One of the biggest attractions of the Dragon Ball series is the diverse transformation forms of its characters. From Super Saiyan to Frieza's transformations and Majin Buu's transformations through absorption, many transformation patterns have appeared throughout the work. This article comprehensively explains the transformation forms of main characters and introduces their features and strengths in detail. If you want to grasp the overall picture of transformation forms or compare the transformation patterns of each character, please use this as a reference.
The ultimate transformation form of the Saiyans, Super Saiyan, is the representative transformation pattern of Dragon Ball. Characterized by golden hair and green eyes, it dramatically increases combat power. This form began when Goku first awakened during the battle against Frieza and evolved through various stages thereafter. Here, we will explain each stage of Super Saiyan in detail.
The basic form of Super Saiyan is a legendary transformation that Goku first reached when his anger peaked after Krillin was killed during the battle on Namek. It is characterized by golden spiky hair, green eyes, and a golden aura enveloping the whole body, increasing combat power to 50 times that of its normal state.
The power was initially drawn out by anger, but through training, it became possible to control it freely, and other Saiyans like Vegeta, Gohan, and Trunks also reached this level. Before the Cell Games, both Goku and Gohan attained "Full Power Super Saiyan," maintaining their combat abilities while suppressing energy consumption. Super Saiyan 2 is the second transformation of the Super Saiyan that Son Gohan achieved for the first time during the Cell Games. Gohan awakened this form due to an explosion of rage after the destruction of Android 16. Its appearance is characterized by hair standing up more sharply than in the Super Saiyan form, and **lightning-like sparks occurring around it**. It is said to have double the combat power of Super Saiyan and possesses strength enough to overwhelm Perfect Cell. Later, through training, Goku and Vegeta also reached this form, and during the Buu Saga, multiple Saiyans became capable of using it. The visual differences from the Super Saiyan form are subtle, but the gap in combat power is obvious. Super Saiyan 3 is the third level of the Super Saiyan that Goku reached after rigorous training in the afterlife. It was first showcased during the Buu Saga. The most notable change is **the dramatic appearance change with the eyebrows disappearing and hair growing down to the waist**. It is said to be four times as powerful as Super Saiyan 2 and has the strength to fight evenly or better against Majin Buu. However, it has a major drawback: **the energy consumption is extremely high, and it can only be maintained for a few minutes while alive**. Thus, it is a form that is difficult to use in actual combat unless in the afterlife or when time is not limited. Gotenks also achieved this form through the power of fusion. Super Saiyan God is the transformation that reached the realm of the gods, first appearing in the movie "Battle of Gods." It was achieved by Goku for the first time through a ritual where five righteous Saiyans unite their powers. Its appearance is characterized by a slimmer physique, and **both the hair and eyes are dyed red**, exuding a divine atmosphere that differs from previous Super Saiyans. It possesses combat power sufficient to fight against Beerus, the God of Destruction, and can manipulate godly ki. While this form has a time limit, once experienced, the sensation of godly ki remains in the body, allowing the user to handle it even in their normal state.
Vegeta also independently learned this form through training with Whis later on. Super Saiyan Blue is officially called "Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan." ** It is an evolved form that combines the divine energy of Super Saiyan God and the traditional power of Super Saiyan and was first showcased by Goku and Vegeta in the movie "Resurrection 'F'. It is characterized by hair and eyes shining blue** and boasts even higher combat power than Super Saiyan God. Because it can fully control divine energy, it can also counter opponents who cannot sense energy. It became the main form when battling powerful enemies like Golden Frieza, Hit, and Jiren. It can also be combined with the Kaioken, and Goku has developed a unique technique called "Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken." Ultra Instinct is the ultimate transformation that Goku achieved in the Tournament of Power, ** transcending Super Saiyan. In strict terms, it is not so much a transformation as it is a state where the body automatically performs optimal movements regardless of consciousness, close to a "technique". In its initial stage, known as "Sign," the hair remains black while surrounded by a silver aura, but in its completed form, the hair and eyes change to silver. It evades attacks without conscious thought, and the counterattacks are automatically optimized, showing a power that even exceeds that of Jiren, the strongest warrior in the universe**. However, it is a technique that even gods find difficult to master, and Goku initially could not use it freely, but he gradually learned to control it through training. It can be considered a new dimension of power that surpasses the limits of Super Saiyan. In addition to those mentioned above, there are various other derived forms of Super Saiyan. The "Legendary Super Saiyan" that appears in the movie "Broly" is different from the usual Super Saiyan, possessing ** greenish-gold hair and abnormally enlarged muscles and a terrifying form that continues to exponentially increase in combat power even in battle. Additionally, in GT (Grand Tour), "Super Saiyan 4" appears, characterized by a wild appearance with red body hair and black hair, representing the form that rationally controls the power of the Great Ape. Vegeta has a unique evolved form called "Super Saiyan Blue Evolution," which is a deeper shade of blue than the standard Blue, showcasing god-like power. Trunks also shows a unique form called "Super Saiyan Rage" in the Future Arc, obtaining power comparable to Super Saiyan Blue.
