10 Dragon Ball Characters Who Officially Overpowered Goku

Goku stands out as the most powerful character in Dragon Ball, yet even with all his achievements and victories, he wasn’t always the strongest character. Since the start of the series, Goku has encountered countless faces who outclassed and overpowered him. While he would eventually rise above his limits, these characters were, at one point, stronger than the Saiyan warrior.

Many of these characters were stepping stones along Goku’s journey, offering him guidance or motivation to continue to relentlessly train, while others were villainous adversaries that Goku had to defeat. Either way, these are the characters who offered Goku invaluable lessons in one way or another and stood even more powerful than him, even if only for a moment.

Master Roshi

Master Roshi is the legendary Turtle Hermit and, at one point, stood as the most powerful martial artist on Earth. At the start of the series, he was not only Goku’s mentor but also a truly impressive fighter with mastery over techniques such as the Kamehameha. His speed, durability, and stamina made it clear why and how he became the world’s greatest martial artist.

During the first few World Martial Arts Tournaments in Dragon Ball, he even went as far as disguising himself as Jackie Chan to win the tournament and motivate Goku to continue training and pushing his limits. He’s not only credited with teaching Goku martial arts, but also with instilling in him discipline and humility.

Tien Shinhan

Tien Shinhan was introduced in Dragon Ball as a disciplined warrior from the Crane School, who was trained by Master Shen and his brother Mercenary Tao. He stood as one of Goku’s earliest rivals with techniques that were never before seen in the series, including the ability to fly.

During the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, Tien defeated Jackie Chan, enabling him to face Goku in a tense final match. While the fight was close, Tien ultimately triumphed, proving himself to be Goku’s equal early on in the series. Their battle taught Goku new techniques and pushed him to train harder for their next encounter.

Mr. Popo

Mr. Popo was introduced in Dragon Ball as the mysterious and powerful attendant to Earth’s Guardian, Kami, on the Lookout. He stood out as a martial arts master who tested and trained Goku after he defeated King Piccolo. Mr. Popo quickly proved himself fast, strong, and agile, deflecting attacks with ease and posing a difficult challenge for Goku.

Mr. Popo is the character who teaches Goku advanced techniques, inner focus, and effective battle tactics. While he doesn’t remain active in the series as a martial artist for long, his demonstrations of power were enough to prove that he was stronger than Goku during their initial meeting.

Raditz

Raditz is the first antagonist introduced in Dragon Ball Z and is the one who reveals Goku is a Saiyan from the destroyed Planet Vegeta. When he first introduced himself as Goku’s brother, it was clear that he was far more powerful than anyone Goku had ever encountered. During their first meeting, he effortlessly overpowers Goku and kidnaps Gohan.

Defeating Raditz required the combined effort of Goku and Piccolo; even then, Raditz remained a formidable challenge. To win, they had to exploit Raditz’s tail, a Saiyan’s weak point, yet even then, the battle cost Goku his life. While Raditz occupies little space in the overall narrative, he remains the character who opened Goku’s eyes to his heritage.

Vegeta

Vegeta is most known for his pride and intense rivalry with Goku. First introduced as the cold, ruthless Saiyan Prince, he initially outclassed Goku and, without the intervention of Goku’s allies, it’s likely that Vegeta would have killed him. Beyond their first encounter, there have been moments throughout the series when Vegeta proves himself to be Goku’s equal.

Vegeta constantly matches Goku’s power, achieving transformations and power boosts throughout the series, allowing him to stand among Dragon Ball’s most powerful characters. In both Dragon Ball Z and Super, Vegeta remains Goku’s rival and constantly pushes him to achieve new heights and break past his limits.

Androids 17 and 18

Androids 17 and 18 were introduced as an unstoppable, destructive pair responsible for mass devastation and casualties in Future Trunks’ timeline. Their immense strength, durability, and limitless energy make them not only dangerous but also incredibly intimidating. While Goku himself never confronts the Androids, they make it clear that their power is overwhelming.

What began as a one-on-one between Vegeta and Android 18 eventually turned into a battle between her and Android 17 against Vegeta, Future Trunks, Piccolo, and Tien Shinhan, whom the two effortlessly took out. Despite never facing Goku, the threat the Androids posed was proof that continuous training was necessary and never a waste of energy, time, or effort.

Gohan

Gohan is Goku’s eldest son and always carried the promise of extraordinary power, with Goku himself believing Gohan’s potential would someday overshadow his own power. This became evident during the Cell Games after Gohan unlocked Super Saiyan 2 and defeated Perfect Cell despite already being injured and grieving.

Beyond the Cell Games, the last Dragon Ball Super film, Super Hero, offered Gohan a new, striking transformation, Gohan Beast, suggesting that in the series’ future, Gohan may once again prove that he’s the strongest character in the series.

Jiren

Jiren was first introduced during the Tournament of Power Saga as a character defined by overwhelming strength and immense discipline. He was the strongest mortal in the multiverse, with power strong enough to defeat Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta. He stands out as a complex figure due to his reserved personality, tragic past, and commitment to justice.

It wasn’t until Goku tapped into Ultra Instinct that he could match Jiren’s incredible power. Until that moment, Jiren remained the superior fighter, effectively forcing Goku to push past his limits mid-battle. The confrontation showed Goku that there will always be someone stronger, reinforcing his drive to train and continue growing.

Granolah

Granolah’s quest for vengeance against the Saiyans in Dragon Ball Super led to him wishing for ultimate power at the cost of much of his lifespan. The wish granted him power that eclipsed Goku’s, making him a threat that both he and Vegeta struggled against, even with Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego.

Granolah’s newfound strength pushed the Saiyans to their limits and proved to the heroes that the power hierarchy could shift at any given moment. Though Granolah’s dominance is short-lived after the Heeter family makes a similar wish, he stands out for his complexity and sudden surge in power.

​​​​​​​Black Frieza

Black Frieza made a dramatic entrance in Dragon Ball Super during the battle against Gas, immediately proving that he possessed a level of power that dwarfed Goku, Vegeta, Gas, and Granolah. With a new transformation, Black Frieza, the tyrannical emperor, showcases his power by defeating Goku and Vegeta in a single blow.

While Black Frieza left as quickly as he appeared, it was enough to prove that the heroes could be outclassed seemingly in an instant. After Frieza’s return to the series, it stood out as a wake-up call that while the heroes were training, so were the villains, creating a newfound sense of urgency and necessity.