Vegeta’s first on-screen Super Saiyan transformation was a nigh unprecedented event in Dragon Ball Z. Only two other Saiyans had ascended to this legendary state of being back then. The legendary warrior had to be pure of heart and awakened by fury, at least according to Goku. Vegeta had the fury part down pat, but the purity of heart was debatable. He said it was because his heart was pure evil, but even that didn’t sit well with everyone.
Now that the franchise has grown, there may be a better way to explain Vegeta’s ascendance. Every Saiyan that has obtained the form since Vegeta has added to people’s understanding of how it works and what initially triggers it. This, combined with Vegeta’s explanation, should reveal the true nature of his first-ever Super Saiyan transformation.
What Triggered Vegeta’s Super Saiyan Transformation?
Vegeta’s explanation changes depending on what dub one watches. In Dragon Ball Z Episode 129, “Upgrade to Super Saiyan,” he claimed it had to do with motivation. Once he got frustrated enough with his training, something in him snapped. Surpassing Kakarot, becoming a Super Saiyan, and living or dying all stopped mattering. In that instant, he became a Super Saiyan.
Vegeta’s feelings change somewhat in the Kai dub of the anime. Here, he explains that he found a loophole in the pure heart rule; since his heart was pure evil, he still qualified to become a Super Saiyan. Additionally, owning the self-hatred of his physical limits caused the Super Saiyan within him to awaken. This dub is notably closer to the original Japanese dialogue.
Vegeta explained things differently each time, but there were some similarities. Both cases debunked that Super Saiyans needed to be pure-hearted like Goku. They also both involved Vegeta reaching an emotional catharsis. This aspect of Vegeta’s transformation is similar to what made Goku transform. The theme is raw emotions forcing them past their limits.
The motivation aspect of Vegeta’s ascendance makes sense within the context of future transformations. As the series progressed, the intention within a Saiyan’s heart became less linked to the purity of their heart or power or even their determination. This is why Goten and Trunks could gain the form when they were only children. Any Saiyan can become a Super Saiyan at any time.
The emotional aspect of becoming a Super Saiyan has remained consistent. This holds whether it’s about seeing a loved one die, the frustration with one’s weakness, or getting pushed into a corner by an opponent. Intense emotions brought about by extreme situations have been the key to nearly every transformation. Even Goten adhered to this rule.
Why Couldn’t Vegeta Become a Super Saiyan on Namek?
Of course, this still doesn’t explain why Vegeta couldn’t become a Super Saiyan when he was on Namek. At the time, Frieza had concluded that it never happened because Vegeta wasn’t “disgustingly pure of heart” like Goku was. However, if becoming a Super Saiyan isn’t a matter of having a pure heart, there would have to be another explanation for why Vegeta couldn’t transform.
Vegeta’s failure to transform could be related to Goku’s other requirement for awakening the form– fury. Again, transforming requires a Saiyan to be pushed to their emotional limit and snap. Vegeta may have gotten furious while fighting Frieza, but that often happens to him. On top of that, the frustration made him break rather than snap. Goku was the only one who let his frustration force him into a world of anger, unlike anything he’d experienced before or after.
Vegeta’s transformation may have been seen as an anomaly when he first did it, but not anymore. His cause remains in line with nearly every other Super Saiyan throughout the Dragon Ball franchise. He only needed to focus on pushing past his limits, and the legendary warrior awakened. Or maybe he just made his back tingle.