Goku’s fight with Jiren at the end of Dragon Ball Super is etched in the minds of fans to this day. The strongest member of the Pride Troopers, Jiren had the remarkable power to withstand Ultra Instinct Goku and Hit’s time-trapping maneuvers. He was ultimately overwhelmed by the most unusual of tag teams in the Dragon Ball franchise.
Goku versus Jiren in the Tournament of Power defied expectations as it was one of the rarest occasions in which the orange-garbed Saiyan paired with a menacing old rival to defeat the ‘greater evil.’ The usual Goku-Vegeta team was replaced by the trio of Goku, Frieza, and Android #17, and their combined efforts saved the universe from being destroyed by Jiren.
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Dragon Ball Super Broke The Norms With The One-on-One Between Goku and Jiren
Akira Toriyama’s manga is renowned for its portrayal of head-to-head battles. The main characters do get help from others in their battles but the majority of focus remains on them. Beast Gohan’s fight with Cell Max in Dragon Ball Super showcased subtle interruptions by Piccolo while Vegito versus Fused Zamasu was a great spectacle after the Goku Black saga.
In most battles, overpowered villains had to be weakened by side characters before the mains such as Goku or Vegeta finished the job. The battle against Jiren in Dragon Ball Super was entirely different. Mastered Ultra Instinct Goku overwhelmed Jiren but his power fizzled the moment he was about to deliver the final strike to the red powerhouse.
The responsibility of ‘saving a universe’ then ironically fell on Golden Frieza and Android #17. At one point in time, the three even combined their powers and unleashed a devastating blast on Jiren. Goku and Frieza engaged in a fistfight with Jiren and were able to combine their joint forces to defeat the extraterrestrial threat to their universe.
Goku & Frieza VS Jiren will always be there #DragonBallSuperpic.twitter.com/x6VUfWSzyj https://t.co/Lus1O8zUOX
— DRIZZI (@Ragnar_AY) September 10, 2023
Similar to how there are different ‘stages’ in boss fights in a video game, Goku, Android, and Frieza continuously push Jiren to his limits. He was overwhelmed by Goku’s Mastered Ultra Instinct, almost got his head blown away by Frieza, and ultimately got crushed by the trio’s teamwork.
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The Heartwarming Ending To Goku Versus Jiren
Universe 7 won the Tournament of Power despite the foul tactics of the strongest warrior of the Pride Troopers. Both Whis and Beerus supported the team of Goku, Frieza, and Android #17 out of respect for the new master of Ultra Instinct and loathed Jiren because the latter broke the rules by attacking the tournament’s spectators.
Fans believed Jiren would get no mercy before being erased alongside his allies in the Tournament of Power. Interestingly, Goku offered a truce while Android #17 resurrected the fallen Jiren. Goku also challenged Jiren for a future rematch which the humbled red powerhouse accepted.
The sense of desperation and grit showcased by the Universe 7 members gave the final arc of Dragon Ball Super a fitting ending. Even Frieza, a character who openly hated the inhabitants of Universe 7, threw punches alongside Goku and pushed the Saiyan into defeating Jiren.
