The Dragon Ball Quiz Not Even Goku Could Pass
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Created by Akira Toriyama in 1984, the Dragon Ball series has been part of popular culture for almost three and a half decades. After originating in a Japanese manga, the adventures of Goku have thus far spanned over a dozen movies and four TV shows, the latest of which, Dragon Ball Super, is still on the air, and extremely popular with fans.
Of course, the continued success should be no surprise, since Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and even Dragon Ball GT were all massive media sensations in their own right, arguably marking the overall franchise as the most popular anime universe in history. That said, with this much output, it can literally take years for fans to take it all in. Not even watching all four shows and the movies once will necessarily make someone an expert, as information can easily fall through the cracks when delivered in this volume.
In fact, were Toriyama ever to base an episode around Goku recalling all of his past adventures, we bet even the legendary Saiyan himself would have trouble remembering some of the details. Same goes for the many friends who joined Goku on his journey, including the ones who mostly just stood on the sidelines and watched him, the same way audiences did around the globe. To test if you know any better than they do, keep reading and take the Dragon Ball quiz that not even Goku could pass.
Who raised Goku?
Long before Goku was the Earth’s greatest defender, he was just a strange boy living alone in the woods. An orphan from very early childhood, the poor Super Saiyan never knew his real parents, but on the plus side, he was taken in by a kindly old man at a very young age. This polite stranger proceeded to raise Goku in a way that built the foundation for his future sense of morality, while also teaching him a few martial arts tricks along the way. Who taught Goku his first lessons in life?
How many Earth Dragon Balls are there?
Being the name of the series, if there’s any element of the Dragon Ball world more important than Goku himself, it would be those mystical orbs that call forth a massive wish-granting benevolent monster. The reach of Shenron’s powers are virtually limitless, with the catch being that all Dragon Balls turn to stone for one year after he’s called. Therefore, Goku and his friends need to re-collect them every 12 months to ensure they don’t get into the wrong hands. How many Dragon Balls do they need to keep track of?
What can turn Goku and other Saiyans into a Giant Ape?
From the very beginning, everyone could tell there was something a little bit off about Goku. Not only was the kid completely unaware of social grace, but he also possessed inhuman strength from childhood. Also, he had a weird monkey tail, which is pretty darn hard to miss. Turns out every single Saiyan has one, and it significantly enhances their power. Goku’s tail also has the power to turn him into a Giant Ape under a very specific circumstance, which he was taught to avoid as a safety measure. What causes the transformation?
Which future rival destroyed Goku’s home planet?
For the first two decades of his life, Goku is completely unaware of his own origin story, simply living his life from day to day without asking all too many questions about the past. As his story continued, though, the legendary Saiyan inevitably met some characters who could help fill in the cracks. Once Goku is clued in to the fact he’s from a different planet, he naturally wanted to learn more, but unfortunately a vicious warlord who would later become an arch rival had already destroyed it. Who was it?
What ultra nutritious vegetable fully revitalizes Goku more than once?
Living a life of nonstop fighting, Goku was bound to face defeat in battle at least once. Unsurprisingly, he actually meets this fate several dozen times, but the legendary Saiyan is always able to dust himself off and get back up. Of course, this is always a process, as broken bones don’t exactly heal overnight. Well, unless Korin or Yajirobe are around with one of their incredibly powerful vegetables. This unique creation is so nutritious it feels like eating several full meals at once, healing all wounds and revitalizing the person eating it’s energy. What are the magic veggies called?
Who initially chops off Goku’s tail?
Arguably the most significant moment of young Goku’s life was the night he unknowingly turned into a Giant Ape and trampled his Grandpa Gohan to death. Even though the young Saiyan didn’t fully understand the weight of this experience until much later, he did quickly realize that there were downsides to his tail. Goku’s friends learned these side effects even faster, reacting with sheer terror the first time he transformed in their presence. Wasting no time, they immediately decided to chop it off so Goku wouldn’t accidentally kill them, as well. Who did the deed and removed Goku’s tail?
What other name is Master Roshi popularly known by?
