The majority of Dragon Ball Z focuses on the Saiyan warriors, as the warriors of Earth have been able to do very little and cannot fight to protect Earth against many dangerous threats. For this reason, at a certain point in history, Goku’s offspring, along with Trunks – the son of Vegeta – have taken it upon themselves to protect Earth.
From here, a question has arisen that has sparked debates among fans for many years: Who is stronger, Gohan or Goten?
Gohan is the eldest son of Goku and Chi-Chi and was once considered Goku’s natural successor. His immense latent power and training potential have made Gohan a character that fans have come to love dearly. However, he has often been overshadowed by his father, Goku.
However, the introduction of Goten, Gohan’s younger brother, has added a new dynamic to the story. Despite being young, Goten has demonstrated remarkable fighting abilities and a power level that can rival that of his older brother. But how is it that Goten, at such a young age, can compete with Gohan, who has been training diligently for many years? The answer lies in genetics and a key factor: S Cells.
Goku had not yet reached the level of transforming into a Super Saiyan when Gohan made his debut. As Akira Toriyama has explained, this means that Gohan only inherits a portion of Goku’s base power, which is further amplified due to the hybrid bloodline between Saiyan and human.
In contrast, Goten was born when Goku had already attained the advanced level of Super Saiyan, a transformation that is significantly stronger than the initial form. This has allowed Goten to gain power comparable to that of Gohan in his Super Saiyan 2 form, even at just six years old, when Goten first transformed and surprised his older brother.
So, why hasn’t Goten surpassed Gohan (or Goku)?
Besides the S Cells, the training regimen also plays a crucial role in the development of a Saiyan’s strength. Gohan was driven by the need to protect his family and loved ones, undergoing rigorous training with Piccolo and later with Mr. Popo. On the other hand, Goten lacks the same pressure or motivation to train as intensely.
Despite having latent potential, Goten’s development as a warrior is hindered by his carefree nature and focus on other activities.
In summary, while Goten possesses greater base potential than Gohan due to the advanced S Cells inherited from his father, Gohan has surpassed his younger brother in strength due to his relentless dedication and training.
The rivalry between Gohan and Goten continues to be a topic of discussion among Dragon Ball fans, although it has not been thoroughly explored in the storyline. Understanding the scientific underpinning of their strength and the differing paths they have taken as warriors allows us to better appreciate the complexity and diversity of the universe created by Toriyama.
