Dragon Ball Super entertained a whole new generation of fans across 131 episodes, but Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of the heroes’ exploits have continued for several years in the series’ ongoing manga. Several major story arcs are now exclusive to the Dragon Ball Super manga, the likes of which introduce new villains, allies, and powerful transformations. Dragon Ball Super’s manga has been on hiatus since March’s Chapter 103, “A Legacy Toward the Future,” which cathartically concludes the series’ Super Hero Saga.
The past several months have given audiences the opportunity to properly grieve series creator Akira Toriyama’s death while the series figures out its plans for what’s next. There have been rumblings that Dragon Ball Super’s manga is finally getting ready to return from its multi-month hiatus and that new adventures are afoot. Whether this is the case or audiences need to wait even longer, there are some exciting battles on the horizon that fans would love to see come to pass. Dragon Ball Super has never had more powerful players in the mix and this opens the manga up to some exciting possibilities.
10 Pan & Uub Are Dragon Ball Super’s Next Generation Of Heroes
One of the more frustrating aspects of Dragon Ball Super is that the entirety of the series takes place during the ten-year time-skip that separates Kid Buu’s defeat and Dragon Ball Z’s Peaceful World Saga. This means that Dragon Ball Super really hasn’t been able to do much with Uub beyond a few clever cameos because he’s not supposed to meet Goku until the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament. However, the Super Hero Saga’s conclusion has the 28th World Tournament looming incredibly close and it looks like Dragon Ball Super is finally ready to explore this material and move beyond it. Additionally, the Super Hero Saga takes great strides to establish Pan’s incredible potential as a martial artist due to her training under Piccolo.
She’s mastered flight at an incredibly young age and nearly lands a hit on an unsuspecting Goku. Pan and Uub are both supposed to be 28th World Tournament participants, which could easily facilitate a battle between the two of them, but it also wouldn’t be difficult to pair these two characters together moving forward. There has even been some discussion that a character like Uub is less essential now that Pan has received such a significant power boost. Goku – or another character – could simultaneously train both Pan and Uub and turn them into steady sparring partners.
9 A Fight Between Android 18 & Gamma 1 Could Showcase Cyborg Supremacy
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero introduces two new state-of-the-art Androids, Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, in addition to the grander threat of Cell Max. One of the more interesting developments to come out of this story is that Gamma 1 and Dr. Hedo survived the experience, saw the error of their ways, and pledged allegiance to Capsule Corp. Dragon Ball Super hasn’t done much with either of these characters since they became part of the team, but it’d be naive to presume that there’s nothing in the works with them. A particularly rewarding turn of events would be if Android 18 decided to take Gamma 1 under her wing.
Android 18 hasn’t had the opportunity for another Android companion in some time and it’d be interesting to see what these two bring out in one another. Android 18 also started off as a villain and she’s acquired valuable insight that could aid Gamma 1 in his journey. It’d be a lot of fun to see Android 18 and Gamma 1 spar against each other, but also fight as a team. Android 17 could also be added to the mix for a full-on Android assault. These characters could bring out the best in one another and help each other grow.
8 Gohan Beast Deserves The Chance To Test His Strength Against God Of Destruction Beerus
Dragon Ball Super begins with Beerus’ fateful arrival on Earth as he seeks out a satisfying battle against a Super Saiyan God. Goku is the only character who is even able to marginally challenge Beerus and this God of Destruction has evolved into more of a powerful mentor figure who stays off the battlefield. However, Beerus continues to tease his desire to find a new God of Destruction candidate who could potentially take over his prestigious position. Goku, Vegeta, and most recently, Gohan have all been considered for this honorable title. Goku and Vegeta have heavily sparred against Beerus during their efforts to refine their God ki and attain new power.
