Goku vs Saitama: Clash of absolute power

Time of India

13-05-2025

Credits: Quora
The ultimate showdown of
Dragon Ball Super
and One-Punch Man brings two colossal heroes face-to-face. On one side is Goku, the
Saiyan
warrior of Dragon Ball Super whose
Ultra Instinct
and Ultra Ego techniques have pushed him to Godly power. On the other stands Saitama, the bald hero of One-Punch Man who literally defeats any foe with one punch and has never met a real challenge. In recent manga chapters, both heroes have reached new heights:
Goku
locked horns with the universe's strongest (and even a newly powered-up Frieza), while
Saitama
casually one-shots world-threatening monsters. Let's compare their latest power feats, personality traits, and fan appeal – and see who truly wears the crown right now in their canonical worlds.
When Gods clash
Credits: Techwiser
Dragon Ball Super's latest arc had Goku tapping into his own unique version of Ultra Instinct . In the Granolah saga, Goku fought Gas, who became the 'strongest warrior in the universe'. Goku even unlocked a perfected 'True Ultra Instinct' form to keep up . But in the climax, the terror from another dimension – Frieza – returned with a devastating new form, Black Frieza. This form was trained in solitude for ten years and put Frieza on a godly level. Shockingly, even Goku's Ultra Instinct (and Vegeta's Ultra Ego) were helpless against it . Black Frieza easily knocked out both Saiyans in one blow . In short: Goku has reached near-God status with Ultra Instinct, but his latest foes (Gas and Black Frieza) have even outmatched him in the manga so far .
By contrast, Saitama's strength is limitless by design. In One-Punch Man, he has no fancy transformations – his plain yellow suit belies destructive power beyond measure. Canon feats show him obliterating threats in a single strike. For example, Saitama once launched himself from a city building and punched through a giant meteor, shattering it to pieces mid-air . Even more absurdly, when the cosmic warlord Boros blasted him to the moon, Saitama simply jumped back to Earth in an instant, causing a huge shockwave that left a crater on the lunar surface . His 'normal' Serious Punch completely neutralized Boros's planet-destroying energy cannon, parting clouds around the globe . He also outsped the Monster King Orochi, blasting apart Orochi's gaia-powered cannon that used the Earth's core as ammo . Villains in One-Punch Man frequently explode at the mere impact of his punch. In fact, lore notes that Saitama could destroy Earth if he ever got annoyed . In short, Saitama's feats easily eclipse city- or planet-level threats every time .
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No one in either manga has even hurt Saitama. His fights never go past warm-up punches – he finishes any battle in one move. Goku, by comparison, must train and push his limits (and even the gods have noted he still has room to grow ). Goku is a martial artist facing ever-stronger opponents; Saitama's whole premise is that he already is the ultimate. In pure power, Saitama's unstoppable one-shot strikes and planet-level antics have no equal on his page, whereas Goku's last published chapter ends with him still chasing a way to finally beat Black Frieza .
The soul behind the fist
Beneath the blows, Goku and Saitama could not be more different. Goku is earnest and energetic – he lives for the thrill of battle, always training to surpass yesterday's self. He's a friendly warrior who cares deeply about his family and planet. Over decades of manga, Goku has grown from a naive fighter into a compassionate hero whose big heart often calms foes (or wins new allies). Fans adore Goku for his undefeatable optimism, iconic Super Saiyan transformations, and warrior's pride. Every victory (or friendly spar) is a spiritual high.
Saitama is the exact opposite archetype. He's bored and deadpan, struggling with an existential crisis: nothing can challenge him. He did intense training for a year-and-a-half to attain his strength, but now he's mostly yawning through threats like grocery trips! Saitama's personality is plain and relatable – he's a chill guy who wants ramen and video games, but duty forces him to punch out monsters. In the manga he nonchalantly waves heroes by as he solves crises faster than anyone else. Fans love Saitama for the humor and satire of his character: he's essentially a parody of shōnen tropes. He provides comedic relief (and some real philosophical moments) even while single-handedly saving his world every chapter.
Together, these traits make Goku and Saitama both wildly popular. Goku is the classic champion, inspiring fans to 'go beyond!', whereas Saitama is the meme king of manga – his expressions and one-liners are everywhere. Loyal Dragon Ball readers admire Goku's never-give-up spirit and emotional sincerity. One-Punch Man fans laugh at Saitama's deadpan delivery and love how he subverts the usual story: no training montage needed, he's already God-tier from the start. Both heroes are uncomplicated and pure: Goku fights for justice and adventure, Saitama fights out of boredom and duty. This simplicity – fighting for its own sake – is part of why fans connect deeply with each.
Crowning the champion
Credits: YouTube
So who wins right now? Strictly by the latest official manga, the nod goes to Saitama. In Dragon Ball Super, Goku is still training; his strongest techniques (mastered Ultra Instinct) were not enough to beat the latest villains . Goku's world treats strength as something you constantly grow into. By contrast, Saitama has no narrative challenge left – every foe in One-Punch Man's manga is casually blown away by him, with no one pushing him to his limit . None of the recent One-Punch Man chapters show Saitama breaking a sweat or needing help.
In terms of raw feats, Saitama's are jaw-dropping: breaking meteors, jumping from the moon, tanking world-shattering attacks . Goku's universe-defying deeds (speed of light blasts, universe-level energy) are legendary – but even they were matched by foes (Gas, Broly, and now Black Frieza) who outstripped him. One could argue it's a bit unfair: One-Punch Man is written to make Saitama unbeatable, while Dragon Ball Super keeps raising the bar for Goku. But on paper right now, Saitama's feats hold the edge.
Ultimately, both heroes are icons in their own right. Goku represents the soul of the fight – fiery passion and constant growth – while Saitama represents the power of the punch – absolute strength and comic relief. But if we must declare a champion based purely on the latest manga, Saitama's overwhelming one-punch dominance and lack of any rival make him the stronger of the two for now . This may change as Dragon Ball Super's next arc unfolds, but at this moment, Caped Baldy reigns supreme – until Goku finds a new way to soar beyond even that.
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