One thing that's special about Dragon Ball is that it keeps on going. It will always introduce newer and stronger villains, and the protagonists will require new transformations to stop them. There comes a time when the heroes' power levels reach ridiculous heights and the fun starts to fade, but Dragon Ball proves to be the exception. Dragon Ball remains one of the few series that executes new transformations in an exciting manner.
The novelty never wears off, no matter how many new transformations appear. While the epic moments that follow a transformation's debut help cement the form's legendary status, its design plays a significant role as well. With each new Saiyan transformation comes wackier hairstyles and, more recently, new colors. Even the most basic Saiyan transformations still look awesome, and each has left a big impression on viewers.
Updated on September 4, 2022, by Michael Colwander: Saiyans are the gift that keeps on giving in Dragon Ball. While Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan are discovering new forms outside of their Saiyan race, several awesome-looking Saiyan transformations have already been established.
15 Super Saiyan Second Grade Adds Some Bulk
Super Saiyan Second Grade is the enhanced form of Super Saiyan. It was first achieved by Vegeta and Trunks after some harsh training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Later, Goku achieved this form. However, Goku notes that while this form proved stronger, it sacrifices speed.
Super Saiyan Second Grade hardly changes the user's appearance, aside from making their hair more pointy and increasing their muscle mass. Super Saiyan Second Grade is best remembered from Vegeta's fight against Cell, which includes the most epic Final Flash in the Dragon Ball series.
14 Super Saiyan Third Grade Sacrifices Even More Speed
Future Trunks surpassed his father during their time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, unlocking a completely new form. Super Saiyan Third Grade rarely made an appearance because it exponentially reduced the user's speed. The greater strength proved useless if the user couldn't land a single punch.
Future Trunks learned that the hard way during his fight against Cell. Although Future Trunks briefly showed off this form during his spar against Vegeta in Dragon Ball Super, he primarily used it as a trick to catch Vegeta off guard. Buffing the user's body, Trunks' initial transformation looked epic despite Super Saiyan Third Grade being a more useless transformation.
13 Super Saiyan 3 Took The Super Saiyan Design Further Beyond Its Limits
For Super Saiyan 3, the animation team got really creative. They gave Goku excessively long golden hair that reached his back and did away with his eyebrows. Goku also gained more muscle mass. First introduced during Goku's battle against Majin Buu, the memorable transformation sequence involved a painful amount of screaming and the entirety of Planet Earth shook to its core.
As a Super Saiyan 3, the user looks like a completely different person, for better and for worse. Super Saiyan 3 looks good and has proven useful, but newer and more powerful forms quickly replaced it and Vegeta bypassed it entirely.
12 Oozaru Is A Saiyan At Their Most Primal
One of the biggest things that separates a Saiyan from a human is the ability to transform into an Oozaru, or Great Ape. A Saiyan can only transform into an Oozaru by looking at a moon or being exposed to enough Blutz waves. The former requires a Saiyan to still have their tail.
Design-wise, Oozarus are giant monkeys. There's nothing flashy about their designs other than the fact Saiyan armor can stretch out big enough to keep the Saiyan clothed in this form. Illogical clothes physics aside, the kaiju-sized Oozarus look terrifying no matter when they appear throughout the Dragon Ball franchise.
11 Golden Oozaru Is The Super Saiyan Form Of An Oozaru
A Golden Oozaru is one of the most recognizable sights in Dragon Ball GT, thanks to Baby. A parasite created by the Tuffles in an act of revenge on the Saiyans, Baby infects Vegeta and takes over his body. With the help of an infected Bulma, Baby achieves the monstrous Golden Oozaru form.
The Golden Oozaru features a design similar to the base Oozaru. The only difference is that its fur is golden. Since the Golden Oozaru is the Super Saiyan form of an Oozaru, the form stands out compared to the traditional Oozaru.
10 Super Saiyan Rage Is A Better Version Of Super Saiyan Third Grade
Only Future Trunks achieved Super Saiyan Rage. The path to unlocking was unknown and required an immense amount of rage. Future Trunks achieved Super Saiyan Rage while holding back Goku Black and Zamasu, allowing Goku and Vegeta to flee back to the past. Super Saiyan Rage surrounded Future Trunks with both yellow and blue aura accompanied by electricity.
Future Trunks' hair became longer and spikier, much like Super Saiyan 2. Future Trunks' pupils were initially absent in Super Saiyan Rage, but they later returned in subsequent transformations. In a transformation cementing one of his most iconic moments, Future Trunks' Super Saiyan Third Grade transformation gave him the power and speed to keep up with his godly adversaries.
9 Super Saiyan God Took Saiyans To Godly Heights
Dragon Ball made its grand return after decades of dormancy via the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods film. Super Saiyan God proved unlike any other Saiyan transformation, and it required a ritual with six pure-hearted Saiyans.
The Super Saiyan God user's hair mirrors the shape from the Saiyan's base form but includes a slight raise. The hair color changes to red, while the aura appears fire-like in color and design. In terms of power and design, this Saiyan transformation surpasses all those that have come before it.
8 Legendary Super Saiyan (Controlled) Is The Best Of Both Worlds
One of the best parts about Dragon Ball Super is the introduction of new universes. The universe fans are most accustomed to, Universe 7, has a sibling universe in Universe 6. Universe 6 boasts its own Saiyan race that's flourished and evolved to great heights. One of those Saiyans is Kale. While timid at first, Kale's transformation helps her reach the Legendary Super Saiyan form akin to Broly.
