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Changed line(s) 195,196 (click to see context) from:
** Even in ''GT'' (where if your name isn't Goku or [[BrattyHalfPint Pan]], you're automatically doomed to get {{demoted to extra}}), he was close to Goku in his Super Saiyan 4 state.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Against Majin Buu. Although, he still ended up in Hell only to be semi-revived to fight Majin Buu. He gets his full redemption after he was brought back to life after explicitly asking that all the bad people stay dead.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Against Majin Buu. Although, he still ended up in Hell only to be semi-revived to fight Majin Buu. He gets his full redemption after he was brought back to life after explicitly asking that all the bad people stay dead.
to:
** Even in ''GT'' (where if your name isn't Goku or [[BrattyHalfPint Pan]], you're automatically doomed to get {{demoted to extra}}), he was close to Goku in his Super Saiyan 4 state.state.
*RedemptionEarnsLife: When Vegeta asked everyone except for the evil people to be revived after the Earth was restored, he was one of the people brought back, showing that at least in the eyes of the Namekian Dragon Vegeta wasn't evil anymore. Best part, [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre he didn't see it coming]].
* RedemptionEqualsDeath:Against {{Subverted}} against Majin Buu. Although, he still ended fought for others for the first time in his life, Piccolo made it clear that one selfless deed doesn't make up in Hell only to be for his years of being a JerkAss and a former space pirate. He's later semi-revived to fight Majin Buu. He gets Buu and fully earns his full redemption after he was brought back to life after explicitly asking that all the bad people stay dead.redemption.
*RedemptionEarnsLife: When Vegeta asked everyone except for the evil people to be revived after the Earth was restored, he was one of the people brought back, showing that at least in the eyes of the Namekian Dragon Vegeta wasn't evil anymore. Best part, [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre he didn't see it coming]].
* RedemptionEqualsDeath:
Changed line(s) 199 (click to see context) from:
* ReformedButNotTamed: He's still cold and aloof, but he genuinely cares for his family.
to:
* ReformedButNotTamed: He's still cold and aloof, but he genuinely cares for his family.family, the few friends he made, and even his [[TheRival rival]].
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* YouHaveFailedMe[=/=]YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Vegeta kills Nappa after he fails to kill Goku.
to:
* YouHaveFailedMe[=/=]YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Vegeta YouHaveFailedMe[=/=]YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness:
**Vegeta kills Nappa after he fails to killGoku.Goku.
**He was waiting for the right time to invoke this on Gohan and Krillin in the Freiza Arc.
**Vegeta kills Nappa after he fails to kill
**He was waiting for the right time to invoke this on Gohan and Krillin in the Freiza Arc.
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Changed line(s) 119 (click to see context) from:
* IdiotBall: Drops a fairly big one during the Freeza saga; When Krillin goes to Guru's to gain the password needed to activate the Namekian Dragon Balls, Vegeta decides to take a nap, not only disregarding the fact that Freeza could return at any moment, but also trusting Gohan to come and wake him up when Krillin returns.
to:
* IdiotBall: Drops a fairly big one during the Freeza saga; When Krillin goes to Guru's to gain the password needed to activate the Namekian Dragon Balls, Vegeta decides to take a nap, not only disregarding the fact that Freeza could return at any moment, but also trusting Gohan to come and wake him up when Krillin returns. Although, it is somewhat justifiable since he was closed to passing out because he's been awake for several days guarding his Dragon Balls from Frieza and the Earthlings.
Changed line(s) 127 (click to see context) from:
* ItsAllAboutMe: He's easily one of the most selfish characters in the series. He comes to regret being this way when [[spoiler: he sees Future Trunks get killed by Cell.]]
to:
* ItsAllAboutMe: He's easily one of the most selfish characters in the series. He comes to regret being this way when [[spoiler: he sees Future Trunks get killed by Cell.Cell and when he thought Gohan has been murdered by Buu.]]
Changed line(s) 132 (click to see context) from:
* JerkassRealization: When [[spoiler: Future Trunks gets killed by Cell]], Vegeta realizes how harsh he was towards him and wanted to avenge his death.
to:
* JerkassRealization: When JerkassRealization:
**When [[spoiler: Future Trunks gets killed by Cell]], Vegeta realizes how harsh he was towards him and wanted to avenge hisdeath.death.
**He has another one when he realizes just how powerful Buu was after he seemingly [[spoiler: murdered Gohan. He even says outright he would never forgive himself and fought Buu partly to avenge him]].
**When [[spoiler: Future Trunks gets killed by Cell]], Vegeta realizes how harsh he was towards him and wanted to avenge his
**He has another one when he realizes just how powerful Buu was after he seemingly [[spoiler: murdered Gohan. He even says outright he would never forgive himself and fought Buu partly to avenge him]].
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* KickTheDog: His speech to Kid Gohan in the Freeza Saga about Goku's supposed death on Namek.
to:
* KickTheDog: His KickTheDog:
**His speech to Kid Gohan in the Freeza Saga about Goku's supposed death on Namek.
**His speech to Kid Gohan in the Freeza Saga about Goku's supposed death on Namek.
**He has one much earlier with him kneeing Goku while he was down, right in front of Gohan when they were having a tender moment.
**After Yamcha was killed by a Saibamen, Vegeta tells Krillin to clear the trash from the battle. Cues Krillin's berserk reaction.
**After Yamcha was killed by a Saibamen, Vegeta tells Krillin to clear the trash from the battle. Cues Krillin's berserk reaction.
Changed line(s) 145 (click to see context) from:
* LethallyStupid: Vegeta's Saiyan pride always [[NiceJobBreakingItHero tends to bring him and others into trouble]]. Especially when he let Cell absorb Android 18.
to:
* LethallyStupid: Vegeta's Saiyan pride always [[NiceJobBreakingItHero tends to bring him and others into trouble]]. Especially when he let Cell absorb Android 18. It comes to ahead again when he allowed Babidi to possess him so he could fight Goku, which leads to Buu being revived.
Changed line(s) 155,156 (click to see context) from:
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After letting Cell absorb #18, he has this reaction when he realizes just how powerful Perfect Cell really is.
* TheMillstone: His desire for a good fight often makes things harder on the others. Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18. Then he ''helps'' Cell absorb 18 in order to become Perfect Cell.
* TheMillstone: His desire for a good fight often makes things harder on the others. Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18. Then he ''helps'' Cell absorb 18 in order to become Perfect Cell.
to:
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After MyGodWhatHaveIDone:
**After letting Cell absorb #18, he has this reaction when he realizes just how powerful Perfect Cell really is.
**Similarly when he realizes just how powerful Buu was.
*TheMillstone: His TheMillstone:
**His desire for a good fight often makes things harder on the others. Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18. Then he ''helps'' Cell absorb 18 in order to become PerfectCell.Cell.
**In the Buu Sage, it is his fault that Buu was revived since he had to fight Goku no matter what. They were closed to putting Babidi away and needed only to beat Dabura who even a rusty Gohan could have eventually beating.
**After letting Cell absorb #18, he has this reaction when he realizes just how powerful Perfect Cell really is.
**Similarly when he realizes just how powerful Buu was.
*
**His desire for a good fight often makes things harder on the others. Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18. Then he ''helps'' Cell absorb 18 in order to become Perfect
**In the Buu Sage, it is his fault that Buu was revived since he had to fight Goku no matter what. They were closed to putting Babidi away and needed only to beat Dabura who even a rusty Gohan could have eventually beating.
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* ActionDad: To Trunks and Bulla.
to:
* ActionDad: To Trunks and Bulla. Bulla.
*AlasPoorVillain: Vegeta's death to Frieza. Vegeta has been despicable for sixty-something episodes, and killed a village full of cute alien children, their big brothers, and their elders. You'd expect a character of this type to die in a spectacular manner, then never be seen again. Instead, he is given one of the ''worst'' [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beatings]] after he gave everything to beat Frieza, including allowing Krillin to put a hole in his chest. His best attack was kicked like a beach ball and he is reduced to tears before Frieza plummets him. After seemingly being saved by Goku's arrival, he is shot in the heart and forced to beg Goku to finish the job of beating Frieza. Goku, who had no real love for Vegeta and kept him alive so he could beat him one day, buries him and loses all of his ill feeling towards him. After his revival, no one on Goku's side sees him as a enemy anymore. Just a JerkAss.
*AlasPoorVillain: Vegeta's death to Frieza. Vegeta has been despicable for sixty-something episodes, and killed a village full of cute alien children, their big brothers, and their elders. You'd expect a character of this type to die in a spectacular manner, then never be seen again. Instead, he is given one of the ''worst'' [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beatings]] after he gave everything to beat Frieza, including allowing Krillin to put a hole in his chest. His best attack was kicked like a beach ball and he is reduced to tears before Frieza plummets him. After seemingly being saved by Goku's arrival, he is shot in the heart and forced to beg Goku to finish the job of beating Frieza. Goku, who had no real love for Vegeta and kept him alive so he could beat him one day, buries him and loses all of his ill feeling towards him. After his revival, no one on Goku's side sees him as a enemy anymore. Just a JerkAss.
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Changed line(s) 183 (click to see context) from:
* ReallyGetsAround: Implied in DragonBallOnline; Vegeta or Goku or both may have taken at the very least a second wife at the death of their first, as much of the Human race now has Saiyan ancestry and the potential to become a Super Saiyan. Vegeta and Goku are the prime candidates to be the ancestors in question.
to:
* ReallyGetsAround: Implied in DragonBallOnline; Vegeta or Goku or both may have taken at the very least a second wife at the death of their first, as much of the Human race now has Saiyan ancestry and the potential to become a Super Saiyan. Vegeta and Goku are the prime candidates to be the ancestors in question.question, if not their children or grandchildren.
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Changed line(s) 82 (click to see context) from:
* FinalFirstHug: When he hugged his son Trunks for the first time expecting it to also be the last time.
to:
* FinalFirstHug: When he hugged his son Trunks for the first time expecting it to also be the last time.time, as he was about to [[spoiler:sacrifice himself in an attempt to kill Buu.]]
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While he has legitimate points as a father, he does not fit the criteria since he was abusive at one point. Take this to the discussions before adding it back.
Deleted line(s) 94 (click to see context) :
* GoodParents: Believe it or not, he dotes upon Trunks and Bulla.
** Vegeta gets another one in the climax of the Buu Arc when he [[WhatTheHellHero calls out Goku for leaving his children to die while Kid Buu blows up the Earth]], and choosing to rescue Mr. Satan and Dende instead.
* WhatTheHellHero: See JerkassHasAPoint above.
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* YouHaveFailedMe[=/=]YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Vegeta kills Nappa after he fails to kill Goku.
to:
* YouHaveFailedMe[=/=]YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Vegeta kills Nappa after he fails to kill Goku.Goku.
----
----
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Changed line(s) 245 (click to see context) from:
* WouldHitAGirl: Vegeta didn't hold back in his fight with Android 18. He got utterly crushed.
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* WouldHitAGirl: Vegeta didn't hold back in his fight with Android 18. He still got utterly crushed.
