Highlights
- Great Ape Form: Inefficient due to difficulty in controlling and mastering.
- Super Saiyan Grade 2 & 3: Inefficient due to increased bulkiness and reduced speed.
- Ultra Instinct Sign: Inefficient due to high energy consumption and lack of offense.
Transformations in the Dragon Ball franchise are some of the most iconic in the entire anime industry. Since each new arc of the series introduces a tougher hurdle for the heroes to overcome, they usually end up doing so after achieving a brand-new transformation that is powerful enough to stand on equal terms with these stronger enemies. Due to this formula, transformations have become some of the series’ most recognizable aspects.
However, not all forms are equal. Throughout the Dragon Ball franchise, many forms have often been introduced that have made quite a sizable sacrifice in one area to greatly bolster their performance in another. Either this or they just have such a huge energy requirement that they cannot be sustainably used. So, let’s take a look at the most inefficient transformations in the series.
The Great Ape Form
|
First Appearance |
Dragon Ball, Episode 12, “A Wish to the Eternal Dragon” |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Emperor Pilaf Saga |
|
Notable Users |
Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Bardock, Nappa |
The Great Ape transformation is surely the calling card of the Saiyan race. Upon looking at a full moon, the Saiyans can transform into gigantic apes, greatly augmenting their already incredible physical strength. Over the years, this form has faded into irrelevance due to the Saiyans getting their Super Saiyan forms, which lets them retain the strength and resilience of the Great Ape form without having to give up their speed and agility.
Bear witness to the ultimate power of the Saiyans Kakarot: The Giant Ape! Destroyer of planets!
Why is it inefficient?
While this seems to be the perfect trump card in the arsenal of every Saiyan warrior, Vegeta is the only Saiyan who has been shown to control the form masterfully, even speaking in it. Many believe that in canon, this form can only be used properly the more it is trained. Though anyone can reach this level of mastery, it is incredibly difficult, since every person to awaken this form for the first time is no better than a destructive beast.
Super Saiyan Grade 2
|
First Appearance |
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 155, “Super Vegeta” |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Cell Saga |
|
Notable Users |
Vegeta |
After his defeat at the hands of Android 18, despite being a Super Saiyan, Vegeta understood that he needed to get even stronger, which he did after achieving Grade 2 of Super Saiyan. This was a bulkier form of the iconic transformation that increased Vegeta’s strength significantly. He was not only far stronger than Android 18 and his previous Super Saiyan form, but he was also far more powerful than Android 17-absorbed Cell. Though weaker than Perfect Cell by a considerable margin, Super Vegeta’s Final Flash almost wiped him out.
There is a level beyond that of a Super Saiyan… And I will rise to claim it.
Why is it inefficient?
Upon learning that he had to get stronger, Vegeta trained with Trunks in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. This resulted in a form that was far stronger than the regular Super Saiyan in terms of physical might. However, due to its bulkier appearance and growth in muscle mass, Vegeta was quite slow. This led it to be an incomplete form that was very powerful but was overshadowed by Perfect Cell’s superior speed.
Super Saiyan Grade 3
|
First Appearance |
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 162, “Trunks Ascends” |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Cell Saga |
|
Notable Users |
Trunks, Goku |
Just like his father’s form, Super Saiyan Grade 3 is another one that greatly increases the strength of the user. More than just the far bulkier appearance this time around, Grade 3 makes the hair even spikier and the muscles so massive that it takes a similar appearance to Broly’s Legendary Super Saiyan, though still smaller. The strength of this form is so incredible that Cell even admitted that Trunks’ power output was greater than his in their fight.
These bulky muscles are also gonna make it hard to move very fast, and against a monster like Cell, I can’t afford to lose a step.
Why is it inefficient?
Any criticism that can be made for Super Saiyan Grade 2 can be doubled for this form. This is because the user of Grade 3 is made even bulkier, to the point of it being almost comical. This increase in size, while greatly increasing the users’ strength, makes them so slow that they can’t really do much against an opponent, making their strength effectively useless. Though his physical might was more than that of Perfect Cell, Trunks’ lack of speed still led to his defeat.
Super Saiyan 3
|
First Appearance |
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 245, “Super Saiyan 3?!” |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Buu Saga |
|
Notable Users |
Goku, Gotenks |
Super Saiyan 3 is the pinnacle of strength that can be reached while following the traditional line of Super Saiyan transformations. The strength of this form is incredible, as it proved to not only outclass regular Majin Buu, but was also able to fight equally against Kid Buu, who is the most dangerous form of the villain. The form has been used since then as sort of a trump card in Goku and Gotenk’s repertoire before Dragon Ball Super.
And this… is to go… EVEN FURTHER BEYOND!
Why is it inefficient?
While Super Saiyan 3 doesn’t suffer from the slowness imposed upon Super Saiyan Grades 2 and 3 and retains physical strength even greater than theirs, its true issue comes with its energy consumption. Since this is an incredibly powerful and taxing transformation, Super Saiyan 3 consumes a lot of energy from the user, which makes it impractical for a lengthy fight. This was the reason why Goku didn’t use it in a fight during the Tournament of Power.
Ultra Instinct Sign
|
First Appearance |
Dragon Ball Super, Episode 110, “Goku Enkindled! The Awakened One’s New Ultra Instinct!” |
|---|---|
|
Story Arc |
Universe Survival Saga |
|
Notable Users |
Goku |
From the very start of the Dragon Ball Super series, there had been minor hints about the nature of Ultra Instinct. However, it wasn’t until the latest arc of the anime, during the Tournament of Power, that Goku would finally awaken his version of the form, starting with the incomplete Ultra Instinct Sign. This form was complete with the defensive aspects of the Angel’s technique and proved to be too much for anyone other than Jiren to handle.
As strong as he’s become, it seems Goku is not done improving!
Why is it inefficient?
Much like with Super Saiyan 3, the main area where this form falters is its energy consumption. Because of the incredible toll it puts on the user, this is a very intensive form that burns through a lot of Goku’s energy and while it has the complete defensive aspects of Ultra Instinct, it still lacks on the offensive front. This was shown when the attacks that Goku used in this form simply didn’t have the sufficient amount of power in them.
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