These diverse forms add even more charm to the battle scenes of Dragon Ball. Related Articles: Types of Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball | A Complete Guide to Transformation Forms The Frieza clan has a unique transformation pattern that involves multiple forms to suppress their **power**, in contrast to Super Saiyans. Frieza's transformations are "releases," with each stage unleashing more of their original power. Here, we will take a closer look at each of Frieza's transformation changes. Frieza's first form is a small, purple and white two-tone appearance that first appeared during the Namek Saga. In fact, **this is not Frieza's "normal state"; it is a transformation form to suppress an overwhelmingly powerful force**. Even in this state, Frieza boasts a battle power of **530,000** and overwhelmed the warriors of Namek. It is characterized by horn-like protrusions on the head and a tail. In this form, Frieza displayed strength that could easily defeat Vegeta and Piccolo before their fusion. Frieza reigned as the emperor of the universe in this form, dominating many planets.
Frieza's second form is a larger appearance that he transformed into when cornered by Krillin's Spirit Bomb and Vegeta's attacks. He significantly increases in height, and his head's horns become long and sharp, resulting in a muscular physique. **His combat power exceeds 1 million, demonstrating about twice the power of his first form**. In this form, he shows overwhelming strength, enough to beat up Vegeta without any resistance. Visually, it is the most intimidating look, with both power and speed greatly enhanced. However, Frieza does not particularly like this form and quickly transforms into the next stage. Frieza's third form is the **most grotesque appearance** he taken on to counter Piccolo, who became stronger after fusing with Nail. His head extends backward, protrusions grow from his shoulders, and his physique further enlarges. The appearance is monstrous and gives off a grotesque impression. His combat power increases even more, possessing strength to overwhelm Piccolo post-fusion. However, Frieza is aware that this form is
Frieza's new form, which he achieved for the first time through training, is characterized by his entire body shining in gold. He has gained strength to compete evenly with Super Saiyan Blue. Despite possessing a naturally genius potential, Frieza had never trained until now. However, in just four months of training, he mastered this form and acquired power surpassing that of Super Saiyan God. The name was given due to his competitive spirit against Super Saiyans. However, at its first reveal, he had a weakness of lack of stamina, and in the Tournament of Power, he showcased a version that overcame this flaw through training. Pure Majin Buu, commonly known as "Childlike Buu," is his original form revived by the wizard Bibidi, characterized by a chubby body shape and pink skin. He possesses a childlike innocent personality and terrifying destructive power, making him a dangerous being. In this form, he possesses a strength that even Super Saiyan 3 Goku and Vegeta cannot contend with. However, due to having absorbed the South Kaioshin and the Grand Kaioshin, he also possessed a good heart. Through interactions with Mr. Satan, he began to open his heart, which triggered a change in form by expelling his evil heart. His regenerative abilities are extremely high, allowing him to restore himself even when his body is shattered. Evil Buu is born from the separation of the evil heart from Childlike Buu, taking the form of a gray, emaciated Majin Buu. The evil heart materialized and was born from Childlike Buu, whose anger reached its peak after Mr. Satan and a puppy were harmed. While he appears slim, he embodies the viciousness that Childlike Buu originally possessed, being cruel and calculating in nature.Super Saiyan 2
Super Saiyan 3
Super Saiyan God
Super Saiyan Blue (SSGSS)
Ultra Instinct
Other Super Saiyan Forms
Frieza's Transformations
Frieza's First Form
Frieza's Second Form
Frieza's Third Form
Majin Buu's Transformations
Majin Buu is a unique being that changes form by absorbing other characters. He incorporates the abilities and personalities of the absorbed opponents, significantly altering his appearance. Additionally, his form can change due to mental transformations, such as the separation of good and evil. Here, we will explain various forms of Majin Buu in order.
