Overview
- Kaioken amplifies a fighter’s power but comes with significant risks, including potential exhaustion from managing intense ki.
- Goku is the sole character to have mastered Kaioken, capable of utilizing it at a multiplier of up to x20, though he never applies it alongside Super Saiyan transformations.
- Attempting to merge Kaioken with Super Saiyan is fraught with danger, mainly due to the emotional strain that Super Saiyan transformations impose on ki control.
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Kaioken is recognized as one of the earliest and most exciting power enhancements showcased in Dragon Ball. While it may not match the potency of transformations like Super Saiyan, it stands out for its complexity and accompanying drawbacks, particularly the risk of severe fatigue during its usage.
Among the character roster, Goku remains the only one skilled in utilizing Kaioken, particularly noted in the Dragon Ball Z anime. When the Super Saiyan form made its debut, fans were eager to see a fusion of both abilities. Surprisingly, Goku never accomplishes this in the manga. What prevents him from combining these formidable techniques for greater strength?
What Is Kaioken in Dragon Ball?
Kaioken, also referred to as “Kaio-ken”or King Kai Fist, is a technique first developed by King Kai (North Kai). This ability elevates the user’s strength, power, and speed but at a cost—expert control of their ki is essential.
When activated, the user’s aura shifts to a vibrant red and remains continuous. The technique induces intense stress and can even generate excessive heat, putting the user’s life in jeopardy and risk of exhaustion while allowing them to encounter stronger foes.
Goku’s Journey to Learning Kaioken
Goku acquired the Kaioken technique during his training in preparation for the Saiyan threat during the Dragon Ball Z saga. As this technique was passed down by North Kai, Goku learned it in the Other World.
King Kai instructed Goku in both Kaioken and the Spirit Bomb, the latter becoming a signature technique for him. Kaioken plays a significant role in DBZ until Goku’s transformation into Super Saiyan, after which its use diminishes.
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In his first encounter with Nappa, Goku demonstrates Kaioken. There are several multipliers for the technique, with his maximum being Kaioken x20. Here are the various levels that Goku employs:
- Kaioken
- Kaioken x2
- Kaioken x3
- Kaioken x4
- Kaioken x10
- Kaioken x20
With increased power comes heightened difficulty in ki control, implicating greater risks when executing the technique.
It’s essential to note that Kaioken is classified as a technique rather than a transformation. This distinction implies the theoretical potential for its combination with Super Saiyan or other transformation states.
The Challenges of Combining Kaioken and Super Saiyan
Although Kaioken is not a transformation, the possibility to utilize it while in a Super Saiyan form exists. In the original manga, this combination is never achieved, but Goku does employ it as Super Kaioken a few times in the anime. Additionally, he merges Kaioken with Super Saiyan Blue, termed Blue Kaioken, in the Dragon Ball Super anime.
However, in the manga, Goku’s usage is primarily focused on Blue Kaioken. Since Akira Toriyama was involved in the Super manga, many fans suspect that he intended for Goku to avoid mixing Kaioken with other forms, aside from Super Saiyan Blue. Consequently, some fans consider Super Kaioken to be non-canon.
So, what prevents Goku from utilizing Kaioken in the manga? The answer lies in the dynamics presented in Dragon Ball Super: Kaioken combined with Super Saiyan creates a perilous scenario. Super Saiyan transformations inherently involve emotional stress, which disrupts the ki control essential for Kaioken’s effectiveness.
Despite its inherent dangers, Goku acknowledges the rewards that could come with this combination. He believes that Super Saiyan Blue, which demands absolute control, paired with the calm focus from Kaioken, could unleash unprecedented levels of power.
— Goku in DBS
This insight clarifies why Goku “canonically”limits his Kaioken usage to Super Saiyan Blue, which inherently promotes a calm state of mind, facilitating an effective combination with Kaioken while minimizing its risks.
Why Haven’t Others Learned Kaioken?
The lack of clarity regarding why other Z Warriors trained by King Kai have not mastered Kaioken leaves room for speculation. Some suggest that the human physiology may not support the technique as effectively as a Saiyan’s does, which may explain Goku’s unique capability.
Regarding other Saiyans, the reluctance to pursue Kaioken may stem from the associated dangers or the advantages of transforming into Super Saiyan, perceived as a more feasible route to gaining power. While these reasons are plausible within the narrative context, it’s likely that Toriyama opted to explore different paths, which ultimately sidelined Kaioken.
With the possibility that Kaioken cannot be effectively combined with Super Saiyan, it becomes less plausible for others to seek mastery over it.
For those interested, Dragon Ball is available for streaming on Crunchyroll and various other platforms.