Prince Vegeta Briefs

Vegeta Briefs (ベジータ), or Prince Vegeta, is the prince of the fallen Saiyan race and arch-rival to Goku. He is the eldest son of King Vegeta, the older brother of Tarble, the husband of Bulma, and the father of Trunks and Bra. Alongside Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo, he is easily one of the most prominent characters in the series, receiving more character development after being introduced than a number of other characters.
Regal, egotistical and full of pride, Vegeta was once a ruthless, cold-blooded warrior and outright killer, but later abandons his role in theplanet trade, instead opting to remain and live on Earth, fighting alongside the Z Fighters; all the while striving to become the universe's most powerful warrior, specifically with the mission to defeat and surpass Goku in power. His character evolves from villain, to anti-hero to protagonist through the course of the series.
== Overview ==
=== History ===
Vegeta was once a young member of the Saiyan Army under the Planet Trade Organization, but after his race's demise, he worked alongside Nappa and Raditz, directly under Frieza. He later joins the Z Fighters while battling alongside them on Namek, and returns to Earth with them as well, where he remains for the rest of his life.
=== Appearance ===
Vegeta is 5'5" tall (in comparison with Goku's 5'9" height). His hair firmly stands upwards, and has a prominent widow's peak. Like most Saiyans, he possesses black eyes and jet black hair, though his hair is infrequently black with red highlights in various media (posters, trading cards, and similar merchandise in particular). A main characteristic of Vegeta's is the fact that he is the only living Saiyan who has continued to don the traditional Saiyan armor. He has also been seen wearing alternate forms of the armor, customizing the armor to better suit his persona. However, once he integrates into Earthly society, he abandons the Saiyan armor. However, even after Vegeta loses the armor in Dragon Ball Z, he is always seen wearing iconic white gloves and white boots in battle. During Dragon Ball Z: Revival of "F", Vegeta wore a new battle armor, with a black jumpsuit and altered chest plate. Vegeta once had a tail, but it was cut off by Yajirobe to remove Vegeta from his Great Ape state during the Vegeta Saga.
Vegeta's hair never grows in length. He states to Bulma, in an episode of the Perfect Cell Saga, that a pure-blooded Saiyan's hair does not change from the day they are born, aside from Super Saiyan transformations.
If observed closely, Vegeta actually changes appearance physically over the course of the series. He was originally intended to appear deceptively small, lean, and less threatening in comparison to his massive partner, Nappa. However, by the end of Dragon Ball Z, he seems to be taller and more muscular, the length of his hair having also been shortened, though he is still comparatively shorter than Goku, who also appears to have grown taller. Vegeta's facial features also look more distinct and sharply defined as the series progresses, making him look older (though this may be attributed to gradual aging). It should be noted however that some of these changes (mainly the more defined facial and anatomical features in most male characters, and the increase in muscularity in all characters) are mainly due to a visible shift in Akira Toriyama's artistic style over the course of the series.
=== Personality ===
Vegeta is arrogant throughout the series, and becomes bitter due to the abuse his race suffered at the hands of Frieza. Following the destruction of his home world Planet Vegeta, his hatred toward Frieza grows. His royalty seems to have bestowed upon him an inflated sense of superiority, holding himself above nearly everyone he encounters. He is immensely proud of his Saiyan heritage and believes his race to be the most powerful in the universe.
As the Prince of a demolished Planet Vegeta, Vegeta is initially introduced as an unrepentant villain. Judging from his evil intentions before joining the Z Fighters, Vegeta has been consistently characterized as extremely arrogant, vengeful, and at times, cold. Many of Vegeta's early heroic acts are because of self-interest or revenge, although he later settles down and grows fond of Earth as his home, raising a familywith Bulma. Having been born into the upper tier of Saiyan society, Vegeta was fixated on achieving the legendary status of Super Saiyan and becoming the most powerful warrior in the universe. Vegeta is more of a tactical fighter who often rushes in the brawl without hesitation. However, his rage or arrogance often causes him to underestimate his opponent. His royal blood and intense fighting style has both benefited and harmed him in many battles. Vegeta has been shown to be one of the more intelligent characters of the series, as well as one of the most serious, rarely exhibiting humor. When he does so, his humor is often very dry and in some rare occasions it is based on black humor.[citation needed] However, he does delight in mocking his enemies, as demonstrated when he offers to reconstruct Android 18 into a "toaster" or a "washing machine" (FUNimation dub only). He also shows his bleak sense of humor towards Goku when he was about to battle him in the World Martial Arts Tournament. Normally, his ego and arrogance overshadow his positive qualities.
Vegeta is extremely aggressive and cold-blooded. Since his childhood, Vegeta has proven himself a ruthless killer, merciless like most Saiyans. During the Namek Saga, he began to exhibit changes; rather than killing Krillin or Gohan as he promised in the previous saga, he instead forges an alliance with them. Throughout the first half of the Frieza Saga, whomever he defeated, he killed without mercy. His only sign of mercy is when he let Namekian Frog Captain Ginyu live, taking delight at the notion of Ginyu being stuck in the frog's body as punishment enough. After his defeat at the hands of Frieza, Vegeta tearfully explains to Goku that Frieza forced him to be ruthless and that he never had the chance to be anything else (implying that he could have been kinder and more merciful were it not for Frieza). From then on, Vegeta softened up and occasionally showed compassion to his new family, Bulma, Trunks, and Bulla. In addition, during the Kid Buu Saga, he notably became enraged when he learned that Goku's deal with Old Kai involved allowing the latter to take advantage of Bulma, feeling it was very senseless of Goku. It was not until the Babidi Saga that he gave in to his obsession of overtaking Goku in might, becoming a Majin and "evil" once more. This was a desperate, failed ploy to restore his former wickedness, believing it to have been the source of his true power. Goku believes Vegeta is bluffing, and correctly so; Vegeta demonstrates his prevailing softness in hugging Trunks for the first time and telling him that he is proud to be his father, before performing a sacrificial Final Explosion against Majin Buu. Arguably, his most defining trait is his rivalry with Goku and obsession to surpass him in power. In Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn, he goes so far as to break down in tears over his inability to surpass Goku. However, this obsession has led him to save Goku's life on several occasions, insisting that only he will defeat Goku. When Goku sacrifices himself to save the Earth from being destroyed by Cell, Vegeta is devastated to the point that he vows never to fight again.
From the beginning of the series to near the end, Vegeta is shown to be exceptionally vain and egotistical. A tragic example of this is in his fight with Semi-Perfect Cell. Though he could have easily destroyed this weaker form of Cell, his arrogance bested him, and he purposely let Cell absorb Android 18 just to have a challenge in Cell through which to test his power. While fighting Super Buu, as well as while fighting Janemba on a different occasion, Vegeta vehemently opposed fusion with Goku due to his pride, but Goku managed to persuade him. On several occasions, Vegeta conceitedly underestimates his opponents; in the cases of Perfect Cell and Kid Buu, Vegeta was fooled by their diminutive appearances, believing that they had only "shrunk", which is somewhat ironic, given his own short stature, yet large power. In some instances, Vegeta has been seen afraid of opponents such as Frieza, Broly, or Beerus (he does everything he possibly can to ensure that the God of Destruction is not angered when the latter arrives at Bulma's birthday party). However, he often visibly has a change of heart, displays his pride, and takes to the fight.
His opinion of Goku always being one step ahead of him, even though Goku is a lower class Saiyan, runs the gamut from contempt to rivalry, and later to respect and friendship. Because of his arrogance, attitude and past wrongdoing, Vegeta gains a lot of disdain from those around him. Naturally, Goku always takes an optimistic opinion about Vegeta. Vegeta almost always addresses Goku by his Saiyan birth name, Kakarot, but has on rare occasion addressed him as Goku. After the defeat of Kid Buu, he has a change of heart and his angry grudge against Goku becomes a friendly rivalry. Though he is still highly annoyed with Goku on the grounds of his immature tendencies.
Though they grew up apart, Vegeta does care about his younger brother Tarble. Though he is highly disappointed with Tarble's extreme lack of fighting power despite the fact he comes from the powerful royal bloodline.
At the end of the Buu Saga, Vegeta is much more relaxed. He is often seen smiling and cracking jokes, such as when he forced Trunks to enter the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament, threatening to "cut his allowance" if he did not enter the competition. Often being more caring and kind to his family, especially his daughter, Bulla, Vegeta admittedly has a kinder side, per his adjustment to Earthly life. The best example of caring for his family is the aforementioned example of hugging Trunks before he fights Majin Buu as Majin Vegeta. However, Vegeta can still be seen sitting on the sidelines, while everyone else is happy, enjoying themselves in the thick of things.
=== Relationship with Bulma ===
Vegeta and Bulma initially meet on planet Namek, but neither actually talked to the other; Bulma was too frightened, and Vegeta did not care, especially when his main concern was to find the Dragon Balls. However, their first interaction with each other was prior to his rematch with Zarbon, to which Vegeta threatened to kill both Bulma and Krillin. Despite their rocky start, Bulma was more than willing to put up with Vegeta, even if he scared her. Upon his resurrection after being killed by Frieza, and then being teleported to Earth, Bulma invites Vegeta to live at Capsule Corporation as he has nowhere to go, on the condition that he does not touch her. Vegeta reluctantly accepts her offer, but quickly leaves Earth in search of Goku after he discovers his unwillingness to return to Earth from the Namek Dragon. During his absence on Earth, Bulma begins to slowly but surely show signs of affection towards the Saiyan Prince, after having a dream about him; she also shows a deep concern for him after being informed that his ship is about to run out of fuel soon. Her then boyfriend Yamcha not only begins to get jealous, but also shows resentment towards Vegeta, who has no idea about Bulma's feelings towards him.
At one time, Vegeta is seriously injured after his training capsule explodes while he tries to train under 300 times Earth's gravity. Bulma shows immense concern for Vegeta and tries to convince him to stop training and to rest. Vegeta defiantly attempts to return to his training, but collapses, and Bulma then takes him to Capsule Corp to nursehim back to health. Later, Vegeta awakes to find Bulma asleep beside him, and wonders why she's there (having no idea of Bulma's feelings for him). When Bulma sees Vegeta return to training, she firmly tells him to stop because of his injuries, but Vegeta refuses to listen, and shouts at her to leave him alone. This leaves Bulma feeling very bitter about Vegeta and his stubbornness for a while afterwards.
After approximately a year since Future Trunks' warning about the Androids, Bulma breaks up with Yamcha and becomes romantically involved with Vegeta, ultimately leading to the conception of Trunks. However, even the birth of their son was not enough to bring the two together, as of that time Vegeta prioritized his rivalry with Goku before anything else, even his relationship with Bulma. Arguments were common between the two, with Bulma often calling Vegeta a "jerk" and Vegeta showing little to no care or emotion for either his son or his future wife; this was demonstrated during an incident in which Bulma's plane is destroyed and their lives are at risk. When Future Trunks saves the two and questions Vegeta as to why he did not try to save them, Vegeta responds that he has "more important things to worry about than that foolish woman and her blasted child." Bulma later humiliates Vegeta in front of everyone when she says that every time he sticks his "Ugly Mug" up to Trunks, it makes Trunks cry, much to Krillin and Gohan's amusement and Vegeta's anger.
Vegeta's and Bulma's indifference to each other during the Androids Saga strongly implies that the circumstances surrounding their child's conception was no more than a brief fling; Future Trunks states to Goku that in his timeline, even though Bulma fell in love with Vegeta, they did not stay together very long because their attraction was solely based on passion and loneliness. Also, in the alternate timeline, Future Vegeta was killed by the Androids soon after Trunks was born, so his relationship with Bulma did not have a chance to progress in that timeline.
However, the seven years of peace that came after the conclusion of the Cell Games would suggest that the two settled their differences and began to have a much better relationship than previously. Vegeta eventually became fond of his family in the Majin Buu Saga, but is ashamed of himself for doing so, wanting to be the coldhearted prince he once was. Nonetheless, Vegeta eventually realizes what is really important in his life, and sacrifices himself to save his family and Earth when fighting Majin Buu.
Another more comical show of his fondness towards Bulma can be seen in his angry reaction when he finds out that Goku promised Old Kai that he could kiss her (in the original version, Goku promised to show Old Kai some sexy pictures of Bulma), causing Vegeta to throw a fit, yelling at Goku to show the Old Kai pictures of Chi-Chi, to which Goku responds "But Chi-Chi would kill me! *And she's flat-chested...*).
To prove that Bulma really has grown on him, he is seen in rage after Beerus slapped Bulma; Master Roshi and Goku note that Vegeta has grown powerful when it angered him.
