If you were hoping the Saiyan lineage would simplify as the Dragon Ball universe expanded, you were wrong. The new generation of Saiyans—Goku and Vegeta's kids, plus a few wildcards—has turned the franchise's power scaling into a full-time job. Unlike the old guard, these fighters weren't born under a conquering planet's war machine. They're hybrids, prodigies, and in one case, a literal genetic experiment. And they're reshaping what "strongest Saiyan" even means.
The New-Generation Saiyan Roster
Let's define the pool before we start throwing hands. We're looking at Saiyans introduced after the Dragon Ball Z Buu Saga, primarily the children of Goku and Vegeta, plus a few notable outliers. That means Gohan, Trunks, Goten, Pan, Bra, and the two Saiyans from Dragon Ball GT who technically count: Baby (a parasitic Tuffle possessing a Saiyan body) and the shadow dragons (who don't). We're also including the Dragon Ball Super addition of Kale and Caulifla from Universe 6, because the multiverse doesn't care about your universe's birth rate.
The ranking considers canonical feats, transformations available, and demonstrated combat intelligence. Manga and anime feats are both fair game, but we're weighting Super and Super Hero canon above filler or GT.
8. Pan (Dragon Ball GT and Super)
Pan is a tough case. In Dragon Ball GT, she's a capable fighter who holds her own against the Machine Mutants and even lands hits on Super 17. But GT's power scaling is notoriously inconsistent, and Pan never reaches the heights of her father or grandfather. In Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, she's a toddler who can already fly and punch through walls—impressive for a preschooler, but not exactly tournament material.
Pan's potential is enormous, given her hybrid Saiyan heritage (Gohan's daughter, Videl's genes), but as of current canon, she hasn't unlocked Super Saiyan or any major power-up. She's a future contender, but for now, she's at the bottom of the list.
7. Bra (Dragon Ball Super)
Vegeta's daughter appears only briefly in Dragon Ball Super, mostly as a baby. We know she has Saiyan blood and Vegeta's prideful lineage, but she has zero combat feats. In Dragon Ball GT, an older Bra is a non-combatant who runs a fashion label. Until Super gives her something to do, she's a theoretical fighter at best.
Bra's placement is purely speculative. If she inherits Vegeta's drive and Bulma's genius, she could be a prodigy. But speculation doesn't win fights.
6. Goten (Dragon Ball Z, Super, and GT)
Goten reached Super Saiyan as a child with almost no training, which is absurd. He and Trunks invented Fusion Dance and unlocked Super Saiyan 3 as Gotenks. But as a solo fighter, Goten has been consistently sidelined. In Super, he's shown sparring with Trunks and participating in the Tournament of Power (briefly), but he never reaches the power levels of Gohan or the adults.
The problem is motivation. Goten lacks Goku's drive and Vegeta's pride. He fights for fun, not survival. That ceiling is real. In GT, an older Goten is barely stronger than his child self. He's a solid mid-tier fighter with untapped potential that the narrative refuses to tap.
5. Trunks (Dragon Ball Z, Super, and GT)
Future Trunks is a different conversation—he's a veteran of a post-apocalyptic timeline who achieved Super Saiyan Rage and nearly fought Zamasu to a standstill. But the "new generation" Trunks—present timeline, Bulma and Vegeta's son—is a different beast. He's roughly on par with Goten, having achieved Super Saiyan as a child and regularly sparring with his best friend.
In Super, present Trunks doesn't get the same spotlight as his future counterpart. He fights in the Tournament of Power but is eliminated early. His fusion with Goten as Gotenks is his best asset, and Gotenks is arguably top-tier. But as a solo fighter, Trunks lacks the raw power and emotional triggers that push Saiyans higher.
