Modern Anime Characters Goku Can't Beat (2024)

A major reason for anime's explosive growth over the past two decades is the presence of iconic franchises like Dragon Ball. The Dragon Ball manga and anime have inspired other creators, such as Masashi Kishimoto and Eiichiro Oda, who made Naruto and One Piece, respectively. Dragon Ball, which follows the adventures of the all-powerful Saiyan known as Son Goku, has been a mainstay in the anime medium since it debuted in the 1980s.

Goku's reputation as anime's strongest character is well-deserved — he's literally earned the status of a Super Saiyan God by the events of Dragon Ball Super, placing him on equal footing with various Gods of Destruction. Still, there are several other characters within the medium who, either through sheer power or savvy strategy, could defeat Goku in one-on-one combat.

Updated on July 16, 2024, by Natasha Elder: Anime fans love to discuss the most powerful characters, comparing protagonists and villains from different franchises. Goku often comes up in these conversations, considering that he is both one of the strongest characters and one of the most well-known. However, Goku has been defeated more than once by characters in the Dragon Ball universe, and there are certain characters from other anime that would be able to beat him, as well. We wanted to include more characters that would be able to beat Goku and explain in more detail why the other characters would be able to defeat him.

15 Suguru Geto Has Multiple Game-Changing Tricks Up His Sleeve

He Doesn't Feel the Need to Play Fair to Win

When it comes to the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, no character is stronger than the series' most popular character, Satoru Gojo. However, another, even craftier jujutsu sorcerer is willing to go to the extreme lengths that it would take to defeat Goku — Suguru Geto. While not as strong as Gojo directly, his intelligence and willingness to work outside the realms of morality and the law give him an edge.

Suguru Geto trained to become a jujutsu sorcerer alongside Gojo, but after the death of the Star Plasma Vessel, he made a sharp turn towards evil. While he lacks the raw strength of his former ally, Geto is more than willing to use underhanded tactics to defeat opponents. Goku would annihilate Geto in a fair one-on-one, but with objects like the Prison Realm at his disposal, the jujutsu sorcerer stands a legitimate chance at beating Goku.

Jujutsu Kaisen

TV-MA

A boy swallows a cursed talisman - the finger of a demon - and becomes cursed himself. He enters a shaman's school to be able to locate the demon's other body parts and thus exorcise himself.

Creator

Gege Akutami

Cast

Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto

Studio

MAPPA

14 Kakashi Hatake's Strongest Form Could Give Any Opponent Issues

His Use of Another Dimension Could Circumvent Goku's Defenses

The Naruto franchise has been compared to Dragon Ball since its inception, so it's only appropriate that one of its characters would be a match against Goku. Although the Super Saiyan's offensive firepower far exceeds that of any shinobi, Kakashi Hatake might be able to overcome this deficit with the powers unlocked by his Sharingan. While challenging, Kakashi’s genius-level intellect combined with his kekkei genkai abilities give him the chance to defeat Goku.

The vast majority of Kakashi's techniques wouldn't be able to leave a scratch on Goku. That being said, his dual-Mangekyo Sharingan attacks teleport their target to another dimension; they're legitimately dangerous against any opponent and potentially provide a way to circumnavigate Goku's impenetrable defense. Additionally, the Kamui ability allows Kakashi to absorb attacks such as the Kamehameha, so Goku is also hindered in his ability to use his most powerful attacks.

Naruto

Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.

Genre

Shonen , Anime , Manga , Action-Adventure

Created by

Masashi Kishimoto

First Film

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash In the Land of Snow

Latest Film

Boruto: Naruto the Movie

First TV Show

Naruto

Latest TV Show

Boruto

First Episode Air Date

September 21, 1999

Cast

Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Noriaki Sugiyama , Yuri Lowenthal , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Dave Wittenberg

Spin-offs

Boruto

TV Show(s)

Naruto , Naruto: Shippuden

Video Game(s)

Naruto Ninja Council 3 , Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja , Naruto: Path Of The Ninja , Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm , Naruto x Boruto: Ninja Voltage , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact

Manga Release Date

August 6, 2003

Manga Volumes

72

13 Griffith Can Control And Distort Aspects Of Reality

He Stands Among the Strongest Demons Due to His Fighting Prowess

Goku gains the powers of a Super Saiyan God during the events of Dragon Ball Super, elevating him to a level of strength that is incomparable to other mortal figures. However, Berserk's primary antagonist, Griffith, may still stand a chance, given that he is no mere mortal. Rather, Griffith is a demon that has access to a medley of incredibly powerful abilities.

