Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has become a celebrated, evergreen classic for many reasons, but it’s hard to deny the cathartic appeal of a powerful Super Saiyan transformation. Super Saiyans helped elevate Dragon Ball’s storytelling and action to unprecedented heights. Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and most of Dragon Ball’s Saiyans accomplish remarkable feats that would otherwise have been impossible without turning Super Saiyan.
The Super Saiyan transformation is initially treated as a momentous milestone, but it’s become increasingly common and there are countless stronger Super Saiyan stages at this point. Super Saiyan transformations are still some of Dragon Ball’s most popular and powerful forms, but Dragon Ball Super seriously leveled the playing field with powerful new forms that put golden (and multi-colored) hair to shame!
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10
Evil Third Eye Giant Gomah Nearly Destroys The Entire Demon Realm
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball DAIMA, Episode 16, “Degesu”; Manga Debut: N/A
Dragon Ball DAIMA teases multiple villains before the final threat emerges. Supreme Demon King Gomah acquires the Evil Third Eye, which triggers a revelatory transformation that’s one of Dragon Ball’s most extreme power boosts. Gomah transforms from a helpless tyrant to a gigantic juggernaut who is seemingly invincible. Evil Third Eye Giant Gomah collectively takes on all of DAIMA’s heroes, which includes Majin Kuu, Majin Duu, Tamagami Number One, Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta and Super Saiyan 4 Goku.
The heroes still fall short against Giant Gomah, who continues to retaliate with even stronger attacks and more durable defense. Super Saiyan 4 Goku blasts a giant hole through Gomah’s abdomen and he’s ultimately no worse for wear. Not only does Gomah’s Evil Third Eye Giant transformation trump most Super Saiyan forms, but it seems like it’s stronger than most forms in general.
9
Black Frieza Took Out Goku & Vegeta’s Strongest Forms With One Blow
Anime Debut: N/A; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 87, “The Universe’s Strongest Appears”‘
Frieza has always been one of Dragon Ball’s most persistent villains and he only becomes more committed to chaos in Dragon Ball Super. An unexpected resurrection sets Frieza up for success and he confidently shows off his Golden Frieza form. Golden Frieza is incredibly powerful, but it’s still inferior to Super Saiyan Blue. That being said, Frieza’s latest power boost is the result of the equivalent of a decade of dedicated training in a Hyperbolic Time Chamber-like pocket dimension.
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Frieza becomes Black Frieza, the most powerful being in Universe 7, who kills Gas’ with a single punch. Black Frieza also casually neutralizes both Ultra Ego Vegeta and Ultra Instinct Goku. If Black Frieza can do this much damage to these superior forms, then there’s no chance that a Super Saiyan would be able to make any headway against him. Black Frieza is operating on a whole other level of strength that’s going to require the combined efforts of Gohan Beast, Ultra Instinct Goku, Ultra Ego Vegeta, Orange Piccolo, and Legendary Super Saiyan Broly.
8
Ultra Instinct Gives Goku Power On Par With Angels
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 129, “A Transcendent Limit Break! Autonomous Ultra Instinct Mastered!”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 41, “Ultra Instinct”
Goku has been a Super Saiyan trailblazer ever since he first discovered the transformation. Goku is often one of the first characters to access new Super Saiyan forms, but the second-half of Dragon Ball Super features Goku heading down a different path with his power. Goku accidentally triggers Ultra Instinct during the Tournament of Power, which quickly trumps any version of Super Saiyan. It’s not easy, but Goku gradually masters Perfected Ultra Instinct, becomes connected with his body, and learns how to pilot giant energy avatars.
Goku finally develops True Ultra Instinct, which retains the transformation’s power, speed, and intuition, but it still allows him to access his emotions. It’s no coincidence that Ultra Instinct has essentially replaced Super Saiyan forms for Goku. It’s very unlikely that most Super Saiyan forms would be able to retaliate against Perfected Ultra Instinct Goku. Super Saiyan 2 Kefla holds her own against Ultra Instinct Goku, but she doesn’t win and this is still at an incredibly early point in Goku’s Ultra Instinct mastery.
7
Cell Max Is The Red Ribbon Army’s Ultimate Killing Machine
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Movie 2, “Super Hero”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 89, “A Rival Appears!”
