Top 20 Mind Blowing Dragon Ball Fan Theories

#20: Goku Died Fighting Omega Shenron

In what was considered the final battle of the franchise, Goku puts his all into one, last spirit bomb, and then flies off on Shenron's back. He isn’t seen again for decades, and even then, it’s questionable. If that sounds like a metaphor, it's because it probably is. With how exhausting that last fight against Omega Shenron was, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Goku died there. It's just vague enough to make you wonder. But, if a character falling asleep as he's taken into a sunset isn't a perfect farewell, what is? For all intents and purposes, this is the end of Goku, either way.

#19: The Universe 6 Saiyans Have Evolved Beyond the Great Ape

One of the most interesting lore tidbits in “Dragon Ball Super” isn’t just that Cabba, Kale and the others don’t have tails. It’s that their race hasn’t even heard of them. The Universe 7 Saiyans used their tails to access the power of the Great Ape and unleash untold destruction. And yet, the bunch from Universe 6 seem plenty powerful without them, their lack of Super Saiyan notwithstanding. It seems reasonable enough that, at some point in their universal development, their Saiyan race evolved beyond the Great Ape, foregoing the need for a tale. This could also explain why they’re strong, but through very different means than the Universe 7 Saiyans.

#18: The Super Saiyan God Ritual Has Stronger Results

Power-scaling debates will only lead to arguments and headaches, but in this case, we think we have a pretty solid case. Goku's red-haired debut into godhood seemed powerful enough to compete with Lord Beerus himself. But, then Goku went Super Saiyan Blue, and Ultra Instinct, seemingly leaving Super Saiyan God in the dust. And yet, apparently, he's still not able to best Beerus? It just doesn't add up. However, there's a small clue that might explain it all. In “Battle of Gods,” Goku's transformation comes from the combined might of five other Saiyans. This ritual version of the form could be significantly stronger, and while it lets Goku access god ki in the future, it may not yield the same earth-shaking results.

#17: Gohan’s Power Comes From Chi-Chi’s Side

Growing up, Goku’s eldest had some… let’s say anger issues. It always accompanied a massive spike in power, with many attributing it to having a Saiyan dad and an earthling mother. But, then Goten came along, with a much milder temperament. If Saiyan and Earthling offspring were all full of incredible potential, why didn’t he and Trunks ever tap into that same anger? Given all that, some fans think Gohan’s power is because he takes more after his mom. Think about it. Chi-Chi was a pretty formidable fighter once upon a time, and if she passed down even half of her Mama-Bear spirit, it’s no wonder Gohan can throw a good right hook!

#16: Bulma’s Mom Is a Robot

We know it sounds weird. But you know who's really weird? Dr. Briefs. His wife is pretty quiet, and seems to have only a few responses and reactions. And you know, the Briefs are quite a smart bunch. We can totally see a world where Dr. Briefs decided to build himself a partner instead of going out and meeting one. It wouldn't be that out-there for this family, or "Dragon Ball" in general. In fact, it wouldn't even be the only instance of someone marrying an android. Just look at her - she never opens her eyes, and seems to have an incredible predisposition to being flirty. Seems fishy, don't you think?

#15: Upcoming Movies Will Make Other Villains Canon

Audiences around the world heard the power-up roar when “Dragon Ball Super: Broly” hit theaters in 2018. The film broke all kinds of records for the franchise, and seemed to hint at a new direction, too. Since almost all of the most beloved “Dragon Ball” films aren’t canon, it makes sense for them to start slowly remaking them, bringing their iconic villains into the fold, as well. Just imagine how sick it would be to see Janemba, Cooler, or Bojack as major players in the “Dragon Ball” world. That’s worth the price of a movie ticket, and then some.

