The Ultimate Guide: Unraveling Every Super Saiyan Transformation in Dragon Ball

Highlights

The original Super Saiyan transformation, marked by a golden hue, was achieved by Goku in a time of need and gave him a drastic increase in power, speed, and durability.

Gohan obtained the Super Saiyan 2 form through intense training to surpass the limitations of the initial form. This transformation significantly boosted his speed and strength, granting him the ability to overpower formidable adversaries such as Perfect Cell.

On the other hand, Goku achieved the Super Saiyan 3 form during his rigorous training. This form experienced the most drastic alteration in appearance and offered the greatest utilization of power. Nevertheless, it rapidly depleted his stamina and caused tremendous fatigue as a consequential drawback.

In the world of battle shonen manga and anime, few moments are as memorable as Goku's first transformation into a Super Saiyan while battling Frieza on Namek in Dragon Ball Z. Initially, this form was described as a power granted to pure-hearted Saiyans in times of need, when they pushed their limits through intense training. Over time, additional upgrades to this form were introduced as the Z Fighters faced stronger enemies.

Nowadays, achieving the original Super Saiyan form has become effortless, with power levels soaring and new characters entering the scene. Following the conclusion of Dragon Ball Z, the story continued in Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super, where even more new forms were introduced, expanding the array of Super Saiyan transformations. Each form possesses distinct characteristics and provides a relative increase in power, which varies based on the Saiyan's skill level.

Super Saiyan

The legend of the original Super Saiyan transformation had been passed down for centuries, believed to manifest in a time of desperation for a deserving Saiyan. After witnessing the death of his friend Krillin by Frieza's hands on the planet Namek, Goku harnessed the Super Saiyan power for the very first time, fueled by a surge of rage.

Triggered by intense emotions like sorrow or fury, the initial manifestation of the Super Saiyan form grants a substantial boost in strength, speed, and endurance compared to a Saiyan's natural state. In this enhanced state, Goku effortlessly dominated and triumphed over Frieza, even when Frieza fought at full strength.

Super Saiyan 2

This distinctive trait of the user's hair is characterized by a radiant golden shade and a spikier texture, setting it apart from the typically ebony locks of pure-blooded Saiyans. Additionally, their eyes acquire a striking cyan coloration, while a brilliant golden aura envelops the user, a common attribute found in successive Super Saiyan forms. In this state, Saiyans also exhibit increased aggression and impulsiveness, until they achieve mastery over it. Furthermore, there exist supplementary forms that enhance power output and muscle size, namely Super Saiyan Second and Third Grade, along with a perfected state referred to as Super Saiyan Full Power.

With the arrival of the Androids and Cell, the power levels escalated rapidly, rendering the first Super Saiyan form less effective. Unable to overcome the new adversaries they encountered, Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Future Trunks were compelled to embark on rigorous training in pursuit of a superior transformation. Their efforts bore fruit when Gohan, driven by the loss of Android 16 at the hands of Perfect Cell, ultimately achieved the Super Saiyan 2 form.

In this form, a Saiyan's hair is further spiked up in Super Saiyan 2, retaining its gold color, cyan pupils, and pulsating aura. This form also boasts bio-electric sparks that surround the user during transformation or power increase. Users experience a substantial enhancement in both speed and strength, as seen with Gohan overpowering Perfect Cell. Super Saiyan 2 is prominently showcased in the series, with Goku and Vegeta frequently resorting to it in semi-serious battles. Additionally, in Dragon Ball Super, Future Trunks exhibited an intensified variant of this form called Super Saiyan Rage, characterized by a dual blue and gold aura.

Super Saiyan 3

Unlike its predecessors, the Super Saiyan 3 form was not achieved through intense battles. Instead, Goku acquired this form during his training in Other World, seven years after defeating Cell. Super Saiyan 3 amplifies the utilization of ki and depletes stamina at an extraordinary rate, surpassing the drain experienced in Super Saiyan 2. As a result, maintaining this form becomes challenging for a mortal body. Consequently, this transformation has been utilized sparingly throughout the series. When undergoing the transformation, an incredible surge of power is unleashed, generating shockwaves that extend across vast distances. Improper execution of the form may even lead to the destruction of the user's own body.

