Dragon Ball Super 2 is Officially Revealing Yamoshi's True Successor

Yamoshi is one of the most mysterious figures in the Dragon Ball mythos. Once again in the limelight thanks to Dragon Ball Super: Beerus' prophecy of the Super Saiyan God, Yamoshi was an Ancient Saiyan who originated the Super Saiyan transformation. According to some legends, he was also the first person to unlock Super Saiyan God and was the original Legendary Super Saiyan, as well.

The concept of Yamoshi being all three of these fabled figures feels more like a case of his true history being lost to time. Regardless of Yamoshi's true origins, he turned himself into a legend by battling Evil Saiyan oppressors in order to free his people. Yamoshi wasn't strong enough to finish his fight, but his spirit has survived throughout Dragon Ball history, finding a new successor in Dragon Ball Super 2.

Vegeta Might Be Yamoshi's Descendant

Although we've never seen Yamoshi's full design, it's hard to ignore the fact that his silhouette is almost 1:1 with Vegeta's – a character design distinction the reserves almost exclusively for members of the same family. Goku, Bardock, and Goten all look alike because they're related, so it stands to reason that there might be a family connection between Yamoshi, Vegeta, and King Vegeta. The Saiyan race prides might above all else, after all, so Yamoshi might have been the origin of the royal bloodline.

There are some issues with Vegeta being Yamoshi's successor, however. The first is that Saiyan hairstyles are class-based. Turles looks exactly like Goku, but they aren't related. Goku's signature spiky hair just happens to be a common hairstyle among Lower Class Saiyan men. Conversely, Yamoshi could be royalty, but not related to Vegeta, with Vegeta's hairstyle representing Elite Saiyans. That said, Yamoshi almost certainly isn't royalty.

Yamoshi's entire backstory is based on a rebellion against Evil Saiyans who were in power. The very premise demands that Yamoshi be a commoner or, at most, a mid-level Saiyan akin to Nappa or Paragus. Personality-wise, Yamoshi doesn't quite align with the Vegeta royal family. He was, by all accounts, a kindhearted Saiyan who cared about his fellow man and didn't crave needless violence: nothing like the mindset the Vegetas instilled into the Saiyans over three generations.

Goku Brought Yamoshi's Legend Back to Life

On paper, Goku feels more like Yamoshi's successor than Vegeta. Goku was the first Saiyan in over 1,000 years to become a Super Saiyan and the first Saiyan ever since Yamoshi to unlock God Ki and become a God. Now that Goku's unlocked Ultra Instinct, he's slowly reaching Angel Tier. Dragon Ball Super: Beerus is even putting a spotlight on Goku bringing Yamoshi's legend back to life as the anime remakes Battle of Gods.

Despite all this, Goku is not Yamoshi's successor. He's simply a Saiyan who trained hard enough to break past his limits, and then was fortunate enough to perform the God Ritual. There is nothing truly special about Goku. As far as Saiyans go, he's bottom of the barrel, but he overcame his status to show off more natural potential than any other martial artist in the universe. There's also the fact that Goku isn't nearly as altruistic as Yamoshi.

Make no mistake, Goku will do the right thing and protect others, but he doesn't go looking for problems to solve. Goku would certainly fight off the Evil Saiyans were he in Yamoshi's potential, but more to test himself versus any notion of justice. And not for nothing, Goku's not the type to be killed in a frenzy by multiple different fighters. Never in a million years would Goku go out like Yamoshi did.

Bardock is the True Embodiment of Yamoshi's Spirit

What perhaps defines Yamoshi more than anything isn't the fact that he became the first Super Saiyan, it's the fact that he failed in the end. Any difference Yamoshi made in the world came long after his death and is tied to an almost intangible, unknowable legacy . . . a face eerily similar to that of Bardock. The father of Goku, Dragon Ball Super 2 will be bringing Bardock back in the Granolah the Survivor Saga, where he'll briefly take over as the main character in a mini-flashback arc.

Dragon Ball Super 2 will spotlight Bardock's final days before Frieza destroys Planet Vegeta, showing how even one Lower Class man can break their limits, overcome a superior foe, and create a ripple effect that leads to lasting change. For Bardock, he unlocks his own version of Ultra Instinct, briefly overpowers Gas, and then saves Goku's life by sending him to Earth, inadvertently saving the entire multiverse's future in the process. Bardock is the true modern day Yamoshi, not Goku or Vegeta.