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* {{Irony}}: At the end of the Kid Boo Saga, it is Vegeta who comes up with the way to defeat Kid Boo. How, precisely? By using the Genki Dama, the technique Goku originally learned to try and kill ''him''.
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* ReallyGetsAround: Implied in DragonBallOnline; Vegeta or Goku or both may have taken at the very least a second wife at the death of their first, as much of the Human race now has Saiyan ancestry and the potential to become a Super Saiyan. Vegeta and Goku are the prime candidates to be the ancestors in question.
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* DyingMomentOfAwesome: Implied to have had one offscreen. According to Dragon Ball Online, Goku and Vegeta, intent on settling their rivalry and knowing they would die soon of natural causes, left Earth for one final battle. Years later, a supernova was detected that is assumed to be from Goku and Vegeta's final battle. Vegeta's final battle was so awesome it was equivalent to an exploding star.
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* EvilPrince: He's the prince of the barbaric Saiyan race.
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* TookALevelInKindness: By the end of the series he finally admits that he will never surpass Goku and pulls a real HeelFaceTurn, which is further showed in the Battle of Gods movie.
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Changed line(s) 50 (click to see context) from:
** Realizing that did he care about Trunks and admitting to himself that both Goku and Gohan had utterly surpassed him, at the end of the Cell Arc was the first step down that road that would accumulate into accepting Goku was better then him at the end of ''Z''.
to:
** Realizing that did he care cared about Trunks and admitting to himself that both Goku and Gohan had utterly surpassed him, at the end of the Cell Arc was the first step down that road that would accumulate into accepting Goku was better then him at the end of ''Z''.
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Changed line(s) 187 (click to see context) from:
* TheRival: Goku's biggest one, and one of the most iconic in anime and manga.
to:
* TheRival: While not the first, he's Goku's biggest one, and one a good candidate for the TropeCodifier of the most iconic in anime and manga.archetypical anime/manga rival.
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* GoodParents: Believe it or not, he dotes upon Trunks and Bulla.
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Changed line(s) 5 (click to see context) from:
->'''Voiced by (English):''' Creator/ChristopherSabat, LauraBailey (young in ''Kai'') (FUNimation); Creator/BrianDrummond, SaffronHenderson (young in flashbacks) (Ocean); Roger Rhodes (Blue Water)
to:
->'''Voiced by (English):''' Creator/ChristopherSabat, LauraBailey Creator/LauraBailey (young in ''Kai'') (FUNimation); Creator/BrianDrummond, SaffronHenderson (young in flashbacks) (Ocean); Roger Rhodes (Blue Water)
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Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
* AntagonistInMourning: After Goku's death in the Cell Games. He decides to never fight again.
to:
* AntagonistInMourning: After Goku's death in the Cell Games. He decides Games, he [[IWillFightNoMoreForever swears to never fight again.]] When he sees a chance to get that rematch after all in the Buu Saga, he gets a mite...fixated on it.
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Changed line(s) 49 (click to see context) from:
* CharacterDevelopment: Goes from being a massive arrogant JerkAss of villain at the start of ''Z'' to an honorable warrior and close friend at the very end. [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold He's still a bit of a prick, though]].
to:
* CharacterDevelopment: Goes from being a massive arrogant JerkAss {{Jerkass}} of villain at the start of ''Z'' to an honorable warrior and close friend at the very end. [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold He's still a bit of a prick, though]].
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** His character in ''Battle of Gods'' is a stark contrast to the self-absorbed douche who was willing to risk the safety of the Earth in exchange for a good fight just a decade prior.
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** Greatly subverted by the time ''Battle of Gods'' rolls around. Just don't tell him to dance again.
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Changed line(s) 65 (click to see context) from:
* {{Determinator}}: (Seeing a trend yet?) One of his most consistent character traits, from the Saiyan Saga to his fight with Kid Buu. No matter how much punishment he takes, he just keeps getting up. His refusal to stay down unnerves Buu more than [=SSJ3=] Goku.
to:
* {{Determinator}}: (Seeing a trend yet?) {{Determinator}}:
** One of his most consistent character traits, from the Saiyan Saga to his fight with Kid Buu. No matter how much punishment he takes, he just keeps getting up. His refusal to stay down unnerves Buu more than [=SSJ3=] Goku.
** One of his most consistent character traits, from the Saiyan Saga to his fight with Kid Buu. No matter how much punishment he takes, he just keeps getting up. His refusal to stay down unnerves Buu more than [=SSJ3=] Goku.
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Changed line(s) 31 (click to see context) from:
* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: On Namek.
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* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: On Namek.Namek, his story purpose quickly becomes "massacre the minor villains so the heroes don't have to". Goku calls him out for killing Recoome, Burter and Jeice when they were basically helpless.
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Justifying Edit. Removing.
Deleted line(s) 115 (click to see context) :
** Considering he hadn't slept for days, he'd have been in worse shape if he didn't take a nap.
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* TheDreaded: Alot of villains fear him. You know you're intimidating when you've striked fear in both Cell and Kid Buu.
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Changed line(s) 59 (click to see context) from:
%%* DeadpanSnarker: Sometimes.
to:
* DeathGlare: His default if not constant look.
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Changed line(s) 205 (click to see context) from:
* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler:Only for a minute at most, but after Bulma got slapped by Beerus in the ''Battle of Gods'' movie, Vegeta snapped and tried to attack Beerus with a sudden burst of power. Roshi noted that Vegeta may have ''finally'' been stronger than Goku.]]
to:
* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler:Only for a minute at most, but after Bulma got slapped by Beerus in the ''Battle of Gods'' movie, Vegeta snapped and tried to attack Beerus with a sudden burst of power. Roshi noted that Vegeta may have ''finally'' been stronger than Goku. A claim backed up by the fact that despite only being a Super Saiyan 2 at most, he ''tanked'' a ''punch'' from Beerus and '''''powered through it''''' to continue comboing him - and lest we forget, Beerus only had to finger-flick Goku to send him hurtling across King Kai's planet as a Super Saiyan 3.]]
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Changed line(s) 182 (click to see context) from:
* TheRival: Goku's biggest one.
to:
* TheRival: Goku's biggest one.one, and one of the most iconic in anime and manga.
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* HeroicWillpower: If Vegeta sets his mind on something, he's not going to let a little thing like someone else having control of every fiber in his body stop him. In the words of Babidi:
--> Babidi: "''B-but this has never happened to me before! Since when can the possessed say 'no' to the possesser?!''"
--> Babidi: "''B-but this has never happened to me before! Since when can the possessed say 'no' to the possesser?!''"
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Changed line(s) 145 (click to see context) from:
* TheMilestone: His desire for a good fight often makes things harder on the others. Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18. Then he ''helps'' Cell absorb 18 in order to become Perfect Cell.
to:
* TheMilestone: TheMillstone: His desire for a good fight often makes things harder on the others. Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18. Then he ''helps'' Cell absorb 18 in order to become Perfect Cell.
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Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* AntiHero: One of the '''greatest''' examples anime or manga has ever given us. He pretty much created the mold for anti-heroic characters in Shonen anime and manga and went through the ''whole scale'' of anti-heroism during his character development in the series.
to:
* AntiHero: One of the '''greatest''' examples anime or manga has ever given us. He pretty much created the mold for anti-heroic characters in Shonen anime and manga and went through the ''whole scale'' of anti-heroism during his character development in the series.
Changed line(s) 35 (click to see context) from:
* BigEater: He actually shows this side of himself in the Buu Saga as well as in ''Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return'' where he intends to eat ''competitively'' with Goku.
to:
* BigEater: He actually shows this side of himself in the Buu Saga as well as in ''Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return'' where he intends to eat ''competitively'' with Goku.
Changed line(s) 59 (click to see context) from:
* DeadpanSnarker: Sometimes.
to:
Changed line(s) 66 (click to see context) from:
* DrivenByEnvy: Pretty much what drives him through the last half of the Freeza Saga all the way to the end of the Buu Saga. He finally gets over this when he admits that Goku would always be better than him.
to:
* DrivenByEnvy: Pretty much what What drives him through the last half of the Freeza Saga all the way to the end of the Buu Saga. He finally gets over this when he admits that Goku would always be better than him.
Changed line(s) 74 (click to see context) from:
* FearlessFool: Vegeta's the type to charge into battles with opponents who are much stronger than him. This may be due to his arrogance, though.
to:
* FearlessFool: Vegeta's the type to charge into battles with opponents who are much stronger than him. This may be due to his arrogance, though.arrogance because he doesn't believe they are stronger than him.
Deleted line(s) 85 (click to see context) :
** GenreBlindness: Why yes, Vegeta, ''fly right at Ginyu over and over.'' What could possibly go wrong?
Deleted line(s) 137,139 (click to see context) :
** In fact, he's literally responsible for every single arc in the series. The Saiyan Saga is obvious. The Freeza Saga only happens because he let Freeza know what the Dragon Balls were. The Cell Saga wouldn't have happened if he didn't stop Trunks from finishing Cell off and ''actively help Cell absorb 18''. The Buu Saga would never have happened if Vegeta didn't sell his soul to the SatanicArchetype (or, to be more precise, Satan's puppet master), which kept Goku from just killing Babidi and Dabura and released enough energy to free Majin Buu.
** ForWantOfANail: Which qualifies for this.
** Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18.
** ForWantOfANail: Which qualifies for this.
** Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18.
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* ManipulativeBastard: He's actually quite cunning when he's not letting his arrogance or rage get out of control. Particularly in the Namek Saga; he bordered on [[MagnificentBastard magnificence]] there.
to:
* ManipulativeBastard: He's actually quite cunning when he's not letting his arrogance or rage get out of control. Particularly in the Namek Saga; he bordered on [[MagnificentBastard magnificence]] there.
Changed line(s) 143 (click to see context) from:
** The Cell Saga, on the other hand, is pretty much a case study of Vegeta letting his arrogance get the best of him. It gets so bad it verges on TooDumbToLive territory.
to:
** The Cell Saga, on the other hand, is pretty much a case study of Vegeta letting his arrogance get the best of him. It gets so bad it verges on TooDumbToLive territory.
*TheMilestone: His desire for a good fight often makes things harder on the others. Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18. Then he ''helps'' Cell absorb 18 in order to become Perfect Cell.
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* RealMenWearPink: The infamous pink shirt. He isn't happy about it, though.
to:
* RealMenWearPink: The infamous pink shirt. He isn't happy about it, though.it.
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* RedemptionInTheRain: He actually subverts it when he ''[[ScreamingWarrior screams]]'' the rain clouds away.
to:
* RedemptionInTheRain: He actually subverts it when he ''[[ScreamingWarrior screams]]'' the rain clouds away.
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* WellDoneSonGuy: Well, he seems to ''try'' to be a standoffish father to (main timeline) Trunks, but his son never takes him seriously. Played straight with Future Trunks whom he was actually very jealous of for having become a Super Saiyan before him.
to:
* WellDoneSonGuy: Well, he He seems to ''try'' to be a standoffish father to (main timeline) Trunks, but his son never takes him seriously. Played straight with Future Trunks whom he was actually very jealous of for having become a Super Saiyan before him.
