Super Saiyan's are nothing short of majestic, and it's these transformations that have saved the Z-fighters time and time again. It was previously believed that a Saiyan transforms out of a need. On the contrary, a Saiyan must have the required S-Cells to make its ascent. Yamoshi, an ancient Saiyan, was the first person to achieve this feat according to Saiyan folklore. This Saiyan was so powerful that he consumed himself in a blinding rage.
Whether you play the games, watch the movies, or binge the television series, Super Saiyans have a meaningful impact on Dragon Ball. We've seen some mind-boggling Super Saiyan forms over the years. There is seemingly no limit to the number of transformations a Saiyan can have. This is ranking the 10 most epic Super Saiyans. Enjoy!
Updated February 25, 2020 by Renan Fontes: Although the Dragon Ball Super anime seems further and further away with each passing day, Dragon Ball nonetheless entered the new decade with focus. Kakarot released in January, sparking re-interest in Dragon Ball Z as a narrative, and Fighterz third season was recently announced, keeping the video game side of things healthier than ever. As far as the main story goes, there’s the manga adaptation of Dragon Ball Super. With the Moro arc reaching its climax and Goku on the cusp of mastering Ultra Instinct, this may be one of the last times in modern Dragon Ball where the Super Saiyan form is narratively relevant.
15 Super Saiyan Gohan
What’s truly “epic” about Gohan’s debut as a Super Saiyan is just how casual it is. Even from a storytelling perspective, Toriyama has structured events so that readers will likely be focusing more on Goku. Gohan is meant to be an afterthought, but every now and then he comments on his father’s power, unsure of why Goku is “holding back.”
In truth, Super Saiyan Gohan is so far above everyone else in the cast that Goku fighting at his absolute best isn’t even a blip on Gohan’s radar. Super Saiyan 2 immediately ends up overshadowing Super Saiyan 1 for Gohan, but it’s still worth pointing out how crazy powerful Gohan was with just one transformation.
14 Super Saiyan God Vegeta
Dragon Ball Super rather curiously skipped showing Vegeta attaining or even using Super Saiyan God early on. Resurrection F and both the anime & manga simply act like Super Saiyan God’s time has come and gone. Interestingly, however, the manga featured Vegeta using Super Saiyan God during the Goku Black arc.
By using SSG as his base form, Vegeta can circumvent Super Saiyan Blue’s stamina issues (only in the manga,) by triggering SSB just when he’s attacking Goku Black. Vegeta is able to overwhelm the opposition by using Super Saiyan God in an incredibly creative way. That Vegeta uses SSG again in Broly is the just cherry on top.
13 Super Saiyan 2 Goku
Super Saiyan 2 Goku doesn’t do too much in the grand scheme of things, mainly by virtue of only existing within the Buu arc (as far as the original series goes.) That said, Goku’s Super Saiyan 2 is still one of the slicker SSJ designs. His single bang and his spikier hair keep the Super Saiyan spirit intact while giving it a considerable edge.
Super Saiyan 2 isn’t as extreme as Goku’s Super Saiyan 3, and the anime even includes a filler section near the end of the arc where Goku fights Kid Buu in SSJ2. It’s arguably the single best filler fight in Dragon Ball Z and one of the highlights of the anime’s Buu arc.
12 Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken Goku
For as much fanfare and buildup the Kaioken is given in the Saiyan arc, Toriyama throws it out the window the moment Goku gains access to Super Saiyan. It isn’t even mentioned again in the manga, leaving the anime to weave it back into Goku’s skillset briefly after he dies in the Cell Games. Interestingly, the Super anime followed suit while the manga didn’t.
Where Goku simply uses Super Saiyan Blue to overpower Hit in the manga, he instead chooses to mix Super Saiyan Blue with Kaioken in the anime, giving him an overwhelming edge. This becomes one of Goku’s main trump cards in the anime adaptation. As the manga doesn’t make use of Kaioken, however, Goku instead masters Super Saiyan Blue outright.
11 Super Saiyan 2 Majin Vegeta
Vegeta’s not exactly in the best state mentally when he finds out that he and Goku won’t be having their what seems to be clandestined match in the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai. He deteriorates even worse when Goku briefly triggers Super Saiyan 2 against Yakon, confirming to Vegeta that his rival has definitely surpassed him.
Lucky for Vegeta, Bobbidi is around and chooses to possess the Prince, feeding off his negative emotions. Vegeta is too strong, however, and breaks holds of Bobbidi’s manipulation, choosing to instead goad Goku into fighting him– even if it means killing innocents. Vegeta comes around eventually, but SSJ2 Majin Vegeta is quite the beast.
10 Super Saiyan Blue Vegito
Super Saiyan Blue, also referred to as "Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (there is a difference between Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan), is one of Vegito's most powerful forms.