Gohan hasn’t received the same opportunity, but such a showdown may be imminent after the recent spectacle where Gohan Beast holds his own against Goku, Vegeta, and Broly. Gohan may not be ideal for God of Destruction status, but he’d still make for a fascinating opponent for Beerus. It’s been a long time since audiences have seen Beerus truly go all out in battle and there would be some welcome symmetry behind the series starting with a Goku and Beerus duel and ending with a Gohan and Beerus clash. It’d be genuinely interesting to see how Gohan Beast’s new strength compares to Beerus’ unprecedented power.
7 Gotenks Versus Kefla Would Put Two Of Universe 7 & 6’s Finest Fused Fighters In Competition
Fusion has become an increasingly popular concept in Dragon Ball and one of the Tournament of Power’s highlights involves Universe 6’s Kale and Caulifla turning to Potara fusion and becoming Kefla. Kefla is one of the strongest fighters in the multiversal tournament and her Super Saiyan 2 strength somehow compares to Goku’s early Ultra Instinct efforts. Audiences are eager to see any Universe 6 characters return in some capacity and a genuinely exciting clash would involve Universe 6’s fused powerhouse against Universe 7’s Gotenks.
Gotenks made waves in Dragon Ball Z, only to become more of a gag character in Dragon Ball Super who has struggled to properly fuse. A fight between Gotenks and Kefla could be the best way for Gotenks to get his groove back and push him to new heights so that he remains relevant. Alternatively, Caulifla has been fascinated with the Super Saiyan 3 transformation and is eager to master it. Kefla’s proximity to Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks could trigger the character’s own ascension and lead to a fused Super Saiyan 3 showdown.
6 Gogeta May Be One Of The Heroes’ Best Hopes At Defeating Black Frieza
Dragon Ball Super’s Granolah the Survivor Saga ends on a foreboding note when Gas is defeated by not Goku or Vegeta, but rather an upgraded version of Frieza. Black Frieza reveals that his newest transformation is the result of a decade of dedicated training within the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Black Frieza’s new power is so incredible that he takes out Ultra Instinct Goku and Ultra Ego Vegeta with a single punch. Dragon Ball Super has created incredible suspense over Black Frieza, when he’ll properly return, and who could possibly be strong enough to defeat him. Goku and Vegeta have an incredible history with Frieza and it’s fair to say that any final fight against this villain will involve them.
Frieza has faced Goku and Vegeta as individuals, but he’s never gone up against their fused form, Gogeta, although he got a glimpse of their superior power in Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Gogeta may be Goku and Vegeta’s only chance to match Black Frieza’s strength. Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta may still pale in comparison to Black Frieza. However, this long-awaited battle could also become an opportunity for Gogeta to ascend to new heights and potentially even reveal what happens if Goku and Vegeta attempt to become Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego while they’re fused together.
5 Broly & Kale Would Deliver A Legendary Super Saiyan Showdown
Broly was one of Dragon Ball Z’s most popular non-canonical movie villains before he was properly incorporated into Dragon Ball Super’s canon and turned into an interesting ally. However, the Tournament of Power revealed that Universe 6 also has its own Legendary Super Saiyan fighter, Kale. Kale is typically meek and reserved, but she experiences a seismic burst of power and aggression when she shifts into her Legendary Super Saiyan form. Legendary Super Saiyan Kale is responsible for many Tournament of Power eliminations and her berserking brutality makes her a dangerous loose cannon.
Broly used to be equally unpredictable, but his training has helped him gain control over his strength and emotions. There’s never been an opportunity for a fight between two Legendary Super Saiyans so the sheer prospect of a fight between Kale and Broly would be incredibly entertaining. This experience could also help Kale gain control of her abilities and become an even more formidable fighter. It’s unclear what Dragon Ball Super’s future holds for Broly, but time with Kale would be well spent.
4 Gotenks & Gogeta Would Lead Into A Father-Son Fused Saiyan Frenzy
Goten and Trunks kick off Dragon Ball’s fascination with fusion in Dragon Ball Z, but Goku and Vegeta quickly follow suit. Vegito and Gogeta have been involved in some truly epic battles and are currently some of Dragon Ball Super’s most impressive fighters. The Super Hero Saga’s final chapters feature a Saiyan free-for-all that includes an embarrassing contribution from a failed Gotenks fusion. Vegeta doesn’t hide his disappointment in his son and that his skills have become so lapsed.