During the events of Berserk, Griffith makes a deal to become a member of the God Hand — a group of five devil-like figures that preside over demonkind. Their strength is capable of altering reality itself, so there's no telling what Griffith could do against a single opponent. As Femto, Griffith has many powers, such as controlling gravity, and is temporarily invincible, making it very difficult for Goku to land any meaningful hits.

Berserk (1997)

TV-MA

Anime

Action

Fantasy

Guts, a wandering mercenary, joins the Band of the Hawk after being defeated in a duel by Griffith, the group's leader and founder. Together, they dominate every battle, but something menacing lurks in the shadows.

Release Date

October 7, 1997

Cast

Marc Diraison , Kevin T. Collins , Carrie Keranen , Michelle Newman , Christopher Kromer , Jeff Ward , Mark Sebastian , J , David Brimmer , Sean Schemmel

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Writers

Yasuhiro Imagawa

Franchise(s)

Berserk

Directors

Naohito Takahashi

12 Arceus' Deific Nature Makes It A Natural Opponent To Goku's Super Saiyan God Form

He Can Even Affect the Space-Time Continuum

At its core, Pokémon is a battle anime, and during Ash Ketchum's journey, he encounters some of the most powerful Pokémon of all time. One of these creatures, Arceus, is thought to be the creator of the series' universe, allowing it to affect the space-time continuum with various abilities. This would prove difficult to handle for Goku who, while strong, doesn’t necessarily have a response to such manipulations.

As strong as Arceus' physical and elemental attacks are, they wouldn't pose much of a threat to Dragon Ball's Goku. However, the Pokémon's ability to alter reality is a complete x-factor, so if the iconic Saiyan lets his guard down, then he could very easily be incapacitated by the creature. Additionally, Arceus can manipulate reality itself. As such, he should be able to beat Goku as long as he is fast enough to attack first.

Pokémon

TV-Y7

Anime

Action

Adventure

Ash Ketchum, his yellow pet Pikachu, and his human friends explore a world of powerful creatures.

Release Date

September 8, 1998

Cast

Veronica Taylor , Eric Stuart , Rachael Lillis , Sarah Natochenny , Bill Rogers , Rica Matsumoto , Ikue Ootani

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

25

Studio

OLM Inc.

Creator

Junichi Masuda, Ken Sugimori, Satoshi Tajiri

See Also

Top 10 Strongest Anime Characters15 Anime Characters Who Can Definitely Defeat SaitamaTop 10 Most Powerful Anime Demon Lords | Articles on WatchMojo.comThe 20 Most Powerful Anime Gods, Officially Ranked

11 The Antispiral Borders On Invincibility

This Collective Consciousness Controls Reality

The world of Gurren Lagann is full of usable energy known as Spiral Power; unfortunately, the overuse of this energy is prophesied to cause the end of the universe. In response to its apocalyptic potential, a species decides to purge themselves of Spiral Power, and as a result of their actions, they merge into a singular being that has powers almost unmatched by any other.

This collective consciousness, referred to as the Antispiral, grows strong enough to control reality itself, making it a legitimate threat to Dragon Ball's protagonist. In addition to this ability, Antispiral can also alter probability, lowering the durability of his opponents while raising his own to effectively become invulnerable. Although Goku has defeated characters with the ability to manipulate time and space, he would almost certainly be overwhelmed by the omnipotent, invincible antagonist of Gurren Lagann.

Gurren Lagann

TV-14

Anime

Sci-Fi

Where to Watch

• stream
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• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Two friends, Simon and Kamina, become the symbols of rebellion against the powerful Spiral King, who forced mankind into subterranean villages.

