Dragon Ball DAIMA fulfilled the dreams of many Vegeta fans in Episode 12 of the series by finally turning the Prince of all Saiyans into a Super Saiyan 3. Ever since Goku transformed into SSJ3, many fans of Vegeta would wonder when he would get the chance to do the same. For years, it only seemed like Gotenks and Goku would be able to don the no-eyebrows and long-haired look, leaving Vegeta out of the fun. Fortunately, DAIMA would shock many fans, giving Vegeta the spotlight to showcase his capabilities in this form.
Now that it is officially confirmed that Vegeta has had the SSJ3 form tucked away in his pocket, it’s time to see if DAIMA‘s SSJ3 form stacks well against the SSJ3 form of another Dragon Ball series. In Dragon Ball GT, the Super Saiyan 3 form makes a few appearances and shows how it fares later in the Dragon Ball timeline. Much like in DAIMA, GT sees this form in a child’s body, causing the form to be at its weakest. Even with the drawbacks of being turned into a kid, which series’ Super Saiyan 3 form will come out on top in a fight and declare itself as the strongest?
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Dragon Ball Daima & GT’s Presentation of Super Saiyan 3 Differ
Both Series Take a Different Path With SSJ3 After Dragon Ball Z
Although Dragon Ball DAIMA and Dragon Ball GT share a similar premise, with the main character turning into a child and going on an adventure for the Dragon Balls, they are vastly different in many ways. One is canon, while the other is non-canon. One ventures into the Demon Realm, while the other travels across the galaxy. In addition to these differences, their usage of the Super Saiyan 3 form is also quite different, perfectly drawing the line between both shows.
Each series takes place after Dragon Ball Z, and given its lackluster portrayal of this form, fans hoped for a more satisfying use of Super Saiyan 3 in either GT or DAIMA. In DBZ, SSJ3 never wins a fight; it only serves as a power boost until it becomes unusable. And spoiler alert, it doesn’t fare any better in GT.
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SSJ3 Vegeta is the Strongest Character in Dragon Ball DAIMA Right Now – But it Can’t Last
Vegeta has finally reached a new pinnacle of power in Dragon Ball DAIMA at SSJ3, but history is likely to repeat as far as his rivalry with Goku goes.
However, when Dragon Ball DAIMA decided to retcon Vegeta having this form, it reignited many fans’ hopes for SSJ3 and stirred some questions. Many people wondered why Vegeta didn’t use this form in Dragon Ball Super or GT. They questioned what it would have meant for the character’s growth and rivalry with Goku. But more importantly, they questioned if a Super Saiyan 3 in DAIMA was stronger than in GT.
It makes sense why this would become a topic of conversation. In Dragon Ball DAIMA, Super Saiyan 3 feels like every bit of a big deal that it should be. Whereas in Dragon Ball GT, SSJ3’s weakness is so great that it is more of a detriment than anything. Although this form faces different levels of competition in both shows, they each have their standout moments, making it worthwhile to see how the two would fare against each other.
Super Saiyan 3 Struggles & Gets Overshadowed in GT
How Dragon Ball GT Portrays SSJ3
In Dragon Ball GT, the Super Saiyan 3 form went through quite a journey. Since Goku had transformed into a child again, he no longer had control over his SSJ3 form the way he once did. The energy output required for SSJ3 was already too great for Goku to sustain the form for long, but as a child, it could only last for a few seconds without his tail. Not only did this make fights more difficult than what Goku had grown accustomed to, but Goku would also face even more powerful enemies than before, making matters much worse.
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Enemies like Baby Vegeta would defeat Goku with ease in this form, even with his tail restored. With his tail, Goku was able to maintain SSJ3 for a longer period of time. However, this tail also allowed him to tap into a higher power: Super Saiyan 4, which caused him to abandon SSJ3 altogether. Super Saiyan 3 would be left behind, and that triumphant moment where this form finally defeats an enemy would continue to elude fans.
