Oozaru Vegeta vs. Namek: DBZ Power Level Consistency.

[TheMikado]

One of the things which is brought up a fair amount is the power escalation of DBZ. When we are first introduced to Raditz he is said to have a power level around 1200-1500.
We know that Piccolo, Gohan, and Goku can all achieve around or over 1000 power levels even at this stage. Below we can see the more gradual escalation pre-Frieza saga (Which is where it gets kinda crazy).
One thing we see is that throughout all these sagas Oozaru Vegeta is the strongest enemy they faced by a wide margin even beyond Captain Ginyu, yet the series was able to reduce the power scale by having fighters face off against similar opponents in strength rather than taking the approach of inflating the number substantially beyond Oozaru Vegeta. I would even argue these elements appear better planned in general and seems to take a deliberate approach to power escalation. Do you think power levels were better implemented and tracked when they were first introduced? We have wide ranges of power while still having interesting and engaging fights.


Raditz Saga
Farmer 5 Vol. 17, #195
Goku (w/weights) 334 Vol. 17, #199
Goku 416 Vol. 17, #199
Goku (Kamehameha) 924 Vol. 17, #201
Piccolo (w/weights) 322 Vol. 17, #195
Piccolo 408 Vol. 17, #199
Piccolo (Special Beam Cannon #1) 1,330 Vol. 17, #201
Piccolo (Special Beam Cannon #2) 1,480 Episode 5
Gohan 710 Vol. 17, #199
Gohan (Enraged) 1,307 Vol. 17, #203
Gohan (Normal) 1 Vol. 17, #203
Raditz 1,500 Daizenshuu 7


Vegeta Saga
(Training) Bulma 12 Movie 3 Pamphlet
Master Roshi 139 Vol. 18, #209
Turtle .001 Episode 8
Krillin 206 Vol. 18, #209
Tien Shinhan 250 Vol. 18, #209
Yamcha 177 Vol. 18, #209
Piccolo 329 Vol. 18, #209
Kami 220 Weekly Jump #31, 1991
Mr Popo 1,030 Weekly Jump #31, 1991

Vegeta Saga
(Saiyan Invasion) Goku (suppressed) 5,000 Vol. 19, #222
Goku Over 8,000 Vol. 19, #224
Goku (x2 Kaioken) 16,002+ Calculated
Goku (x3 Kaioken) 24,003+ Calculated
Goku (x4 Kaioken) 32,004+ Calculated
Piccolo 3,500 Daizenshuu 7
Krillin 1,770 Daizenshuu 7
Tien Shinhan 1,830 Daizenshuu 7
Yamcha 1,480 Daizenshuu 7
Gohan 981 Vol. 18, #214
Gohan (Masenko) 2,800 Vol. 19, #223
Yajirobe 970 Daizenshuu 7
Chiaotzu 610 Daizenshuu 7
Saibamen 1,200 Vol. 18, #215
Nappa 4,000 Daizenshuu 7
Vegeta 18,000 Vol. 21, #249
Vegeta (Great Ape) 180,000 (At full strength) Calculated

Namek Saga
Krillin (vs. Frieza's soldiers) 1,500 Vol. 21, #248
Gohan (vs. Frieza's soldiers) 1,500 Vol. 21, #248
Vegeta 24,000 Vol. 21, #249
Namekian Warriors (suppressed) 1,000 Vol. 18, #214
Namekian Warriors 3,000 Vol. 18, #214
Banan and Sui 1,500 Daizenshuu 7
Cui 18,000 Vol. 21, #249
Dodoria 22,000 Daizenshuu 7
Zarbon 23,000 Daizenshuu 7

Captain Ginyu Saga
Captain Ginyu 120,000 Vol. 24, #285
Captain Ginyu (in Goku's body) 23,000 Vol. 24, #288
Gohan (vs. Guldo) Over 10,000 Vol. 23, #274
Gohan (vs. Recoome) 14,000 Daizenshuu 7
Gohan (Masenko) Over 20,000 Episode 65
Goku (suppressed) 5,000 Vol. 24, #279
Goku 90,000 Calculated
Goku (x2 Kaioken) 180,000 Vol.24, #285
Krillin (vs. Guldo) Over 10,000 Vol. 23, #274
Krillin (vs. Recoome) 13,000 Daizenshuu 7
Nail 42,000 Vol. 24, #286
Vegeta 30,000 Vol. 23, #275
Vegeta (Post Recoome) 250,000 V-Jump
Namekian Warriors 10,000 Episode 70

[theherodjl]

It may not be possible for Oozaru Vegeta to be at 180,000 whenever he himself creates an artificial moon, he does state something along the lines that some of his power would be lost upon using that technique. Vegeta started fresh at 18,000 when he got serious but all the battling between Goku using the Kaio-ken x3 to Yajirobe cutting his tail off as well as creating the artficial moon lead to Vegeta's power level dropping below even Nappa's, Gohan being at 2,800 was enough to keep pace with such a level for a few bouts.
Factoring in Goku's statement that a Kaio-ken x5(power level of 40,000) would not be enough to defeat Oozaru Vegeta but Vegeta's strength dropping to 3000-ish after losing his tail, I'd estimate that Vegeta lost anywhere from half to two thirds of his strength making the artificial moon on his own. It may have been why Vegeta was seeking out Earth's moon first before opting to use the technique knowing his power would take a blow, fortunately for Vegeta though Goku couldn't transform and his maximum power was still weaker than what Vegeta's would be reduced to. A mix of circumstance & cockiness ended up ruining Vegeta's day however.

[TheMikado]

It may not be possible for Oozaru Vegeta to be at 180,000 whenever he himself creates an artificial moon, he does state something along the lines that some of his power would be lost upon using that technique. Vegeta started fresh at 18,000 when he got serious but all the battling between Goku using the Kaio-ken x3 to Yajirobe cutting his tail off as well as creating the artficial moon lead to Vegeta's power level dropping below even Nappa's, Gohan being at 2,800 was enough to keep pace with such a level for a few bouts.
Factoring in Goku's statement that a Kaio-ken x5(power level of 40,000) would not be enough to defeat Oozaru Vegeta but Vegeta's strength dropping to 3000-ish after losing his tail, I'd estimate that Vegeta lost anywhere from half to two thirds of his strength making the artificial moon on his own. It may have been why Vegeta was seeking out Earth's moon first before opting to use the technique knowing his power would take a blow, fortunately for Vegeta though Goku couldn't transform and his maximum power was still weaker than what Vegeta's would be reduced to. A mix of circumstance & cockiness ended up ruining Vegeta's day however.

I'm not really going to try and make an estimate, but the point I'm making is that on a good day, Vegeta is stronger than anyone else in Frieza's army. Even at half Oozaru power he is second only to Ginyu.
I'm merely pointing out the power escalations was much more marginal back then.