Is Goku Still Relevant in 2025? A Power Scaling Breakdown from a Tired Fan

Goku in 2025: Still the Strongest or Just Nostalgia Bait?

Look, I’ve been watching Goku throw hands since I was in elementary school. Back then, he was taking down Frieza on a dying planet and giving us all unrealistic hair expectations. Now, it’s 2025, and I’m watching this dude go Ultra Instinct while also trying to figure out if I left the oven on.

So, let’s get real: Is Goku still relevant in 2025? Or has the Saiyan warrior slipped into nostalgia bait territory while newer characters carry the torch?

Let’s break it down like Goku breaks timelines—messily, but with a lot of heart.

The Current Power Scaling Nightmare

Okay, so here's the TL;DR for the current Dragon Ball hierarchy:

• Goku has mastered Ultra Instinct, but he’s still refining it.
• Vegeta is rocking Ultra Ego, because of course he is.
• Black Frieza (yep, that’s a thing now) one-shot both of them at the end of the Granolah arc.
• Meanwhile, the Dragon Ball Heroes anime exists in a realm of chaos where Super Saiyan 4 coexists with literal gods of time.

So… is Goku still the strongest? Technically no. Narratively? Still kinda yes.

The Ultra Instinct Plateau

When Goku first unlocked Ultra Instinct during the Tournament of Power, it was peak hype. Gods of Destruction were sweating. Jiren was blinking. I was screaming at 2 a.m. in my living room.

Fast-forward to now, and Ultra Instinct is kind of like a new iPhone update—cool, but you're not sure what changed.

He’s fine-tuning it to suit his fighting style better (thanks to Whis), but it no longer feels like a trump card. It’s just… a thing he does. And that’s part of the problem—Goku’s strength feels expected, not earned.

New Blood, Old Faces

Goku's biggest threat isn’t a galactic tyrant—it’s irrelevance.

Characters like:

• Granolah (a space sniper with revenge issues),
• Moro (a magic goat wizard thing),
• And now Black Frieza (again, yes, really)

…have made it clear that Dragon Ball is trying to inject new energy. But even when someone else becomes the "strongest," Goku always returns to the top—or close enough.

It’s like the anime can’t quit him. And neither can we.

Vegeta Is More Interesting Now (There, I Said It)

This hurts to admit, but... Vegeta’s character arc is actually moving. He’s embracing destruction, tapping into a God of Destruction mindset, and making peace with his own pride. Meanwhile, Goku is still like:

“Wow! You're strong! Let's fight!”

I get it, that’s his thing. But after literally ascending godhood, you’d think he’d evolve beyond “punch now, train later.” Vegeta’s growth has made Goku feel… stuck. Powerful? Absolutely. But deep? Not really.

The Merch Machine Never Dies

Here's the cynical part: Goku will never stop being relevant, because he’s a brand now.

He’s on lunchboxes, video game covers, mobile games, and toothbrushes. Even if the narrative leaves him behind, marketing will always keep him in the spotlight.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing—it’s comforting to know that no matter how wild Dragon Ball gets, Goku will be there. Yelling. Glowing. Eating too much.

But Does He Still Matter in the Story?

Yes—and no.

Goku’s strength is no longer the jaw-dropper it once was. But his optimism, simplicity, and pure love for fighting is still the emotional spine of the series. He’s the anchor. He doesn't have to be the strongest—he just has to show up and keep the Dragon Ball spirit alive.

Kind of like how Batman doesn’t need powers—he just needs to be there, brooding and being iconic.

Final Verdict:

Is Goku still technically relevant in 2025?

✅ In terms of strength: He’s top-tier, but not untouchable.
✅ In terms of narrative: He’s still the main player, but others are catching up.
✅ In terms of legacy: Untouchable. Period.

I'm tired. He’s still yelling. Let’s call it a draw.

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