What happened to the kaioken?

[Audentum]

Why did the kaioken just disapear? I know that ss is way better but what about Picolo, Yamcha, Kuririn and Tien? I'm sure if they knew it they would be able to keep up with the sayians after the sayan saga and we could have gotten more interesting characters then "I'm a Saiyan so I'm super strong lolz"

[Doctor.]

I'm sure that after Super Saiyan was introduced, Toriyama either forgot about Kaioken or purposely chose to ignore it because of how much of a hassle it would be to make sure the multipliers make sense. The arcs wouldn't be different at all, their power would be adjusted compared to what they are now to be lower and fights would probably go the same way they did. I don't know if Toriyama even remembers the Kaioken currently and even if he does, and he wants to put it back in the series again (which I doubt), he's not able to because it would be too late at this point, if they were taught it now, then this question you're posing would become a very, very serious issue.

[fadeddreams5]

My in-universe explanations:
- SSJ rendered it useless.
- Using Kaio Ken + SSJ at the same time drains ki too quickly and may exhaust the saiyan at a rate similar to SSJ3.
- The humans never learned it, despite their training with King Kai.

My logical explanation:
- They didn't want to give anyone else Goku's ability because that would make it less unique. It's like giving someone the spirit bomb or IT. It ain't happening.
- Redundant to have a power boost (kaio ken) on top of a power boost (SSJ).

And yes, I know Goku used a super kaio ken in a filler episode.

I admit, I wish Tien would have learned and used it.

[FoolsGil]

Well it disappeared for good reason: The opponents were getting so powerful, even more powerful multipliers were needed to keep up. Though due to Nail and Kami merging, and his large power gains in general Piccolo and the Kaioken would have been marginally useful even up to the Buu Saga...if only he didn't piss off King Kai. And as for the human characters, their levels were too low to make a difference-it would be preferable for them to learn the Spirit Bomb, so Goku would stay on the front lines.

[Terra Prime]

As fadeddreams5 has said, SSJ rendered it useless. Why go back to using lower multipliers and straining your body, rather than using a better form overall?

[Angelus]

I asked a question before, if the human Z fighters during the Androids saga would have made a difference if they were able to use Kaiokenx20 comfortably... and the answers... majority, was a no. What about Piccolo being able to use it to x20? He would become an absolute beast. So I think one reason it was never used was if the humans used it, they wouldn't have mattered anyways. But bringing it up again would also mean that Piccolo would be an absolute beast if he used it. Also, if Buu saw any of the humans use it, then you would have a Buu with Kaiokenx20. It's not good for the plot, I guess. XD

[Audentum]

Thanks for the replies guys. I always wondered that but could never really figure out why. I guess anything that would take goku down a notch in importance would get canned pretty fast.

[Lord Beerus]

SSJ made Kaioken practically useless and even if the Earthling cast who got left behind in terms of power used the Kaioken, it wouldn't make a difference. By the the time the Freeza arc began the power gap between the Alien/Saiyan-Hybrid cast and Earthling cast had become so large, nothing could close the gap.

[ekrolo2]

Piccolo probably would've benefited from having it as even a boost of 3 or 4 would probably put him in the same league as Goku & Vegeta pre-BoG. The Earthlings got completely outclassed though and nothing short of a massive potential unlock could've helped them keep up.

[Berserker1921]

Actually piccolo and buu could totally abuse the kaioken. Since piccolo has higher endurance due to his regeneration. He possibl could go up to kaioken 30-50?? Heck buu with his extensive durability and healing abilities he could go to kaioken 100

[TJVY]

Piccolo may want to look into it considering how he's beginning to turn out.

[Berserker1921]

Piccolo may want to look into it considering how he's beginning to turn out.

Yes or def a mystic upgrade haha

[Saiga]

I'm not sure Piccolo could abuse the Kaio-ken because regeneration wouldn't matter if he kills himself outright. He could heal off the side effects of the level of overusage Goku did, but I don't think he'd be able to take the multiplier higher.

[TheUltimateVegito]

Piccolo learning to get stronger via bursting his Ki could indicate that he learned Kaioken.

[TheGmGoken]

What if Mystic Gohan used the Kaioken?

[Hellspawn28]

Kaioken is pretty much useless now with Goku able to go SSj and beyond. Much like how Digimon Season 2 ditch Armor Digivolutions when everyone able to transform into Champion level forms.

[Duo]

Kaio-ken had to go away because it's too easy for it to break the plot. And really, every time somebody comes up with a good use for it, they're just proving that point.

Tenshinhan totally could and should have learned it, though.

[Kamiccolo9]

I just go with "no one else learned it because they weren't good enough." Goku was said to be super special awesome, which is why he was able to master it when even Kaio couldn't. The others guys just aren't as super special awesome.