10 Times Goku Should Have Used the Kaioken in Dragon Ball

The Kaio-Ken is one of the coolest and most unique techniques in Dragon Ball. Introduced during the Saiyan Saga, this Goku-exclusive move allows him to temporarily multiply his strength several to dozens of times over, at a cost to his physical health. It may not offer the same level of power as a new Super Saiyan transformation, but the Kaio-Ken more than proved its worth during Goku’s battles with Vegeta and Frieza.

The Kaio-Ken was Goku’s most neglected technique prior to its resurgence in Dragon Ball Super. Despite being so useful, and so distinct from all the more traditional transformations that came after it, there was a long period of time when it went completely unused. There were many moments during the Cell and Buu Sagas, as well as in Dragon Ball GT and the early parts of Dragon Ball Super where it could have easily turned the tide of a battle, but it wasn’t even attempted.

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1 Goku Could Have Stopped Imperfect Cell

Goku Let Imperfect Cell Absorb Android 17

Cell wasn’t an unstoppable monster when he first appeared. As Imperfect Cell, he needed to absorb a massive number of humans to be able to combat the Z-Warriors and, even once he’d finished doing so, he was still slightly weaker than Android 16. In spite of his small advantage, Android 16 fails to stop Cell from absorbing Android 17, but things didn’t need to go that way.

Goku could have absolutely killed Imperfect Cell with the Kaio-Ken. It’s difficult to say if it could have closed the gap between him and Cell or not, but even if it couldn’t, it still would have made all the difference. Had Goku been willing to abandon his plan, leave the Lookout, and join Android 16 in his struggle, the Kaio-Ken would have helped to seal Cell’s fate.

2 Goku Didn’t Need to Forfeit Against Perfect Cell

Goku Never Intended on Beating Cell Himself

Perfect Cell is one of only a handful of opponents who Goku has forfeited against. While their battle during the Cell Games is spectacular, Goku doesn’t go all-out during it, as he wants to show off Gohan’s power. His plan may have worked out in the end, but it wasn’t necessary to save the world.

Without even using all his power, Goku was able to get Perfect Cell heated and frustrated. Using the Kaio-Ken, Goku would have gained more than enough power to overwhelm the ultimate android. By destroying Cell this early, Goku would have been able to prevent himself from having to later sacrifice his life against him.

3 Goku Held Back in More Ways Than One Against Majin Vegeta

Goku Didn’t Use the Kaio-Ken or Super Saiyan 3 During His Rematch with Vegeta

Goku showed Vegeta absolutely zero respect during their rematch in the Buu Saga. Infamously, Goku hides the Super Saiyan 3 form from his turncoat rival, despite the power it offers him dwarfing Majin Vegeta’s. However, even without the superior form, which would quickly drain his remaining time on Earth, Goku could have ended Vegeta’s temper tantrum quickly with the Kaio-Ken.

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The only reason Goku loses to Majin Vegeta is that he lets his guard down near the end. Prior to that, even while holding back significantly, Goku was completely equal to Vegeta. Using the Kaio-Ken, Goku could have shut Vegeta down fast, and prevented him from awakening Majin Buu.

4 Goku Gave Up Too Quickly Against Kid Buu

Goku Didn’t Go All Out Against His Final Opponent in Dragon Ball Z

Kid Buu serves as the final villain in Dragon Ball Z but, in terms of power, he’s far weaker than Super Buu. He’s still too strong for Goku to defeat without resorting to the Spirit Bomb and help from Vegeta, but that doesn’t mean there was no way for him to win. After 7 years in Otherworld, there’s no telling what kind of multiplier Goku could have applied to the Kaio-Ken.

The climax of the Buu Saga is brilliant, with the Spirit Bomb finally succeeding at defeating a main villain, and Mr. Satan completing his character arc by growing into a true hero. However, that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have made sense for Goku to attempt the Kaio-Ken. For all fans know, a full-power Kamehameha with a multiplier could have had a similar effect on Buu as the Spirit Bomb.

5 The Kaio-Ken Could Have Given Goku an Edge Against Baby

Super Saiyan 4 Goku and Baby Vegeta Were Evenly Matched

Goku’s battle with Baby saw the debut of the iconic Super Saiyan 4 transformation. This form gives Goku enough to equal the power Baby achieves while possessing Vegeta. Ultimately, Goku wins this fight, but the Kaio-Ken would have made it far less of a hassle.

Narratively, Goku using the Kaio-Ken could have overshadowed Super Saiyan 4, so it makes sense why he doesn’t implement it. From Goku’s perspective, however, it would have given him a clear advantage over Baby. He especially should have used it after Baby evolves into the Golden Great Ape.

6 Dragon Ball GT Could Have Ended Differently if Gogeta Had Used the Kaio-Ken

Super Saiyan 4 Goku Couldn’t Do Anything Against Omega Shenron

Even with the power of Super Saiyan 4 on his side, Goku was completely outmatched by Omega Shenron. The strongest character in Dragon Ball GT, the combined power of the three most formidable Shadow Dragons is too much for even Goku’s greatest transformation to overcome. While even the Kaio-Ken wouldn’t have been enough to close the gap between the two, Goku specifically didn’t need to be the one to use it.

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Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta is able to put up a much better fight against Omega Shenron than Goku. Had Gogeta used the Kaio-Ken, he may have even been able to win. While not explicitly canon material, Dragon Ball Super Heroes has outright confirmed that Goku’s fused forms can perform the Kaio-Ken, so there’s no reason it shouldn’t have been attempted.

