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Dragon Ballhas seen Goku dress like an ordinary human, a traditional martial artist, and a Saiyan warrior. Some fans were series staples, around for numerous episodes, while others were gone in a flash. However long they lasted, here are the best-looking outfits that Goku has worn throughout the show.
10 Whis Gi
Dragon Ball Super brought everyone’s favorite Saiyan with a heart of gold to new heights of power by teaching him extraordinary techniques like Ultra Instinct. Before he was ready to face the best and boldest from every other universe in the Tournament of Power, however, he needed to train, and that’s where the Whis Gi comes in.
A riff on Goku’s classic orange look, the outfit features more modern shoes than his usual attire as well as the mark of Whis on the front. Considering what it means to be trained by an entity as strong as Whis, the Whis Gi is both a fashion statement and a threat.
9 End Of Z Gi
The End of Z Gi, featured as Goku’s final outfit at the end of Dragon Ball Z, caught viewers’ eyes for a couple of reasons. The subdued blues and greens of this Gi are a far cry from the bold oranges and blues of his classic look, which is fitting for a hero whose work is done–at least for now.
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This Gi carries the tradition forward, not departing too much from his classic look, yet the altered color palette is enough of a riff on the traditional look that it feels like the start of something new, alluding to new and exciting adventures for Goku, as well as saying goodbye to what came before.
8 Saiyan Battle Armor
Longtime fans of the series are no strangers to Saiyan Battle Armor. The traditional garb of Goku’s warrior race has been featured on a number of heroes and villains throughout Dragon Ball, most famously on the Saiyan prince Vegeta. Despite this being the uniform of his race, Goku only dons it briefly during his training arc in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with Gohan.
It doesn’t exactly suit him, since it screams militarism and aggression–two things that are pretty much foreign to lovable Goku–but it was exciting for fans to get a glimpse at the Goku that could have been.
7 Super Saiyan 4
Every time Goku reaches a new level of Super Saiyan his look changes, whether growing his hair, turning it yellow, or causing a more radical alteration to his entire look. Attaining Super Saiyan 4 went the latter route, drastically altering the hero’s appearance.
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Between the exposed chest and confident smirk, Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 outfit doesn’t much resemble the hero’s usual look, but that’s part of what makes it so fun and distinct. This is the leader of the Z Fighters in rare form, and he has a look to match.
6 Xeno
The Xeno outfit may be the best mashup of old and new that the series has achieved today. Featuring the return of the power pole as well as a Dragon Ball tied in the sack at his side, the Xeno outfit harkens back to the adventures of a younger, but no less courageous Goku.
At the same time, the clean-cut red and back Gi screams warrior, and when Goku puts the Xeno outfit on there’s no question about the level of training or passion that he’s bringing to the battlefield, making the Xeno look one of Goku’s strongest overall.
5 Turtle School Gi
The Turtle School Gi is easily Goku’s most famous look. When it comes to Dragon Ball outfits, one simply doesn’t get more classic than Goku’s favorite orange and blue apparel, which is probably why the look is a favorite of Dragon Ball fans, too.
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Featuring the Turtle School Kanji on the front and King Kai’s Kanji on the back, this Gi is a proud reminder of where Goku came from. The Turtle School Gi is also remarkable for looking just as good when it’s been shredded by a fight as it does when it’s been cleaned and pressed.
4 Turban And Rain Gear
Though featured in only a single episode, “Changes,” Goku’s rain gear after the time skip quickly joined the list of everyone’s favorite looks for Goku. The turban, given to Goku by Mr. Popo, was fashionable as well as functional. In addition to looking great, it helped keep his newly lengthened hair literally under wraps until the show was ready to reveal it to fans.
The Turban and Rain Gear captured a whole world of new possibilities for the show in a single moment, making it more than worth the wait. It’s just a shame that fans had only a single episode to appreciate it.
3 Original Gi
The outfit that started it all: Goku’s original Gi from Dragon Ball is only a hair less recognizable and iconic than the orange and blue Turtle School Gi that most people know him by. With a white belt and red wristbands, it’s an outfit that thrives on simple contrasts.
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There’s a youthful simplicity to the original Gi, at least that’s how it feels looking back on the look decades after it premiered. The combination of the original Gi, Goku, and the Flying Nimbus soaring through the sky is the purest distillation of Dragon Ball for many fans.
2 59
The Cell Saga introduced viewers to the 59 look, a far more casual outfit that Goku wore during his off-hours. Compared to the usual selection of Gi’s and armor that fans were treated to, the 59 look was a welcome change.
For once, viewers could see a more laid-back Goku, and getting a good look at the Saiyan prodigy when he wasn’t busy kicking in the faces of alien overlords was a much-needed refresher for the hero, which is part of why it remains such an appealing look today.
1 Yardrat
Goku has had mixed results wearing alien armor in the past, but the Yardrat armor is arguably his best look of all. Unlike the Saiyan Battle Armor, the Yardrat outfit doesn’t look nearly as cumbersome on him. Its flowing style is, practically and aesthetically, a much better fit for Goku.
It doesn’t hurt that the Yardrat armor is forever associated in fans’ minds with Goku’s mastery of Instant Transmission, making it not just a fashion statement but an instant reminder of just how far the hero’s power has grown over the years.
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