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He didn\'t go to earth for a good fight, nor did he create the androids or summon Buu etc.
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* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The only character who probably has more of an "alien" view of how the world is perceived than Goku, is Vegeta; considering that his desperation for a great battle has the been the catalyst for ''every single arc in Anime/DragonBallZ occurring.'' There is a reason why some fans consider him TheLoad.
to:
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The only character who probably has more of an "alien" view of how the world is perceived than Goku, is Vegeta; considering that his desperation for a great battle has the been the catalyst for ''every single arc driving force in Anime/DragonBallZ occurring.'' There is a reason why some fans consider him TheLoad.his character.
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vegetavwx2014_928.jpg]]
!!'''Vegeta (ベジータ; ''Bejiita'')'''
->'''Voiced by (Japanese):''' Creator/RyoHorikawa
->'''Voiced by (English):''' Creator/ChristopherSabat, LauraBailey (young in ''Kai'') (FUNimation); Creator/BrianDrummond, SaffronHenderson (young in flashbacks) (Ocean); Roger Rhodes (Blue Water)
->'''Voiced by (Latin American):''' ReneGarcia, Luis Daniel Ramírez (young), Andrés Gutiérrez Coto (''Kai''), Carlos Díaz (young in ''Kai'')
The royal prince of all Saiyans and, along with Goku, one of the few surviving members of his race. Started out as a villain who came to Earth to use the Dragon Balls for his own ends. But after that battle and his repeated run-ins with the heroes, he slowly but surely starts to come over to the heroes' side... somewhat.
----
* AbsurdlyYouthfulFather: Thanks to being a Saiyan he hasn't changed a day since the fight with Buu, while his wife aged less gracefully.
* AbusiveParents:
** Freeza was his parental figure for most of his life.
** Acted like this towards Future Trunks, but learned the errors of his ways [[spoiler:after Trunks is killed by Cell]].
* ActionDad: To Trunks and Bulla.
* AloofBigBrother: He acts like this to Tarble.
* AlwaysSecondBest: Throughout the series, he ''hates'' that Goku is stronger than him.
* AntagonistInMourning: After Goku's death in the Cell Games. He decides to never fight again.
* AntiHero: One of the '''greatest''' examples anime or manga has ever given us. He pretty much created the mold for anti-heroic characters in Shonen anime and manga and went through the ''whole scale'' of anti-heroism during his character development in the series.
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: The king of this trope. Often leads to epic BreakTheHaughty moments, even after becoming a ''good guy''.
* AuthorityEqualsAssKicking: There's a '''really good''' reason why he and his father were treated like royalty by the one of the most savage and brutal races in the universe. Just ask [[TheBrute Nappa]]... in the afterlife (see below).
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: How he learned the protagonists' signature ability to sense other people's energy.
* AxCrazy: In his ''majin'' state became this.
* {{Badass}}: Continued to be so despite being overshadowed by more powerful characters.
* BadassArmFold: Almost as iconic as his psychotic smirk.
* BadassBoast: Vegeta has to be one of the kings of this trope. One of his best was when Babidi was controlling his body:
--> '''Babidi:''' Kill! Kill the Kai!
--> '''Vegeta:''' No! Get out of my head! I already told you! I will not be distracted from this anymore! I won't! It will take more than head games to stop me. You may have invaded my mind and my body...but there's one thing a Saiyan always keeps...'''HIS PRIDE!'''
* BadBoss
--> ''(to Nappa)'' "A paralyzed Saiyan has no further need to live. '''Die!!'''"
** There's also Raditz. When Nappa comes up with the idea of gathering the Dragon Balls to wish him back from the dead, Vegeta immediately vetoes this option, stating that Raditz was unworthy of being revived since he had lost in a fight against Earthlings.
* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: On Namek.
* BerserkButton: Despite his attempts to be a WellDoneSonGuy father, threatening or hurting his children and wife can easily send him into an UnstoppableRage. His anger at Beerus for slapping Bulma briefly allowed Vegeta to surpass Goku in the movie ''Anime/DragonBallZBattleOfGods.''
* TheBerserker[=/=]LeeroyJenkins: When not using his head, he rushes into everything.
* BigBad: Of the Saiyan Saga.
* BigEater: He actually shows this side of himself in the Buu Saga as well as in ''Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return'' where he intends to eat ''competitively'' with Goku.
* BigShutUp: He does this a lot.
* BloodKnight: Takes this Saiyan trait to such extremes that he allows Cell to become Perfect Cell in hopes of getting a greater battle from Cell. And boy, did he ever. Of course, being Vegeta, he didn't expect to be handily beaten while Cell was holding back most of his power the entire time.
* BloodUpgrade: When he realizes that Goku, a low-class warrior, has drawn his blood in their first fight, he goes absolutely nuts and tries to blow up the entire planet.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The only character who probably has more of an "alien" view of how the world is perceived than Goku, is Vegeta; considering that his desperation for a great battle has the been the catalyst for ''every single arc in Anime/DragonBallZ occurring.'' There is a reason why some fans consider him TheLoad.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: In the English dub to the audience. "What are you looking at?"
* BreakTheHaughty: His story is jam packed full of this trope. After he makes a very long speech about how there is no way he can lose, he promptly gets his ass handed to him on a platter. Then, he screams in rage about his pride and unleashes everything he's got, but it barely dents the monster. Then, comes the dramatic crying. This happens at least once per season, if not more.
* BreakOutCharacter: Originally supposed to be just the Big Bad for the Saiyan saga, he is proved to be so popular among the fans that Akira Toriyama continued using him and turned him into the Anti-Hero (see above) as a result.
* BullyingADragon: On the receiving end of this. When Vegeta is at the tournament waiting for his match, a guy walks up to him and constantly berates him. Vegeta then knocks the guy out by punching him lightly in the face.
* ButtMonkey: In ''GT''. He gets put down by his own daughter for his mustache, and even if he shaved it off, neither Goten nor Chi-Chi seem to notice the change.
* ByronicHero: Willing to kill enemies, fighting dirty and always for his own purposes like power and fighting.
* CatchPhrase: In the English dub, he always called himself "the prince of all Saiyans".
** His insult of choice for Goku is "clown".
* ChangedMyMindKid: During Gohan's BeamOWar against Cell, Vegeta wouldn't help the protagonists in trying to aid Gohan because he didn't think they could do anything. Then, at the last minute, [[spoiler: Vegeta shoots a powerful beam that's strong enough to distract Cell, which allows Gohan to win the battle.]]
* CharacterDevelopment: Goes from being a massive arrogant JerkAss of villain at the start of ''Z'' to an honorable warrior and close friend at the very end. [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold He's still a bit of a prick, though]].
** Realizing that did he care about Trunks and admitting to himself that both Goku and Gohan had utterly surpassed him, at the end of the Cell Arc was the first step down that road that would accumulate into accepting Goku was better then him at the end of ''Z''.
* ChildSoldier: Raised as one by Freeza.
* '''ColdBloodedTorture''': Horrifically subjected to this by Freeza after trying to take him on thinking he was a Super Saiyan. It's not pretty.
* CombatPragmatist: Knowing that the Ginyu Force [[BewareTheSillyOnes were as dangerous as they were silly]], Vegeta kills Guldo, Burter, and Recoome after the former had his back turned and the latter two were defeated and knocked unconscious by Goku.
** Also, in an earlier battle with Zarbon, he proved he wasn't above throwing dirt in his eye, then attacking from behind.
* CryCute: A rare ''male'' example of this trope, tearfully begging Son Goku [[spoiler: to avenge the cold-blooded murder of their people as he dies of a punctured heart.]]
** Also during movie 12, ''Fusion Reborn''. He's frustrated with Goku [[CantCatchUp always]] [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter being stronger]] and with the fact that he's [[spoiler:dead and in Hell, therefore he doesn't have his body except for the duration of the movie]].
* DeadGuyJunior: His father was named King Vegeta.
** LegacyCharacter: Which puts him straight into this category, considering both his father ''and'' his planet share his name.
* DeadpanSnarker: Sometimes.
* DefiantToTheEnd: Against Freeza, who is enraged by this and [[spoiler: kills Vegeta as a result.]]
* DemotedToExtra: Mostly in ''GT'', although he does get a sizable role in the final arc.
* TheDragon: Shared this post with Zarbon and Dodoria towards Freeza.
* {{Determinator}}: (Seeing a trend yet?) One of his most consistent character traits, from the Saiyan Saga to his fight with Kid Buu. No matter how much punishment he takes, he just keeps getting up. His refusal to stay down unnerves Buu more than [=SSJ3=] Goku.
** And when he's turned into Majin Vegeta by Babidi, his desire to fight Goku enables him to resist Babidi's control.
* DotingParent: To his daughter Bra, and Trunks to a lesser extent.
* DrivenByEnvy: Pretty much what drives him through the last half of the Freeza Saga all the way to the end of the Buu Saga. He finally gets over this when he admits that Goku would always be better than him.
* EasilyForgiven: Goku and Bulma forgive him a lot easier than the other fighters for the murderous things he did in the past.
* EnragedByIdiocy: Especially involving Goku's. When Goku says or does something stupid, Vegeta yells at him with the phrase "you idiot!"
* [[EveryoneHasStandards Even Vegeta Has Standards]]: For a jerk, Vegeta is disgusted with Goku when he fails to save their children from the exploding Earth. He is also upset with himself after [[spoiler:letting Trunks get killed by Cell.]]
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Showed two examples of this during the Android Saga: Following the near-fatal capsule explosion, Vegeta couldn't fathom why Bulma had chosen to stay by his side while he was recovering. Later, just before his battle with #18, he scoffed at the thought of the other Z Fighters coming to his aid, even asking why they'd ''want'' to help him.
* EvilCounterpart: To Goku, initially. They are both Saiyans who love to fight and challenge themselves. The difference is that Goku values life and fights to protect those he loves, while Vegeta couldn't have cared less about anyone but himself. Vegeta eventually learns to value others and to accept and return love.
* ExtremeDoormat: To his daughter, [[DaddysGirl Bulla]] in ''GT'' to a lesser extent.
* FatalFlaw: Vegeta's pride and wrath.
* FearlessFool: Vegeta's the type to charge into battles with opponents who are much stronger than him. This may be due to his arrogance, though.
* TheFightingNarcissist: Despite his love of fighting, notably after getting a scratch, he decided to destroy the Earth.
* FinalFirstHug: When he hugged his son Trunks for the first time expecting it to also be the last time.
* ForeheadOfDoom: Could be said to be a general trait of Toriyama's art style, but Vegeta's is especially egregious, to the point of being a meme in Japan.
* FourIsDeath: The number of Saiyans still alive, according to Raditz.
** Also this is the number of times he dies in the series if you include the end of GT.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: In the early Freeza Saga and the Cell Saga, to everyone but Goku and Bulma -- even Trunks spent about as much time berating him as he did seeking his approval.
* FreudianExcuse: The dub adds in that one of the reasons he served Freeza was essentially by blackmail, as Freeza demanded that he submit to Freeza or else daddy will die by his hand. Of course, Freeza ended up killing daddy anyways, along with most of his race. This is implied somewhat in the original, but with nowhere near the level of importance the dub suggests to Vegeta's motives.