Prior to Goku hitting the scene, chances are the strongest fighter on Earth was one of his initial sensei’s, the legendary Master Roshi. Innovator of Dragon Ball’s legendary Kamehameha Wave, Roshi trained both Goku’s Grandpa Gohan and The Ox-King, followed by imparting his wisdom on the Saiyan himself, not to mention most of his friends. All that said, Master Roshi is possibly more memorable as an eccentric weirdo than a fighter, and his nickname might have something to do with it. What else is he called?
Who wins the first Worlds Martial Arts tournament Goku participates in?
While Goku would eventually grow into the greatest hero on Earth, he was only 12 years old for his first World Martial Arts tournament. Amazingly, youth didn’t stop Goku from getting to the final round, but it would be a couple years before he finally won the big one. In fact, Goku only won a single tournament out of the many he participated in, although in later years he usually gets distracted and wanders off rather than actually getting eliminated. In any event, who was the first fighter to defeat Goku in the tournament?
What does Oolong wish for the first time the Dragon Balls are collected? (English dub)
Having collected the Dragon Balls again and again over the course of several decades, it’s hard to even count the number of wishes Goku and his friends collectively made. The answer is definitely in the double digits, with wishes both noble, borderline evil, and downright weird all getting granted along the way. Of course, the wish that will always make the strongest impression on fans is probably the first, due to its ridiculous nature and the way it came entirely out of nowhere. What wish did Oolong have granted?
Who is the first enemy to completely best Goku in battle?
Up until Master Roshi/Jackie Chun managed to defeat him at the Worlds Martial Arts tournament, Goku was pretty much unmatched in battle. Even in the war against Chun, Goku held his own until the bitter end, and very nearly won the thing were it not for a lack of balance. Unfortunately, Goku’s next enemy wouldn’t take it easy on him the way Roshi did. With the words “KILL YOU” proudly brandished across his back, this hired assassin beat the tar out of Goku and left him for dead. What’s his name?
What character is Piccolo’s other half?
Originally Goku’s strongest enemy turned one of his greatest allies, the full backstory of Piccolo is way too complex and difficult to explain for us to ask a simple question about it. Basically, he was birthed as a last ditch effort of the evil Piccolo Daimao to avenge Goku for killing him, but there’s a whole lot more to the man originally called Piccolo Jr. than just that. Having been formed as a creature of pure evil, Piccolo also had a second half composed of pure good, whom he later re-fused with to maximize his power. Who was it?
What event marks the transition from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball Z?
Despite the fact Goku’s story technically takes place across four different TV shows, there’s not all that much of a difference between Dragon Ball, Z, GT, and Super. The only thing to really change are the ages of Goku and his friends, with multiple characters going from birth to adulthood from one series to the next. With all this in mind, there must have been a pretty huge change in Goku’s life to justify adding a Z to the show’s name. Do you know what it was?
Who is the first Saiyan that comes to Earth looking for Goku?
Using the past as a springboard to the future, Dragon Ball Z’s first plotline continued Goku’s story by fleshing out his origins. It was in the first couple episodes of the second series that audiences learned why Goku was so strong, had a tail, and couldn’t remember anything about his parents—he was an alien species called a Saiyan from the Planet Vegeta, sent on a mission to take over the Earth as a baby. Obviously, that didn’t quite pan out, so the few remaining Saiyans eventually came to check up on him. Who sought out Goku first?
What title does Vegeta hold in relation to other Saiyans?
Believe it or not, from a technical standpoint, Goku isn’t actually the most powerful Saiyan around. Sure, he may be the physically strongest, but there’s still a political figure who outranks him, and it’s one of his greatest rivals: Vegeta. This shouldn’t be all that surprising, considering the planet Saiyans hail from is named after the guy, suggesting his family have controlled the government for as long as Dragon Ball fans are aware. Because of his higher status, Vegeta strives to one day best Goku in battle, usually to no avail. What crown does he wear?
Who is responsible for Goku’s first death?
Truly willing to put the fate of the world above himself, the majority of Goku’s deaths were matters of self-sacrifice. The first time around, he simply didn’t see any way to defeat Raditz other than holding his brother tight while one of his allies shot a powerful energy beam through them both. While Goku’s plan worked, and Raditz was defeated, the side effect is that the legendary Saiyan took a significantly blow as well, dying alongside his villainous brother. Then again, he came back a few episodes later, so it wasn’t that bad. Regardless, who killed him?
