Vegeta’s rivalry with Goku is one ofDragon Ball’smost notable dynamics, and honestly, it’s one of the most baffling. Ever since Goku first transformed into a Super Saiyan on Namek,Vegeta has been relentlessly driven to surpass himto prove his superiority. Yet, when you take a step back, their rivalry starts to make less sense considering that Goku has never had a clear win over Vegeta.
This is made more apparent in recent arcs, as Vegeta has shown time and time again that he’s on par with Goku. However,it’s this illogical nature that makes their rivalry so brilliant. Vegeta’s obsession with Goku has always been about his pride as the Saiyan prince, and while it may not make much sense in regard to their power-scaling, it fits his character. It’s stubborn, petty, and absolutely perfect, andDragon Ballwouldn’t be the same without it.
Vegeta’s Rivalry With Goku Is Strange, Considering They’re Almost Always Evenly Matched
One of the strangest aspects of Vegeta’s rivalry with Goku is the fact that their power levels aren’t that different. WhileDragon Ballis consistently escalating its power system, bothGoku and Vegeta have remained extremely close in terms of strength and new transformations. Every time Goku seems to get ahead, Vegeta quickly closes the gap or even temporarily surpasses him. A perfect example of this is thatVegeta’s Ultra Egorivals and possibly outclasses Goku’s Ultra Instinct. Another is that Vegeta’s Forced Spirit Fission technique gave the Z-Fighters the upper hand against Moro, a battle they wouldn’t have won otherwise.
What makes Vegeta’s rivalry with Goku even stranger is the fact that Goku has never defeated Vegeta in a one-on-one battle. Nearly every one of their matches had ended ambiguously, except for the sparring match they were engaged in during theDragon Ball Super: Superheromovie. While the vast majority of the fight is cut out, by the end,Vegeta manages to just barely pull a win over Goku, and he even brags about it in the manga. Yet, despite this, Vegeta remains obsessed with outranking Goku, acting as if he is perpetually in second place.
Vegeta has a tendency to exaggerate the intensity of his rivalry with Goku, especially considering the results of their one-on-one battles. However, that’s what makes their rivalry as compelling as it is. Vegeta isn’t driven by overwhelming defeats but rather by his own flawed perception of Goku as an unattainable ideal. He sees Goku’s strength as something he couldnever truly achieve due to Goku’s carefree nature, willingness to rely on others when he needs to, and his ability to achieve transformations first. Yet, in reality,Vegeta is every bit Goku’s equal, but his pride blinds him to that fact.
Vegeta’s Illogical Jealousy Makes Perfect Sense to His Character
Vegeta Wouldn’t Be the Same Without His Jealousy of Goku
Vegeta’s jealousy of Goku may not make much sense when it’s thoroughly analyzed, butit makes perfect sense for Vegeta’s character. Having been born into Saiyan royalty, Vegeta was raised to believe in his own superiority, and it had been ingrained into his identity. The idea of being outclassed by Goku, who would have been a low-class warrior on Planet Vegeta, shatters the very foundation of his self-worth. Goku’s achievements act as a constant reminder that strength doesn’t come from birthright or arrogance, and it defies everything Vegeta was taught to believe, which explains why Goku’s strength feels so personal to him.
Even when Vegeta matches or surpasses Goku, he still sees himself as trailing behind becausehis jealousy isn’t rooted in fact, it’s rooted in pride. Goku never intentionally provokes Vegeta but does tend to treat Vegeta as a friendly competitor more than a threat, which only makes Vegeta’s frustration worse. Every loss, whether it’s perceived or literal, makes Vegeta feel astain has been left on his status as the Saiyan Prince. Goku’s laid-back personality only deepens Vegeta’s resentment because it suggests that Goku can achieve greatness effortlessly, while Vegeta pours everything he has into training in order to surpass him.
Dragon Ball Just Introduced Us to the One Villain Not Even Goku and Vegeta Can Defeat
Not Majin Kuu but Dragon Ball Daima introduced a different villain that will pose a real challenge for Goku and Vegeta.
However, this jealousy is also what makes Vegeta as fascinating as he is. Beneath his pride and rough exterior, Vegeta is desperate to prove himself as the Prince of Saiyans, even long after his people were eradicated by Frieza. His rivalry with Goku pushes Vegeta forward and motivates him to become greater than he already is. Without Goku, Vegeta loses interest in training like he had after the Cell Games. Even if Vegeta refuses to admit it, his jealousy of Goku is what drives him, and without his jealousy, Vegeta simply wouldn’t be the same character.
Toriyama Revealed His Genius by Making an Illogical Rivalry Feel So Personal and Iconic
Vegeta’s Rivalry With Goku Goes Deeper Than Fans May Expect
Akira Toriyama proved his own brilliance through his ability to make Vegeta and Goku’s rivalry feel so personal despite it being illogical under scrutiny. In most shonen rivalries, one character is clearly more powerful, and the narrative tends to revolve around another trying to close the gap. Toriyama, however, keeps Goku and Vegeta on near equal footing while shifting the focus of the story to how they approach new heights. For Goku, strength is a path of endless excitement and a challenge he joyfully pursues, and for Vegeta,it’s fueled by pride and self-worth that gets blinded by ideals.
Dragon Ball Daima Is a Clear Love Letter to Akira Toriyama and His Grand Work on Dragon Quest
Dragon Ball Daima is taking a lot of influence from Dragon Quest for its story, and as a fan of both franchises, I couldn’t be happier about that.
As irrational as Vegeta’s jealousy is, Toriyama managed to present his rivalry in a waythat is less about Goku and more about himselfand his internal conflicts. Goku’s rise to power challenged Vegeta’s entire worldview and forced him to confront the flawed ideologies that had been implanted in him, allowing him to grow as a character. What makes the dynamic all the more ingenious is that, in this sense, Goku becomes not just a rival but a mirror that pushes Vegeta to reevaluate his beliefs and reflect on his growth over the series.
The rivalry between Goku and Vegeta is more grounded within their characters than any external stakes and that’s what prevents it from becoming old or repetitive. When fans root for Vegeta to defeat Goku, they are really rooting for him to overcome his own pride and acknowledge his own progress and power. This is because it’s difficult to take note of Vegeta’s wins and achievements when he is constantly comparing himself and thinking he’s behind when that couldn’t be further from the truth. While illogical, Vegeta’s rivalry with Goku throughoutDragon Ballis what makes the series so iconic.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
