Why Goku didn't receive any zenkai boost in OG DragonBall

[Savvajin]

I personally don't consider as a zenkai boost the super divine water. I ask for a in-universe explanation. I know that Toriyama did not thibk of zenkais back then.

 

[GSM123]

I think there’s a scene on Namek when Vegeta explains zenkais and Kuririn says “Oh so that’s why Goku used to get stronger after tough fights”.

When they fight General Blue, Kuririn says Goku is stronger than he was in the tournament. Retroactively, he must have gotten zenkais after fighting Tao and all his fights with Piccolo, but they probably were small boosts. Maybe because his foes weren’t so strong?

 

[Power Level Guy]

Goku got several zenkais in Dragon Ball, you have to look for them though.

 

[Animelover5487]

He definitely got a zenkai after muscle tower from Kuririn's statement. He immediately went after his grandfather's dragonball after the tournament so their was no time to train. He likely got zenakis after Tao and Daimao as well. Likely after Tambourine as well but a fresh Goku would have easily beat Tambourine without a zenkai as well.

 

[Hector]

I personally don't consider as a zenkai boost the super divine water. I ask for a in-universe explanation. I know that Toriyama did not thibk of zenkais back then.

In my headcanon, he got one after fighting Young King Piccolo and one after fighting Piccolo Jr.

 

[SSJ2]

Post Tambourine is an interesting one. Goku recovers and tests his strength and says that he's back to "full power."


You can take that a number of ways, but it didn't seem like he gained power there. Or it could be that he wasn't able to tell from that small test.

 

[Power Level Guy]

You can take that a number of ways, but it didn't seem like he gained power there. Or it could be that he wasn't able to tell from that small test.

Well remember, Goku isn't really all that aware of what a zenkai is at this point, neither is the author. So it's something we are essentially adding in at specific points.

 

[Hector]

Post Tambourine is an interesting one. Goku recovers and tests his strength and says that he's back to "full power."
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You can take that a number of ways, but it didn't seem like he gained power there. Or it could be that he wasn't able to tell from that small test.

Zenkais are gained from near-death experiences.