Vegeta is one of the best characters in Dragon Ball. Ever since his introduction in the Saiyan Saga, Vegeta has been instrumental in moving every story arc forward. He's been a villain, anti-hero, and even the protagonist at different points throughout the story. Vegeta is a soldier, not a martial artist, so he doesn't always fight with honor like Goku or the rest of the Z-Fighters.
Every Z Fighter in Dragon Ball, Ranked From Weakest to Strongest
Dragon Ball Super's Z-Fighters are stronger than ever, with the top five warriors sporting absurdly overpowered forms that make them God-tier.
Vegeta fights in some of Dragon Ball's most iconic and violent battles, pushing himself to surpass Goku by any means necessary. Even more than Goku, Vegeta's fights are where he experiences most of his character development. Vegeta is always growing and changing, whether he likes it or not, and his best battles are a reflection of who he is at different periods of Dragon Ball's history.
10 Vegeta vs Kid Buu
Vegeta's character development in the Majin Buu Saga is incredible, especially following his death against Fat Buu earlier in the arc. During the final battle, Vegeta realizes that Goku needs more time to charge up Super Saiyan 3, so he risks his life to stall Kid Buu as long as he can. Vegeta has no delusions that he can win; he knows this fight is simply to bide time for his rival, and he has no problems with that.
The fact Vegeta so readily puts his pride on the line shows just how much he's changed since the start of the series. The fight itself is also one of Vegeta's best on a choreography level, as he takes blow after blow just to keep Buu's focus off of Goku. In the end, Goku can't tap into Super Saiyan 3 with his mortal body, so Vegeta suggests they use the Spirit Bomb as he keeps Buu at bay even on the cusp of certain death.
9 Vegeta vs Toppo
Vegeta had an impressive track record during the Tournament of Power, eliminating more fighters than anyone else in Universe 7. While his fight against Jiren is great, Vegeta's real standout match in the Universe Survival Saga was his battle with Toppo. An enemy who defeated Goku earlier in the arc, Toppo taps into his God of Destruction form and very nearly defeats Vegeta before he can make it to the final battle with Jiren.
By reflecting on Bulma, Trunks, Bulla, and Cabba, Vegeta makes a powerful breakthrough, transforming Super Saiyan Blue into the unique Super Saiyan Blue Evolved – a form strong enough to rival Ultra Instinct Sign. SSBE Vegeta flips the table against God of Destruction Toppo, destroying an opponent who was, by all accounts, one of the strongest beings in the multiverse. By defeating Toppo, Vegeta became the only character in Dragon Ball Super to ever beat a God of Destruction-tier foe.
8 Vegeta vs Beerus
In many ways, Vegeta becomes Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods' main character after Goku loses to Beerus on King Kai's Planet. Vegeta spends most of the movie trying to pacify Beerus and keep him docile, proving just how much he's grown since the end of Dragon Ball Z. Vegeta is even willing to humiliate himself if it keeps the Earth safe. But while Vegeta can put aside his pride, he can't put aside his love for Bulma.
The Official 10 Strongest Dragon Ball Super Forms, Ranked
Dragon Ball Super's power scaling means that the series' forms are leagues stronger than anything seen in Dragon Ball Z, & are only getting stronger.
When Beerus strikes Bulma, Vegeta enters a rage state where he immediately triggers a stronger version of Super Saiyan 2 than Super Saiyan 3 Goku and actually manages to make Beerus bleed in an amazing combo attack. Even Master Roshi comments on how strong Vegeta's become. The fight doesn't last long, but Vegeta's battle with Beerus is proof of Vegeta's incredible character development and raw talent.
7 Vegeta vs Cell
To Vegeta's credit, he actually was strong enough to defeat Cell after training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber – but that in itself was the problem. Vegeta didn't want an easy victory, he wanted an opponent who could truly challenge him. Vegeta and Cell's battle is almost a character study of Vegeta's greatest flaws. Despite attaining incredible power and thoroughly defeating Cell, it isn't enough for him knowing that Cell can get even stronger.
Vegeta defies his own son and potentially dooms Trunks' future into becoming a reality for his timeline when he willingly sacrifices Android 18 for absorption. It's equal parts horrifying and cathartic watching a calm Perfect Cell humiliate and mock Vegeta during their subsequent battle. Even Vegeta's Final Flash isn't enough to defeat Cell, as the fight ends with Vegeta near-death in the ocean, leaving the fate of the Earth in his son's hands.
6 Vegeta vs Android 19
Goku's Heart Virus couldn't have kicked in at a better time for Vegeta. Training harder than ever during the three years between Future Trunks' arrival and the Androids attacking, Vegeta actually managed to surpass Goku once he unlocked Super Saiyan. While Goku loses to Android 19, Vegeta arrives on the scene and manhandles the Artificial Human in epic fashion, ripping 19 limb from limb before completely destroying him.
SSJ Vegeta vs 19 is a brutal beatdown that shows Vegeta at his most vicious. Unfortunately, the battle gives Vegeta an even bigger ego than usual, and his overconfidence results in him getting his bones broken by Android 18 shortly after. Either way, it doesn't take away how amazing it is to watch Vegeta show the Android the meaning of fear.