== Biography ==
=== Childhood ===
Vegeta is born around Age 732. His father, King Vegeta, is the King of the Saiyan race. In his youth, Vegeta saw his father being stepped over by the God of Destruction Beerus. King Vegeta and his race are also under the rule of the interplanetary warlord Frieza, and the former was also forced by Frieza to surrender him to the latter through undisclosed means. While under Frieza's grip, Vegeta was pressured by Frieza to do his bidding or else Frieza would murder Vegeta's father.
A few time before the genocide of the Saiyans, Vegeta is shown effortlessly destroying 6 to 7 Saibamen during a training, and soon later conquering a planet for Frieza. Despite this, Frieza kills King Vegeta anyway after the latter attempted to form a mutiny against him to free Vegeta. While Vegeta is on another planet, Frieza destroys the Saiyan planet, Planet Vegeta. As a result, all the Saiyans (except for Goku, Raditz, Vegeta, Nappa, Turles, Paragus, Broly and Tarble) are killed.
Frieza keeps Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz as slaves to do his bidding, while Goku escapes the devastation by being sent to cleanse Earth of its inhabitants moments before Planet Vegeta was destroyed. In the manga chapter of the Namek Saga, Vegeta is angry over working under Frieza. Vegeta is especially reluctant to take orders from Frieza's right-hand man, Zarbon, whom Vegeta states is responsible for mocking him for many years and "working him like a slave." Despite being Frieza's underling, Vegeta constantly and proudly calls himself the "Prince of all Saiyans." Vegeta does not refer to himself as the "King of all Saiyans", possibly out of respect for his father, a refusal to admit the extinction of the Saiyans, or because he was never formally declared King. Vegeta planned to assassinate Frieza several times. However, after witnessing Frieza's incredible display of power when he destroyed an entire planet and the rebels who opposed Frieza on it with a single gigantic energy ball fired from his index finger, Vegeta decided that he would need to wait before challenging Frieza. After an assignment to wipe out the planet Shikk alongside his comrades Raditz and Nappa, Vegeta restrained Nappa when the latter attempted to brashly attack Frieza, Zarbon, and Dodoria for mocking the manner in which they took out the planet as he realized that his group did not stand a chance against Frieza's Elite. Nonetheless, he was still visibly angry and had to restrain himself from attacking when Zarbon mocked him as he was leaving.
At one point during his time serving under Frieza, Vegeta gets into a squabble with the Ginyu Force member Guldo, over how Vegeta is more important in the eyes of Frieza. Guldo mocks Vegeta for being a Saiyan and says he should take orders from them, and Vegeta responds that Guldo takes orders from Frieza the same as he does and mocks Guldo for being a "four-eyed freak". As the angry Guldo prepares to attack Vegeta, Frieza arrives and blasts Guldo away. Frieza then has Vegeta come with him to conquer a planet.
=== Dragon Ball Z ===
==== Battling Earth's Special Forces ====
Vegeta is introduced to Dragon Ball Z at 29 years of age as a mercenary for Frieza. Vegeta comes to Earth when he receives Raditz's dying report of seven magic objects known as the Dragon Balls which will grant wishes. After hearing this report, and of Raditz's death, Vegeta and his companion, Nappa, decide to come to Earth and use the Dragon Balls to wish for immortality (it is implied in later sagas that he desired immortality so he could defeat Frieza for his years of suffering). Goku and the Z Fighters are warned of their arrival, and begin to train themselves. When they landed on Earth, Nappa and Vegeta wreaked havoc with little to stop them. They then found Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan waiting for them, with Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha appearing just after. After losing Yamcha (after one Saibaman self destructed), Krillin destroys most of the Saibamen with Piccolo destroying the last Saibaman.
This causes Vegeta and Nappa to become impressed, but Nappa decides to heat things up by being the first to battle Earth's defenders. Vegeta sits back and watches the beatings. Nappa easily dominates all the Z Fighters, resulting in Chiaotzu going desperate by sacrificing himself by blowing up on Nappa's back, which was in vain, with his best friend Tien sacrificing himself to avenge his friend, which was also in vain. He does manage to get wounded every now and then, but for the most part, Nappa seems to have complete control of the battle. In the middle of the battle, Vegeta demands for Nappa to stop his rampage for three hours to give Goku a chance to arrive at the scene. Nappa succumbs to Vegeta's orders and obeys him. In filler, Vegeta allows Nappa to destroy the Earth's Military and Navy. Throughout both parts of the battle, Vegeta chuckles to himself whenever Nappa stumbles on a technique, or when one of the Z Fighters gain the upperhand on Nappa for a limited amount of time, also constantly belittling Nappa, calling him weak and idiotic. However, despite Vegeta's lack of faith in Nappa, he does assist Nappa in dire situations, such as when he warns Nappa about Krillin's Destructo Disc. As Nappa continues to hold the advantage in the battle, the remaining Z Fighters desperately call for Goku to assist them. When Goku finally comes back on Earth and heads directly towards them using his Flying Nimbus, Vegeta reads Goku's power level and then orders Nappa to kill Goku's friends, noting that their assistance with Goku in the battle could be difficult for he and Nappa to defeat. When Gohan angers Nappa to higher levels, Nappa attempts to annihilate Gohan, but Piccolo quickly stands between his attack, thus sacrificing himself for Gohan's sake.
After Piccolo bids his farewell to Gohan, Gohan furiously attacks Nappa at full force with a Super Masenko, which is still not enough to injure Nappa. Vegeta recognizes that Gohan's power only increases with intense displays of emotion, and orders Nappa to kill the boy. Goku arrives just before Nappa can crush Gohan with his foot. Vegeta detects the high power level of Goku with his scouter, and after a quick introduction, Goku begins to fight Nappa. Goku and Nappa seem to be evenly matched at first, but the benefits of Goku's training quickly became evident. Eventually, Vegeta calls Nappa back after taking too long, so Nappa decides that he will kill Gohan and Krillin instead. Goku activates the Kaio-ken technique, and stops Nappa before he can do anything, crippling him in the process. Goku orders Vegeta to take his injured friend back to where they came from for immediate medical attention. Because of Nappa's failure to defeat a low class Saiyan like Goku, when Nappa begs Vegeta to help him, Vegeta fools Nappa into thinking he will assist him, but instead throws Nappa in the air and kills him for his failure. After giving Krillin and Gohan Senzu Beans, which fully recovers their strength, Goku tells Gohan and Krillin to leave Vegeta to him and requests to Vegeta to fight somewhere else.
Vegeta eventually agrees, and they leave the battle field. At Gizard Wasteland, Vegeta offers Goku a chance to join him, but Goku quickly turns down the offer as he already has everything he wanted, completely disagrees with Vegeta's selfish intentions, and has already seen how Vegeta treats his partners. Vegeta and Goku continue discussing who is truly right, with Vegeta stating that even Goku's multiplying Kaio-Ken technique will not reach his elite rank power level, with Goku replying by stating if someone struggles hard enough, a low-class can reach the rank of an elite warrior. Their fight now begins, and it is made clear that Vegeta is much stronger than the much-improved Goku. Even using Kaio-ken at the second level (Kaio-ken times two) was not enough to stop Vegeta. Thus, Goku had to push the multiplier of the technique even higher, ignoring King Kai's warnings. With this power, Goku was able to fight Vegeta on equal ground to an extent, and the Prince of Saiyans lost his temper and decided he would destroy the planet with his Galick Gun technique, and go find the Dragon Balls on Namek instead. However, Goku countered the Galick Gun with a Kamehameha, and the two struggled for several minutes. When it seemed Vegeta was gaining the upper hand, Goku finally pushed himself to unforeseen levels and used Kaio-ken x4 to boost his power even higher, in turn surprising and overwhelming Vegeta and sending him skywards. Vegeta managed to survive the beam carrying him ever higher. Thus, Vegeta decided to transform himself into a Great Ape, which would multiply his power tenfold, throwing a Power Ball into the air, as Piccolo destroyed the moon a couple of months before. When Vegeta transformed, Goku was completely outclassed and had to resort to using the Spirit Bomb technique. However, before he could use it, Vegeta disrupted it with a Chou Makouhou. Then Vegeta grabbed Goku and began to slowly crush him, making him suffer instead of killing him quickly. Krillin and Gohan had seen the Power Ball that Vegeta had used to transform, and had returned to the battle.
Upon finding Goku defeated, they attempted to distract Vegeta and cut off his tail, in order to force him back to his normal form. This attempt failed, but Yajirobe succeeded where the strong Z Fighters had not. When he was back to normal, Vegeta became enraged and fought Gohan briefly. Despite Gohan's efforts, Vegeta is far stronger and faster than he is. Goku then decides to give Krillin the last of the Spirit Bomb he managed to retain. Krillin accepted this new energy, and was instructed by Goku how to unleash it on Vegeta.
Panicking at first, Krillin receives further instructions from North Kai, and he hurls the Spirit Bomb at Vegeta. When Yajirobe shouted at Krillin to throw it, making Vegeta notice him, Krillin throws it, and at first it missed, but Gohan was pure enough that he could bounce the energy back, striking Vegeta. The Spirit Bomb hit him and severely damaged him, reducing his energy and strength greatly; but he survived. Vegeta then draws upon his Ki reserves and unleashes a mighty blast that strikes down everyone nearby. Vegeta notices that Gohan has regrown his tail from the effects of the Power Ball, and realizes that he may soon transform. The villain is unable to prevent this thanks to Yajirobe distracting him with an attack from behind. Realizing his mistake, Vegeta quickly returns to Gohan, but was too late. Gohan assumes the Great Ape form, and Vegeta in his severely weakened state could not defeat him. However, Vegeta could out-think the primitive ape form of Gohan, and manages to cut off Gohan's tail, returning the young half-breed to normal size and power. Before Gohan could fully return to normal, however, he fell on Vegeta as a Great Ape, and Vegeta was unable to dodge in his wounded state.
Vegeta finally retreats, and crawls to his space pod, realizing he cannot keep fighting in his current condition. A weakened Krillin gains consciousness, and just when he is about to stab Vegeta with Yajirobe's katana sword, Goku telepathically pleaded for Krillin to let Vegeta go, wanting to have a rematch one day and also wanting Vegeta to have the same chance to change his ways that Piccolo got; after much persuasion, Krillin agrees. Vegeta then departs Earth, vowing to make Goku regret sparing him, and his space pod takes him to one of the planets controlled by Frieza. With his extreme arrogance he cannot understand how a "Low-Class" Saiyan like Goku could have done so well against him, unwilling to factor the contributions of the other three warriors into the battle.
==== War on Namek ====
After rehabilitation, Cui tells Vegeta that Frieza is already on Namek alongside his henchmen Zarbon and Dodoria and they are searching for the Dragon Balls. Without wasting any time, Vegeta makes his way to Planet Namek, now planning to make a wish with the Dragon Balls. During his stay on the planet, he meets up with Krillin and Gohan, who were also in search of the Namekian Dragon Balls. He tries to track them down and torment them, but eventually leaves them alone since he has much bigger problems such as Frieza, his previous master and the warlord who was also in search of the mystical Balls. While on Namek, Vegeta is followed and ambushed by Cui. Frieza had given Cui the order to terminate Vegeta, something he had been hoping to hear for many years. However, Vegeta's encounter with the earthlings allowed his strength to grow exponentially higher (as a Saiyan's strength increases every time a battle leaves him at near death). Cui attacks Vegeta, but Vegeta easily evades Cui's attacks, telling Cui that when his power increased, so did his speed. He then easily kills Cui.
Vegeta later takes the opportunity to dispatch Dodoria as well. Once Dodoria is alone, Vegeta learns from him the true circumstances of Planet Vegeta's destruction by Frieza himself. Vegeta is not in a forgiving mood so he ruthlessly executes Dodoria as well. After killing Dodoria, Vegeta goes and causes mass havoc in a Namekian village in order to obtain one of the Dragon Balls. Frieza and his henchmen had already collected five Dragon Balls so he hopes to hang on to one and steal the rest from Frieza when the opportunity would show itself. Once Vegeta obtains one Dragon Ball and hides it, he takes flight and he soon comes face to face with Frieza's most powerful henchman, Zarbon.
Vegeta and Zarbon enter a fierce battle and Vegeta seems to have the upper hand until Zarbon undergoes a powerful reptilian transformation. Zarbon and Vegeta resume the brutal battle, with Zarbon making sport of the Saiyan prince, pounding him around and completely dominating him. Before finishing the battle, Zarbon reveals to Vegeta that Frieza can also transform, much to his horror. Zarbon easily defeats Vegeta with multiple kicks and combos and performs a powerful piledriver, sending Vegeta headfirst into the ground and completely battered in a crater that soon filled up with sea water, which Zarbon detested going into (as it would make him wet), and simply left him for dead. Zarbon returned to Frieza to relay the message of his victory, but Frieza was not satisfied. Frieza is well aware that Vegeta may know the location of one of the Dragon Balls so he sends Zarbon to go and retrieve Vegeta's battered body and bring him back in order to heal him for interrogation.
