Unveiling the Uncharted Boundaries of Power in Dragon Ball Super!

Highlights

Dragon Ball's transformations have had a significant impact on the anime community, with Super Saiyan being the most iconic transformation.

Ultra Instinct, according to Whis, is a technique or state that enables the user to move and battle with unparalleled precision, operating independently on autopilot.

Goku's incorporation of Ultra Instinct into his own combat approach, referred to as 'True Ultra Instinct', exemplifies the notion of refinement in the series, underscoring the significance of diligent training and comprehension of ultimate techniques.

Dragon Ball is a well-known franchise among anime enthusiasts, renowned for its various forms and power-ups. While this has become a humorous running gag and a popular meme, the impact of these transformations on the shonen anime genre cannot be denied. The initial example of this is the Kaioken technique utilized by Goku in his battle against Vegeta during the Saiyan saga, though it was considered more of a basic power multiplier rather than an actual form. However, it was during the Frieza saga that the world witnessed the most iconic transformation of all time: the Super Saiyan.

Decades have passed since then, and the franchise has introduced numerous transformations. The Super Saiyan form underwent multiple upgrades, and in the context of Dragon Ball Super, unique forms fueled by God Ki have emerged, with Ultra Instinct being the foremost among them. This form generated a similar level of excitement and achieved iconic status akin to the original Super Saiyan, with subtle hints of its existence being teased as early as the very first episode of Super. Throughout the series, Whis dropped hints about this form, but it wasn't until the climactic battle against Jiren in the Tournament of Power that we witnessed its complete glory. Goku effortlessly demonstrated its power by nearly defeating Jiren, and since then, he has utilized it multiple times in subsequent manga arcs, customizing it to suit his personal fighting style.

How Does Ultra Instinct work?

Ultra Instinct, contrary to common belief, is not merely a form but rather a technique or state of being, as described by Whis. It is revered as the epitome of martial arts by those knowledgeable of its existence. With Ultra Instinct, the user's entire body becomes intensely focused, enabling independent and instinctual movements without conscious thought. This allows the user to effortlessly defend themselves in combat, while simultaneously fortifying their body for enhanced durability and resilience. Essentially, the user fights on autopilot with unparalleled precision, amplifying the power of their attacks. Mastering this technique proves immensely challenging, with even the majority of Gods of Destruction struggling to execute it flawlessly. Only the Angels, regarded as the mightiest beings in the multiverse, are said to have mastered Ultra Instinct.

To achieve this state, one must achieve absolute mental clarity and concentration, eliminating all emotions and distractions. This allows them to fight and maneuver purely on instinct. Though unexplained, it is speculated that the transformation of Goku's hair color while utilizing this technique is due to his gradual assimilation into the angelic state of existence through adaptation to Ultra Instinct.

Will it be Enough For the Future?

After the Tournament of Power, Goku continued to use Ultra Instinct in subsequent manga arcs against even more formidable opponents than Jiren. Despite Ultra Instinct's superiority over Moro, Goku found himself on the verge of death when Moro gained immense power by merging with the Earth. To defeat Moro once and for all, Goku tapped into the power of his Spirit Avatar attack, which was amplified by Vegeta's Forced Spirit Fission.

The story then shifted to the Granolah arc, where Goku and Vegeta faced off against the formidable Granolah. Surprisingly, Granolah effortlessly took down Goku's Mastered Ultra Instinct with a single strike. It was revealed that Gas was the true antagonist, and Goku realized that relying solely on instinct without conscious thought did not align with his Saiyan nature. This realization prompted Goku to adapt the technique to suit his own strengths and emotions, resulting in a unique variation known among fans as 'True Ultra Instinct'.

However, the future of the forms and the series itself is where things get interesting. Introducing a new form or power-up in every arc would diminish the significance of previous forms and weaken their impact. Moreover, Angels are consistently portrayed as the most powerful beings in this universe with their Ultra Instinct, so it wouldn't make much sense for mortal characters to surpass them with their own forms.

Instead, the series explores a new approach to power-ups through refinement. Goku, being a mortal Saiyan whose power stems from raw emotion and not belonging to the Angel race, not obtaining new forms actually serves the overall story. It means that he must continue training and refining his own version of Ultra Instinct to align with his unique fighting style. This thematic choice also applies to Vegeta, who is undergoing a similar character arc with his transformations.

In the Granolah arc, Vegeta acquires the power of a God of Destruction, enabling him to access his new technique, Ultra Ego. At that point in the story, he surpasses both Granolah and Goku in terms of power. However, he ultimately suffers defeat when confronted by a fully empowered Granolah. This is because Vegeta had not yet perfected his technique nor received proper training in it.

This is where the character journeys of the two main protagonists in Dragon Ball Super intersect, as Saiyan fighters who are undergoing intense training from the Angels and Gods of Destruction. While Goku and Vegeta won't gain new forms, they will undergo rigorous training to unlock their ultimate techniques and master them completely.