In a world of vastly overpowered fictional characters, Nintendo and Akira Toriyama had no qualms about introducing a few of their own. However, they probably never thought that character statistics and power levels primarily used to balance out various gameplay aspects and potential iterations of manga/anime storylines could spark unusual debates. Ranging from simple comparisons to deep dives that bring multiple franchises together, some fans have found themselves wondering how Nintendo's Kirby would fare in a fight against Dragon Ball's protagonist, Goku.
At first glance, comparing Kirby's strength to Goku's may seem like a fool's errand, but appearances can be deceiving. While it is unlikely that the two characters would ever cross paths and spar, their power levels make the possibility of such a rare encounter worth exploring. Although there is a good chance the duel would result in a draw, there are a few instances in which Kirby's perceived omnipotence falls short of the fans' expectations and proves his undoing, while other scenarios could easily see Goku fall to the pink puffball.
Kirby and Goku have come a long way since they were first introduced. Unlike Goku, whose physique was adapted to accommodate his growing body and mental strength, Kirby's innocent looks belie his true power. Despite the glaring difference between their physical appearance, they share a similar past. Both Kirby and Goku were sent away to escape the destruction of their homeworld, and both landed on planets that would put their innate abilities to the test. They would face many adversities on their journey and meet allies who would help them grow into beings of great power, eventually becoming a force to be reckoned with even beyond their respective universes.
Over the years, Goku has improved his endurance, stamina, speed, strength and mastered abilities that would put him shoulder to shoulder with gods capable of destroying his universe one planet at a time. Coincidentally, the evolution of Kirby's core ability was responsible for a visible spike in his power levels, often being the only advantage he could rely on during any given battle. Although he can send a meteor flying 9,999 lightyears away in 22 seconds with a baseball bat without transforming into one of his more potent forms, without the copy ability and under normal circumstances, he would be no match for Goku.
The outcome of a duel between Kirby and Goku would heavily rely on the environment it would take place in and the number of distractions or obstacles present. Both are accustomed to fighting in harsh environments, and both can use them to gain the upper hand in their own right, but the aptitude to stay focused would ultimately impact their general performance. In that sense, Kirby, as a Star Warrior of infinite power, and Goku, as a Saiyan of infinite potential, would end up clashing in a battle of wits with endless possibilities but somewhat constricted probability.
From a technical standpoint, Goku could easily reach Kirby in a matter of milliseconds and knock him unconscious without even channeling his Kaio-ken technique or transforming into one of the Super Saiyan forms because he transcends the speed of light by default. Kirby would not have the time to counter or avoid the attack, but the stakes would change with the presence of the Warp Star, as it would put him on par with Goku's speed while providing an opening to inhale. Goku could undoubtedly evade Kirby's attempt at turning the tide and activate Ultra Instinct in the interim to get an edge on him. However, he would have up to 120 seconds to best Kirby's appetite for swallowing opponents before falling unconscious himself and practically forfeiting the match.
On the other hand, Kirby would have to be careful not to inhale any objects from the environment that could potentially activate his copy ability since most of them would prove ineffective against Goku. That said, if the ongoing battle were to move to a frigid environment or outer space, the chances of Goku winning the fight would plummet. Not only could Kirby use his Ice form to slow down or freeze Goku before inhaling him, but he could also watch the Saiyan wonder suffocate effortlessly because, unlike Kirby, Goku cannot breathe in space.
Kirby's unfavorable position in a one-on-one showdown with one of the strongest fictional characters ever created does not automatically disqualify him as a potential victor. Aside from the so-called cuteness factor that he undeniably possesses, which may or may not throw Goku off guard, Nintendo's pink puffball certainly has the necessary means and strength to beat Dragon Ball's protagonist in a matter of seconds, if not minutes.