Vegeta was later dragged back to Frieza's spaceship by Zarbon, where he healed him in a Medical Machine. Vegeta waited for the right opportunity to escape. He made a clever distraction (he blasted the wall to the outside off leading Frieza and Zarbon to believe he ran off, although he was actually hiding in the ship) and ran away with Frieza's collected Dragon Balls, dropping them inside the pools of water nearby and then recovering them. Frieza is extremely angered and he sends Zarbon after Vegeta once more, giving him a limit of one hour. Zarbon is able to locate Vegeta, along with Krillin and Bulma. A fierce clash ensues and the now healed and fully rejuvinated Vegeta reveals that he has become far stronger from his near death experience. Zarbon cannot believe it, but he is unable to defeat Vegeta even in his transformed state. Vegeta ruthlessly slams his fist clean through Zarbon's stomach and blasts him, sending him to a watery grave in the Namekian sea.
Realizing that he cannot keep the Dragon Ball from Vegeta, Krillin begrudgingly hands it over without a fight. Now in a fine mood, Vegeta spares his life and Bulma's for the time being. Vegeta now has six of the seven Dragon Balls in his grasp, and needs only one more to make his dream of immortality a reality. While en route to where he had hidden his Dragon Ball, he meets up with Gohan and hits the boy in the stomach for fun before leaving him. After getting back to where he had hidden his Dragon Ball, Vegeta realizes that Gohan has stolen it and berates himself for letting a kid fool him. He heads back to where Bulma had made her hideout and destroys it, but to his frustration, finds that everyone had already left. He then swears to get them for this humiliation.
==== Combating the Ginyu Force ====
When Vegeta escaped Frieza's ship with five of the seven Namekian Dragon Balls, Frieza sent word to summon the Ginyu Force, the most powerful warriors in his army. The Ginyu Force were a team of five, consisting of: Recoome, Burter, Jeice, Guldo, and their leader, Captain Ginyu. They were strange, often making amusingly choreographed dances and poses, but were also extremely powerful, said to be the mightiest in the universe. Once they arrived on planet Namek, Frieza ordered them to retrieve the Namekian Dragon Balls, bring Vegeta back to him alive, and kill any others that got in their way. Meanwhile, Vegeta sensed the arrival of the Ginyu Force and forges an alliance with Gohan and Krillin, all three deciding that their only chance of survival is to wish for Vegeta's immortality with the Dragon Balls (Vegeta had six and Gohan and Krillin had the last one).
Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin race back to where Vegeta was keeping his six Dragon Balls, and are about to wish for Vegeta's immortality, but Krillin hesitates out of fear of an immortal Vegeta, despite Vegeta's (false) promises that he would not harm them. Suddenly, the Ginyu Force arrives on the island where Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin are, right next to the other six Dragon Balls. Terrified, Vegeta attempts to "hide" one of the Dragon Balls by throwing it far off into the sea, but Burter uses his incredible speed to catch it in mid-air. Vegeta then desperately orders Krillin to destroy the Dragon Ball he is holding so that Frieza cannot make his wish for immortality, but before Krillin can destroy it, Guldo freezes time and snatches the Dragon Ball out of his hands. Outmaneuvered, Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin look on in terror as Captain Ginyu takes the seven Dragon Balls and flies off to report to Frieza, leaving the four remaining members of the Ginyu Force to deal with Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin.
After playing Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine who would fight who, Guldo prepares to engage Gohan and Krillin. As the three begin fighting, it appears as if Gohan and Krillin have Guldo on the ropes, as Guldo is barely able to freeze time long enough to escape the two's energy blasts. Just when it seems that Gohan and Krillin will win, Guldo reveals his trump card: the ability to mentally petrify his enemies. He uses this desperate move to trap Gohan and Krillin in place as he uses telekinesis to make a skewer out of a nearby tree. He launches the skewer at the frozen Gohan and Krillin. Just when it seems like Gohan and Krillin are about to become shish kebab, Vegeta fires an energy beam at Guldo and cuts his head off, stopping the skewer just seconds away from impaling Gohan and Krillin. After Guldo's decapitated head insults Vegeta, Vegeta disintegrates it, now fearing his fight against the brute Recoome.
With Guldo gone, Recoome steps up to challenge Vegeta. With his newfound power after recovering from his battle on Earth and his battle with Zarbon, Vegeta launches into a powerful assault on Recoome, landing several powerful hits and firing an intense energy blast, the Final Crash, at Recoome that appears to take care of him. However, as the dust settles and Recoome emerges unharmed from the debris, it looks like the trio is in trouble. When Recoome effortlessly takes down Vegeta, Krillin goes in to help, believing that the only chance they have of surviving is if Vegeta survives. However, Krillin's efforts are in vain as Recoome easily knocks him aside with a single blow. Gohan then goes in to help Krillin, and despite the young warrior's newly unlocked hidden powers (courtesy of Grand Elder Guru), Recoome manages to easily fend him off. Just when all hope seems lost, Goku lands on planet Namek. After a quick scan of the power levels on the planet, Goku concludes that the strongest power level is Frieza's, the second strongest is Captain Ginyu's, and his friends' power levels are quickly fading. Goku quickly rushes onto the scene where the three remaining members of the Ginyu Force (excluding Captain Ginyu) and his friends are. Goku heals his friends and Vegeta (against Krillin's protests) with Senzu Beans that he brought from Earth, although out of his desire to allow his rival a chance to settle the score, and partially to repay Vegeta for helping Gohan and Krillin when they were in danger of Guldo's attack.
The remaining members of the Ginyu Force, agitated by the interruption of Goku's arrival, proceed to engage him in battle, but they prove to be no match for Goku, and he soundly defeats them all, knocking out Recoome (with a single hit) and Burter, and letting Jeice flee. Angered that Goku refuses to finish off Recoome and Burter, Vegeta kills them himself by cracking the unconscious Burter's neck and blowing up the fallen Recoome from behind with an energy wave. Goku becomes upset that Vegeta would do such a thing and Vegeta explains that by letting them live, he and Gohan's lives would be at risk. After the fighting is over, the others state that all hope is lost as Captain Ginyu has probably already brought Frieza the Dragon Balls and Frieza may already be immortal. Krillin remarks that on Earth, the sky turns black when the Dragon is summoned, and since that has not happened, Frieza probably has not made his wish. That's when Goku fills the others in on a little secret, the Namekian Dragon Balls can only be activated when one says the correct password. Meanwhile, Jeice arrives at Frieza's ship and requests Captain Ginyu's help to deal with Goku. Annoyed at having to get his hands dirty, Captain Ginyu agrees and flies off with Jeice to fight Goku.
Goku tells Gohan and Krillin to fetch the Dragon Radar and locate the Dragon Balls. Captain Ginyu and Jeice arrive on the scene just as Gohan and Krillin leave. Goku asks for Vegeta's help in fighting the remaining Ginyu Force members and Vegeta agrees, but quickly flies off laughing, leaving Goku to deal with Jeice and Captain Ginyu himself. After some short fighting, Captain Ginyu realizes that Goku is holding back, and asks that he reveal his full power. Using his scouter, Captain Ginyu is shocked to find Goku reaching a power level of 180,000 with just the normal Kaio-ken. Coming to the conclusion that he cannot hope to defeat Goku, he instead to use theBody Change (his special ability) to swap bodies with Goku, but not before fatally injuring his own body (causing Goku to suffer from pain when he enters Captain Ginyu's body). Satisfied with his cunning trick, Captain Ginyu flies off in Goku's body, with Jeice trailing.
The new Captain Ginyu in Goku's body, now wields a great power from Goku. He starts to fool Vegeta, Krillin, and Gohan. Vegeta, however, realized that Goku was not himself. Krillin and Gohan were easily fooled, but immediately came to their senses that Goku is not himself when they saw Goku wearing a scouter, and hanging around Jeice. Krillin and Gohan then joined forces to stop Captain Ginyu in Goku's body. Meanwhile, Vegeta handles Jeice on his own. He swiftly kills the meddling Ginyu Force member, and heads off to fight Captain Ginyu. Goku, now in Captain Ginyu's body, makes an alliance with Vegeta to stop Ginyu in Goku's body. As Ginyu had figured out how to use Goku's body, he took the upper hand against Krillin and Gohan. Vegeta, however, completely overpowered him and was about to finish him off. Captain Ginyu fired another change beam, which was fortunately intercepted by Goku, and both returned to their original bodies. Captain Ginyu, now in his injured old body, was no match for Goku or Vegeta, and was soon being pummeled by him. Knowing he is finished, Captain Ginyu planned another Body Switch using his change beam, with Vegeta. The beam was about to connect with Vegeta, but Goku threw a frog in between them. The body switch was now with a frog. Captain Ginyu was now a frog, and the frog was Captain Ginyu. Vegeta merely scoffs at the powerlessness of the once-proud Captain Ginyu, and decides to not kill Goku and take his revenge on him, because he needs his help to stop Frieza. Vegeta, Krillin, and Gohan take Goku into a recovery chamber, where he would begin healing.
==== The Evil Tyrant, Frieza ====
Eventually, after Cui, Dodoria, Appule, Zarbon, Guldo, Recoome, Burter, Jeice and Captain Ginyu have all failed in their attempts to kill Vegeta, Frieza decided to take matters into his own hands. After realizing his powerful Ginyu Force members were all taken down in battle, Frieza was furious. He fled towards his ship to find any traces of his collected Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Vegeta stands by a rejuvenating Goku. Vegeta spares Goku only in time on his assistance against Frieza. While Vegeta falls asleep, tired after all the battles, Krillin and Gohan sneakily gather the seven Namekian Dragon Balls, and began telling their wishes. Their first wish was for Piccolo's return. Then they wished to transport him back on Namek. Their third and final wish was interrupted by an enraged Vegeta, waking up and spotting the Namekian Dragon. Frieza also realized this strange feature, and was gaining on them at high speeds. Vegeta pries Dende, the wisher of Porunga the Namekian Dragon, to wish him immortality to stop Frieza. The wish almost succeeded, but Guru, the eldest of all Nameks, died just before they could finish. Vegeta goes into a rage, but stops when he spots Frieza, and becomes slightly fearful, as Frieza looks down on them from above. He provided a sneak peek at his amazing power, but Vegeta was just able to match him.
Vegeta ordered Frieza to transform and explained that Zarbon had already mentioned that Frieza also had the ability to transform, seeing it was no longer a secret. As a result, Frieza decided to transform with some provocation from Vegeta, after telling Vegeta the fate of his own father in a flashback. In this new form, Frieza was too powerful for Vegeta, and especially Krillin, Dende, and Gohan. Frieza impales Krillin, and after doing away with Gohan, Frieza asks Vegeta if he will help the defenseless child, but Vegeta backs away from helping in fear. Frieza is then confronted by Piccolo, who Vegeta thinks is a worthless waste of a wish and wonders what the Namekian who lost to Nappa can possibly do against Frieza as he does not know that Piccolo had fused with Nail to become even more powerful. In filler, while Piccolo and Frieza are fighting, Vegeta attempts to run away, but he is spotted by Frieza and kicked into a Namekian mountain. It seems Piccolo can handle Frieza in his second Transformation. As a result, Frieza decides to transform into his most hideous form. After transforming yet again, Frieza is once again too powerful for anyone, including the fused Piccolo who is saved by Gohan.
When Frieza eventually manages to deflect Gohan's Full Power Masenko, Vegeta realizes Frieza may be too strong for even him or Goku, and concocts a plan to reach the rank of Super Saiyan by having Krillin hurt him badly, leaving only an inch of his life, then having Dende heal him (because Saiyans grow increasingly stronger when they recover from near-death experiences). He fails as Frieza decides yet again to transform due to Gohan, when angered, being powerful enough to almost deter his third form.
After Frieza kills Dende, Vegeta watches Gohan, Krillin and Piccolo battle the tyrant all at once with no success, and jumps in to save Gohan's life when Frieza fires another Bang Beam at him. Vegeta then declares himself a Super Saiyan and attacks Frieza directly, trying to hit Frieza with a raging flurry of punches, which Frieza manages to dodge quite easily, as his speed and power are far superior to Vegeta's still. Angered by this, Vegeta fires the Final Burst Cannon at Frieza, using all of his power, however, the tyrant still easily deflects the attack, making Vegeta lose all hope, and for the first time in his life, cry. Frieza goes on the assault and begins pummeling Vegeta, leaving him on the brink of death until the renewed Goku shows up and distracts him. Sensing Goku's increased strength and watching Goku outsmart Frieza and even kick him in the jaw, Vegeta begins laughing and taunting Frieza that Goku is the Super Saiyan who will defeat him. Frieza fires a Death Beam right through Vegeta's heart, ending the Saiyan Prince's tortured life. Vegeta dies slowly and painfully, pouring his heart and his past out to Goku as the only other pure-blooded Saiyan left alive, this with tears rushing down the Saiyan Prince's face. Goku vows to take revenge for Vegeta on behalf of their race, burying the fallen prince as a sign of gratitude for Vegeta saving Gohan and helping to revive Piccolo.
