Dragon Ball's Vegeta is driven by many goals, but during the Frieza Saga, he could percieve no greater accomplishment than becoming a Super Saiyan. Vegeta had to reach rock bottom before he finally ascended to this superior state, and it still didn't happen until Goku became the first one to experience an even greater power boost. Over the course of Dragon Ball's various sagas, Vegeta attains a handful of other Super Saiyan forms, but he typically remains one step behind Goku.

Dragon Ball Super slightly revises this formula and power structure. Vegeta not only catches up with Goku, but he begins to develop his skillsets and transformations. These forms are unique in their powers and abilities, but they all push the Prince toward the same goal of Saiyan supremacy -- and surpassing Goku.

Updated By Brett Cardaro On February 21, 2024: Vegeta continues to push the boundaries of the Gods and Angels in Dragon Ball Super. His rivalry with Goku even reached a new milestone when Vegeta defeated Goku during their sparring match during Dragon Ball Super's Super Hero arc. This displays Vegeta's tireless pursuit of greater power, as he aims to get a better grasp on the powers and abilities that his Ultra Ego form offers him. This article has been updated to include even more information about Vegeta's various transformations, as well as to bring it up to CBR's latest formatting standard.

12 Vegeta's Base Form is Still Stronger Than Most Fighters

First Appearance: Saiyan Saga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Base Form

• Vegeta fights in his natural state, requiring far less ki than any other form.

Vegeta's weakest form is his base state before he undergoes any transformative power boosts. This is technically Vegeta's weakest state, but the primary advantage of it is that there's no drain on his stamina.

Vegeta predominantly sticks to his base form during Dragon Ball Super's multiversal battle royale, the Tournament of Power. He's not put under any strain, and the base form of a Saiyan is still stronger than what most races have to offer. Vegeta's base form is a helpful reminder of the enduring will of this warrior race.

11 Vegeta's Great Ape Form Turns Him Into an Uncontrollable Beast

First Appearance: Saiyan Saga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Great Ape Form

• Much more powerful than Vegeta's base form, but he completely loses his mind and acts purely on instinct, destroying everything in his path.

One of the greatest tools in Vegeta's arsenal when he first challenges Goku on Earth is the Saiyan's Great Ape form. This primal Saiyan transformation turns most of his species into rampaging animals, but Elite Saiyan, like Vegeta, can actually retain his free will as a Great Ape.

This transformation multiplies Vegeta's abilities tenfold, but it’s cumbersome and has a major weakness in its vulnerable tail. Great Ape power is also nothing in comparison to Super Saiyan strength. Vegeta also had a brief tenure as a Golden Great Ape during Baby's possession of him.

10 Vegeta's Super Saiyan Made Him a Legendary Warrior

First Appearance: Android Saga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Super Saiyan Form

• Far superior power than a base saiyan or Great Ape form.

It took Vegeta years of training to achieve Super Saiyan, after learning it was actually real when Goku achieved it. After he debuted this new form with some of his best trash talk ever, it's since become a form he mostly uses when he's vaguely serious about fighting.

Vegeta becomes a Super Saiyan in his battle against Cabba, and the Universe 6 Saiyan is impressed that this universe's Saiyans possess such power. He teases Cabba with a glimpse of superior strength when he becomes Super Saiyan Blue and proceeds to eliminate Cabba in battle.

9 Super Saiyan Second Grade is a Step Up From The Traditional SSJ

First Appearance: Cell Saga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Super Saiyan Second Grade Form

• Even more powerful than a regular Super Saiyan, and more fast and agile than a Third Grade SSJ.

Super Saiyan transformations eventually become so commonplace that even young children start to achieve them. Early on, it was believed that only one Saiyan was worthy enough to become the "true" Super Saiyan. Vegeta is disheartened to see Goku ascend before him, but his ego reaches an all-time high during the Cell Saga.

After training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for a year, Vegeta finally achieves the power of Super Saiyan Second Grade. Stronger than his rival, Goku, for the first time in years, he rushes to fight Cell, managing to embarrass the android with his incredible new power. Though this was once the apex of his power, he hasn't required his "Super Vegeta" form in years.

