The Energon Pub

Which of the four major antagonist of their respective arcs is the toughest opponent that Goku has faced in the DBZ canon (not including Battle of Gods)

Vegeta(Scouter)
Freeza
Cell
Buu(all three battles)


Personally I'll rate the toughest battle based on several criterias.

1) Son Goku using everything that he has learned up to the point of the battle, no holding back.
2) Son Goku prepared/trained himself to the limit before to facing this person.
3) Son Goku is the only that could defeat this villain during that battle, so he cannot afford to lose.
4) Despite using full strength, he couldn't manage to fight the opponent without help.


Based on my personal criteria my pick goes down to:-

Goku VS Vegeta(Scouter)
Goku VS Freeza


GOKU VS VEGETA(Scouter)

-The Z Fighters failed to defeat the Saiyan, so only Goku has the power to defeat them.
-Goku trained himself to the limit with King Kai learning new technique.
-Goku fought Vegeta to a stand still, after forcing his body to use more Kaioken.
-Even that, Vegeta pushed himself into Ozaru form, beating Goku senseless that Krillin, Gohan and Yajirobe needed to help him.
-He used the Spirit Bomb, but was to injured to throw the Spirit Bomb. Gohan bounced it to Vegeta, even so failed to defeat him.


GOKU VS FREEZA

-Goku trained, almost killing himself by injuring his body during the trip to Namek.
-After Vegeta's death, Goku is the only one that could stand a chance against Freeza.
-Goku used 100x Kaioken against Freeza, at the edge of his limit, but failed to defeat Freeza.
-Goku couldn't managed to use the Spirit Bomb if Krillin, GOhan and Piccolo didn't help him.
-Even that the Spirit Bomb failed to defeat Freeza.
-Goku's pretty much used everything he has. Super Saiyan form was not something he was familiar with at the time, nor does he could access it.


I'm pretty much till today couldn't pick which of these two is the toughest fight. I like the Namek Saga very much, but rewatching Goku VS Vegeta, thats quite epic.

What is your pick?

Canonically, it's Beerus. Even when Goku attained Godhood and Beerus was only fighting at 80%, Goku still couldn't handle him.

EDIT: And then I read "not including battle of Gods" because I never learned to not skim posts. Probably Cell, since he never actually beat Cell.

Weren't his toughest fights in dragon ball? During the tournaments? He didn't best Roshi the first time, and it s neck and neck the whole fight.

Vegeta or Buu. Its been said he could've beat Cell if he wasnt testing Gohan. Vegeta and Buu actually killed Goku.

Musha wrote:Vegeta or Buu. Its been said he could've beat Cell if he wasnt testing Gohan. Vegeta and Buu actually killed Goku.

No they didn't. Goku's only two deaths were caused by Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon and Cell's self-destruct.

Five pretty stupid names there. Freeza might win because Freezas are heavy, especially when they fall on you. Powerglide actually wins by zapping everyone with his big zapper.