After Goku is being beat by Frieza, Vegeta, King Vegeta and Bardock appear to Goku in a vision and convince him that he can defeat Frieza by becoming a Super Saiyan.
Vegeta is later resurrected when a wish is made with the Earth's Dragon Balls to bring back everyone killed on Planet Namek by Frieza and his men. He also becomes somewhat reformed; he no longer cares about immortality or conquering the universe, but becomes obsessed with becoming stronger. He is revived and brought to Earth, but not before he sees that Goku has transformed into the legendary Super Saiyan warrior that Saiyan legend says hasn’t appeared in a millennia. He also attempts to launch an attack on a bewildered Frieza after the latter asked if he was a ghost, but is transported to Earth by Porunga before he can finish the attack. Meanwhile, Goku defeats Frieza but is apparently killed in Namek's explosion. Only in the anime, Vegeta hides his remorse for Goku by boasting happily about it until Gohan challenges him to a fight. Vegeta subdues Gohan but is stopped from hurting him seriously by Piccolo, and flies off. Desiring to learn how to become a Super Saiyan, Vegeta comes up with the idea of wishing Goku to the Check-In Station in the Other World and then wishing him back so that he will be brought to Earth instead of where Namek used to be. When the wish is made, however, Goku is revealed to have survived and refuses to be wished to Earth, promising that he will return himself later. Only in the anime, as he is unwilling to wait, Vegeta steals a Capsule Corporation spaceship and ventures out to search for Goku and bring him back.
==== The Mysterious Youth ====
One year and eight months after the events on planet Namek, Vegeta returned to Earth, not having found Goku. Vegeta had been training during that time, and was quite a bit more powerful than before. However, he still did not achieve the Super Saiyan transformation. After calling off his search, he returns to Capsule Corporation, where Bulma forces him to take a shower and gives him a pink shirt to wear as his alternate clothing. While he is still living at Capsule Corporation, Frieza and his fatherKing Cold are sensed on their way to Earth, Frieza having survived the explosion of Namek. However, a young man named Trunks appears, transforms into a Super Saiyan, and destroys both Frieza and his father. After the fight, the boy tells them that Goku will soon arrive. The Z Fighters (Vegeta, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, Gohan, and Krillin), along with Bulma and Puar, wait for 2 hours for Goku's arrival. Vegeta is curious as to who the stranger really is and is jealous of the young warrior's ability to become a Super Saiyan, seeing him as an obstacle to his goal of becoming the strongest fighter in the universe by obtaining the Super Saiyan form himself as well as being in denial about Future Trunks being a Saiyan. While waiting for Goku, Future Trunks keeps staring at Vegeta, causing Vegeta to demand why he is staring at him. Eventually, Goku shows up and he explains that he ended up on Planet Yardrat and learned Instant Transmission from the natives. Future Trunks speaks with Goku privately (though Piccolo was able to hear them with his sharp hearing), after testing the Saiyan's power briefly. He tells Goku that his father is Vegeta, his mother is Bulma, and he is a Super Saiyan from 20 years in the future. In actuality, the reason why Future Trunks was staring at Vegeta was because this had been the first time he actually met his father, due to Future Vegeta being killed by the Androids while Future Trunks was still an infant. Goku does not talk about this with the others but he does speak about Future Trunks being a Saiyan, which makes Vegeta angry and jealous. Vegeta says it is impossible, because there is no way for the boy to have Saiyan blood (he and Goku being the last of the Saiyans, and Gohan being a half-breed).
Future Trunks then gives Goku an antidote for a heart virus that Future Trunks says Goku will develop in a few years time. He also says that in three years, two Androids, created by former Red Ribbon Army scientist Dr. Gero, will appear, kill all of the Z Fighters, and begin a reign of terror over the Earth. During the next three years, the Z Fighters began to train very hard. Vegeta was no exception, as he trained the hardest to become a Super Saiyan. After witnessing the lower class Goku and another stranger he does not even recognize as from his race being Super Saiyans, Vegeta trains with pure determination. This eventually leads to him getting injured in a training-related accident and being hospitalized temporarily, and causes Bulma to get closer to him, rendering Yamcha jealous.
==== The Androids ====
Three years pass, and Vegeta and Bulma become parents to a baby called Trunks. During this time, Vegeta trains himself intensely, determined to become a Super Saiyan like Goku. Training at 450 times normal gravity, Vegeta pushes his strength to the limit, but still finds himself unable to achieve the level of Super Saiyan. Eventually, Vegeta takes the ship with the Gravity Machine on it to a planet so he can train without distraction. While on this planet, Vegeta is forced to defend the ship from a sudden meteor shower, a task which proves to be difficult for him as he is weakened from his training. Just as it seems that both himself and the ship are going to be destroyed by a giant meteor, Vegeta, out of sheer hopelessness and desperation, finally becomes a Super Saiyan and is easily able to destroy the meteor.
It is not long after that the prophesied Android 19 and Android 20 (Dr. Gero) appear and wreak havoc. Vegeta is at age 35 at the time. When the heart disease begins to attack Goku while fighting Android 19, Vegeta appears out of nowhere and kicks the Android in the face, saving Goku. Vegeta tells them to give Goku his medicine. Goku is then flown home by Yamcha, where the heart medicine is given to him. Vegeta then greatly surprises everyone by transforming into a Super Saiyan. Vegeta then begins to effortlessly demolish Android 19 with his increased power and after ripping the Android's hands off, he finishes it off with his Big Bang Attack.
Vegeta seems to be far more powerful than both of the Androids, and Android 20 decides to flee. During this time, Future Trunks arrives and informs everyone that Android 19 and 20 are not the androids of his future world. After Vegeta takes a Senzu Bean to recover his power, Piccolo calls Future Trunks by name, causing Vegeta to realize who he really is; Vegeta is initially shocked by this realization, although he is also apparently resolved as this explains how the boy could become a Super Saiyan (Vegeta is also implied to be proud to be Trunks' father, as he reacts with surprise at Trunks' Super Saiyan transformation at his age, and then thinks "But then again, he is my son"). After pursuing Android 20 (who is really Dr. Gero, with his brain in a cyborg body) Vegeta and the rest of the team discover Android 16, Android 17, and Android 18, who were activated by Android 20 in a desperate attempt to save himself. These Androids were far more powerful than either Dr. Gero, or Android 19. However, Android 17 crushes Dr. Gero's head, not being loyal to his creator at all.
The three new Androids fly away from Dr. Gero's secret laboratory, but the Z Fighters follow them, and Vegeta challenges them to battle. He fights with Android 18, and seems to be doing fairly well at first and surprises the Androids with his newfound power, but is eventually defeated due to the fact that Android 18 has infinite power while Vegeta has to use all his power to fight her. When Piccolo, Tien, and Future Trunks step in, they too are beaten into submission. The Androids then head off to look for Goku in order to destroy him - the mission they were made for. Krillin, the only Z Fighter not to have gotten involved in the skirmish with the Androids, gives everyone Senzu Beans, which revived all of his fallen comrades. Vegeta then spends three days standing on a cliff, thinking about his defeat. His anger erupts, causing him to transform into a Super Saiyan. He decides that there must be a level beyond Super Saiyan, and resolves to reach it. Vegeta enters the Hyperbolic Time Chamber at Kami's Lookout and trains for nearly a year (a day outside) with Future Trunks. Meanwhile, Dr. Gero's ultimate Android creation is discovered.
==== Battle with Cell ====
After Imperfect Cell manages to absorb Android 17 and becomes even stronger than Piccolo, Vegeta and Future Trunks emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and confront Semi-Perfect Cell. After powering up into a 2nd Grade Super Saiyan, Vegeta completely dominated Semi-Perfect Cell, and even made the evil android beg him to allow him to absorb Android 18, in order to become complete, and make the fight more interesting. This strategy was obvious to everyone, including Vegeta, and he initially refuses. However, eager to show off his new power, Vegeta eventually permits Semi-Perfect Cell to do as he wishes, even going so far as to fight Future Trunks and stop him from preventing Semi-Perfect Cell's attainment of perfection. Future Trunks fights back and blasts Vegeta away from the battle into the sea, in the process drawing Vegeta's blood. Angered, Vegeta returns to the battlefield, just as Cell has obtained his Perfect form. Cell fights Vegeta again, but this time, Vegeta is the weaker one, with Vegeta angry that Cell was not taking their battle seriously. Vegeta had to resort to using his Final Flash technique, which, to his credit, was too strong for Cell to block. He dares Perfect Cell to take the attack head on, and Perfect Cell, confident that it will not harm him, stays put as the beam hits him. Though it failed to destroy Perfect Cell, the attack's power was obvious, as Perfect Cell was missing a third of his body from the blast. When Vegeta thought he had won, Perfect Cell regenerated, though, thanks to Piccolo's Cells, and then badly beat the weakened Vegeta. Perfect Cell then fought Future Trunks, who managed to put up a fight against the perfect Android, but he was defeated as well, when he gave up after realizing the 3rd Grade Super Saiyan form was too slow to fight Cell. Instead of killing the defeated Z Warriors, Perfect Cell proposes a tournament so that he can have some fun before destroying Earth. The tournament would commence in ten days.
==== The Cell Games ====
During this time, Goku and Gohan got their turn in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and began training, mostly for the purpose of Gohan becoming a Super Saiyan, his hidden power would be very useful then if he could at least keep up with Perfect Cell normally. Goku and Gohan then appear from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with Vegeta praising their tactics of achieving the Full-Powered Super Saiyan state. Vegeta then decides to once again enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber hopeful to gain an increase in power as he had before but this time decided to do things differently, first by entering alone instead of with Future Trunks deciding that he would just SLOW  him down and to instead gain control over the original Super Saiyan transformation as Goku and Gohan had done before rather than increasing his power as much as possible. Vegeta then reappeared from the chamber disappointed at how little increase in power he had achieved. All the Z Warriors then gathered at the tournament after nine days had passed. On the day of the tournament, the martial artschampion Mr. Satan (Hercule) and his trainees attack Perfect Cell first, but they are easily defeated. Then the tournament truly begins, as Goku is the first of our heroes to fight Perfect Cell, even though he already knows that he will probably not be able to beat him. He matches Perfect Cell blow for blow and puts up a good fight; but as Goku expected, Perfect Cell is quite a bit stronger than him.
Goku eventually quits the fight after a huge Kamehameha that decreases his own power, and remembers the training inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber that he and Gohan went through. Goku is confident in his son's abilities and sends the 9-year-old Gohan out to fight Perfect Cell, assuring Perfect Cell that if Gohan could not beat him, no one would be able to. Gohan reluctantly fights Perfect Cell, but Gohan does not show the same love for fighting and confidence that Goku does, and it is that lack of interest in fighting and lack of confidence that gets him into trouble. Gohan does not use his full strength and Perfect Cell makes seven miniature versions of himself to fight the Z Fighters and eventually kill them. This charade continues until Android 16 (who is now allied with Goku) is killed - when this happens, Gohan's dormant power erupts in his rage and he transforms to a level that surpasses the known limits of any Super Saiyan. This new level of power is "Super Saiyan 2". It was just as Goku had predicted; Gohan with his awakened power, dominates the perfect android until a well placed punch to the stomach makes Perfect Cell regurgitate Android 18, forcing him to become semi-perfect again. No longer at his ultimate power, he begins to self destruct as a last resort. Goku teleports him to King Kai's planet, and is killed in the explosion. Semi-Perfect Cell survives, and comes back in his perfect form, but due to his Saiyan genetics, Super Perfect Cell comes back stronger after his near fatal injury. He returns to Earth, where he kills Future Trunks with a Full Power Death Beam.
Vegeta attacks Super Perfect Cell in a fit of rage when he sees his son killed, blasting the android straight on with an incredible volley of Ki Blasts. When it is all over, Super Perfect Cell emerges, completely unharmed. He knocks Vegeta aside and then attempts to finish him off once and for all with a ki blast, but Gohan throws himself in the way of the blast, losing the use of his left arm in the process.
What follows is a turning point in the life of the Warrior Prince: seeing that his pride and rage has taken the victory from a brother Saiyan and warrior, Vegeta, for the first time in his life, apologized for his arrogance (though Gohan thought that this might also have partially to do with the fact that the Earth was dying).
