Since Freeza held back and didn't one shot Goku...

[GSM123]

...Would that mean he didn't necessarily use all of his power against Vegeta? That would make sense with the V-Jump listing him at 250k.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Not really as Freeza's motivations and mindset in both situations are completely different. He wanted to test Goku, whereas he was pissed off at Vegeta and co. ruining his plans and powered up specifically to teach Vegeta a lesson for his arrogance. There's no reason for him to be either holding back his full 530k power nor pulling the effort in his punches.

 

[GSM123]

Even after Freeza was done playing with Goku he didn't really kill him. The reason he went to 50% was to kill Goku, but he didn't actually go for the kill until well after Goku threw the Genki Dama at him.

Meanwhile, we know for a fact Freeza was holding back either way: Not only he didn't transform to flex his power on Vegeta, his calm composure after grappling (In contrast to Vegeta getting all sweaty and winded) would imply he's not throwing all he's got yet. He wanted to torture Vegeta and co. rather than wipe them all out at once, he wasn't counting on Vegeta having powered up that much.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Even after Freeza was done playing with Goku he didn't really kill him. The reason he went to 50% was to kill Goku, but he didn't actually go for the kill until well after Goku threw the Genki Dama at him.

Even leaving aside plot armour, durability has been Goku's most impressive stat ever since after his training with Popo such as blocking an attack stronger than his Super Kamehameha with minimal damage, being complimented by Raditz for his durability when Raditz was going for the kill or enduring several hits from Oozaru Vegeta in his base state.

Meanwhile, we know for a fact Freeza was holding back either way: Not only he didn't transform to flex his power on Vegeta, his calm composure after grappling (In contrast to Vegeta getting all sweaty and winded) would imply he's not throwing all he's got yet. He wanted to torture Vegeta and co. rather than wipe them all out at once, he wasn't counting on Vegeta having powered up that much.

Freeza still had his transformations, something the narrative alludes to when Kuririn ponders over why Freeza is so calm. In fact, this part would, if anything, support Vegeta being near 530k Freeza as both Kuririn being astounded Freeza was this strong despite nobody contradicting Vegeta's assertion Goku would get stomped even after Goku used Kaioken and Freeza's Ki only being noted to increase after his body starts to undergo his transformation.

 

[withheldforprivacy]

Well, Krillin was shocked when Freeza blew off his battle jacket. The feat itself is something that could be performed by any fighter in the series at that point, so it makes more sense for Krillin to be shocked because that was accompanied with a power increase.

 

[GSM123]

Freeza still had his transformations, something the narrative alludes to when Kuririn ponders over why Freeza is so calm. In fact, this part would, if anything, support Vegeta being near 530k Freeza as both Kuririn being astounded Freeza was this strong despite nobody contradicting Vegeta's assertion Goku would get stomped even after Goku used Kaioken and Freeza's Ki only being noted to increase after his body starts to undergo his transformation.

That's kinda my point, CC. I'm lumping Freeza's 530k power with his transformations as something that hadn't been seen yet, and part of the reason he was confident. His lack of exhaustion after fighting Vegeta would mean he's not going all out effort-wise, so I don't see much of a reason to assume he was giving all of his power either.

Well Vegeta himself did say Goku's power would be plenty of help against Freeza:

Context: after Goku says Vegeta can’t kill him, Gohan, and Kuririn
Vegeta: “Well, he’s right. There’s the matter of the dragonballs, and more than anything I need your power to fight Freeza…particularly Kakarot’s…”

And Kuririn said Freeza's Ki was rising before he buffed up:

Spoiler

 

[ahill1]

I'd say Vegeta being winded up while Freeza seemed quite collected only means Vegeta had to exert extra effort to keep up with Freeza... but the fact that he still kept Freeza steady stands, so at most this serves as an argument for 1st form Freeza being > Vegeta. Freeza wasn't just casually grappling Vegeta either and Kuririn wonders right afterwards "why was Freeza so calm", implying Freeza shouldn't be this calm given the circumstances, with Vegeta replying with a "transform yourself, Freeza", indirectly responding to Kuririn's question and showing that was the reason of his calmness. Freeza being still in his 1st form in a measly panel doesn't mean much, either... we see for instance that Goku when transforming into a SSJ3 was still with his SSJ2 appearance during some panels and some transformations just don't feature the character transforming into the evolved state right away.

 

[VampireWicked]

In my point of view from what's given in that brief clash there was not enough to determine flat out that Vegeta at that time had a PowerLevel of 530,000 or equal to 1st Form Frieza when neither fought to exhaustion in that period.

There are no statements from Frieza suggesting that YES Vegeta equals my PowerLevel in my 1st Form.
There's nothing suggesting 1st Form Frieza went all out 100% of 530,000 against Vegeta.

Without any solid evidence suggesting otherwise is simply saying they both were equal for argument sake.

Even leaving aside plot armour, durability has been Goku's most impressive stat ever since after his training with Popo such as blocking an attack stronger than his Super Kamehameha with minimal damage, being complimented by Raditz for his durability when Raditz was going for the kill or enduring several hits from Oozaru Vegeta in his base state.

Or Frieza was so far ahead power wise Goku was still no threat even after getting hit by the SpiritBomb.
So Frieza wasn't really trying.

Freeza still had his transformations, something the narrative alludes to when Kuririn ponders over why Freeza is so calm. In fact, this part would, if anything, support Vegeta being near 530k Freeza as both Kuririn being astounded Freeza was this strong despite nobody contradicting Vegeta's assertion Goku would get stomped even after Goku used Kaioken and Freeza's Ki only being noted to increase after his body starts to undergo his transformation.

