Goku vs Vegeta - Who is the better fighter?
- Thread starter Beerus
- Start date
Fighting skill is Goku. Easily. He can replicate just about any technique, has trained under multiple people and embraced multiple styles.
Numerous manga quotes suggest Vegeta is a better tactician, but I honestly still think it's Goku. Vegeta is good at getting under people's skins and outright demolishing people who aren't the main villain, but I honestly don't see it. That said, Vegeta's bag of Yardrat tricks does give him more of an edge that he hasn't had until recently.
Who's stronger? Depends when you ask.
Even with Goku doing the whole "pretend to be weaker" thing during his match-ups? I am sure in certain areas he is better but overall Vegeta seems smarter.
He doesn't do that a whole lot before Super though. Just some thoughts:
- he had to hold back during World Tournaments for the sake of actual weak fighters, and didn't yet have the skill to figure out who is or wasn't actually strong
- against the Ginyus he didn't need to, and he wanted to conserve his power for Frieza instead of bringing out Kaio Ken needlessly
- against Frieza he wanted to test Super Saiyan
The only notable time he did it before Super was against Majin Vegeta, and that was more Toriyama not writing Super Saiyan 3 yet than anything else.
Yes and no. I think if Vegeta just wants to outright end a fight he is smarter and will make that happen. But if he wants to test someone (Frieza or Cell), he not only allows it, but then completely underestimates the form by sight alone (Piccolo: "B-but... Vegeta is never one to underestimate a fighter!").\
I guess in terms of foresight, Vegeta is more of a Batman and can plan ahead. But Goku is definitely a better "in-the-moment" kind of fighter. He outsmarted Tien using Solar Flare by grabbing Roshi's sunglasses; he tricked Frieza with the Kame Torpedos. And are you telling me Vegeta has done anything mroe clever than the Instant Kamehameha? That is easily one of Goku's best moments.
I guess Vegeta is more ruthless and Goku is more clever.
I mean the whole give out beans to even the fight thing always annoyed me though. lol
Considering where Vegeta is now though, having a wife and children I think it has changed him a bit and has made him maybe a lesser fighter because of it? Like he seems to second guess himself more now than before and Goku still seems to have zero fox given even thought he has had a wife and kids longer than Vegeta. It is like they don't even exist to him when he is fighting lol
Goku is clearly the dumber of the two but being too smart could probably hinder you in a fight if you have issues with pride... Freaking carrot cake. 
I think they are equally good fighters. When they were as strong as the other one in the Boo arc, post Bobbidi's Majin spell, they were having a very even fight, with nothing clear to who'd win.
I'd say Goku may likely edge Vegeta out a little, tbh... When Cell fought Goku in the warming up, he said Goku was special, that his way if fighting is different --- and that power from Goku was just a warm up before he went full power (and later on so did Cell) so Cell was likely speaking of his fighting abilities.
I'd say Goku may likely edge Vegeta out a little, tbh... When Cell fought Goku in the warming up, he said Goku was special, that his way if fighting is different --- and that power from Goku was just a warm up before he went full power (and later on so did Cell) so Cell was likely speaking of his fighting abilities.