#14: Goku & Vegeta Will Be Universe 7's Angel & God Of Destruction

Is this a theory, or pure copium? You decide, but either way, you have to admit it’d be insanely cool. Plus, little by little, it seems like the series is nudging them both in that direction. Goku’s Ultra Instinct is reminiscent of Whis’ agility, seemingly putting him in the same league as angels. Vegeta, however, has let himself be overcome with pride, and the resulting Ultra Ego seems perfectly fitted for a Destroyer role. Since the two Saiyan rivals have always been neck-and-neck, having them end up on two sides of godhood would be too poetic to pass up.

#13: In the Demon Realm, Size Equals Strength

In “Daima,” the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Knocking them down, though, is a different story. It seems like everyone there plays by the rule that bigger is better. Case in point, every single individual underestimates Goku and his friends. And, on the other side of things, who are the toughest opponents they find? Three giant Tamagami, and a seemingly unbeatable race of giants. Plus, when the Third Eye gives Gomah his power boost, he gets a massive growth spurt, too. Whether it was an intentional bit of visual storytelling or not, there's no denying most Demon Realm folk are big, and proud of it.

#12: Pan Is Too Human for Super Saiyan

One of the most glaring omissions from “Dragon Ball GT” involves Goku's granddaughter, Pan. At the time, she was the only Saiyan in the main cast who never donned the golden hair. While we know from behind-the-scenes interviews that this was a practical decision since they weren't sure how to draw Super Saiyan hair for a girl, it could have an in-universe answer, too. While every other Saiyan in the series is either full or half-blooded, Pan is only has a quarter of the warrior race in her. Maybe that's just not enough for her to glow gold. Either way, Pan fans can rest assured she still holds her own in a brawl. Just ask Giru!

#11: Saiyan Tails Are Ki Regulators

For literal centuries, Saiyans used their tails to access the Great Ape, and the massive power they came with. But, what if instead of a buff, the tails were holding them back? When you look at the series as a whole, it's clear that once Saiyans start losing their tails, the power levels get really wild. In fact, no Saiyan with a current tail would go Super Saiyan until "GT." It could be, in addition to accessing the Great Ape, the tails acted as ki regulators to keep Saiyan potential in check. That could also be why the Universe 6 Saiyans were able to go Super Saiyan so easily. They never had tails to begin with!

#10: Super Saiyan 4 Is a Different Path to God KI

Things get a little wonky after Super Saiyan 3. And not just because of all the different series’. Though, that certainly doesn’t help. Depending on the show, Goku’s next level is either Super Saiyan God, or Super Saiyan 4. The former is, obviously, made possible by tapping into God Ki. But, who’s to say Super Saiyan 4 is any different? While the beastly stage relies more on the Saiyan’s primal connection to the Great Ape, that doesn’t make it any less mystical. Additionally, if it were connected to God Ki, it would reveal how Neva was able to trigger the transformation in “Daima.”

#9: Mystic Gohan Is “Perfected” Super Saiyan

When Majin Buu threatened the fate of the whole universe, the Elder Kai decided their best bet was unlocking all of Gohan’s latent potential. It took some time, but eventually, Mystic Gohan was born! And, for the first time in several hundred episodes, a Saiyan didn’t power-up with blonde hair. Since Gohan’s transformation comes from the Elder Kai himself, and is said to be the maximum limit of his body’s potential, it stands to reason that this Mystic form is the ultimate level of Super Saiyan. It’s beyond the golden hair, and beyond the power-level, too. Gohan was certainly stronger than any other blonde Super Saiyan at the time.

#8: Why Goten Could Reach Super Saiyan So Easily

This one gets a little risqué, but stay with us. Goku's youngest son, Goten, earns his Super Saiyan stripes earlier than either his dad or brother. Like, at seven-years-old. This bit of power-creep is a real headscratcher. That is, until you consider when Chi-Chi would have been carrying Goten. Since Goku dies in the battle with Cell, he must have been with Chi-Chi sometime between exiting the Time Chamber and entering the Cell Games. At that time, Goku was able to sustain his Super Saiyan form day and night. If you see where we're going, it's safe to assume that Goten's prodigal strength comes from Goku's state at the time of... well, you know.

