Who is the most skilled fighter in the series?

[Captain Cadaver]

Nah, I just thought that protagonist are default genius, natural skilled etc., and I feel like we should discuss the secondary characters instead who aren't powerful enough to defeat the enemy but skillful enough to hang in there longer. Feel free to dismiss my post.

If anything, some of the other main characters are more default geniuses or naturally skilled than Goku though. You have Gohan and the other hybrids, Boo and Freeza having potential that puts everyone else to shame, Vegeta getting so far when going without formal training for most of his life, etc.
Compared to them, Goku is far more so a product of his experiences rather than natural talent

 

[Spiral-Force]

But Piccolo was stated as the most skilled fighter in the verse.

Where/when was this stated? Show the scan.

Nah, I just thought that protagonist are default genius, natural skilled etc., and I feel like we should discuss the secondary characters instead who aren't powerful enough to defeat the enemy but skillful enough to hang in there longer. Feel free to dismiss my post.

Making that assumption goes against the milestones Goku has tackled to get to such a high level. His willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges also influenced a lot of the secondary characters to improve themselves as well at some point or another.

 

[Future Warrior]

I think this illustrates well why Toriyama didn't see Gohan or next generation characters as a good substitute for Goku as the main character. The series is about seeking self-improvement and overcoming walls till the test of time, something that isn't personified within them.

 

[ahill1]

But Piccolo was stated as the most skilled fighter in the verse.

Where/when was this stated? Show the scan.

Nah, I just thought that protagonist are default genius, natural skilled etc., and I feel like we should discuss the secondary characters instead who aren't powerful enough to defeat the enemy but skillful enough to hang in there longer. Feel free to dismiss my post.

Making that assumption goes against the milestones Goku has tackled to get to such a high level. His willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges also influenced a lot of the secondary characters to improve themselves as well at some point or another.

Chapter: 392 (DBZ 198), P13.1-5
Goku: “Hey… Piccolo! Did you go into the Room of Spirit and Time?”
Piccolo: “Indeed.”
Goku: “I can tell! Your skill set is on a whole different level.”
Piccolo: “…Why don’t you just be frank with me? I may be the most skilled of us all, but it won't do any good without power…”
Goku: “…Yeah, it won’t do any good.”

 

[Spiral-Force]

This is the actual quote according to Herms:

Chapter: 392 (DBZ 198), P13.1-5
Goku: “Hey… Piccolo! Did you go into the Room of Spirit and Time?”
Piccolo: “Indeed.”
Goku: “I can tell! You’ve risen to an entirely different level.”
Piccolo: “…Why don’t you just be frank with me? I’ve grown stronger, but even so, it won’t do any good against Cell…”
Goku: “…Yeah, it won’t do any good.”

Viz is also in line with it being about strength: