Anime series like Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball are able to endure for so long and become staples of the medium due to their versatility. Dragon Ball primarily features incredible displays of power and chaotic battles. There are consistently high stakes in Dragon Ball, but the series is also full of lovable characters. One of the most interesting things about Vegeta is that he enters Dragon Ball as a ruthless villain but slowly evolves into one of the series’ greatest heroes.
Vegeta remains a volatile personality who typically doesn’t suffer any fools. However, there are some unbreakable friendships in Dragon Ball, and the bonds that Vegeta forms typically mean more because of how hard he is to please. Vegeta often prefers to take the lone wolf approach, but he’s still made some friends over the years.
10 Vegeta & Piccolo Form A Terse Friendship That Goes Beyond Words
Vegeta and Piccolo are actually quite similar in many ways. They’re both former villains who initially had their sights set on Goku’s destruction, only to become vital members of his team. Vegeta and Piccolo at first don’t see eye-to-eye and for a significant period of time, the Saiyan simply refers to Piccolo as “Namekian” and refuses to show him respect. However, a genuine understanding forms between them that pushes Vegeta to appreciate Piccolo’s skills. Vegeta even exhibits extreme guilt over the damage that he did on Planet Namek and wants to make things right with Piccolo.
9 Whis Helps Vegeta Realize His Potential & Push His Limits
Oddly enough, many friendships in Dragon Ball are forged through intense training sessions, and there’s a lot of crossover between mentor and student who ultimately form tight bonds through the hard work. Whis is Universe 7’s resident Angel, and he helps both Vegeta and Goku improve their strength and become more resilient fighters. This training begins as grueling lessons, but a rapport gets established between Whis and Vegeta. There’s plenty of downtime during their sessions together, and it leads to some enlightening discussions between the two proud individuals.
8 Vegeta’s Ego Doesn’t Blind Him From Gohan’s Strength
Vegeta’s initial attack on Earth gets thwarted with the help of a very young Gohan, and ever since, Vegeta has been aware of the potential that lies in this growing Saiyan. Vegeta spends so much time resenting Goku that it’s only natural that he’d also be curt with his son, but Vegeta isn’t so blind that he fails to recognize Gohan’s strength.
Vegeta and Gohan don’t spend a ton of one-on-one time together, but there’s a tacit understanding there. Vegeta admits that Gohan may actually be stronger than them all, and he’s willing to help Goku’s son in extreme situations.
7 Vegeta’s Younger Brother, Tarble, Fills A Certain Place In Vegeta’s Heart
Family is very important in Dragon Ball, and it’s quite inspiring to watch this generational story expand to include more people. A major surprise comes in the Dragon Ball special, Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!, where it’s casually revealed that Vegeta has a younger brother, Tarble. Vegeta comfortably plays the bigger brother role and keeps Tarble safe during this adventure. However, he’s not as close a friend to Vegeta as he could be since it takes so long for him to finally show up, and their relationship can still be estranged at times.
6 Beerus Wants To See Vegeta Become A God Of Destruction
Dragon Ball Super’s anime has wrapped up for the time being, but the series’ manga continues to turn out new content, and it’s pushed Vegeta and other characters into some very compelling territory. Vegeta trains under God of Destruction, Beerus, to help master the Hakai ability and prove that he’s qualified to attain such a prestigious position. Beerus is hard on Vegeta, but he appreciates his help. It’s usually all business between these two, but there are also plenty of quieter moments where they find each other opening up.
5 Vegeta Takes Universe 6’s Cabba Under His Wing
Dragon Ball Super expands the scope of the Dragon Ball universe in many different ways, but the most substantial shift is the revelation of multiple universes, one of which even contains a thriving Saiyan population. Vegeta is impressed by Kale, Caulifla, but it’s Cabba who he immediately forges a connection toward.
Cabba reveres Vegeta, like the Saiyan Prince he is, and Vegeta definitely sees shades of himself in the ambitious Universe 6 Saiyan. Vegeta offers to help out Cabba in his pursuits, which is a courtesy that he rarely extends toward others.
4 Vegeta & His Daughter, Bulla, Get In Some Serious Bonding Time Together
Dragon Ball Super features Bulma’s second pregnancy with her and Vegeta’s daughter, Bulla. This is an emotional moment for Vegeta, and his dedication to Bulma during her pregnancy speaks to just how important this life event is for him. Bulla is a baby in Super, but Dragon Ball GT turns the clock forward and features a teenage version of Vegeta’s daughter. Dragon Ball GT’s earlier episodes depict a lot of bonding time between these two and Vegeta even takes her shopping and engages in other activities that he'd otherwise hate. That’s how much he enjoys being around her.
3 The Bond Between Vegeta & Future Trunks Transcends Time Itself
One of the biggest shocks in the Dragon Ball franchise is not only Future Trunks’ appearance out of nowhere and his elimination of Frieza but also that he’s the grown-up son of Vegeta and Bulma. A highlight of the Cell Saga is Vegeta’s time together with this future version of his son. The two begin as strangers, but by the end, they’re infinitely close and Vegeta is willing to risk his life for him. Vegeta’s bond with Trunks from his own timeline is also strong, but there’s an extra level of thoughtfulness that’s present with Future Trunks.
2 Goku & Vegeta Bring Out The Best In Each Other
Anime often illustrates that there’s a fine line between friend and rival, which is perhaps never truer than with Dragon Ball’s Goku and Vegeta. So much of Dragon Ball Z is driven by Vegeta’s determination to surpass Goku in strength and prove that he’s the superior Saiyan. There’s a lot of animosity here, but at the end of the day, these two have each other’s backs. Vegeta is able to admit his inadequacies in comparison to Goku and the fact that he’ll even fuse together with him and share a body speaks to their committed friendship.
1 Bulma Is Vegeta’s Wife, Best Friend, & So Much More
One of the smartest decisions in the entirety of Dragon Ball is to pair together polar opposites, Vegeta and Bulma. Bulma helps humanize Vegeta in a very important way. He may sometimes act embarrassed by public displays of affection, but he’ll never let his wife be insulted. Vegeta even slowly begins to value Bulma and his family over combat. Some may argue that it goes without saying that someone’s spouse would be their best friend, but the same statement doesn’t seem nearly as applicable between Goku and Chi-Chi.