Dragon Ball Super Saiyan Transformations: All 21 Forms Explained!

Dragon Ball Super Saiyan Transformations: A Complete Guide to All 21 Forms!

Beyond Super Saiyan: Exploring the Insane Evolution of Saiyan Power!

The Super Saiyan transformation is iconic—that moment when Goku unleashes his golden power. But this isn't your grandfather's Saiyan transformation! Since its debut in Dragon Ball Z, there have been so many updates that tracking them can be tricky! From various hair colours and other aesthetic elements through new variations based on the old, those new, game-changing abilities truly highlight a continually shifting universe, that shows amazing storytelling potential! This complete guide covers 21 canon Super Saiyan Transformations in that enormous and constantly-growing Dragon Ball universe; it might leave your head spinning from the immense power, yet those many variations and new transformations provide some intriguing, important elements of storyline and plot points within the universe's overall continuity, showing a fascinating universe with those moments easily memorable! We’ll explore their unique attributes, those weaknesses which define and help to define the entire universe!

These forms are largely presented by debut date; a mostly effective ranking according to general Power Levels; showing the continued progression through newer techniques. But they’re not all equal! Some are used briefly, only by certain characters and sometimes there are even minimal aesthetic changes. Those minimal details might leave newer audiences questioning where the lines really are between one and the others! It's important to point out that we'll even include those non-Super Saiyan transformations closely tied to key characters (Goku, Vegeta’s newer Ultra forms, for example!). Let's dive into this incredibly awesome exploration of Saiyan awesomeness. And keep in mind this also encompasses transformations with multiple forms and minor sub-variations for a full description.

Also Read: Dragon Ball Super Best Fights: Goku's Top Battles Ranked

The 21 Canon Super Saiyan Transformations: A Detailed Look

21. Super Saiyan: The OG Transformation!

It all started here, people! Goku unlocked this after losing Krillin to Frieza. The golden hair; an enormous, insane power boost to totally dominate Frieza! This moment had changed the entire show completely; it’s become almost legendary amongst viewers. It would eventually get used by every other Saiyan; easily recognized and the very thing that is most iconic!

20. Super Saiyan Second Grade (Ascended Super Saiyan): More Muscle, More Power

Vegeta powering up as Ascended Super Saiyan Image

Vegeta and Future Trunks unlocked this within the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. It increased muscle mass dramatically— and boosts strength to become more powerful, able to even surpass Semi-Perfect Cell! This wasn’t some other new transformation – this was simply making use of additional reserves. This important form makes use of greater exertion through a different way – resulting in additional capabilities and the added benefit that this shows in how this improved their general strength and abilities overall! A surprisingly powerful new advancement within their already enhanced forms!

19. Super Saiyan Third Grade (Ultra Super Saiyan): Too Much Muscle?

Dragon Ball Super: Trunks' Super Saiyan Third Grade form. Image

Trunks went further– and that added power boost and muscular increase turned this Saiyan into a complete powerhouse! He's become almost ludicrously powerful. It’s sadly not so perfect however. Too much bulk makes Trunks slow and weak; demonstrating this massive drawback for increased power, making the downsides actually weigh in much more dramatically. That seriously hurts the form's usefulness despite its initial promise! It is somewhat ironic that they don’t fully capitalize and explore on this possibility any further!

18. Super Saiyan Full Power: Maximum Potential Unlocked!

This fixed the problems in Super Saiyan Third Grade. Goku and Gohan trained to master the Super Saiyan state; maximizing output without unnecessary excess muscle or excess energy consumption, making their usage significantly improved from those other techniques discussed before. That's more effective, sustained fighting power.

17. Super Saiyan 2: The Second Stage

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Trailer Reveals Frieza, Broly & Ultimate Gohan Image

Another amazing Super Saiyan upgrade: This first truly new Super Saiyan transformation showed up during Gohan's epic battle with Cell; that additional power increase flipped the tables on Cell. Other Saiyans gain this later and it creates those incredibly amazing fighting capabilities. The design is similar to the original; only that electrical crackle in the aura stands out and sets it apart; adding to its iconic significance. However, this isn't something often explored compared to those more noticeably unique aesthetic changes such as new colors.

16. Super Saiyan 3: Longer Hair, Less Eyebrows, More Power (…and Stamina Drain!)

This infamous Super Saiyan form had longer hair, no eyebrows— iconic to those older viewers and that huge increase in strength makes this formidable power! However it comes at a cost; insane stamina drain hurts Goku and Gotenks. The trade-off’s never worth it! That energy drain is serious! Other stronger transformations emerged because this became extremely limiting; even resulting in decreased usability later on in storylines!

15. Potential Unleashed (Ultimate Gohan): Surpassing Super Saiyan

Goku Black's Super Saiyan Rose from Dragon Ball Super Image

This isn’t strictly a Super Saiyan upgrade and comes about during Gohan’s training with Elder Kai! It's worth pointing out here and we will discuss this below in our summary. That unlocks immense power! And this exceeds Gohan's other forms, making Gohan insanely strong. It doesn’t use the usual Super Saiyan transformation, demonstrated in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Piccolo using it too; proving this transcends Saiyan limitations! The entire thematic premise highlights and creates another dimension for characters, not tied directly into typical Saiyan transformation arcs alone; making this really important for its character arcs that transcend that Saiyan mythology!

14. Super Saiyan God: Divine Power Unleashed!

Dragon Ball Super Anger Super Saiyan Trunks Image

Introduced in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Super Saiyan God became that extremely strong upgrade using divine ki, creating something totally epic! Goku's use changes things and demonstrates the ability for individuals to even compete with a deity—but he wasn’t quite there; resulting in failure. But it sets the stage for things to come and introduces the many elements for future storylines and later forms!