Pure Majin Buu (Childlike Buu)
Evil Buu
Absorbed Buu (Gohan Absorption) is the strongest form in the Majin Buu saga. It was born by absorbing Ultimate Gohan, who released ultimate power. Its appearance is slim and muscular, with Gohan's characteristic hairstyle appearing on its head. In this form, the overwhelming power is so great that even Super Saiyan 3 Goku and Vegeta working together cannot compete against it, showcasing the most desperate strength in the series. It incorporates not only Gohan's combat abilities but also his intelligence and combat sense, fighting calmly and efficiently. However, with the appearance of Vegito, it finds itself at a disadvantage and is eventually rescued by Gohan from within.
Absorbed Buu (Gotenks Absorption) is the form that absorbed the fusion warrior Gotenks before absorbing Gohan. It exhibits Gotenks' characteristic hairstyle and has a youthful, active appearance. By incorporating Gotenks' immense energy and tricky techniques, it displayed strength capable of overwhelming Gohan and Piccolo. However, **there is a weakness in that when Gotenks' fusion time runs out, the absorbed power is also lost.** In fact, during the battle, the situation changed when the fusion broke. This form is powerful but carries the instability of a time limit.
Absorbed Buu (Piccolo Absorption) is the form that only absorbed Piccolo after Gotenks' fusion time ended. **By incorporating Piccolo's intelligence and calmness, its fighting style becomes calculated and cautious.** While its combat power decreases compared to the Gotenks absorption, the addition of Piccolo's strategic thinking makes it a tougher opponent. This form has limited appearance time, but its fighting style, which emphasizes intelligence, is characteristic.
Pure Buu (Kid Buu) is the true form of Majin Buu after all absorptions have been undone. **It has a small, pink body and a childlike appearance with an evil grin.** Though small in appearance, this is the most dangerous form of Majin Buu. It is a pure evil entity driven solely by destructive impulses, lacking any sense of reason or mercy. This character, although having lower combat power than Majin Buu, became the most dangerous enemy due to unpredictable movements, infinite stamina, and above all, the absence of the concept of "mercy." Ultimately, he is defeated by the Spirit Bomb.
In addition to Super Saiyan, Frieza, and Majin Buu, the Dragon Ball series features a variety of characters with diverse transformation forms. Here, we will introduce Cell's transformations, Gohan's special transformation, and the transformation patterns of other characters.
Cell is an android created by Dr. Gero’s computer, a bio-robot with cells from numerous warriors. He evolves progressively by absorbing Android 17 and 18. His appearance and abilities change significantly with each form as he aims to reach his perfect state.
Cell's First Form is the appearance shown by Cell, who came from the future. It is characterized by an insect-like grotesque appearance. He is slender, has wing-like organs on his back, and absorbs other creatures and androids with the tip of his tail. In this state, he was comparatively weaker than Piccolo and Android 17 and searched for Androids 17 and 18 to achieve his perfect form.
Cell's second form is an intermediate form evolved from absorbing Android 17. Its physique becomes noticeably larger and takes on a more human-like appearance. **Its combat power soars dramatically, gaining enough strength to withstand attacks from Android 16 and Vegeta**. However, it cannot compete with Vegeta, who has surpassed Super Saiyan, and continues to act with the goal of absorbing Android 18.
Cell's perfect form is the final form achieved by absorbing both Android 17 and Android 18. **Its appearance is the most human-like and refined, characterized by a color scheme of black and green**. It possesses overwhelming combat power, exhibiting strength that surpasses even Vegeta and Trunks who have surpassed Super Saiyan. Furthermore, after self-detonating due to Gohan's anger and being resurrected, it enters an even more enhanced state called "Super Perfect Cell" and engages in a fierce battle with Super Saiyan 2 Gohan. As the organizer of the Cell Games, it brought about the greatest crisis on Earth.
