What if Goku and Tien would change species

[Dragon Sponge]

Let say some Jerkass collects the Super Dragonballs and wishes that Son Goku and Tenshinhan would change their respective species. That would mean that Son Goku would become a Human (or a Triclops, depending if you consider Tien a Alien decendant or not) and Tenshinhan would become a Saiyajin. Their basepowerlevels would be left untouched but their species specific abilitys would be switched. And if Tien is a Triclops decendant and if his third eye and his ability to grow extra arms would be exclusive to that species, then he would lose these things to Goku. If not, then he would most likely keep them. Either way he would gain access to the Super Saiyan forms (+ Ozaru if he would get also a tail) and be able to get Zenkai boosts, while Goku loose access to these things, but he would still be able to use Kaioken.

How would such an event change their lives, and how would the other characters (especelly Vegeta) react to this? Would Tenshinhan become the strongest mortal Fighter in the Universe and be Vegetas new rival. Would Son Goku still find ways to up keep with the Saiyans or would he turn into a secondery character, while Tien would become the new mainlead? Would both of them try to revert it or would they accept their fate? How would something like this change the series?

[nickzambuto]

I don't believe in the genetics lottery being the only reason Goku surpasses his companions. Remember, Goku wasn't a saiyan for the first half of the series, he was a human. Being a saiyan was a retcon. He surpassed all his friends before the retcon.

From a story perspective, Toriyama didn't yet think Goku was an alien. He wrote Goku to be the best just because Goku was the smartest and hardest working.

[Ki Breaker]

Goku will find ways..
He always does, and besides, it's goku who figured out how to transform first also how to master it and take it beyond..
Vegeta tried and failed with super Vegeta and he is the closest someone has ever gotten until showed how to by Goku, even Vegeta had to be shown what to do first then he transformed..

Unless tien also is able to do these things, which he hasn't shown he could do, he will be stuck with normal Saiyan body which he can only train the base and already unlocked SS forms, he cannot develope it any further..

Whereas goku will now find ways to make his new body stonger which weren't thought of before, slowly surpassing tien who didn't develop his given body artistically enough

[DBZ Macky]

Goku had always been the miracle kid, being stronger than the martial arts master Muten Roshi at the age of just 12 and killing the fucking Demon King. After he was revealed to be a Saiyan, he just became the miracle Saiyan who surpassed the prince of all Saiyans even though he should be inferior.

Goku doesn't give a flying fuck about being a Saiyan or anything else. If he can't go Super Saiyan, you better believe he's gonna find a better alternative.

Tenshinhan on the other hand was a rare genius who could master the Kamehameha instantly after just seeing Goku perform it once and was able to master Bukujutsu even earlier than Goku. He's equally talented as Goku, but he never does get his chance to shine. He's a true martial artist like Goku.

If they were to exchange their species, then I'd think both of them would be exactly equal, with or without Super Saiyan.

[Dragon Sponge]

Goku had always been the miracle kid, being stronger than the martial arts master Muten Roshi at the age of just 12 and killing the fucking Demon King. After he was revealed to be a Saiyan, he just became the miracle Saiyan who surpassed the prince of all Saiyans even though he should be inferior.

Goku doesn't give a flying fuck about being a Saiyan or anything else. If he can't go Super Saiyan, you better believe he's gonna find a better alternative.

Tenshinhan on the other hand was a rare genius who could master the Kamehameha instantly after just seeing Goku perform it once and was able to master Bukujutsu even earlier than Goku. He's equally talented as Goku, but he never does get his chance to shine. He's a true martial artist like Goku.

If they were to exchange their species, then I'd think both of them would be exactly equal, with or without Super Saiyan.

Your most likely right, something like this would probably motivate Son Goku to train harder than ever before. He would most likely try to master the Kaioken to his fullest potenzial to make up for his lost Super Saiyan forms, while Tenshinhan would train these forms to their limits. But i still think it would be difficult to adapt at first and it would cause major problems if it happens while they are fightning the next big bad. For exemple what would happen if this species change would have happened in the Zamasu Arc?

[Captain Strawberry]

Despite Super sprouting the word "Saiyajin", I don't think genetics really plays a huge role, in being the strongest. More so writing.

Toriyama wrote the Earthlings becoming stronger than Goku in one year on the lookout which is really weird if you put some thought in to it.

Convienance in plot.

Androids from Earth becoming stronger than Frieza...

Like... Goku despite being from a warrior race, he doesn't really compare to the average at birth for his heritage.

These random dudes popped up like Tien and Yajirobe who were much stronger than him. Especially Yajirobe.

It wasn't his heritage, it was his work.

[floofychan333]

Tenshinhan trains obsessively so it would be nice to have him actually have something to train for. Goku on the other hand would find some way to stay relevant.

[JulianStyles]

Tenshinhan as a Sayain would achieve everything Vegeta has but probably more because Tenshinhan doesnt let anger blind him.