Release Date

April 1, 2007

Cast

Shizuka Ito , Tetsuya Kakihara , Yuri Lowenthal , Michelle Ruff , Marina Inoue , Steve Blum

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Gainax

Creator

Hiroyuki Imaishi

Number of Episodes

27

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Funimation , Hulu

10 Ryuk Harnesses The Power Of Death Itself

His Ability to Harness Souls Would Overcome Goku's Sheer Strength

The protagonist of Death Note, Light Yagami, wreaks havoc throughout Japan with the abilities of his journal, the Death Note — but none of his actions would have been possible were it not for his otherworldly companion, Ryuk. The ancient being hails from the Shinigami Realm, and after growing bored with living among his peers, he departs for the land of the living.

As a Shinigami, Ryuk has a distinct advantage over those living in the mortal realm. What makes this match-up even more challenging for Goku is the fact that Ryuk can’t be killed by disease, poison, or any kind of weapon as long as he keeps killing humans to extend his own life. There seem to be few limits to his ability to harvest souls, so despite Goku's overwhelming strength, the Saiyan would presumably be helpless to stop Ryuk if the Shinigami decided to claim his life.

Death Note (2006)

TV-14

Animation

Crime

Drama

Where to Watch

• stream
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Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Original title: Death Note: Desu nôto.
An intelligent high school student goes on a secret crusade to eliminate criminals from the world after discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written into it.

Release Date

October 21, 2007

Cast

Mamoru Miyano , Brad Swaile , Vincent Tong , Ryō Naitō , Trevor Devall

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Studio

Madhouse

Production Company

D.N. Dream Partners, Madhouse, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Shueisha, Video Audio Project (VAP)

Number of Episodes

37

9 Meliodas' Unique Ability Would Reflect Goku's Energy Attacks Back at Him

He Also Has Incredible Healing Abilities, Speed, and Strength

Meliodas is the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins, an eclectic group of wrongly accused criminals with good hearts who protect the Kingdom of Liones. Each of the members is associated with a deadly sin, with Meliodas being associated with the sin of wrath. It is fitting, as he had destroyed a powerful kingdom by the name of Danafor accidentally when he fell into a rage after the death of his lover.

As a demon, Meliodas can fly, heal himself, and absorb the souls of others, as well as retain enhanced durability and increased strength. He can also use the power of darkness to create offensive and defensive objects. Additionally, Meliodas can counter any magical attacks, such as Goku’s Kamehameha. By negating Goku’s energy-based attacks and more than matching his physical attacks, Meliodas would be able to beat Goku.

The Seven Deadly Sins

TV-14

Action

Adventure

The story of the Seven Deadly Sins, a group of warriors who were wrongly accused of a crime they didn't commit and went on a quest to vindicate themselves.

Release Date

November 1, 2015

Cast

Bryce Papenbrook , Erika Harlacher , Max Mittelman

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

5 Seasons

Creator

Nakaba Suzuki

Production Company

A-1 Pictures, Studio DEEN

8 Rimuru Tempest Doesn't Take Damage from Physical or Spiritual Attacks

He Also Doesn't Feel Pain

Rimuru Tempest is the main character in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. As a slime, Rimuru wants to create a nation in which he and his friends are able to survive in peace. To do so, he destroyed the Falmuth army and became a demon lord. As a slime, Rimuru is immune to physical and spiritual attacks, and can’t even feel pain. As such, it would be very difficult for Goku to land a hit that would actually affect Rimuru.

In addition to these base immunities, Rimuru can also turn himself intangible, manipulate the sleep, fear, and madness of his opponents, and use precognition. The array of abilities to which Rimuru has access would keep Goku on his toes. Rimuru is also analytical, however, and could most likely respond to any of Goku’s attempts to dodge or counterattack, leading to Rimuru winning their fight.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

TV-PG

Action-Adventure

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

See Also

Nyx | Night Goddess, Primordial Deity, Greek Goddess

Not available

*Availability in US

Average 37-year-old Minami Satoru dies and is reincarnated as the most unremarkable creature imaginable-a slime.

