Summary
- Dragon Ball’s storytelling explores unexpected paths with ripple effects triggering new tragedies or obstacles.
- Goku’s journey transforms from a wicked Saiyan to a hero due to a simple act that changes the course of the series.
- Goku’s altered destiny impacts various characters, relationships, and major events in Dragon Ball’s universe.
Dragon Ball engages in suspenseful storytelling that often unfolds in unexpected ways. Dragon Ball exists in a fascinating universe where practically every action has a ripple effect that can trigger new tragedies or obstacles, some of which take decades to come to fruition. Dragon Ball is a series that’s ripe with hypothetical “What If?…” storytelling and many Dragon Ball video games engage in such thought experiments to see where alternate timelines could go. One of Dragon Ball’s biggest revelations is that Goku was actually sent to Earth for the purpose of the planet’s conquest and presumed destruction.
Goku, like most Saiyans, was born as a wicked warrior whose purpose is to act like a blunt weapon that takes out everything in sight. However, Goku heads down a completely different path in life because he’s dropped on his head by the man who finds him, Grandpa Gohan, which effectively scrambles his Saiyan programming and reduces him to an ordinary infant. This innocent action forever changes the course of the franchise, and it’s entertaining to consider how much would be different if Goku never hit his head and grew up to be the evil Saiyan that he was supposed to be.
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10 Grandpa Gohan Never Dies
Goku Would Have Never Killed Grandpa Gohan
Grandpa Gohan was a crucial guiding force in Goku’s early years, and he’s even the one who is responsible for irrevocably changing the course of his life by accidentally dropping him on his head and erasing his destructive Saiyan programming. Goku’s Great Ape transformation is a huge threat back in the original Dragon Ball and one of the series’ darkest revelations is that Goku accidentally kills Grandpa Gohan during one of his Great Ape transformations. A world in which Goku never hits his head means that he likely separates himself from Grandpa Gohan upon his arrival on Earth and learns how to fend for himself.
Goku never forging a relationship with Grandpa Gohan is sad to consider, but it could actually be a blessing in disguise for the elderly martial artist. Gohan never caring for Goku means that he’s never taken out by his Great Ape form and could continue living a peaceful life. Grandpa Gohan’s ghost would obviously not be one of Fortuneteller Baba’s otherworldly fighters, but he could still potentially be friends with Master Roshi and help train new generations of students. It’s possible that Roshi and Gohan would both have helped train Krillin when the young martial artist makes his way to the Kame House.
9 Emperor Pilaf Gets His Wish & Becomes Ruler Of The World
The Great Threat of Goku Would Have Never Been
Dragon Ball’s introductory story arc involves Emperor Pilaf’s megalomaniacal quest to acquire the Dragon Balls so that he can wish to be the ruler of the world. Pilaf’s efforts to collect the Dragon Balls clash with Goku and Bulma’s competing quest. Pilaf is ultimately successful in his goal, but his wish gets stolen by Oolong during Shenron’s summoning. Pilaf would have much less opposition if Goku weren’t in the picture.
It’s safe to presume that Bulma’s Dragon Radar would still have taken her to Grandpa Gohan’s home, and she might even have been able to acquire his Dragon Ball. However, all of Pilaf’s greatest obstacles come from Goku, including his Great Ape transformation that destroys Pilaf’s castle. The heroes wouldn’t have the right infrastructure and skills to take on Pilaf. He’d likely steal Bulma’s Dragon Balls with ease, be able to make his selfish wish uninterrupted, and subject the world to his delusions of grandeur.
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8 Raditz Teams Up With Goku & They Both Take Over The Planet
Goku Would Have Embraced His Saiyan Roots
Dragon Ball boldly changes the series’ status quo through the major plot twist that Goku is actually a Saiyan, an alien warrior race. Raditz arrives on Earth to touch base with his brother because his mission to conquer the planet has yet to come to fruition. It’s fair to say that Goku probably would have conquered the planet if he had never been dropped on his head. However, if he still somehow failed to accomplish this task then it would definitely come to fruition upon Raditz’s arrival.
