The Surprising Ages of Dragon Ball's Oldest Saiyans Revealed!

Summary

Goku is the youngest among the older Saiyans, in his late 40s, and a grandfather.
King Vegeta, the ruler of the Saiyans, is one of the oldest and most powerful Saiyans.
Paragus, a high-ranking military officer, is aged beyond his prime with grey hair in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.

Characters from the Dragon Ball series hail from the planet Sadala, which was destroyed, and they are pivotal figures in the storyline. The principal character, Goku, is a Saiyan who arrived on Earth as an infant following the annihilation of his home planet. Remarkably, even the weakest members of this race have the potential to obliterate entire planets, making them some of the most formidable personalities in the realm of anime.

To clarify, although Goku, our protagonist, eventually becomes a grandfather within the series, it’s important to note that he isn’t the oldest Saiyan character in the franchise. Many other Saiyans have significant roles, but the elder Saiyans are often relegated to minor parts in the storyline.

8. Yamoshi

The Very First Super Saiyan

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 66

In the series, Yamoshi is briefly introduced through Vegeta’s recollection in a flashback, but his significance lies in being the one who conceived the legendary Super Saiyan transformation. He was the first Saiyan to attain this transformation and subsequently became a revered mythical figure among all Saiyans.

In the Dragon Ball series, Yamoshi, being the one who meets the criteria of appearing only once every millennium as a legendary Super Saiyan, stands out as the eldest Saiyan character, pre-dating even those introduced in the franchise.

7. Paragus

The First Saiyan On Screen With Grey Hair

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (Movie)

In the universe of Dragon Ball, Paragus – Broly’s father and one of the strongest Saiyans – was among those living during King Vegeta’s rule over Planet Vegeta. Despite holding a high-ranking military position under King Vegeta, they were roughly the same age. However, unlike King Vegeta, Paragus did not belong to the royal lineage. Due to his banishment before their planet was destroyed, he outlived King Vegeta.

In the movie “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” Paragus is depicted with gray hair, making him the first Saiyan character in the Dragon Ball series who seems older than his prime. This suggests that he might be approximately 80 years old in the film, as it’s set during Age 780.

6. King Vegeta

The Ruler Of The Saiyans And Vegeta’s Father

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 78

Despite having minimal appearance, King Vegeta stands out as an intriguing character, primarily due to his role as the leader of the Saiyan race prior to their massacre by Frieza. Additionally, he is Vegeta’s father, but the dynamics of their family bond are not extensively delved into within the series.

It’s likely he is one of the eldest Saiyans featured in any “Dragon Ball” series, and possibly the oldest of the generation of Saiyans preceding Goku and Vegeta. Additionally, he was among the strongest Saiyans introduced in the series during his time.

5. Bardock

Goku’s Dad Was A Low-Ranked Soldier

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 78

In the Dragon Ball series, there’s a significant yet minor character named Bardock who is a Saiyan warrior. Despite holding a low rank in King Vegeta’s military, Bardock carries immense importance due to his connection with the protagonist, Goku. He is famously recognized as Goku’s father and demonstrated remarkable intelligence by foreseeing Frieza’s plan to annihilate Planet Vegeta. To save his son from the impending destruction, he arranged for Goku to be sent to Earth as an infant.

Since Bardock held a lower rank in the Saiyan army compared to King Vegeta and Paragus, it suggests that he might have been born slightly later. This notion is also supported by Goku being five years junior to King Vegeta in terms of age.

4. Nappa

An Elite Soldier And A Saiyan General

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 5

Initially, Nappa emerged alongside Vegeta during the Raditz Saga in Dragon Ball Z. He engaged in battles with the Z Warriors and managed to defeat many of them until Goku intervened on Earth and defeated him. Interestingly, despite appearing weaker than both Vegeta and Goku (post-training with King Kai), Nappa is older than both of them, with an age similar to Bardock and King Vegeta.

In a past life, I was a general serving under King Vegeta, hailing from the grandeur of Planet Vegeta. The tragic destruction of my homeworld sent me hurtling through time and space, landing me on Earth alongside Vegeta at the outset of our shared story. Belonging to the Elite class of Saiyans, I was born into a noble lineage that carried an air of regality.

3. Raditz

Goku’s Older Brother And An Introduction To Saiyans

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 1

In the initial run of Dragon Ball, it’s worth noting that Saiyans weren’t even present in the storyline. It wasn’t until Dragon Ball Z that these powerful extraterrestrial beings made their entrance. Goku’s older brother, Raditz, is the one who debuted in this sequel, landing on Earth to carry out his mission of conquering the planet. Interestingly, up until then, Goku was completely unaware of his Saiyan heritage.

In the Dragon Ball series, it’s evident that Raditz is significantly older than Goku. In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Raditz appears as a young child, approximately 9-10 years old, at the time when Goku was sent to Earth as an infant. This means he is slightly older than Vegeta and noticeably older than Goku.

2. Vegeta

The Prince Of All Saiyans And Goku’s Rival

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 5

Vegeta arrives on Earth as one of three Saiyan invaders, aiming to conquer it. After Piccolo kills Raditz, Vegeta learns about the Dragon Balls from the Z Warriors through his scouter. This discovery motivates him and Nappa to come to Earth in search of the Dragon Balls, intending to use them to acquire eternal life.

In the show, Vegeta significantly transforms into a major supporting character, sharing the spotlight with Goku. Unlike many characters, his age is explicitly mentioned – he’s five years older than Goku when he arrives on Earth. Throughout the series, both characters grow older simultaneously. Vegeta is also known as the father of Trunks in the storyline.

1. Goku

The Youngest Among The Older Saiyans

First Appearance: Dragon Ball, Episode 1

In the Dragon Ball series, our primary character is Goku, who is one of the older Saiyans introduced. Initially, he was just a child when first seen in Dragon Ball, but now, as we’ve progressed through the latest chapters of Dragon Ball: Super Manga, Goku is well into his late 40s and approaching his 50s.

It’s quite surprising that he has now become a grandfather, as his son, Gohan, has welcomed a new Saiyan into the team of heroes – a child named Pan. Interestingly, even though Goku is the youngest Saiyan among them, he’s actually quite old in comparison. Following Paragus as an example, it’s likely that Goku will start growing white hair within the next ten to twenty years.

2025-02-23 07:04

The Surprising Ages of Dragon Ball’s Oldest Saiyans Revealed!