Dragon Ball: 6 Characters Officially Stronger Than Their Rivals, Ranked

Rivalries are a major part of Dragon Ball‘s DNA. Since the very beginning, Goku’s rivals have been inspiring and motivating him to grow stronger, surpass his limits, and keep finding greater challengers. One of Dragon Ball‘s main themes is that there will always be someone better, an idea the franchise keeps validating deep into Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball being a shonen series, however, there has to be a winner in every rivalry.

Dragon Ball’s most powerful characters found a way to surpass their rivals once and for all, crowning themselves the definitive winner of their rivalries. Some fighters, like Goku, have even managed to do this to multiple martial artists, accumulating a collection of rivals from Dragon Ball, to Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super. If it weren’t for the rivalries at the heart of every arc, Dragon Ball wouldn’t be nearly as exciting.

6

Roshi Proved to Shen That the Turtle Beats the Crane in the End

Master Roshi and Shen, otherwise known as Tsuru Sennin, have been rivals since they were just young men training under Master Mutaito. After Mutaito’s death during the original war against Demon King Piccolo, Roshi and Shen parted ways, the former founding the Turtle School and the latter the Crane School. The Turtle and Crane Schools couldn’t be more different, with the Turtle focusing on martial arts in its purest form, while the Crane raises would-be assassins.

Roshi ends up defeating Shen, not just in battle, but ideologically, as well. During the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, Roshi successfully convinces Tien to embrace martial arts for the fun and sport of it, rather than training to become a killer. During the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, Tien outright renounces the Crane School, as Master Roshi sends Shen flying with a Kamehameha, solidifying the Turtle School’s superiority for good.

5

Trunks Has Always Been Stronger Than Goten

Goten and Trunks are not only rivals, they’re best friends. Although they’re extremely close in overall Power Level, the fact that Trunks is one year older than Goten means that he’s always been just a little bit stronger. In Dragon Ball Z, Trunks has to actually lower his Power Level in order to be able to fuse with Goten into Gotenks. By Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, however, it seems like they’re even enough where Trunks doesn’t have to noticeably power down.

That said, Dragon Ball Super focuses on Trunks more than Goten, which may as well be Toyotarou’s way of confirming that Trunks is stronger. Based on just how powerful Future Trunks becomes by the end of the Goku Black Saga (especially in the Dragon Ball Super anime), Trunks has an immense amount of potential – far more than anything Goten’s ever shown. If he bothered training, he could easily give Dragon Ball Super‘s main characters a run for their money.

4

Goku Has Surpassed More Rivals Than Anybody Else

In the history of the Dragon Ball franchise, nobody has surpassed more of their rivals than Goku. Since the start of the original DB anime, Goku made rivals with and surpassed Yamcha, Krillin, Tien, Piccolo, Z-era Vegeta, Hit, and Jiren. You could even throw Master Roshi/Jackie Chun, and Broly onto that list (though the latter is very much debatable considering he’s now unlocked True Legendary Super Saiyan as of Dragon Ball Super Chapter 103).

As Dragon Ball‘s main character, it’s not unusual for Goku to surpass his rivals, but the franchise is becoming increasingly comfortable with the idea of Goku losing and not being able to catch up. Dragon Ball Super regularly has Goku lose during major battles, and the Super Hero Saga features a major shift in status quo where Goku isn’t even in the Top 5 strongest mortals anymore. At this point, Goku’s going to need to unlock a new form and upgrade Ultra Instinct to keep up during the Black Frieza Saga.

3

Vegeta Officially Beat Goku in the Super Hero Saga

Goku may have pulled ahead temporarily after unlocking Ultra Instinct, but Vegeta finally achieved his life’s goal in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero/the manga’s Super Hero Saga when he beat Goku in an arc-long battle. For what it’s worth, Vegeta just barely defeated Goku and collapses shortly after dealing the winning blow. That said, it’s still proof that Vegeta is stronger and slightly more skilled than Goku while in their base forms.

Ultra Ego was also strong enough to rival True Ultra Instinct Goku with no training in the Granolah the survivor Saga, so Vegeta has the potential to eventually surpass Perfected Ultra Instinct, as well. When the Black Frieza Saga begins, Vegeta will actually be more powerful than Goku and might end up being the key to defeating Frieza for good. Dragon Ball being Dragon Ball, though, it’s only a matter of time before Goku makes another breakthrough and surpasses Vegeta yet again.

2

Beerus’ Mastery of Ultra Instinct Gives Him an Edge Over His Destroyer Rivals

Beerus is the most powerful God of Destruction in the cosmos. Personally trained by Whis, Beerus is the only Destroyer who’s managed to learn and master Ultra Instinct, giving him a huge edge over his fellow Gods of Destruction. In the Destroyer department, Beerus’ main rivals are his twin brother Champa, Belmod, and the Vegeta to his Goku, Quitela. In the Dragon Ball Super manga, all the Gods of Destruction fight together in a battle royale.

Beerus uses Ultra Instinct to effortlessly dodge, attack, and counter the other Destroyers. In the end, he’s one of the only Gods left standing, ready to fight Quitela at full power before the Zeno loses interest and the match ends early. Interestingly, the Oracle Fish considers Goku and Vegeta to be Beerus’ true rivals and, as of the Super Hero Saga, they’re the strongest they’ve ever been and just about ready for one last Godly rematch.

1

Frieza Trained Non-Stop Specifically to Overpower Goku & Vegeta

Frieza has always hated the Saiyans, but meeting Goku on Namek awakened a level of hatred in him that still burns deep within him. Frieza considers Goku and Vegeta to be his main rivals, especially after seeing them reach new heights during the Tournament of Power. During the Moro Saga, Frieza leaves Universe 7, finds a Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and trains for ten years, unlocking his Black Frieza form.

Black Frieza is the most powerful mortal in the multiverse. In his debut appearance, he kills Awakened Gas – the most powerful warrior in Universe 7 – with one blow, before knocking Goku and Vegeta out of True Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego with a superfast attack they had no time to react to. Black Frieza wasn’t even using his full power, either. No one in Dragon Ball eclipses their rivals quite like Black Frieza does to Goku and Vegeta right now.

TV Show(s)

Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball DAIMA

First TV Show

Dragon Ball

Created by

Akira Toriyama

Latest TV Show

Dragon Ball DAIMA

Upcoming TV Shows

Dragon Ball DAIMA

First Episode Air Date

February 26, 1986