Dragon Ball: Vegeta’s Best Moments In The Series, Ranked

This article highlights the top moments featuring Vegeta from every canonical series, excluding “GT” and “Dragon Ball Heroes: Super.

In anime, the idea of deuteragonists has gained popularity, with audiences appreciating the presence of multiple significant characters instead of just one main character. A fine illustration of this can be found in Vegeta from Dragon Ball, who initially posed a major danger to Earth but over time transformed into one of the heroes, becoming an essential and powerful protector of the universe.

Throughout his journey, my focus has shifted from viewing him primarily as a chief adversary to recognizing him as one of the leading figures in the Dragon Ball universe, particularly since Dragon Ball Super. Given this transformation, he’s been instrumental in some of the most captivating and enduring scenes across the franchise. In this write-up, we will delve into these standout moments, exploring how they have shaped Vegeta’s character evolution within the series.

Vegeta Was Able To Make A Machine Experience Fear After Going Super Saiyan

A Deadly Warrior

Occurrence	Dragon Ball Z, Episode 130, “The Secret of Dr. Gero”
Story Arc	Android Saga

Vegeta brought a different spin on the Super Saiyan form.

During the Namek Saga, Goku discovered the hidden might of the Saiyan lineage through his Super Saiyan transformation, a feat crucial for defeating Frieza, who incidentally sought the same power as Vegeta. This led many to believe that this power could be accessed only by someone with an uncorrupted heart, one dedicated to safeguarding the vulnerable, much like Goku demonstrated.

Let me ask you – does a machine like yourself ever experience fear?

In the Android Saga, an unexpected twist emerged: Vegeta, driven by pride and rage, unveiled another method to attain this elusive power – the Super Saiyan form. This revelation caught everyone off guard, but it perfectly encapsulated why fans adore this character so much. His fierce demeanor allowed him to instill fear in a machine before he unleashed his devastating powers on it. Significantly, Vegeta’s Super Saiyan form differed from Goku’s.

During the Android Saga, instead of one way leading to this special power, Vegeta found another method – his own Super Saiyan form caused by anger and pride. This was a surprise for everyone, but it’s what makes Vegeta so appealing because he used his tough personality to scare a robot before defeating it with his strong powers. Vegeta’s Super Saiyan form looked different from Goku’s.

Vegeta’s Final Flash Almost Ended The Cell Saga Before It Even Began

The Power of Super Vegeta

Occurrence	Dragon Ball Z, Episode 162, “Trunks Ascends”
Story Arc	Cell Saga

One of the strongest moves in the series.

Upon exiting the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, both Vegeta and Trunks significantly enhanced their power levels, surpassing the strength of Super Saiyan transformations. They unlocked new forms that were even more powerful. With these enhanced abilities, they were far superior to Cell, despite him having absorbed Android 17. However, Vegeta’s pride and Cell manipulating his ego led him to allow Cell to absorb Android 18 as well, a move that ultimately culminated in the creation of Cell’s Perfect state.

It seems like you think your strength significantly surpasses mine? If you’re confident enough to prove it, let’s find out if you’re indeed flawless enough to endure this challenge!

In this battle, Cell emerged as the most formidable adversary across the universe, surpassing even Super Vegeta and Super Trunks significantly. Yet, Vegeta employed his Ultimate Attack, Final Flash, nearly vaporizing Cell on the spot – a feat remarkable given that Cell was far more powerful than Vegeta at that moment in time. This incident not only highlighted the immense power of the Final Flash technique within the series, but also underscored Vegeta’s capacity to become incredibly strong when faced with critical situations.

Vegeta Shows Zamasu Why He Will Never Measure Up To Goku’s Greatness

Giving His Rival Respect

Occurrence	Dragon Ball Super, Episode 63, “Don’t You Disgrace Saiyan Cells! Vegeta’s Fierce Battle Commences!”
Story Arc	Goku Black Arc

Vegeta shows just how much he respects Goku.

The fierce competition between Goku and Vegeta is arguably unmatched across the whole anime world. At first glance, Vegeta seems to harbor frustration towards Goku’s character and what he perceives as his stupidity, but beneath this facade lies a deep-seated respect for his adversary that surpasses any other being on their planet. He admits that despite Goku’s apparent foolishness in every aspect of life, his warrior spirit and innate fighting skills make him the most exceptional Saiyan that Vegeta, as a prince, has ever encountered.

