Goku and Vegeta looking shocked and worried in the Dragon Ball Super anime.
By
Branson Garza
Published Jan 30, 2026, 7:30 PM EST
Branson is a Senior Writer for ScreenRant. Anime has been a major part of his life since he was able to raise his hands in the air for a Spirit Bomb. As a journalist, Branson focuses heavily on listicles and op-eds detailing the industry's greatest shonen series.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Add Us On
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
Even though Goku and Vegeta have always been two of the strongest characters in Dragon Ball, neither of them has used what has to be considered the strongest attack in the entire series. Goku and Vegeta aren't strangers to powerful abilities, so why haven't they used this one?
Goku's strongest attack is easily his Supreme Kamehameha, and Vegeta's Beerus Ball finally sees the Prince of all Saiyans use the power of the Gods mercilessly. If the two Saiyans want to take their strength up a few levels in battle, there's one attack that they could use to dominate every opponent they come across.
Goku and Vegeta Might Be the Strongest, But...
Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta preparing their ki blasts in Dragon Ball Super: Broly
There's no denying that Goku and Vegeta are two of the strongest characters in Dragon Ball. Goku's Mastered Ultra Instinct and Vegeta's Ultra Ego are two of the strongest forms in the franchise, planting the Saiyans in the realm of the gods with ease.
Their attacks aren't necessarily powerful, however, as their attacks themselves are only reflective of their strength. Goku's Ultra Instinct form sees him tap into the same power as the Angels, allowing his body to move autonomously. Vegeta's Ultra Ego taps into the power of the Gods of Destruction, allowing him to destroy things so purely it was like they never existed.
The Beerus Ball and the Supreme Kamehameha are reflective of Vegeta and Goku's powers respectively. They're not strong attacks so much as they are abilities that reflect the two Saiyans' strength. There's one attack in Dragon Ball that works differently, skyrocketing its user's attack power like no other.
... Tien's Shin Kikoho Is the Strongest Attack by a Mortal in Dragon Ball
Tien Shinhan's Shin Kikoho is the strongest attack in Dragon Ball that isn't Zeno's Erase ability or a God of Destruction's Hakai. It's the strongest attack by a mortal in Dragon Ball by some margin, and if Goku or Vegeta were to use it, they might be able to take on a God of Destruction in battle.
"The 'Chi Cannon' ... a move of enormous destructive force... many times more powerful than even the Kamehameha." - Master Roshi in Dragon Ball chapter 132: Tsuru-Sen'nin's Curse, the Kikōhō!!
Shin Kikoho (or Neo Tri-Beam) doesn't just use its users Ki: it uses their life force. It's an incredibly dangerous move to use just as it is to get hit by, making it inherently more powerful than most other attacks in the series. The biggest point of proof comes during the Cell Saga, when Tien uses this ability to hold his ground against an opponent many times more powerful than him.
Subscribe for deeper Dragon Ball power breakdowns
Crave more breakdowns like this? Subscribe to the newsletter for detailed Dragon Ball power analyses, lore explanations, and character-comparison deep dives—plus other pop-culture coverage that expands your fandom insight. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.During the Cell Saga, Tien is weaker than Vegeta, who is weaker than Android 18, who is weaker than Android 17, who is weaker than Android 16, who is weaker than Cell. Despite the fact that he's well out of his league, Tien uses the Shin Kikoho to hold Cell down for at least several minutes.
The Shin Kikoho allows Tien to go toe-to-toe with one of the strongest characters in the series, even though he's of relatively average strength. It's the strongest attack in Dragon Ball by far, and if Goku were to use it, he might be able to kill characters like Frieza or Jiren with ease.
Dragon Ball
Created by
Akira Toriyama
First Film
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
Latest Film
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
First TV Show
Dragon Ball
Latest TV Show
Super Dragon Ball Heroes
First Episode Air Date
April 26, 1989
Expand
Collapse
-
Anime
-
Dragon Ball
Superman Officially Unlocks a Permanent New Superpower (& It’s a Big Deal)
Every Main Naruto Hero, Ranked From Weakest To Strongest
Demon Slayer: All 13 Hashira, Ranked Weakest to Strongest