* GeniusBruiser: When he swallows his pride and uses his head, he becomes this.
* GenreSavvy: To the point of killing people Goku defeats because he knows Goku won't (see: Ginyu Force).
** Also this is the reason he ''didn't'' become as powerful as Trunks during the Cell saga, because he knew that [[MightyGlacier the power his muscles gained would slow down his movement speed]] and he wouldn't be able to catch or fight Cell that way.
** GenreBlindness: Why yes, Vegeta, ''fly right at Ginyu over and over.'' What could possibly go wrong?
* TheGlassesComeOff: Though it was not really glasses but a monocle-like scouter. Doing this, however, showed the audience exactly how dangerous he really was.
** And he only became even more dangerous when he stopped needing it at all.
* GoodCostumeSwitch: Vegeta starts off wearing a full suit of Saiyan armor. As the series continues, and Vegeta gradually undergoes a Heel-Face Turn he continues to stop wearing pieces of it, and by the time of the Buu arc he's just wearing the gloves and boots over the blue bodysuit. And at the very end of the series, once Vegeta has fully become a good guy and accepted the Earth as his home, he starts wearing Earthling clothes instead.
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler: When he sacrificed himself to try to kill Buu.]]
* GratuitousEnglish: In the Japanese version, he is the only major character to have English signature moves, namely the Big Bang Attack and Final Flash. Everyone else has Japanese-named techniques. According to Toriyama, this was done to make the alien Vegeta more exotic, or as he said in an interview, "to portray his foreign personality".
* GrowingMusclesSequence: Got a couple. The first time he ate a senzu and the first time he attempted to go beyond Super Saiyan against Cell. He didn't go USS so it wasn't as dramatic as Future Trunks'.
* GrumpyBear: When not in a fight, he's very grumpy indeed .
* HairTriggerTemper: He was always temperamental, but being bested or knowing Goku's better is usually what gets him the most mad
* HappilyMarried: At first, he didn't care about Bulma or their son after he was born. But after seeing Future Trunks [[spoiler:die at the hands of Cell]], he tries to show more concern for his family. After the battle against Buu, he finally settles down with Bulma for real, and they have a daughter.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: To sum up his alignment changes in ''DBZ'': he's bad, he's good (sort of), he's bad again (for a cup of coffee), he's good (for real).
* HereditaryHairstyle: Same hair as his father, King Vegeta.
* HeroicSacrifice: He willingly kills himself trying to take Majin Buu down with him, all for the purpose of saving his son's life, ''knowing he would go to Hell afterwards'' for all of the terrible things he had done in his life.
** YouAreWorthHell: A literal case with his son.
** YouShallNotPass: He delivers an '''epic''' one to Majin Buu.
*** SenselessSacrifice: [[spoiler: Which unfortunately doesn't work as planned.]]
* HonorBeforeReason: Much like Goku, though with a distinctly Saiyan-centric cultural influence to it.
* HotBlooded: Even if it does lead to a lot of trouble for the protagonists, he still looks cool talking about the hurt he's going to deliver.
* HowMuchMoreCanHeTake: While he may not ''win'' most of his fights, Vegeta is notably the biggest tank in the series. It takes something special to kill Vegeta, [[spoiler:''like a punctured '''HEART''' or [[HeroicSacrifice the man himself]]'']]. This is one of two guys who got up and kept fighting pretty well after being hit with a Spirit Bomb.
** Perhaps the greatest example is his YouShallNotPass moment against Kid Buu. When Goku needs time to recover, Vegeta steps in and gets the living ''shit'' kicked out of him. He gets blasted into a crater, and Kid Buu turns away to [[EvilLaugh start laughing.]] Then…
--> '''Vegeta''': What are you gawking at? What did you think? That I would just roll over and die from an attack like that?
--> ''All this shot from Vegeta's POV, so you see [[AxCrazy Kid Buu]]'s stunned expression, who proceeds to '''take a step back in shock.'''''
* HumanAlien: Like most Saiyans.
* HumanityIsInfectious: His love for Bulma and Trunks really helped mellow him out, which caused him great angst in the Buu Sage, since he saw this trope as part of his BadassDecay.
* HumiliationConga: Happens at least OnceASeason.
* IAmXSonOfY: A variation: "I am Vegeta, Prince of the Saiyan warrior race!"
* IdiotBall: Drops a fairly big one during the Freeza saga; When Krillin goes to Guru's to gain the password needed to activate the Namekian Dragon Balls, Vegeta decides to take a nap, not only disregarding the fact that Freeza could return at any moment, but also trusting Gohan to come and wake him up when Krillin returns.
** Considering he hadn't slept for days, he'd have been in worse shape if he didn't take a nap.
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: While already one of the most powerful fighters in the series he has repeatedly fallen on this, from wanting to become a Super Saiyan to accepting a DealWithTheDevil to surpass Goku. And in true DramaticIrony, his greatest CrowningMomentOfAwesome in the Z series is the moment he gives up and accepts that Goku is better than him.
* ImmortalitySeeker: Was this until Freeza was killed, then he lost all desire to live forever.
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: This was why he was so hell bent on being stronger than Goku.
* InsistentTerminology: Makes a point of always calling Goku by his Saiyan name Kakarot, because he believes that Goku should take pride in his Saiyan heritage. The times he's ever spoken the name "Goku" can be counted on one hand.
* InsufferableGenius: He is a brilliant fighter and tactician when he is calm. He also knows very well that he is very good and will remind everyone so they do not forget.
* InterspeciesRomance: With Bulma.
* ItsAllAboutMe: He's easily one of the most selfish characters in the series. He comes to regret being this way when [[spoiler: he sees Future Trunks get killed by Cell.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Ends up becoming this in the last saga.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Although he was too harsh with Gohan about him getting weaker in the Buu saga and how his fight with Dabura was a "disgrace," he made a good point.
* JerkassRealization: When [[spoiler: Future Trunks gets killed by Cell]], Vegeta realizes how harsh he was towards him and wanted to avenge his death.
* KamehameHadoken: His Galick Gun and Final Flash.
* KickTheDog: His speech to Kid Gohan in the Freeza Saga about Goku's supposed death on Namek.
** He literally kicked him much earlier in Namek, as a "message" to Goku to get revenge on him.
** His horrific killing of [[TheBrute Nappa]] moves it to this from KickTheSonOfABitch, considering Nappa's loyalty and staying with him all those years.
** Likewise, when Dr. Gero/Android #20 escaped making an energy wave attacking Bulma and main!Trunks, Vegeta didn't even bother trying to rescue them. When Future Trunks [[WhatTheHellDad called him out on it]], he responded he doesn't care the slightest about them.
** Also in the episode "Vegeta's Pride" when he ''killed a majority of civilians'' to provoke Goku into fighting him (which may overlap with Moral Event Horizon).
* KnightInSourArmor: He was more willing to fight with the good guys once the Android and Cell Arc began but was still ''very'' bitter, angry and hostile towards the protagonists, especially [[TheRival Goku]]. And his elitist view on how a Saiyan should be never changed even if it went against his own son's wishes and even if it created more problems than solutions as far as the plot went.
* LackOfEmpathy: Prior to his HeelFaceTurn. Up to that point, his cruelty and callousness [[EvenEvilHasStandards shocked even cold-blooded Saiyan warriors like Nappa and Radditz]].
* LameComeback: In Funimation's dub, to Android 18. [[MemeticMutation "Sad for you!"]]
* TheLancer: After the Freeza arc, acting as a foil to the other protagonists.
* LargeHam: His ham level is '''[[UpToEleven OVER 9000!!!]]'''
* {{Leitmotif}}: Appropriately named "Hell's Bells".
* LethallyStupid: Vegeta's Saiyan pride always [[NiceJobBreakingItHero tends to bring him and others into trouble]]. Especially when he let Cell absorb Android 18.
* TheLoad: Vegeta normally zig-zags this trope. He causes way more problems than he solves. He does manage to do some useful things, but not things that couldn't have been done by anyone else (i.e. Nail could've killed Freeza's henchmen, Goku was more than strong enough to take the entire Ginyu Force, either Future Trunks or Piccolo could've killed Android 19, Future Trunks could've beaten Semi-Perfect Cell, either the Supreme Kai, Gohan, or Goku could've killed Pui Pui, etc).
** In fact, he's literally responsible for every single arc in the series. The Saiyan Saga is obvious. The Freeza Saga only happens because he let Freeza know what the Dragon Balls were. The Cell Saga wouldn't have happened if he didn't stop Trunks from finishing Cell off and ''actively help Cell absorb 18''. The Buu Saga would never have happened if Vegeta didn't sell his soul to the SatanicArchetype (or, to be more precise, Satan's puppet master), which kept Goku from just killing Babidi and Dabura and released enough energy to free Majin Buu.
** ForWantOfANail: Which qualifies for this.
** Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18.
* {{Lunacy}}: The Oozaru transformation.
* ManipulativeBastard: He's actually quite cunning when he's not letting his arrogance or rage get out of control. Particularly in the Namek Saga; he bordered on [[MagnificentBastard magnificence]] there.
** Note that he went into that conflict knowing beforehand that he was hopelessly outclassed on several levels in terms of battle strength (in other words he came in with a humble perspective from the get-go), and his second most cunning moment (at the end of the Buu Saga) came just after he finally admitted to himself that Goku was the better warrior. In short, the cunning gets turned on when the arrogance gets turned off.
** The Cell Saga, on the other hand, is pretty much a case study of Vegeta letting his arrogance get the best of him. It gets so bad it verges on TooDumbToLive territory.
* ManlyTears: To Goku describing how Freeza used the Saiyans and killed them off despite their blind servitude. In the first dub this was included [[FreudianExcuse enslaving Vegeta via threat on his father... and doing it anyway]].
* MeteorMove: A frequent user (Ginyu, 19, Cell, Buu) and victim (Zarbon, Cell).
* MissingMom: Like the other Saiyans, his mother is never shown or mentioned.
* MrFanservice: The reason female readership went up after his appearance. He was the first manga/anime crush of many a fangirl.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After letting Cell absorb #18, he has this reaction when he realizes just how powerful Perfect Cell really is.
* [[MyDadCanBeatUpYourDad My Son Can Beat Up Your Son]]: After Trunks wins a match to Goten, Vegeta rubs this in Goku's face.
* {{Narcissist}}: Big time. He has a hard time believing that anyone could be stronger than him, despite all the times he gets his butt handed to him. It's literally not until the end of the series that he admits that Goku is his better.
* TheNapoleon: Short and perpetually filled with rage? You betcha!
* NinetiesAntiHero: A classic example. Started off as just another psychotic villain, but evolves into this trope during the Freeza and Cell sagas. Even after becoming a full-on good guy in the fight against Buu, he still retains a shred of his former badassery, such as punching out his opponent for mouthing off to him at the World Martial Art Tournament.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: See LethallyStupid above.
