Bardock is the father of Goku (Kakarot) and Raditz, and the grandfather of Gohan, Goten, and Pan from the Dragon Ball series. Bardock looks almost exactly like Goku, but his personality is very different—he’s tough, cool, and sometimes a bit wild. He was a low-class Saiyan warrior known for both his strength and the courage he showed when he stood up alone against Freeza to change the fate of his race. Bardock first appeared in a special episode, but became hugely popular and appears in many games and various "what if" stories. Over time, Bardock’s backstory and personality have changed across the different media, but he always stands out as a brave and impressive fighter.
Bardock looks just like Goku, with spiky black hair and a strong build. The main differences are a scar on his left cheek and his battle armor, which is unique compared to other Saiyans. His armor leaves his shoulders exposed with a belt-like strap. He often wears a red headband, stained with the blood of his fallen comrade, Toma.
Bardock is a battle-loving Saiyan who values strength. He can be fierce and gruff, especially toward his son Kakarot after seeing his low power level at birth. But Bardock also cared about his team and felt deep anger when they were hurt. He has some savage and wild traits, but he’s also clever and calm, often figuring out secrets about enemies or situations quickly. Compared to many Saiyans, Bardock thinks more ahead and can sense when something is off.
Bardock comes from the planet Vegeta and is a member of the Saiyan race. He was created for a TV Special and designed with input from Dragon Ball’s creator, Akira Toriyama. Bardock became a fan-favorite and was later included in many games and even the manga. There are two main versions of Bardock's story: the original TV special where he fights alone against Freeza, and the newer version from "Dragon Ball Minus," which was also used in Dragon Ball Super: Broly. These versions show slightly different personalities, outfits, and relationships with his family.
Bardock is known as a low-class warrior, but through lots of tough battles, his strength grew to around 10,000—impressive for his class. He’s a skilled fighter, smart in combat, and not afraid of tough battles. In games, Bardock learns special moves: “Riot Javelin,” “Final Spirit Cannon,” “Final Revenger,” and more. In some stories, he can even become a Super Saiyan, reaching Super Saiyan 2, 3, and 4 in game spinoffs. Bardock’s most famous power is his prediction ability, given by the last survivor of Planet Kanassa, which lets him see the future.
- "Everything will change here... my fate... Kakarot's fate... and yours too!!"
- "Is there any idiot who thinks about anything but winning in a do-or-die battle?"
- Bardock’s name comes from “burdock,” a type of vegetable, to match the Saiyan naming theme.
- In games and spinoffs, he’s given more forms and power-ups, including his own Super Saiyan transformations.
- Sometimes, Bardock appears in "what if" stories where he survives and even reunites with Goku.
The Lone Saiyan—Bardock’s Famous Stand
Bardock’s big story starts when he and his team attack Planet Kanassa. After the battle, Bardock is hit by a sneak attack, giving him the power to see the future. He dreams of Planet Vegeta’s destruction by Freeza and his son Goku’s (Kakarot’s) future.
Bardock rushes to warn other Saiyans, but no one believes him. When his team is wiped out by Freeza’s men, Bardock ties Toma’s blood-stained scarf around his head and chooses to fight alone.
He fights bravely against Freeza’s army and even faces Freeza himself. Bardock launches a huge energy blast, but Freeza counters with an even bigger attack, wiping out Bardock and the Saiyan planet. As he dies, Bardock sees a vision of grown-up Kakarot facing Freeza and dies hoping his son will finish what he started.
Episode of Bardock—The What If Story
In another story, Bardock survives the destruction of Planet Vegeta and is sent back in time due to a space-time distortion. He lands on Planet Plant (the old name for Planet Vegeta). There, Bardock helps out some locals and eventually faces Chilled, Freeza’s ancestor.
When Chilled hurts a boy named Berry, Bardock becomes so angry that he turns into a Super Saiyan for the first time. Bardock defeats Chilled, who warns his family about golden-haired Saiyans—starting the legend that later scares Freeza.
Other Media and Games
Bardock shows up in many Dragon Ball games and side stories. In some, he meets his grandchildren or even fights alongside Goku. He is sometimes brainwashed and becomes “Masked Saiyan.” In other What If stories, Bardock changes fate, becoming even stronger and sometimes defeating Freeza or traveling between timelines.
In the Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Heroes games, Bardock gets powerful new forms, like Super Saiyan 3 and Super Saiyan 4, and plays key roles in time-travel plots.
Alternate Stories and Appearances
Bardock stars in many “what if” stories, where he might survive his fight with Freeza, travel through time, or meet Goku. He’s a downloadable character in Dragon Ball FighterZ and is shown as a strong and flexible fighter with new moves and transformations.
His theme song “Solid State Scouter” is remembered by many fans.
Bardock appears in other Dragon Ball media, including Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball DAIMA, usually in flashbacks or retellings of his story. His appearance and traits are based on the newer universe created by Akira Toriyama, and he’s often shown with a more thoughtful side, especially toward his family.
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