This could be Dragon Ball Super’s attempt at foreshadowing a proper fusion fight and training session between Gogeta and Gotenks. Gogeta could help Gotenks remaster the Metamoran fusion dance’s basics, while also helping him push his power to greater levels. Goku and Vegeta take tremendous pride in training their sons, but administering guidance together as Gogeta is an interesting wrinkle to this dynamic. Gotenks is in desperate need of a redemption arc and Gogeta is one of the best people to get this once-promising character back in fighting shape.
3 Ultra Instinct Goku & Orange Piccolo Are Prepared To Experiment With Their New Powers
Ultra Instinct Goku and Ultra Ego Vegeta have done a lot of the heavy lifting in Dragon Ball Super’s latest manga story arcs. However, the recent Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo awakening happens independently of these characters. Dragon Ball Super’s final chapters gave fans what they wanted when it came to a Gohan Beast and Ultra Instinct Goku showdown. Piccolo isn’t present for these proceedings and Goku actively acknowledges that he’s curious to experience Piccolo’s new strength.
Orange Piccolo is primed to be one of Dragon Ball Super’s most important characters moving forward and it’s genuinely exciting that he now has a transformation that helps him keep up with ever-evolving Saiyan strength. A friendly fight between Ultra Instinct Goku and Orange Piccolo is inevitable, but it’d also be a cathartic way to call back to their first fight during the original Dragon Ball’s endgame. It’s even possible that these two could face each other in the upcoming 28th World Tournament so that there are explicit connections to their 23rd World Tournament fight, albeit on a significantly grander scale.
2 An Ultra Ego Vegeta & Gohan Beast Brawl Would Be An Enlightening Clash Of Ego
Dragon Ball fans were excited to see Ultra Instinct Goku and Gohan Beast trade blows. That being said, there’s evidence to suggest that Ultra Ego Vegeta could potentially be even stronger than Goku due to the dangerous transformation’s ability to feed on pain and channel it into greater power. Vegeta jumps into the free-for-all fight against Gohan Beast in the Super Hero Saga’s final chapter, but he doesn’t appear to be in his Ultra Ego state during this friendly fight. This altercation is still entertaining, but it only left audiences eager for a proper one-on-one showdown between Gohan and Vegeta in their strongest states.
Vegeta has spent so much of Dragon Ball determined to match and top Goku’s accomplishments, so it’d be a welcome change of pace to see this aggression shift focus to Gohan. Gohan also has an angry, aggressive side that comes forward under the right circumstances. Vegeta would figure out how to bring Gohan’s rage to the forefront and face the Saiyan at peak strength. There’d be a very different dynamic between this fight and another showdown between Gohan and Goku. Goku isn’t willing to get as reckless with his son.
1 Gohan Beast & Orange Piccolo Deserve To Lead The Fight Against Black Frieza
It’s unclear how much story is left to tell in Dragon Ball Super, but there’s no question that Black Frieza will play an important role in what’s to come and may even be the series’ final villain. There’s a certain expectation that Goku and Vegeta will always be the ones who defeat Dragon Ball’s biggest threats. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero goes out of its way to put Gohan and Piccolo in the spotlight and gives them intimidating new transformations that put them on par with Goku and Vegeta. These transformations are essential in Cell Max’s defeat, but their institution also seems like Dragon Ball Super’s attempt to give the heroes greater resources to defeat Black Frieza.
Goku and Vegeta couldn’t compare to Black Frieza’s strength during their first encounter with the villain, but Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo might have better luck. Gohan and Piccolo have their own complicated history with Frieza that could be channeled into an emotional final showdown. It’d be so exciting to have Gohan and Piccolo save the day, or at the least, work together with Ultra Instinct Goku and Ultra Ego Vegeta to secure Black Frieza’s defeat.