He woke up and decided to delete a planet because the food was a bit greasy. That’s the first time we really met Beerus in Dragon Ball Super, and honestly, the series hasn't been the same since. Before the God of Destruction showed up, the power scaling in Akira Toriyama’s universe felt like a ladder we could actually see the top of. Then this purple cat arrived, flicked a Super Saiyan 3 Goku in the forehead, and basically told the entire cast they were playing in a sandbox while he was looking at the ocean.
Beerus isn't just another villain. Calling him a villain is actually wrong. He’s a cosmic necessity. A lot of fans get hung up on who can beat him, but they miss the point of why he exists in the narrative. He represents a ceiling that keeps moving. Every time Goku or Vegeta hits a new form—Blue, Ultra Instinct, Ultra Ego—people ask, "Is this it? Is this when they pass Beerus?"
The answer, so far, is a loud no.
The Reality of Beerus and the Moving Goalpost
When Battle of Gods dropped, we were told Beerus used about 70% of his power against Goku. That was a lie. Or, more accurately, it was a retcon necessitated by how long Dragon Ball Super ended up running. If Goku was at 70% of a God's power back then, the series would have ended during the Golden Frieza arc. Instead, Toyotarou and Toriyama have kept Beerus in this untouchable bracket.
Look at the manga's Granolah the Survivor arc. Vegeta finally gets a taste of "Hakai" energy and develops Ultra Ego. It’s a form literally designed to mimic a God of Destruction. He looks formidable. He looks like a monster. Then you see Beerus lounging on a chair nearby, bored out of his mind, and you realize Vegeta is still just a student. Beerus has lived for millions of years. You don't close a million-year gap with a few months of intense training and a new hair color.
It’s about the nature of his energy. Hakai isn’t just a big purple blast; it’s the literal removal of existence. In the anime, he erased Zamasu with a word. No struggle. No beam struggle. Just poof. That’s the level of authority we're talking about here.
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Why the Cat Design Works
Toriyama based Beerus on his old cat, Cornish Rex. It's funny because it's so unassuming. You expect a God of Destruction to look like Broly—huge, screaming, muscles on muscles. Instead, we got a skinny, hairless feline who cares more about instant ramen and aged cheddar than galactic conquest.
This juxtaposition is what makes him terrifying. He’s unpredictable. One moment he’s a gag character fighting over a pudding cup with Buu, and the next, his sneeze is obliterating a nearby moon. He operates on a moral plane that humans (and Saiyans) can’t really grasp. He isn't evil. He doesn't want to rule the world. He just has a job to do, and sometimes that job involves sleeping for thirty years and waking up cranky.
The Ultra Instinct Misconception
There is a huge debate in the fandom about whether Ultra Instinct Goku has surpassed Beerus. Let's look at the facts from the Moro and Gas arcs. Even with Goku mastering the "True Ultra Instinct" variant, he’s still portrayed as someone who would struggle immensely against a serious Beerus.
Whis, the Angel, is always the one holding the leash. If you want to know how strong Beerus actually is, look at Whis. Whis is his teacher. The gap between an Angel and a God of Destruction is arguably larger than the gap between a Saiyan and a God. In the Dragon Ball Super manga, we've seen Beerus take on all the other Gods of Destruction at once during the Zen-Exhibition Match. He held his own against eleven other deities. That should tell you everything you need to know about his "base" level. He’s the elite of the elite.
His Relationship with Universe 7
Beerus has changed the stakes of the show. It’s no longer just "save the Earth." Now it’s "don't annoy the guy who can erase our entire solar system because he had a bad dream."
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But something interesting happened. Beerus grew fond of the Z-Fighters. Not in a "let's be best friends" way, but in a "these guys are entertaining and provide great snacks" way. He’s become a mentor in the most hands-off way possible. By letting Vegeta train with him, he’s passing on the secrets of Destruction. This suggests that Beerus might be looking for a successor, or perhaps he’s just bored and wants someone to finally give him a real fight.
There's a subtle nuance to his character that often gets overlooked. He actually cares about the mortal level of his universe. Well, sort of. He was embarrassed that Universe 7 ranked so low in the Tournament of Power. His ego is tied to the strength of his domain. By pushing Goku and Vegeta, he’s essentially "buffing" his own territory so the Omni-King (Zeno) doesn't decide to wipe them out.
The Power Scaling Problem
Scaling in Dragon Ball is famously broken. We know this. However, Beerus serves as the narrative anchor. If the writers want to keep the show going, they can't let Goku beat him yet. Once Goku beats Beerus, the only things left are the Angels and Zeno. And you can't really "fight" Zeno.
So, Beerus stays at the top. He’s the bar. He’s the "Final Boss" that hasn't actually been fought for real since the very first movie of this new era.
Think about the sheer scale of his feats:
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- Erasing a ghost (Dr. Slump crossover, but still counts for his hax).
- Nullifying the energy of a planet-destroying explosion with a breath.
- Surviving a direct assault from multiple other Gods of Destruction.
- Using a fraction of his power to beat a post-ToP Vegeta in a spar.
What’s Next for the God of Destruction?
As the manga moves forward past the Black Frieza reveal, Beerus is going to become even more relevant. Frieza is currently the strongest mortal in the universe. He one-shotted Goku and Vegeta. But notice Frieza’s behavior. Even with his new "Black" form, he isn't rushing to challenge Beerus. Frieza is smart. He knows the difference between a mortal who hit a new level and a cosmic force of nature.
The real tension in the future of Dragon Ball Super isn't just about the next tournament. It's about when the student finally challenges the master. When Vegeta finally perfects Ultra Ego, will he be the one to finally make Beerus sweat?
Actionable Insights for Fans and Powerscalers
If you're trying to keep track of where the power levels are going, stop using the "70%" figure from the 2013 movie. It’s obsolete. Instead, look at the narrative cues.
- Watch the Whis-to-Beerus ratio: As long as Whis is still effortlessly dodging Beerus, the ceiling hasn't been reached.
- Pay attention to the "Destruction" training: Vegeta’s progress in the manga is the closest we have to a literal yardstick for Beerus’s power.
- Don't ignore the food gags: In Dragon Ball, personality usually dictates power. Beerus’s extreme laziness is a direct reflection of how little he fears anyone else. When he starts getting serious and stops caring about food, that’s when the universe is in actual trouble.
The best way to appreciate Beerus is to stop waiting for him to lose. He isn't a villain to be conquered; he's a force to be respected. He brought the "Super" into Dragon Ball by expanding the world from a single galaxy to a multiverse governed by laws we’re still trying to understand. Keep an eye on the manga chapters following the Super Hero arc, as the hierarchy is clearly shifting, but the cat at the top isn't moving his seat just yet.