4. Caulifla (Dragon Ball Super)
Caulifla is the breakout Saiyan from Universe 6, and she's a monster. She achieved Super Saiyan in minutes, Super Saiyan 2 in hours, and pushed to Super Saiyan 3 during the Tournament of Power. She's a natural brawler with a hunger for combat that rivals Goku's. Her partnership with Kale creates Kefla, a fusion that pushed Ultra Instinct Goku to his limits.
Caulifla's raw talent is staggering. She's a prodigy who learns by instinct and adapts mid-fight. Her weakness is inexperience—she's never faced a true life-or-death battle outside the tournament. But given time, she could rival the top-tier Saiyans. She's the dark horse of this generation.
3. Kale (Dragon Ball Super)
Kale is Universe 6's answer to Broly: a Saiyan with a berserker transformation that amplifies power exponentially. Her Legendary Super Saiyan form is a walking natural disaster. In the Tournament of Power, she nearly eliminated Goku and required Jiren's intervention to stop her rampage. When she and Caulifla fuse into Kefla, the result is a top-tier threat.
Kale's power is raw and uncontrolled, which is both her strength and her weakness. She's emotionally volatile, and her berserker state can be directed by Caulifla's guidance. If she masters her rage, she could surpass almost everyone on this list. But "if" is doing a lot of work.
2. Gohan (Dragon Ball Z, Super, and Super Hero)
Gohan is the original hybrid prodigy. He reached Super Saiyan 2 at age 9 and defeated Cell. He achieved Mystic/Gohan form in the Buu Saga, which made him the strongest non-fused character in the universe at the time. Then he retired. Dragon Ball Super brought him back to relevance, and Super Hero gave him Beast Gohan—a transformation that rivals Goku's Ultra Instinct and Vegeta's Ultra Ego.
Gohan's problem has always been inconsistency. He's a scholar, not a warrior, and his power fluctuates based on his training regimen. But when he's pushed, his potential is arguably higher than Goku's. Beast Gohan is a game-changer, placing him firmly in the top tier of new-generation Saiyans.
He's ranked below the top spot because he still lacks Goku's combat instincts and Vegeta's relentless drive. But in raw power, he's a contender for the strongest Saiyan alive.
1. Broly (Dragon Ball Super: Broly)
Broly is the new-generation Saiyan who breaks the scale. Introduced in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, this version is a canonical, fully integrated character with a tragic backstory and terrifying power. His Legendary Super Saiyan form is a multiplier that stacks on top of his already enormous base power. He fought Goku and Vegeta simultaneously, forced them to fuse into Gogeta, and still pushed Gogeta to his limits.
Broly's power is not just raw—it's adaptive. He learns combat techniques mid-fight, copies moves, and grows stronger as he fights. He has no formal training, no refined technique, and no control over his transformations. And he's still the strongest new-generation Saiyan by a wide margin.
The implications are staggering. If Broly ever learns to control his power, or receives training from Beerus or Whis, he could surpass even Goku and Vegeta. He's a living weapon with the potential to become the strongest being in the universe. For now, he's the undisputed king of the new generation.
What This Ranking Tells Us About Dragon Ball's Future
This list reveals a clear pattern: the new-generation Saiyans are defined by potential, not achievement. Gohan, Broly, and Kale have the highest ceilings, but they lack the discipline and drive of Goku and Vegeta. The franchise seems to be setting up a future where the next generation inherits the earth—and the cosmos—but it's taking its time getting there.
One thing to watch is how Dragon Ball Super handles the power gap. If Broly and Gohan can close the distance to Goku and Vegeta, the series has a viable path forward without relying on fusion or new transformations every arc. If not, the new generation remains a side note to the main event.
The wildcard is Caulifla and Kale. Universe 6's Saiyans are younger, hungrier, and less burdened by Earth's peace. If the story ever returns to the multiverse tournament structure, they could become primary rivals rather than supporting cast.
For now, the ranking stands. Broly is the strongest new-generation Saiyan, Gohan is the most versatile, and everyone else is waiting for their moment. The Saiyan race's future is bright—and terrifyingly powerful.
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