One of the most iconic elements of Dragon Ball is the rivalry between Goku and Vegeta. In recent episodes of Dragon Ball DAIMA, this iconic relationship has become the most prominent it’s been since the start of the anime. This has naturally gotten fans to ask the classic question of which Super Saiyan is stronger.
The main hook of the newest Dragon Ball series is that all the main characters have been turned into children. Through the fights they’ve engaged in against demons and Tamagamis, it’s become apparent what effects this has had on their power levels. Vegeta is always aiming to become stronger than Goku, and Dragon Ball DAIMA has made clear if he’s succeeded or not.
Goku is Much Stronger Than Vegeta at the End of Dragon Ball Z
“You are No. 1.” In the original version of Dragon Ball Z, this is Vegeta’s assessment of Goku at the end of the series, and for good reason. From the moment Vegeta is introduced, there is never a single point in the anime where the two Saiyans are on the same level. And while the imbalance is occasionally in Vegeta’s favor, he fails to ever come close to Goku’s level again after Goku trains in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
When Goku returns to Earth in the Buu Saga for the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament, it’s after 7 years of training in Other World. In this time, he not only unlocks the Super Saiyan 2 transformation originally discovered by Gohan, but the brand-new Super Saiyan 3 form. Just like the gap in power between Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 2, the gap between Super Saiyan 2 and Super Saiyan 3 is monumental, and it’s one Vegeta is never able to overcome. Even with the power of both Super Saiyan 2 and Babidi’s enhancements, Vegeta still would have been demolished by Goku during their rematch, had Goku actually used Super Saiyan 3. This is made evident by their respective performances against Fat Buu. Vegeta throws everything he has at Buu, and even blows himself up, but fails to do any actual damage, while Goku would have killed Buu without any issue if not for his time on Earth running out.
By the time the final battle against Kid Buu arrives, Goku and Vegeta’s distinct goals during their turns taking him on speak volumes. Using the incredible power of Super Saiyan 3, Goku aims to kill Buu, and has more than enough power to do so, but his inability to maintain Super Saiyan 3 for too long prevents him from succeeding. By contrast, Vegeta merely fights Buu to stall for time, having absolutely no faith in his ability to win, and just trusting that Goku’s Spirit Bomb will get the job done. This is the status quo Goku and Vegeta find themselves in going into Dragon Ball DAIMA, as the new series is set only a short time after the end of DBZ.