During the Kamehameha struggle, Vegeta observed the battle and briefly expresses some doubts about the other Z-fighters (namely Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin) going to aid Piccolo in trying to distract Cell long enough to have Gohan overpower Cell, thinking their actions wouldn't make a difference either way. However, after witnessing them distract Cell long enough to yell at them for interfering, Vegeta starts wondering whether it would actually work. He then has some remaining doubts, before eventually becoming a Super Saiyan again. After an intense Kamehameha duel, Super Perfect Cell is finally defeated by Gohan's Kamehameha after Vegeta distracts him with a Ki Blast to the back, allowing Gohan's beam to finally overcome Super Perfect Cell's. Realizing that both Goku and Gohan were superior to him not only in power but in character and honor as well, Vegeta understands that he was beaten by Goku in more ways than one. His last words on the battlefield are "Kakarot, you died without fear. What does that make of me?" With the battle over, Vegeta began to finally accept his rapidly changing morality (as he, like Piccolo before him, had now grown to care for others), and began to settle down on Earth, becoming quite fond of it, and begins to truly care about his family. With Goku gone, Vegeta is left without a reason to fight, and vows never to fight again.
==== Seven years later ====
Seven years after the Cell Games, despite lacking a worthy opponent, Vegeta continues his vigorous training at Bulma's house, coming much closer to Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 power due to Gohan focusing on his studies. Now that Goku is gone, Vegeta's goal is no longer to become stronger than him, but it is now to make Trunksstronger than both Gohan and Goku's second son, Goten, as he strongly believes Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 was Goku's doing. He is first seen emerging from a gravity room after training with Trunks, when Gohan comes to have fun with Trunks. While Gohan greets Vegeta kindly, Vegeta gives Gohan a cold look and tells him that he should continue training, even in peacetime, quoting "You look out of shape. Never get soft in peace time."
Later, upon hearing from Gohan that Goku will be coming to Earth for 24 hours to fight in the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament, Vegeta boasts and claims that he will beat Gohan, Goten, and Goku in the tournament, believing that he has surpassed Gohan in strength. During training for the tournament, Vegeta is shown to be a rather harsh and stern teacher towards Trunks, commenting rudely on Trunks's inability to adapt to the intense gravity in the training room, but he becomes shocked when Trunks effortlessly goes Super Saiyan and adapts well (thus reducing the "transformation into the legendary warrior" to a "child's play thing"). Vegeta orders Trunks to attack him, promising to take him to the amusement park if he manages to hit him. Trunks fails to touch Vegeta, who strikes him to the floor, but is impressed enough to take Trunks to the park. However, Vegeta becomes slightly irritated when he hears that Goten is also a Super Saiyan (especially after hearing it was Chi-Chi who triggered the transformation in the first place) and only slightly weaker than Trunks, and vows to make the gap between Trunks and Goten's power as big as possible.
==== The World Tournament Begins ====
Vegeta then arrives at the tournament with his family and in turn joins up with the Z Fighters in order to greet Goku on his return. When Goku appears, Vegeta, with his son, look on as the others greet Goku in happiness. They then all take turns hitting the punch reader machine. While the Z Fighters lower their strength to hit the machine, Vegeta hits it without holding back, completely destroying the machine, to the disgrace of the others. Vegeta is eager to fight Goku in the tournament to prove that he was the stronger one and to his delight, his first match is with Goku. Goku meets his son Goten and the tournament starts. Soon, Supreme Kai and Kibito appear and tell Goku that a wizard named Babidi is about to unleash an evil monster named Majin Buu on the world, and they must help stop him. Majin Buu needs energy from fighters so he can be freed from the shell he is trapped inside. Goku prepares to go with Supreme Kai, but Vegeta is enraged - he was scheduled to fight Goku and thinks Goku is trying to wiggle out of it. He joins Goku, Gohan, Videl, Piccolo and Krillin. They follow Supreme Kai toBabidi's spaceship. However, the gang is ambushed. Piccolo and Krillin are turned to stone statues by Dabura, one ofBabidi's henchmen. Videl returns to the tournament, advised that the fight against Babidi might be too dangerous for her as she is inexperienced. Goku, Gohan, Vegeta and Supreme Kai enter Babidi's ship.
==== Return of the Dark Prince ====
They fight their way down the levels, encountering a different Majin (Babidi's fighters) at each level. Vegeta was the first of the three to fight, after winning a match of Rock-Paper-Scissors. He fights the minion Pui Pui with absolute ease, not even having to transform into a Super Saiyan. Seeing Pui-Pui fall to Vegeta's might, Babidi transports Pui Pui and the others to Pui Pui's home planet Zoon, which has 10x the gravity of earth. Vegeta, having already trained under 500X gravity when preparing for the androids, is not fazed at all by this change (also note that Vegeta grew up on Planet Vegeta, which already had 10X the gravity of earth). Vegeta then proceeds to eliminate Pui-Pui swiftly by killing him instantly with a point-blank energy blast, completely disintegrating the minion. Goku was up next, and he fought a pet creature of Babidi known as Yakon. At first, Yakon was troublesome, seeing as though he has the ability to see in dark, Goku did not. However, Goku manages to defeat the creature from him absorbing too much of his energy and blowing up, briefly giving Vegeta a glimpse of Goku's Super Saiyan 2 powers.
At this point, Vegeta realizes that even though he has trained as hard as he could for seven years, there was still a gap between Goku's power and his. Then Gohan begins to fight Dabura. During the fight between Gohan and Dabura, Vegeta and Goku have an argument about how to best handle the Babidi/Majin Buu threat. Dabura notices Vegeta's anger quickly boil and rise, and he retreats saying that there is a different fighter who is more powerful. They are confused, as Supreme Kai says that Dabura is the most powerful Majin. Suddenly, Vegeta begins acting strangely, screaming that something invisible is attacking him. Supreme Kai informs the others that Babidi is trying to take over Vegeta's mind and they encourage him to fight back, but it is too late. Vegeta is overwhelmed by Babidi, and is transformed into a much more powerful stage, Majin Vegeta. Babidi orders his new apprentice, Majin Vegeta, to destroy Goku, Gohan and Supreme Kai, but he refuses. He says he will only fight Goku.
Babidi is surprised by Majin Vegeta's ability to fight his mind control, but obediently transports the three fighters and Supreme Kai back to the World Martial Arts Tournament. Majin Vegeta, eager to fight Goku, blows up part of the spectator bleachers, killing dozens of people, trying to convince Goku to fight him. After taunting Goku for a while, Goku eventually agrees. Supreme Kai tries to get in the way of the two Saiyans' feud, but backs down when Goku threatens to blast him if he gets in the way (to the surprise of Vegeta). Goku and Majin Vegeta then are teleported to a secluded mountain area, and fight. Majin Vegeta reveals to Goku that he deliberately let Babidi control him in order to allow his evilness to resurface, which would allow Vegeta to fight Goku as he once was, saying "I was cold and ruthless, unencumbered by foolish emotion!" After that, Majin Vegeta and Goku both power-up to Super Saiyan 2, with power levels just surpassing that of Gohan's when he fought Super Perfect Cell. Then Goku and Majin Vegeta fight furiously, with each fighter having their glorious moment after one another.
==== The ancient monster, Majin Buu ====
Vegeta was able to fight evenly with Goku, (which caught the latter off-guard on a few occasions). Throughout the battle, Vegeta informs Goku of how he began to enjoy comfortable family life with Bulma and Trunks, but his Saiyan nature began to disagree with this new cozy, non-violent lifestyle, making Vegeta feel weak and useless, thus, Vegeta wanted to retread the path he was on a long time ago, evil and ruthless. Goku tries to persuade Vegeta that his life has changed, and he can still easily enjoy being a competitive fighter with a loving family, but Vegeta brushes this notion as nonsense. Eventually, Goku calls a halt to the fight because he senses Majin Buu's extraordinary power, meaning he has been released due to the energy spent by Goku and Majin Vegeta which Babidi used to revive the sleeping Majin Buu. When Goku turns his back to get out the last Senzu Bean and split it between him and Majin Vegeta to stop Majin Buu, Majin Vegeta attacks Goku and knocks him out.
Majin Vegeta takes the Senzu Bean and goes to fight Majin Buu by himself: as he felt that he owed Goku for the destruction wrecked during the Cell Games, as it was his fault Semi-Perfect Cell absorbed Android 18. Majin Vegeta wants to repay his debt by saving the Earth, as he also believed that Gohan was dead at the time. Majin Vegeta fights against Majin Buu, but cannot win, even his most powerful attacks only slightly hurt Buu. He inflicts many blows on Majin Buu, but the pink monster seems invincible. Majin Buu then proceeds to constrict Vegeta using his Potbelly Attack and mercilessly beats the Saiyan Prince into submission.
After Trunks saves Vegeta from one of Buu's attacks, Vegeta decides the only way to destroy Buu is to sacrifice himself. For the first time since Trunks was a baby, Vegeta holds his son close and tells him how proud he is of him, before knocking him and Goten out. He leaves them in Piccolo's care, and then uses the Final Explosion (a Self Destruction technique) in an attempt to kill Majin Buu in a nuke-like explosion. At the end, all that is left of him is his body turned to stone which falls to the ground and leaves a few broken bits of his stone body, which quickly scatter. This technique does not kill Majin Buu, as Majin Buu regenerates from the pieces of him which were left. Everyone finds out about Vegeta's sacrifice, and mourns the Saiyan Prince's demise. When Bulma and Yamcha wished back everyone who died after the World Tournament, Vegeta did not come back due to the fact that he had already been wished back once before (during the Frieza Saga).
==== Vegeta's return ====
Later on in the saga, Vegeta is given the chance of another shot at Majin Buu by King Yemma, which Vegeta accepts. He returns to Earth but unfortunately, he is still dead. He finds Goku (now brought back to life, thanks to one of Supreme Kai's ancestors sacrificing themselves) who tells him that everyone has been killed or absorbed by Majin Buu. Majin Buu was now much more powerful than when Vegeta first fought him. As a result, Goku asks and pleads to Vegeta to put on one of the Potara Earrings so that they can permanently fuse their bodies and minds together and fight as one. Vegeta denies Goku's offer, and tells him that he knows about Goku again surpassing him, furious that he had found and reached the new Super Saiyan 3 stage, thinking he was mocking him by not using this form during their last confrontation. Vegeta got angry at Goku for holding back in their fight before because Vegeta would not have had to sacrifice his own life if he had known that Goku's true power rivaled that of Majin Buu, and thus he initially rejects the offer. Goku and Vegeta are then confronted by Super Buu.
Goku mentions the fact that Bulma has been killed, and Trunks and the remaining Z Fighters have been absorbed. Vegeta decides to go along with the plan. Then when Vegeta agrees to fuse with Goku he explains they would be stuck together forever. Seeing he had no other choices, Vegeta agreed to fuse, even if it means being stuck with Goku forever, because he wants to avenge his family's death and to stop Super Buu. Vegeta then agrees with Goku, and they fuse to become Vegito. Vegito fights Super Buu w/Gohan absorbed. The fused Saiyan, in the normal Super Saiyan form, is far stronger than even the mass-absorbed Super Buu, easily able to beat him even after being turned to a coffee-flavored jawbreaker. However, Vegito realizes that he cannot destroy Super Buu because his friends and family have been absorbed into Super Buu's body and allows himself to be purposely absorbed after putting up aSaiyan Barrier so that he may rescue them. The strange circumstances within Super Buu cause the fusion to separate and Goku and Vegeta find themselves back in their own bodies. Stating that nothing is worse than being fused with Goku forever, Vegeta crushes the Potaras to powder without hesitation. Goku and Vegeta fight their way through Super Buu's body to the brain (however, in the manga, they appear directly in the brain just as the other absorbees were), where they find not only Gohan, Goten, Trunks and Piccolo but also the original fat form of Majin Buu.
Vegeta recalls (having seen these events in the afterlife) that at some time in the past, Majin Buu split into his good and evil sides. The evil side absorbed the good side, Majin Buu. Goku and Vegeta fight a "thought-form" of Super Buu inside the brain, and think they have won until Super Buu regenerates and defeats them. Super Buu's power had tremendously been decreased in comparison to when he fought Vegito. However, he was still stronger than both Goku and Vegeta (the former of whom states that Buu would kill them easily if they were to go out unfused). Super Buu was about to destroy Goku when Vegeta distracts him by threatening to tear the fat Majin Buu out of the pod he was trapped inside of. Super Buu gets really scared and frightened at what Vegeta is about to do, and begs the Saiyan prince to stop, saying "If you tear those attachments, I won't be me anymore," which only seemed to increase Vegeta's interest in ripping them. Vegeta then pulls the pod, causing the Super Buu thought-form to dissolve, and he and Goku then escape. They take their sons and Piccolo with them. Once outside, they see that Super Buu's form is changing again. He morphs back into Kid Buu, his original form before he absorbed Southern Supreme Kai and, the benevolent leader of the Supreme Kais, the Grand Supreme Kai. The new Buu, Kid Buu, was the original, said-to-be pure evil form of Majin Buu,a form that is nothing but pure evil.
