Highlights
Vegeta's vast arsenal of attacks and techniques make him an endearing and memorable character in Dragon Ball.
Demonstrating his immense power and destructive prowess, Vegeta's most renowned techniques, including Dirty Fireworks and Galick Gun, have become iconic. Additionally, his character growth and unwavering devotion to those dear to him are exemplified through moves like Big Bang Attack and Final Explosion.
Dragon Ball has been a prominent name in anime and manga for many decades, and one character who has significantly impacted both the series and its fans is the legendary Prince of all Saiyans, Vegeta. From his introduction in the Saiyan Saga, Vegeta has transformed from a villain to a beloved anti-hero, reaching such levels of fame that he is now widely recognized as the most iconic "side hero" in the entire art form. In fact, he is even considered the second protagonist of Dragon Ball Super due to the immense love from his fans.
What sets Vegeta apart and makes him a truly memorable character is his impressive array of attacks and techniques. Throughout his journey, he has always been prepared with a new attack for any situation, whether it be confronting a formidable enemy or obliterating entire planets effortlessly. Many of these attacks are among the strongest in the entire series, so let's explore Vegeta's most powerful arsenal.
Dirty Fireworks
The first demonstration of Vegeta's true power came through his notorious technique, Dirty Fireworks. Although he rarely employed this attack after the events of the Namek Saga, its impact remained astonishing every time he unleashed it. One memorable instance occurred during the Saiyan Saga, following the triumph over Raditz. While planet hopping with Nappa, Vegeta utilized a specific technique that obliterated an entire planet. Although never explicitly referred to as Dirty Fireworks, its distinctive finger positioning allowed for a reasonable assumption.
Subsequently, Vegeta employed Dirty Fireworks to dispatch Nappa after being defeated by Goku. Despite its simplicity and eventual obsolescence, this move perfectly encapsulated Vegeta's relentless Saiyan nature and the immense power that defined his earlier presence within the Dragon Ball franchise.
Galick Gun
Galick Gun is arguably Vegeta's most iconic and powerful move. It was a game changer in the Saiyan Saga and remained a staple in his arsenal for years. Even in Dragon Ball Super, Vegeta used it in his Super Saiyan Blue form. This attack harnessed Vegeta's Ki, focusing it into a devastating beam attack similar to the Kamehameha.
The first time we witnessed the Galick Gun in action was during the legendary battle between Goku and Vegeta at the end of the Saiyan Saga. It proved to be more powerful than Goku's initial Kamehameha wave, forcing Goku to activate the Kaioken times 4 to overpower it. This showcases Vegeta's immense destructive power and his tendency to use his Ki blasts as finishing moves to end his fights.
Big Bang Attack
Vegeta unleashed a formidable move known as the Big Bang Attack, demonstrating it for the first time against Android 19. At that point in the series, Android 19 was far superior in power compared to any other character. Surprising everyone with his recently attained Super Saiyan transformation, Vegeta sent a shiver down the spines of the Z-Fighters. This form was typically believed to be attainable only by noble and kind-hearted Saiyans. Overpowered and crushed by Vegeta, Android 19 attempted to escape but was ultimately obliterated by the devastating Big Bang Attack.
The Big Bang Attack is an immensely powerful technique. Vegeta emits a blue ball of Ki from one hand, which serves as a lethal and destructive move, not unlike his other attacks. The character of Vegeta is characterized by his pride in his Saiyan heritage, causing him to adopt the aggressive fighting techniques of a Saiyan brawler. This can be observed in his newly developed Ultra Ego technique. As a result, the Big Bang Attack showcases its destructive capabilities on a nuclear scale, leaving behind a mushroom cloud in the aftermath of incinerating Android 19.
Final Flash
The Final Flash is often regarded as Vegeta's most iconic move in the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi games. It is a tremendously powerful attack that is associated with most of his transformations. This devastating move is capable of emitting a visible beam that can be observed from space and obliterates anything in its path.
In one instance, Vegeta unleashed the Final Flash against Perfect Cell, who foolishly believed that he would be unaffected. However, much to Cell's surprise, the attack completely decimated a significant portion of his body. Had the attack fully connected, Cell would have been utterly annihilated.
During the Tournament of Power, Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta employed the Final Flash against Jiren after being challenged by him. Vegeta powered up his attack and himself, ultimately damaging Jiren. Despite the attack's potency, Jiren was able to counter it promptly, highlighting its strength. It is important to note, however, that the Final Flash does have a drawback. Although it is incredibly powerful, it requires a substantial amount of charging up and necessitates the opponent remaining stationary for it to be effective. Nevertheless, the Final Flash remains one of Vegeta's most remarkable moves.
Final Impact
Final Impact, showcased briefly in the series, is a mesmerizing technique employed by the immensely powerful Vegeta during one of his most awe-inspiring transformations. Comparable to Frieza's formidable Death Beam, this move distinguishes itself by its notably wider range and is triggered by Vegeta elegantly spreading apart three fingers, in contrast to the customary single digit. This astounding attack was exclusively wielded by Vegeta while in his extraordinary Majin Vegeta form. Though capable of obliterating the majority of adversaries, it was notably unleashed against the indomitable Majin Buu, an entity blessed with limitless regeneration abilities. Despite this fortuitous opposition, Final Impact remains an exceptionally formidable offensive maneuver, carving its indelible presence within the realms of anime, manga, and video games.
Final Explosion
Regarded by many as not just Vegeta's strongest move, but also one of the most impactful moves in the entire Dragon Ball series. After coming to terms with the consequences of his actions and realizing how Babidi has completely controlled his mind, Vegeta resolves to correct his mistakes by defeating Buu and Babidi once and for all. However, he quickly realizes that his previous attacks are ineffective against them. This is the pivotal moment where Vegeta makes a crucial decision that defines his character.
With his reserves of Ki dwindling, Vegeta musters all his remaining strength and amplifies it to the utmost limit. He bids a heartfelt farewell to his cherished loved ones - Bulma, Trunks, and even Goku - as if they were his own family. Then, with a blinding burst of energy, he unleashes a colossal explosion determined to eradicate Majin Buu from existence. In this selfless act, Vegeta sacrifices his own life for the sake of his friends and the planet. The Final Explosion maneuver is a moment of immense significance within the realm of anime, as it depicts the demise of one of its most adored characters.
The sheer potency of this technique compelled Vegeta to retain it within his arsenal, despite being fully aware of the inherent dangers it carries. Remarkably, he employs the Final Explosion once more during his climactic battle against Toppo in the Tournament of Power. Although not as emotionally resonant or iconic, this poignant instance of Vegeta utilizing the Final Explosion to safeguard his universe from annihilation represents a truly remarkable character development. Furthermore, it serves as a poignant homage to a scene that continues to hold a special place in the hearts of all devoted fans of the series.
Although this list showcases Vegeta's most formidable attacks, it merely scratches the surface of the vast array of techniques our beloved Prince has employed over the years. In Dragon Ball Super, we were even treated to the debut of new moves like the Gamma Ray Flash, which Vegeta utilized against Moro, as well as the colossal ball of destruction unleashed upon Granolah. However, it would be wise to await the proper and official animation of these techniques before they can be included in the list of Vegeta's mightiest attacks.
Until then, these select maneuvers shall stand as a testament to Vegeta's unrivaled strength as a character, and serve as a testament to his remarkable growth and development.
Dragon Ball Super is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Funimation.