Release Date

October 2, 2018

Cast

Miho Okasaki , Megumi Toyoguchi , Mao Ichimichi , Makoto Furukawa

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

Studio

Eight Bit

Creator

Fuse

Sequel

The Slime Diaries

Number of Episodes

48

7 Giorno Giovanna's Stand Gives Him an Edge

He Can Heal Himself Through Its Abilities

While he is not strong enough to beat Goku on his own, Giorno Giovanna from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is capable of beating the Saiyan through the use of his stand, Gold Experience. Gold Experience is able to create and manipulate different forms of life, which allows Giorno to track others, as well as disguise himself. More importantly, however, Golden Experience can unleash a rapid flurry of deadly punches that Goku would be hard-pressed to deal with.

While the fight might be somewhat even to begin, Gold Experience gained a power boost after Giorno stabbed it with the Stand-creating Arrow. With increased power and life-manipulating abilities, his punches become even more deadly. Furthermore, Gold Experience acquired the ability to “Return to Zero,” which means that he nullifies all actions and willpower, effectively healing any damage Giorno accrues. With this, he can undo all Goku’s progress in the fight at any point.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

TV-14

Animation

Action

Adcenture

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

The story of the Joestar family, who are possessed with intense psychic strength, and the adventures each member encounters throughout their lives.

Release Date

October 4, 2012

Cast

David Vincent , Matthew Mercer , Daisuke Ono , Unshô Ishizuka , Tôru Ohkawa

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

5

Creator

Hirohiko Araki

6 Anos Voldigoad Can Cast a Variety of Spells

He Also Has Remarkable Physical Abilities

Once known as the Demon King of Tyranny, Anos Voldigoad was once known for his brutality and total control. However, he reincarnated into the Magical Age after sacrificing his life to separate the world into four. Despite this setback, he is still an incredibly powerful demon. Anos has immense strength and speed, corrosive blood, is highly intelligent and can cast a variety of spells that enable him to do things such as put the target in an almost-permanent dream state or hinder their movements.

In addition to these magical abilities, Anos also has several different weapons at his disposal. Goku is very strong and fast, himself, so he could most likely keep up if those were the attributes in question. Once Anos’ other abilities are factored in, however, it becomes clear that he is one of the characters that is capable of defeating Goku.

The Misfit of Demon King Academy

TV-14

Adventure

Comedy

Where to Watch

• stream
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• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

A demon mage reincarnates into the body of his descendant hoping to find an era where he can have some peace and quiet. He ends up going to a school run by his significantly weaker descendants.

Release Date

July 4, 2020

Cast

Aleks Le , Hayley Mills

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

Studio

Silver Link

Number of Episodes

20

5 Haruhi Suzumiya Can Alter Reality Itself

Though She Isn't Fully Aware of the Ability, She Is Still Exceptionally Strong

Haruhi Suzumiya is not a character that initially looks like someone who could be able to beat Goku, given that she is a high schooler interested in looking for the supernatural. However, she can create and manipulate reality, albeit subconsciously. While this happens more frequently when she is happy, she can manipulate things to her liking when in any mood. In fact, the greatest fear of the other members of the club, who happen to be an alien, time traveler, and esper, is that she gets bored enough and creates a close space, thus disrupting the current reality.

These abilities are something that Goku would struggle to deal with. As her desires are manifested through her subconscious, it is possible that Goku would not be able to move quickly enough to stop her before she alters reality. Additionally, when she is upset she creates celestials, which destroy the reality around them. This would mean Goku has additional opponents he would have to fight in addition to her.

The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya

TV-14

Comedy

Fantasy

The crazy adventures of the SOS Brigade, led by the insane but charismatic Haruhi.

Release Date

April 2, 2006

Cast

Tomokazu Sugita , Crispin Freeman , Wendee Lee

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Creator

Nagaru Tanigawa

Production Company

Kadokawa Entertainment, Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Kyoto Animation

4 The Truth May Be Impossible To Defeat

The Truth is Omnipotent

In terms of traditional combat strength, Dragon Ball's Goku's sheer power is virtually unmatched. However, against a deity like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's The Truth, not even Goku's strongest attacks would be enough to win a one-on-one battle. As the closest thing that the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood series has to a god, The Truth acts as all the things in the universe, including people.

