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The Dragon Ball series has so many types of Saiyan transformations. But how many exactly? Learn about it below!
When it comes to the oldest power system in anime, the Dragon Ball series is a strong contender. The legendary Super Saiyan transformation has endured for so many years that even non-anime fans know about it. In the series, not just anyone can attain such a powerful form. However, what is it exactly? Though the name is catchy and simple, it’s surprisingly diverse.
Super Saiyan is a state of enhanced power that the Saiyan race can obtain, given they meet the key aspects for its awakening. At the very least, twenty-one Super Saiyan forms have appeared in the Dragon Ball series. Let’s go over each of them. But first, let’s go back in time to when Dragon Ball first introduced the Saiyan race.
What Is a Saiyan
Saiyan is a warrior race originating from the planet Sadala. What’s wild about this planet is that its gravity is ten times stronger than Earth’s. It explains their otherworldly strength and immense endurance. Likewise, the Saiyan culture also gears toward conquest, war, and combat. So much so that their power level is measured as soon as a baby Saiyan is born. In a nutshell, Saiyans are pretty much space Spartans.
Much like Sparta in real life, Saiyans often accept mercenary tasks from other civilizations in exchange for technology or resources. They had immense pride in their strength. However, everything changed ever since Frieza’s conquest. The remaining Saiyans who were forced to serve him lost this warrior culture pride. However, a few select individuals retained their ability to transform into what’s called a Super Saiyan.
Saiyan Transformation
Now that we know what the warrior society Saiyans are, let’s discuss what makes them formidable: their transformation.
Great Ape Transformation
A display of pure raw power, a Saiyan can transform into a gigantic ape to demolish whatever they see. This transformation can occur whenever a Saiyan receives enough Blutz Waves, an energy coming off large celestial objects. However, this transformation has a rather obvious weak spot: the tail. In this form, if the tail is cut off, the Saiyan will revert to their original form.
False Super Saiyan
The False Super Saiyan form is obtained when a Saiyan first tastes the power of the Super Saiyan transformation. It first appeared when Goku battled Lord Slug in the 1991 movie Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug. This form was dubbed a true Super Saiyan at first, but then the manga finally revealed the true Super Saiyan.
Super Saiyan
The bread and butter of Dragon Ball’s power system, Super Saiyan is an umbrella term for various power awakenings a Saiyan goes through. Typically, a Saiyan can achieve this transformation during a heavily emotional experience. Such was the case with Goku, who transformed into his Super Saiyan form after witnessing Krillin’s death.
Super Saiyan 2, 3, and Rage
The Super Saiyan 2, 3, and Rage are direct upgrades from the original Super Saiyan. Though they’re technically a step up, each one of them has a unique quirk. The Super Saiyan 2’s main advantage is the increase in strength without any loss of speed. On the contrary, the Super Saiyan 3 is all about raw strength, making the user slower compared to the prior transformations. Super Saiyan Rage is an anime-only transformation used by Future Trunks. The only caveat for this transformation is its requirement for Future Trunks to use the Powerhouse State while feeling immense rage, hence the name.
The Legendary Super Saiyan
Just like how the name implies, the Legendary Super Saiyan is an extremely rare Saiyan transformation. Similar to Super Saiyan Rage, which requires the user to feel a certain emotion, the Legendary Super Saiyan is obtained when the user feels immense sorrow.
Golden Great Ape
Another Saiyan transformation from the Great Ape branch, this specific transformation is exclusive to Saiyans who have unlocked their Super Saiyan form and still retain their tail. In Saiyan lore, this form exists solely for destruction.
Super Saiyan 4
Though you might think this form is a branch of the main type of Saiyan transformation, it’s actually closer to the Great Ape form. The Super Saiyan 4 is an advanced state ahead of the Golden Great Ape and Super Saiyan forms. The user still looks humanoid and retains consciousness but with a tail and fur all over their body. To unlock this form, a Saiyan must have acquired both the Super Saiyan and Golden Great Ape forms.
Super Saiyan God
Unlike the other Super Saiyan forms, the Super Saiyan God transformation requires special rituals and divine training. The main boon of this form is that it provides the user with God Ki. Even among Saiyans, this form is a legend. However, its requirements are much more complex compared to the other types.
