Transformations and power-ups have long been a foundation of Dragon Ball’s narrative. The series changed when Super Saiyan was introduced towards the end of the Frieza Saga, and plenty of stronger forms have been established since then. Dragon Ball Super continued to add to the ever-growing list of power-ups, first with Super Saiyan God, and then Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan.
Another, non-Super Saiyan form was introduced during the Tournament of Power. Ultra Instinct is different from the typical Saiyan transformations in both looks and power, signifying the first power-up Goku achieved since Kaio-ken that wasn’t tied to the Super Saiyan line. With Ultra Instinct looking like Goku’s new peak form, Vegeta seemed as though he would once again be left playing catch-up. But the Super manga gave the Saiyan prince his own form that best suited his personality; Ultra Ego.
What is Ultra Ego?
The Ultra Ego ability is typically used by the Gods of Destruction, though as Vegeta has shown, those who train under them can also access the ability with enough effort. Given its incredible strength, Ultra Ego is more of a challenge to tap into than Super Saiyan or any of its variants, requiring that the user channels their inner Destroyer to do so.
In order to make use of Ultra Ego, Vegeta has to take a considerable amount of damage to power up. This limits the amount of power he can accumulate based on how much damage he can sustain while still being effective in battle. Vegeta’s battle with Granolah showed just how flawed of a form Ultra Ego can be, as Vegeta eventually started to blackout from having taken too much damage. Though he would eventually start to take on a more passive approach to the battle, this subsequently caused him to lose power.
Ultra Ego can be described as more of a berserker-like state, favoring raw strength and an aggressive approach to battle. This perfectly suits Vegeta, who has a history of letting his emotions get the best of him in battle. The ability allows users to cut loose and indulge themselves in the heat of the moment, allowing Vegeta’s Saiyan instincts to take over and give him a greater edge in battle.
Ultra Instinct vs Ultra Ego
The difference between Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego can best be described as a difference in philosophy. Ultra Instinct can only be activated by someone who has mastered their emotions, reaching a certain level of enlightenment and control over unnecessary sentiments in battle. But Vegeta describes Ultra Ego as the polar opposite, instead encouraging the user to get lost in the heat of battle and play-off of the emotions that the fight brings out of them.
Ultra Instinct takes on more of a finesse fighting style, allowing the user to dodge, counter, and anticipate attacks with greater ease. Ultra Ego is more of a straightforward power-up, putting the user’s physical well-being on the line in exchange for greater strength. As it plays off of the user’s raw emotions, Ultra Ego can also be a greater detriment to them. Taking more damage does mean gaining more strength, but it’s up to the user to recognize their limits. It’s very possible that Ultra Ego users can gain incredible strength, but that might come at the cost of taking severe damage.
The quirks of the Ultra Ego form do seem to be more complimentary to the Saiyan way of fighting. While in the form, Vegeta isn’t fazed by the damage he sustains in battle, reveling in it and getting stronger as a result. Overall, Ultra Ego gives its user greater direct control over their bodies, while Ultra Instinct is more about letting one’s body anticipate and move on its own.