Highlights
Vegeta's character development throughout the Dragon Ball series is what makes him the favorite character of many fans.
Vegeta's newly developed technique, Ultra Ego, perfectly aligns with his Saiyan pride, enabling him to unleash his maximum strength and dominate his adversaries.
The inclusion of distinct ultimate techniques, Ultra Instinct for Goku and Ultra Ego for Vegeta, establishes an intriguing dynamic between the two main characters and enhances the complexity of the series.
From his debut in the Saiyan Saga, Vegeta captured the hearts of countless fans with his unrivaled coolness and ruthlessness. In the Dragon Ball series, where the celebration of goodness and moral actions prevails, Vegeta's existence as an unfiltered anti-hero, driven by selfish motives, brought a refreshing twist. Consequently, Vegeta skyrocketed to immense popularity, achieving the status of the archetypal anime anti-hero and serving as an inspiration for characters like Sasuke from Naruto and Zoro from One Piece, despite creator Akira Toriyama's initial reservations towards him.
However, if Vegeta had remained a mere one-dimensional dark anti-hero, his allure would have rapidly diminished. His enigmatic "cool factor" alone could not sustain long-term interest. In reality, what truly endears Vegeta to most fans is his remarkable character development throughout the Dragon Ball series. Initially portrayed as a callous individual fixated solely on power, Vegeta has transformed into a multifaceted and intricate hero who fights passionately for causes beyond his own self-interest. This captivating transformation is evident not only in his evolution as a character, but also in the dynamic approach he takes to combat.
Getting Ultra Ego
Vegeta's character in the Dragon Ball series was initially driven by his desire to surpass Goku and his unwavering Saiyan pride. In the Cell Saga, he obtained the Super Saiyan Grade 2 transformation, sacrificing speed for raw strength without refining the transformation like Goku and Gohan did. Similarly, his iconic Majin form quickly lost significance in comparison to Goku's Super Saiyan 3. While this may have been frustrating to witness, it highlighted Vegeta's struggle to measure up to Goku on his own terms and his constant burden of his past as a ruthless destroyer, hindering his progress. This is where the Granolah arc comes into play.
Following the Tournament of Power, Goku achieved the powerful Ultra Instinct technique, which involves discarding emotions and allowing the body to fight on autopilot. This clashed with Vegeta's fighting style, prompting him to seek his own path to power with the guidance of Beerus. Beerus explains that Ultra Instinct is an Angelic technique that requires a serene mind, while Gods of Destruction are inherently focused on destruction, making it difficult for them to master. He advises Vegeta to let go of the Saiyan race's past and personal burdens in order to attain godly power, urging him to reinvent himself with a clear mind and conscience.
How Does Ultra Ego Work
: Vegeta's remarkable journey towards becoming a potential God of Destruction unfolds as the arc progresses. Recognizing Vegeta's exceptional strength, Beerus bestows upon him the earring of a Destroyer as a symbol of his remarkable achievement. Later, as Goku and Vegeta embark on an intense battle against Granolah on planet Cereal, Vegeta astounds everyone by unleashing a newfound technique. It becomes apparent that he has assimilated the rigorous training he underwent with Beerus, propelling him to unprecedented levels of power, ultimately enabling him to wield the technique reminiscent of a God of Destruction.In contrast to the serene mindset and enhanced awareness of Ultra Instinct, Ultra Ego serves as a complete adrenaline rush for its user. Rather than relying on instinctual thinking, the user takes full responsibility for enduring the damage inflicted upon their body. Although initially appearing to be a disadvantageous tradeoff, each blow absorbed by the user empowers them, ultimately maximizing their potential for their next attack. While Ultra Instinct serves as an ideal defense mechanism, Ultra Ego excels in unleashing a perfect offense.
Given Vegeta's focus on Saiyan pride and his warrior mentality, the Ultra Ego technique is a perfect fit for him. Unlike Goku, who strives for perfection in his martial arts, Vegeta relies on brute strength and overpowering his opponents. Rather than evading incoming attacks like Ultra Instinct Goku, Ultra Ego Vegeta confronts them head-on, amplifying his own strength for his next move.
Similar to Goku's technique, Ultra Ego requires refinement and adaptation to be fully effective. In the Granolah arc, Vegeta employs this technique for the first time, successfully pummeling Granolah. By absorbing Granolah's attacks, Vegeta augments his own power, temporarily surpassing an opponent who previously defeated Ultra Instinct Goku in a single blow. However, eventually, the accumulated damage takes its toll on Ultra Ego Vegeta, rendering him unable to continue fighting. This highlights the necessity for further refinement of the Ultra Ego technique.
Ultra Ego and Ultra Instinct
The Dragon Ball Super heroes possess distinctively powerful techniques that differ greatly from each other. This deliberate choice holds immense benefits for the future of the series. While fans were eagerly anticipating Vegeta acquiring Ultra Instinct as he had with previous forms, his decision to follow his own path instead is not only a remarkable development for his character, but also for the entirety of the series. Now, we have two protagonists who are determined to grow stronger, but their approaches are entirely distinct.
The Ultra Ego form aligns perfectly with Vegeta's character, emphasizing his strengths. He no longer lingers in Goku's shadow, and his pursuit of greater strength serves his personal growth rather than just rivaling Goku. This dichotomy sets the stage for Vegeta potentially becoming the new Destroyer God for Universe 7 with Ultra Ego, while Goku may progress towards the position of an Angel with his Ultra Instinct.
Dragon Ball Super is available to stream on Crunchyroll.