Summary
Goku is one of the most iconic shonen protagonists of all time. Thesheer amount of power wielded by this heromakes him a tough nut to crack for any vile antagonist planning to destroy Earth or the universe itself.
If Goku ever steps down from his role, he can rest assured that some of Earth’s strongest warriors can take over his spot as the planet’s savior if needed. They may never reach his heights of power, but even coming close to Goku’s might is enough to establish any warrior as a worthy successor.
1Son Gohan
Was In A Prime Position To Take Over As Earth’s Savior After The Cell Saga
As per canon, Gohan has already surpassed his father with the Beast form. This is a fact that may anger many fans, but the late great Toriyama himself confirmed that Gohan had become the strongest warrior in the universe after achieving this transformationagainst Cell Max.
This shouldn’t surprise fans, who have seen Gohan enjoy a new power boost out of nowhere that makes him strong enough to tackle the toughest foes without breaking a sweat. Hopefully, he will continue to prioritize his training if Goku retires.
2Broly
His Legendary Super Saiyan Form Required The Appearance Of Gogeta To Quell His Rage
Reintroducing Broly as a well-written characterforDragon Ball Superwas a masterstroke that helped this popular Saiyan become a canon character. His intriguing personality and power ceiling make him one of the strongest Saiyans in the series by a country mile.
HisLegendary Super Saiyan formwas so incredible that Goku and Vegeta had to fuse to take out this threat without any problems. If Broly gets his power under control, then there’s no telling how high his power can go. This, naturally, makes him a worthy candidate to succeed Goku.
3Caulifla
A Saiyan From Universe 6 Who Learned The Super Saiyan Form In Record Time
Universe 6 has its fair share of problems, which is why it would be unfair to tell one of its strongest warriors to protect its sister universe instead. However, given the potential shown by Saiyans like Caulifla, they may be able to fend for themselves regardless.
Acquiring the Super Saiyan form in no time shows her hidden talent as a proud Saiyan warrior. She may not be a match for Goku right now, but Caulifla can train extensively to ensure that she serves as a worthy successor to Goku if such an unlikely event ever arises.
4Kale
Can Be A Force To Be Reckoned With If She Controls Her Legendary Super Saiyan Form
Caulifla may be a strong Saiyan, but there’s no denying that her friend boasts greater power courtesy of her Legendary Super Saiyan form. Broly has shown firsthand how monstrous this form’s power can be if harnessed, meaning that Kale can reach immense heights in power if she just learns to control this form.
It will take a while to reach or evensurpass Goku’s strength, but fans will agree that Kale is the only Saiyan from Universe 6 who can realistically achieve this goal. As long as she doesn’t lose her senses in her Legendary Super Saiyan form, Kale can step in to save Universe 7 if Goku isn’t in the picture anymore.
5Piccolo
A New Form Can Help Piccolo Become Earth’s New Savior
Ever since the end ofDragon Ball, Piccolo has always been one step behind Goku. Fusing with his brethren may have helped, but something was missing that prevented Piccolo from being considered on the same level as a man who was once his rival.
InDragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Piccolo gains a new form with a wish that finally helps him become more relevant than ever before. It’s a great display of power and shows that Piccolo can still become Goku’s successor. His bond with Gohan makes him a great candidate for this honor.
6Trunks
Future Trunks Is An Obvious Pick, But Trunks From The Current Timeline Can Build Himself Up To Be Strong Too
Future Trunks has shown time and time again that he can reach new heights in power when required. This was seen during his battle against Goku Black and Zamasu, where an enraged Trunks unlocked a new form that helped him fight on nearly the same level as two other Saiyans who had unlocked divine ki.
It’s possible that Trunks from the main timeline can also become powerful if he decides to train, but that is unlikely. His Future counterpart has seen a ton of strife that has helped steel his nerves and stay active in fights.
7Vegeta
The Prince Of All Saiyans Is Goku’s Closest Rival And Can Easily Succeed Him
Vegeta is one of the most beloved characters inDragon Ball, despite debuting as a villain who had no mercy to offer his foes. AsDragon Ball Zprogressed, Vegeta slowly became used to his life on Earth, barring one moment where he let himself be possessed to enhance his strength andlet him fight Goku in a rematch.
After getting over this phase, Vegeta is usually portrayed as Goku’s rival who constantly finds his path to success instead of emulating his rival. The fact that he’s the only Saiyan to unlock the Ascended Super Saiyan Blue and Ultra Ego forms is proof of this.
