In episode #12 of the the satisfaction they had been waiting decades to see animated.

While not as explicit, this event also served to prove once again the one aspect of combat in which Vegeta far outclasses Goku: effort. The surrounding circumstances of him achieving this powerful form indicate that the prince is still as determined as ever to sur his rival, a quality that pushes him to always try harder than anyone else in the series.

Vegeta’s Conviction Helped Him Sur Goku

Vegeta Reduced the Training Time Needed to Unlock Super Saiyan 3

During episode #12 of the DAIMA anime, while fighting Tamagami 2, one of the guardians of the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls, Vegeta seems to be having a little bit of trouble while in Super Saiyan 2 form. Despite his impressive strength, the prince is unable to gain the advantage against Neva’s creation. Without any other options left, Vegeta decided to reveal he could at long last enter his Super Saiyan 3 form. This form, first introduced by Goku during the Majin Buu Saga, is one of the most powerful but hard to obtain in the series.

When Vegeta used the technique, Bulma proudly announced that he did not use any kind of trick to achieve it, and he obtained it by training for an entire year. This is implied by the placement of DAIMA in the official timeline, as the series takes place one year after the end of the Buu saga. Moreover, this also means that Vegeta obtained one of the hardest transformations in the series after training seven times less than Goku. Kakarot needed seven years of training in the afterlife to enter the state, and he still had not completely mastered it after that.

Vegeta’s Hard Work Became His Greatest Strength

The Prince Trains Harder Than Anyone Else

Vegeta achieving the Super Saiyan 3 state is a clear result of his conviction and determination, traits that have been vital for his progress as a warrior. Although the prince was introduced as an arrogant and abrasive fighter who believed that being an elite fighter made him invincible, he has long since left this belief behind. Being defeated by Kakarot and spending time on Earth taught Vegeta that hard work and training were the only certain way to become stronger. It is this new philosophy that has helped him rival Goku’s power, even when his rival is a true genius.

While Goku has been shown to be naturally able to sur his limits, Vegeta's hard work has helped him achieve the same feat several times in the series. For example, the first time he unlocked the Super Saiyan state was after rigorous training, while Goku obtained it after the trigger of Krillin's death. In Dragon Ball Super, Vegeta unlocks God Ki on his own, while Goku obtains it after performing the Super Saiyan God ritual. Vegeta's emblematic transformation in DAIMA, thus, confirmed that he can sur Goku with hard work. Vegeta’s best qualities as a fighter are not his royal blood or high power level, they are his conviction and desire to grow stronger each day.

Getting to Super Saiyan 3 Faster Does Not Necessarily Make Vegeta Stronger

Vegeta Had a Headstart Compared to Goku

One of the main arguments for Vegeta being stronger than Goku in DAIMA, is the fact that the protagonist needed 7 years to obtain Super Saiyan 3. What is more, due to his being dead at the time, he had no physical body that required rest and had no other obligations that prevented him from training. Even if he did not need the entire seven years to reach this level, it would be further detrimental for Goku, as it would mean he did not sur the Super Saiyan 3 state further in those year, nor did he learn its weaknesses.

However, the fact that Vegeta obtained Super Saiyan 3 faster than Goku does not necessarily mean that he is stronger or more gifted. It should be ed that, when Goku started training in the afterlife after dying in the Cell Games, he had not reached Super Saiyan 2 yet, so he had to break through that form first. Vegeta, on the other hand, could already transform into Super Saiyan 2 at the end of the Buu saga, so he had a headstart to reach Super Saiyan 3.

In the end, the main difference is that Goku practices for fun, while Vegeta does so to prove himself. Their attitudes and approaches are really different, and hey yield different results. Both are irable fighters who deserve fans’ praise for all they have achieved. Dragon Ball DAIMA has proven to be a constant source of entertainment and joy for viewers, thanks to its outstanding story and shocking revelations. Vegeta’s Super Saiyan 3 form is just the latest in a long list of mysteries that are yet to come.