#7: Kaio-ken Gave Goku Heart Issues

As anyone who's seen the Android Saga knows, Goku gets taken off the board not by the cybernetic threats, but by a nasty heart disease. From what we know, it's not hereditary, which begs the question: where did it come from? Well, remember King Kai's warning back in the Saiyan Saga? How the Kaio-ken puts undue stress on the body? Since Goku pushed well beyond his limits during the fight against Vegeta, and then again versus Frieza, it's easy to connect the dots to what made his heart give out. Can’t say he doesn’t give 100%, that’s for sure!

#6: The Great Saiyaman’s Costume Is Inspired by Android 16

Every anime fan knows where they were and what they were doing when Gohan went Super Saiyan 2. It's a legendary moment in the franchise, and it's all thanks to Android 16's empowering monologue. Even though the robot meets his end, it's only natural his words stayed with Gohan well into his teenage years. And, maybe it manifested in his wardrobe! While not confirmed, Gohan's Great Saiyaman outfit sports a very distinct shade of green. Given how important 16's words were to Gohan's development, it's nice to imagine the Saiyan is literally keeping them close to his chest.

#5: The Saiyan’s Evolved From Great Apes

Have you ever stopped to wonder why the Saiyans can turn into monkeys? Well, it might have something to do with their lineage. For generations, every Saiyan born in the seventh universe came with a tail that allowed them to access the power of a Great Ape under a full moon. The fact it comes from a physical appendage means this is a biological advantage. So, just like humans share traits with monkeys, it's not out of the realm of possibility to assume Saiyans evolved from the Great Apes. Nowadays, they've grown past the primal instincts, but can still access the power when need be. We've heard worse theories!

#4: Android 17 & 18 Were Just as Strong in the Future

Time-travel can cause all sorts of crazy side-effects. But, there's one detail in the Android saga that has a pretty easy explanation. Trunks is stunned by how strong 17 and 18 are in the main timeline, claiming he could fight their future counterparts as more-or-less equals. However, there's a good chance Trunks never actually saw the twins at their full strength. Think about it; in the war-torn future, Trunks is the only one who can even put up a fight. The two probably hold back in order to keep him around for easy entertainment. Not only does this explain the android's inconsistent power level, but it also adds to their menace!

#3: King Cold Wasn’t in His Final Form

Frieza's family is known for transformations. The space tyrant himself had three separate power-ups on Namek alone! And yet, his father, King Cold, bears a striking resemblance to his son's second form. For those who aren't great at math, that leaves at least two extra power boosts King Cold is sitting on. Unfortunately, we can't know for sure, since Trunks promptly ends him before he has a chance to get serious. Still, given how strong Frieza was, and how much reverence he held for his father, it's pretty likely King Cold could transform, too. If Trunks hadn't made such short work of him, we may've even got to see them!

#2: Bulma Wished for Vegeta

Shenron works in strange and mysterious ways. But, you can't say he doesn't deliver! Throughout the original series, Bulma wants to gather the Dragon Balls to wish for a boyfriend. While most people assume she got her desire in Yamcha, we all know how that relationship ends. What's interesting, though, is that right after the time-skip, a certain Saiyan Prince appears on the scene. Sure, he kills a bunch of people, but he also ends up tying the knot with Bulma. It makes you wonder whether Bulma ended up making that wish, after all. If she did, she clearly didn't specify whether she wanted him to be a good guy or not.

#1: The Oracle Fish’s Prophecy Is About Frieza

When Beerus' prophetic pet fish speaks, you better listen. So, when it woke up from a nap and muttered that the strongest warrior in the seventh universe was about to appear, fans got to guessing. Was it Gas? Granolah? Broly? Seven-Three? Maybe Goku or Vegeta with a new form? It seems like the real answer was none of the above. At the climax of the Granolah arc, Frieza reappeared with a new, onyx-colored transformation that wiped the floor with his Saiyan nemeses. Based on the absurd strength he demonstrated in just a single scene, it seems like we know who the Oracle Fish was talking about.

Which of these theories do you think holds the most water? Let us know in the comments below!