Freeza Saga

The Frieza Saga is the second major plot arc of the anime Dragon Ball Z (after the Saiyan Saga and before the Garlic Junior Saga). In FUNimation's naming conventions for the English language release of the anime, the Frieza Saga is broken up into three sub-sagas: the Namek Saga, the Ginyu Saga, and the (shorter) Frieza Saga. This article refers specifically to the events in the third sub-saga.

The Frieza saga (like Dragon Ball's Piccolo Jr. Saga) was originally intended to be the end of the series, with a major symbolic plot-ending event which would provie closure to the series. However, despite some fan response that the series was losing momentum, the popularity of the series was high enough that the series continued.

Nearly all of the Frieza Saga takes place on the Planet Namek.

Major Players

• Dende
• Freeza
• Kuririn (Krillin)
• Son Gohan
• Son Goku
• Vegeta

Plot Summary

With the fate of Namek at stake, Guru sends the young Namek Dende to give the important password to Krillin and Gohan that will summon Porunga, the Namekian dragon.

Meanwhile, Frieza arrives at Guru's and he is met by some Namekian warriors and kills all but Nail. He then tries to get Guru to tell him the password but won't tell. Just as Frieza is about to kill him Nail warns Frieza that if Guru dies then the Dragon Balls will become useless. As a distraction to buy Dende more time, Nail takes Frieza to a field to do battle. Frieza easily overtakes Nail and when he realizes that the fight is a trick he rushes off to his ship, leaving Nail for dead.

Dende finally reaches Krillin with the important message and they take the Dragon Balls from a sleeping Vegeta. They then head off to Frieza's ship. Vegeta awakens to see that the Dragon has already been summoned. Since the first two wishes had already been used to bring Piccolo back then to bring him to Namek, Vegeta wants the last wish to ask for eternal life. Just as Dende is asking the Dragon, Guru dies and the Dragon Balls turn to stone. Vegeta's wish isn't granted and what's worse is that Frieza has arrived and his infuriated that the Dragon Balls have already been used. Vegeta starts to fight his former boss and he rivals Frieza, so Frieza transforms to his second form.

Meanwhile Piccolo, just wished to Namek, senses the fighting and heads that way. Along the way he sees the dying Nail, and fuses with him, increasing his strength and speed. Piccolo arrives at the battle and stands up to Frieza. For a while he bests the evil tyrant thanks to his fusion with Nail. But Frieza transforms again, and Piccolo is no match for Frieza in this form. Krillin blasts a Distructo Disc at Frieza and cuts off his tail. Frieza quickly flies to Krillin and hurts him very badly. Gohan attacks Frieza to save Krillin, and is beaten close to death. Krillin, who has been restored by Dende, lures Frieza away. Dende now heals Gohan. Piccolo rejoins the fight, and Frieza focuses on him. Vegeta wants Krillin to attack him, so that he will be more powerful after Dende heals him. Vegeta's strength increases each time he is beat to near death. Frieza continues to fight Piccolo until he's defeated.

Gohan is furious at Piccolo's defeat and powers up. His hidden powers are revealed as he takes on Frieza. Gohan is too much for Frieza, so he transforms into his final and strongest form. While Frieza transforms, Dende heals Piccolo. Dende also reluctantly heals Vegeta.

Frieza sees the usefulness of Dende's healing, so the first thing he does after he transforms is eliminate Dende. He also tries to blast Gohan, but Vegeta is quick and saves Gohan. Vegeta and Frieza fight, and no matter what he does Vegeta is no match. Goku shows up and Vegeta is rescued, but not for long. Vegeta tells Frieza that Goku is the legendary Super Saiyan that will kill him. Frieza gets angry and blasts a hole through Vegeta's heart. As Vegeta dies, he asks Goku to take vengeance for all Saiyans. Vegeta is buried and Frieza and Goku begin to fight.

While only using 50% of his power, Frieza gradually gains the upper hand on Goku. Goku then decides to use his new ability learned from King Kai: The Spirit Bomb. Piccolo steps in to try and hold off the evil tyrant while Goku gathers energy for the attack. It does significant damage to Frieza but he still survives.

Enraged, Frieza lashes out against the other warriors. First he decides to kill Gohan. As he blasts at the little Saiyan Piccolo jumps in the way of the blast to save Gohan's life again. Although it doesn't kill him Piccolo is hurt very badly. Next, Frieza kills Krillin by making him explode. Seeing his best friend destroyed strikes a nerve in Goku and erupts with rage. His hair turns golden and his eyes turn green...he is now a Super Saiyan! He then asks Gohan to take Piccolo to the ship and head back to Earth.

Frieza is no match for Goku now. After a well deserved beating Frieza decides that if he can't beat this "inferior monkey" then he'll blow up Namek instead. He plants a huge fireball in the planet's core and the planet starts to crumble. It will explode in 5 minutes.

Back on Earth, Kami and Mr. Popo have gathered all of the Dragon Balls and with King Kai's help devise a plan to bring back all who were killed by Frieza. Since this brings back Guru King Kai telepathically asks him to wish all of those on Namek, except Goku and Frieza, back to Earth.

As the battle on Namek rages on Frieza realizes that he's no match for Super Saiyan Goku. He releases energy discs that he can direct to attack Goku. But Goku maneuvers at the last minute to make one slice Frieza in half. As he is dying he begs Goku not to leave him like this. Taking pity on the pathetic creature Goku gives him some of his energy. As Goku is leaving Frieza makes one final attempt at killing him but Goku pushes the blast back at Frieza destroying him. Sadly, the planet explodes.

On Earth, Dende heals Piccolo and realizes that he has merged with Nail. As Guru is dying he transfers his role as Senior Elder to Moori, another Namekian, so the Dragon Balls won't die with him. The Namekian Dragon Balls are then used to wish back Krillin and Yamcha. However, Porunga reveals that he is unable to bring back Goku because he isn't dead!

Episode list

English anime episode list.

Freeza Saga (31 episodes)

• 61. Password is Porunga
• 62. Piccolo's Return
• 63. The Fusion
• 64. Fighting Power: One Million??
• 65. Piccolo The Super.Namek
• 66. Deja Vu
• 67. Frieza's Second Transformation
• 68. Another Transformation
• 69. Dende's Demise
• 70. The Renewed Goku
• 71. The End of Vegeta
• 72. Ultimate Battle
• 73. Clash of the Super Powers
• 74. Frieza's Boast
• 75. Bold and Fiereless
• 76. Embodiment of Fire
• 77. Trump Card
• 78. Keep the Chance Alive
• 79. Power of the Spirit
• 80. Transformed at Last
• 81. Explosion of Anger
• 82. Namek's Destruction
• 83. A Final Attack
• 84. Approaching Destruction
• 85. Gohan Returns
• 86. The Last Wish
• 87. Duel on a Vanishing Planet
• 88. Pathos of Frieza
• 89. Frieza Defeated
• 90. Mighty Blast of Rage
• 91. Namek's Explosion... Goku's End?
• 92. Goku's Alive