7 Goku Didn’t Use the Kaio-Ken Against Beerus

Goku’s Infamous First Fight with Beerus Makes the Anime’s Hero Look Weak

Goku’s first fight with Beerus on King Kai’s planet is primarily remembered for the strange art and animation of its depiction in Dragon Ball Super. In terms of the content of the fight, it’s a brief clash that serves to show how completely outclassed Super Saiyan 3 Goku is by Beerus. There’s no chance the Kaio-Ken would have allowed Goku to beat Beerus, as even Perfected Ultra Instinct Goku can’t do that, but it could have made his defeat less humiliating.

Using only Super Saiyan 3, Goku’s performance against Beerus on King Kai’s planet is the same as Yamcha’s would have been in his place. Goku using the Kaio-Ken against the God of Destruction would have helped him keep his dignity intact, and make him look less like he’s mindlessly flailing around. Goku is one of the most legendary heroes in fiction, and he should never look as lame as he does here.

8 Goku Would Have Dwarfed Golden Frieza with the Kaio-Ken

Golden Frieza Only Had a Small Edge on Super Saiyan Blue Goku

In only four months of training, Frieza was able to go from being weaker than Super Saiyan Goku to being stronger than Super Saiyan Blue Goku. However, the Golden Frieza form he achieves to accomplish this can only be used for a set amount of time. Goku exploits this to win their battle in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’, but the Kaio-Ken would have allowed him to avoid a lot of problems along the way.

Even as Golden Frieza, the anime’s most iconic villain is only barely more powerful than Goku and Vegeta during the transformation’s debut. Using only the smallest of the Kaio-Ken’s multipliers, Goku would have completely outclassed Frieza. This would have stopped Frieza from ever getting the opportunity to destroy the Earth, and Goku wouldn’t have needed to rely on Whis’ time reversal to win.

9 Goku Could Have Swept Most of Team Universe 6 with the Kaio-Ken

Goku Wouldn’t Have Fallen Victim to Frost’s Poison While Using the Kaio-Ken

While formidable fighters like Caulifla and Kale would eventually emerge during the Universal Survival Arc, the team of Universe 6 combatants assembled by Champa for the Tournament of Destroyers is pathetic. Apart from Hit, who, at the time of the tournament, was stronger than all of Team Universe 7, not one member of Team Universe 6 could fairly stand toe-to-toe with Piccolo, let alone Goku or Vegeta. The only reason Goku doesn’t sweep four of their team members by himself is because Frost cheats and poisons him.

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Frost only gets the opportunity to poison Goku because the Saiyan warrior takes the fight easy. Even if Goku didn’t want to turn Super Saiyan Blue against him, the Kaio-Ken would have swiftly defeated Frost. From there, he wouldn’t have even needed the Kaio-Ken to deal with relative weaklings like Magetta and Cabba.

10 Goku Seemed to Think the Kaio-Ken Was Pointless Against Broly

The Kaio-Ken Could Have Helped to Close the Gap Between Goku and Broly

Dragon Ball Super: Broly features one fight with the eponymous Saiyan after another, with Goku getting involved in several of them. By the end of the film, the only character who is able to overcome Broly is Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta. Given Goku’s preference for fighting with his own power, it’s odd that Goku didn’t stack the Kaio-Ken over Super Saiyan Blue, as he’s been doing since his first battle against Hit.

Even with the Kaio-Ken, Goku wouldn’t have been able to overpower Broly. That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have been awesome to see the Kaio-Ken with modern, movie-quality animation for the first time. While it would have absolutely been overkill, Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta using the Kaio-Ken would have been an equally incredible sight.

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  Dragon Ball

  Dragon Ball tells the tale of a young warrior by the name of Son Goku, a young peculiar boy with a tail who embarks on a quest to become stronger and learns of the Dragon Balls, when, once all 7 are gathered, grant any wish of choice.

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  Dragon Ball Z

  An anime that spans across many generations, this is the sequel to Dragon Ball from 1986. Dragon Ball Z is an anime that everyone must know of, whether it’s the name itself, Goku, or the Saiyans – Dragon Ball Z is one of the greatest anime to have ever been produced. Produced by Toei Animation and written by Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball Z continues the adventures of Goku, who, along with his companions made in the prequel series, defend the Earth against villains ranging from aliens like Frieza, androids like Cell, and magical creatures like Majin Buu. While the original anime followed Goku from childhood to early adulthood and had its fun moments, Dragon Ball Z is a continuation of his adult life in this hard-action anime, but at the same time parallels the life of his son, Gohan, as well as the development of his rival Vegeta. While there have been sequel series produced afterwards like Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super, Z is the core of the entire Dragon Ball universe that has a recognition like no other anime on this list. With over 150 episodes, the series has some of the most unique scenes in anime ever made, such as Goku’s transformation to becoming a Super Saiyan and the Cell Games. If you’re into anime and haven’t watched Dragon Ball Z, we won’t judge. However, if you’re just starting, this is an anime that must be seen if you enjoy some fast-paced action, even if some fight scenes last about three to four episodes at a time. It’s gripping, entertaining, and heartbreaking all at the same time, and you wish you could be a Saiyan like Goku and his friends too.

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  After Goku is made a kid again by the Black Star Dragon Balls, he goes on a journey to get back to his old self.

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  With Majin Buu defeated half-a-year prior, peace returns to Earth, where Son Goku (now a radish farmer) and his friends now live peaceful lives.