Dragon Ballis arguably the most well-known shōnen anime series of all time, and the Kamehameha is a big reason why. Shōnen anime series are defined by their characters, and in a good shōnen series, those characters are defined by the attacks that they use. Most characters inDragon Ballhave great attacks that are tied closely to their personality. Goku’s Kamehameha is more than the first Energy Wave attack he learned.
It’s a representation of the people that have helped him out.Master Roshi was the first person to show him the attack. Goku was able to learn it so quickly because Grandpa Gohan had been teaching him. Since then, Goku’s been using the Turtle School’s textbook technique as one of his signature attacks, defending the Earth from all manner of monsters looking to destroy it.
7Gogeta’s Kamehameha Vs. Broly
Broly Would’ve Been Obliterated If It Weren’t For The Dragon Balls
Dragon Ball Super: Brolybrought one of the most monstrous characters inDragon Ballback into the series very well. Broly was, and still is, the Legendary Super Saiyan. He’s able to achieve a Berserker form of Super Saiyan that no other Saiyan in Universe 7 can even come close to. While he becomes an ally to Goku and Vegeta, he doesn’t start that way.
Frieza convinced Broly to fight his fellow Saiyans, and their fight was a visual spectacle. Even though Goku and Vegeta have way more experience than Broly in battle, his natural potential had them against the ropes. Even together in their Super Saiyan Blue forms, they were no match for Broly.
They had to teleport away and fuse in order to take Broly down. While Goku and Vegeta didn’t have the strength to win separately, together as Gogeta, they were more than enough to take him down. Gogeta transforms into a Super Saiyan Blue and starts dominating the misled Broly.
Gogeta then decided to end the fight with arguablythe strongest Kamehameha the series has ever seen.Luckily for Broly, Cheelai wished for him to return to Planet Vampa, saving him from a world-shaking Kamehameha he would’ve had no chance of surviving.
6Goku’s Instant Kamehameha Vs. Cell
Goku Combined Two Of His Best Techniques Into One
Cell was the strongest threat any of the Z Fighters had ever faced during the Cell Arc. He’s one of thestrongest villains inDragon Balland was more than happy to show it off. Goku had a hard time against the Bio-Android, and that was after he spent a considerable amount of time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber getting ready.
When Cell wanted to toy with the Z Fighters, he created Cell Jrs. — tiny versions of himself that were deadly. He wanted to make sure that nobody interfered with his fight against Goku. During their fight, Goku realized that Cell was unlike any enemy he had faced before. He would have to pull out all the stops if he wanted to take Cell down.
Goku then flew to the sky and charged a Kamehameha. Cell and the Z Fighters alike couldn’t believe it, as Goku’s Kamehameha would have easily destroyed the entire world. At the last second, Goku used his Instant Transmission technique to appear right next to Cell,obliterating him without remorse.
Goku had to use two incredibly tough techniques at the same time. Unfortunately for the Saiyan, it wasn’t enough to fully get rid of Cell. Still, it’s one of the coolest Kamehamehas in the series because of how difficult it was for Goku to pull it off.
5The First Ever Kamehameha
Master Roshi’s Signature Attack Has Gone On To Make Waves
Goku made the Kamehameha famous, but he wasn’t the person who created the technique. The credit goes to none other than Master Roshi himself. The leader of the Turtle School was the first person to ever use the iconic energy wave attack. The first time he used it on-screen could have gone better, however.
In the originalDragon Ball,the Ox-King reached out to Master Roshi when a giant fire erupted at his castle. For whatever reason, Master Roshi thought that the Kamehameha would fix everything. He then disrobes and powers up, growing a ton of muscles and transforming into his Max Power form.
Master Roshi then launchesthe first ever Energy Wave attack inDragon Ball.His Kamehameha not only destroys the fire, but it also destroys the Ox-King’s entire castle. It’s a hilarious moment that shows that, even with all his wisdom, Master Roshi definitely isn’t one ofthe smartest characters inDragon Ball.
4Ultra Instinct Goku Vs. Kefla
Goku Took The Kamehameha To New Heights In The Tournament Of Power
Ultra Instinct isGoku’s strongest form inDragon Ball.During the Tournament of Power, Goku unlocks a new power that makes the Gods of Destruction themselves stand and watch. It’s an insanely powerful form that allows Goku’s body to move on its own, not restricting itself to a command coming from Goku’s brain.
