Goku is the most famous character of the Dragon Ball franchise, and therefore the strongest there is. Over the past 30+ years of the series, Goku has taken on dozens of forms. By surpassing his limits and growing stronger as a fighter, he has shown us that there’s always room to grow and improve.
From every series, game, and spin-off Goku has taken many different and exciting forms. During this article, we’re going to concentrate on all of Goku’s canon forms and transformations after each period.
Great Ape (Oozaru) Goku (When Look at the Full Moon)
Imprisoned by Pilaf inside his palace, the original Dragon Team are left to die overnight– cooked alive as the sun rises above them. Fortunately, it happens to be a full moon and Goku just happens to own a tail that lets him transform into a good ape.
Oozaru Goku breaks everyone out of Pilaf’s prison, but his rampage knows no limits. With no real sense of self, Goku destroys everything around him, endangering his friends within the process. Working along with Puar, Yamcha cuts off Goku’s tail and saves the day.
Teen Goku
Goku has grown rapidly. After defeating King Piccolo, Goku trains within the Lookout with Kami for three years to organize for his fight against Piccolo Jr. in the 23rd Martial Arts Tournament. Now as 18, Goku has retained all the power he had acquired before training with Kami. By this point, he had gotten fairly strong: found ways to fly, being strong enough to defeat both Piccolo Jr. and Annin, all before Dragon Ball’s Conclusion.
Discover Son Goku Merchandise
Kaio-Ken Goku (Tranied With Kaio)
Following his death at the beginning of the Saiyan arc, Goku goes on to coach with Kaio in the afterlife. Kaio notably teaches Goku two techniques: the Genki Dama and therefore the Kaioken. The Genki Dama is shown in practice beforehand, but Toriyama saves Kaioken’s reveal for the fight against the Saiyans.
Dragon Ball Super even goes one further by allowing Goku to enhance his transformations with Kaioken– though it’s debatable whether that’s using it like a technique.
Super Saiyan Goku (Watched Krillin Die)
Unlike his fight against Vegeta where he allows Kaioken to destroy his body, Goku bows out before the fight with Frieza gives him the prospect. He instead puts all his energy into a Genki Dama, but that only serves to anger Frieza. Frieza retaliates by killing Krillin, but this lands up being his downfall.
Watching his relief be burst to shreds right before his eyes, Goku transforms into the legendary Super Saiyan, gains a second win, and forces Frieza into one of the most humiliating defeats within the series.
Super Saiyan 2 Goku (Trained In The Afterlife)
Goku spent 7 years in the Other World after his death during the Cell Games. It’s only natural that Goku spent his time training, and for the 25th Budokai, no less. Super Saiyan 2 may be a large boost in power from Mastered Super Saiyan.
It is enough for Goku to be an excellent match with Majin Vegeta, but nowhere near strong enough to beat Majin Buu. Impressive to mention the smallest amount.
Super Saiyan 3 Goku (Trained In The Afterlife)
It’s interesting how Toriyama introduces Super Saiyan 2 for Goku only to instantly do away with it. Goku fights Majin Vegeta within the form, and from there he never fights in it again (in the original manga, at least.) Goku triggers Super Saiyan 3 for the first time while stalling against Buu, and the very act of transforming shakes the particular cosmos.
Taking under consideration the incredibly heavy toll Super Saiyan 3 puts on a living body– and how much effort Goku had to put into transforming while dead– and it’s no wonder Goku took so long trying to master the form while dead.
See more: Super Saiyan Blue Evolved
Super Saiyan God Goku (Ritual)
At its core, Battle of Gods is a character study of Son Goku and the themes that define Dragon Ball. Battle of Gods humbles Goku, especially through the act of the Super Saiyan God ritual.
Super Saiyan God isn’t a form Goku earned on his own accord, but when given to him by the power of others. It’s not something he wants, but he understands that it’s needed this time. Accordingly, Beerus recognizes that Goku’s skill is his own even if his power isn’t.
Super Saiyan Blue (Trained With Whis)
Introduced in Resurrection F, next up we have Super Saiyan Blue (Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan). Mixing Super Saiyan Ki and God Ki perfectly achieves this form.
There isn’t much else to say about this form as it’s just Super Saiyan in literal God Mode. It can go blow-for-blow with most of Dragon Ball Super’s baddies and get the job done.
Ultra Instinct -Sign- Goku
As we are closing in, next, we have the first phase in Ultra Instinct. This is Goku’s most recent form showcased in the Tournament of Power Arc. At the brink of death, Goku was able to use this form giving him immeasurable power nearly on par with Whis.
With just 1 minute, it takes insane amounts of concentration, does little damage, and it can only be used when the user is virtually unconscious. After doing it, Goku spent the rest of the ToP trying to upgrade it.
Mastered Ultra Instinct Goku
Finally, the strongest form on this list is that the Mastered Ultra Instinct Goku. This is easily Goku’s strongest form in the entire franchise so far. His power makes him become the identical category as Whis and Beerus. He mops the floor with Jirn during this form completely turning the tides of the battle.
That concludes all of Goku’s canon forms. Which of the forms do you like the most? Leave your comment below!