Dragon Ball 10 Things Vegeta Does Better Than Goku

Goku and Vegeta are some of anime's greatest rivals. While Goku usually comes out on top, there are many things that Vegeta can do better.

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball remains one of the most popular anime series of all time, and even non-anime fans have some familiarity with the iconic shonen series. Dragon Ball’s story has gone to some incredible places as Goku grows stronger and takes on increasingly dangerous threats to the universe.

Dragon Ball’s Saiyans have become some of the most crucial figures in the series, and whenever more details about their lore come to light it’s exciting. The biggest Saiyans in the series are easily Vegeta and Goku, and while these two characters share a lot in common, there are still some distinct areas where Vegeta is his rival's superior.

10 He Can Control His Great Ape Form

There is no shortage of exaggerated transformations that DB characters, especially Saiyans, can resort to in battle for a boost in strength. Different Super Saiyan variations have become the norm, but before they were introduced, there was a great deal of focus placed on the Saiyans’ Great Ape transformation. Dragon Ball explains that only certain Saiyans are able to control themselves while in this state, and Vegeta makes the cut. Goku’s Great Ape form is just as much of a liability as a strength since he’s unable to control it and it might hurt his loved ones, whereas Vegeta can properly weaponize the transformation.

9 He Channels His Rage And Becomes Ultra Ego

Dragon Ball has highlighted that all Saiyans, even Goku, have a latent rage that rises to the surface during the right circumstances. Goku is much more in conflict with his aggressive impulses, and he doesn’t like to lose himself in battle. Vegeta thrives in battle when he embraces his anger. The character has even found a way to better weaponize this rage with his new Ultra Ego form, which functions as a violent counterpart to Goku’s more angelic Ultra Instinct. Vegeta continues to get the most out of his anger, whereas Goku treats it like a liability.

8 He's A Genuine God Of Destruction

Each new Dragon Ball series brings forward new tiers of celestial deities that allow the series’ universe to expand its scope. Dragon Ball Super introduces both Gods of Destruction and Angels, who are primarily represented in the series by Beerus and Whis. While they're initially opponents for Goku and Vegeta, these powerful characters grow into valuable mentor figures to the Saiyans.

Vegeta takes more of a shine to Beerus’ way of doing things, and he reaches the point where he doesn’t only impress Beerus but is deemed worthy of the God of Destruction title. Goku’s efforts here aren’t as successful, and he struggles to master Hakai.

7 He Respects His Wife And Her Wishes

Goku and Vegeta live somewhat unconventional lives compared to standard shonen heroes. The two are constantly in harm’s way and taking on new threats, but they’re also both married with kids. Goku repeatedly demonstrates how training takes precedence over Chi-Chi’s wishes. He constantly lies to his wife and frequently ignores her wishes. Vegeta has a rough exterior, but he puts his family above everything else. Vegeta can’t let it slide when Beerus insults his wife, and he refuses to leave his wife's side when she’s pregnant with their second child.

6 He Executes His Enemies And Doesn’t Give Them A Second Chance

There’s something to be said for second chances, and Goku has actually had quite a bit of luck rehabilitating his former foes. Goku defeats plenty of enemies, only to offer them opportunities for redemption. He only kills his foes as a true last resort. However, sometimes his empathetic tendencies get Goku into trouble more often than they're worth, and it’s an unnecessary danger. Vegeta never hesitates to not only take out his own target but to also swoop in and finish off other people’s opponents when they hesitate.

5 He’s More Prone To Possession

The lines between good and evil often get blurred in anime series. Vegeta begins Dragon Ball as an unrepentant tyrant, only to slowly evolve into one of the series’ most honorable heroes. That being said, Vegeta has been pushed back to the dark side on several occasions, such as during his stint as Majin Vegeta or after the parasitic alien Baby turns him into his new host.

Even Dragon Ball Super’s Copy Vegeta storyline returns to this concept. It’s almost an odd compliment. Vegeta is so strong that he’s deemed the best host for these malevolent forces.

4 He Knows How To Intimidate And Toy With His Opponent

Attitude and intimidation tactics can be crucial in battle. Characters often need to follow through on any bold threats they make, but being able to get into the enemy’s head and psychologically throw them off is a great advantage. Goku can make a villain sweat when he actually applies physical violence, but he’s otherwise not that intimidating of a presence. Vegeta's whole energy casts him as someone who shouldn’t be tested and is capable of incredible destruction.

3 Carrying On Saiyan Customs And Honoring His People

It’s not until Dragon Ball Z that both Goku and the audience learn that the main character of their story is actually a member of a warrior race known as Saiyans. Goku does his best to carry on certain Saiyan customs, but he’s largely ignorant of their ways, and he hasn’t retained any of his memories from Planet Vegeta before he arrived on Earth. Vegeta doesn’t take the fact that he was the Prince of the Saiyans for granted, and he still attempts to keep certain Saiyan ideals alive so the culture can survive.

2 He Blazes His Own Trail

One of the more entertaining elements in Dragon Ball is the competitive rivalry that exists between Goku and Vegeta, where they’re always trying to best each other. For the longest time, Goku and Vegeta are forced to follow the same Super Saiyan path, but there’s been more of a push recently for Vegeta to not just copy his friend’s accomplishments. The culmination of this is Vegeta’s preference for Ultra Ego over Ultra Instinct, but this is also present during his training period on Yardrat. Vegeta chooses to not focus on the Instant Transmission technique like Goku, but instead master the ways of Forced Spirit Fission.

1 With More Intense Gravity Training He Pushes Himself Further

The characters in Dragon Ball are literally strong enough to obliterate entire planets with a single energy attack but they're always pursuing greater power. Once Dragon Ball’s characters attain a certain plateau of strength, it can become difficult to effectively train, but the anime has found a lot of utility in extreme gravity training. Goku experiments with heightened gravity training during his voyage to Planet Namek, but Vegeta makes it a regular part of his routine on Earth. Vegeta is able to push his limits to withstand at least 400x Earth’s gravity, which is just incredible.