Goku's 10 Greatest Kamehamehas in Dragon Ball History

The Kamehameha has been a staple throughout Dragon Ball's storied 40-plus years of highly successful adaptations, spin-offs, sequels, and franchise collaborations, and the attack is only getting better as time goes on. While certain techniques are spectacles to behold, like Goku's other signature move, the Spirit Bomb, or Vegeta's Final Flash, most Dragon Ball fans would agree that there's nothing quite as exciting as a fully-charged Kamehameha. Many have been fired throughout the series, and these 10 are Goku's very best.

10 Goku's First Kamehameha

Goku's First Ever Kamehameha Doesn't Pack Much of a Punch, but It Does Pack Charm

Though the Kamehameha is typically associated with Goku, it is the most widely used signature attack in Dragon Ball. The move was initially created by Master Roshi several years before the events of the main series, and has become a staple for all Turtle School students. When first mentioned, the Kamehameha was presented as an elevated martial arts technique, and one that would take years for a fighter to learn.

Naturally, the young Goku clasped his hands together, performed the typical motion, and fired a Kamehameha after watching Roshi do the same, destroying a car in the process. It certainly wasn't Goku's most powerful use of the attack, but it was the first of many more to come, and gave an early hint that very little would stop Goku from consistently pushing beyond his limits.

9 Feet Kamehameha vs. Piccolo

Goku Showcases a Different Way to Use the Kamehameha

Dragon Ball fans know what to expect with the Kamehameha. Nearly every time it's used, there's a rather lengthy build-up process that involves a low-stance, hands cupped to the side, while the user slowly chants the attack's name. That sequence hasn't changed all that much, though Goku has showcased the Kamehameha's versatility on a number of occasions. Its most unique use, however, came against Piccolo during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament.

Goku, in an attempt to launch a surprise attack that would keep his hands free, launched a Kamehameha straight into the ground with his feet, propelling himself upwards towards Piccolo and allowing him to land a double-fisted punch. Goku has used the Kamehameha countless times throughout Dragon Ball, but it hasn't been used quite as creatively since his fight with the then-villainous Piccolo Jr. during the 23rd World Tournament.

8 Path to Power Kamehameha

The Film-Original Kamehameha Is One of Goku's Most Emotional

Despite the franchise's ongoing and impressive success, Dragon Ball was in an odd spot following the completion of Dragon Ball Z. In an attempt to recapture some of the series' early magic, the anime side of things returned to its roots. Alongside the 1996 premiere of Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball: Path to Power hit Japanese theaters and acted as an alternate re-telling of the early events of Akira Toriyama's original manga, using the Dragon Ball GT art style and character designs.

Later in the film, Goku charges up a large, emotion-fueled Kamehameha in an effort to defeat Staff Officer Black, in what was one of the prettiest sequences in the series up to that point. Path to Power isn't a very relevant entry in the franchise today, especially to newer fans of Dragon Ball, but long-time fans will likely look back on Goku's Kamehameha fondly.

7 Family Kamehameha

The Son Family Combines their Strength to Defeat Broly

Broly is one of Dragon Ball's most popular characters, though his track record is somewhat spotty in regard to the quality of his movies. The original 1993 film is still widely appreciated by viewers, though the other two Dragon Ball Z Broly movies aren't quite as beloved by fans. 2018's Dragon Ball Super: Broly then returned the overpowered Saiyan to the series' canon in one of the franchise's better theatrical movies.

However, despite the latter two Dragon Ball Z Broly movies not exactly being regarded as classics, they have their moments, one of which being the final climactic Kamehameha in Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming. In a dire moment during their fight with the hulking Saiyan, Goten accidentally uses the Dragon Balls and brings Goku back to Earth. He, Gohan, and Goten then combine their powers and launch an ultra-powerful Kamehameha, defeating Broly.

6 Kamehameha vs. Hit

The All-Out Showdown Between Goku and Hit Reaches Its Breaking Point with a Massive Kamehameha

Dragon Ball Super, though an undeniable hit among fans of the franchise, had a rocky start. Rather than diving into fresh, new material, the series spent a considerable amount of time retelling the events of both Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'. By the time the Universe 6 vs. Universe 7 arc began, viewers were starving for new content.

