Everything You Need To Know About Goku & Shin’s Relationship

Dragon Ball has successfully expanded upon four decades of rich lore and engrossing storytelling that continues to help its characters evolve and surpass their limits. There’s no shortage of individual self-discovery and intense soul-searching that goes on in Dragon Ball. However, some of the franchise’s most rewarding material is when two unlikely individuals let down their guards and learn how to work together. Goku, as Dragon Ball’s protagonist, is frequently in the spotlight and helps drive forward the narrative. Shin, Universe 7’s East Supreme Kai, is an important figure who enters the series fairly late in the game.

Shin’s arrival is connected to the possibility of Buu’s awakening, but the character has stayed in the picture long after the events of Kid Buu’s defeat. Goku and Shin aren’t together often, but there’s a surprisingly rich relationship in place between these two powerful characters. Curiously, Dragon Ball DAIMA is set to dig deeper than ever into Goku and Shin’s relationship when they team up and embark on a dangerous mission into the Demon Realm. There are some surprising details about Goku and Shin’s relationship that are important to be aware of before DAIMA’s brand-new adventure begins.

10 Goku Nearly Kills Shin Upon Their First Meeting

Goku and Shin become formidable allies who have collectively helped protect the planet from ruin. However, it’s curious to note that Shin’s introduction during Dragon Ball Z’s 25th World Tournament nearly ends in the divine character’s destruction. Vegeta reveals that he’s succumbed to Babidi’s dark temptations and becomes the malevolent Majin Vegeta. Majin Vegeta is determined to properly face Goku in battle and he’s prepared to take more innocent lives if he can’t get what he wants. Shin is insistent that these two don’t fight, since doing so will ultimately generate more energy for Babidi that’s liable to awaken Buu.

Goku wants to appease Vegeta and minimize any unnecessary casualties, which prompts him to threaten Shin to get out of his way. It’s rare to see Goku lethally threaten someone in this manner, which reinforces how serious he is on this matter. Shin reluctantly steps aside and Buu is eventually awakened because of Super Saiyan 2 Goku and Majin Vegeta’s clash. Goku apologizes to Shin after the fact and, thankfully, they’re able to destroy Buu. It’s still an extremely tense moment and Shin’s death would have actually triggered Beerus’ destruction too, which would have opened the heroes up to even more problems in Dragon Ball Super.

9 Shin Teaches Goku About Potara Earring Fusion

Fusion becomes such an essential skill in Dragon Ball that it’s a little surprising that it’s introduced so late in the series. Fusion appears to be the only way that the heroes will be strong enough to defeat Majin Buu. Goku’s seven years in Other World lead to him meeting a member of the Metamoran race, who teaches him the necessary steps to perform the fusion dance. The fusion dance is helpful, but it’s not without its flaws. However, it’s revealed that there’s a superior and more foolproof fusion method that’s possible through the use of special Potara Earrings.

Shin is responsible for Goku’s understanding of the Potara Earrings, as well as his acquisition of this relic. Admittedly, it’s Old Kai who brings up the Potara Earrings as a battle strategy, but it’s Shin and Kibito who demonstrate the process and show Goku how it works. Goku proceeds to use the Potara Earrings with Vegeta to become Vegito, who plays a vital role in Buu’s defeat. None of this may have been possible without Shin’s help and demonstration.

8 Shin Saves Goku’s Life When Kid Buu Executes His Planet Burst Attack

Goku and the rest of Dragon Ball’s heroes have gone up against truly dangerous threats. Stronger villains have come along since Majin Buu, but this ancient evil antagonist deserves some credit for the unprecedented damage that he causes to the Earth. Super Buu’s Human Extinction Attack wipes out nearly all of Earth’s population. If this wasn’t enough, Kid Buu proceeds to deliver his Planet Burst technique, which actually blows up the Earth.