Super Saiyan 3 Finally Gets Its Moment in the Sun
How Dragon Ball DAIMA Portrays SSJ3
In Dragon Ball DAIMA, the Super Saiyan 3 transformation would finally get the win it needed to be etched in history. In Episode 12 of DAIMA, Vegeta faced an even contest against Tamagami 2, going back and forth with the protector of the Dragon Balls. However, Neva would give the Tamagami a power boost during the battle, giving the entity the edge over Vegeta. On the losing end of the fight, Vegeta had to dig deeper into his bag of tricks — that’s when he unveiled he could transform into Super Saiyan 3.
Vegeta versus Tamagami 2 would be the first fight in Dragon Ball history (excluding the movies) where the SSJ3 form would actually defeat an opponent, already giving it the edge over Dragon Ball GT. Prior to this series, in GT and Super, the major weakness of SSJ3 — its extreme energy consumption — was so pronounced that it was rarely used and couldn’t be sustained long enough to secure a victory when it was used. However, in DAIMA, Vegeta would defeat the Tamagami quickly but not in a rush. This battle showed that SSJ3 could be used to take down enemies.
The Portrayal of SSJ3 in Dragon Ball DAIMA Versus Dragon Ball GT
Each Dragon Ball Anime Depicts the Limitations of SSJ3 Differently
Even as a child, Vegeta was able to maintain Super Saiyan 3 for longer than just a few seconds, unlike in Dragon Ball GT. That alone gives DAIMA the edge, but a deeper look into both timelines reveals that GT likely had the more powerful opponents. The king of the Demon Realm was Dabura, who was annihilated by Majin Buu without even lifting a finger.
So, the fact that the Tamagamis are revered throughout the Demon Realm doesn’t hold much weight, especially considering what fans have seen in Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. GT‘s enemies being stronger is more true when considering the Tamagamis are ill-equipped against the Super Saiyan 3 form. Vegeta was able to handle Tamagami 2 in a quick fashion, showing that the form was strong enough to defeat powerful foes.
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However, in Dragon Ball GT, even with a tail, SSJ3 Goku was completely outclassed by Baby Vegeta, who even swung Goku around like the child he had become. This portrayal of GT and DAIMA‘s antagonist gives GT the edge when it comes to the strength of the opponents SSJ3 faces. But this doesn’t seem to be enough to give GT‘s SSJ3 the win over DAIMA‘s SSJ3.
Being unable to maintain the form in GT gives DAIMA the obvious advantage in a match-up, especially when SSJ3 always loses in GT. The stamina issues in GT ultimately strip away SSJ3’s potential, while in DAIMA, this form is handled with control and feels like a big deal whenever it graces the screen, allowing Vegeta to showcase its true power. Even if DAIMA‘s SSJ3 has a similar time issue that fans haven’t noticed yet, it wouldn’t be nearly as bad as GT‘s since Vegeta didn’t feel rushed to take out Tamagami 2, and he didn’t need his tail to do it.
Dragon Ball DAIMA’s SSJ3 Is Superior in Presentation & Strength
DAIMA’s SSJ3 Is Stronger Than GT’s SSJ3
Going into Dragon Ball DAIMA, it wasn’t certain if this series would leave a lasting impression and live up to the legacy its predecessors put forth. But being that this is Akira Toriyama’s last work on this legendary franchise, he wouldn’t disappoint. The premise of this series alone brings a wave of nostalgia into fans’ homes, which is amplified even more with forms like Super Saiyan 3 making a much-needed statement. Dragon Ball DAIMA shows why it’s the next evolution of what Dragon Ball GT should have been for Dragon Ball Z.
Not only does DAIMA flesh out SSJ3 better than GT, but it also has a more powerful version of the form. GT put too many limitations on SSJ3 to make it a reliable form in the heat of battle. This form took multiple losses and would only serve as a stepping stone for the superior transformation, Super Saiyan 4.
However, Dragon Ball DAIMA ensures SSJ3 gets the recognition it deserves, giving it both a spotlight and a mark in the win column. This form’s presentation in the show feels just right, not overused, and only brought out when it’s truly necessary. Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball DAIMA is stronger than in GT, but it is also the best presentation in the entire franchise.
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Dragon Ball DAIMA
- Release Date
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October 11, 2024
- Writers
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Akira Toriyama
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Dragon Ball GT
- Release Date
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1997 – 1996
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Showrunner
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Akira Toriyama
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Masako Nozawa
Oob (voice)
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Yûko Minaguchi
Uncredited