Raditz comes to Earth to aid Goku on his mission so that they can subjugate the planet and deliver it to Frieza to aid the galactic tyrant with his planetary trades. Goku rebukes Raditz’s offer and actually fights his brother to the death in Dragon Ball Z. This alternate version of Goku would have no reason to refuse Raditz’s orders, and together they’d easily be able to conquer the planet and hand it over to Frieza. The Earth would become a lost cause and Goku and Raditz would likely go on to travel the galaxy and overtake more planets.
7 Bulma & Yamcha Never Become An Item & May Not Even Meet
Without Goku, Bulma & Yamcha Would Have Never Crossed Paths
Dragon Ball’s earliest episodes are driven by Goku and Bulma’s sense of adventure as they travel from one village to the next on their quest to retrieve all seven Dragon Balls. Yamcha is one of the first people that Goku and Bulma meet on their journey and the desert bandit becomes an early rival for Goku after he defeats him in combat. Yamcha doesn’t possess a Dragon Ball and this encounter is largely Goku’s fault. It’s possible that Bulma, on her own, would still travel through Diablo Desert. However, any exchange that she has with him would be much more perfunctory and brief.
Yamcha would likely rob Bulma of her capsules, but that would be that. There would be no reason for Yamcha to continually tail her on her adventure, become an ally, and later her boyfriend. Admittedly, Bulma and Yamcha’s relationship runs its course and she moves on in Dragon Ball Z. This relationship still helps both characters grow, and it’s very likely that it never comes to pass without Goku present as an unlikely wingman.
6 Gohan & Goten Are Never Born
Goku Would Have Remained Programmed
Goku becomes one of Earth’s greatest protectors, but he also builds a commendable domestic life where he plays the role of a dutiful family man when he’s not immersed in martial arts competitions and life-or-death battles. The original Dragon Ball concludes with Goku’s marriage to Chi-Chi and he goes on to have two children — Gohan and Goten — in Dragon Ball Z. Goku and Chi-Chi’s relationship is far from perfect, but there’s still a lot of love there and Goku is always willing to protect his family, no matter what it costs. A life where Goku never abandons his original Saiyan programming means that he never settles down on Earth and starts a family with Chi-Chi.
He’d never give birth to Gohan and Goten — who become worthy heroes in their own right — and Gohan would never go on to father Pan. In fact, Goku’s relationship with Chi-Chi is the first instance of Saiyan-human hybrids, which have become crucial to Dragon Ball Z’s storytelling and can reach even greater heights than pureblood Saiyans. Goku’s changed trajectory doesn’t preclude him from ever having children, and it’s possible that he’d find a wife on another planet. Any children he produces would be demonstrably different from Gohan and Goten and have different names, too.
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5 Monster Carrot & Oolong Never Stop Terrorizing Villages
Goku Would Have Never Stepped in to Save the Day
The original Dragon Ball achieves a successful formula where Goku and Bulma help small communities solve their problems, which often results in them receiving a Dragon Ball as a token of gratitude. Two early episodes from the introductory Emperor Pilaf Saga involve villages that are completely terrorized by monstrous entities who abuse their powers. These individuals are Oolong, an anthropomorphic pig shapeshifter, and Monster Carrot, who is a giant rabbit who can magically turn individuals into carrots. In both of these situations, it’s Goku who conquers these creeps, saves the communities, and apprehends the villains.
Oolong joins Goku and Bulma’s team and becomes an ally, but Goku leaves Monster Carrot and his Rabbit Mob stranded on the moon so that they can’t cause more problems. If Goku is never dropped on his head and doesn’t align himself with Bulma then there’s no reason for him to travel to Aru Village and Mushroom Forest, let alone stop these monsters from terrifying their residents. Oolong and Monster Carrot would likely continue to control the population and potentially set their sights on even greater levels of villainy.
4 Vegeta Never Gets Together With Bulma & Trunks Is Never Born
Goku Sticking to His Saiyan Mission Removes The Need for Vegeta
Another fascinating cause and effect consequence of Goku never abandoning his original Saiyan mission is that Vegeta never arrives on Earth. The whole reason that Vegeta and Nappa come to Earth is because Goku contributes to Raditz’s death and the fallen Saiyan sends a distress message to his Saiyan comrades. Vegeta and Nappa had plenty to do in space and would likely have found out about Planet Namek’s Dragon Balls before they learned about the ones on Earth. Vegeta comes to Earth with destructive intentions, but this slowly leads to him building a relationship with Bulma and the birth of his son, Trunks.
