Two decades ago, the Super Saiyan form reigned supreme. Today, however, it barely touches the surface of a Saiyan’s power. In Dragon Ball‘s storied history, many Saiyans and Saiyan-like beings have reached higher, more powerful levels. They have even surpassed the traditional Super Saiyan.
Nearly all Super Saiyan forms are massive leaps in both raw power and combat talent. The real importance often lies in the new arrival of features and how these godly abilities guide the respective Saiyan. This is particularly measured in encounters against some of Goku’s most formidable adversaries. It’s time for both casual and longtime fans to review once more just what exactly is meant by Super Saiyan level.
True Ultra Instinct
Goku discovered “True Ultra Instinct” in the Dragon Ball Super manga. Unlike Perfected Ultra Instinct, this state evolved from uncontrolled emotions, not reined in but harnessed to achieve ultimate power. Its distinctive feature includes silver highlights in Goku’s hair. Deployed against Gas, the universe’s strongest warrior due to a wish on the Dragon Balls, this form was developed by Goku. Despite its power, it couldn’t match Black Frieza and led to Goku’s swift defeat.
Super Saiyan Blue
Super Saiyan Blue, also known as Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, simplifies things. Similar in appearance to the Super Saiyan transformation but with blue hair, it debuted when Goku fought Golden Frieza. This transformation became the flagship of Dragon Ball Super. Some fans see it as the pinnacle of Goku’s transformations due to its simplicity, power, and remarkable coolness.
Ultra Ego
The exclusive Ultra Ego transformation, currently unique to Vegeta in the Dragon Ball Super manga, represents the power of the gods of destruction. A divergence from Goku’s path with Ultra Instinct, Ultra Ego’s unique trait is the power boost received by the user as they take more damage. However, this comes at the cost of enduring significant hits to achieve maximum power, a drawback that nearly incapacitated Vegeta upon its first use.
Super Saiyan God
Goku’s Super Saiyan God form allowed him to match the legendary God of Destruction, Beerus. Achievable only through the unity of pure-hearted Saiyans, this form empowers Goku beyond prior limitations. Although rare after the initial fight with Beerus, it made a comeback in Dragon Ball Super and the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie, where Vegeta also embraced this transformation.
Perfected Ultra Instinct
As the most potent form a Saiyan has achieved in the anime, Perfected Ultra Instinct closes out Dragon Ball Super. In this form, Goku’s hair and eyes turn entirely gray, elevating his power level significantly. However, maintaining the form for too long can cause his body to explode. This Autonomous Ultra Instinct possesses power surpassing even Dragon Ball Super’s Gods of Destruction. Goku demonstrates exceptional prowess in this form, even wielding the “Susanoo” technique in the manga.
The evolution of Goku’s Super Saiyan forms throughout Dragon Ball’s extensive story arc shows a variety of power, from the iconic Super Saiyan to the awe-inspiring Perfected Ultra Instinct. Each transformation represents not just an escalation in strength but also a pivotal moment in Goku’s journey, defining his battles against formidable adversaries and showing the depth of Saiyan powers. As Dragon Ball continues its legacy, the anticipation for new, epic transformations remains high, adding further findings and never seen before Saiyan power.