* NobodyCallsMeChicken: Calling him a coward is a major BerserkButton
* NobleDemon: Became this by the end of the Freeza arc. Whilst he still wasn't a remotely nice person, he wasn't anywhere near as evil as he used to be.
* NominalHero: Goes through this phase as part of his slow but eventual HeelFaceTurn, starting in the Namek arc as a VillainProtagonist seeking to overthrow his former master, and in the Cell and Buu arcs, defending Earth, but only for his own selfish reasons. After [[spoiler: his death and subsequent pseudo-revival in terms of coming back to Earth for one day]], he fights for the Earth for the sake of defending it for the first time and officially moved to GoodIsNotNice by the end of ''Z''.
* NotBrainwashed: He ''let'' Babidi turn him into Majin Vegeta for the power-up that comes with being turned into a Majin.
* NotQuiteDead: Got hit point-blank by Goku's Spirit Bomb and was sent flying into the air before landed back to earth. Everyone thought he was dead. He wasn't.
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Towards [[InsistentTerminology Kakarot]] of course.
--> "[[FoeYay Kakarot is]] '''''[[FoeYay MINE!!!]]'''''"
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: If he's ever genuinely terrified of a villain (Freeza, Broly, and Beerus most notably) rather than his usual cocky self, you know they're not to be messed with.
* OverprotectiveDad: Acts like one towards Bulla in ''GT''.
* PapaWolf: Shows this side of him going completely [[BerserkButton berserk]] when Super Perfect Cell kills Future Trunks.
* PerpetualFrowner: When not being a SmugSmiler, he's this.
* PetTheDog: Before he sacrifices himself to Buu, he gives a heart-to-heart speech to Trunks and then hugs him. He's also had many of these moments throughout the series.
* {{Pornstache}}: In ''GT''. Thankfully, Bulla [[CallingTheOldManOut makes him shave it off]].
* PintSizedPowerhouse: He's not ''that'' short, but he was the smallest of the four Saiyans that originally came to Earth, and at that time he was by far the strongest. Out of the adult protagonists, only Krillin and Chiaotzu are shorter than him.
* {{Pride}}: Vegeta is the '''[[{{Pantheon/Pride}} God]]''' of this trope.
--> "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzLUgXNeCk8&feature=related There's one thing a Saiyan always keeps...]]"
* TheProudElite: He fits the trope perfectly, especially considering how he's always going on about how the Saiyans are a race of elite fighters who value their pride.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: A TropeCodifier for manga and anime.
* PsychoticSmirk: One of the most iconic users of this trope in anime. If he's not scowling, he's doing this.
* PureIsNotGood: He achieved Super Saiyan without having a pure good heart. He retcons this rule in the sub by explaining that having a heart of pure evil satisfied the requirement.
* ReadingsAreOffTheScale: Former TropeNamer.
* RealMenWearPink: The infamous pink shirt. He isn't happy about it, though.
* RedemptionDemotion: He eventually caught onto this, which is why he allows Babidi to make him a Majin. He ''does'' manage to avoid the worst of this trope however, unlike most of the others who get hit with it in this series. Vegeta manages to remain in the top three among the heroes in terms of power and ability fairly consistently. He's even the number two behind Goku during the latter parts of the Freeza saga and the beginning of the Buu Saga.
** Even in ''GT'' (where if your name isn't Goku or [[BrattyHalfPint Pan]], you're automatically doomed to get {{demoted to extra}}), he was close to Goku in his Super Saiyan 4 state.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Against Majin Buu. Although, he still ended up in Hell only to be semi-revived to fight Majin Buu. He gets his full redemption after he was brought back to life after explicitly asking that all the bad people stay dead.
* RedemptionInTheRain: He actually subverts it when he ''[[ScreamingWarrior screams]]'' the rain clouds away.
* RedOniBlueOni: In his earlier episodes, he was the blue to Nappa's red, and currently the blue to Goku's red.
* ReformedButNotTamed: He's still cold and aloof, but he genuinely cares for his family.
* RetiredMonster: At the end of the Freeza Saga, he's put his mass-murdering ways behind him to focus on surpassing Goku. He doesn't really pull a HeelFaceTurn until the Buu Saga.
* TheRival: Goku's biggest one.
* RoyalBlood: Something he obsesses over. Ironically, neither of his children seem to give a hoot about it.
* RoyalBrat: In his youth.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Manly Man to Goku's Sensitive Guy.
* ShirtlessScene: Particularly when training for the coming androids.
* SignatureMove: Galick Gun, Big Bang Attack, and Final Flash
* SixthRanger: To the protagonists on Namek.
* SixthRangerTraitor: To Freeza, [[spoiler: and the protagonists when he sided with Babidi in the Buu saga.]]
* SkewedPriorities: In the Buu Saga, he cared less about saving the world and more about getting powerful enough to beat Goku, which led him to allowing Babidi to turn him into Majin Vegeta, and led to [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Majin Buu getting released.]]
* SlasherSmile: When he's neither grumpy nor smug, but on a powertrip, he'll be wearing this. And he wears it ''well''.
* SmallNameBigEgo: [[UpToEleven To the extreme]].
* SmugSmiler: When in battle, he's this, especially if he's confident enough to win
** SmugSuper: When faced with an enemy that's not above him, his ego is backed up with his power
* SocialDarwinist: Vegeta believes the Saiyan race is the most powerful in the universe and that Earthlings are weak and inferior to them. His transition to Majin Vegeta is largely because this belief, saying (in the English dub) "It's survival of the fittest. The strong will survive, and the weak shall perish!" Even Goku pointing out that during their battle they may have inadvertently revived Majin Buu is dismissed by Vegeta, saying (though he hardly believes it himself) that the two of them have evolved far beyond even Kaioshin's expectations to the point that Majin Buu is not a concern anymore.
* SociopathicHero: Even after becoming one of the good guys, he never lost his penchant for using violence as an answer to his problems... [[LaughingMad and then laughing maniacally]].
* SphereOfDestruction: His FinishingMove the [[GratuitousEnglish Big Bang Attack]].
* SpitTake: He does this in ''GT'' when Bulma tells him that the machine she made can help him turn into Super Saiyan 4.
* TheStarscream: He ''was'' this to Freeza.
* StealthPun: A particularly cruel one in the Freeza saga. [[spoiler: When Freeza's Death Beam punctures Vegeta's heart, he breaks down crying and tells Goku the sad story of the Saiyans' fate and begs Goku to avenge the Saiyans at any cost right before he dies which means he both literally and figuratively ''dies of a broken heart.'']]
* SupportingLeader: During the final fight against Kid Buu, and briefly against Majin Buu.
* TameHisAnger: He took the longest to do this out of the main characters, but by the end of the Buu Saga he had made his peace with [[TheHero Goku's superiority]].
* TearsOfFear: When he realized he had no chance against Freeza. Pointed out by the narrator in the manga and King Kai in the anime.
* TearsOfRemorse: As he [[spoiler: self destructed in an attempt to kill Majin Buu.]]
* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler:Only for a minute at most, but after Bulma got slapped by Beerus in the ''Battle of Gods'' movie, Vegeta snapped and tried to attack Beerus with a sudden burst of power. Roshi noted that Vegeta may have ''finally'' been stronger than Goku.]]
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: With Krillin and Gohan during the Freeza Saga, and with Goku near the end of the Buu Saga.
* TookALevelInJerkass: He gets special mention here, as he manages to do this in every big saga until the very end.
* ToServeMan: In their first appearance, Vegeta and Nappa are shown successfully invading an alien planet and eating the remains of the planet's HumanoidAlien inhabitants.
* TokenEvilTeammate: After his HeelFaceTurn.
* [[TooDumbToLive Too Arrogant To Live]]: Vegeta has a habit of recklessly rushing into battle with opponents that he has little to no chance of defeating.
* {{Tritagonist}}: Shares this role with Piccolo in the Freeza and Cell sagas and is promoted to Deuteragonist in the Buu Saga.
* TroubledButCute: In-universe, this is his appeal to Bulma.
* {{Tsundere}}: A Type A rare male example.
* TsurimeEyes: Even in normal state.
* TheUnfettered: As Majin Vegeta.
* UngratefulBastard: Even if he's close to death, he'll still be enraged at someone if they try to help him due to his {{pride}}.
* UnsportsmanlikeGloating: Wastes no time in gleefully indulging on this towards Goku, at least to an extent, when Trunks beats Goten in the Budokai.
* [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Unsympathetic Protagonist]]: Even after his HeelFaceTurn, particularly in the Cell Saga, Vegeta was still a prick who some fans felt got off too easy for his bad deeds. Even Piccolo and Tenshinhan treat him like this.
* UnstoppableRage: He's normally pretty angry already, but he takes this UpToEleven when [[spoiler: [[PapaWolf Cell kills Future Trunks.]]]]
* VillainousBreakdown: When Vegeta first fights Goku and finds himself struggling, his pride and vanity are pricked so hard that he completely forgets A) why he's on Earth in the first place and B) that he cannot breathe in space. He then tries to blow up the planet, and is narrowly prevented from doing so.
* VillainousRescue: On Namek when he saves Krillin and Gohan from Guldo, and then saving Gohan again from Freeza.
* VillainousWidowsPeak: It's hereditary.
* VillainProtagonist: During the Freeza Arc, he mercilessly slaughters Freeza's EliteMooks and killed innocent Namekian men and [[WouldHurtAChild children]]... ''[[ForTheEvulz just for the hell of it]]''. Even when working together with Gohan, Krillin, and Goku against The Ginyu Force and Freeza, it was TeethClenchedTeamwork at best. And had no qualms about leaving Krillin or Gohan behind when things got rough, beating them up out of spite, or threatening to kill them if they got in his way, and believe me, [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he would have done it]].
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Goku as of the Buu Saga. He still wants to fight and defeat Goku, but he's much more willing to fight alongside him in order to end a common threat.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Has full control of his Great Ape form and has a technique specifically to artificially create full moonlight in order to transform when there is no natural moonlight.
* WarriorPrince: The ultimate anime example.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Well, he seems to ''try'' to be a standoffish father to (main timeline) Trunks, but his son never takes him seriously. Played straight with Future Trunks whom he was actually very jealous of for having become a Super Saiyan before him.
** He does take pride in Trunks' accomplishments (witness his uncharacteristic glee when Trunks beats Goten in the Budokai), and then there's this line regarding Future Trunks:
--->It's still hard for me to believe that he's a Super Saiyan at his age... but then again, he is '''my''' son!
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: After first losing his tail, Vegeta points out that it doesn't matter since it'll grow back again soon. Then, it's never mentioned again.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: It doesn't come up very often, but he dislikes "squirmy things". Watch his reaction to meeting a family of giant worms inside Buu's body. "Kakarot, I think I'm going to puke."
* WildCard: Towards the Z-Fighters. For the longest time he has an EnemyMine alliance with the protagonists to deal with bigger threats.
* WorfEffect: Serves this role from the Freeza Saga forward.
* WorthyOpponent: How he sees Goku by the end of the series.
* WouldHitAGirl: Vegeta didn't hold back in his fight with Android 18. He got utterly crushed.
* WouldHurtAChild: He didn't mind beating Gohan and kneeing him in the stomach in the Freeza Saga.