Divine Super Saiyan
If the Super Saiyan transformations sound overpowered, then this one might change your mind. The Divine Super Saiyan has more drawbacks than benefits. Though it does increase the strength of its user, it strains the body a lot. Even with that cost, this form is still far weaker than the Super Saiyan God transformation. Rather than using God Ki, this type of Saiyan transformation uses another variant known as Dense Ki.
Super Saiyan Blue
The Super Saiyan Blue is an advancement of the Super Saiyan God form. Its notable feature is that it surrounds the user in a blue aura, different from the original yellow Super Saiyan aura. The hardest part of attaining this form is the training with a deity. Along with the Super Saiyan God, this type of Saiyan transformation requires intense and extensive Ki training.
Perfected Super Saiyan Blue
Right above the Super Saiyan Blue is its perfected form. Though there is no visible difference between the two, this type of Saiyan transformation is more refined and stronger. Most notably, Goku was able to utilize the Power of Destruction, or Hakai, which was previously exclusive to the God of Destruction.
Super Saiyan Kaio-Ken
This type of Saiyan transformation combines the already powerful Super Saiyan state with the Kaio-Ken technique. Goku used this form in the Other World Tournament against Pikkon. After he punched Pikkon toward an asteroid, Goku immediately reverted to his Super Saiyan form.
Super Saiyan God SS Evolved
Exceeding the power of Super Saiyan Blue, there is a Super Saiyan form first reached by Vegeta: Super Saiyan God SS Evolved. This type of Saiyan transformation is similar in appearance to Super Saiyan Blue. The unique thing about Vegeta’s Super Saiyan God SS Evolved is that he achieved it during a battle in the Tournament of Power.
Super Saiyan Rose
On a completely different type of Saiyan transformation, the Super Saiyan Rose might look like Super Saiyan Blue with a different hue but has a divine touch to it. While the Super Saiyan Blue requires training with a deity, the Super Saiyan Rose is for a Saiyan of divine status.
Super Saiyan White
The Super Saiyan White form is dubbed the pinnacle of the Super Saiyan transformation. The requisite for this type of Saiyan transformation is that the user must have mastered the Super Saiyan God first. Goku and Vegeta mastered this form under the guidance of Whis, the God of Destruction’s attendant.
Super Saiyan A-Type
This type of Saiyan transformation is a bit different. Rather than an upgrade, the Super Saiyan A-Type is a result of an incomplete Super Saiyan transformation. The known sole user of this transformation is Broly, who had a control ring put around his head. However, this form was enough for him to go toe-to-toe with Goku.
Super Saiyan C-Type
Despite having a similar name to the A-Type Saiyan transformation, the C-Type is much stronger. It’s closer to the original Super Saiyan transformation, although it evolved from a different branch. The most noticeable trait of this type of Saiyan transformation is the increase in speed.
Vegeta’s Ultra Ego
The Super Saiyan transformations often depend on the user’s state of emotion. However, this one adds another mental aspect. The Ultra Ego is a type of Saiyan transformation that can only be achieved when the user puts their mind on one thing: destruction. Vegeta used this form by combining the power of the Ultra Ego ability and the Power of Destruction.
Ultimate Form
The Ultimate Form is a type of Saiyan transformation that brings out the user’s latent potential to the maximum level. Surprisingly, it’s not exclusive to pure-blooded Saiyans. In fact, the most well-known user of this form is Gohan, who’s a half-breed Saiyan himself.
Gohan Beast
Lastly, the advanced form of the Ultimate state is the Beast form. It’s exclusive to Gohan and brings out even more immense power for him while he’s in this state. This is by far his strongest form. Gohan owed Piccolo for teaching him this form. Piccolo guided Gohan in controlling his power. As a result, Gohan could access this power anytime he wanted.
Conclusion
There are so many types of Super Saiyan transformations in the Dragon Ball series. It might be one of the most diverse power systems in anime. Considering how long-lasting the title is, Dragon Ball certainly hit the spot when it comes to action anime.
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