iconic attacks in all of anime
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Episode 8
The first of Dragon Balls iconic energy attacks is Goku’s Kamehameha technique, a move invented by Master Roshi that Goku picked up almost immediately after seeing it used as a child. Goku and other characters have used many variations of the Kamehameha over the years such as homing versions, shooting it from the user’s feet and even using it to skate over another energy blast, and it has long since become one of the most iconic attacks In all anime.
13
Goku’s big smile was the first clue that he wasn’t human
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Episode 12
Near the end of Dragon Balls first arc, it was revealed that Goku turns into a giant monkey, later called a great ape, when he looks at a full moon, and at the beginning of Dragon Ball p, Goku’s Great Ape transformation would be revealed to be one of the signature abilities of the alien race called the SaiyansOf which Goku is one of the last surviving members. Goku lost the ability to become a great ape after Kami cut off his tail, but it’s still something that Goku is technically capable of, regardless.
12
Sun Flare is much more associated with Goku than its original user
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Episode 141
The Solar Flare is a powerful technique that releases a blinding flash of light that even the most powerful enemies are paralyzed by, allowing the user an easy moment to retreat or counterattack. While the solar flare was originally used by Tien, Goku and Krillin used the Sun Flare much more often than Tien Van Dragon Ball pNextAnd it is typically seen as one of their abilities more often than it is one of Tien’s.
11
The Kaioken was Goku’s first transformation abilities
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z Episode 29
Dragon Ball is famous for characters that can take powerful transformations, and the first major of these was Goku’s Kaioken, a technique that multiplies his power at the cost of an increasing amount of physical damage. While Kaioken was phased out after the appearance of Super Saiyan, Dragon Ball Super Introducing Super Saiyan Blue Kaiokenwhich combined the strengths and weaknesses of both forms, and became Goku’s strongest form for a large part of the series.
10
The Spirit Bomb is Goku’s strongest technique under the right circumstances
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z Episode 21
In addition to the Kaioken, King Kai also taught Goku the Spirit Bomb, a technique that collects the energy of anyone willing to channel it into one massive attack. While the Spirit Bomb has infamously failed to finish a fight more often than not in canon, it’s still the deciding factor against Kid Buu, and The Spirit Bomb is often Goku’s finishing move in the Dragon Ball p MoviesSo it still became quite iconic on its own.
9
Telepathy is one of Goku’s strange abilities
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z Episode 35
As Krillin was about to kill Vegeta at the end of the Saiyan Saga, Goku suddenly revealed that he had telepathy and begged Krillin to spare him his mind; Goku would later use telepathy again to read Krillin’s mind on Namek and keep tabs on everything that happened in the Android saga while he was asleep. It can be assumed that Goku’s telepathy was Something he learned from King Ki during their trainingBut this is never explicitly stated, and it remains one of Goku’s weirdest powers, by far.
8
Super Saiyan was one of the defining elements of modern anime
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z Episode 95
In the climax of the Namek Saga, Goku, filled with rage after witnessing Frieza kill Krillin, unlocks the legendary Super Saiyan transformation, increasing his power to the highest it has ever been and allowing him to easily defeat Frieza. Since his first appearance, Goku and other characters have unlocked multiple different levels and variations of Super Saiyan, and overall, The iconic nature of Super Saiyan started the trend of anime heroes with bombastic transformationmaking it one of the most fundamental elements of modern anime.
7
Spirit control is responsible for one of Goku’s most iconic abilities
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z Episode 123
After narrowly escaping an exploding Namek, Goku spent a year on Planet Yardat learning Spirit Control, an advanced form of energy manipulation that can be used to greatly increase one’s power and learning a variety of techniques. Spirit control is the basis of Goku’s iconic instant transmissionWhich allows him to teleport anywhere in the universe, as long as he can sense someone’s energy, and in Dragon Ball Supersaga of galactic patrol prisoner, Goku learns how to use spirit control to create a giant clone of himself made of pure energy.
6
Goku introduced a brand new form of power in fusion
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Chapter 503
During the seven years Goku was dead between the Android and Majin Buu sagas, he learned about a special technique called Fusion which, as the name would imply, allows two people to join into a single person with power far beyond either of the original fighters. . Goku used both the Fusion Dance and the Potara Earrings with Vegeta to become Gogeta and Vegito on several occasions, and this helped the idea of ​​fusing characters become an iconic part of anime and fiction in general.
5
Dragon Fist is one of Goku’s most iconic techniques, despite being non-canon
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z: Wrath Of The Dragon
Dragon Fist is a technique in which Goku unleashes a massive punch accompanied by a burst of energy that transforms into a golden dragon to deal explosive damage. Although Dragon Fist has never been used in a canon story, it is typically framed as the ultimate attack for both Super Saiyan 3 and Super Saiyan 4 Goku in video games, and what is particularly noteworthy about it is that Dragon Fist is the only one of Goku’s techniques he seemingly invented on his own.
4
Super Saiyan God became Goku’s new normal transformation
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods
At the beginning of the US Dragon Ball Super During the series, Goku gained the ability to use Super Saiyan God, a much more powerful version of Super Saiyan that is Based on God KiBetter equipped for dealing with the strongest opponents across the multiverse. Goku, along with Vegeta, would later evolve Super Saiyan God even further into Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, better known as “Super Saiyan Blue,” and since then, Super Saiyan God and its variations would become the default transformation of​​​​ Goku and Vegeta from Dragon Ball Super Ahead.
3
It took until Dragon Ball Super for Goku to learn the Mafuba
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Super Episode 62
In the final stages of the Future Trunks saga, Goku decides to deal with Goku Black and Future Zamasu by learning the MafubaMaster Roshi’s ultimate technique that can seal anyone caught by it in a sealed container. Goku only used the Mafuba in the manga’s depiction of events, however, with Future Trunks using it in the anime, but in both cases, it failed because Goku forgot to bring the seal with him to the future.
2
Ultra Instinct is Goku’s strongest transformation, by far
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Super Episode 110
During the Tournament of Power, Goku gains the ability to use Ultra Instinct, the ultimate power of the angels that allows someone to move solely on instinct and increases the power of the user. When used at full power, Ultra Instinct turns Goku’s hair and aura white, and while he has problems mastering it, the final arc of the Dragon Ball Super Manga revealed that Goku can use Ultra Instinct at full power without any disadvantages.
1
God Bind is Goku’s most unique technique in years
First used by Goku in Dragon Ball Super: Broly
In Goku and Broly’s fight in Dragon Ball Super: BrolyGoku, after activating Super Saiyan God, revealed God Bind, a new technique where he wraps his energy around his opponent to stop them from moving. Goku would later use God Bond again against Moro in the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga, and while Goku hasn’t used a new technique since, it won’t be long until Dragon Ball Further expands on Goku’s powers and abilities.