** He also coldly murdered several Namek children when he was searching for the Dragon Balls.
* YouHaveFailedMe[=/=]YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Vegeta kills Nappa after he fails to kill Goku.
!!'''Vegeta (ベジータ; ''Bejiita'')'''
->'''Voiced by (Japanese):''' Creator/RyoHorikawa
->'''Voiced by (English):''' Creator/ChristopherSabat, LauraBailey (young in ''Kai'') (FUNimation); Creator/BrianDrummond, SaffronHenderson (young in flashbacks) (Ocean); Roger Rhodes (Blue Water)
->'''Voiced by (Latin American):''' ReneGarcia, Luis Daniel Ramírez (young), Andrés Gutiérrez Coto (''Kai''), Carlos Díaz (young in ''Kai'')
The royal prince of all Saiyans and, along with Goku, one of the few surviving members of his race. Started out as a villain who came to Earth to use the Dragon Balls for his own ends. But after that battle and his repeated run-ins with the heroes, he slowly but surely starts to come over to the heroes' side... somewhat.
----
* AbsurdlyYouthfulFather: Thanks to being a Saiyan he hasn't changed a day since the fight with Buu, while his wife aged less gracefully.
* AbusiveParents:
** Freeza was his parental figure for most of his life.
** Acted like this towards Future Trunks, but learned the errors of his ways [[spoiler:after Trunks is killed by Cell]].
* ActionDad: To Trunks and Bulla.
* AloofBigBrother: He acts like this to Tarble.
* AlwaysSecondBest: Throughout the series, he ''hates'' that Goku is stronger than him.
* AntagonistInMourning: After Goku's death in the Cell Games. He decides to never fight again.
* AntiHero: One of the '''greatest''' examples anime or manga has ever given us. He pretty much created the mold for anti-heroic characters in Shonen anime and manga and went through the ''whole scale'' of anti-heroism during his character development in the series.
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: The king of this trope. Often leads to epic BreakTheHaughty moments, even after becoming a ''good guy''.
* AuthorityEqualsAssKicking: There's a '''really good''' reason why he and his father were treated like royalty by the one of the most savage and brutal races in the universe. Just ask [[TheBrute Nappa]]... in the afterlife (see below).
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: How he learned the protagonists' signature ability to sense other people's energy.
* AxCrazy: In his ''majin'' state became this.
* {{Badass}}: Continued to be so despite being overshadowed by more powerful characters.
* BadassArmFold: Almost as iconic as his psychotic smirk.
* BadassBoast: Vegeta has to be one of the kings of this trope. One of his best was when Babidi was controlling his body:
--> '''Babidi:''' Kill! Kill the Kai!
--> '''Vegeta:''' No! Get out of my head! I already told you! I will not be distracted from this anymore! I won't! It will take more than head games to stop me. You may have invaded my mind and my body...but there's one thing a Saiyan always keeps...'''HIS PRIDE!'''
* BadBoss
--> ''(to Nappa)'' "A paralyzed Saiyan has no further need to live. '''Die!!'''"
** There's also Raditz. When Nappa comes up with the idea of gathering the Dragon Balls to wish him back from the dead, Vegeta immediately vetoes this option, stating that Raditz was unworthy of being revived since he had lost in a fight against Earthlings.
* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: On Namek.
* BerserkButton: Despite his attempts to be a WellDoneSonGuy father, threatening or hurting his children and wife can easily send him into an UnstoppableRage. His anger at Beerus for slapping Bulma briefly allowed Vegeta to surpass Goku in the movie ''Anime/DragonBallZBattleOfGods.''
* TheBerserker[=/=]LeeroyJenkins: When not using his head, he rushes into everything.
* BigBad: Of the Saiyan Saga.
* BigEater: He actually shows this side of himself in the Buu Saga as well as in ''Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return'' where he intends to eat ''competitively'' with Goku.
* BigShutUp: He does this a lot.
* BloodKnight: Takes this Saiyan trait to such extremes that he allows Cell to become Perfect Cell in hopes of getting a greater battle from Cell. And boy, did he ever. Of course, being Vegeta, he didn't expect to be handily beaten while Cell was holding back most of his power the entire time.
* BloodUpgrade: When he realizes that Goku, a low-class warrior, has drawn his blood in their first fight, he goes absolutely nuts and tries to blow up the entire planet.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The only character who probably has more of an "alien" view of how the world is perceived than Goku, is Vegeta; considering that his desperation for a great battle has the been the catalyst for ''every single arc in Anime/DragonBallZ occurring.'' There is a reason why some fans consider him TheLoad.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: In the English dub to the audience. "What are you looking at?"
* BreakTheHaughty: His story is jam packed full of this trope. After he makes a very long speech about how there is no way he can lose, he promptly gets his ass handed to him on a platter. Then, he screams in rage about his pride and unleashes everything he's got, but it barely dents the monster. Then, comes the dramatic crying. This happens at least once per season, if not more.
* BreakOutCharacter: Originally supposed to be just the Big Bad for the Saiyan saga, he is proved to be so popular among the fans that Akira Toriyama continued using him and turned him into the Anti-Hero (see above) as a result.
* BullyingADragon: On the receiving end of this. When Vegeta is at the tournament waiting for his match, a guy walks up to him and constantly berates him. Vegeta then knocks the guy out by punching him lightly in the face.
* ButtMonkey: In ''GT''. He gets put down by his own daughter for his mustache, and even if he shaved it off, neither Goten nor Chi-Chi seem to notice the change.
* ByronicHero: Willing to kill enemies, fighting dirty and always for his own purposes like power and fighting.
* CatchPhrase: In the English dub, he always called himself "the prince of all Saiyans".
** His insult of choice for Goku is "clown".
* ChangedMyMindKid: During Gohan's BeamOWar against Cell, Vegeta wouldn't help the protagonists in trying to aid Gohan because he didn't think they could do anything. Then, at the last minute, [[spoiler: Vegeta shoots a powerful beam that's strong enough to distract Cell, which allows Gohan to win the battle.]]
* CharacterDevelopment: Goes from being a massive arrogant JerkAss of villain at the start of ''Z'' to an honorable warrior and close friend at the very end. [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold He's still a bit of a prick, though]].
** Realizing that did he care about Trunks and admitting to himself that both Goku and Gohan had utterly surpassed him, at the end of the Cell Arc was the first step down that road that would accumulate into accepting Goku was better then him at the end of ''Z''.
* ChildSoldier: Raised as one by Freeza.
* '''ColdBloodedTorture''': Horrifically subjected to this by Freeza after trying to take him on thinking he was a Super Saiyan. It's not pretty.
* CombatPragmatist: Knowing that the Ginyu Force [[BewareTheSillyOnes were as dangerous as they were silly]], Vegeta kills Guldo, Burter, and Recoome after the former had his back turned and the latter two were defeated and knocked unconscious by Goku.
** Also, in an earlier battle with Zarbon, he proved he wasn't above throwing dirt in his eye, then attacking from behind.
* CryCute: A rare ''male'' example of this trope, tearfully begging Son Goku [[spoiler: to avenge the cold-blooded murder of their people as he dies of a punctured heart.]]
** Also during movie 12, ''Fusion Reborn''. He's frustrated with Goku [[CantCatchUp always]] [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter being stronger]] and with the fact that he's [[spoiler:dead and in Hell, therefore he doesn't have his body except for the duration of the movie]].
* DeadGuyJunior: His father was named King Vegeta.
** LegacyCharacter: Which puts him straight into this category, considering both his father ''and'' his planet share his name.
* DeadpanSnarker: Sometimes.
* DefiantToTheEnd: Against Freeza, who is enraged by this and [[spoiler: kills Vegeta as a result.]]
* DemotedToExtra: Mostly in ''GT'', although he does get a sizable role in the final arc.
* TheDragon: Shared this post with Zarbon and Dodoria towards Freeza.
* {{Determinator}}: (Seeing a trend yet?) One of his most consistent character traits, from the Saiyan Saga to his fight with Kid Buu. No matter how much punishment he takes, he just keeps getting up. His refusal to stay down unnerves Buu more than [=SSJ3=] Goku.
** And when he's turned into Majin Vegeta by Babidi, his desire to fight Goku enables him to resist Babidi's control.
* DotingParent: To his daughter Bra, and Trunks to a lesser extent.
* DrivenByEnvy: Pretty much what drives him through the last half of the Freeza Saga all the way to the end of the Buu Saga. He finally gets over this when he admits that Goku would always be better than him.
* EasilyForgiven: Goku and Bulma forgive him a lot easier than the other fighters for the murderous things he did in the past.
* EnragedByIdiocy: Especially involving Goku's. When Goku says or does something stupid, Vegeta yells at him with the phrase "you idiot!"
* [[EveryoneHasStandards Even Vegeta Has Standards]]: For a jerk, Vegeta is disgusted with Goku when he fails to save their children from the exploding Earth. He is also upset with himself after [[spoiler:letting Trunks get killed by Cell.]]
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Showed two examples of this during the Android Saga: Following the near-fatal capsule explosion, Vegeta couldn't fathom why Bulma had chosen to stay by his side while he was recovering. Later, just before his battle with #18, he scoffed at the thought of the other Z Fighters coming to his aid, even asking why they'd ''want'' to help him.
* EvilCounterpart: To Goku, initially. They are both Saiyans who love to fight and challenge themselves. The difference is that Goku values life and fights to protect those he loves, while Vegeta couldn't have cared less about anyone but himself. Vegeta eventually learns to value others and to accept and return love.
* ExtremeDoormat: To his daughter, [[DaddysGirl Bulla]] in ''GT'' to a lesser extent.
* FatalFlaw: Vegeta's pride and wrath.
* FearlessFool: Vegeta's the type to charge into battles with opponents who are much stronger than him. This may be due to his arrogance, though.
* TheFightingNarcissist: Despite his love of fighting, notably after getting a scratch, he decided to destroy the Earth.
* FinalFirstHug: When he hugged his son Trunks for the first time expecting it to also be the last time.
* ForeheadOfDoom: Could be said to be a general trait of Toriyama's art style, but Vegeta's is especially egregious, to the point of being a meme in Japan.
* FourIsDeath: The number of Saiyans still alive, according to Raditz.
** Also this is the number of times he dies in the series if you include the end of GT.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: In the early Freeza Saga and the Cell Saga, to everyone but Goku and Bulma -- even Trunks spent about as much time berating him as he did seeking his approval.
* FreudianExcuse: The dub adds in that one of the reasons he served Freeza was essentially by blackmail, as Freeza demanded that he submit to Freeza or else daddy will die by his hand. Of course, Freeza ended up killing daddy anyways, along with most of his race. This is implied somewhat in the original, but with nowhere near the level of importance the dub suggests to Vegeta's motives.
* GeniusBruiser: When he swallows his pride and uses his head, he becomes this.
* GenreSavvy: To the point of killing people Goku defeats because he knows Goku won't (see: Ginyu Force).
** Also this is the reason he ''didn't'' become as powerful as Trunks during the Cell saga, because he knew that [[MightyGlacier the power his muscles gained would slow down his movement speed]] and he wouldn't be able to catch or fight Cell that way.