What long road in the afterlife leads to King Kai’s planet?
Never before has the phrase “death is not the end” felt more applicable than to the universe of Dragon Ball. Just about everyone on the show dies once or twice, but they always come back stronger than ever before. Part of the reason is a strange being calling himself King Kai, who trains people in the afterlife. Naturally, Goku is the first one to receive Kai’s gifts, but he has to go on a long journey to reach the sensei’s planet. What is the extremely long path he needs to travel on called?
On which planet were the Dragon Balls originally created?
Considering Dragon Ball is a series about a Saiyan from the Planet Vegeta living on Earth, it was only a matter of time before more planets got involved in the mix. As luck would have it, a few of these other planets also had Dragon Balls of their own, able to grant certain types of wishes not even the Earth Dragon Shenron could have made come true. Naturally, once Bulma and friends learn about this, they immediately seek out the planet where it all began. Where did the Dragon Balls come to be?
How does King Kai test if fighters are worthy of his training?
It should go without saying that a person dying doesn’t exactly behoove the suggestion they’re a great fighter. Even though King Kai is able to oversee all actions on Earth, he’s not going to train just anybody who walks onto his planet, considering they had to lose a serious battle to get there. No, this mischievously childish sensei always tests his potential students before offering them any sort of training, utilizing the help of his friends Bubbles and Gregory to do so. What does Kai make Goku and friends do before helping them?
What elite squad does Frieza send on a scouting mission to Namek?
An intergalactic warlord with no regard for life of any kind, typically, Frieza just blows up a planet and moves on without giving it a second thought. For whatever reason, though, the monster deciding to send a task force to Namek before his arrival so they could give a lay of the land and help him prepare. Unfortunately for Frieza, he made a questionable choice in who he sent, settling on this flashy and flamboyant squad more interested in “cool” poses than actual recon. What are they called?
With which type of animal does Captain Ginyu accidentally switch bodies?
Okay, so for the most part, the Ginyu Force are a bunch of jokes. Tellingly, Vegeta, Gohan, Krillin, and Piccolo are pretty much able to dispatch them one by one without Goku’s help, and even the Captain of the group is only able to get a leg up on things through seriously nefarious tactics. Able to switch bodies with anything in his path, Ginyu greatly weakens himself then tries to transmute with Goku. Luckily, the Saiyan sees this coming and throws an animal in the way, turning Ginyu into the creature. What does the Captain become?
How does Frieza kill Guru?
A destroyer of worlds who has been conquering planets since long before the Dragon Ball series began in earnest, Frieza might have the highest kill count of any character on television. Truly genocidal, or at least darn close to it, Frieza managed to kill all but a half dozen Saiyans single handedly, then very nearly did the same thing to the people of Namek. Included in this killing spree was Guru, original creator of the Dragon Balls and leader of the race. How did Frieza bring the old Namekian to his end?
Whose death causes Goku to become the first Super Saiyan?
By the time of Dragon Ball Super, there are more Super Saiyans than the average person could ever keep track of. There are also a half dozen iterations of what “Super Saiyan” even means, all with corresponding colors and hairstyles. The most memorable Super Saiyan will always be the first, though, and naturally, it was Goku himself. Of course, it took quite a while before Goku would reach this point, needing an incredibly powerful emotional event to get him there. Who does Frieza to cause the transformation?
Who accompanies Goku to driver’s ed?
Okay, so the fate of humanity doesn’t exactly hang in the balance every single episode of Dragon Ball. Sometimes, nothing much happens at all, like the time Chi Chi bought a car and randomly decided this meant Goku needed a driver’s license. In fairness to the Saiyan, he really had no need to get behind the wheels—the dude can fly, and he still has the Flying Nimbus if he ever feels lazy. Nonetheless, ever the dutiful husband, Goku complied to his wife’s wish and attempted to learn how to drive, bringing a friend along with him for the ride.
What is Gohan’s superhero alter-ego?
Believe it or not, Goku and his friends somehow manage to keep an incredibly low profile in their battles to save humanity. This is in part by design, as the Saiyan is well aware the battles he engages in could destroy entire towns, trying to wage most of them in faraway secluded areas. That all changes when Gohan goes to high school in the big city, and can’t help hide his Super Saiyan instincts whenever he sees bad guys in action. Of course, he can’t well reveal he’s an alien superhero, so what secret identity does he use?