==== The Final Battle ====
Kid Buu decides to destroy the earth in his wake with his Planet Burst. Vegeta and Goku have a small conversation afterwards, with Vegeta making fun of Goku because he was so worried but he just shrank. Goku and Vegeta could not stop Kid Buu's horrible power, and the two Saiyans fly quickly to try and reach the now-free absorption victims, but Goku made a detour and picked up Mr. Satan, the young Namekian healer Dende, and Mr. Satan's pet Labrador puppy, Bee. There was no time to save Gohan, Goten, Trunks or Piccolo as Kid Buu's attack was speeding towards them. Suddenly Kibito Kai appears using Instantaneous Movement to transport himself, Goku, Vegeta, and the three others to the Sacred World of the Kais. Vegeta blames Goku for the needless death of their sons. Vegeta also gets further incensed when he learned that, while Vegeta was still dead and in the afterlife, Goku bribed Old Kai with allowing the latter to grope/gain nude pictures of/go on a date with Bulma, lashing out at Goku for his senselessness and stated that he should have just used Goku's own wife instead. They watch through a Crystal Ball and see that Kid Buu is destroying planet after planet in search of them, Kid Buu knew they escaped, and as a result decided to hunt them down. Goku and Vegeta decide it cannot go on, and power up to entice him to come to the sacred planet to fight them both.
Kid Buu answers their call, and quickly makes himself visible at the planet. After playing a quick game of Rock-Paper-Scissors to decide who faces Kid Buu first, Goku wins and starts his fight. Exclusively in the anime, Goku powers up to a Super Saiyan 2 and fights well against the child version of Majin Buu. However, Kid Buu powers up and Goku then powers up to a Super Saiyan 3 to try and match his power. Goku evenly fights the psychotic demon. However, Kid Buu seems to have a slight advantage over Goku as the fight progresses due to Goku's constantly depleting energy supply. Goku fights in his Super Saiyan 3 stage for a while, and as a result, loses a colossal amount of energy. He starts losing so much power he eventually collapses when he tries to fire the powerful Kamehameha attack. Vegeta steps in and fights for a period of time, but is dominated and cannot match Kid Buu in power. Goku recovers in the nick of time and begins fighting again at his full strength. Vegeta goes through a long flashback sequence, remembering how he met Goku and everything that's happened since then - he thinks about their different attitudes to their families, about Goku's friends, and most of all about their strength. He finally comes to terms with his rivalry with Goku and acknowledges him as the best as Goku fights for pure reasons and not for his own personal gain.
Goku gradually began losing power despite being in Super Saiyan 3 form, and since Kid Buu maintained his full strength even after multiple powerful attacks from Goku, the Saiyan warrior began to panic. Vegeta fought Kid Buu in his Super Saiyan 2 form as a distraction so Goku could get his energy back, even though he knew that his destruction would be permanent if he were destroyed while he was dead. He was beaten viciously, but would not give up (even shocking Kid Buu). Later, the good Majin Buu took Vegeta's place after being spit out. However, Goku was unable to get his energy back, reverting into his base form. Vegeta realized that Goku could not defeat Kid Buu by using his power alone, and devised a plan for Goku to create a massive Spirit Bomb with energy given by all the people on Earth in order to destroy Kid Buu, which Goku thinks at first will not succeed. Communicating with King Kai, he coordinated the search for the seven Dragon Balls of New Namek and had the Nameks use them to make three wishes: The first being the restoration of the destroyed Planet Earth.
The second wish affirms the sincerity of Vegeta's newfound humanity, as it entails the revival of everyone who had died since the arrival of Babidi who do not possess an evil heart, so that they can give their energy to the Spirit Bomb. When asked by Goku why the wish was worded so, he reasoned that to wish otherwise would revive Dabura and Babidi, and those whom he murdered at the tournament would stay dead. Surely enough, his own halo disappears, indicating that his heart was no longer an evil one. Vegeta tries to convince the people of Earth to give their energy to defeat Buu, but they do not listen to his pleas. All hope seems lost until Mr. Satan orders the humans to contribute energy, which the humans then do. When Goku completes the Super Spirit Bomb, he cannot throw it because Kid Buu was holding the injured Vegeta down. However, the good Majin Buu tackles Kid Buu away so Mr. Satan could move Vegeta away. Finally, Goku launches it.
This last wish, that of recovering Goku's full strength, was made when Kid Buu was about to overpower the Super Spirit Bomb. Combining Goku's and Vegeta's enormous strength and Vegeta's strategic mind, the last two pure-blood Saiyans were able to defeat Kid Buu and save the universe. Afterwards, Vegeta was eager to dispose of the good Majin Buu, but Goku convinced him that the good Majin Buu had saved his life. Vegeta then changes his mind and accepts the good Majin Buu as one of them. The fighters return to Earth.
Goku and Vegeta finally become friends after being rivals for many years, though they still keep a friendly rivalry between them.
==== Ten years later ====
In the decade since Kid Buu's defeat, Vegeta goes on to father a second child, his daughter Bra. He has fully accepted life as an Earthling, and has traded in the Saiyan battle fatigues for more casual Earth clothing. Ten years after Kid Buu's defeat, Goku, Vegeta, and the others enter the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament. Vegeta hopes to fight Goku (again) and Goku hopes to find the reincarnated version of Kid Buu (Uub). He also has Trunks participate in the tournament, and also jokingly threatens to take away Trunks' allowance if Trunks does not fight.
At the end of his fight with Uub, Goku reveals to everybody that he will be leaving for a while to train Uub. Vegeta is the last to talk to Goku before he leaves. Goku apologizes in a way, and tells Vegeta that he wants to have a friendly battle with him one day (to which Vegeta simply replies that "when we fight, we would need a whole planet as an arena"). After Goku and Vegeta say their goodbyes, both Goku and Uub fly away, and Vegeta once again swears to himself that he will fight Goku someday and defeat him. This is where Dragon Ball Z ends.
== Dragon Ball Z movies ==
Vegeta appears in the following Dragon Ball Z movies and specials:
=== Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! ===
This special takes place two years after the end of the Kid Buu Saga. Two remnants of Frieza's Planet Trade Organization, Abo and Kadohave pursued Vegeta's younger brother Tarble and his wife Gure to Earth. Tarble comes to Earth with Gure to find his brother and ask him for help to fight against them because they have been terrorizing the planet Tarble has settled on (proving to be too powerful for Tarble) and have also followed Tarble to Earth. Vegeta appears to be apathetic to Tarble's arrival. He also has a low opinion of him due to his exile from Planet Vegeta for being a weak and unaggressive fighter and the fact Tarble could not handle it on his own. He is, however, respectful (though surprised) by Tarble's wife and even returns her bow in kind.
Nonetheless, Vegeta is fine with helping his brother out and actually wants to handle Abo and Kado by himself. In the end though, all the Z Fighters want to be involved (to Vegeta's annoyance) and through a contest of seeing who can pull the longest radish, Trunks wins and is the one to face the incoming villains, though Vegeta is content with his son being the one and encourages him to avenge uncle Tarble. Goten also joins in due to Goku's playful encouraging. Trunks and Goten initially have the upperhand until Abo and Kado use a cloning technique and tip the odds. Vegeta comments on Trunks forgetting basics which Bulma claims is because he does not teach them to Trunks, which leads to Vegeta claiming he lacks motivation and the trait comes from Bulma's side of the family, leading to a short argument that is ended by Goku (joking about the marital quarrel). After Gohan's coaching assistance returns the favor to Goten and Trunks, Abo and Kado use Fusion to become Aka and once again gain the upperhand, leading to Goten and Trunks using Fusion to become Gotenks. Gotenks seems to have regained the advantage until Aka starts using his Super Wahaha no Ha and wrecks the surrounding area. While Gotenks and the rest of the Z Fighters defend their weaker friends from the blasts and falling debris of Mr. Satan's hotel, Vegeta and Goku go in to stop Aka. Vegeta however is tricked by Goku who points off in another direction to distract Vegeta while Goku proceeds to finish Aka off himself (which Vegeta comments on afterwards by saying that was not fair). Afterwards Abo and Kado separate and are shown getting along with everyone, having changed their ways. The final scene shows Vegeta and Goku at the dinner table arguing over food whilst their wives (Bulma and Chi-Chi) look on in embarrassment.
=== Battle of Gods ===
In Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, several years after Kid Buu's defeat, Vegeta is at Bulma's birthday with his family and friends. However, the arrival of the God of Destruction Beerus erupts the party, and Vegeta remembers him from his childhood. Vegeta was in a training session when King Kai contacted him about Beerus, and he did not even join Bulma's party until he goes to try and warn everyone about Beerus. However, when he arrives to warn his friends, Beerus is already there, so Vegeta has to immediately start playing party-host instead. Vegeta musters all of his excitement and casts aside his pride to put the party's unannounced attendee in a good mood, but Mr. Buu eventually angers the God of Destruction.
After the other Z Fighters have been defeated, Vegeta decides to fight the God of Destruction on his own but he is ultimately defeated. While Vegeta has admitted defeat at this point and Beerus is about to finish him off, Bulma walks up and scolds Beerus for ruining her birthday party, slapping him. When Beerus returns the favor and slaps her right back, Vegeta explodes in a fit of rage.
Vegeta unloads on Beerus with a barrage of punches and kicks that connect and send the God of Destruction sailing backwards. Master Roshi says that Vegeta's power seems to have surpassed that of Goku in that moment. Vegeta's anger gives him incredible power, but as soon as his rampage is over, Beerus is just fine and Vegeta once again accepts his and the planet's fate. Later, Vegeta helps Goku to reach theSuper Saiyan God form. At the end, Vegeta says that he will be Super Saiyan God next time. Goku needles Vegeta about shouting "My Bulmaaa!!!" when defending her against Beerus. Bulma then tells Vegeta that she felt loved and Vegeta proceeds to deny ever having said such a thing, but says that he surpassed Goku during that moment, to which Goku agrees, to both Vegeta and Bulma's surprise. Goku then says that next time they face a powerful adversary, he will ask them to slap Bulma. This enrages both her and Vegeta, and Bulma slaps Goku in the face. Piccolo then says that Goku must have been watching back during that fight, and everyone gets mad at Goku for not helping out when Beerus was going on a rampage. Goku then says that he simply wanted to analyze the situation first from afar, whereby Vegeta gets sickened by him to the point that he asks Bulma to slap him again.
=== Resurrection ‘F’ ===
In Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ Vegeta plays an important role. At the start of the movie he and Goku are training with Whis on Beerus' planet, their training waking up Beerus, later, he and Goku fight against the revived and empowered Frieza.
== Power ==
Vegeta is one of the most powerful characters in the series, his power often rivaling that of Goku. As a child, Vegeta is shown to be able to easily defeat several Saibamen all alone and he himself states that he had surpassed his father, whose power level was close to 10,000. When Vegeta attacks Earth with Nappa, his power level is 18,000. Upon his arrival on Namek, the Zenkai he gained from the battle on Earth boosted his power to 24,000. After gaining another Zenkai from his battle with Zarbon, his power level grows to 30,000. When he gains another Zenkai from his fight with Recoome, his power grows to 250,000. Just before fighting with Final Form Frieza, Vegeta gains another Zenkai from Krillin, which results in him being capable of seeing Frieza's attacks, unlike Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin.
Vegeta has been the strongest Z Fighter in the series at four different points: First, on Namek, when he is able to defeat both Jeice and Captain Ginyu (though the latter had been greatly crippled by Goku). He is also the strongest Z Fighter during the initial battle against Frieza, where he manages to hold his own against the tyrant's final form while the others were pushed to the sidelines. He is also the strongest when he defeats Android 19 as a Super Saiyan when Goku had previously failed, and again as "Super Vegeta" when he was effortlessly able to subdue Cell in his Semi-Perfect state. In both instances, Vegeta debuted a new transformation, gaining the Super Saiyan form against Android 19 and the 2nd Grade Super Saiyan form against Cell.