Featuring the most dramatic physical transformation among all the Super Saiyan forms in Dragon Ball Z, Super Saiyan 3 showcases a striking change in appearance. The user's golden hair becomes silky smooth, flowing down all the way to their waist. Their facial features become more angular, with a distinct absence of eyebrows and a heightened brow ridge. Additionally, trails of bio-electricity become more prominent, accompanied by an increase in muscular structure. This form taps into every ounce of power within a Saiyan's blood, propelling their speed and strength to unprecedented levels. However, utilizing this form comes at a steep price. The transformation rapidly fades away, leaving the user exhausted and overwhelmed by immense fatigue. Notably, Super Saiyan 3 marks the final appearance of a Super Saiyan form in Dragon Ball Z.

Super Saiyan 4

Despite its separation from the main line of Super Saiyan transformations and the ongoing debates surrounding its canonical status in light of the release of Dragon Ball Super, Super Saiyan 4 combines the strength of its predecessors with the Great Ape form. This transformation was first achieved by Goku in Dragon Ball GT, followed shortly after by Vegeta. The form effectively harnesses the power of the Great Ape state and enables the user to absorb energy from incoming attacks for their own benefit. Additionally, its appearance deviates significantly from all previous forms.

Instead of the usual golden color of the Super Saiyan transformation, a Saiyan's hair can either remain black or change to a different color like red while in the Super Saiyan 4 state. However, the hair will significantly lengthen during this transformation. In addition, the user's body will be covered in red fur, and their eyes will be surrounded by a shadowy trim. Furthermore, when in Super Saiyan 4 form, the user's height will dramatically increase, returning to normal once the transformation is ended. Unlike the golden aura seen in other forms, the aura surrounding a Super Saiyan 4 can either resemble the Saiyan's base state or have a reddish tone.

Legendary Super Saiyan

The power and significance of this transformation have sparked continuous debate when compared to other Super Saiyan forms, due to its inconsistent power levels across various portrayals. Currently, within the Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super series, Broly and Kale have been identified as the sole confirmed Legendary Super Saiyans. This form, a highly formidable variant of the original Super Saiyan transformation, is awakened through profound sorrow and can be distinguished by its distinctive green hair and aura, predominantly showcased throughout its appearances.

Super Saiyan God

The Legendary Super Saiyan form, a well-known element in Saiyan folklore, is said to bring about a remarkable increase in both size and muscle definition. This form, similar to the Super Saiyan Third Grade, not only grants a significant boost in strength, but also bestows users with enhanced speed and durability. Throughout history, only a select few Saiyans have managed to achieve this form, which is renowned for its explosive power, comparable to that of a berserker state.

Debuting in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, this transformation marks the beginning of a fresh series of forms that tap into godly ki, deviating from the original sequence of Super Saiyan transformations. Initially, achieving Super Saiyan God status required a ritual where five pure-hearted Saiyans transferred their ki to a chosen Saiyan. However, Goku and Vegeta eventually surpassed this limitation and acquired the power of Super Saiyan God without relying on the ritual.

Unlike previous transformations, when attaining

Super Saiyan Blue

, the user's hair does not become spiky or stick upwards. Instead, in Goku's case, it turns magenta-red, while in Vegeta's case, it turns crimson-red. The aura surrounding them takes on a fiery, flame-like character, while their irises also become red. Additionally, their muscle definition and facial features soften. Super Saiyan God represents a significant leap in power compared to earlier forms, thanks to its utilization of godly ki. The enhancement in speed, strength, and endurance surpasses all previous transformations by a wide margin. This empowered Goku to confront Beerus, even though the latter was not exerting his full potential. Moreover, Saiyans tend to become more composed and tranquil after achieving this form.

Super Saiyan Blue is the result of a mortal Saiyan striving to transform into a Super Saiyan after mastering a base form enhanced with godly ki. It is a divine state exclusively attainable by Saiyans who possess the power of a Super Saiyan God. This formidable form demands rigorous training and an extensive amount of time to achieve mastery. Visually, it closely resembles the original Super Saiyan transformation, except for the transcendent blue hue that envelops the user's hair and eyes instead of the traditional golden radiance. Additionally, a captivating electric blue aura surrounds them, accompanied by shimmering energy particles pulsating throughout their being. Occasionally, dazzling bursts of bio-electricity accompany their surge of power.

The form possesses highly efficient ki control, surpassing any previous transformation in terms of power. Additionally, it induces a state of calmness that counteracts the aggressive tendencies found in other transformations. Goku has been seen using this form alongside his Kaio-ken technique, while Vegeta took it even further by creating the Super Saiyan God SS Evolved form during the Tournament of Power. In this form, Vegeta's hair and aura adopt a deeper shade of blue. Divine beings have their own version of this form, known as Super Saiyan Rosé, where their hair and aura turn pink.

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