Goku tries to unite himself and Vegeta with their children before Kid Buu’s energy blast takes them all out, but his desperate attempts fall short. However, Shin – as Kibito Kai – uses his powerful Kai Kai ability to teleport Goku, Vegeta, Dende, Hercule, and his dog, Bee, off the planet and to safety. Shin is responsible for not just saving Goku and Vegeta’s lives, but also keeping the Dragon Balls intact through Dende’s protection. It’s a crucial save that often goes overlooked in Dragon Ball Z’s biggest moments.

7 Shin’s Strength Is On Par With Goku’s Power Level During The Cell Games

Power scaling has become increasingly complicated in Dragon Ball now that characters have ascended to godly tiers of strength and can casually destroy planets if they’re so inclined to do so. The Supreme Kai are supposed to be extremely powerful and a vital safeguard when malevolent forces like Majin Buu strike. Shin is curiously the weakest of Universe 7’s Supreme Kai representatives, but he’s thrust into an increased position of importance when the rest of the Supreme Kai perished against Buu millions of years ago. Dragon Ball Z’s Daizenshuu 7 guidebook states that Shin is stronger than Piccolo during the Buu Saga, which explains Piccolo’s fear and decision to forfeit his fight against the Supreme Kai during the 25th World Tournament.

This puts Shin at a power level that’s comparable to Goku’s strength during the Cell Games. The evidence for this is that Shin is concerned about whether he’d be able to defeat Dabura, who is confirmed to be as strong as Cell. Cell Games era Goku is incredibly powerful and nothing to be ashamed of, but Goku’s strength has already dwarfed these heights after he attained Super Saiyan 2 and Super Saiyan 3 strength during his Other World training. Shin can’t believe that Earth has individuals who are as powerful as Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan, which becomes a wake-up call for the Supreme Kai.

6 Shin & Goku Are Both Essential In Fused Zamasu’s Defeat

Fused Zamasu, the Potara Earring union of Future Zamasu and Goku Black, is an immortal menace who metastasizes into an apocalyptic danger that results in Future Trunks’ original timeline being erased by Future Zeno. Goku’s contributions against Fused Zamasu are quite obvious. However, it’s important to acknowledge that Shin is arguably just as important to the villain’s defeat.

Goku takes on Fused Zamasu through actual fighting, while Shin – along with Universe 10’s Gowasu – transfers his powers to Future Trunks for his Sword of Hope’s Final Hope Slash. This attack is the breakthrough that the heroes need to separate Fused Zamasu and usher the fight into its final stage. Additionally, Shin creates a powerful ki barrier to protect Goku, Vegeta, Future Trunks, Bulma, and Future Mai, all of whom might have been eradicated by Infinite Zamasu’s toxic energy without his intervention.

5 Shin Possesses A Superior Form Of Teleportation Than Goku’s Instant Transmission

Goku has a multitude of powerful techniques at his disposal, but there’s no doubt that one of the most valuable skills in his arsenal is Instant Transmission. This Yardratian ability is comparable to teleportation and it allows Goku to transport himself – and others – to anywhere in the universe provided that he has an energy signature to lock onto. Shin, in addition to many magical and supernatural skills, like telepathy, telekinesis, and magic materalization, has his own form of teleportation that’s known as Kai Kai.

Goku’s Instant Transmission is usually resilient enough to accomplish what he needs. However, Shin’s Kai Kai is even more advantageous since it doesn’t require an energy signature to lock onto and individuals can be transported to abandoned areas. Kai Kai, rather than Instant Transmission, would have been crucial during Cell’s self-destruct attack, for instance, and King Kai’s death could have been avoided. Shin has used Kai Kai to help Goku out on several occasions.

4 Shin Disapproves Of Goku’s Unscrupulous Bargaining Tactics With Old Kai

Goku has always been Dragon Ball’s ultimate hero, but this doesn’t mean that he has an infallible moral compass or that he’s not beyond making awkward social mistakes. Goku and Shin are both present when Gohan accidentally shatters the Z-Sword and frees Old Kai from being sealed within the blade. Old Kai is a little particular when it comes to lending his talents to Gohan and helping unlock his potential, so Goku provides a little unconventional persuasion. Goku tries to tempt Old Kai with some lewd bribes, which call back to Goku’s younger years with Master Roshi.