** GenreBlindness: Why yes, Vegeta, ''fly right at Ginyu over and over.'' What could possibly go wrong?
* TheGlassesComeOff: Though it was not really glasses but a monocle-like scouter. Doing this, however, showed the audience exactly how dangerous he really was.
** And he only became even more dangerous when he stopped needing it at all.
* GoodCostumeSwitch: Vegeta starts off wearing a full suit of Saiyan armor. As the series continues, and Vegeta gradually undergoes a Heel-Face Turn he continues to stop wearing pieces of it, and by the time of the Buu arc he's just wearing the gloves and boots over the blue bodysuit. And at the very end of the series, once Vegeta has fully become a good guy and accepted the Earth as his home, he starts wearing Earthling clothes instead.
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler: When he sacrificed himself to try to kill Buu.]]
* GratuitousEnglish: In the Japanese version, he is the only major character to have English signature moves, namely the Big Bang Attack and Final Flash. Everyone else has Japanese-named techniques. According to Toriyama, this was done to make the alien Vegeta more exotic, or as he said in an interview, "to portray his foreign personality".
* GrowingMusclesSequence: Got a couple. The first time he ate a senzu and the first time he attempted to go beyond Super Saiyan against Cell. He didn't go USS so it wasn't as dramatic as Future Trunks'.
* GrumpyBear: When not in a fight, he's very grumpy indeed .
* HairTriggerTemper: He was always temperamental, but being bested or knowing Goku's better is usually what gets him the most mad
* HappilyMarried: At first, he didn't care about Bulma or their son after he was born. But after seeing Future Trunks [[spoiler:die at the hands of Cell]], he tries to show more concern for his family. After the battle against Buu, he finally settles down with Bulma for real, and they have a daughter.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: To sum up his alignment changes in ''DBZ'': he's bad, he's good (sort of), he's bad again (for a cup of coffee), he's good (for real).
* HereditaryHairstyle: Same hair as his father, King Vegeta.
* HeroicSacrifice: He willingly kills himself trying to take Majin Buu down with him, all for the purpose of saving his son's life, ''knowing he would go to Hell afterwards'' for all of the terrible things he had done in his life.
** YouAreWorthHell: A literal case with his son.
** YouShallNotPass: He delivers an '''epic''' one to Majin Buu.
*** SenselessSacrifice: [[spoiler: Which unfortunately doesn't work as planned.]]
* HonorBeforeReason: Much like Goku, though with a distinctly Saiyan-centric cultural influence to it.
* HotBlooded: Even if it does lead to a lot of trouble for the protagonists, he still looks cool talking about the hurt he's going to deliver.
* HowMuchMoreCanHeTake: While he may not ''win'' most of his fights, Vegeta is notably the biggest tank in the series. It takes something special to kill Vegeta, [[spoiler:''like a punctured '''HEART''' or [[HeroicSacrifice the man himself]]'']]. This is one of two guys who got up and kept fighting pretty well after being hit with a Spirit Bomb.
** Perhaps the greatest example is his YouShallNotPass moment against Kid Buu. When Goku needs time to recover, Vegeta steps in and gets the living ''shit'' kicked out of him. He gets blasted into a crater, and Kid Buu turns away to [[EvilLaugh start laughing.]] Then…
--> '''Vegeta''': What are you gawking at? What did you think? That I would just roll over and die from an attack like that?
--> ''All this shot from Vegeta's POV, so you see [[AxCrazy Kid Buu]]'s stunned expression, who proceeds to '''take a step back in shock.'''''
* HumanAlien: Like most Saiyans.
* HumanityIsInfectious: His love for Bulma and Trunks really helped mellow him out, which caused him great angst in the Buu Sage, since he saw this trope as part of his BadassDecay.
* HumiliationConga: Happens at least OnceASeason.
* IAmXSonOfY: A variation: "I am Vegeta, Prince of the Saiyan warrior race!"
* IdiotBall: Drops a fairly big one during the Freeza saga; When Krillin goes to Guru's to gain the password needed to activate the Namekian Dragon Balls, Vegeta decides to take a nap, not only disregarding the fact that Freeza could return at any moment, but also trusting Gohan to come and wake him up when Krillin returns.
** Considering he hadn't slept for days, he'd have been in worse shape if he didn't take a nap.
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: While already one of the most powerful fighters in the series he has repeatedly fallen on this, from wanting to become a Super Saiyan to accepting a DealWithTheDevil to surpass Goku. And in true DramaticIrony, his greatest CrowningMomentOfAwesome in the Z series is the moment he gives up and accepts that Goku is better than him.
* ImmortalitySeeker: Was this until Freeza was killed, then he lost all desire to live forever.
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: This was why he was so hell bent on being stronger than Goku.
* InsistentTerminology: Makes a point of always calling Goku by his Saiyan name Kakarot, because he believes that Goku should take pride in his Saiyan heritage. The times he's ever spoken the name "Goku" can be counted on one hand.
* InsufferableGenius: He is a brilliant fighter and tactician when he is calm. He also knows very well that he is very good and will remind everyone so they do not forget.
* InterspeciesRomance: With Bulma.
* ItsAllAboutMe: He's easily one of the most selfish characters in the series. He comes to regret being this way when [[spoiler: he sees Future Trunks get killed by Cell.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Ends up becoming this in the last saga.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Although he was too harsh with Gohan about him getting weaker in the Buu saga and how his fight with Dabura was a "disgrace," he made a good point.
* JerkassRealization: When [[spoiler: Future Trunks gets killed by Cell]], Vegeta realizes how harsh he was towards him and wanted to avenge his death.
* KamehameHadoken: His Galick Gun and Final Flash.
* KickTheDog: His speech to Kid Gohan in the Freeza Saga about Goku's supposed death on Namek.
** He literally kicked him much earlier in Namek, as a "message" to Goku to get revenge on him.
** His horrific killing of [[TheBrute Nappa]] moves it to this from KickTheSonOfABitch, considering Nappa's loyalty and staying with him all those years.
** Likewise, when Dr. Gero/Android #20 escaped making an energy wave attacking Bulma and main!Trunks, Vegeta didn't even bother trying to rescue them. When Future Trunks [[WhatTheHellDad called him out on it]], he responded he doesn't care the slightest about them.
** Also in the episode "Vegeta's Pride" when he ''killed a majority of civilians'' to provoke Goku into fighting him (which may overlap with Moral Event Horizon).
* KnightInSourArmor: He was more willing to fight with the good guys once the Android and Cell Arc began but was still ''very'' bitter, angry and hostile towards the protagonists, especially [[TheRival Goku]]. And his elitist view on how a Saiyan should be never changed even if it went against his own son's wishes and even if it created more problems than solutions as far as the plot went.
* LackOfEmpathy: Prior to his HeelFaceTurn. Up to that point, his cruelty and callousness [[EvenEvilHasStandards shocked even cold-blooded Saiyan warriors like Nappa and Radditz]].
* LameComeback: In Funimation's dub, to Android 18. [[MemeticMutation "Sad for you!"]]
* TheLancer: After the Freeza arc, acting as a foil to the other protagonists.
* LargeHam: His ham level is '''[[UpToEleven OVER 9000!!!]]'''
* {{Leitmotif}}: Appropriately named "Hell's Bells".
* LethallyStupid: Vegeta's Saiyan pride always [[NiceJobBreakingItHero tends to bring him and others into trouble]]. Especially when he let Cell absorb Android 18.
* TheLoad: Vegeta normally zig-zags this trope. He causes way more problems than he solves. He does manage to do some useful things, but not things that couldn't have been done by anyone else (i.e. Nail could've killed Freeza's henchmen, Goku was more than strong enough to take the entire Ginyu Force, either Future Trunks or Piccolo could've killed Android 19, Future Trunks could've beaten Semi-Perfect Cell, either the Supreme Kai, Gohan, or Goku could've killed Pui Pui, etc).
** In fact, he's literally responsible for every single arc in the series. The Saiyan Saga is obvious. The Freeza Saga only happens because he let Freeza know what the Dragon Balls were. The Cell Saga wouldn't have happened if he didn't stop Trunks from finishing Cell off and ''actively help Cell absorb 18''. The Buu Saga would never have happened if Vegeta didn't sell his soul to the SatanicArchetype (or, to be more precise, Satan's puppet master), which kept Goku from just killing Babidi and Dabura and released enough energy to free Majin Buu.
** ForWantOfANail: Which qualifies for this.
** Cell wouldn't have been a threat at all if Vegeta had simply stepped in and helped Goku kill Androids 19 and 20 before the heart virus became an issue. Failing that, he ''still'' had the chance to rush Gero before he could release 17 and 18.
* {{Lunacy}}: The Oozaru transformation.
* ManipulativeBastard: He's actually quite cunning when he's not letting his arrogance or rage get out of control. Particularly in the Namek Saga; he bordered on [[MagnificentBastard magnificence]] there.
** Note that he went into that conflict knowing beforehand that he was hopelessly outclassed on several levels in terms of battle strength (in other words he came in with a humble perspective from the get-go), and his second most cunning moment (at the end of the Buu Saga) came just after he finally admitted to himself that Goku was the better warrior. In short, the cunning gets turned on when the arrogance gets turned off.
** The Cell Saga, on the other hand, is pretty much a case study of Vegeta letting his arrogance get the best of him. It gets so bad it verges on TooDumbToLive territory.
* ManlyTears: To Goku describing how Freeza used the Saiyans and killed them off despite their blind servitude. In the first dub this was included [[FreudianExcuse enslaving Vegeta via threat on his father... and doing it anyway]].
* MeteorMove: A frequent user (Ginyu, 19, Cell, Buu) and victim (Zarbon, Cell).
* MissingMom: Like the other Saiyans, his mother is never shown or mentioned.
* MrFanservice: The reason female readership went up after his appearance. He was the first manga/anime crush of many a fangirl.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After letting Cell absorb #18, he has this reaction when he realizes just how powerful Perfect Cell really is.
* [[MyDadCanBeatUpYourDad My Son Can Beat Up Your Son]]: After Trunks wins a match to Goten, Vegeta rubs this in Goku's face.
* {{Narcissist}}: Big time. He has a hard time believing that anyone could be stronger than him, despite all the times he gets his butt handed to him. It's literally not until the end of the series that he admits that Goku is his better.
* TheNapoleon: Short and perpetually filled with rage? You betcha!
* NinetiesAntiHero: A classic example. Started off as just another psychotic villain, but evolves into this trope during the Freeza and Cell sagas. Even after becoming a full-on good guy in the fight against Buu, he still retains a shred of his former badassery, such as punching out his opponent for mouthing off to him at the World Martial Art Tournament.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: See LethallyStupid above.
* NobodyCallsMeChicken: Calling him a coward is a major BerserkButton
* NobleDemon: Became this by the end of the Freeza arc. Whilst he still wasn't a remotely nice person, he wasn't anywhere near as evil as he used to be.
