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One of the most iconic transformations in anime history is that of the Super Saiyan fromDragon Ball Z. Golden hair, unimaginable power, and an aura of power emanating from them are all signs that the fight is getting serious.
With all sorts of forms, powerups, variations, and more on the Super Saiyan state, it can be confusing keeping them all straight. Thankfully, we compiled them all in one place so you’ll never get lost in the weaving epic that is Dragon Ball Z.
Most of what is covered here are from the main canon of Dragon Ball Z and Super. There are plenty of other Saiyans who achieve these forms, but they’re generally in the expanded universe of the series.
Goku, Vegeta
Super Sayian Rage (Anime Only)
Dragon Ball Super - ‘Zamasu’s Ambition The Storied “Project 0 Mortals” of Terror
Future Trunks
This is the type of Saiyan that everyone knows and loves.There are four primary formsthat come with the Super Saiyan Transformations, along with a number of ‘grades’ or upgraded forms included as well.
The golden form of the Super Saiyan is immediately recognizable, noting thatthe user has achieved a level of power beyond what most beings can withstand.Moving through the main transformations brings huge increases in power, but generally minor tweaks in appearance, at least up until Super Saiyan 3 and 4.
Becoming a Super Saiyan requires an immense amount of power, with the user reaching a certain threshold of power, with the transformation generallyrequiring an extreme amount of rageto trigger the change. Goku only reached this form when Krillin was killed by Frieza, while Goten was about to reach this goal almost naturally.
In Dragon Ball Super, Cabba described the feeling of transforming into a Super Saiyan as a tingling in the back. Byfocusing his energy in a single point between their shoulder blades, he could trigger the transformation.
Dragon Ball Super Chapter 20
Goku Black, Fused Zamasu
A much more difficult transformation to reach is that of the Super Saiyan God. Becoming a God requiresfive righteous Saiyansto pour their ki into a sixth member, changing the nature of their ki into divine energy.
The ritual isperformed on Goku to fight the God of Destruction Beerusin exchange for not destroying the earth. Meanwhile, Vegeta was able to reach this form organically, likely through the divine influence of Whis.
Once Super Saiyan God is achieved,users can go beyond this divine state and reach Super Saiyan Blue. This transformation is comparable to a base Saiyan achieving Super Saiyan for the first time.
Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue are the results ofmortals achieving godly power, while Super Saiyan Rose is a divine being (like Goku Black) transforming into a Super Saiyan.
Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!
Future Trunks, Goku
Not every Super Saiyan form follows the same rules andthese forms seem to exist outside the traditional Super Saiyan transformations.
The Pseudo Super Saiyan form is a fascinating look into the creative process behind the anime. Originally,this was supposed to be Goku’s first transformation into Super Saiyan,but was later retconned by series creator Akira Toriyama when he wanted to introduce the form in the main manga with a different look.
Broly is another enigma in the Super Saiyan transformation line. He is able to achieve what is called theLegendary Super Saiyan form, but the form is fundamentally different from regular Super Saiyans.
When transformed, Brolybecomes an almost mindless destructive machine, driven entirely by rage and instinct. It is theorized that this might be the true form of the myth of the Super Sayian, one that the ancient Saiyan Yamoshi served as the basis for.
Both Broly and Kale seem to befairly timid and passive in their personalities, which is an odd trait for the normally self-assured Saiyan people.
The third unique form here is theSpirit Bomb Super Saiyan. This occurs when aSuper Saiyan absorbs the energy of a Spirit Bomb, which is generated bydrawing upon the life force of every living thing around the user, often drawing from the whole planet and focusing it into an orb.
Goku’s only known use of this technique is in the Super Android 13! film, where hedraws the power into himself after creating the Spirit Bomb.
Future Trunks is able to achieve this form in the Dragon Ball Super anime in his fight against Fused Zamasu, whereevery living thing on Earth unconsciously sent their energy to himwhile he was in his Super Saiyan Rage form.
This unconscious technique causeda natural Spirit Bomb equivalent to form above Future Trunks, which he absorbed to destroy Fused Zamasu with.
Dragon Ball Super Chapter 99
Gohan
Some of the stranger transformations in the Dragon Ball Z universe aretaken on by Saiyans but remain outside the regular Super Saiyan transformation lines.
A natural state that all Saiyans with a tail can achieve is that of the Great Ape. Technically, aSaiyan with a tail must absorb 17 million units of Blutz Waves through their eyesto start the transformation, but generally, ifa Saiyan looks at a full moon at night, they trigger the change into the Great Ape.
Their body becomes massive, growing to the size of a skyscraper, with their body effectively transforming into a giant monkey. It takes tremendous training to be able to control this form, withnot all Saiyans able to restrain themselves or retain their personalities while transformed.
In Dragon Ball GT, aspecial version of this form called the Golden Great Apecan be achieved if a Saiyan with a tail can reach the Super Saiyan status. As the name states, this form has the normally brown Great Ape take on golden fur, resembling the Super Saiyan hair transformation. This step isrequired for Saiyans to reach Super Saiyan 4.
Gohan gets two more unique forms that are exclusive to him, his Ultimate, or Potential Unleashed form, and Beast. Gohan’s Ultimate form came around afterundertaking special training from Old Kai.
By entering his Ultimate state, Gohan is able toaccess the full range of his powers but does not require the Super Saiyan state. Gohan is able to break past even this state when he goes up against Cell Max, with Gohan achieving the more unhinged look, which matches the extreme amount of rage that it takes to unlock the transformation.
