Every Canon Fight Goku Has Lost In Dragon Ball

Every Canon Fight Goku Has Lost In Dragon Ball

As a long-time fan of Dragon Ball Z and Super, I must say that the series has certainly kept me entertained with its thrilling fights and heartwarming moments. Yet, it seems that our beloved protagonist, Goku, has had his fair share of defeats throughout these epic battles.


In the eyes of many fans, Goku embodies the essence of Dragon Ball, serving as the brave and mighty main character who repeatedly saves the world. At first, Goku is an innocent and kind-hearted child, ready to give up anything for his newfound friends. As the series progress, he continually grows stronger after each battle, transforming into one of anime’s most powerful warriors.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed throughout my journey in Dragon Ball Z, there have been numerous friends and enemies I’ve encountered along the way, but not every battle has ended in my favor. There are quite a few characters who I haven’t managed to defeat outright, sometimes because I opted to forfeit or because we didn’t get another chance to face off again. However, there have been more than a handful of times when I’ve lost a fight, and those losses have significantly shaped my path. To clarify, I’m only counting the major defeats that had a significant impact on me – instances where my opponent actually emerged victorious, despite my best efforts.

10 Goku VS Jackie Chun

Master Roshi Manages To Beat His Young Student In A Tournament

Every Canon Fight Goku Has Lost In Dragon Ball

  • Anime: Dragon Ball
  • Episodes: 26-28

Even though Goku has taken part in numerous tournaments across the series, he’s lost several crucial battles – like during his debut at the World Martial Arts Tournament. The most thrilling bout of that contest saw Goku squaring off against Jackie Chun, who turned out to be none other than his own mentor!

In the heat of battle, Jackie Chun’s vast experience proved instrumental against the formidable opponent, Goku – the giant ape. Despite the fight being incredibly tight, it was Jackie Chun who landed the decisive two-part kick, leaving Goku downed. This defeat served as motivation for Goku to grow stronger.

9 Goku VS Mercenary Tao

A Dangerous Defeat That Almost Killed Goku

Every Canon Fight Goku Has Lost In Dragon Ball
  • Anime: Dragon Ball
  • Episodes: 59-60

In the anime series Dragon Ball, when the Mercenary makes his debut, the storyline becomes more ominous as the villain slays Bora, igniting Goku’s fury for the first time. Despite Goku’s best attempts, he fails to inflict significant damage on the assassin, not even with his powerful Kamehameha attack.

Instead of tearing apart the mercenary’s garments, Goku found himself under a lethal assault that would’ve likely been fatal if not for his dragon ball. For the first time in the anime series, there was a palpable sense of peril as Goku had to push himself to the limit and train rigorously to ultimately emerge victorious against his adversary.

8 Goku VS Tenshinhan

A Technical Loss But A Moral Win For Goku

Every Canon Fight Goku Has Lost In Dragon Ball
  • Anime: Dragon Ball
  • Episodes: 97-101

In their initial encounter at the World Martial Arts Tournament, the main character failed to secure victory against Tenshinhan due to technicalities, not because he was outmatched in terms of skill or philosophy rooted in their respective martial arts teachings and mentors. Their clash was particularly memorable as both embodied the ideologies instilled by their masters.

In the end, Tenshinhan emerges victorious in the fight. While Goku falls to the ground as a vehicle passes by, his untainted spirit leaves such an impact on his adversary that they abandon their former beliefs and ultimately decide to side with the Z-fighters.

7 Goku VS King Piccolo

King Piccolo Leaves Goku For Dead In Their First Confrontation

  • Anime: Dragon Ball
  • Episodes: 109-110

In Dragon Ball, King Piccolo introduced a more ominous narrative arc, highlighting the ongoing development of Goku. Initially, Goku suffered a setback against Tambourine in a fight, but his confrontation with King Piccolo was a significant defeat for our hero, even though he eventually ended him with a memorable blow.

Following Tambourine’s downfall, I found myself face to face with King Piccolo in a fierce battle. Regrettably, my youthful vigor was no match for the might of King Piccolo, who came dangerously close to ending my life by halting my heart and leaving me for dead.

