The Moro arc has arguably been the closest Dragon Ball Super has come to resembling the original series. Featuring a violent villain, Toyotaro’s best action yet, and a story that’s taken the time & care to linger on its main beats, the Moro arc has done an excellent job at redefining Dragon Ball Super’s voice. What really calls back to Dragon Ball’s glory days, however, is the storytelling– especially now that the Moro arc is at its climax.
When it comes to Dragon Ball, the action is the story, and the Moro arc’s fights have been some of Super’s best. With both Goku & Vegeta reaffirming how they’ve developed since the start of Dragon Ball Super, the final battle against Moro is building up to be one hell of a finale.
10 Vegeta Vs Moro (Round 1)
Dragon Ball Super’s run circles around Vegeta’s original character development, but the Moro arc has strived to be a bit more original. The arc’s been very conscious of Vegeta’s growth, commenting on how he’s changed and even forcing him to confront his past on Namek. When Moro threatens innocent Namekians, it’s Vegeta who stands up to him first.
While Vegeta puts up one of his best fights in the arc and even gets to make some good use out of Super Saiyan God, Moro’s energy draining powers catch the Prince of all Saiyans off guard, triggering a chain reaction that ends in Moro stronger than ever.
9 Goku & Vegeta Vs Moro
Similar to Dr. Gero and Android 19, Moro’s main ability centers around absorbing energy. Unlike Dr. Gero and Android 19, Moro’s magic allows him to take in far more than just Ki– eating energy to reach extraordinarily powerful heights. Simply fighting Moro risks making him stronger, which is exactly what happens when Goku & Vegeta team up against him for the first time.
Already unable to tap into their full power– let alone Super Saiyan– Moro slaughters the both of them, leaving Goku and Vegeta near-death while growing stronger in the process. It’s a battle that completely sells who Moro is as a character and the threat he’s going to pose for the rest of the arc.
8 Merus Vs Moro
With Moro wreaking havoc, getting stronger, and no one around who can possibly keep him at bay, Galactic Patrolman Merus enters the fight in order to hold him off. Actually an Angel in disguise, Merus can’t fight at full power without risking erasure. Still, a suppressed Merus comfortably runs circles around Moro.
Merus’ use of weapons, particularly his Galactic Patrolman Gun, add a flair to the fight that most Dragon Ball battles lack. The Moro arc in general has done a good job at incorporating unique elements into the combat– Merus’ first fight against Moro is basically a rundown of what an elite Galactic Patrolman can do.
7 Goku Vs Moro (Round 2)
Following their defeat at the hands of Moro, both Goku and Vegeta opt to do some training in preservation for the inevitable rematch. Where Vegeta goes to Yardrat in order to refine his Spirit Control, Goku trains with Merus in the Room of Spirit and Time so that he can finally master Ultra Instinct.
Unfortunately, the two run out of time and Goku only musters enough skill to trigger Ultra Instinct -Sign-. Nonetheless, this leads into one of Goku’s best fights in the arc. Seeing him go up against Moro with -Sign- showcases just how far both fighters have come since the start of the arc: it also stresses that -Sign- simply isn’t enough at this point.
6 Gohan & Piccolo Vs Seven-Three
While Goku and Vegeta are in the depths of outer space, Moro and his army invade Earth, prompting the rest of the Dragon Team to fight back until both Saiyans can arrive. During this time, Gohan and Piccolo square off against Seven-Three, one of Moro’s strongest subordinates. They can’t overpower Seven-Three themselves– mainly due to his copying abilities– but Gohan & Piccolo sync up to provide one of the best looking fights in Dragon Ball Super and a battle that plays up the inherent creativity of Piccolo’s skill set.
5 Everyone Vs Moro-73
Neither Ultra Instinct -Sign- or Forced Spirit Fission were enough to fully put down Moro. Although Vegeta came closer, defusing most of Moro’s power, the wizard absorbed Seven-Three before he could be finished off. Far stronger than he’s ever been– with a wide new set of abilities– Moro demands the attention of the entire Dragon Team.
Moro absorbs Vegeta’s power, impales Goku through the chest (leaving a scar that’s still visible as of the end of the arc,) and effortlessly puts down Gohan, Piccolo, and both Androids. Had Merus not arrived in time, Jaco would have been taken out as well.
4 Goku, Vegeta, & Dai Kaioshin Vs Moro
Moro’s introduction on Namek spirals into chaos in just a few short chapters. Not a single character can handle Moro’s full might, requiring a plan to awaken the absorbed Dai Kaioshin inside of Majin Buu in order to seal Moro’s powers away. This naturally doesn’t end up working, but Goku, Vegeta, and Dai Kaioshin working together to fight off Moro in an intergalactic setting gives the group battle plenty of charm. More importantly, it’s a rare opportunity for Majin Buu to contribute– even if he’s technically a different character at the time.
3 Merus Vs Moro-73
As an angel, fighting at full power will gradually result in Merus’ erasure. He’s only been able to survive this long presumably due to how he restrains himself as a Galactic Patrolman. Knowing that he’ll disappear, Merus fights Moro-73 at full power in order to show Goku the full extent of Ultra Instinct.
Merus uses his last moments of life to fight circles around Moro, carefully making sure not to defeat his for. The use of Merus’ angel staff as his primary weapon is a particularly inspired choice, and the fight itself has had major consequences on the end of the arc: resulting in both Goku and Moro tapping into new forms.
2 Ultra Instinct Goku Vs Moro (Merus Absorbed)
During his fight against Moro-73, Merus breaks Moro’s absorption crystal while cutting off one of his hands– after Moro has taken Merus’ angel abilities. Moro regrows his arm, but the intact crystal with Merus’ power was left on the field. Following his sound defeat & healing at the hands of Goku, Moro takes on Merus’ abilities and prepares for a deadly rematch.
Only for Goku to effortlessly put Moro in his place. Even with Merus’ powers flowing through him, Moro cannot compete with Ultra Instinct. And it’s not that Ultra Instinct has made him stronger, it’s that Goku understands the power he’s using. Of course, Goku does not finish off Moro in time, but watching Moro lose himself to Merus’ raw power has set up quite the finale.
1 Ultra Instinct Goku Vs Moro-73
Dragon Ball has often used emotion as a catalyst for transformations: watching Krillin die makes Goku transform into a Super Saiyan and the sheer stress of the Cell Games (along with 16’s sacrifice) push Gohan into a Super Saiyan 2. Dragon Ball Super plays with this idea through Ultra Instinct.
Merus’ sacrifice upsets Goku, but it does not anger him. Goku instead processes his emotions and becomes one with Ultra Instinct, giving Moro a cathartic beatdown that leaves the goat humiliated. Thanks to some of the best action the manga has seen yet, Ultra Instinct was reintroduced with a bang.