Although Goku is always the center of attention in Dragon Ball, Vegeta’s proud ego also draws significant focus. However, Toriyama seems to have never allowed the Saiyan Prince to match Goku, especially when it comes to mastering Goku’s two most powerful and straightforward techniques: the Spirit Bomb and Instant Transmission.
But why can’t Vegeta learn these two techniques? Is it because he’s not strong enough? The answer is more complex, since many say Goku is stronger, but in reality, both are nearly equal in power at this point.
Why Vegeta Can’t Learn Spirit Bomb or Instant Transmission
At this stage of the story, things have advanced so far that the power scale has exploded, making it nearly impossible for Vegeta to go back and learn a technique from the DBZ era. This basically confirms he will never make up for this particular loss, even under Toyotarou’s guidance.
1. Instant Transmission: The Technique of Letting Go
Instant Transmission is a skill Goku learned long ago, allowing him to teleport instantly by sensing Ki. Vegeta has used it once, but he openly admits he can’t do it again. Even after all this time and effort, it seems undeniable that Vegeta cannot master this technique.
The main reason Vegeta can’t use Instant Transmission consistently isn’t just about strength, but mindset. This technique requires the user to completely let go of their fighting spirit and focus on sensing and blending with another’s Ki extremely quickly and steadily. For someone like Vegeta, who is always proud, wants to be the strongest, and refuses to rely on others, learning that kind of surrender is almost impossible.
2. Spirit Bomb: The Challenge of a Pure Heart
The Spirit Bomb, one of Goku’s most famous moves, is a devastating attack capable of ending nearly any battle. Its immense power and spectacle come with a key requirement: only those with a completely pure heart can wield it.
This indirectly serves to highlight Vegeta’s shortcomings, as he clearly hasn’t reached the level of having a joyful, kind heart like Goku. Although Vegeta has changed a lot, becoming a good husband and father, he still carries the pride and complexity of a redeemed villain. Purity remains the biggest barrier preventing Vegeta from learning this technique.
Other Goku Abilities Vegeta Can’t Master
Beyond these major techniques, there are a few other abilities Goku has that Vegeta has never mastered. Notably, Goku’s strange natural immunity to mind control or magic tricks, while Vegeta has fallen victim to such traps more than once, like when he became Majin Vegeta.
Technically, Vegeta could learn Kaio-Ken, Goku’s classic power-boosting technique, but he has never bothered. It doesn’t seem to fit his style, and he clearly isn’t interested enough to try. Furthermore, Vegeta hasn’t shown interest in learning some of Goku’s signature, easier-to-learn moves like the Kamehameha, even though he is fully capable.
Ironically, despite his insane power, Vegeta has never truly won a tournament. People argue Goku is stronger, but looking at the technical side of most arcs, they end up at the same level. It’s just that Goku always gets flashy victories, while Vegeta is stuck with “almost there” moments. Fortunately, Vegeta has Ultra Ego to make up for it.