Black, do you want to know what your major error was? It’s the stolen Saiyan body you’re using. Every fiber of his original body was forged through a lifetime of brutal battles! Yet, you acquired it, and now it’s all second-hand. You might sense the power within those Saiyan cells, but you don’t fully comprehend their true nature because you didn’t create them. And as a result, you will never be able to think like the original owner did.

The paraphrased version aims to make the dialogue more understandable and less confrontational while maintaining the same message and tone.

Vegeta’s intense struggle against Goku Black was driven by a fundamental reason – his deep-rooted pride in the Saiyan race. Seeing Zamasu usurp Goku’s body and employ its power for malicious purposes, Vegeta retaliated fiercely against his foe. He made it clear that while Goku’s body may possess inherent strength, neither the Kais nor anyone else can truly comprehend these abilities because they didn’t create it or think like Goku. This inadvertently acknowledges and respects the remarkable qualities of his long-time rival and friend, even though Vegeta would never openly admit to feeling this way.

Vegeta Unveils His Incredible Super Saiyan Blue Transformation To Frieza

Born From God Ki

Occurrence	Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F
Story Arc	Golden Frieza Arc

Vegeta showed Frieza that he also has the power of a God.

Through all the trials Vegeta has faced throughout his existence, Frieza, the Universal Tyrant, is the primary instigator. This ruthless ruler not only subjected his subjects to heinous acts against innocent beings across the cosmos, but also annihilated his home world and its surviving brethren. These events essentially shaped the trajectory of Vegeta’s life as the Saiyan Prince.

Indeed, it seems you were unaware. For quite some time now, I’ve been able to transform into a Super Saiyan, and today, I find myself graced with the might of a deity.

In my observation, Vegeta consistently yearned for revenge against the antagonist, yet his power always seemed just beyond his reach, that is, until the Golden Frieza saga. This tale unfolded a period where Frieza lay deceased; Vegeta wasn’t idle during this time. Instead, he underwent an astonishing growth in power, even gaining God Ki and the Super Saiyan Blue transformation.

What ensued was undeniably one of the most gratifying thrashings the franchise has ever witnessed. Admittedly, the film’s conclusion was less than ideal, but watching Vegeta serve Frieza justice was nothing short of spectacular.

Vegeta Recognizes Goku As The Best And Comes To Terms With This

An Eye-Opening Moment

Occurrence	Dragon Ball Z, Episode 280, “Vegeta’s Respect”
Story Arc	Buu Saga

Vegeta admits that Goku is the best.

The intense competition between Goku and Vegeta is often stormy, as they consistently strive to outdo each other, determining who’s more powerful among them. This rivalry, pivotal to their individual narratives, is frequently praised as the finest or most compelling character dynamic in anime. Yet, during the Buu Saga, the rivalry was predominantly one-sided, with Goku usually appearing stronger.

You are better than me, Kakarot. You are the best.

In the climactic clash against Kid Buu, Goku puts forth his utmost effort, while Vegeta observes from the sidelines. This scene underscores the significant development in Vegeta over the years, leading many fans to consider him the most compelling character in Dragon Ball. His acknowledgment that Goku’s altruism and compassion towards the innocent surpasses his own pride highlights their contrasting values. Witnessing his rival engage with the universe’s strongest antagonist, Vegeta concedes that Goku is indeed the superior fighter.

Vegeta’s Sacrifice Goes Down As The Most Important Moment In His Arc

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Occurrence	Dragon Ball Z, Episode 237, “Final Atonement”
Story Arc	Buu Saga

Vegeta sacrifices himself.

During the Buu Saga, there was a surprising turn of events revealing that Vegeta had let Babidi manipulate his mind, so he could revive the malevolence inside him. This was a strategy to get rid of everything he’d become, aiming to revert back to the ruthless and heartless warrior he once was, in an attempt to outdo Goku. The fight that ensued became one of the most memorable in the series. Eventually, Vegeta came to realize his mistake by the conclusion of this saga.

Trunks, Bulma… I do this for you. And yes, even for you, Kakarot.

Upon encountering Majin Buu, Vegeta chose to release all his power in a devastating explosion intended to annihilate both him and the villain. This pivotal moment highlighted why Vegeta stands out among other characters in the series. His complex personality and internal struggles came to a head, revealing that despite being an outsider for much of his life, he grew to consider Earth as his new home. Realizing the value of his new life over his past, Vegeta made the ultimate sacrifice, giving up his own life to protect Earth. This selfless act served as a redemption for his previous wrongdoings.

Dragon Ball can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

2025-08-26 16:39