Dragon Ball loves to figure out powerful ways to weaponize nostalgia and there have been plenty of opportunities where former foes return, only with new forms and techniques at their disposal that make them stronger than ever. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero curiously brings back Red Ribbon, who have devised a new version of Cell – Cell Max – as their ultimate weapon. Admittedly, Cell Max isn’t a new form of the original Cell. Instead, it’s a new creation that’s crafted from Dr. Gero’s Cell blueprints.
Cell Max still functions like an upgraded version of a familiar threat. Goku and Vegeta aren’t around for this adventure, but Cell Max’s strength is so incredible that it easily trumps Piccolo, Super Saiyan Gohan, Android 18, and Gotenks. It’s only after Piccolo and Gohan respectively ascend to Orange and Beast status that they’re able to turn the tides against Cell Max. A Saiyan technically defeats Cell Max, but Gohan Beast isn’t a Super Saiyan variation. Cell Max completely dominates against any Super Saiyans that he encounters.
6
Fused Zamasu Nearly Brings His Apocalyptic Plan To Fruition
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 64, “Worship Me! Give Praise Unto Me! The Explosive Birth Of A Merged Zamasu!”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 22, “Zamas’s Final Trump Card”
Dragon Ball Super taps into something special when it comes to its grander Goku Black mystery and the true identity of this evil enemy duplicate. Zamasu uses the Super Dragon Balls to steal Goku’s body and then he teams up with a future version of himself to enact a comprehensive revenge plan that’s supposed to culminate in the eradication of all mortals. Goku Black and Future Zamasu get pushed into a corner and decide to use the Potara Earrings to pool together their strength and skills and become Fused Zamasu.
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Fused Zamasu is part immortal and a threat even too much for the likes of Vegito Blue. Super Saiyan Rage Future Trunks, combined with the Sword of Hope technique, seemingly destroys Fused Zamasu. This still isn’t enough and Fused Zamasu’s immortality causes the villain to metastasize into Infinite Zamasu. Goku Black and Future Zamasu weren’t able to counter Super Saiyan Blue on their own, but as Fused Zamasu they have the upper hand.
5
Inner Nature Unleashed Gas Was Too Strong For Ultra Instinct & Ultra Ego Combined
Anime Debut: N/A; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 80, “Gas Vs. Granolah, Part 2”
Dragon Ball Super’s Granolah the Survivor Saga begins with the surviving Cerealian, Granolah, as the central threat. However, it soon comes to light that Goku and Vegeta aren’t truly Granolah’s enemies and that it’s the duplicitous Heeter Force who has been pulling the strings. Elec uses a Dragon Ball wish to make Gas the strongest being in Universe 7, which results in a cataclysmic transformation.
Gas removes his power inhibitor and experiences the full brunt of his power – Inner Nature Unleashed – which turns him into a wild, ravenous fighter. Eventually, Gas learns how to restrain and channel this power, at which point he ascends to his Awakened Form. Awakened Gas is stronger, but even Inner Nature Unleashed Gas successfully wages war on Ultra Ego Vegeta, Ultra Instinct Goku, and Full-Power Granolah. It’s clearly a form that’s capable of tearing through Super Saiyans and appears to be even more extreme than Legendary Super Saiyan Broly or Super Full Power Jiren
4
Anilaza Is A Fused Powerhouse & Universe 3’s Strongest Fighter
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 121, “All-Out War! The Ultimate Four-Fold Union Vs. The 7th Universe’s Total Offensive!”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 38, “Universe 6’s Last Resort”
Dragon Ball expresses unique forms in different ways and there are occasions where prolific fusions have even more drastic results than a Super Saiyan transformation. Fusion is a risky gambit during the Tournament of Power, but it’s something Universe 3 goes all-in on in order to dominate the competition. Anilaza is the end result of a daisy chain of fusions that turns many of the universe’s mechanical fighters into an enormous biological Android.
Anilaza doesn’t get enough credit for how much damage he does during the Tournament of Power. He’s strong enough to overpower Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta, Ultimate Gohan, True Golden Frieza, and Android 17. Universe 7 narrowly identifies Anilaza’s power reactor and attacks his weak spot, otherwise Universe 3 might have won the competition. Anilaza excels against Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta during this encounter.