What does Garlic Jr. use to bring out the evil in people?
The Dragon Ball universe is very much one of redemption, with almost every person Goku battles over the fate of the world eventually turning into an ally in one way or another. However, old habits die hard, and this really just means that all of Goku’s best buds have evil thoughts seeming beneath the surface, waiting to come out. While not quite as monstrous as Frieza or Cell, feeding on humanity’s weakness is Garlic Jr.’s greatest strength, able to bring out the evil in man simply by releasing a certain substance into the air. What does he call it?
Who dominated the World’s Martial Arts tournament when Goku and friends were busy?
As is only appropriate, Goku and his friends were the standouts of the World Martial Arts tournament from the first year the kid entered. As time went on, though, they got kinda busy, what with Vegeta, Frieza, and various other bad guys trying to destroy the universe. Stepping up in the absence of Earth’s heroes was a flashy showboat who seemed more suited for professional wrestling than an actual athletic contest. Granted, he was strong enough to win any tournaments Goku was too busy to participate in, but he’s much more a joke than a true fighter. What’s his name?
What physical illness does Future Trunks warn Goku he’ll suffer?
When a member of the Dragon Ball universe falls in battle, all their friends have to do is call upon Porunga or Shenron to bring them back. Unfortunately, not even the great and powerful dragons can do all that much about a person passing away from disease or natural causes. In a future timeline, this proves disastrous for the entire world after Goku falls victim to a regular illness and meets his demise. Thankfully, Vegeta’s son traveled back in time from the future to warn him about it and provide a cure. What nearly killed Goku permanently?
What sport does Yamcha play professionally?
Upon first meeting Goku, poor Yamcha was just a lonely bandit with problems speaking to women. After a few years of dating Bulma and training with the Saiyan and friends, he develops into a much more confident adult, proud of his various talents. Unfortunately, as Goku’s opponents get tougher, it becomes abundantly clear that Yamcha is seriously out of his league as a fighter. Turns out there might be a different athletic calling the former bandit has been better at all along. What minor league sport does he play after mostly giving up fighting?
Who created Cell and the Androids?
Creations of pure evil with no capacity for anything except destruction, the Androids are amongst the most terrifying monsters of the Dragon Ball universe. As the most powerful, adaptive, and constantly evolving of these beasts, Cell is definitely the scariest of all, and that fear only grew as he singlehandedly defeated Goku, his friends, and even the other Androids, one by one by one. Before that happened, Cell also killed the insane Red Ribbon Army survivor who created them all. What was this evil scientist’s name?
Which fighter manages to defeat Cell in Goku’s absence?
For the most part, when Earth or whatever planet Goku’s friends happen to be on finds itself in serious trouble, it’s the legendary Saiyan himself who ultimately saves the day. Even in the case of Raditz where he needed to self-sacrifice, Goku was directly involved in the finishing moments of his battle. The same was true for wars against Vegeta, Buu, Frieza, and so many more, yet in the case of Cell, someone else had to deliver the finishing blow. Goku just sacrificed himself for the second time, so who had to step in and killed Cell on his behalf?
Who helps Goku re-defeat his old enemies in the Otherworld?
Considering the sheer amount of time Goku and friends spend in the afterlife, also referred to as the Otherworld, it made sense his old enemies would eventually wind up in the great beyond with him. Naturally, being killed by the Saiyan or his friends didn’t calm down the likes of Cell, Frieza, or the Ginyu Force, so they use their time in the Otherworld to wreck havoc over hell dimensions and generally run amok. Unfortunately for them, once King Kai and Goku catch wind of this, they have to stop it, with the help of another Otherworld hero. Who?
Which human is the first person to recognize the Great Saiyaman’s true identity?
Considering the outrageously goofy costume with the silly antennae and ridiculous helmet, it was only a matter of time before people realize the Great Saiyaman’s true identity. Well, in theory, anyway. Never underestimate the obliviousness of the average Dragon Ball character outside of Goku’s core group, as somehow, only one person in Gohan’s entire high school had any idea something fishy was going on. Part of the reason why is that this person is also a low level crime fighter themselves, and the offspring of a certain blowhard celebrity. Who figures out what makes the Saiyaman great?
