Frieza’s Latest Transformation Hints That Dragon Ball’s Biggest Villain Could Be Reforming

Summary Frieza enjoys combat and seem to want to test his limits against Goku and Vegeta in the future.

Frieza's new form, Black Frieza, shows his dedication to training and improving his already fearful combat prowess.

Frieza's shift in priorities, from immortality to becoming a better fighter, hints at a change in his character.

For many decades, Frieza has been considered one of the most ruthless Dragon Ball villains. Despite being defeated by Goku and Vegeta several times, the Galactic Emperor has never relented in his quest to destroy the Saiyans and rule Universe 7. At least, that is what Frieza wanted everyone to believe until recently. His latest transformation, Black Frieza, could hint at the villain having a sudden change of heart.

This new technique implies that Frieza is no longer an arrogant tyrant who believes himself above everyone else in the galaxy. He understands that he will never be able to defeat his mortal enemies without training. Frieza also seems to now see Goku and Vegeta as beings who can help him test his limits, as opposed to targets to eliminate as swiftly as possible.

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Frieza Has Found The Joy Of Combat

Goku and Vegeta taught Friea to enjoy a good fight

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Frieza’s species, the Frost Demons, are naturally talented fighters who do not have to train to reach incredible levels of strength. Nonetheless, if they decide to focus on growing stronger, they can obtain new transformations, each more powerful than the last. Black Frieza seems to be the most powerful form these beings can achieve, as the Emperor could only obtain it after training in a Hyperbolic Time Chamber for many years. The ruthless villain introduced during the Namek Saga of Dragon Ball Z would never have considered working on his strength, as he considered it beneath him.

Throughout the years, the Saiyans have slowly conditioned Frieza to enjoy fighting, bettering himself, and rising above his limits. The Galactic Emperor is no longer content with becoming the strongest being in the universe. He seems to want to prove himself worthy of that title, as seen during the ending of the Granolah the Survivor Arc. Instead of killing his bitter enemies on the spot, Frieza taunts them, challenging them to become stronger and surpass his power. This mentality aligns perfectly with Goku’s, as the protagonist of the series has always been motivated by the idea of fighting powerful opponents.

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From Enemy To Rival

Goku could have worked his magic with Frieza

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One of the most beloved tropes in Dragon Ball’s story is the ability Goku has to turn his most hated enemies into loyal friends. There are many examples of this phenomenon occurring in the series. The two most prominent ones are Piccolo, who was determined to kill Goku and avenge his father, and Vegeta, a Saiyan who tried to conquer Earth but was stopped by Goku and his friends. Despite starting as ruthless villains, they have become vital Z-Fighters members and Kakarot’s trusted friends. One of the few villains who never reformed in the series was Frieza.

Yet, the Galactic Emperor’s constant interaction with Goku during Dragon Ball Super seems to have slowly changed Frieza’s ruthless personality. Thanks to his participation as Universe 7 Warrior in the Tournament of Power arc, the tyrant was revived once again. Despite having a perfect opportunity to try and kill Goku and Vegeta, Frieza did not directly attack them. He instead decided to rebuild his empire and focus on becoming stronger, something that Goku’s old adversary would never have done. Frieza’s change in personality did not stop there, as his ultimate goal also shifted.

Frieza Black is the culmination of the Galactic Emperor’s arduous training. He took inspiration from Goku and Vegeta’s progress throughout the series and focused on bettering himself. This event parallels Vegeta’s character arc after Kakarot defeated him during the Saiyan’s invasion of Earth. Both characters were introduced as ruthless and egotistical individuals who had never trained before. Being defeated by Goku awakened their desire to become stronger and surpass the Earth-based Saiyan. As happened with Vegeta, Frieza’s hatred for Goku is likely slowly diminishing, as hinted at during their encounter in Dragon Ball Super chapter #87.

Frieza’s Wishes Also Hint At A Shift In Priorities

Frieza no longer desires to become the immortal ruler of the galaxy

During the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie, the Galactic Emperor had the opportunity to make a wish by collecting the Dragon Balls. In the past, Frieza would have desired to become immortal, as he would have become an unstoppable warrior thanks to this wish. When his current wish was revealed, both his subordinates and audiences were shocked, as he desired to become taller. Frieza seems to have been inspired by Goku to become stronger by his means, forgetting about immortality. His determination to become a better fighter is likely what inspired him to achieve his Black Frieza form.

The fact that Frieza’s wish for immortality has been forgotten is the biggest indicator that the tyrant has changed, at least slightly. Nonetheless, it is highly improbable that Frieza has become a fully-fledged hero like Vegeta, as he still has some animosity against the Saiyans. Frieza could have become an anti-hero, as proven by the tyrant killing Gas and preventing him from killing his old enemies. The Frost Demon could have allowed Goku and Vegeta to die, or kill them himself after defeating Gas. Not only did Frieza not kill them, but he also encouraged them to become stronger.

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Frieza now desires to have someone who can keep pushing him past his limits. He sees Goku and Vegeta as rivals whom he wishes to continue fighting against in the future. While the Galactic Emperor still enjoys being feared and having control over others, he has slowly become a more understanding ruler. It may be possible for Frieza to become a reluctant member of the Z-Warriors in the future. He could become the dark and morally ambiguous character that Vegeta used to be.

Black Frieza proves just how much the Galactic Emperor has changed throughout the Dragon Ball franchise. He went from a ruthless killer boasting about his high power level to a focused warrior wishing to improve himself. He may never be as noble as Goku or Vegeta, but he could become a vital ally to have whenever a powerful enemy arises.