Not really.
Ki sensing does not sense the specific amount or exact number a PowerLevel one has.
Any PowerLevel large enough a reaction from Krilin will more than likely would've been the same amazement astonishment shock & awe.
That tells us nothing when it comes to exact numbers, just their PowerLevels are huge.
Vegeta's 250,000 PowerLevel compared to his own 75,000 only says Frieza's is in the in the vicinity of being massive/larger then his, whereas the specific amount Frieza is using of that Power is unknown.

 

[Pocket-Gog~]

Freeza was stronger than Semi Perfect Cell.

 

[GSM123]

I'd say Vegeta being winded up while Freeza seemed quite collected only means Vegeta had to exert extra effort to keep up with Freeza... but the fact that he still kept Freeza steady stands, so at most this serves as an argument for 1st form Freeza being > Vegeta. Freeza wasn't just casually grappling Vegeta either and Kuririn wonders right afterwards "why was Freeza so calm", implying Freeza shouldn't be this calm given the circumstances, with Vegeta replying with a "transform yourself, Freeza", indirectly responding to Kuririn's question and showing that was the reason of his calmness. Freeza being still in his 1st form in a measly panel doesn't mean much, either... we see for instance that Goku when transforming into a SSJ3 was still with his SSJ2 appearance during some panels and some transformations just don't feature the character transforming into the evolved state right away.

But if Freeza put as much effort as Vegeta he’d have dominated him, right? Meaning he wasn’t really doing his best. He didn’t seem as strained as he was surprised by Vegeta’s power there.

If Freeza wasn’t going all out, Kuririn wouldn’t be able of knowing he had more power without transforming in the first place.

 

[ahill1]

Freeza not going all out is never hinted, that's the problem. Vegeta's "transform, Freeza!" comes right after Kuririn's questioning of Freeza's collected behavior and enemies can put some extra effort as seen with Goku and Kid Boo in their Genki-Dama struggle, for instance, and while they were going all out before, they never seemed to be straining so hard. The rest is special pleading.

 

[GSM123]

Special pleading for what, Ahill? We don't have any reason to assume he's at full power in the first place... Him not transforming or putting as much effort as Vegeta are just small things that point out he's not going for the kill or flexing all of his power on them.

 

[VampireWicked]

Freeza not going all out is never hinted, that's the problem. Vegeta's "transform, Freeza!" comes right after Kuririn's questioning of Freeza's collected behavior and enemies can put some extra effort as seen with Goku and Kid Boo in their Genki-Dama struggle, for instance, and while they were going all out before, they never seemed to be straining so hard. The rest is special pleading.

Frieza Transformed because Vegeta revealed he could.
Vegeta called him out to Transform, I know you have a Transformation so stop hiding it & show me.
Frieza didn't think it was necessary, Vegeta's arrogance begged for it.

 

[theallpowerfulpuipui]

Believing Vegeta was 250k is like believing in Santa

 

[SSJ2]

I see an angry Freeza who is trying to decimate Vegeta. In what world does this look like holding back?

 

[ahill1]

Freeza not going all out is never hinted, that's the problem. Vegeta's "transform, Freeza!" comes right after Kuririn's questioning of Freeza's collected behavior and enemies can put some extra effort as seen with Goku and Kid Boo in their Genki-Dama struggle, for instance, and while they were going all out before, they never seemed to be straining so hard. The rest is special pleading.

Frieza Transformed because Vegeta revealed he could.
Vegeta called him out to Transform, I know you have a Transformation so stop hiding it & show me.
Frieza didn't think it was necessary, Vegeta's arrogance begged for it.

And the braggart Freeza wouldn't even say that not even his transformation is needed, like he noticed when going to his final form, that he's only doing that needlessly so they can have a taste on true terror?

 

[GSM123]

Believing Vegeta was 250k is like believing in Santa

He exists though. I mean, have you ever seen Santa and Roshi in the same place? Me neither!

I see an angry Freeza who is trying to decimate Vegeta. In what world does this look like holding back?

It might look like that in this panel, but not within it’s context. He’s not shitting bricks like Vegeta, so doesn’t sound like he’s bloodlusted here. Wouldn’t you think it’s kinda out of character for Freeza to throw everything he’s got right off the bat?

[mention]ahill1[/mention] to be fair Vegeta asked him to transform right away, so it’s not like he had room to brag.

 

[SSJ2]

Not at all. Freeza was enraged by the fact that he was made a fool of for the first time. Go reread the manga. Freeza was losing his shit prior to his encounter with Vegeta and lost his composure for the first time.

 

[SSJ2]

Idk how you can say it's out of character when Freeza himself was shown to be as angry as he had ever been.

 

[GSM123]

This idea came to my head by already rereading the manga though. And checking it out once again, the idea still stands for me.

No matter how enraged he is, Freeza always prolongues his enemy's suffering and only goes all out when proven to be necessary: Think of how he never even attacked Vegeta while in his 2nd form, didn't use all of his power to crush Gohan's skull, and was seemingly wanted to kill all of Goku's friends before killing him. He even said he was going to torture Vegeta and the others "inch by bloody inch". Problem is he wasn't expecting Vegeta to have powered up so much that he could keep up with him in any level.

And since you told me to read the chapter again, there's a little detail I noticed: Vegeta's power level was constantly rising during the struggle, so it's unlikely the punch he catched was a full force one since we know for a fact Vegeta isn't above Freeza, no matter how close they are.