The Tournament of Power was filled with the strongest fighters in the multiverse. Two of those fighters were Caulifla and Kale, two Saiyans from Universe 6. They combined using the Potara Earrings, creating the first female fusion inDragon Ballnamed Kefla.
Kefla is a beast. She has Kale’s Legendary Super Saiyan energy combined with Caulifla’s wanton determination. Goku knew that Kefla could have won the entire tournament, so he did what he could to get her knocked out.
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The Kamehameha has always been a strong Energy Wave attack, but Goku made it so much more inDragon Ball Super.When Kefla was firing Wave after Wave at him,Goku used his Kamehameha to surfon her attacks and deliver a point-black Kamehameha at the strongest fighter from Universe 6.
3Super Saiyan 4 Goku Vs. Gomah
Goku’s Kamehameha Broke Through All Three Demon Realms At Once
Dragon Ball DAIMAwas a breath of fresh air in theDragon Ballfranchise. It featured some of the funniest moments in the franchise, great fights, and some ofthe best transformations in anime. One of the greatest things thatDAIMAdid was bring Super Saiyan 4 back to the franchise.
While it’s disputable whetherDragon Ball DAIMAis canon or not, Super Saiyan 4 Goku is inarguably one of the greatest things to happen toDragon Ball.With his new form, Goku was able to use power on an entirely different level. One of his greatest feats of strength was the Kamehameha he used against Evil Third Eye Gomah.
Finally returned to his adult form, Goku showed Gomah each of his Super Saiyan transformations before finally reaching the fourth stage. He then charged up his textbook Kamehameha, launching it straight at the Demon King.
Goku’s Kamehameha was so powerful thatit not only blew a hole clean through Gomah, but through each of the three Demon Realms as well. It might be Goku’s strongest Kamehameha ever while not in a divine or fused state, showing just how powerful Super Saiyan 4 really is.
2The Father-Son Kamehameha
One Of The Most Emotional Moments In Dragon Ball
The Cell Games were some of the most emotional episodes inDragon Ball Z.Not only was Cell measurably stronger than all the Z Fighters, but he was sadistic. He enjoyed toying with them cruelly, picking them apart slowly to fuel Gohan’s rage.
Unfortunately for Cell, that was exactly what Gohan needed to turn into the series' first ever Super Saiyan 2. With his new power, Gohan was much stronger than Cell, but Gohan got arrogant. Instead of just defeating Cell quickly, he toyed with the Bio-Android just like Cell did with his friends.
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Gohan’s inability to close the fight out quickly cost Goku his life. Not only did Goku die trying to protect the Z Fighters, but Cell was able to absorb Goku and come back even stronger. He then killed Trunks in an instant, laughing at Goku for not being able to finish the job.
This all led toone of the most heated Energy Wave duals inDragon Ball.Cell launched a Kamehameha at Gohan and Gohan returned the favor. Gohan still doubted himself, but Goku told his son to unleash everything he had and use his anger to his advantage. It worked; finally, Cell was defeated.
1Goku’s Kaio-Ken Kamehameha Vs. Vegeta
The Kamehameha That Defined Dragon Ball Z As An All-Time Great
The Kamehameha has gone through so many transformations. It started as an attack that forced Master Roshi to physically transform to use it. It’s an attack Goku, Gohan, Goten, and even Cell have used several times. Goku has used it to surf other energy waves, Gohan has used it to defeat some of the strongest villains in the series, and Gogeta has even used it to defend the Earth from the beastly threat that was Broly.
If it wasn’t for Goku’s Kaio-Ken Kamehameha versus Vegeta, however, none of these other attacks would have happened. Before Vegeta was one of the Earth’s greatest defenders, he was a threat. He wanted to destroy the Earth because his pride was hurt in a fight against Goku.
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Towards the end of their fight, Vegeta flew in the air and charged up his signature Galick Gun and pointed it right at the Earth. Goku knew he had no other choice, powering up his Kaio-Ken and charging his own Kamehameha.
Goku’s Kamehameha and Vegeta’s Galick Gun made one ofthe most iconic Energy Wave dualsDragon Ballhas ever seen.Goku powers up to Kaio-Ken x4 and wins the dual, protecting the Earth anddefeating the Prince of all Saiyansfor the first time ever.