None of this happens if Goku never takes out Raditz and gives Vegeta and Nappa a reason to come to Earth. Additionally, it’s likely that Nappa also never dies because Vegeta’s betrayal is the direct result of him failing against Goku. Vegeta and Nappa could have lived a long life as partners and continue to wipe out planets across the galaxy like they did with Arlia. Of course, Vegeta and Nappa never coming to Earth also means that individuals like Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha never die, which could also push them down very different paths in life.
3 The Red Ribbon Army Never Disbands & Cell Is Never Created
Without Goku to Oppose Them The Red Ribbon Army Would Have Remained
One of Goku’s most impressive accomplishments in the original Dragon Ball is that he dares to oppose the Red Ribbon Army. Goku initially struggles against some of their soldiers, such as General Blue and Mercenary Tao, but he eventually storms Muscle Tower and dismantles their entire organization. If Goku is never put on such a heroic path, then it’s likely that no one is strong enough to oppose Red Ribbon, and they continue to build their forces and grow even stronger. If Pilaf’s Dragon Ball wish for world domination still happens, then it’s possible that a war breaks out between Pilaf’s forces and the Red Ribbon Army, but it’s likely that the latter would prevail.
Another fascinating detail to consider is that Red Ribbon’s Dr. Gero only creates Cell as a way to get revenge on Goku for crushing Red Ribbon. A series of events where Goku never opposes Red Ribbon, and they’re not taken out of the picture means that Dr. Gero has no reason to create this deadly artificial weapon. It’s likely that Dr. Gero still experiments with Androids, since they’re already in the picture in Dragon Ball, but Cell is a different story.
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2 Super Saiyans Are Probably Never Discovered
Without the Need to Defend the Earth Super Saiyan Transformations Would Not Happen
Super Saiyan transformations are an essential milestone that becomes one of Dragon Ball’s most popular elements. These transformations have become so commonplace that they’re even casually achieved by children. However, they’re introduced as incredibly rare accomplishments that have been the subject of rumors for centuries. Dragon Ball’s expanded canon details Yamoshi and Broly as prolific Super Saiyans who precede Goku, but Goku is the first official Super Saiyan who appears in the series. Goku’s inaugural Super Saiyan transformation occurs during his grueling battle against Frieza when he’s pushed past his limits. Frieza emotionally and psychologically tortures Goku through the deaths of Vegeta, Krillin, and by threatening Gohan’s life.
A hardened warrior Saiyan version of Goku would lack this level of empathy and hold less value in personal attachments. Goku would likely be saddened by the death of his friends, but not to the point where it pushes him to become a Super Saiyan. Furthermore, this version of Goku would likely be loyal to Frieza, rather than immersed in a situation where they’re fighting to death. It’s hard to imagine a scenario that would fulfill the necessary requirements to make this version of Goku become a Super Saiyan. If Goku never becomes a Super Saiyan, then it’s unlikely that anyone else stumbles upon this transformation.
1 Nobody Is Able To Stop Buu From Destroying The World
Buu Would Have Had Free Reign Without the Great Defender of Earth
Many of Dragon Ball’s villains pose a danger to the Earth — or universe — because of a gradual domino effect that’s somehow connected to Goku. However, there are also plenty of villains who are inevitable, regardless of Goku’s role in the series. Majin Buu is an ancient evil who is one of the oldest beings in creation. Dragon Ball Z’s concluding Buu Saga revolves around Babidi gathering enough energy so that Buu can once again be awakened. Future Trunks’ timeline eventually features Future Babidi and Future Dabura, who also try to awaken Future Majin Buu.
Goku’s role in the Buu Saga expedites Buu’s awakening, but these future timeline events prove that it’s something that’s going to happen anyway, even if it just takes substantially longer. Babidi would still eventually show up on Earth and awaken Buu, but this time the planet would have substantially fewer resources to take on this villain. This timeline wouldn’t have Goku, Gohan, or Gotenks to battle against Buu, all of whom are invaluable in the monster’s destruction. Buu would likely carry on, uninterrupted, and inevitably doom the universe.