Vegeta - Dragon Ball

Vegeta is the son of King Vegeta of the Saiyan warrior race. He appears as an antagonist early in the Dragon Ball Z series, but eventually becomes part of the Z Fighters and, by Dragon Ball Super, a close friend of Son Goku’s. As prince of the Saiyan race and Planet Vegeta, he is deeply arrogant and prideful. Oftentimes this has led to a series of disadvantageous situations and questionable choices. He has been voiced consistently by Ryo Horikawa in all versions of the Japanese series.

Appearances in Dragon Ball Z

Vegeta makes his first appearance in Dragon Ball Z when he and his sidekick Nappa invade Earth in search of the Dragon Balls. He relies on a scouter to read power levels and is surprised to find that the inhabitants of Earth can raise and lower their power levels at will. Nappa’s back is broken by Goku, leading Vegeta to throw him into the sky and blow him up, claiming that there’s no need for a Saiyan who can’t move. He remarks that the cindered remains in the sky look like ‘dirty fireworks’. Vegeta begins fighting Goku after moving away from the scene of the previous battle. Fighting Goku to be more of a challenge than he anticipated, as he uses his Great Ape transformation. Dominating the encounter, he crushes Goku in his hands and under his massive feet, crippling him. Krillin attempts to cut off Vegeta’s tail with a Destructo-Disc but misses narrowly. Turning the tide of battle, Yajirobe cuts off Vegeta’s tail with his sword and flees, returning the exhausted Vegeta to his regular form. Unable to fend off the remaining Z Fighters, he is spared by Goku’s request, as Krillin is about to kill him with Yajirobe’s sword, humiliating Vegeta as he makes his escape.

Upon his return, Vegeta recovers and heads to planet Namek in search of the Dragon Balls to gain immortality. His first encounter with a member of Frieza’s army is with Kyui, whom he disposes of easily. During this search, he bumps into Krillin and Son Gohan a number of times before also coming face to face with Dodoria. After Receiving a power up from his time on Earth, Vegeta handles Dodoria with relative ease, much to Dodoria's surprise. However, even having gained new found strength, he is still no match for Frieza’s right hand man, Zarbon. Zarbon defeats Vegeta and, falsely believing he is dead, promptly leaves the scene. Vegeta recovers from this fight and takes revenge on Zarbon at their next eventual encounter.

After collecting most of the Dragon Balls and being almost ready to use them, Vegeta, Krillin and Gohan come face to face with Frieza’s elite fighting unit, the Ginyu Force. Recoome alone is more than enough to destroy the three fighters until Goku intervenes. Vegeta ruthlessly kills the unconscious Ginyu Force members, much to Goku’s dismay, before fighting with Captain Ginyu himself in Goku’s body. He places Goku in a healing tank while the remaining fighters head off to fight Frieza. Vegeta manages to hold his own against the various forms of Frizea through a number of power ups, but eventually succumbs to Frieza’s final form. He was killed by a death beam through the heart. With his final few breaths he pleads tearfully that Goku avenge his race and his planet.

Vegeta is unintentionally wished back to life after the events on Namek and, while still a threat, is a lot more agreeable than before. He hears of the Androids and leaves Earth to train in the hopes that he can achieve his Super Saiyan form. Three years later, Android 19 is demolished by a new Super Saiyan Vegeta. Dr. Gero makes his escape as the Z Fighters follow in pursuit. Even though Vegeta handily defeated Android 19, he had his arm easily broken by Android 18 shortly after. After training with Trunks in the hyperbolic time chamber, Vegeta achieves the Ascended Saiyan form, which he uses to dominate Semi-Perfect Cell. Pride being Vegeta’s greatest weakness, he allowed Cell to absorb 18 and reach his Perfect form. This proved to be a huge mistake, as Cell was now far more powerful than Vegeta in his Super Saiyan form. During the Cell Games, Vegeta is also attacked by one of the Cell Jrs. while Gohan is taunted by Cell. The beam clash between Cell and Gohan seems to be going in favor of Cell until Vegeta launches a Bing Bang Attack at Cell, momentarily distracting him and allowing Gohan the opportunity to kill Cell and end the battle.