6 Goku VS Android 19

A Loss Triggered By A Dangerous Heart Condition

Every Canon Fight Goku Has Lost In Dragon Ball
  • Anime: Dragon Ball Z
  • Episodes: 127-129

If Goku had been in peak form, he might have defeated Android 19. However, due to his health issues at the time, the protagonist ended up losing the battle. Given that, according to future Trunks, Goku had a heart condition which was supposed to lead to his death, it didn’t take long for him to start experiencing symptoms of the disease during the fight.

Exhausted and depleted, the battle concludes with Goku near death, primarily due to his heart ailment. However, it’s evident that the Android emerges victorious, leaving Goku clinging to life, necessitating the use of his antidote. This allows the other Z-fighters to step in and take control.

5 Goku VS Cell

Goku Surrenders Because He Knows He Would Lose

  • Anime: Dragon Ball Z
  • Episodes: 177 – 180

In this instance, Goku’s surrender isn’t considered as a loss, but it’s unique because Goku voluntarily withdraws from the battle with Cell. He acknowledges that he can’t beat his opponent, so instead of continuing the fight, he steps aside, offering an opportunity to someone who has the potential to win.

In this battle, it’s evident that Goku is putting every ounce of effort into his moves, but he realizes he’s not strong enough to defeat Cell. However, he believes that Gohan possesses the strength needed for victory. By intentionally losing, Goku allows Gohan to shine in this fight, making this tournament one of the most memorable events in the franchise’s history.

4 Goku VS Majin Vegeta

Goku Lets Down His Guard In A Polarizing Loss

  • Anime: Dragon Ball Z
  • Episodes: 229-231

There’s been a bit of debate about this battle, with some fans suggesting that Goku could have defeated Majin Vegeta if he had used all his strength. However, even though he can transform into Super Saiyan 3 (though only briefly), Goku chooses not to unleash his full power.

Despite keeping his defenses up, Goku momentarily relaxes, giving Majin Vegeta an opening for a decisive blow and ultimately defeating Goku. The strength of the protagonist in overpowering his adversary doesn’t alter the outcome that he lost against this renowned form of Vegeta.

3 Goku VS Beerus

Goku Saves The World But Looses The Fight

  • Anime: Dragon Ball Super
  • Episodes: 10-14

In Dragon Ball Super, the story commences with Goku suffering defeat at the hands of the Destroyer God, Beerus. Despite Goku reaching an unprecedented Super Saiyan state that harnesses the power of other Saiyans, Beerus remains uncontrollably powerful.

There is no denying that Goku gave it his all and, in a way, managed to save Earth from destruction, but he still lost the fight protecting the planet from an attack that leaves him unconscious while Beerus leaves unscathed.

2 Goku VS Zamasu And Goku Black

Various Defeats Wrapped In A Big Loss

  • Anime: Dragon Ball Super
  • Episodes: Future Trunks Saga

In their encounters, Goku suffered defeats at the hands of both Goku Black and Zamasu, along with their powerful combined form. At first, all Z-fighters struggled against this duo, ultimately needing to retreat from battle. Later on, Goku even engaged in a fight against Goku Black after discovering the villain’s actions towards his family in another dimension. However, his anger alone was insufficient to secure victory over the antagonist.

Due to Zamasu’s peak strength, Vegeta and Goku needed to fuse to have any hope of beating their enemy. However, their fusion was prematurely ended, leading to yet another defeat for them. Although the Z-fighters ultimately defeated the threat, the numerous small losses that Goku experienced against these characters felt like a significant setback.

1 Goku in the Tournament of Power

A Defeat Filled With Minor Losses And A Major Win

  • Anime: Dragon Ball Super
  • Episodes: Tournament of Power Arc

Although Goku fought Jiren and Frieza until the tournament’s finale, ultimately winning by means of self-sacrifice, it’s important to note that he didn’t emerge victorious in every battle. According to the competition rules, a competitor is only considered defeated when they are knocked off the platform. As such, Goku technically lost to his other opponents, but not until the very end, even though he was unable to secure a win against them.

In his encounters against Kale, Golden Frieza, and Jiren, Goku’s lack of caution proved costly as he failed to secure victories during these battles. Although Goku ultimately managed to defeat Jiren with the aid of Frieza and Android 17, both Goku and Frieza had to make the ultimate sacrifice, paving the way for 17’s victory. This unusual outcome can be seen as both a loss and a win for Goku.

Read More

2024-09-17 17:35