Saiyans vs the Grand Line · Cosmic
Goku vs Monkey D. Luffy
The two most famous grinning heroes in anime finally meet. One of them can destroy planets. The other is having the time of his life.
Tale of the tape
| Dragon Ball | Universe | One Piece |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmic | Tier | City to planet |
| Endless transformations and the instinct to get stronger mid-fight | Strength | A rubber body, haki and the freedom of Gear Fifth |
| Lets opponents power up because he wants a good fight | Weakness | Never thinks before he acts |
| 5–0 | Record on Versus | 2–3 |
The Arena
Goku was training on a deserted island when a ship with a straw-hatted skull on its sail ran aground on the beach, and a skinny young man in a red vest leapt off the bow with a whoop. Luffy took one look at the stranger in the orange gi and his eyes went wide. “You’re strong! I can feel it! Wanna fight?”
Goku’s face lit up exactly the same way. “Really? You want to? Great!” He stretched his arms. Luffy stretched his arm too, literally, three metres across the beach, and Goku stared. “Woah! How’d you do that?” Luffy grinned. “I ate a Devil Fruit! I’m a rubber man! Are you a rubber man too?”
Goku laughed. “No, I’m a Saiyan.” On the ship, the Straw Hats watched with growing alarm. They had seen that look on Luffy’s face before. It usually ended with an island being destroyed.
Round One
Luffy struck first with a Gum-Gum Pistol, his fist flying across the beach. Goku caught it, surprised by its force, and Luffy’s arm snapped back and dragged him forward into a headbutt. Goku laughed, rubbing his forehead. Then he punched Luffy in the stomach and sent him flying into the jungle.
Luffy bounced off a tree and came back with Gear Second, his skin steaming, his speed multiplied. He landed a flurry of Jet Gatlings that pushed Goku back across the sand. Goku blocked them, grinning wider with every hit. Base form Goku was holding back, and the rubber man was making him work for it.
Then Goku powered up to Super Saiyan, his hair turning gold, and the island began to shake.
The Turn
Luffy went to Gear Fourth, then, laughing like a drum beating, to Gear Five. His hair turned white, his clothes became clouds, and the world around him turned to rubber. He grabbed the ground and pulled it up like a blanket, wrapped Goku in it, and slammed him into the sea.
Goku burst out of the water, soaking and astonished, and laughed louder than Luffy. “That’s amazing! You’re turning everything into a cartoon!” Luffy stretched his fist to the size of a mountain and brought it down on Goku. Goku caught it in both hands, and the shockwave split the ocean.
For a few minutes it was the most joyful fight either of them had ever had. Then Goku went Super Saiyan Blue, and the sky turned the colour of his aura.
The Finish
Luffy kept going, because Luffy always keeps going, and every Gear Five trick he tried made Goku laugh and adapt. But Gear Five drains Luffy’s stamina fast, and Goku had more power than the entire Grand Line. When Luffy’s hair turned black again, Goku tapped him in the forehead with one finger, and the rubber man fell over in the sand.
Luffy lay there, panting, staring at the sky. “You’re so strong,” he said, grinning. “Strongest guy I ever fought.” Goku sat down next to him. “You’re strong too. Like, really strong. And your fruit thing is so cool.” Luffy sat up suddenly. “Are you hungry?” Goku’s stomach growled like a thunderstorm.
Sanji cooked for twelve hours straight. Goku and Luffy ate everything on the ship, then everything on the island, then started arguing over the last drumstick. That argument, everyone agreed, was the real fight. Nobody won it.
The verdict
Goku wins
Gear Five Luffy is creative, durable and genuinely pushes Goku, but Goku’s power operates on a planetary scale, he has transformations far beyond anything on the Grand Line, and Gear Five burns out Luffy’s stamina.
- Power scaleSuper Saiyan Blue is far beyond anything in One Piece.
- StaminaGear Five drains Luffy quickly; Goku can fight for hours.
- ExperienceGoku has fought gods and adapts to Luffy’s cartoon tricks.
How the rematch could go differently: A Goku with no transformations, fighting in base form only, would give Gear Five a genuine chance.
Who do you think wins?
Who would win in a fight between Goku and Monkey D. Luffy?
Goku wins. Gear Five Luffy is creative, durable and genuinely pushes Goku, but Goku’s power operates on a planetary scale, he has transformations far beyond anything on the Grand Line, and Gear Five burns out Luffy’s stamina.