Despite the long-standing speculation about Vegeta’s potential for transforming into Super Saiyan 3—ever since Goku first achieved this form during the Buu Arc—the recent developments in Dragon Ball Daima have brought clarity to this narrative. The way Vegeta attains Super Saiyan 3 in the latest series contradicts a popular theory that suggested he could only achieve this transformation under unique circumstances. Until the introduction of Daima, the Saiyan Prince had not unlocked Super Saiyan 3 in the official canon.
This theory was rooted in the observation that Super Saiyan 3 transformations were achieved under unusual conditions for the only established users prior to Vegeta: Goku and Gotenks. It was previously believed that the form could only be accessed in an altered state of being or through unconventional means. However, the events in episode #12 of Dragon Ball Daima offer a fresh perspective that challenges this notion.
Vegeta Achieves Super Saiyan 3 Under Normal Conditions
No Altered State: Vegeta’s True Transformation
Previously, Goku was the only Saiyan acknowledged in the official Dragon Ball lore to have accessed Super Saiyan 3, and he did so while deceased on King Kai’s planet. It served as a reminder of his struggle to harness this form adequately during a battle against Kid Buu, since his only experiences with Super Saiyan 3 were learned in the afterlife. Goten and Trunks, on the other hand, could only achieve this form through fusion as Gotenks, solidifying the belief that Vegeta would need to undergo something similarly extraordinary to reach Super Saiyan 3 himself.
However, episode #12 of Dragon Ball Daima presents a game-changing moment for Vegeta. In this episode, he transforms into Super Saiyan 3 while engaged with the second Tamagami. If this had been his first transformation, one might still argue for the old theory given that he was transformed into a child at that time. Nevertheless, several scenes undermine this assumption.
Vegeta’s demeanor during the transformation—showing neither surprise nor excitement—implies prior mastery of the Super Saiyan 3 form before the battle. Bulma’s remark, stating, “He’s been training by himself for so long,”further supports that Vegeta achieved this transformation through extensive training, not through any extraordinary circumstances such as being fused or deceased.
Did Dragon Ball Daima Create a Major Plot Inconsistency?
Highlighting Vegeta’s Strength Compared to Goku
This recent development raises questions about potential plot contradictions. For many fans, it may feel like another instance of Vegeta trailing behind Goku. The ongoing rivalry has justified his drive to surpass Goku independently, as seen throughout Dragon Ball Super. However, such narrative threads have been recurrent and might contribute to the overall arc of Vegeta striving for individuality.
Moreover, the notion that Super Saiyan 3 possessed a mystical element due to its rarity and the unconventional methods to achieve it has been diluted. A mention from a Yardrat character in Dragon Ball Super illustrates that Vegeta was lagging behind Goku more than perceived, particularly concerning his chi stabilization skills. The implications are intriguing—if Vegeta’s chi was less stable than Goku’s when he first arrived on Yardrat, it underscores that even without overcoming this limitation, he was still able to access Super Saiyan 3.
This turns Dragon Ball Daima into a significant narrative pivot, either representing a plot inconsistency or reinforcing the idea that Vegeta’s innate capabilities are perhaps greater than Goku’s, despite him often being depicted as “playing catch-up.”
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