During the Tournament of Power, Kale learns to control her Legendary Super Saiyan form and push it to a Super Saiyan 2-like transformation. The controlled form of a Legendary Super Saiyan keeps the green hair, but its user remains in full control of their actions, making for an awesome take on the traditional Super Saiyan forms.
7 Super Saiyan Blue Is Dragon Ball Super's Flagship Transformation
In the sequel to Battle of the Gods, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F,' Goku reaches a greater form of Super Saiyan God. Since Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan is a mouthful of a name, it's more frequently referred to as Super Saiyan Blue.
As its name suggests, Super Saiyan Blue turned the user's hair color blue and caused it to stand up, similar to the standard Super Saiyan transformation. Goku implemented his Kaio-ken technique into Super Saiyan Blue, leading to Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken, which added a red aura on top of blue.
6 Super Saiyan Blue Evolution Is A Cooler Version Of Super Saiyan Blue
So far, only Vegeta proved capable of achieving Super Saiyan Blue Evolution. In the Tournament of Power, Vegeta realized Goku and Jiren outmatched his power. Knowing that it's his only hope of reviving the erased Universe 6, Vegeta dug deep and reached Super Saiyan Blue Evolution.
Vegeta's hair become shinier and crystal-like while in Super Saiyan Blue Evolution. Hi hair and aura shifted to a darker shade of blue, and his aura included a sparkle effect. This darker shade of blue made for a welcomed change from the standard Super Saiyan Blue, which trended more closely to turquoise than blue in most appearances.
5 Super Saiyan 2 Made The Most Out Of Its Debut Appearance
Gohan's potential has long been the subject of discussion, both in and out of the Dragon Ball universe, ever since he debuted during the Saiyan saga. Gohan showed flashes of that potential but would often fall short. That potential finally exploded into the Super Saiyan 2 form after Gohan witnessed the death of Android 16.
A Super Saiyan 2 user's hair became more raised compared to the standard Super Saiyan, and it took on a spikier shape. Unlike other Super Saiyan forms, the user's muscle mass got slimmed down, yielding far greater speed. Super Saiyan 2 was quickly surpassed during the Buu saga, but Gohan's first transformation to this form remained one of the best moments in Dragon Ball. It's no wonder why Gohan's newest transformation drew from Super Saiyan 2.
4 Super Saiyan 4 Utilizes Saiyan Lore In Its Design
If there's any Saiyan transformation that promotes a wide range of opinions, it's Super Saiyan 4. The Super Saiyan 4 transformation occurs when a Saiyan gains control of their Golden Oozaru form and channels it. This transformation boasts a unique design compared to other Super Saiyan forms. The Saiyan's hair remains their natural color as opposed to golden, the exception being Gogeta, whose hair becomes red.
Super Dragon Ball Heroes introduced the Super Full Power Saiyan 4 Limit Breaker form, which gave other Super Saiyan 4 users red hair as well. Super Saiyan 4 users also had red fur throughout their bodies. Many fans loved Super Saiyan 4 and felt it catered to Saiyan lore by including elements of their Oozaru form.
3 Super Saiyan Is The Most Iconic Transformation In Dragon Ball
Changing Dragon Ball forever, Super Saiyan was initially believed to be a legend. However, Goku achieved this form after Frieza killed his friend, Krillin. Electricity ripped through the sky and Goku's hair turned yellow until he began emitting the iconic Super Saiyan aura.
Super Saiyan isn't as flashy as later Saiyan transformations, but it remains a fan favorite, especially since it appeared long before Saiyan transformations incorporated new hair lengths and colors. Super Saiyan is still Goku's go-to form when testing the limits of a new opponent, even though other transformations have far outclassed its power.
2 Fans Love Legendary Super Saiyan So Much, It Keeps Coming Back
Broly became one of the most loved and hated characters in all of Dragon Ball. While fans embraced his Legendary Super Saiyan transformation, many felt Broly brought little beyond that. Dragon Ball Super: Broly not only introduced Broly to canon, but gave him a new backstory. The reception to this new Broly was far more positive, making his Legendary Super Saiyan transformation even better.
For both Broly and Kale, the Legendary Super Saiyan combined its iconic green color with massive muscle mass and an uncontrollable, primal rage. Any Saiyan using this Legendary Super Saiyan transformation became downright frightening, and few Saiyan transformations came close to looking as powerful.
1 Super Saiyan Rosé Is A Contrast Of Both Color And Nature
How a character gets introduced goes a long way to determining how much the Dragon Ball fanbase loves that character. Goku Black made one of the most memorable introductions to date in Dragon Ball Super after a build-up that included killing Future Bulma, leading to the shocking reveal of an evil Goku.
Known as Goku Black, Zamasu seized Goku's body and had a powerful base form. Utilizing his true god ki, Goku Black reached a unique Super Saiyan transformation: Super Saiyan Rosé. This transformation proved a marvelous and intimidating transformation befitting of the elegant Saiyan-God Goku Black. The contrast between the Rosé hair and Goku Black's dark clothing made for one of Dragon Ball's best villain designs and an amazing Saiyan transformation.