Seven years later, Vegeta enters the Tenkaichi Budokai tournament with his young son Trunks in the hopes of fighting against Goku. Instead, the two (and Gohan) wind up at Babidi’s lair and face a number of trials as part of Babidi’s master plan to awaken Majin Buu. Vegeta gives into his obsession to surpass Goku, receiving the Majin mark on his forehead as he falls to Babidi’s control. After knocking Super Saiyan 2 Goku unconscious, Vegeta confronts Majin Buu, self-destructing in an effort to destroy him. This, however ultimately fails due to Majin Buu’s regenerative abilities. Vegeta is summoned to help Goku fight against Majin Buu and, in the end, helps to hold Kid Buu back while Goku gathers enough energy for a Spirit Bomb.

Appearances in Dragon Ball Super

In the Dragon Ball Super series, the invading Beerus frightens Vegeta deeply and he tries his best to accommodate and appease the God of Destruction to avoid incurring his wrath. This goes well until Beerus assaults Bulma sending Vegeta into a rage. In his rage state, Vegeta is able to land a number of hits on a Beerus that previously, even a Super Saiyan 3 Goku was unable to touch.

Vegeta aids Trunks in the battle against Goku Black and Zamasu in the future. The battle is going well until Zamasu and Goku Black fuse to form Fused Zamasu. Vegeta reluctantly uses the Potara Earrings with Goku to create Vegetto. In Super Saiyan Blue form, Vegetto proves to be more than a match for the fused god. However, before the decisive blow can be placed, they defuse due to energy constraints.

During the Universe 6 and 7 Tournament, Vegeta defeats Frost, Magetta, and Cabba, but ends up losing to Hit. When Future Trunks reappears with a perilous warning from the future, Vegeta aids him in fighting against Goku Black and Zamasu. In the Tournament of Power, Vegeta manages to defeat many fighters including Toppo as a God of Destruction, but is ultimately knocked out by Jiren in the last two minutes of the fight. On the way out of the battle, he sends his last remaining energy to Goku to help against the mighty Jiren. During the fight against Broly, Vegeta learns the fusion dance to form Gogeta.

Appearances in Dragon Ball GT

Vegeta appears most prominently in Dragon Ball GT when he is possessed by Baby and almost defeats Goku and the other fighters in his Golden Great Ape form. He is also featured in the fight against Syn Shenron when Bulma helps him achieve Super Saiyan 4 form with a special machine.

Powers and Abilities

With Saiyan biology, Vegeta has many advantages over other characters. Like most Saiyans, he has super speed, super strength, slower aging and a tail that lets him transform into a Great Ape.

His main techniques are:

Galick Gun - This is Vegeta's signature attack. It is almost identical to the Kamehameha (as noted by Vegeta during his battle on Earth with Goku).
Big Bang Attack - Vegeta fires a strong ball of energy from one palm-up hand.
Final Flash - Final Flash is performed by extending the arms laterally and charging up a huge amount of energy. The hands then come together and an incredibly strong beam is fired. (Vegeta almost destroyed the Earth with this attack in his fight with Cell).
Final Impact - This technique was only used during his time as Majin Vegeta. It is a bolt of energy fired from the hand and used to pierce an opponent.
Final Explosion - Again only used during his time as Majin Vegeta. He emits all of his energy and life-force to create a monstrously powerful energy dome capable of disintegrating opponents. This kills Vegeta too.

Power Ups and Transformations

Vegeta is capable of a number of transformations and power ups due to his Saiyan heritage.

Zenkai boost - Due to his Saiyan biology, Vegeta receives an increase in power after recovering from any near death experience. (Zenkai boosts became mostly irrelevant later in the series).
Fusion Dance - Vegeta is able to perform the Metamoran fusion dance.
Great Ape –When he has a tail Vegeta is able to transform into a Great Ape.
Super Saiyan – Achieved some time after Trunks kills Mecha Frieza and used first against Android 19.
Super Saiyan 2 – Achieved between Cell and Buu sagas.
Super Saiyan God – Used first against Broly in the Dragon Ball Super movie.
Super Saiyan Blue - Achieved by training with Whis on Beerus’ planet.
Super Saiyan 4 – The final and strongest Super Saiyan transformation (GT only). Vegeta achieved this form the unconventional way by intentionally blasting himself with Blutz waves.

Family

King Vegeta - Father.
Bulma - Wife.
Trunks - Son.
Bulla - Daughter.
Dr. Briefs - Father-in-law.

Links

Dragon Ball Series
Dragon Ball Z Series
Dragon Ball Kai Series
Dragon Ball Super Series
Dragon Ball GT Series
Super Dragon Ball Heros
Akira Toriyama