The Legendary Evolution: Unveiling the True Power of Dragon Ball's First Super Saiyan Form

Highlights

The initial appearance of Goku as a Super Saiyan marked a momentous occasion in the realm of anime. However, as the Dragon Ball series unfolded, the original manifestation of the Super Saiyan lost its significance in light of more formidable adversaries and the inevitable escalation of power levels.

The original Super Saiyan transformation was foreshadowed and had an iconic look, but newer forms like Super Saiyan 2 and Super Saiyan Blue surpassed it in power and usefulness. Additionally, the ease with which younger characters accessed the Super Saiyan form and the power creep in Dragon Ball Super further diminished the importance and power of the original transformation.

Goku's first transformation into a Super Saiyan is an iconic moment in anime history that broke cultural barriers. It became a significant turning point in Dragon Ball Z, symbolizing the ultimate power-up for Goku and his allies. The Super Saiyan form became a staple and played a crucial role in the Cell Saga.

However, as the Dragon Ball series progressed into sequels like Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super, with stronger enemies and massive increases in power levels, the original Super Saiyan form lost much of its importance. It now pales in comparison to the divine beings that the Z Fighters currently face, raising questions about why it rapidly declined in the power scaling of the Dragon Ball franchise.

A Legend Realized

Super Saiyan made its premiere as something entirely new to many Dragon Ball fans. While there were other anime transformations that came before and after this, what sets Super Saiyan apart is the way it was built up and foreshadowed before its actual appearance on-screen. The initial mention of the first Super Saiyan in a Saiyan race myth described the state as an incredibly powerful form that hadn't been achieved by a Saiyan in nearly a millennium.

Throughout the Namek and Frieza Sagas, there were numerous references to this legend, specifically how it fueled Frieza's fear of the Saiyans. This fear ultimately led to Frieza's destruction of Planet Vegeta, wiping out the entire Saiyan race. Vegeta himself discussed the legend on multiple occasions as he became increasingly desperate in his battle against Frieza. In the face of Frieza's overwhelming power, none of the Z Fighters, including Goku, stood a chance. It was only when Frieza killed Krillin that Goku's rage finally exploded, allowing him to transform into the long-awaited Super Saiyan form.

The gradual foreshadowing, combined with its now iconic look and accompanying power increase, created the necessary excitement and anticipation for it to become a memorable moment in the series' history. Later on in the series, Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 transformation was also built up in a similar way, with hints leading up to this moment dating back to the Saiyan Saga.

Essentially, the original Super Saiyan transformation set a standard for power increases that has continued in shonen anime to this day. Menacing yet dignified appearances, blazing auras, and unique hairstyles have become the norm. While other iconic transformations have aimed to achieve the same level of significance, many, such as Naruto Uzumaki's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode forms and Monkey D. Luffy's Gear 5, have clearly drawn inspiration from the Super Saiyan form.

Constant Power Creep

Initially, the Super Saiyan transformation was depicted as something that occurred when a kind-hearted Saiyan reached a certain level of power and experienced intense emotions like anger or sadness. However, this concept was modified with the introduction of Future Trunks and Vegeta's Super Saiyan forms. Unlike the pure-hearted Saiyans, Vegeta did not achieve this transformation in a time of need and had impure intentions.

Following this development, any pure or Hybrid Saiyan could attain the Super Saiyan form if they had enough S-Cells. Saiyans like Goku, who were more gentle in nature, had higher quantities of S-Cells and could increase them through training and combat. On the other hand, Vegeta had a harder time accumulating the necessary S-Cells due to his inherently aggressive disposition.

Children of Saiyans inherit their parents' S-Cells, granting them access to the Super Saiyan form. Gohan was able to tap into this power at a young age during the Cell Games Saga. With the introduction of the Androids and Cell, becoming a Super Saiyan became a basic requirement for the Z Fighters in order to face their new adversaries. Consequently, the form was frequently used by Saiyan characters, but it lost its effectiveness against opponents like Androids 17 and 18, who possessed superior speed, strength, and regeneration abilities.

Despite training and developing advanced forms like Super Saiyan Second Grade, Third Grade, and Full Power, there remained a significant power gap to overcome when facing Perfect Cell. This led to the creation of the Super Saiyan 2 transformation, which surpassed the original form and marked the beginning of its decline in usefulness. This trend continued in subsequent installments of the franchise as even more powerful transformations took priority.

Reduced To Child's Play

In the Majin Buu Saga, both Goten and Trunks effortlessly achieved the Super Saiyan form, demonstrating that even Hybrid Saiyan children could attain it without difficulty. However, as power levels escalated to unprecedented heights, this form became inadequate to confront Buu's various forms. Super Saiyan 2 became the new base state of engagement after the introduction of Super Saiyan 3.

Dragon Ball Super further intensified this issue with the introduction of godly ki, which led to even more powerful transformations like Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue, far surpassing the capabilities of Super Saiyan. The Saiyans of Universe 6, such as Cabba, were also able to access the form with ease. For them, achieving Super Saiyan simply required focusing their power at a specific point on their spine, resulting in a tingling sensation.

Caulifla's transformation into a Super Saiyan sparked controversy due to its devalued significance. Unlike the original form, she attained it easily by following Cabba's instructions, without the need for an emotional trigger. As a result, the once formidable Super Saiyan form has now become child's play for most Saiyans, and it pales in comparison to the power of the current antagonists in the Dragon Ball franchise. You can stream Dragon Ball Z on Crunchyroll.