Goku Vs. Saitama: ScreenRant Readers Decide Who Would Win In A Fight

Published Oct 16, 2026, 5:13 PM EDT Evan Mullicane is the deputy editor of Screen Rant's comics and anime team. Having started as a writer for the comics team at the beginning of the Pandemic, Evan was swiftly promoted from writer to editor, and then from editor to lead of Screen Rant's newly established anime vertical. Throughout his time with Screen Rant, Evan has made a handful of appearances at conventions such as Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con, and has interviewed some of the biggest names in Anime and Comics history. In addition to editing anime and manga articles for Screen Rant, Evan is also a science fiction and fantasy author. In 2018 and 2019, his short story "The Demon's Mother" won honorable mentions from the Writers of the Future contest. You can find Evan on Twitter @EvanDM and BlueSky @evandmu.bsky.socia When it comes to strength in anime, few heroes are as famous as Dragon Ball's Goku and One-Punch Man's Saitama. While other anime characters like Satoru Gojo might possess incredibly powerful abilities or magical attacks that can warp reality, when it comes to raw physical strength, Goku and Saitama are really the two names to beat. Naturally, this leads fans to ask which of the two titans is stronger. Soon, the popular YouTube channel Deathbattle will settle that debate with their take on how a battle between the two would play out. While this is sure to satisfy many, there will certainly be other fans who will feel upset that their favorite didn't win. So, ScreenRant is leaving it up to the fans to decide. Below is a poll asking whether you think Goku or Saitama would win in a fight. Simply choose who you think is stronger, and then we'll reveal the results in an upcoming article. Before that, though, it's important to understand the combatants and what they're capable of. Why Goku Might Win In A Fight Against Saitama Goku might be the most iconic anime hero of all time, so if this were a popularity contest, he'd certainly win. That's not to suggest that Goku is a slouch when it comes to combat, however, as the Saiyan fighter has several tools in his arsenal that make him a nightmare to fight. In addition to iconic abilities like Ki blasts, flight, and sheer raw strength, Goku ranks among anime's absolute best hand-to-hand combatants. As a martial artist, there are few who can match Goku's skill and dedication to the craft. Amplifying Goku's abilities is his mastery of the Instant Transmission technique. This allows Goku to teleport essentially at will, an ability with great offensive and defensive capabilities. Topping all this off are Goku's numerous transformations. While Super Saiyan might be iconic, Goku's Ultra Instinct form from Dragon Ball Super will undoubtedly be Saitama's biggest problem. This form not only amplifies Goku's power to truly divine levels, it also has Goku enter a flow state where he can dodge attacks without thinking. While Saitama's strength is unrivaled, it might not matter if he can't get a punch in. The biggest question will be whether Goku can actually hurt Saitama in the first place. Saitama has survived a lot, but a few of Goku's achievements might be enough to hurt Caped Baldy. Notably, Beerus himself said Goku's Super Saiyan God form was strong enough to destabilize the universe, so it's entirely possible Goku has the strength to do what no One-Punch Man villain has before. Despite his reputation for low intelligence, Goku's combat IQ is also extremely high, meaning he knows exactly how to string these techniques together to get the most out of them. Even with all these tools at his disposal, however, Saitama isn't going to make it easy for Goku. Why Saitama Might Win In A Fight Against Goku The funny thing about the Goku Vs. Saitama debate is how different the two sides are despite their many similarities. Decades of continuity and differing interpretations of the character have left Goku with a veritable cornucopia of overpowered skills and abilities. In contrast, Saitama only has a few good tricks. Fortunately for him, that's all he needs. It is no understatement to say that Saitama is a cosmic-level threat when he wants to be. The titular One-Punch Man's sneezes are enough to destroy entire planets; he has unleashed punches strong enough to rip holes in space-time. As if that weren't enough, Saitama is superfast and incredibly durable. Saitama has gone up against alien warlords who can destroy galaxies and emerged without so much as a scratch. Saitama might not have Goku's laundry list of abilities and transformations, but that's because he doesn't need them. This also gives him a certain advantage over Goku. Some of Goku's forms require at least a little bit of power-up time or consume enormous amounts of ki. This frequently puts Goku on a timer. In contrast, Saitama is always as strong as he's ever going to be. If Saitama can outlast Goku, then he almost certainly will grab the win. Those are the combatants and their strengths. What do you think? Is Goku's arsenal of abilities enough to give Dragon Ball's hero the victory, or will Saitama live up to his One-Punch Man title and end the fight with a single attack? Vote down below and look forward to the results when we reveal them on 10/18! Created by Akira Toriyama First Film Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies Latest Film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero First TV Show Dragon Ball Latest TV Show Super Dragon Ball Heroes First Episode Air Date April 26, 1989 From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku's never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. One-Punch Man Release Date October 5, 2015 Network YouTube, TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC Saitama, a superhero from City Z, faces an existential crisis as he can defeat any opponent with a single punch, leading to a lack of challenge and sheer boredom. His quest for a worthy opponent leads him to meet new friends and enemies and join the Hero Association to gain official recognition while accidentally (and secretly) solving all of the world's problems with a single punch.