Misconceptions

[Jodaku]

At the time of Mirai Trunks' first arrival and when Goku finally returned to Earth after the battle on Namek, it is generally belived that Goku is the most powerful of the 2.

This seemed to be based on the fact that Gohan thought that Trunks was Goku when he transformed into a SSJ in front of Freeza and King Cold and that Goku was able to to easily block all of Trunks' attack with his sword.

Sufficient evidence that Goku was indeed stronger than Trunks at the time?

Many seem to think so, but here's my problems with it:

I may be paraphrasing slightly but the manga has Gohan say something along the lines of

"Thats the same Chi I felt on Namek. It's my Dad!"

Notice how Gohan didn't initially recognize the Chi as his father's?

This tells that he must of felt the Chi of a SSJ rather than the Chi of Goku , as the quote from the manga shows.

Now it is probably assumed that Goku that got stronger since his fight from namek and rightly so, and it seems right to assume that from Gohan's statment, that Trunks is only as strong as Goku was on Namek, but going by what I was saying before, I think that Gohan sensed the Chi of a SSJ rather than sensing any sort of specific power level, remember, Gohan had only sensed one SSJ before Trunks and that was Goku on Namek.

Also the added fact that Trunks had been a SSJ for at least 3 years, that's a least a year longer than Goku, so surely he must have increased his power to at the very least, the same level of Goku and from what he hear, it seems that Goku spent most of his time on Yardrat, recovering and learning the instantanious movement.

As for the sword thing, remember at the end that whole thing, Goku say that Tunks wasn't putting his all into it, so I don't know why that is commonly used as evidence to show that Goku was stonger.

Maybe I'm clutching at straws, but from reading the manga, I've seen nothing to show that Goku was indeed stronger than Trunks at that time.

[Zackarotto]

Perhaps there's no hard evidence, but you at least get the impression that Goku is stronger when you see him blocking the sword with his finger and then showing off his Instantaneous Movement. If there's any evidence saying that Trunks is stronger / Goku is stronger, I would like to hear it.

[PsyLiam]

Also the added fact that Trunks had been a SSJ for at least 3 years, that's a least a year longer than Goku, so surely he must have increased his power to at the very least, the same level of Goku and from what he hear, it seems that Goku spent most of his time on Yardrat, recovering and learning the instantanious movement.

That implies that everyone becomes a Super Saiyan at the same level of power. It's possible that Trunks' half-human side allowed him to become a Super Saiyan at a much younger age, and at a lower power level.

Goku's near-death on Namek might have also boosted his power significantly.

[Jerseymilk]

Also the added fact that Trunks had been a SSJ for at least 3 years, that's a least a year longer than Goku, so surely he must have increased his power to at the very least, the same level of Goku and from what he hear, it seems that Goku spent most of his time on Yardrat, recovering and learning the instantanious movement.

That implies that everyone becomes a Super Saiyan at the same level of power. It's possible that Trunks' half-human side allowed him to become a Super Saiyan at a much younger age, and at a lower power level.

Also remember that even though he had to work very hard at it, Gohan attained SSJ when he was only going on nine years-old. I think that the mix of Saiyajin and Human blood produces an individual with much greater and quicker potential perhaps moreso than the strength.

[Dayspring]

Human-Saiyan hybrids are exactly like Saiyans, though all of their traits appear to be boosted. Also, WHERE does it mention, other than online and text-based RPGs, that you need a certain PL to reach SSJ? Other than Goten+Chibi Trunks (and possibly even Mirai), it's all been about Rage Control.

Since it took only a finger to block Trunks' attacks, I would say Goku's the shit. I mean "strongest". Trunks held back, but just by a bit. If he were just holding back by a bit and was the stronger of the two, Goku would still be using regular defensive techniques, just not to his full strength either. Though I'm not going to say Goku's twice as strong than Trunks either.

[Gohan-kun]

I think the line about "You just weren't giving it your all" was Goku being sympathetic that Trunks couldn't really do much to him. Its somewhat hard to explain. Like, he was just saying it to be nice. Goku isn't the type of person to make someone feel bad. Only Vegeta.

But if Goku wasn't stronger than Trunks, why would Trunks think that the future will change because of Goku? He says "Seeing you firsthand has given me hope." Had Goku been weaker, why would Trunks see hope for the future because of someone weaker than he (Trunks)?

[James R. Cadwell]

I think the line about "You just weren't giving it your all" was Goku being sympathetic that Trunks couldn't really do much to him. Its somewhat hard to explain. Like, he was just saying it to be nice. Goku isn't the type of person to make someone feel bad. Only Vegeta.

But if Goku wasn't stronger than Trunks, why would Trunks think that the future will change because of Goku? He says "Seeing you firsthand has given me hope." Had Goku been weaker, why would Trunks see hope for the future because of someone weaker than he (Trunks)?

I think I would have preferred it if Goku actually had been visibly weaker than Trunks.

Trunks: Let's find out just how strong you are!

(Trunks swings his sword towards Goku, while Goku confidently raises his finger.)

Goku: Auugh!

(Goku's severed finger falls onto the ground.)

Trunks: ....

[Deus ex Machina]

I know a lot of people hate the Power Levels with a passion, but I think I remember one of the Daizenshuu's gave Goku's and Trunks' PL's during the Trunks saga, and Goku's was significantly larger. (by a few million)

[Dayspring]

Krillin raises his hand: "Who saw that coming?"
**Everyone but Trunks raises hand**
Trunks: "Good thing they've got three years to train..."