Gohan has a unique transformation form aside from Super Saiyan. The most distinctive is Ultimate Gohan (Super Gohan). This form is **a state where his potential is fully unlocked through the Elder Kai's ritual and demonstrates power far exceeding that of a Super Saiyan without transforming, maintaining his normal appearance. His hair remains black, his eyes become sharper, and he is surrounded by a white aura. It possesses combat power that exceeds that of Super Saiyan 3** and overwhelmed Majin Buu. Additionally, during the Cell Games, there is a state called "Awakening of Rage," which explosively increases combat power when emotions are heightened. The power unleashed by the destruction of Android 16 led to the awakening of Super Saiyan 2. Gohan is a character with a unique fighting style closely tied to emotions and potential.
Future Trunks demonstrated a transformation known as Super Saiyan Third Stage in the Cell Saga, which is **a transformation where his muscles dramatically expand. The power increases, but speed is sacrificed as a drawback. In the Future Saga, he achieves a unique form called "Super Saiyan Rage" with a blue aura and fought evenly against Goku Black. On the other hand, the fusion warrior Gotenks, formed by Goten and Trunks, is one of the few characters capable of transforming into Super Saiyan 3**. Despite having a childlike appearance, he possesses the power to fight against Majin Buu and has created numerous unique special moves. However, there is a limitation of a 30-minute fusion time.
In Dragon Ball, there are various transformation patterns aside from those mentioned above. The Saiyan "Great Ape Transformation" is a giant transformation that activates when one sees a full moon, increasing battle power by ten times but losing reason. Some, like Vegeta and Bardock, can maintain their sanity while transforming through training. The Namekian Piccolo can use a technique called "Giant Form" to enlarge his body and amplify his power, but it is not often used in actual combat due to a decrease in mobility. Additionally, Zarbon's "Transformation" significantly increases power by becoming a hideous monster. These transformations are not used as frequently as those of the main characters, but they are an important element that demonstrates the diversity of the Dragon Ball world.
There are common rules and features observed in the transformation forms of Dragon Ball. Here, we introduce the characteristics commonly seen in transformation forms and a ranking comparing their strength within the story.
There are several common patterns observed in the transformation forms of Dragon Ball. Firstly, most transformations involve a change in the "color of hair and body". The golden hair of Super Saiyan, red hair of Super Saiyan God, blue hair of Super Saiyan Blue, and golden color of Golden Frieza are visually distinct changes. Secondly, the "color and shape of the aura" serve as indicators of the transformation level. A normal white aura changes to gold, blue, silver, etc., with more powerful forms emitting more distinctive auras. Thirdly, there is a trade-off involving "energy consumption and time limits. More powerful forms, such as Super Saiyan 3 and initial Golden Frieza, tend to consume stamina more easily. Understanding these commonalities allows for a deeper enjoyment of the features of transformation forms.
Based on their depictions within the story, we present the top 5 strongest transformation forms.**Rank 1 is "Ultra Instinct (Completed)" which is the ultimate form acquired by mastering the techniques of the gods. Rank 2 includes enhanced forms of Blue like "Super Saiyan Blue Evolved (Vegeta)" and "Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-Ken (Goku)". Rank 3 is "Golden Frieza (Complete Version)" which is a state that overcame stamina issues in the Tournament of Power. Rank 4 is "Kid Buu (Gohan Absorption)" representing the most powerful form during the Majin Buu saga. Rank 5 is "Ultimate Gohan" who possesses the power exceeding Super Saiyan 3 without transformation. However, please keep in mind that the power balance continues to change alongside the progression of the series, so consider this as a reference.
The transformation forms in the Dragon Ball series are one of the major attractions of the work. The gradual evolution of Super Saiyan, Frieza's release of power, changes through absorption by Majin Buu, and the unique transformations of Cell and Gohan, each has its own distinctive features. By understanding these transformation forms, you can enjoy the tension of the battle scenes and the character development process more deeply. How about revisiting your favorite transformation scenes using the list of transformation forms introduced in this article? There may be new transformation forms appearing in future series and movies, and the evolution of Dragon Ball will continue.
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