Fortunately, the series delivered, introducing a new set of Saiyans and Hit, an ultra-powerful assassin. Towards the end of the tournament, Goku and Hit squared off, with the Saiyan powering through his limits once again, using Kaioken x10 on top of his Super Saiyan Blue to match the time-stopping abilities of his opponent. Using a super-powered Kamehameha, Goku was able to shatter Hit's pocket dimension. At the time, the moment was a highlight that signaled better things to come from Dragon Ball Super.

5 Kaioken x20 Kamehameha vs. Frieza

Goku Landed the First Meaningful Blow to Frieza

Frieza is Dragon Ball's most iconic villain, having returned decades after his debut to now play a meaningful role in the ongoing Dragon Ball Super. During his first stint in the series, he was also Dragon Ball's most terrifying villain by a rather large margin. While the series featured pure evil antagonists before, none had ever brought the sort of brutality and cunning twistedness that continues to define Frieza, and until Goku entered the fight, Earth's heroes were in trouble.

Having recovered from his fight with Ginyu, Goku received a notable power boost, and was able to land the first meaningful blows to Frieza during the series' time on Namek. Debuting the 20x Kaioken, Goku used what was likely his strongest Kamehameha yet, and took even the evil space tyrant by surprise.

4 10x Kamehameha vs. Baby

Goku's New Kamehameha Is a Highlight During Dragon Ball GT

In the years since its airing, Dragon Ball GT has become the most divisive entry in the franchise. The 1996 anime had a number of well documented issues, especially early on, but it rebounded nicely later, and gave way to a few of the most popular techniques and scenes in Dragon Ball. Baby was one of those highlights, and it was during his time in the series that Goku debuted a new Kamehameha.

After unlocking Super Saiyan 4, Goku gained the upper hand in battle, and launched the 10x Kamehameha. The most notable difference in the beam, other than the increased strength, was the color. Though it's blue during the move's first use, later uses saw Goku's new Kamehameha take on a striking shade of red. Other than his Feet Kamehameha, it remains the most unique Kamehameha Goku has ever fired.

3 Instant Transmission Kamehameha vs. Cell

Goku Combines Two of His Signature Techniques

Despite his role as protagonist of the series, Goku has no original techniques of his own, and rather inherits new moves from those he trains with and fights against. It's one of his better qualities, highlighting that Goku's immense power isn't entirely his own, but is rather sourced from friends and loved ones. And when he fought Cell, he combined two of his most popular techniques.

Struggling against the terrifying Cell, Goku intended to end the fight with one definitive blow, flying into the sky and charging a massive Kamehameha, before using his Instant Transmission to appear directly in front of Cell. The attack was wildly effective, eviscerating Cell's top-half. Unfortunately, Cell recovered rather quickly, though that didn't take away from the fact that the Instant Transmission Kamehameha was undeniably cool.

2 Kamehameha Beam Struggle vs. Vegeta

The Series' First Major Beam Struggle Is Still One of Dragon Ball's Best

The beam struggle is a staple in Dragon Ball, and though it wasn't the first, the struggle between Goku and Vegeta was the series' most dangerous up to that point. Everything about the drawn-out clash is executed to perfection, from the contrasting colors to their positioning on the ground and in the air.

Goku eventually won the clash by pushing his newly learned Kaioken to its limits, but it still wasn't enough to take Vegeta down. Beam clashes have appeared frequently throughout Dragon Ball in the years since the Saiyan Saga, but it can be argued that none have been done better.

1 Ultra Instinct Kamehameha vs. Kefla

Goku's Flashiest Kamehameha Was So Good It Was Shown Three Times

Dragon Ball Super had a number of production issues, but as the Tournament of Power reached its climax, the franchise looked better than it ever had before. When still getting accustomed to Ultra Instinct, Goku's punches lacked power, and so he needed to get creative when dealing with Kefla. He charged a Kamehameha, dodging the fused Saiyans attacks, eventually sliding up a ki blast and firing the attack just feet away from his opponent.

The Ultra Instinct Kamehameha was so good, it was shown three times from different angles. The sequence remains a fan-favorite moment from Dragon Ball Super, and few fans would argue that it remains Goku's best Kamehameha ever.