8 Super Saiyan Third Grade Sacrifices Speed For Strength

First Appearance: Cell Saga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Super Saiyan Third Grade Form

• Enhanced physical strength and power at the cost of far less speed than prior SSJ forms.

Some of Dragon Ball’s most exciting moments revolve around new Super Saiyan transformations, but the anime is forced to bide its time between the inaugural transformation and Gohan’s ascension to Super Saiyan 2. The heroes' training for the Androids and Cell leads to some curious experiments when it comes to Saiyan power boosts.

Super Saiyan Third Grade is an interim stage undeniably stronger than the base Super Saiyan state. However, Super Saiyan Third Grade’s increased muscle mass makes the user so bulky that their slow speed makes it difficult to land any hits. This is no different for Vegeta, who quickly discards this transformation for the weaker, but faster -- and therefore more combat efficient -- Super Saiyan Second Grade form.

7 Super Saiyan 2 is Vegeta's Reward For Sacrifying His Humanity

First Appearance: Buu Saga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Super Saiyan 2 Form

• Even stronger and faster than any prior form; Super Saiyan 2 gives Vegeta a huge power increase from the standard SSJ.

For a long time, Super Saiyan 2 Vegeta was the Saiyan's strongest transformation. Vegeta never actually canonically attains Super Saiyan 3 power, temporarily leaving Super Saiyan 2 as his peak. Vegeta first reaches this milestone during his battle against Goku when he's under Babidi's malevolent Majin influence. As strong as he is with it, though, it doesn't help him against Majin Buu, resulting in him being humbled by the creature.

In Dragon Ball Super, Vegeta learns to rely on this transformation a lot less. He needs it in the fight against Beerus since it's his only hope of standing a chance against the God of Destruction's strength. Beerus disrespects Vegeta's wife, Bulma, and the Saiyan responds with enraged Super Saiyan 2 vengeance, which seems to put him on par with Super Saiyan 3 Goku. However, Vegeta has rarely seen a need to use this form since surpassing it.

6 Super Saiyan 4 is Vegeta's Strongest Non-Canon Form

First Appearance: Shadow Dragon Saga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Super Saiyan 4 Form

• SSJ4 absorbs the power of the Golden Great Ape to make Vegeta even stronger than any normal Super Saiyan form.

Admittedly, Super Saiyan 4 is a transformation that's yet to officially show up in Dragon Ball Super. It appears that the series has opted for Super Saiyan God and beyond rather than the path that Dragon Ball GT takes.

Super Saiyan 4 certainly gets points for creativity, and the transformation's red fur and prominent tail make Vegeta look like a fusion between a Saiyan and a Great Ape. Vegeta accomplishes incredible things in this form. However, Super Saiyan Blue has been given more focus and depth.

5 Super Saiyan God Made Vegeta a Divine Being

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Super: Broly

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Super Saiyan God Form

• Super Saiyan God gives Vegeta access to God ki, making him far more powerful, and his ki cannot be sensed by a regular mortal.

Super Saiyan God is the first new Super Saiyan transformation introduced in Dragon Ball Super, making its debut with Goku. Vegeta curiously appears to skip this stage when he becomes Super Saiyan Blue during his fight against Golden Frieza. Vegeta routinely becomes Super Saiyan Blue, which leads audiences to wonder if he knows how to become Super Saiyan God or if he's just not a fan of the power-up.

The Dragon Ball Super manga first settles this debate when Vegeta transforms into a Super Saiyan God in the conflict against Goku Black and Zamasu. Vegeta's Super Saiyan God anime debut doesn't occur until the anime's first feature film, Dragon Ball Super: Broly. It's a thrilling sequence, and Vegeta has since become more discerning when choosing between his Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue forms.