Who does Mr. Satan defeat in the finals of the first post-Cell World Martial Arts tournament?
In all fairness to Mr. Satan, the guy does seem pretty strong for an average, run-of-the-mill human. Winning a World Martial Arts tournament is nothing to sneeze at, even if a little kid like Trunks could send him flying with a single punch. Then again, Mr. Satan somehow keeps winning the tournaments even after Goku’s friends start entering them, generally by making some sort of deal that allows him to bask in the glory, and the real heroes to live on outside of the spotlight. Who is the first person to let him do this?
Who accidentally wishes Goku turn back into a child?
As Dragon Ball became an increasingly serious universe, the wishes characters made after combining the seven mystical orbs likewise tended to grow in importance. Collecting the Dragon Balls was usually a life or death scenario; an arduous process to bring fallen warriors back into the world. Sometimes, though, it could still be flatout silly, especially if Goku and friends weren’t the people to find the Dragon Balls and make the wish. Goofiest of all was definitely when Goku was transformed into a child, so the person making the wish could feasibly beat him up. Who asked Shenron to do this?
What does Majin Buu name his pet dog?
In contrast to his shockingly violent and destructive nature, Majin Buu is extremely childlike and simple from a mental perspective. Sure, he turns Goku’s friends into candy or chocolate and eats them without a second thought, but deep down inside, Buu’s actions are almost entirely random and unplanned. Until he meets a cute little dog, that is, at which point Buu actually finds purpose in life and no longer feels the need to destroy. Unfortunately, some crazy jerks put that into jeopardy when they hurt the dog, bringing back Buu’s sense of destruction in full force. What’s the dog’s name?
Who marries Bulma?
Ultimately, despite all he accomplishes, it’s possible Goku never would have left his Grandpa Gohan’s tiny little shack if Bulma never went there looking for the Dragon Balls. What this means is that going back a step further, Goku could have spent his whole life in seclusion were Bulma not so outrageously desperate to find a boyfriend she decided to collect the mystic orbs and wish for one. While Goku does help Bulma get the Dragon Balls together, she doesn’t get to make her wish just yet. Lucky for her, though, she eventually does find love. Who marries her?
What convinces Beerus to spare the earth?
A God of Destruction with no sense of anything except power, Beerus comes to Earth with the expressed purpose of finding a fight. Being the home of Goku and his friends, the vicious cat-like creature naturally manages to find one, albeit not quite up to the standards he expected. Specifically, Beerus was looking for a Super Saiyan God, who he naturally assumed to be Goku. After a fight between the two suggested that wasn’t the case, Beerus was ready to destroy another planet and move on, but something changed his mind. What does Earth have that made Beerus spare it?
With what type of Earth food is Beerus obsessed?
Considering Beerus loves human food so gosh darn much it caused him to spare the planet Earth, it should go without saying the God of Destruction has many favorite snacks and treats. Nonetheless, any gourmand of this variety has some very special food they put above all else, and Beerus is no different. In fact, the whole snafu between Beerus and the occupants of Earth could be blamed on an incident where Majin Buu refused to share a certain delicious treat the violent God holds dear. What food was it?
Who uses the Dragon Balls to resurrect Frieza?
Given the sheer number of times good guys on Dragon Ball get resurrected, it was inevitable that the villains of the series would find a way to get in on the trend. In Dragon Ball Super, they do so in a major way, bringing back Goku’s arch nemesis Frieza, now with a shiny golden veneer. Initially, Shenron doesn’t want to bring back such a monster, but he’s eventually convinced and darkness reigns on the universe once again. The only good news is that Goku was ready to fight him yet again. Who brought Frieza back for one more battle?
What enemy hijacks Goku’s body with the Super Dragon Balls?
No matter what the universe throws at Goku, he’s always able to toss an even stronger Kamehameha right back at it. After the legendary Saiyan dispatched Frieza, Cell, Majin Buu, and so many more, it felt like not even Akira Toriyama could create a new threat strong enough to challenge him. Turns out there was one idea left, in that Goku could do battle with himself…or at least a villain from the future who somehow managed to steal his body. What does this enemy get named before his true identity is understood?