== Statistics ==
Tier: 4-C
Key: Saiyan Arc | Frieza Arc | Androids/Cell Arc | Buu Arc | Battle of Gods
Firepower: Planet Level+ | Large Planet Level+ | Star Level (Curbstomped Semi-Perfect Cell and capable of hurting Perfect Cell with Final Flash, it was stated that if Cell took the full force of the blast, he would have been killed) | Solar System Level+ (superior to Gohan in the Cell Games) | Solar System Level+ (Superior to Goku in Buu Saga)
Durability: Planet Level+ | Large Planet Level+ | Star Level | Star Level+ | Large Star Level+
Range: Planetary | At least Planetary | Low Stellar | At least Low Stellar | Stellar
Speed: Massively Hypersonic+ (Quadruple Digits, can keep up with Goku) | Sub-Relativistic | Relativistic | At least Relativistic (superior to Gohan SSJ2), FTL combat and reaction speed (can keep up with Goku Super Saiyan 2) | Relativistic+ (Superior to Gotenks SSJ), FTL combat and reaction speed
Striking Strength: Class NJ+ in base, at least Class NJ+ in Oozaru form, likely higher (superior to Goku in strength back in the Saiyan Saga) | At least Class XJ | At least Class XKJ+ | Class XMJ (superior to the Kaioshin who could kill Frieza with one blow) | At least Class XMJ+ (superior to Goku in Buu Saga and capable of harming Beerus a bit when enraged)
== Techniques and special abilities ==
=== Energy-based & Physical attacks ===
* Amazing Impact – A rush attack Vegeta used against Captain Ginyu, and later when battling Android 19.
* Atomic Blast – A rush attack that Vegeta used during his battle with Semi-Perfect Cell.
* Bang Beam – A favorite move of Vegeta during the Namek Saga, Vegeta points his index finger like a child pretending to shoot a gun and then fires a small but deadly red bolt of energy out of his finger.
* Big Bang Attack – Vegeta discharges a medium-sized ball of ki in his hand. On impact, this technique causes a violent explosion. He uses this attack for the first time onscreen to kill Android 19.
* Blaster Meteor - Vegeta unleashes multiple yellow Energy Waves, causing a cloud of explosions. He used a similar attack against Frieza.
* Crushing in Hands – A technique Vegeta used as a Great Ape to crush Goku's bones.
* Dark Impact – A blast technique used by Majin Vegeta in his fight with Goku. Vegeta (Majin) signature attack in the raging blast series.
* Demonic Rush – A rush attack used by Vegeta in his Majin state during his fight against Super Saiyan 2 Goku. This rush was named in Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi.
* Destructo Disk – A razor sharp disk of energy. Vegeta uses a very similar variation of this attack to cut off Great Ape Gohan's tail.
* Dirty Fireworks – Vegeta punches the enemy's stomach, stunning them before being punched into the air before exploding at the command of Vegeta pointing his index and middle fingers. Vegeta first used this technique to kill a Saibamanwho was holding back in a battle. He uses this move to kill Cui. This technique is used in the Budokai Tenkaichi series and the Raging Blast series as one of his super moves.
* Double Galick Cannon – Vegeta uses this technique to kill Pui Pui. It involves him putting both his hands on his opponents chest followed by a huge energy blast at point blank range which completely obliterates them.
* Elite Assault – A rush attack Vegeta used against Goku during their first battle on Earth. Named in Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans.
* Energy Rings – Vegeta shoots out strong rings made of pure ki to bind his opponents by the limbs for further assaults. He used this attack in his Majin form during his battle against Super Saiyan 2 Goku.
* Face Slap – Vegeta slaps his opponent in the face. Used against Goku while in Majin form, and named in the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game.
* Final Burst Cannon – Vegeta uses this technique as his final attack against Frieza after all his other attacks fail. It is done in a slightly familiar way as the Final Flash and the beam itself is purple like the Galick Gun.
* Final Crash – A technique very similar to Final Flash used against Recoome.
* Final Explosion – Vegeta detonates his body in an attempt to kill Majin Buu, resulting in a devastating, golden-yellow explosion that leaves Vegeta a fragile, stone like corpse. This technique appears in Vegeta's Majin form only.
* Final Flash – Vegeta conducts ki in both of his hands that places next to each other, combining the ki that discharges in the form of a devastating stream of energy. He used this against Perfect Cell, though the Android regenerated.
* Final Galick Cannon – Vegeta delivers several rapid attacks before punching the enemy's stomach and discharging a beam of potent purple ki through the enemy. Vegeta uses this technique to kill Zarbon. This technique is used in the Budokai Tenkaichi series.
* Final Impact – Vegeta fires a fierce bolt of energy from his index and middle finger in his Majin form. He used this attack during his fight with Majin Buu.
* Finger Beam – Used by Vegeta as both a kid and an adult.
** Galick Beam – A variation of the Galick Gun that is fired from fingers. Vegeta uses this technique as a kid to kill Saibamen in Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku.
* Galaxy Breaker – Vegeta charges up and fires a powerful white energy blast from his chest at his opponent. Vegeta uses the attack to kill Nappa in the Vegeta Saga. This technique is used in Dragon Ball Z: The Legend.
* Galick Burst - Vegeta (scouter) signature attack in the Raging Blast Series.
* Galick Shooting - Vegeta's signature attack in the Raging Blast series.
* Galick Blazer – The energy sphere version of the Galick Gun. Vegeta uses this attack to distract Super Perfect Cell during Cell and Super Saiyan 2 Gohan's Kamehameha battle, allowing Gohan to gain the advantage and destroy Cell. It is Vegeta's ultimate attack in his Super Saiyan 3 form in Dragon Ball Heroes.
* Galick Gun – Vegeta bends to the side while holding the back of his hands parallel to each other, conducting purple ki that discharges a concentrated, powerful beam.
* Galick Impact – A rush attack used by Vegeta in his fight with Semi-Perfect Cell. This attack was named in Dragon Ball: Raging Blast and is used by Vegeta in his Super Saiyan 3 form as one of his Super Attacks. It is also slightly changed from when he used it in the anime.
* Genocide Breaker – A rush attack that Vegeta used to kill Jeice on Planet Namek. This technique is named in Raging Blast series.
* Hellzone Grenade – Vegeta fires several energy spheres around the opponent and controls them to be fired at the opponent. He used this attack against Super Buu w/ Gohan, though the Majin used an Energy Shield to block the attack.
* Infinite Break – A rush attack used by Vegeta as a Super Saiyan 2, in his fight with Kid Buu. This move was named in Raging Blast.
* Ki Blast – The most basic form of energy wave.
* Maximum Flasher – A powerful energy beam that Vegeta fires with one hand. He used this technique against Super Perfect Cell after he killed Trunks.
* Majin Rush - A rush attack used in Battle of Z.
* Meteor Burst – Majin Vegeta fires a powerful blast of yellow ki at his opponents.
* Photon Bomber – A powerful energy blast used against Dr. Gero. This technique was named in Dragon Ball Z Gaiden: Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku.
* Power Ball – A ball which simulates the effects of a full moon to allow a Saiyanwith a tail to become a Great Ape.
* Saiyan Energy Attack - A large blue energy wave attack. Vegeta uses this technique notably on Semi-PerfectCell.
* Shine Shot - Vegeta throws a fireball at the opponent. Named in Dragon Ball: Xenoverse.
* Spirit Breaking Cannon – A rush attack used by Vegeta in his Ascended Super Saiyan form. The moves he does in this attack are taken from his fight with Semi-Perfect Cell. This attack became a Counter Super in Raging Blast.
* Super Big Bang Attack – A more powerful version of the Big Bang Attack that Vegeta uses in Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit.
* Super Energy Wave Volley – Vegeta releases a rapid barrage of energy blasts at his opponents, causing a massive accumulation of damage. Used in many of his battles. Also known as Meteor Flash, Final Bleed & Lucora Gun. In Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z, Galick Burst is the name of the technique when used in his base form, Galick Shooting is the version in his Super Saiyan form, and Galick Blaze is the version used in his Super Saiyan 2 form.
* Super Explosive Wave – Vegeta releases a gigantic wave of energy from his body, causing a huge amount of destruction. He first uses this in his fight against Goku in the Saiyan Saga.
* Super Galick Blaster – Great Ape Vegeta's variation of the Chou Makouhou. Named in Dragon Ball Heroes.
* Triple Blast – Vegeta fires three yellow Ki Blasts from his left hand at the same time. He uses this attack on Perfect Cell. Named in the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game.
=== Speed and movement techniques ===
* Afterimage – The user moves at ultra high speeds, leaving an afterimage where he was previously located. Vegeta also uses the Wild Sense variation of this technique.
* Flight – The ability to fly with the use of ki.
=== Other appearing abilities ===
* Ki Sense – Vegeta can sense the ki of others. He learned this technique after his first battle against Goku on Earth.
* Telekinesis – He used this to hurl a bunch of rocks to kill the king of Arlia and again to lift a rock in an attempt to strike Frieza when Vegeta was losing their fight.
* Telepathy – Vegeta can speak with his targets mentally.
== Forms and transformations ==
As a member of the Saiyan race, Vegeta possesses a large number of transformations that enhance his abilities to varying degrees and drastically alter his physical appearance. These forms are listed in the order they were attained.
=== Great Ape ===
This is Vegeta's least used transformation. He was seen within this form only once in the series. The one time Vegeta transformed into this huge ape like monster, he used a Power Ball resembling similar effects of the moon. His size is paramount, his ears are keen enough to hear a pin drop from a mile away. His eyes are big and red. He has sharp teeth, and a large "U" shaped mouth.
Unlike Goku and Gohan, Vegeta retains his rationality when transformed. He is much more powerful than his normal form when transformed, and easily crushed Goku, who exclaimed that not even a Kaio-ken x 5 would work on him. Vegeta claimed that the power of the Great Ape form is ten times that of the Saiyan's base form. If this math can be applied to the power levels reported by scouters, his power level in this form would be 180,000 (which is the same as Goku's when he fought the Ginyu Force on Namek).
Rather uniquely, Vegeta did originally display a hesitance to transform, but this was more the principle of the point (fighting Goku, who he deemed to be a "low-class warrior" in his Ape form) than any other form of preference.
=== Super Saiyan ===
This is Vegeta's Super Saiyan form. Though it was only a Saiyan Legend, Vegeta was fascinated with this transformation and obsessed over obtaining it so that he could avenge his race by having the power to defeat Frieza. Goku achieved the state prior to Vegeta however as did Future Trunks, which only fueled his desire to unlock the potential hidden within him (though chronologically, Future Vegeta actually achieved it before Future Trunks). Vegeta first showed off the Super Saiyan state while he was fighting Android 19, ripping off the Android's arms and thereby rendering it unable to keep absorbing his energy, after which he reduced it to a lifeless head with the Big Bang Attack.
In this form, his power increases 50 times over from his regular level. His hair turns blond, the irises of his eyes become green, and he acquires a golden aura just as Goku had done before him. He gains a slight muscle increase as well.
==== 2nd Grade Super Saiyan ====
This form wields much greater power than his Super Saiyan level. At this level, Vegeta personally calls himself "Super Vegeta." He has the same basic golden features of his Super Saiyan level, only now his muscles are much larger. His hair also is bigger and slightly sharper, and he looks and acts more dominant. Due to Vegeta's muscle mass increase, he is much stronger than in his Super Saiyan form, and his speed and agility are unencumbered, unlike the 3rd Grade Super Saiyan, which significantly decreases speed (but greatly increases in strength). Vegeta went through this transformation when he was training to fight Cell in his Semi-Perfect form and he fought, as well as Cell in his Perfect form (where he is outmatched, and knocked out with his face to the ground after a hard hit to the spine, reverting him to base form). It is suggested by Tien that this form had a power equal to Perfect Cell's, and by Piccolo that Vegeta only lost against Cell because he fought sloppily as when Vegeta used the Final Flash attack, he destroyed a large portion of his body, but he had to redirect the majority of the power of his blast upwards to avoid destroying the planet, and it assumed that Cell escaped the brunt of the attack. Had Cell taken the brunt, he might have actually been destroyed. However it was soon realized that Cell was really holding back. #16 also notes that although Cell had grown much stronger after absorbing Android 18, he was still ahead in every way, though Vegeta is able to tell that Cell was holding back his power, and this is proven when Cell does not use anything close to his full power to defeat Vegeta with ease.
==== 3rd Grade Super Saiyan ====
In the manga, Future Trunks speculates that Vegeta achieved this form during his training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber but did not use it because he knew of its disadvantages. The anime comic for Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks lists Vegeta as a user of the form.
=== Super Saiyan 2 ===
This is Vegeta's strongest form in the Dragon Ball Z  manga, becoming as strong as Majin Vegeta upon his return to Earth to fight against Super Buu. It is sometimes debated when he first achieved this form; there are quite a few hints he achieved it before he became Majin Vegeta, with practically none to the contrary, as Vegeta only states Goku to be stronger than Gohan once he, too transforms into Super Saiyan 2, holding complete confidence in his superiority over Gohan prior to becoming Majin Vegeta. He transforms into this state on his own free will from the normal Super Saiyan long after he became Majin Vegeta. Vegeta attained this form through may years of intense training.
Vegeta first uses this form when he fights against Goku while as Majin Vegeta. He also fights Kid Buu so Goku can gather enough energy in his Super Saiyan 3 form to defeat Kid Buu, during which he is easily beaten and reverted to base as Goku fails to charge up to his full power due to energy depletion.