* NominalHero: Goes through this phase as part of his slow but eventual HeelFaceTurn, starting in the Namek arc as a VillainProtagonist seeking to overthrow his former master, and in the Cell and Buu arcs, defending Earth, but only for his own selfish reasons. After [[spoiler: his death and subsequent pseudo-revival in terms of coming back to Earth for one day]], he fights for the Earth for the sake of defending it for the first time and officially moved to GoodIsNotNice by the end of ''Z''.
* NotBrainwashed: He ''let'' Babidi turn him into Majin Vegeta for the power-up that comes with being turned into a Majin.
* NotQuiteDead: Got hit point-blank by Goku's Spirit Bomb and was sent flying into the air before landed back to earth. Everyone thought he was dead. He wasn't.
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Towards [[InsistentTerminology Kakarot]] of course.
--> "[[FoeYay Kakarot is]] '''''[[FoeYay MINE!!!]]'''''"
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: If he's ever genuinely terrified of a villain (Freeza, Broly, and Beerus most notably) rather than his usual cocky self, you know they're not to be messed with.
* OverprotectiveDad: Acts like one towards Bulla in ''GT''.
* PapaWolf: Shows this side of him going completely [[BerserkButton berserk]] when Super Perfect Cell kills Future Trunks.
* PerpetualFrowner: When not being a SmugSmiler, he's this.
* PetTheDog: Before he sacrifices himself to Buu, he gives a heart-to-heart speech to Trunks and then hugs him. He's also had many of these moments throughout the series.
* {{Pornstache}}: In ''GT''. Thankfully, Bulla [[CallingTheOldManOut makes him shave it off]].
* PintSizedPowerhouse: He's not ''that'' short, but he was the smallest of the four Saiyans that originally came to Earth, and at that time he was by far the strongest. Out of the adult protagonists, only Krillin and Chiaotzu are shorter than him.
* {{Pride}}: Vegeta is the '''[[{{Pantheon/Pride}} God]]''' of this trope.
--> "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzLUgXNeCk8&feature=related There's one thing a Saiyan always keeps...]]"
* TheProudElite: He fits the trope perfectly, especially considering how he's always going on about how the Saiyans are a race of elite fighters who value their pride.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: A TropeCodifier for manga and anime.
* PsychoticSmirk: One of the most iconic users of this trope in anime. If he's not scowling, he's doing this.
* PureIsNotGood: He achieved Super Saiyan without having a pure good heart. He retcons this rule in the sub by explaining that having a heart of pure evil satisfied the requirement.
* ReadingsAreOffTheScale: Former TropeNamer.
* RealMenWearPink: The infamous pink shirt. He isn't happy about it, though.
* RedemptionDemotion: He eventually caught onto this, which is why he allows Babidi to make him a Majin. He ''does'' manage to avoid the worst of this trope however, unlike most of the others who get hit with it in this series. Vegeta manages to remain in the top three among the heroes in terms of power and ability fairly consistently. He's even the number two behind Goku during the latter parts of the Freeza saga and the beginning of the Buu Saga.
** Even in ''GT'' (where if your name isn't Goku or [[BrattyHalfPint Pan]], you're automatically doomed to get {{demoted to extra}}), he was close to Goku in his Super Saiyan 4 state.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Against Majin Buu. Although, he still ended up in Hell only to be semi-revived to fight Majin Buu. He gets his full redemption after he was brought back to life after explicitly asking that all the bad people stay dead.
* RedemptionInTheRain: He actually subverts it when he ''[[ScreamingWarrior screams]]'' the rain clouds away.
* RedOniBlueOni: In his earlier episodes, he was the blue to Nappa's red, and currently the blue to Goku's red.
* ReformedButNotTamed: He's still cold and aloof, but he genuinely cares for his family.
* RetiredMonster: At the end of the Freeza Saga, he's put his mass-murdering ways behind him to focus on surpassing Goku. He doesn't really pull a HeelFaceTurn until the Buu Saga.
* TheRival: Goku's biggest one.
* RoyalBlood: Something he obsesses over. Ironically, neither of his children seem to give a hoot about it.
* RoyalBrat: In his youth.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Manly Man to Goku's Sensitive Guy.
* ShirtlessScene: Particularly when training for the coming androids.
* SignatureMove: Galick Gun, Big Bang Attack, and Final Flash
* SixthRanger: To the protagonists on Namek.
* SixthRangerTraitor: To Freeza, [[spoiler: and the protagonists when he sided with Babidi in the Buu saga.]]
* SkewedPriorities: In the Buu Saga, he cared less about saving the world and more about getting powerful enough to beat Goku, which led him to allowing Babidi to turn him into Majin Vegeta, and led to [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Majin Buu getting released.]]
* SlasherSmile: When he's neither grumpy nor smug, but on a powertrip, he'll be wearing this. And he wears it ''well''.
* SmallNameBigEgo: [[UpToEleven To the extreme]].
* SmugSmiler: When in battle, he's this, especially if he's confident enough to win
** SmugSuper: When faced with an enemy that's not above him, his ego is backed up with his power
* SocialDarwinist: Vegeta believes the Saiyan race is the most powerful in the universe and that Earthlings are weak and inferior to them. His transition to Majin Vegeta is largely because this belief, saying (in the English dub) "It's survival of the fittest. The strong will survive, and the weak shall perish!" Even Goku pointing out that during their battle they may have inadvertently revived Majin Buu is dismissed by Vegeta, saying (though he hardly believes it himself) that the two of them have evolved far beyond even Kaioshin's expectations to the point that Majin Buu is not a concern anymore.
* SociopathicHero: Even after becoming one of the good guys, he never lost his penchant for using violence as an answer to his problems... [[LaughingMad and then laughing maniacally]].
* SphereOfDestruction: His FinishingMove the [[GratuitousEnglish Big Bang Attack]].
* SpitTake: He does this in ''GT'' when Bulma tells him that the machine she made can help him turn into Super Saiyan 4.
* TheStarscream: He ''was'' this to Freeza.
* StealthPun: A particularly cruel one in the Freeza saga. [[spoiler: When Freeza's Death Beam punctures Vegeta's heart, he breaks down crying and tells Goku the sad story of the Saiyans' fate and begs Goku to avenge the Saiyans at any cost right before he dies which means he both literally and figuratively ''dies of a broken heart.'']]
* SupportingLeader: During the final fight against Kid Buu, and briefly against Majin Buu.
* TameHisAnger: He took the longest to do this out of the main characters, but by the end of the Buu Saga he had made his peace with [[TheHero Goku's superiority]].
* TearsOfFear: When he realized he had no chance against Freeza. Pointed out by the narrator in the manga and King Kai in the anime.
* TearsOfRemorse: As he [[spoiler: self destructed in an attempt to kill Majin Buu.]]
* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler:Only for a minute at most, but after Bulma got slapped by Beerus in the ''Battle of Gods'' movie, Vegeta snapped and tried to attack Beerus with a sudden burst of power. Roshi noted that Vegeta may have ''finally'' been stronger than Goku.]]
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: With Krillin and Gohan during the Freeza Saga, and with Goku near the end of the Buu Saga.
* TookALevelInJerkass: He gets special mention here, as he manages to do this in every big saga until the very end.
* ToServeMan: In their first appearance, Vegeta and Nappa are shown successfully invading an alien planet and eating the remains of the planet's HumanoidAlien inhabitants.
* TokenEvilTeammate: After his HeelFaceTurn.
* [[TooDumbToLive Too Arrogant To Live]]: Vegeta has a habit of recklessly rushing into battle with opponents that he has little to no chance of defeating.
* {{Tritagonist}}: Shares this role with Piccolo in the Freeza and Cell sagas and is promoted to Deuteragonist in the Buu Saga.
* TroubledButCute: In-universe, this is his appeal to Bulma.
* {{Tsundere}}: A Type A rare male example.
* TsurimeEyes: Even in normal state.
* TheUnfettered: As Majin Vegeta.
* UngratefulBastard: Even if he's close to death, he'll still be enraged at someone if they try to help him due to his {{pride}}.
* UnsportsmanlikeGloating: Wastes no time in gleefully indulging on this towards Goku, at least to an extent, when Trunks beats Goten in the Budokai.
* [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Unsympathetic Protagonist]]: Even after his HeelFaceTurn, particularly in the Cell Saga, Vegeta was still a prick who some fans felt got off too easy for his bad deeds. Even Piccolo and Tenshinhan treat him like this.
* UnstoppableRage: He's normally pretty angry already, but he takes this UpToEleven when [[spoiler: [[PapaWolf Cell kills Future Trunks.]]]]
* VillainousBreakdown: When Vegeta first fights Goku and finds himself struggling, his pride and vanity are pricked so hard that he completely forgets A) why he's on Earth in the first place and B) that he cannot breathe in space. He then tries to blow up the planet, and is narrowly prevented from doing so.
* VillainousRescue: On Namek when he saves Krillin and Gohan from Guldo, and then saving Gohan again from Freeza.
* VillainousWidowsPeak: It's hereditary.
* VillainProtagonist: During the Freeza Arc, he mercilessly slaughters Freeza's EliteMooks and killed innocent Namekian men and [[WouldHurtAChild children]]... ''[[ForTheEvulz just for the hell of it]]''. Even when working together with Gohan, Krillin, and Goku against The Ginyu Force and Freeza, it was TeethClenchedTeamwork at best. And had no qualms about leaving Krillin or Gohan behind when things got rough, beating them up out of spite, or threatening to kill them if they got in his way, and believe me, [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he would have done it]].
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Goku as of the Buu Saga. He still wants to fight and defeat Goku, but he's much more willing to fight alongside him in order to end a common threat.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Has full control of his Great Ape form and has a technique specifically to artificially create full moonlight in order to transform when there is no natural moonlight.
* WarriorPrince: The ultimate anime example.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Well, he seems to ''try'' to be a standoffish father to (main timeline) Trunks, but his son never takes him seriously. Played straight with Future Trunks whom he was actually very jealous of for having become a Super Saiyan before him.
** He does take pride in Trunks' accomplishments (witness his uncharacteristic glee when Trunks beats Goten in the Budokai), and then there's this line regarding Future Trunks:
--->It's still hard for me to believe that he's a Super Saiyan at his age... but then again, he is '''my''' son!
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: After first losing his tail, Vegeta points out that it doesn't matter since it'll grow back again soon. Then, it's never mentioned again.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: It doesn't come up very often, but he dislikes "squirmy things". Watch his reaction to meeting a family of giant worms inside Buu's body. "Kakarot, I think I'm going to puke."
* WildCard: Towards the Z-Fighters. For the longest time he has an EnemyMine alliance with the protagonists to deal with bigger threats.
* WorfEffect: Serves this role from the Freeza Saga forward.
* WorthyOpponent: How he sees Goku by the end of the series.
* WouldHitAGirl: Vegeta didn't hold back in his fight with Android 18. He got utterly crushed.
* WouldHurtAChild: He didn't mind beating Gohan and kneeing him in the stomach in the Freeza Saga.
** He also coldly murdered several Namek children when he was searching for the Dragon Balls.
* YouHaveFailedMe[=/=]YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Vegeta kills Nappa after he fails to kill Goku.
