Dragon Ball Z: Everything to know about Nappa

Nappa as seen in Dragon Ball Z
Nappa as seen in Dragon Ball Z (Image credit: Toei Animations)

In the world of Dragon Ball Z, many characters are known for their heroism and power. But only a few have left a lasting impression; among them is Nappa. Though his screen time was limited compared to others, Nappa’s impact was seismic. As the vanguard of the Saiyan invasion on Earth, he introduced the true scale of Saiyan power to Goku’s friends and fans alike.

Nappa was the commander of the Saiyan Army in Dragon Ball Z. His origins were from Planet Vegeta, where he was born to a high-ranking Saiyan warrior family. Because of this bloodline, he was granted an elite position.

Many Saiyans believed that he was one of the most ruthless soldiers. When his planet faced destruction, Nappa was one of the handful of Saiyans who made it out alive. Vegeta, Raditz, and Nappa then formed into a trio as they worked for Frieza and continued taking control of planets and annihilating any form of civilization.

After their teammate Raditz died during a mission, Nappa and Vegeta set their sights on Earth. They went all out in launching a massive-scale attack on the planet. This all happened because Raditz was on Earth trying to recruit Goku.

Vegeta, Raditz, and Nappa as seen in Dragon Ball Z(Image credit: Toei Animations)
Vegeta, Raditz, and Nappa as seen in Dragon Ball Z(Image credit: Toei Animations)

Nappa’s reaction to Raditz’s death further proved his violent tendencies. His character enjoys using brute strength and tends to show aggression at the slightest provocation. Whether he’s blowing up cities for fun or killing Z Fighters without hesitation, Nappa views Earth as nothing more than a playground to exhibit his strength.

In Dragon Ball Z, Nappa loved to take part in battles and cause mindless destruction, but this did not mean he was not smart enough to make difficult decisions.

He had proved himself to be formidable as he had trained hard to work on his fighting style and learn about tactics. While these did play an important role in developing his strength, they also caused him to constantly underestimate his opponents.

In the series, he is shown to follow Vegeta’s orders, but everyone on Earth is inferior in his eyes. Interestingly, despite his overconfident nature, he is loyal to Vegeta. He sees himself as his prince’s enforcer, relishing the opportunity to demonstrate Saiyan supremacy.

Nappa was the first to arrive on Earth, and the first act after his arrival was terrifying. He ended up destroying an entire city by using the bare minimum of his powers. This display of power was proof that he was not going to be taken down easily.

Although to stop him for good, the Z Fighters — Tien, Chiaotzu, Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan — tried their best to beat him. Ultimately, most of them did not make it. It was hard to watch as Nappa kept on toying with each one of them, again proving to everyone his terrifying personality.


What happens to Nappa in Dragon Ball Z?

By the time Goku took over the fight, he kept on attacking Nappa, and it was obvious that he was outmatched. The only hope he had to survive was to beg for Vegeta’s help. Unfortunately, Vegeta was not happy to witness this state of Nappa and saw his begging as a sign of weakness. Nappa is then killed without mercy by him.

Despite dying early, Nappa ended up as a fan-favorite character due to his memorable presence. Fans of Dragon Ball Z still like him; his mustache and bald head are iconic, and his voice is still recognized in the fandom.


Final thoughts

Nappa in Dragon Ball Z had a lot of potential. He was a promising antagonist who successfully did a lot of damage before being defeated. Without Nappa, the series wouldn’t have had the explosive beginning that gripped fans worldwide.

Edited by Ritika Pal