10 Times Vegeta Was His Own Worst Enemy in DBZ & Dragon Ball Super

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has kept audiences entertained and on the edge of their seats for four decades through its heightened battle sequences and suspenseful storytelling, but none of that would mean anything without compelling characters behind it all. Dragon Ball has established an eclectic cast of complex individuals, but few are on par with villain-turned-hero, Vegeta. Vegeta has come a long way from his murderous origins and he’s now a character who is willing to selflessly sacrifice himself for the greater good.

Vegeta has committed many transgressions, but he can now confidently call himself a hero. Despite his progress, Vegeta is far from perfect. His pride, hubris, and emotions get the better of him time and time again, and he often gets in his own way. Vegeta has been instrumental in defeating many of Dragon Ball’s toughest villains, but he’s also guilty of being his own worst enemy when the pressure is on.

10 Vegeta Kills Nappa For Losing To Goku

Saiyan Saga

One of Dragon Ball Z’s most shocking turnabouts is when Vegeta takes his own Saiyan partner, Nappa, out of the picture. Vegeta is content to let Nappa do a lot of the heavy lifting when the Saiyan duo arrives on Earth. Nappa fares incredibly well against the Z-Fighters, but is quickly stopped in his tracks once Goku returns to defend his friends. Goku’s training under King Kai allows him to easily humble Nappa and flip the power dynamic. Goku makes swift work of Nappa, but Vegeta, unimpressed with Nappa’s performance, decides to put his Saiyan partner out of his misery. Even Goku is shocked by this aggressive act.

Vegeta’s abrupt execution of Nappa helps emphasize that he’s not a loyal individual. One of the reasons that Vegeta has no issues with killing Nappa is because he assumes that he’ll still be strong enough to take out Goku. In the end, Vegeta finds himself overwhelmed by the collective efforts of Goku, Gohan, Krillin, and even Yajirobe. A little extra support from Nappa might have been the deciding factor in this fight and secured Vegeta the win. Goku breaks Nappa’s back and he’s unable to move, but he still might have been able to fire powerful ki blasts at Goku, Gohan, or Krillin to take them out of the picture. Vegeta is too hasty in his decision to take out any weak links.

9 Vegeta Kills Countless Innocents On Planet Namek

Frieza Saga

Dragon Ball Z embarks on a suspenseful race for the Dragon Balls on Planet Namek when multiple factions set their sights on the treasure. Vegeta recklessly terrorizes innocent Namekian villages in order to acquire their Dragon Balls. These actions are hard to watch, but represent Vegeta’s evil interests at the time. It’s nothing audiences haven’t seen before, but the pain that Vegeta causes on Namek stays with the Saiyan and metastasizes in surprising ways later on in his life.

These unnecessary crimes haunt Vegeta in Dragon Ball Super and he’s left with intense guilt that clouds his judgment and gets in the way. Vegeta goes out of his way to save innocent Namekians on New Namek from Planet-Eater Moro and puts his life on the line to minimize any Namewkian casualties. Vegeta’s desire to redeem himself for his past transgressions to Namekians is incredibly honorable and shows how much he’s grown as a character, but it could have potentially put him in even greater danger. He opens himself up to dangerous liabilities against Moro because of his past violence towards the Namekians.

8 Vegeta Resists Training On Yardrat All Because Goku Did It First

Moro Saga

Goku returns to Earth from Namek after a curious detour on Planet Yardrat, whose people teach the Saiyan Instant Transmission. Vegeta sets out to improve himself through vital Yardratian training when he realizes that his powers are no match for Moro in Dragon Ball Super. Vegeta proves to be a natural and leaves the experience with the incredible Forced Spirit Fission skill, which plays a vital role in Moro’s defeat.

Vegeta also picks up Instant Transmission while he’s on Yardrat, but he’s initially resistant to add this technique to his many talents. Vegeta has a chip on his shoulder about picking up an ability Goku has already learned. He’s so stubborn and resistant to copying Goku’s accomplishments that he nearly refuses Instant Transmission, despite it being an objectively valuable technique. Vegeta eventually gives in and learns the ability, but his contentious relationship with Goku and the arbitrary rules that he’s set up for himself nearly prevent him from learning one of Dragon Ball’s most important skills.

7 Vegeta Succumbs To Dark Temptations & Becomes Majin Vegeta

Majin Buu Saga

Goku’s return to Earth prompts some complicated feelings of jealousy and inadequacy in Vegeta. Vegeta is incredibly conflicted and becomes a target for Babidi’s dark, manipulative Majin forces. Babidi preys upon his insecurity and he succumbs to his wicked temptations, reverting to his villainous past. Majin Vegeta is ultimately a necessary stepping stone for Vegeta to understand what’s important to him in life and that he’s not the villain he once was.

However, this journey of self-discovery comes with excessive bloodshed and unnecessary pain. Furthermore, Vegeta’s allegiance with Babidi and the battle that breaks out against Goku collects enough energy to awaken Majin Buu and descend the world into chaos. Vegeta’s pride and his need to prove himself triggers a dangerous domino effect that eventually results in the Earth’s destruction. Vegeta working together with Goku, rather than taking him on in an arbitrary battle for bragging rights, might have prevented Buu from ever awakening in the first place.

6 Vegeta’s Arrogance Allows Cell To Gain Perfection

Cell Saga

Cell’s incredible power prompts Dragon Ball Z’s Saiyans to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber in order to surpass their Super Saiyan limits. Vegeta and Future Trunks unlock Super Saiyan Second Grade 2 & 3, and Vegeta is so confident about his improvements that he begins to call himself Super Vegeta. Vegeta boldly attacks Semi-Perfect Cell and completely dominates the villain. It’s clear to everyone involved that Vegeta could kill Cell if he were so inclined to do so. However, Semi-Perfect Cell appeals to Vegeta’s incredible ego and tells him that he’ll have a worthy challenge if he lets him absorb Android 18 and achieve perfection.

