Out of all the character arcs seen in theDragon Ballfranchise, Vegeta’s has always been one of the most beloved by fans. The prideful prince of all Saiyans began the series as a ruthless warrior who would boast about his superiority. He believed that his race and status as royalty put him above even the strongest warriors in the universe.
Vegeta has come a long way since his villainous days, becoming a vital part ofthe powerful Z Fightersand establishing himself as a true defender of Earth. His evolution as a character has not slowed down even decades after his iconic redemption began. A perfect proof of these massive changes in personality and beliefs is the prince’s latest form: The Ultra Ego.
Ultra Instinct Is Proof of Vegeta’s Growth
The Man No Longer Sees Himself as Inherently Superior
During the Granolah the Survivor Saga, considered by many fans asone ofDragon Ball Super’s best arcs, Vegeta underwent a training program to control the power of destruction that laid dormant inside of him. Thanks to Beerus’ help, the prince began to understand his abilities, culminating in the creation of a new technique known as Ultra Ego. This form waspowered solely by the destructive energy of Vegeta and his opponents, causing his power to increase vastly the more damage he received in battle.
While this ability quickly became popular among fans, it also caused quite a shock to older readers, as it seemed to go against everything Vegeta once stood for. When the prince was first introduced, he prided himself on beingone of the strongest characters in the entire Dragon Ball series. During his battle against the Z Fighters, Goku’s rival remained impassive, not soiling his royal hands with low-level opponents. Vegeta did not interfere with the fight, not even when his most loyal companion, Nappa, was about to be killed.
Receiving an attack from Goku caused the prince to fly into a rage, as he never expected a low-class Saiyan warrior ever to be able to lay a hand on him. The Vegeta that fans met during the beginning of the Saiyan Saga would have never considered using a skill such as the Ultra Ego, as it would meanaccepting that he was not powerful enough to avoid damage. The prince has evolved beyond his initial belief that he was superior to any other warrior, proving he is no longer the man who once tried to destroy Earth.
Vegeta Has Let Go of the Past
He Is More Than Just His Saiyan Blood
Over the last couple of years, theDragon Ballfranchise has made it clear that the series wants to develop the main heroes beyond their alien nature. This trend began during the Tournament of Power arc, during whichGoku awakened what has become his strongest transformation, the Ultra Instinct. This skill, unlike his previous forms, was not directly tied to his Saiyan blood but rather the result of his years of training and innate combat abilities.
The series went as far as to explain that Angels are the ones who usually master this form, further proving its differences from Goku’s other techniques. During thelatest installment of theDragon Ballmovie series,Super Hero, Gohan achieved a similar feat thanks to his powerful Beast mode. This transformation, which has been confirmed to be an evolution of his Ultimate form, was the culmination of Gohan’s true potential being awakened during a moment of crisis. The ability had nothing to do with his Saiyan heritage, which the man has been trying to distance himself from for several years.
The fact that Goku and Gohan were willing to part ways with their alien blood to become more powerful perfectly aligns with their arcs, as neither has been truly interested in their origins. Yet, Vegeta’s Ultra Ego, coming from a source other than his Saiyan heritage and pride, is indeed a shock. The prince spent years claiming that his blood and royal status were the reason why he was destined to be the strongest. Using a form such as the Ultra Ego proves that the man has left behind his old beliefs.
Vegeta’s Saiyan Legacy Is Still Important to Him
Ultra Ego Hints at How He Now Sees the World
One of the reasons why Vegeta’s use of Ultra Ego determines how far he has progressed during his time as a member of the Z Fighters is because ofwhat it represents for his psyche. For most of his life, the prince was told that his Saiyan pride and blood were his most important traits. He saw these conditions as proof of his greatness, seeing anyone without them as inferior. Saiyan pride was not about bettering himself as a warrior and individual, but rather a way to boast about his abilities and power.
By using Ultra Ego, Vegeta is telling his opponents, as well as readers, thathe no longer sees Saiyan pride as an inherent proof of his superiority. The warrior knows that he will often fight beings who are much more capable than him, such as Black Frieza,one of the strongestDragon Ballvillains in history. Yet, he will not allow them to win, which is why he transforms the pain they inflict on him into strength to fight. His Saiyan pride is his determination to keep going until the bitter end.
Vegeta’s Growth Is Admirable
Few Characters Go Through Such Radical Changes
It is no surprise to anyDragon Ballfans that Vegeta has always been among the most popular characters. Initially, followers of the series admired him for his unapologetic personality and conviction, despite his villainous nature. Over the years, the prince has evolved from being an example of a great antagonist to a hero who inspires those around him. His mentor-like role to Kabba is one of the best examples of how much the once-lone-warrior has changed sincehis fight against Goku, one of the best in the franchise.
Vegeta is a perfect example of what true redemption should look like.
Vegeta is a character who reminds audiences that the past does not define a person, only their present actions. Furthermore, he is also a perfect example of what true redemption should look like. The prince knows that he caused untold pain and suffering in the past, and he cannot undo any of his crimes. Yet, he continues moving forward, fighting for what is right and acting as one of Universe 7’s biggest heroes. Vegeta’s story is and will forever beone of the best redemption arcs anime fans have ever seen.