Both the Daizenshuu and Dragon Ball: Super Exciting Guide character profiles state that Vegeta was awakened to his Super Saiyan 2 form by means of extensive training in between the Cell and Buu arcs, which assures that Vegeta did indeed achieve this transformation through training. When Vegeta transforms to a Super Saiyan 2, he receives some noticeable changes, such as his hair growing a little bit longer, spikier and becoming more defined than his other previous Super Saiyan forms. He also gains electricity in the aura surrounding his body in this form.
=== Majin Vegeta ===
Majin Vegeta (魔人ベジータ) is the form Vegeta takes when Babidi harnesses the evil in Vegeta's heart to take control of him, giving him a significant boost in power. While having the Majin seal on his forehead, dark black lines around the eyes, and increased muscle mass puff up to the level that veins appear all over Vegeta's body and face. Vegeta's true dark nature is reawakened and in turn, he becomes more powerful than he was before. Majin Vegeta usually fights at the level of Super Saiyan 2 and his power equals that of Goku at his Super Saiyan 2 level. After Vegeta is killed by his devastating Final Explosion as a last resort to destroy Majin Buu, he loses his Majin form.
== Fusions ==
=== Vegito ===
The Potara fusion between Vegeta and Goku. He was created as a desperate plan by Old Kai to stop the powerful Super Buu. Goku's relaxation, and Vegeta's strategic mind enabled Vegito to be quite an intelligent fighter without being overcome by arrogance as Vegeta alone would be but possessing the ruthlessness to kill Super Buu that Goku would lack. In addition, Vegito also possesses the enormous power and speed of both Goku and Vegeta, as well as the tactics and skill of both. He is very similar to Gogeta, who is another fusion of Goku and Vegeta.
== Voice actors ==
* Japanese dub: Ryō Horikawa
* English dubs:
** Ocean Group Dub: Brian Drummond (adult & child)
** Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout: Milton James
** FUNimation dub: Christopher R. Sabat, Laura Bailey (child; in Dragon Ball Z Kai only)
** Blue Water Dub: Roger Rhodes
* French dub: Eric Legrand (adult), Brigitte Lecordier (child)
* Tagalog dub: Vincent Gutierrez (adult), Richie Garcia (child)
* German dub: Santiago Ziesmer (Seasons 1-2), Oliver Siebeck (Season 3-onward)
* Spanish dubs:
** Latin America: René García (Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT), Luis Daniel Ramírez (child), Andrés Gutiérrez Coto (Dragon Ball Z Kai)
** Castillian: Alberto Hidalgo
* Catalan dub: Joan Sanz
* Portuguese dubs:
** Brazil: Alfredo Rollo; Dado Monteiro (Dragon Ball Z Kai)
** Portugal: João Loy (I and Dragon Ball GT), Vítor Rocha (II), Ricardo Spínola (III)
* Italian dub: Gianluca Iacono, Massimo De Ambrosis (movies)
* Greek dub: Giannis Papaioannou, Themistoklis Psixogios (occasionally)
* Croatian dub: Zrinka Kušević
* Polish dub: Borys Szyc
* Hungarian Dub: Zoltán F. Nagy (DBZ), Péter Bozsó (DBZ & DBGT)
== Theme ==
Vegeta's music theme is "Saiyan Blood", which is sung by his Japanese voice actor, Ryō Horikawa.
In the FUNimation dub, his theme music is composed of a serene, yet ominous tone, with bells occasionally being heard.
== Battles ==
=== Major battles ===
* Vegeta vs. Nappa
* Vegeta vs. Goku
* Vegeta (Great Ape) vs. Goku
* Vegeta vs. Krillin, Yajirobe and Kid Gohan
* Vegeta vs. Kid Gohan
* Vegeta vs. Great Ape Gohan
* Vegeta vs. Cui
* Vegeta vs. Dodoria
* Vegeta vs. Namekians of Tsuno's village
* Vegeta vs. Zarbon
* Vegeta vs. Zarbon (Monster Form)
* Vegeta vs. Guldo
* Vegeta vs. Recoome
* Vegeta vs. Frieza's men
* Vegeta vs. Jeice
* Vegeta, Krillin & Gohan vs. Captain Ginyu (in Goku's body)
* Vegeta vs. Captain Ginyu (Own body)
* Vegeta vs. Frieza (1st Form)
* Vegeta, Krillin and Gohan vs. Frieza (2nd Form)
* Vegeta vs. Frieza (Final Form)
* Vegeta (Super Saiyan) vs. Android 19
* Vegeta (Super Saiyan) vs. Android 18
* Vegeta (2nd Grade Super Saiyan) vs. Semi-Perfect Cell
* Vegeta (2nd Grade Super Saiyan) vs. Future Trunks (2nd Grade Super Saiyan)
* Vegeta (2nd Grade Super Saiyan) vs. Perfect Cell
* Vegeta (Super Saiyan/2nd Grade Super Saiyan), Future Trunks (Super Saiyan/2nd Grade Super Saiyan),[25]Goku (Full-Power Super Saiyan), Piccolo, Krillin, Tien Shinhan and Yamcha vs. Cell Jrs.
* Vegeta (Super Saiyan/2nd Grade Super Saiyan) vs. Super Perfect Cell
* Vegeta vs. Pui Pui
* Majin Vegeta (Super Saiyan 2) vs. Goku (Super Saiyan 2)
* Majin Vegeta (Super Saiyan 2) vs. Majin Buu
* Vegeta (Base/Super Saiyan 2) vs. Kid Buu
* Vegeta (Base) vs. Kid Buu
=== Movie battles ===
* Vegeta (Super Saiyan) vs. Beerus
* Vegeta (Super Saiyan/Super Saiyan 2) vs. Beerus
* Vegeta (Base) and Goku (Base) vs. Whis
* Vegeta and Goku vs. Frieza
== List of Characters Killed by Vegeta ==
=== Dragon Ball Z ===
==== Vegeta Saga ====
* Unknown Aliens – Vegeta is seen with Nappa on an unknown planet sitting on a pile of corpses and eating the arm of one of his victims.
* Civilians – Vegeta violently crash lands his spaceship pod on Earth along with Nappa in East City, killing many humans.
* A Saibaman – Vegeta kills it after he sees it holding back against Tien Shinhan. He uses the Dirty Fireworks technique to kill it.
* Nappa – Vegeta kills him using the Galaxy Breaker after seeing him get defeated so easily by Goku.
==== Namek Saga/Captain Ginyu Saga ====
* Cui – Vegeta encounters him on Namek to settle their old rivalry once and for all. Vegeta easily out-matches him and destroys him using the Dirty Fireworks technique.
* Dodoria – Vegeta encounters him and easily overpowers him. He then proceeds to destroy him with a powerfull energy wave, right after getting him to tell the truth about the destruction of Planet Vegeta.
* Namek Villagers – In an attempt to get the Dragon Ball they were guarding in their village, Vegeta annihilates them all with no mercy, including children. A recognizable technique Vegeta uses in this battle is the Bang Beam, which at that point, he claims is one of his favorite techniques.
* Appule – He is killed instantly by Vegeta with a powerful energy blast following Vegeta's recovery in the Medical Machine.
* Zarbon – Vegeta kills him mercilessly in their second encounter, performing the Final Galick Cannon (which consists of firing a Galick Gun while his fist is impaled in the opponent's stomach).
* Guldo – Just before he is about to kill Gohan and Krillin, Vegeta delivers a deadly, lightning fast strike to his head, thus decapitating it. Vegeta then proceeds on to sever his head up.
* Burter – Right after being knocked out by Goku, he suffers a brutal death at the hands of Vegeta who mercilessly stomps on his neck with full force, thus snapping it.
* Recoome – Like Burter, he is also knocked out by Goku and finished off by Vegeta, who this time fires a powerful energy wave to get the job done.
* Frieza's Soldiers – Vegeta kills a small variety of them after he invades Frieza's Ship in search of the Dragon Balls.
* Jeice – After a hand to hand combat battle, Vegeta annihilates him with the Genocide Breaker.
==== Androids Saga ====
* Android 19 – Vegeta's first fight after becoming a Super Saiyan. After an effortless fight, Vegeta destroys him using the Big Bang Attack.
* Unnamed Trucker – During his fight with Android 18, Vegeta fired an energy wave aimed at the Android to which she responded by moving out of the way and it lead to the blast hitting a truck which vaporized it along with the driver inside.
==== Babidi Saga ====
* Pui Pui – Vegeta faces him inside Babidi's spaceship. In a short-effortless bout, Vegeta kills him using the Double Galick Cannon.
* Civilians – In his Majin form, Vegeta kills a variety of them using the Big Bang Attack at the World Tournament Arena in order to get Goku to fight him.
=== Movies ===
==== Bardock - The Father of Goku ====
* Saibamen – Vegeta is shown killing a gang of Saibamen with a powerful Explosive Wave during his training as a kid.
* Unknown Planet Residents – Towards the end of the movie, Vegeta is shown sitting down and eating a snack on an unknown planet (to which Frieza sent him on an assignment earlier), with big piles of dead bodies of the residents of the planet itself piled around him in a circle.
=== Assists ===
* Cell (Cell Games Saga) – Vegeta distracts Cell by surprisingly blasting him from behind, thus allowing Gohan'sFather-Son Kamehameha to overpower Cell's Solar Kamehameha.
* Kid Buu (Kid Buu Saga) – Vegeta comes up with the plan to use the Super Spirit Bomb, and also buys time for Goku to create it by fighting Buu on his own.
== Trivia ==
* Despite the fact that Saiyan tails regenerate, as Goku's and Gohan's did, and that Vegeta did comment that it would grow back, after Vegeta's tail got cut off by Yajirobe, it never grows back. Perhaps this is because it was cut during his mature life, unlike Goku and Gohan, who lost their tails when they were children.
* It seems as if every time after the Frieza Saga when Vegeta receives heavy damage, his left arm takes the brunt of the impact.
* Vegeta has a role in assisting Goku and Gohan in defeating the major villains after him, and each time he becomes more involved. With his dying breath from his first death, he tells Goku the truth of Frieza being responsible in destroying Planet Vegeta resulting in the near-extinction of Saiyans, even though the Saiyans faithfully served under the tyrant, thus providing Goku more motivation in defeating Frieza. He distracted Cell with his Galick Blazer, giving Gohan the opportunity to destroy Cell. Later, it is also Vegeta's idea to utilize the Namekian Dragon Balls with the wishes that allow Goku to create a Super Spirit Bomb to destroy Kid Buu.
* Despite Vegeta's obsession with defeating Goku, Goku has never actually beaten him. However, Vegeta's wounded pride over the fact that Goku surpassed him with the three-fold Kaio-Ken and continued to later is likely the main reason for his desire to beat him, which continues to the end of the series (though in a more friendly manner).
* Ironically, the first time Vegeta openly shows his love of Trunks and Bulma occurs when he is in Majin form, which traditionally brings out the evil in people.
* Over the course of the series, Vegeta continually wears less body armor. In the Saiyan Saga, he was armored from upper body to crotch guards. In the Frieza Saga, he wore less, losing the crotch guards and eventually the shoulder pads. In the Cell Saga, he had even less armor, with just a chest plate. In the Buu Saga, he had no Saiyan armor, and instead wears white gloves, boots, and a blue jumpsuit (although all of Saiyan origin).
* In an interview in the March 2014 issue of Saikyō Jump (released on February 2014), Akira Toriyama says that, in the event that there is talk of another animated film after Battle of Gods (2013), he would like Vegeta to play the main role (adding that this is nothing more than intentions, and that he has not decided anything at all).
* Vegeta tends to refer to himself in the third-person while Super Saiyan.
* When Vegeta says the iconic one liner of "it's over NINE THOUSAND", it was actually a translation error that was corrected in Dragon Ball Kai where he instead says "it's over EIGHT THOUSAND."
* Son Goku is named after the character from Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, but Vegeta inherited his cocky attitude, in that he gladly fights alone against superior numbers, filled with pride and the belief that he is stronger than the gods, more powerful than the “Will of Heaven” and even the Buddha.
* Vegeta is the only pureblooded Saiyan seen in the series, whose children weren't born with the black spiky hair and black eyes commonly seen in Saiyans.
* Technically, Vegeta should be the "King" of the Saiyans due to his father's death, but has never referred to himself by this title, possibly out of respect for his father.
* In his first few appearances in Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta had a completely different color scheme with orange and green armor and brown hair.
* Vegeta's rivalry with Goku has made him so determined to be the one to beat him, that he's actually saved Goku's life at times so he could be the one to beat them.
* Unlike other characters, Vegeta has always referred to Goku by his Saiyan name, "Kakarot", with a few rare exceptions.