5 Vegeta vs Granolah
The Granolah the Survivor Saga dives deep into Saiyan lore, showing the last days of Planet Vegeta and finally exposing Goku to his father Bardock. More importantly, the arc gives Vegeta some stellar character development as he finds himself carrying the weight of the Saiyans' sins as he walks down the path of a God of Destruction. During his battle with Granolah, Vegeta taps into a new transformation: Ultra Ego.
Ultra Ego grows stronger the more Vegeta fights and takes damage, leading to a brutal battle where Vegeta and Granolah keep hammering each other with their strongest attacks. While Vegeta ultimately loses the fight, he pushes Granolah to unlock his own limits. Ultra Ego's violent fighting style and Granolah's fast, sniper-like movements make for a wildly creative battle that shows off each fighter's distinct skill set in perform form.
4 Vegeta vs Broly
Dragon Ball Super: Broly is the gold standard for animation in the Dragon Ball franchise. Every frame of the movie flows beautifully with fluid movement and some of the series' best fight choreography not done by Akira Toriyama himself. The movie's final battle between Gogeta and Broly is obviously the highlight, but there's something to be said about Broly's first major battle against Vegeta.
Set to the incredible track "Broly Begins to Battle," Vegeta's fight with the Legendary Super Saiyan almost feels like a love letter to the Prince of All Saiyans. Vegeta puts up a magnificent fight as he tests out the full extent of Broly's power, cycling from his base form to Super Saiyan, and finally Super Saiyan God. Seeing SSG Vegeta animated for the first time is nothing short of amazing, and Vegeta would have beaten Broly right then & there if Goku didn't step in just in time to get his turn.
3 Vegeta vs Recoome
One of the best parts about the Frieza Saga is how much screen time Dragon Ball Z gives Vegeta. After serving as the Saiyan Saga's main villain, Vegeta basically becomes the main character when the story shifts its focus to Namek, at least for the first half of the arc until Goku arrives. Vegeta has a lot of great battles on Namek, but his best has to be his fight against Recoome.
10 Most Important Dragon Ball Characters (Right Now)
With the Black Frieza Saga and the Dragon Ball Super anime remake just around the corner, the series' most important characters are quite unique.
The Ginyu Force are leagues stronger than Vegeta (save for Guldo), something Vegeta learns the hard way. Beautifully choreographed with violent hits that pack weight behind every blow, Vegeta and Recoome pummel each other all across Namek. Vegeta puts on an incredible display, but even that isn't enough as Recoome tanks every hit and comes extremely close to killing Vegeta. Watching Vegeta struggle to so much as compete really puts into perspective just how dangerous Frieza's army is.
2 Vegeta vs Fat Buu
Majin Vegeta is a real low point for the Prince of All Saiyans. In what can be summed up as a mid-life crisis, Vegeta has a breakdown once he realizes that he'll not only never get his rematch with Goku, but that his rival has managed to surpass him in the afterlife. After allowing Babidi to possess him, Vegeta forces Goku to fight him in a battle that awakens Majin Buu. Believing himself to be solely responsible, Vegeta knocks out Goku and goes to fight Fat Buu himself.
Vegeta's fight against Fat Buu is short, but it's one of his best moments in all of Dragon Ball. For the first time ever, Vegeta is fighting for someone other than himself. He is taking full responsibility for his actions and is ready to put his life on the line. Vegeta can't keep up with Majin Buu, even in Super Saiyan 2, so he does the unthinkable and sacrifices himself in one Final Atonement explosion that comes very close to killing Buu. Unfortunately, even this isn't enough, but for the first time ever, Vegeta proves himself a true hero.
1 Vegeta vs Goku, Gohan, Krillin, & Yajirobe
The final battle in Dragon Ball Z's Saiyan Saga is nothing short of legendary. What starts as an epic one on one duel between Goku and Vegeta quickly spirals into a showdown starring all the surviving Z-Fighters against Vegeta. Goku and Vegeta trade blows in what may very well be the best choreographed shonen fight of all time, before Gohan, Krillin, and Yajirobe join the fray to slowly chip away at Vegeta until he's forced to drag his near-lifeless corpse into his space pod.
No villain in Dragon Ball has ever felt as unstoppable as Vegeta did during the Saiyan Saga. Goku literally breaks every bone in his body trying to stop Vegeta, Yajirobe proves his worth by cutting off Great Ape Vegeta's tail, Gohan completes his character arc by being brave enough to fight Vegeta by himself, and Krillin proves himself Goku's truest ally by wielding the Spirit Bomb & then being prepared to kill Vegeta himself. Goku's selfish mercy on Vegeta is just the cherry on top of an outstanding battle.
- Created by
- Akira Toriyama
- First TV Show
- Dragon Ball
- Latest TV Show
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
- Upcoming TV Shows
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
- First Episode Air Date
- February 26, 1986
- TV Show(s)
- Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball DAIMA