3
Orange Piccolo Finally Puts The Namekian On Par With Dragon Ball’s Strongest Saiyans
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Movie 2, “Super Hero”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 95, “The Ultimate Teacher And Pupil”
Piccolo has always been one of Dragon Ball’s most important characters, but he’s struggled to stay relevant when faced with ever-growing Super Saiyan strength. Piccolo has managed to boost his powers through Namekian fusion, but this isn’t the same as a temporary transformation that he can shift and out of during battle. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero gives Piccolo a long-overdue upgrade when he makes a request to Shenron to have his potential unlocked. Piccolo becomes more powerful, but he experiences an intimidating transformation that he names “Orange Piccolo.”
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Orange Piccolo represents peak Namekian power and it will be exciting to see how he takes advantage of this new form during future Dragon Ball Super stories. Orange Piccolo may be relatively on par with Gohan Beast, Ultra Instinct, and Ultra Ego. However, it’s leagues stronger than any of the typical Super Saiyan transformations, including Super Saiyan Blue Evolved or Blue Kaio-Ken. If nothing else, it’s gratifying to learn that Namekians do have access to forms that can humble Super Saiyans.
2
Ultra Ego Vegeta Plays To Vegeta’s Strengths Perfectly
Anime Debut: N/A; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 74, “Vegeta Vs. Granolah”
Vegeta is one of Dragon Ball’s deepest characters and experiences some enlightening clarity in Dragon Ball Super when he realizes he doesn’t need to blindly copy Goku’s accomplishments. Vegeta is jealous of Ultra Instinct Goku, but he quickly recognizes the transformation’s mechanics aren’t natural to him. Instead, Vegeta develops Ultra Ego, a vicious form that takes advantage of his aggressive, stubborn nature.
Ultra Ego actively takes pain and abuse and channels it into greater strength. It’s a dangerous, volatile form, but one that Vegeta understands how to maximize and turn into a worthy counterpoint to Ultra Instinct. Ultra Ego Vegeta also possesses many God of Destruction-level powers, like Hakai and Beerus’ Sphere of Destruction. There is no hope that a Super Saiyan would be able to come out victorious against Ultra Ego.
1
Gohan Beast Finally Helps Him Reach His Full Potential
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Movie 2, “Super Hero”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 99, “Son Gohan’s Ultimate Awakening!”
Gohan’s incredible potential has been teased as early as Dragon Ball Z‘s first episode and it’s been extremely satisfying to finally watch him realize his destiny. Super Saiyan 2 Gohan and Ultimate upgrade were both triumphant moments, but they pale in comparison to the raw strength he receives against Cell Max when he enters Beast mode.
Gohan Beast is the evolved form of his Ultimate upgrade and it’s an angry, temperamental process which requires Gohan to be pushed to his breaking point. Gohan Beast destroys Cell Max and humbles Ultra Instinct Goku, Vegeta, and Broly during a friendly sparring session. Everything indicates that Gohan Beast is Dragon Ball Super‘s strongest hero, which means that this unique form is much stronger than any Super Saiyan variation.
- Created by
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Akira Toriyama
- First Film
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Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Latest Film
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Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Summary
Dragon Ball is the labor of writer/illustrator Akira Toriyama, beginning with Dragon Ball back in 1984. The series originally started as a serialized manga back in Weekly Shonen Jump for nearly a decade until it expanded into the anime franchises it is most known for today. Dragon Ball was later adapted into two animes, with one being Dragon Ball Z, the most universally known series in the entire Dragon Ball canon. The franchise has continued to expand lore via films, video games, and additional sequel TV series, such as the more recent Dragon Ball Super and Super Dragon Ball Heroes. Dragon Ball centers mostly around Son Goku, a being known as a Saiyan, and his friends as they face off against intergalactic threats and seek out the titular dragon balls. When all seven of these balls are collected, they can be used to summon a legendary dragon that can grant the wishes of whoever so gathers them. The Dragon Ball franchise continues to be one of the most well-known and beloved animes of all time, with over forty different countries airing it, and has had a tremendous impact on Western culture as a whole.
