There are plenty of anime series that remain at the forefront of their respective genres, yet the level of attention that Dragon Ball receives continues to be staggering. It’s been more than three decades since Dragon Ball’s debut and it’s somehow more popular than ever. Fans can’t get enough of Goku’s incredible adventures as he grows stronger and continues to fight off evil, dangerous forces.
Dragon Ball has introduced a wide array of alien species, but the combative warrior race of the Saiyans typically receives the most attention. Saiyans represent a crucial aspect of Dragon Ball, and there have been some important occasions where Goku proves that he’s the superior Saiyan to his friendly rival, Vegeta.
9 He Becomes The First Super Saiyan
Dragon Ball fans have come to expect that there’s always going to be an extra level of Super Saiyan that’s off in the horizon, but it was a gamechanger the first time that Goku unlocked this power during his fight against Frieza. There’s a serious point of pride in how Goku represents the Saiyan ideals and is the first one to hit this milestone in the series. Vegeta and many other Saiyans go on to accomplish the same, but it Goku is also the first to obtain Super Saiyan 3 and 4 status, among other power boosts.
8 He Re-Grows His Tail
A tail is one of the signature tenets of Saiyan physiology, and it’s the key ingredient in what allows them to transform into their Great Ape state. Goku, as well as many other Saiyans, eventually lose their tails through various circumstances. However, what separates Goku from the rest is that he actually goes out of his way to re-grow his tail during the events of Dragon Ball GT. Admittedly, Vegeta may have had his tail for longer, but the dedication that Goku proves here to reclaim this lost trait of his people can’t be ignored.
7 He Proliferates The Saiyan Population On Earth
To be fair, Goku has no idea that he’s a member of an alien race and not a human when he begins a family with Chi-Chi and she gives birth to Gohan, but it’s still a significant turning point for the species. It’s revealed that Saiyan hybrids actually have a naturally higher capacity for strength, which is proven through Gohan, Goten, and Pan.
Vegeta later starts a family on Earth and does the same, but he wouldn’t have even been there in the first place if not for Goku’s presence on the planet. Goku’s responsible for this whole new crop of Saiyans rising forward.
6 He Educates The Saiyans Of Universe 6 On The Ways Of Super Saiyans
There are very few surviving members of the Saiyan race, so it’s a huge deal when Dragon Ball Super introduces alternate universes, one of which contains many more healthy Saiyans. Cabba, Caulifla, and Kale all come from Universe 6, and, while they’re powerful, they’re all less seasoned when it comes to battle. They’re always completely unaware of the Super Saiyan transformation. Goku gives them all a crash course on how to properly channel their energy, and he helps them quickly ascend the Super Saiyan ladder. Vegeta also promises to train Cabba, but it’s not as significant a gesture.
5 He’s Worthy Of The Super Saiyan God Ritual
The introduction of God of Destruction Beerus in the Dragon Ball franchise brings with it the character’s quest for a Super Saiyan God. When no one fulfills these criteria, it’s revealed that a ritual can be performed by six Saiyans to unlock this power boost in a pure-hearted member of the species. Granted, Goku’s not the only Saiyan who goes on to become a Super Saiyan God, but the fact that he’s the only one who’s considered to be suitable for the ceremony speaks to his prolific Saiyan nature.
4 He Spares The Lives Of Saiyans When Given The Chance
Saiyans are supposed to be violent and destructive individuals, so the prospect of sparing the loser of a battle might seem antithetical to their core values, but this becomes trickier when it’s a fight between two Saiyans.
On more than one occasion, Goku chooses to exhibit empathy over anger when he spares the lives of Broly as well as Vegeta, two pivotal Saiyan characters. Alternatively, Vegeta tries to kill Goku, and he does kill Nappa, examples of when the Prince of Saiyans takes out his own kind.
3 He Kills Frieza & Gets Revenge For His People
There are many disturbing villains who have amassed countless casualties across the universe, but Frieza is a particularly malevolent tyrant. Frieza manipulates the Saiyan race to carry out his dirty work, only to eventually destroy their planet and take out most of them along with it. For this reason, Frieza’s reputation with the Saiyans is quite incendiary. Vegeta resents Frieza more than Goku for everything that he’s done, but it’s Goku who ultimately finishes him off. He may not carry the same grudge with him, but Goku still gets justice for his people.
2 He Doesn’t Stoop To Easy Power Boosts
A Saiyan’s relationship with power is quite complex. They’re individuals who strive for greater strength, but there’s a great deal of pride involved where they don’t just want easy handouts. Vegeta’s competitive rage to surpass Goku occasionally blinds him, and he succumbs to Babidi’s temptation to become a member of the Majin in exchange for boosted strength. A similar experience occurs when Baby invades Earth and possesses Vegeta in Dragon Ball GT. Alternatively, Goku doesn’t turn to such methods to get stronger.
1 He Improves The Saiyans’ Reputations With Omni-King, Zeno
Goku gets Universe 7 in a lot of hot water with the other universes when he inadvertently triggers the Tournament of Power. However, Goku is oddly popular with the people that run the multiversal competition, Omni-King Zeno. Zeno operates with a child-like innocence that Goku meshes with quite well. Everyone else walks on eggshells around Zeno, but Goku’s received special privileges because of his unique relationship with the deity. It’s possible that this relationship would also extend to Saiyans as a whole, and they’d receive certain perks because of Goku.
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