4 Super Saiyan Blue Made Vegeta Goku's Equal Again

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Super: Resurrection of F

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Super Saiyan Blue Form

• Super Saiyan Blue acts as a Super Saiyan power-up to the initial SSJ God form. As a result, it gives a comparable multiplier in power as the original Super Saiyan form does for a base saiyan.

Super Saiyan Blue becomes Vegeta's dominant state in Dragon Ball Super, and the Saiyan finds a lot of comfort in this form since it allows him to be on par with Goku. Both characters eventually find stronger alternatives to Super Saiyan Blue, but it's the longest period of time when Vegeta isn't trailing behind Goku and trying to match his milestones.

It's a turning point for Vegeta when he begins to train under the same mentors as Goku, Universe 7's respective God of Destruction and Angel, Beerus, and Whis. Vegeta's dedicated training culminates in Super Saiyan Blue power. Vegeta doesn't just master the basics of Super Saiyan Blue; he becomes adept at when to phase in and out of the transformation to maximize his stamina and not waste any energy.

3 Perfected Super Saiyan Blue is the Result of Vegeta's Endless Search For Strength

First Appearance: Tournament of Power Saga Manga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Perfected Super Saiyan Blue Form

• Greater strength and speed than a regular Super Saiyan Blue. Perfected SSJ Blue allows Vegeta to maintain the form for far longer than before due to his improved ki control.

Perfected Super Saiyan Blue is exclusive to the Dragon Ball Super manga, but it's still a valuable lesson in restraint and power management, later echoed in the anime's Tournament of Power events. Super Saiyan Blue is strong, but it's a state that constantly saps the user's stamina.

Perfected Super Saiyan Blue is akin to Super Saiyan Full Power. Vegeta can maintain this upgrade without a perpetual power drain. Perfected Super Saiyan Blue is a transformation that Goku first masters against Zamasu, but Vegeta isn't far behind. He's mastered the upgrade by the time the Tournament of Power comes around, much to the chagrin of his opponents.

2 Super Saiyan Blue Evolved is Like Second Grade SSJ With God Ki

First Appearance: Tournament Of Power Saga Anime

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Super Saiyan Blue Evolved Form

• Akin to the Second Grade SSJ form introduced in the Cell Saga, Vegeta reaches a new level of SSJ Blue that increases his speed, strength and overall power level.

Super Saiyan Blue Evolved is a throwback to the Super Vegeta era of Dragon Ball Z. This form originates in Dragon Ball Super's anime once Vegeta struggles to stay on par with Goku's growing powers. Goku's Blue Kaio-Ken maneuver gives him a substantial advantage over Vegeta, and Super Saiyan Blue Evolved is a bulky upgrade that attempts to split this difference. It even allows him to master his energy explosion technique.

Super Saiyan Blue Evolved premieres during Vegeta's rigorous showdown with Universe 11's ultimate juggernaut, Jiren, during the Tournament of Power. It's hard to visually distinguish this Super Saiyan Blue variation, but Vegeta's sparkly blue aura becomes its biggest tell. It's a characteristic that feels somewhat godly in nature, which is appropriate since it gets the attention of several deities during the Tournament of Power.

1 Ultra Ego Allows Vegeta to Tap Into His Saiyan Pride

First Appearance: Granolah The Survivor Saga

Key Qualities of Vegeta's Ultra Ego Form

• In his Ultra Ego form, Vegeta channels the power of the Gods of Destruction to gradually become stronger the more intense a battle becomes.

Ultra Ego is Vegeta's most recent and by far his most devastating of transformations, which arguably puts him at God of Destruction strength. Goku trains under Whis to perfect his Ultra Instinct skills, while Vegeta's more aggressive mentality naturally lends itself to Beerus' training and tactics.

Beerus helps Vegeta tap into the power of Ultra Ego, which gives the Saiyan a dramatic design makeover that affects far beyond just his hair and aura. Ultra Ego Vegeta is undeniably powerful, but it is also volatile. It can either be advantageous or disastrous, depending on the user. An Ultra Ego user grows stronger the more heated the battle becomes, which is something that Vegeta isn't afraid to take full advantage of.