He is extremely proud of his Saiyan heritage, like Vegeta, and makes many comments on it, even explaining the near extinction of the Saiyans. He claims that he wants to anger Goku in order to get his Saiyan blood boiling, so he could realize his Saiyan heritage and get him to join the remaining Saiyans in collecting planets for Frieza.

His cowardice might explain his weakness compared to Vegeta and Nappa, as a cowardly Saiyan is unlikely to suffer life-threatening injuries, meaning he would have had fewer opportunities to get a power boost from Saiyan Power like his father and younger brother. He was only willing to accept his death when he arrogantly believed his comrades would revive him with the Dragon Balls. Apparently, unlike most Saiyans in general, especially Goku, Raditz fears death greatly. Raditz can also be quite a coward when facing death, as he kept struggling and begging desperately with his usually arrogant attitude when facing Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon. Goku does and Raditz damages him tremendously and begins to crush his ribs, taunting him whilst laughing. He is incredibly manipulative, begging Goku to let him go when Goku grabs his tail to weaken him.

He likes to mock weaker opponents, and to mess around with them before actually finishing them off as shown when constantly mocking Piccolo, and taking great pleasure in seeing his own brother Goku and nephew Gohan in pain. He does, however, give his brother a chance to become part of Frieza's empire, only attacking Goku when he refuses and protests against his plans. Unlike his brother, Goku, his mother, Gine, and his father, Bardock, Raditz is harsh, brutal, and often arrogant like most Saiyan warriors. ' Trust me Kakarot, I know an easy win when I see one. Raditz may be the only Saiyan whose hair actually grows longer as he grows up, which carries over into his Super Saiyan 3 form. Raditz also inherits Bardock's eyes and complexion. Additionally, he wears two accessory bands that are white in the manga and red in the anime: one is tightened around his left arm, and the other on his left leg. Raditz's appearance consists of extremely long, spiky black hair with a prominent widow's peak, brown and black colored Battle Armor in the same style as the rest of Frieza's soldiers, with boots, armored gloves, and a scouter that is blue on the title page of Chapter 196, and green in the anime and full color manga.

Goku and piccolo vs raditz