Shin is disgusted with Goku’s offer and considers his idea to be deeply inappropriate. Unfortunately, Goku’s bribe appeals to Old Kai, which leaves Shin even more shocked and appalled. Shin goes so far as to chastise Old Kai and question his integrity as a Supreme Kai. Shin views his Supreme Kai status to be an incredibly noble position that shouldn’t be sullied or abused. Goku fails to grasp the severity of this role and casually views Shin and Old Kai as anyone else that he would encounter.

3 Shin Is Responsible For Putting Goku On Zamasu’s Radar

Dragon Ball Super’s “Future” Trunks Saga creates an engrossing mystery over Goku Black’s true identity and how this dark doppelgänger came into existence. It’s eventually revealed that Zamasu teams up with his future counterpart, Future Zamasu, to orchestrate a complex scheme that brilliantly weaponizes the Super Dragon Balls. Zamasu and Future Zamasu’s goal is to wipe out all mortals from existence, but they also use Goku’s own strength against him when they steal his body from an alternate timeline and use it for apocalyptic purposes. Shin is determined to take out the Zamasu duo and he’s actively offended over how they’re a disgrace to the Supreme Kai title.

That being said, Shin is surprisingly complicit in Future Zamasu and Goku Black’s master plan. Zamasu would likely never have been aware of Goku’s extreme strength if not for Shin’s commentary. Zamasu praises Shin for his defeat of Majin Buu, but Shin deflects and properly credits Goku for the villain’s destruction. Zamasu has no idea who Goku is, but Shin informs him about the Saiyan and his history. Zamasu is left insulted that a “mere mortal” could acquire such godly strength and rise above his station. This intel plays a crucial role in the destructive events that follow.

2 A Goku & Shin Fusion Is Very Popular Within The Fandom

Fusion is a concept that Dragon Ball’s fandom and expanded universe stories have really embraced and pushed to unexpected places. There are literally hundreds of non-canonical fusion combinations that are introduced in different Dragon Ball video games, some of which are truly surprising. These hypothetical fusions can live and die in video games, but these combinations can also inspire even more variables within the passionate fan fiction community. There are many fans who have been eager to see a fusion between Goku and Shin for a long time, which further speaks to the strange, yet compelling, relationship between these two characters.

There is a ton of fan art for Goku and Shin fusions – which are often referred to as “Shinku” – and it was even positioned as a way for Goku to acquire godly abilities before Super Saiyan God was an official transformation. The fandom’s enthusiasm for a Goku and Shin fusion has become so intense that there are even mods for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 that have made Shinku a playable character with a unique attack arsenal that complements both Goku and Shin’s diverse abilities.

1 Shin Is Important Enough To Goku To Appear In His Final Goodbye Montage In Dragon Ball GT

Dragon Ball GT remains a polarizing entry in the franchise, despite its gradual reappraisal within the fandom. Dragon Ball GT has its share of transgressions, but it gets a lot of credit for the emotionally cathartic way in which it wraps up the series. There are many Dragon Ball fans who would go so far as to say that Dragon Ball GT has the best finale out of any Dragon Ball series. Dragon Ball GT, Episode 64, “Until We Meet Again” is one big, sweet farewell tour where Goku takes stock of all the important people who have helped him through his rich life.

Goku visits many of his best friends before he bids the world goodbye and there is also an abundance of endearing flashbacks with those who Goku holds near and dear to his heart. These flashbacks cover a lot of ground, but it’s worth pointing out that Shin happens to make the cut. Shin, Kibito, and Old Kai’s time with Goku and Gohan on the Sacred World of the Kai is featured among these flashbacks, which underscores Shin’s impact on Goku’s life. Additionally, Shin — as Kibito Kai — helps Goku regrow his tail in Dragon Ball GT, which becomes essential in his Super Saiyan 4 ascension and victory over Baby Vegeta.