Summary
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Kaioken is one of the first power-up techniques introduced inDragon Ball. Unfortunately, as Super Saiyan takes the spotlight, Kaioken becomes less relevant as a power-up, especially because it is a dangerous technique.
However, inDragon Ball Z, Goku actually combines Kaioken and Super Saiyan, and creates Super Kaioken, but this technique is not canon in the manga. What exactly is Super Kaioken, and why isn’t it “canon”?
How Does Super Kaioken Work?
Kaioken, or Kaio-Ken, is a technique that multiplies one’ski,greatly increasing one’s powers. However,this power-up comes at a high cost, as it requires refinedkicontrol and causes a great deal of stress, which can easily lead to exhaustion if the technique remains active for too long.
Super Kaioken is what happens when a Saiyan combines the Kaioken technique with the Super Saiyan transformation, amplifying the already massive powers of a Super Saiyan. In the series, Goku uses it as SSJ and SSJ2.
Who Has Managed to Use Super Kaioken?
Kaioken was created by North Kai, and only Goku has learned to use it. Even though other characters trained with Kai in the Other World, no one else has learned this technique. Maybe human characters can’t handle the technique, but it would be nice if the show gave a proper explanation for it.
Is Super Kaioken Canon in Dragon Ball?
Super Kaioken is a creation of the anime series, andit is not featured in the manga. The first time Goku combines SSJ and Kaioken isduring the Other World Tournament inDBZ, when he fights Pikkon (or Paikuhan). So, it is only canon for those who consider anime events as canon, and, unfortunately, the anime hasn’t explained how Goku has been able to use Super Kaioken, at least for now.
Goku later uses Super Kaioken again in theDragon Ball Superanime, but it was not included in the manga, which probably means thatToriyama never intended for SSJ and Kaioken to be combinedin the way it happened in the anime. The only time that Kaioken and SSJ are combined in the manga series is when Goku uses Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken (Kaioken plus Super Saiyan Blue).
I know it’s risky, but there’s a big payoff, too!
— Goku in Dragon Ball Super
There’s actually an explanation for why Kaioken and SSJ cannot be combined: according to Old Kai, this combination is lethal. Super Saiyan is all about emotional stress and rage, making it hard to controlkias precisely as required by Kaioken. However,Super Saiyan Blue can only be unleashed with a calm mind, so that’s why Kaioken can be combined with Blue in a safe way.
Kaioken is a technique, not a transformation. So hypothetically, it is possible to combine it with Super Saiyan. The problem is that SSJ makeskicontrol more unstable, so trying to combine them would likely lead to certain death.
Are There Any Chances It Will Be Included in the Manga?
Since theDragon Ball Supermanga excluded the use of Kaioken and SSJ altogether, it seems that Super Kaioken is not supposed to be canon in the manga series. Thus, it seems unlikely that this technique will be included in the nextDBSarcs.
However, the official explanation only establishes that Kaioken and Super Saiyan are a potentially deadly combination. So Super Kaioken could still be used hypothetically, although it is not recommended and is extremely dangerous. With that in mind, it would be nice to see Goku or another Saiyan (someone else could learn it, after all)forced to combine Kaioken with SSJ in an extreme situation.
Dragon Ball Superisavailable to stream on Crunchyroll.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball is a franchise by Akira Toriyama which follows the adventures of Goku, a powerful warrior who protects the earth with his group of friends. A recent title from the series is Dragon Ball: The Breakers, an action style game where 7 players have to survive being hunted by the Raider.
