Broly vs Broly: Which Dragon Ball Anime Made the Saiyan Strongest?

Due to his one-of-a-kind origin, Broly is perhaps one of Dragon Ball’s most unique characters. While he began as a non-canon movie villain, the massive fanbase he amassed throughout the years allowed him to become a main series’ cast member. Nonetheless, this reward did not come without a cost, as the Broly introduced in Dragon Ball Super is almost completely independent of the original movie version.

The many big differences in personality, origins, and abilities, have caused fans to compare the two ever since the Saiyan became canon in 2019. One of the most debated topics about Broly is which version would be the strongest if they were ever to fight. Yet, when analyzed closely, the series makes it clear which of the two Legendary Super Saiyans is superior in strength.

The Super Version of Broly Is Far Stronger Than the Movie One

His Abilities Let Him Fight Evenly With Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta

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The Dragon Ball franchise first introduced Broly in the eighth of a long list of amazing original movies, The Legendary Super Saiyan. This film depicted the mighty warrior as a ruthless monster who would go on a rampage at the mere mention of Kakarot’s name. By the time he was revealed, Broly was by far one of the most powerful characters in the series, being able to defeat several Super Saiyans without even breaking a sweat. Later in the series, the villain would reveal that he could fight evenly against Gohan in Super Saiyan 2 form.

The Super version, on the other hand, needed to be adjusted in terms of raw power to give him a fighting chance against Goku and Vegeta, who had far surpassed any of Broly’s previous incarnations. As such, his Legendary Super Saiyan form increased his strength to a level beyond Kakarot’s Blue State, which at the time was considered the strongest level a Saiyan could achieve in the franchise. Goku and Vegeta had to fuse into Gogeta to contain Broly’s rage, and even then, they mainly won the battle due to the latter’s lack of control.

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When comparing the two versions, there is no doubt that Super Broly is significantly more powerful than its movie counterpart. The original version of the character would likely not be able to defeat Goku in Super Saiyan 3, much less in his godly form. As such, it is fair to assume that a Super Saiyan Blue would easily deal with the original Broly. To defeat the Super version, Goku and Vegeta needed to fuse and use all of their power, a final resource only used against the toughest of opponents.

Super Broly Could Become Even Stronger

Unlike His Counterpart, He Has Control Over His Rage

Although the movie version of Broly is one of the most dangerous opponents Goku and his friends fought during the Z era, he had a major flaw. While in his Legendary Super Saiyan state, the enormous rage he would feel blinded him from all logic. In this form, Broly was a rampaging creature, motivated only by anger and instinct. It was due to his lack of strategy or control that Kakarot ultimately defeated him. The Super version of the characters suffered from the same flaw, at least until recently.

During Dragon Ball Super chapter #103, Broly is inspired by Gohan’s most recent and powerful transformation, his Beast Mode. This form, which has been hinted at being able to surpass even the Ultra Instinct, relies on Goku’s son allowing his rage to fuel his power, without losing control. After seeing this, Broly gets a better idea of how to control his own Super Saiyan transformation, achieving it without entering a berserker state. This development opens the door for the Legendary Super Saiyan to become even stronger, as he can now train without any danger.

Even though he is one of the best villains in the series, movie Broly will likely never be able to surpass his bitter enemy in terms of power. The last time he was seen, during the Bio-Broly film, the most powerful transformation of all was Super Saiyan 3. Since then, the Z Warriors have faced beings who dwarf the power of the non-canon Legendary Super Saiyan. Characters like Beerus, Zamasu, and Moro could kill this version of Broly without even trying. He might be an iconic part of the franchise, but he is far too outdated to become a threat.

Dragon Ball Super’s version of this beloved Saiyan warrior might be the strongest of the two, but this does not mean the original Broly should be forgotten. Without the movie iteration of the character, the story of the franchise might have been completely different. Broly's legacy should be honored by fans, as it helped mark the path the series would follow decades later.