In Dragon Ball Super, the Vegito fusion is made possible with Potara earrings. This form may be the most complex yet because unlike other forms that occur naturally, Super Saiyan Blue has extensive requirements. In addition to fusing, both users must train vigorously and absorb the powers of a god.
9 Super Saiyan Future Trunks
Trunks from the future is different from the Trunks in Dragon Balls Z's regular timeline. Future Trunks has a despairing outlook and has a lower power level. We witnessed Future Trunks' power when he defeated Mecha Frieza, and later when he tested it on Goku.
In the future, where Androids roam the Earth, Trunks is one of the few survivors (similar to the plot the Terminator movies). Dragon Ball Z kind of ripped-off the Terminator films, but the series is amazing regardless.
8 Super Saiyan Rosé Goku
Super Saiyan Rosé, or commonly referred to as "Super Saiyan Pink," made its debut appearance in the episode "Rematch with Goku Black! Enter Super Saiyan Rosé."
Super Saiyan Rosé differs in the manga since in the manga, Super Saiyan Rosé is a form of Super Saiyan God, and in the anime, Super Saiyan Rosé is the regular Super Saiyan form of Goku Black. Goku Black is Goku's evil doppelganger, who is actually Zamasu. It's confusing but a fascinating Dragon Ball form regardless.
7 Super Saiyan God Goku
Super Saiyan God appeared in both the anime and in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, which is canon in Dragon Ball Multiverse. We saw Goku take the form of Super Saiyan God in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and also in the anime when it first appeared in the episode "SOS from the Future: A Dark New Enemy Appears!"
A time limit prevents Super Saiyan God from being genuinely all-powerful. Super Saiyan God is not to be confused with Super Saiyan God Blue, but there is an obvious distinction from Super Saiyan God's red hair. Interestingly enough, at one time, Super Saiyan God was going to have a cape and a hairstyle in between Super Saiyan 3 and Super Saiyan 4.
6 Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks
Not to be mistaken for Sonic the Hedgehog, a Super Saiyan 3's hair grows longer. In actuality, the person in the above photo is nothing more than a Gotenks and Trunks fusion form of Super Saiyan 3.
Together they are the youngest fusion users to achieve the rank of Super Saiyan 3. We've learned from the Dragon Ball anime that Super Saiyan 3 has its limitations. What didn't change, however, is Goten and Trunks' rambunctious personalities.
5 Super Saiyan Blue Evolved Vegeta
To get a feel for what Super Saiyan Blue Evolved is, think of an ascended Super Saiyan Blue. Similar to the Super Saiyan Second Grade, there is a noticeable increase in muscle mass associated with the Super Saiyan Blue Evolved form.
Vegeta is one of Dragon Ball's most relentless characters, and this form is totally epic. While the anime depicts Super Saiyan Blue Evolved Vegeta as a glowing Super Saiyan Blue with darker hair, the manga shows a very different form.
4 Super Saiyan 3 Goku
We won't forget the first time we saw Goku as a Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball Z. Facing off against Babidi and Majin Buu, it was clear that Goku was outmatched. By turning into a Super Saiyan 3, he severely reduced his amount of time on Earth, but the transformation gave him the strength needed to delay Majin Buu.
Using Super Saiyan 3 reduces one's speed and stamina but dramatically increases attack power (what did you expect with that kind of hair?). For these reasons, Goku avoids using the Super Saiyan 3 form altogether.
3 Broly, The Legendary Super Saiyan
Not to be confused with the Super Saiyan from the legends, Broly the Legendary Super Saiyan is a unique form that is more powerful than a regular Super Saiyan. Born in the same hospital as Goku, Broly laid next to him while Goku cried uncontrollably. It became ingrained in Broly (who was filled with rage), that Goku was his arch-enemy.
His father could suppress Broly's anger for a short while but couldn't contain his ultimate power. If you haven't had a chance, be sure to check the Dragon Ball Super movie, Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
2 Super Saiyan Goku
Fans heard about the Super Saiyan legend, but even with foreshadowing, many were dumbfounded to see Goku transform into a Super Saiyan for the first time. The most obvious giveaway of Goku's ascent to Super Saiyan was the title of the transformation's episode, "Transformed At Last." The creators of Dragon Ball did a heck of a job spoiling the episode, but the transformation was amazing regardless.
Prior to this transformation, a Super Saiyan was a legend about a powerful Saiyan who lived over 1,000 years ago. Goku's motivation to continue growing as a fighter has allowed him to accomplish impossible feats like the first Super Saiyan form.
1 Super Saiyan 2 Gohan
For appearing in Cell Games, which is what many consider to be the most intense moment of the Dragon Ball series, Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 transformation is the most epic Super Saiyan form in existence. A Super Saiyan 2 is identifiable by a slight change in hairstyle and electric bolts.
From watching the show, we can tell that young Super Saiyans have a proclivity for being irrational. Gohan didn't listen to his father and decided to extend his fight with Cell. This erroneous move led to his father's death and almost the end of Earth.