Can Kaio-Ken be used defensively?

[Kamiccolo9]

Hypothetically, if Goku was 3 milllion, and fighting Vegeta, who's at 5 million, and Vegeta launched a Galic Gun, could Goku use a high level Kaio-Ken to tank the attack?

[RandomGuy96]

The kaio-ken raises your power level. With a raised power level comes greater durability, obviously. It would be silly if Namek Goku used the kaio-ken and increased his power to 60,000,000 and yet could still be one-shotted by someone at 10,000,000. Also, IIRC, the Daizenshuu says that it multiplies strength, speed, defense, and ki

[Kamiccolo9]

Not one-shotted, but it seems that being hit knocks Goku out of the technique. What I'm wondering is if he tried to tank an attack like the Galic Gun, or a Death Ball, that envelopes him, if he'd be able to maintain the powerup. It seems odd to me that a technique that puts enormous strain on the body, to the point where Yajirobe hurt Goku by patting him on the back, could be used in a purely defensive manner.

[Cipher]

Goku specifically states while explaining the Kaio-Ken to Kuririn and Gohan that it temporarily raises the user's strength, speed and durability.

I can't remember the exact quote, but I just watched the corresponding episode of Kai earlier today. It's right after taking out Nappa.

So the answer would appear to be "yes," but obviously it has its limits no matter the use.

[Rocketman]

I'd say yes, but if the attack is some kind of continuous thing like Roshi's electricity, they could just keep the pressure on until Kaioken shuts off.

[Kaboom]

I'd think so, yeah. But like others have said, the Kaio-Ken's limited to bursts. So your timing would have to be perfect, and it'd be nearly useless for sustained beam attacks and junk.

[Analytical Delusion]

I saw this thread when it first came out, and just remembered it recently. There are three instances during which Goku could've used KK in this capacity, right?

1) vs Vegeta
2) training en route to Namek
3) vs Freeza

I don't think he did so in the manga, but did he try using KK to tank in the anime?

[Kid Buu]

He used it against the Ginyu Force too.

[The Monkey King]

Chapter: 227 (DBZ 33), P1.3, P2.1
Kuririn: “Goku, how’d you do that? Was that something you were taught by Lord Kaio?
Goku: “Yeah. It’s called Kaio-Ken! [ ] You control all the ki in your body…momentarily amplifying it. If you get it right, then your power, speed, destructive force, and defensive force all become many times greater…”

I'd think so yeah.

[Kendamu]

I figure that, as Goku was apparently using some super high level of Kaio Ken while fighting Freeza, the durability increase was a part of how he withstood Freeza for so long before changing tactics and trying the Genki Dama. Using it as a purely defensive maneuver seems to have never crossed Goku's mind, though, as he pretty quickly became a Super Saiyan shortly after taking Kaio Ken further than anyone had ever imagined. Maybe he would've eventually gotten there had it not become obsolete.

[Deep Thought]

I figure that, as Goku was apparently using some super high level of Kaio Ken while fighting Freeza, the durability increase was a part of how he withstood Freeza for so long before changing tactics and trying the Genki Dama. Using it as a purely defensive maneuver seems to have never crossed Goku's mind, though, as he pretty quickly became a Super Saiyan shortly after taking Kaio Ken further than anyone had ever imagined. Maybe he would've eventually gotten there had it not become obsolete.

I'm actually really glad you brought this up. I'd like to posit a theory pertaining to this, and this topic seems like the perfect place to state it. Basically, I'm 95% sure that Goku was using Kaioken x10 in these panels:


(Apologies for the shit scans, they were the best thing I could find since my scanner wasn't working)

The sudden, huge change in aura and, as some users have noted, Freeza's statement of "I'm impressed that I haven't killed you yet. But you are finally running out of breath...", in addition to Kaio-sama's subsequent statement about how Goku was already using the Kaioken x10 lead me to believe that that was the scene when he attempted it. I think Freeza intended to finish him off with that kick but underestimated the defensive boost Goku got from his attempted Kaioken x10 charge. That aura could just be Goku's "charge" aura but the circumstances make me inclined to believe otherwise. If Goku used the Kaioken in this scene, then this proves that, yes, the Kaioken can at least be used inadvertently for defense, but I guess we'll never know for sure.

[hleV]

In the panels above it just seems that Goku hot hit whilst attacking, hence the KK aura.

[Analytical Delusion]

You know, rewatching episode 90 now, ~21 minutes in, after it cuts to Kaio & co., the first two times Goku activates KK seem to be in anticipation of getting hit (I think those hits correspond to the panels in the manga).

[Darkron2151]

He probably gains some sort of durability while using the Kaio-Ken, hence why he took the beating from Freeza as well as he did. But as far as defensive uses, could he use the Kaio-Ken and then set up a "Kaio-Ken-fueled" barrier to defend against the blast?

[Polyphase Avatron]

I don't see why not