The Truth is all-powerful, possessing the ability to manipulate the very fabric of existence itself. With access to all Alchemical knowledge and the ability to both significantly damage others and heal, The Truth has an extensive list of advantageous attributes. While the deity's defensive capabilities are unknown, it's unlikely that any figure from the mortal realm would be able to significantly damage it, not even someone as strong as Goku.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Two brothers search for a Philosopher's Stone after an attempt to revive their deceased mother goes awry and leaves them in damaged physical forms.

Release Date

April 5, 2009

Cast

Romi Park , Rie Kugimiya , Vic Mignogna , Maxey Whitehead

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

3 Julius Novachrono Time Magic Could Negate Goku's Raw Strength

He is Also an Intelligent Fighter WhoiCould Plan for Goku's Attacks

Black Clover follows the adventures of Asta, a young mage working to overcome his natural shortcomings. Along with many other wizards in the Clover Kingdom, Asta's ultimate goal is to become the next Wizard King — a position currently held by the Time Magic user, Julius Novachrono. As Wizard King, Julius has been recognized as the strongest mage in the Clover Kingdom and is an instrumental component of the military.

Using his magic, Julius Novachrono can take, control, and store time from his opponents. This, coupled with his battle-savvy and near-instantaneous movement, could legitimately pose a threat to Dragon Ball's Goku. If the events of Dragon Ball GT are any indication, then the Super Saiyan has already demonstrated that he's vulnerable to age manipulation, making Julius’ skillset particularly dangerous. Thus, it is likely that Julius is able to beat Goku.

Black Clover (2017)

TV-PG

Action-Adventure

Fantasy

Where to Watch

• stream
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Not available

*Availability in US

Asta and Yuno were abandoned together at the same church and have been inseparable since. As children, they promised that they would compete against each other to see who would become the next Emperor Magus.

Release Date

October 3, 2017

Cast

Dallas Reid , Jill Harris , Christopher Sabat , Micah Solusod , Brandon McInnis , Lydia MacKay

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

4

Studio

Pierrot

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

2 Saitama Could Be The Strongest Human In Anime History

Saitama's Limits Are Yet to Be Seen

In the eyes of many shōnen fans, One-Punch Man's Saitama is the sole anime character that stands a chance against Goku in one-on-one combat. The baldheaded hero takes out world-level threats without breaking a sweat, making him a prime candidate to unseat Goku as the anime medium's strongest fighter. Even when fighting aliens that have conquered multiple planets, such as Lord Boros, Saitama holds back until the end.

One-Punch Man's protagonist can travel to the Moon and back in an instant, and if he were to go all-out, there's no doubt that he could destroy an entire planet with a single strike. He has even defeated other skilled fighters, such as Suiryu, by accident due to the immense strength that he has. With Saitama's true potential still a mystery, Goku would be wise not to take him lightly.

One-Punch Man

TV-PG

Anime

Action

Comedy

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

The story of Saitama, a hero that does it just for fun & can defeat his enemies with a single punch.

Release Date

October 5, 2015

Cast

Makoto Furukawa , Kaito Ishikawa , Max Mittelman , Zach Aguilar , Hiromichi Tezuka , Robbie Daymond , Kyle Hebert , Shôta Yamamoto

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

1 Beerus Still Reigns Supreme In Dragon Ball Super

He is Known as The God of Destruction and Has Destroyed Entire Planets

The Dragon Ball franchise will always revolve around Goku and the Z Fighters, but they're no longer the strongest characters in the universe. In fact, Beerus, the God of Destruction, could probably take on the entire cast of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, even after their respective power-ups throughout Dragon Ball Super. Throughout the series, other characters remark that Beerus is incredibly strong, with Whis even mentioning he could destroy entire solar systems without even trying.

On multiple occasions, Goku attempts to defeat Beerus, and in each instance, the God of Destruction emerges as the undisputed victor. While the pair have yet to square off since Goku unlocked his Ultra Instinct form, Beerus remains the favorite in any battle between the two, especially as it has been established that he hasn’t gone above 70% of his power when dueling him in the past.

Dragon Ball Super

TV-PG

Anime

Action

Adventure

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

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.

Release Date

January 7, 2017

Cast

Masako Nozawa , Takeshi Kusao , Ryô Horikawa , Hiromi Tsuru

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

5