During the Frieza Saga in Dragon Ball Z, Akira Toriyama created the idea of “Zenkai Boosts” to explain how Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan could quickly become more powerful when they didn’t have time to train. Krillin realizes that Saiyans get stronger after nearly dying, and points out that Goku had always become more powerful after his toughest fights, even back in the original Dragon Ball series.
As a long-time Dragon Ball fan, it’s always fascinated me how the Zenkai Boost, officially introduced in DBZ, actually has roots in the original Dragon Ball! Looking back, there are several times Goku gets way stronger after nearly losing a fight. It’s like Toriyama instinctively knew that pushing Goku to his limit and letting him survive would make him even more powerful! He didn’t realize it at the time, of course, but those moments were the foundation for the whole Saiyan power-up mechanic that became so crucial when the Z-Fighters faced Frieza on Namek. It’s amazing to see how those early ideas evolved into such a core part of the Dragon Ball universe!
TopMob Quiz
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Results
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1. Goku Gets His First Zenkai Boost After His Fight With Tao Pai Pai
In the early days of Dragon Ball, Goku experienced his first major power increase – a Zenkai Boost – after his tough battle with Tao Pai Pai. While Goku had lost fights before, the fight with Mercenary Tao was particularly brutal. Tao completely overpowered Goku, and Goku only survived Tao’s Dodonpa blast because the Four-Star Dragon Ball, which he carried hidden under his clothes near his heart, protected him.
Badly injured after his first fight, Goku makes his way up Korin Tower to train with the wise Korin. After just a few days, he recovers and is ready to face Tao Pai Pai again. The training helps Goku become faster and more reactive, and his near-fatal battle with Tao actually makes him stronger. This allows him to easily defeat the Red Ribbon Army assassin in their rematch.
2. Eating Yajirobe’s Fish Gives Goku a Small Boost After Tambourine Nearly Kills Him
When Goku discovers Krillin has been killed, he immediately goes after Tambourine, but he’s still weak from his tough battle with Tien at the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai and loses the fight. He lands in a mushroom forest and finds a cooked fish, which he eats to recover his energy. This meal would have likely given Goku a slight boost in power, as food often helps him regain strength in the early episodes of Dragon Ball.
After Goku defeated Tambourine – the demon who had easily beaten Krillin – he unknowingly revealed his location to King Piccolo. Piccolo then brutally attacked Goku, leaving him on the brink of death.
3. Goku Eats a Senzu Bean After King Piccolo Nearly Kills Him – But The Boost Isn’t Enough
Goku’s first battle with Demon King Piccolo ended with a near-fatal blow – Piccolo actually stopped his heart, causing it to beat erratically. Luckily, Yajirobe embarked on a long climb up Korin Tower to retrieve a Senzu Bean, which completely healed Goku. However, even with full health, Goku still wasn’t powerful enough to defeat the Demon King, particularly at his strongest.
Though the idea of Zenkai Boosts hadn’t been created yet, the concept of Goku getting stronger after nearly dying was already part of the story in Dragon Ball. However, to have a chance at beating Piccolo, Goku still needed to drink Korin’s Ultra Divine Water.
4. Surviving the Ultra Divine Water Brings Out Goku’s Great Ape Power Level
Goku barely survives a battle with Demon King Piccolo and understands he needs to get stronger if he wants to win. He seeks training from Korin, but Korin says he’s already taught Goku everything he knows. However, Korin offers Goku the Ultra Divine Water – a dangerous poison that unlocks hidden potential, if the drinker can survive it. No one had ever lived after drinking the water, until Goku took the risk.
During the fight with Demon King Piccolo, Goku’s transformation into a Great Ape briefly increased his normal strength to 260 – matching Piccolo’s power level. It’s now understood that this boost wasn’t primarily from the special water he drank, but rather from his Saiyan heritage, which naturally enhances his power.
5. Goku Gets His Last Zenkai Boost in the Original Dragon Ball After Fighting Piccolo Junior
In the original Dragon Ball series, Goku was set to receive a powerful boost at the very end. During his final fight with Piccolo at the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, Piccolo tried to ensure Goku couldn’t become stronger by breaking all of his limbs – learning from his father’s past defeat. However, Goku had been secretly holding back his ability to fly and used it to surprise Piccolo, ultimately defeating him.
Shortly after Goku’s battle, Yajirobe shows up and gives him a Senzu Bean, instantly healing his injuries. Goku then shares a bean with Piccolo, wanting a strong opponent to continue challenging him. Interestingly, Goku’s power level during the Super Kamehameha against Piccolo Jr. was 910, and it was 924 during his fight with Raditz. This means his final power boost in the original Dragon Ball series wasn’t a huge jump.
6. Goku Gets a Small Boost After Vegeta Breaks Every Bone in His Body
Goku might have become even stronger after his fight with Vegeta if he’d immediately eaten a Senzu Bean, potentially getting a larger power increase. However, the Senzu plant was withered, forcing him to recover in the hospital until Yajirobe found him. While the Dragon Ball series doesn’t specify how much stronger Goku gets while healing – because the idea of a power boost from recovery wasn’t introduced until the Namek saga – it’s logical to assume he gained at least a little extra strength.
Once recovered from his previous battle, Goku asks Dr. Brief to create a Gravity Chamber for training before heading to Namek. The intense training he does, and the resulting power boosts he gains before reaching Namek, are crucial. Without those boosts, Goku wouldn’t have stood a chance against Frieza’s soldiers, especially the Ginyu Force and Frieza himself, when he finally arrived.
7. Goku Gets Multiple Massive Zenkai Boosts Training on His Way to Namek
After his battle with Vegeta, Goku does recover and become stronger thanks to a natural Saiyan ability. However, his biggest power increase between the Saiyan and Frieza sagas actually comes from intense training in the Gravity Chamber during his journey to Namek. He pushes himself to the brink of death repeatedly, using Senzu Beans to recover and continue training, resulting in significant power gains each time.
In only six days, Goku dramatically increases his power, quickly surpassing all of Frieza’s soldiers except for Frieza himself. The manga suggests Goku may not fully realize he’s pushing himself to the limit to gain power boosts, but his Saiyan instincts guide him through intense training, giving him an underlying understanding of how to become stronger.
8. Goku Gets His Final, & Biggest, Zenkai Boost Right Before the Battle With Frieza
Goku wouldn’t have been able to beat Frieza even as a Super Saiyan without a crucial power boost he received on Namek. During their final fight, Super Saiyan Goku’s strength only slightly exceeded Frieza’s maximum power. The severe injuries Goku sustained while fighting Ginyu (actually Vegeta) led to a massive increase in his power level – jumping from 90,000 to an incredible 3,000,000 after being healed.
Goku’s biggest power increase happens after his final Zenkai Boost. Soon after, he becomes a Super Saiyan, and he doesn’t receive any significant Zenkai Boosts for the rest of Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Super. He continues to get stronger, but his power-ups after the fight with Frieza come from training and improving his abilities, rather than from nearly dying and recovering.
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2026-02-24 01:13