Vegeta is so confident in his new power that he allows Semi-Perfect to accomplish his goal, even with Future Trunks actively trying to stop him. Perfect Cell proves to be on a whole other level and infinitely more powerful than Vegeta. Vegeta’s best efforts are now hopeless against Cell and he finds himself deeply humbled. The only reason he survives is because Trunks successfully stokes Cell’s curiosity and buys them ten days to prepare for the Cell Games. Vegeta’s decision to not take out Cell when he had the chance results in several deaths, including Goku and Future Trunks.

5 Vegeta’s Anger Makes Him Attack Beerus

Beerus Saga

Battle of Gods opens on an intimidating note when God of Destruction, Lord Beerus, arrives on Earth and demands to battle a Super Saiyan God. The majority of the Z-Fighters are completely oblivious to Beerus, but Vegeta is well aware of the God of Destruction’s apocalyptic power. Vegeta bends over backwards to keep Beerus appeased and makes sure that nothing sets him off – even a slight outburst from Beerus could result in Earth’s destruction. However, Vegeta becomes a huge liability when his emotions get the better of him and he launches an impromptu attack against the God of Destruction.

Bulma’s casual attitude towards Beerus leads to the God of Destruction slapping her. Vegeta tolerates a lot, but he can’t stand the sight of his wife being disgraced. A vicious rage erupts in Vegeta and he blindly attacks Beerus, giving him everything that he’s got. Vegeta’s “My Bulma” outburst has become an iconic scene and one of the character’s most memorable moments in Dragon Ball Super. It’s actually quite touching to see Vegeta be so protective of his wife, but this doesn’t change the fact that it’s still incredibly reckless behavior. Vegeta is lucky that his attack on Beerus doesn’t result in the God of Destruction casually erasing him, Bulma, or the entire planet.

4 Vegeta Puts Trunks Through Vicious Training & Denies Him Love

Majin Buu Saga

Vegeta is constantly pushing himself past his limits, so it makes sense he’d apply the same punishing philosophy to his son, Trunks. Vegeta is determined to turn his son into the ultimate Saiyan and his efforts become even more intense when Goku’s second child, Goten, enters the picture. If Vegeta can’t be stronger than Goku he at least wants his son to be superior to Goku’s progeny. This results in an intense lifestyle where Vegeta subjects Trunks to strenuous gravity training and a tough love relationship.

Vegeta teaches Trunks that training, sparring, and growing stronger are the greatest forms of affection. Before his Final Explosion sacrifice, Vegeta laments that he never let Trunks into his heart and that he’s never even hugged his son before. Vegeta gives Trunks his first hug before he sacrifices himself, and he’s since changed his ways and become more affectionate towards his family. That said, this philosophy has clearly weighed down on him and given him regrets over how he’s lived his life. Vegeta’s aggressive mentality has robbed him of Trunks’ early years, which he’ll never get back.

3 Vegeta Refuses To Donate Energy To Goku’s Universe 7 Spirit Bomb

Universe Survival Saga

Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power is a mutliversal battle royale where the cost of failure is the universe’s erasure. Vegeta stands out as one of the strongest fighters on Team Universe 7 and secures some very important eliminations. There’s a desperate moment against Universe 11’s Jiren that leads to Goku building energy for an epic Spirit Bomb that he hopes will take out this challenging juggernaut. Goku appeals to his team for support and creates the massive Universe 7’s Spirit Bomb.

Curiously, Vegeta chooses not to donate energy to this attack and opts to take his own route when it comes to his survival in the tournament. This comes as quite the shock, especially since even Frieza is willing to donate energy to Goku for the attack. The Universe 7’s Spirit Bomb doesn’t eliminate Jiren, although it does inadvertently lead to Goku’s first taste of Ultra Instinct. Things might have gone differently if Vegeta got out of his own way and contributed to the team attack.

2 Vegeta’s Final Explosion Against Majin Buu Falls Short

Majin Buu Saga

Vegeta doesn’t believe he’ll be able to beat Buu under conventional means, but he’s confident that his desperate final tactic will get the job done – even if it costs him his life. Vegeta triggers his Final Explosion technique while fighting Buu, releasing all the Ki in his body in an epic explosion of nuclear proportions. While Vegeta’s Final Atonement causes extreme damage to Buu, it still falls short.

Buu’s regeneration is able to reconstitute the villain and Vegeta’s sacrifice is all for naught. The Prince of All Saiyans is eventually able to return to Earth and fuse with Goku into Vegito, but there are some dark moments when he’s out of the picture. Accepting his limitations and that his maximum effort would not be enough to destroy Buu would have saved Vegeta’s life.

1 Vegeta’s Hubris Buys Golden Frieza Enough Time To Destroy The Earth

Golden Frieza Saga

Vegeta and Frieza have a long and torturous history. It should come as no surprise Vegeta is eager to milk Frieza’s humiliation when he bests him in Resurrection F. Golden Frieza is an overwhelming foe for most of Earth’s heroes, but he proves to be no match against Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Goku and Vegeta. Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta beats Golden Frieza and delivers a lengthy pride-filled monologue getting ready to end the tyrant’s life.

Unfortunately, Frieza takes advantage of Vegeta’s grandstanding and releases an immense burst of energy into the Earth, imploding it on the spot. Vegeta’s need to lord over Frieza and sufficiently humiliate him causes the Earth’s destruction. Whis is fortunately able to intervene with his Temporal Do-Over tactic, which rewinds time several seconds to prevent this tragedy. Goku then steps in and properly kills Frieza. All hope would have been lost without Whis and his Angel abilities.