Dragon Ball fans have long clamored for Vegeta to surpass Goku, but wanting the former villain to be more powerful than his rival misses the point of the character. Vegeta has had one of the most interesting arcs in the Dragon Ball anime. Introduced as a ruthless villain in pursuit of immortality, the character gradually evolved into a much better person. He moved to Earth and found a family in Bulma and Trunks. Over time, the Saiyan prince officially joined the Z-Fighters, becoming a full-fledged hero and even Goku’s friend. Despite his growth, though, his greatest ambition throughout the anime has remained surpassing Kakarot. Yet, it’s something that has always been out of his reach.
Even when Vegeta surpasses his rival, Goku quickly attains a new power level, as seen in the Cell and Majin Buu Sagas, as well as Dragon Ball Super‘s Tournament of Power. This has kept the Prince of All Saiyans in a constant state of catching up, and has led to fans asking for him to be given the opportunity to more permanently surpass Kakarot, or at least beat a main villain in the series—both of which he has yet to accomplish. However, wanting Vegeta to go above Goku’s power level could be considered a misunderstanding of his trajectory in the anime. Throughout Dragon Ball Z, the character’s main goal was to best Kakarot, to the point where he allowed himself to be possessed by the wizard Babidi in the Majin Buu Saga, with the hope of matching Goku’s power.
By the closing chapters of the saga, while watching him fight Buu, Vegeta reminisced about Goku’s pure heart and unrelenting strength, culminating in him admitting his longtime-rival-turned-friend was, in fact, better than him. It was one of Dragon Ball‘s most powerful moments, continuing to impact the franchise over the years. Despite Vegeta having continued his crusade to surpass Goku in Dragon Ball Super, for example, he consistently failed to do so (fully, at least), thus honoring the relevance of his admission in Z. Overall, the franchise has continually emphasized Goku’s power superiority over Vegeta, and that is understandable because, at its core, Dragon Ball is about Goku.
Vegeta’s Lesser Power Is Key To Dragon Ball
Vegeta being weaker than Kakarot is an essential element of both the character and the Dragon Ball universe. Though he improved as a person and became a hero as the anime progressed, Vegeta’s ego has remained one of his worst traits, often making him brash and unnecessarily aggressive. However, being in a perpetual state of catching up to someone he has typically perceived as beneath him keeps said ego in check. In a way, that constant struggle also serves as a comeuppance for his extreme narcissism and his past as a conqueror and murderer.
Being weaker than Goku also provides Vegeta with a longevous arc, as his failed attempts to best him consistently push him to evolve as both a fighter and an individual. The character’s growth being tied to his pursuit of power makes his personal journey an ever-evolving storyline, given that he always has something to strive toward. Vegeta’s inability to surpass his longtime rival benefits Goku’s characterization in the Dragon Ball anime: firstly, because it allows for meaningful interactions between the two, such as Vegeta’s aforementioned Buu Saga admission; and secondly, because having him struggle to reach his level puts Goku’s power into perspective, as it shows just how gifted of a fighter he is.
The Dragon Ball manga has seemingly taken steps toward equalizing Goku and Vegeta’s power with the latter’s Ultra Ego transformation, which taps into God of Destruction abilities. However, even that transformation has been somewhat tempered by the introduction of Goku’s True Ultra Instinct—another apparent effort to keep him stronger than Vegeta for future storylines. Much like Goku, the Saiyan prince will continue to reach new power levels. The many enemies threatening Earth require them to do so, after all. Given how integral Vegeta being weaker than Goku is to both Dragon Ball and his personal arc, the franchise should keep the villain-turned-hero one step behind Kakarot.
