Summary
Ask a Vegeta fan to namehis most iconic movesinDragon Ball Z, and they’ll tell you it’s the Galick Gun, Final Flash, and Big Bang Attack. All these moves originated inZand have stayed with the character throughout the rest of the franchise’s anime, manga, and games. This time, the focus is on Vegeta’s Big Bang Attack, a move that debuted inDragon Ball Zepisode 130, “The Secret of Dr. Gero”.
A little fun fact: Vegeta’s famous attack was never actually named inthe original Funimation dub, although the original Japanese version did call it that. The Big Bang Attack was only named inDragon Ball Z Kaifor English dubs.
What Is the Big Bang Attack?
Vegeta’s Strongest Attack for a Little While
The Big Bang Attack is a powerful Ki blast performed by Vegeta extending one hand with his palm facing his target. A large ball of Ki then forms in front of his palm and launches forward, causing mass devastation to whatever it hits. At least, that’s what it usually looks like. In his battle against Android 18, Vegeta fires off a “Big Bang Attack”.
Only this time, instead of being a ball of Ki, it was in the form of an energy wavelike the Galick Gunor the Kamehameha. As far as anyone knows, that wasn’t a special variation of the Big Bang Attack; it just happened to be shaped like that. While the Big Bang Attack might seem like an entirely new move,Daizenshuu 7: Dragon Ball Encyclopediaimplies that it’s connected to Galick Gun, calling it Super Saiyan Vegeta’s version of the move.
The Creation of the Big Bang Attack, and Its First Use
Someiconic moves inDragon Ballhave their origins shown or mentioned in the series. For instance, Master Roshi invented the Kamehameha, and Instant Transmission came from an alien race known as the Yardrats. However, the Big Bang Attack’s origins remain vague. Most would speculate that Vegeta invented the move during the three-year gap between Goku’s return to Earth and the Androids' first appearance since he’s never been shown to use the move before then.
“Feast your eyes on Super Vegeta’s Big Bang Attack!!!” - Vegeta upon first using the Big Bang Attack
The first time Vegeta used the Big Bang Attack was in his battle against Android 19. The move’s debut was huge; because not only did it come with Vegeta’sfirst Super Saiyan transformation, but it also instantly obliterated all but Android 19’s head, who, at the time was thought to be the big bad who killed Future Trunks' Z Fighters.
Big Bang Attack Variations
Big Bang Crash
Weirdly enough, Cell uses a variation of the Big Bang Attack, implying that maybe the attack was usedbeforethe Android Saga for Cell to have the move in his skill set. The attack is onlyused by Semi-Perfect Celland is similar to Vegeta’s move, but reddish-orange in color, looking like a miniature sun. Cell even has another variation of it known as the Super Big Bang Crash that turns the move into a rapid-fire attack, which he used in an attempt to draw out Android 18.
God Big Bang Attack
Unfortunately, this variation of the move only showed up once in the anime, and Vegeta never even managed to fire it. In theDragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’film orDragon Ball Super’s version of it, Vegeta charges up the God Big Bang Attack, which is similar to the regular Big Bang Attack, except augmented by his God Ki. However, before Vegeta could launch it, Frieza destroyed the Earth, killing almost everyone in it, including Vegeta. The move lives on inDragon Ball FusionsandDragon Ball Legendsthough, so those games are currently the only way of seeing the move in action from start to finish.
God Heat Flash
IfCell can copy Vegeta’s movesand make variations of them, then Vegeta can copy Cell’s variation and create a variation of that. It sounds odd and confusing, but the God Heat Flash basically looks like a stronger variation of the Big Bang Crash. A sun-like orb forms in Vegeta’s hand and turns into a Ki beam that shoots out toward his opponent. Vegeta used the God Heat Flash inDragon Ball Super: Brolyin a failed attempt to defeat the rampaging Saiyan.
Big Bang Kamehameha
As you can probably tell,the Big Bang Kamehamehais a combination of Vegeta’s Big Bang Attack, and Goku’s Kamehameha. To perform it, the user places two hand in front of them, producing a concentrated ball of Ki. An energy wave then comes out of the ball and hurdles forward to its target. This move is performed by Vegito against Buu inDragon Ball Zepisode 269, “Meet Vegito”, and Gogeta in the now non-canonDragon Ball GT.
Dragon Ball Video Game Variations
LikeDragon Ball GT,the franchise’s video gamesaren’t considered canon, but they’ve produced tons of Big Bang Attack variations that it’d be a shame not to mention some of them.
Dragon Ball Z
Cast
Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime series produced by Toei Animation and a sequel to the 1986 Dragon Ball series. It continues the adventures of Son Goku as an adult while also paralleling the life of his son Gohan. Son Goku typically defends the Earth from villains like Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu. The series is followed by Dragon Ball GT and then Dragon Ball Super.
