Determining who is stronger, Vegeta or Gohan, is complex and depends heavily on the specific point in the Dragon Ball timeline being considered.
Early Dragon Ball Z (Saiyan Saga & Namek Saga):
- Vegeta is generally stronger than Gohan in the early arcs. During the Saiyan Saga, Vegeta defeats Gohan multiple times. Even on Namek, despite Gohan's potential being unlocked by Guru, Vegeta consistently held an advantage and benefited from multiple Zenkai boosts. The reference material provided states "vegeta was stronger...NAMEK SAGA even though gohan got hsi power unlocked from guru still he was too weak for vegeta."
Cell Saga:
- Gohan surpasses Vegeta as Super Saiyan 2 Gohan defeats Cell. This is arguably Gohan's peak in terms of raw power. While Vegeta achieves Super Vegeta, it's still not enough to match Cell's power, let alone Super Saiyan 2 Gohan.
Buu Saga:
- Vegeta initially surpasses Gohan but is later surpassed. At the start of the Buu Saga, Vegeta trains extensively and becomes stronger than Gohan, who has become complacent with his training. However, after Gohan has his potential unlocked by Old Kai, he becomes significantly more powerful than Vegeta, even reaching a point where he could have potentially defeated Super Buu (before Super Buu absorbed Gotenks and Piccolo). Vegeta acknowledges this power difference during the fight with Super Buu.
Dragon Ball Super:
- Vegeta and Gohan's power levels fluctuate considerably throughout Super. Vegeta is generally portrayed as consistently training and pushing his limits, reaching forms like Super Saiyan Blue and Super Saiyan Blue Evolution. Gohan, while occasionally tapping into his potential (like during the Tournament of Power with his Ultimate form), doesn't consistently train as intensely as Vegeta. As of the latest arcs, Vegeta's continued training and access to higher transformations likely place him above Gohan in terms of overall power.
Summary:
| Saga/Arc | Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saiyan Saga | Vegeta | Vegeta defeated Gohan multiple times. |
| Namek Saga | Vegeta | Despite Gohan's potential unlock, Vegeta was generally stronger, especially after Zenkai boosts. |
| Cell Saga | Gohan | Super Saiyan 2 Gohan defeated Cell, solidifying his position as the strongest at that time. |
| Buu Saga | Varies, Ultimately Gohan (Buu Saga) | Initially Vegeta, but after his potential unleashed by Old Kai, Gohan became stronger. |
| Dragon Ball Super | Vegeta (Generally as of the latest arcs) | Vegeta consistently trains and reaches higher transformations (e.g., Super Saiyan Blue Evolution). Gohan's strength is less consistent. |
Conclusion: The answer depends on the specific timeline. In early Z, Vegeta is stronger. During the Cell Saga, Gohan surpasses him. In the Buu saga, it fluctuates. In Super, Vegeta generally holds the edge due to consistent training and transformations.