13. Super Saiyan Blue (Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan): Combining Divine Power!

The first appearance of Perfected Super Saiyan Blue Image

Taking that Super Saiyan God power and adding regular Super Saiyan strength gets this blue-haired upgrade; this became Goku and Vegeta’s go-to power boost and their typical power level throughout most of Dragon Ball Super, but both use older techniques from time-to-time showing that the mastery and usability of their transformations greatly impacted these characters, despite that enormous variety of choices shown here!

12. Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken: Extreme Power with a Dangerous Cost

Fused Zamasu in their Super Saiyan white form in Dragon Ball Super as they look forward. Image

Goku’s legendary Kaio-ken combined with Super Saiyan Blue; That intense multiplier boosts his capabilities into a truly legendary level and became Goku's most intense power before he attained Ultra Instinct! However there's a severe drawback; too much energy output destroys Goku's body! Even so, there is a specific time in Dragon Ball Super where this very transformation and form became crucial for defeating enemies. A high risk, high reward decision; made effective by its surprising usefulness.

11. Super Saiyan Rosé: Goku Black's Twisted Take on Super Saiyan

Ultra Instinct Sign Goku in Dragon Ball Super Image

This form, exclusive to Goku Black, had an interesting change! Its origin differs slightly; In the anime it is a divine Super Saiyan; the manga has it as a variation of Super Saiyan Blue with godly ki; resulting in this pinkish-red hair; enhancing its extremely powerful fighting capability. It makes Goku Black one of the most impressive enemies in the whole series. Those intense differences based on storytelling elements in various forms actually matter.

10. Super Saiyan Rage: Future Trunks’ Anger-Fueled Fury!

Vegeta Evolved Super Saiyan Blue in Dragon Ball Super Image

This is entirely Future Trunks’ Super Saiyan form and a completely unique type; a massive boost through uncontrolled rage! The bluish tint makes this rather unique compared to other color variations for the standard transformations, but makes for this interesting power boost; It was powerful enough for Trunks to rival Goku Black and Zamasu— Saiyans significantly beyond Trunks’s initial capability.

9. Perfected Super Saiyan Blue: Maximum Efficiency and Power Output!

That Super Saiyan Blue had serious issues however: inefficient power consumption was problematic. This manga-exclusive upgrade minimized the usage and this improvement made Super Saiyan Blue superior; making this highly useful and making its lack of presence in other titles somewhat questionable!

8. Super Saiyan White: Fused Zamasu's Overpowered Fury!

Another unique Zamasu form; its use in that storyline’s critical parts created enormous challenges for the involved characters; showing his incredibly destructive power; even prompting the use of such extreme measures and powers in those particular areas of the storyline that resulted in total eradication of Future Trunks’ universe itself. It is simply the best and final variation and the most overpowered one to even challenge and end that powerful Zamasu arc.

7. Ultra Instinct Sign: A Glimpse into Angelic Power

Dragon Ball Super Chapter 85 Goku attacking while using True Ultra Instinct Image

This isn’t strictly a Super Saiyan upgrade, yet its usage of extremely powerful abilities and new capabilities remains important! This awesome technique requires suppressing emotions to react instinctively during battles; allowing near-perfect dodges, optimized attack timing and immense offensive capabilities and is totally worth noting! It’s an incomplete form. Yet extremely impressive for its surprising efficacy in various storyline arcs.

6. Super Saiyan Blue Evolution: Vegeta's Superior Blue Form

This is unique. Only for Vegeta! The deep blue hair with black pupils boosted his power levels significantly during the Tournament of Power arc; It creates his powerful counterpoint to Goku's Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken. That muscle mass; that additional capability also becomes his most powerful Super Saiyan Blue form; showcasing the diversity of different forms.

5. Perfected Ultra Instinct: Mastery Over Instinctive Combat

(This one is also not a Super Saiyan form; yet worth mentioning, for similar reasons to Ultra Instinct Sign). Goku finally masters Ultra Instinct, getting this angelic white hair! His absolute calmness enables truly effortless attacks. He achieves complete mastery however after Moro's defeat, shown in the manga. This became the new ideal state within that world; further emphasizing how many paths are open in developing an ultimately unbeatable fighting ability.

4. Legendary Super Saiyan: Broly’s Berserker Rage!

This Broly form was initially non-canon, yet became official during Dragon Ball Super! It displays its characteristic intense green hue; making for those distinct visual moments; yet those impressive muscle gains showcase its intensely destructive power and is easily recognizable throughout all forms that encompass these key transformations.

3. Ultra Ego: Vegeta's Damage-Fueled Power

(Not Super Saiyan; but this deserves to be noted). This counterpoint to Ultra Instinct enhances power significantly as the recipient endures and sustains damage. It focuses on receiving attacks! It's brilliant in concept. The issue? It gets too extreme and it’s intensely limiting; forcing many key characters in Dragon Ball to learn its limitations; which would also then greatly define the future arcs involving those characters, who ultimately make their transformations completely unique and important! It's another game changer in these overall battle capabilities; yet highly unique and highly problematic for the same reasons that are highlighted in many characters’ ultimate defeats!

2. True Ultra Instinct: Embracing Saiyan Spirit!

(Yet another non-Super Saiyan transformation but still important)! Goku fights Gas and understands; that he can fully accept and master his own emotions! That makes this Ultra Instinct form powerful, even outstripping the usual Perfected Ultra Instinct; showcasing once more the flexibility within the series and showing how varied those combat approaches really could become. A very unique moment; making for surprising developments throughout many key arcs later.

1. Super Saiyan 4: The Unofficial King of Transformations

(Non-canon for Dragon Ball Super ; This is still worth noting. This legendary Super Saiyan variant remains tremendously popular in older series). That dark red hair (with intense reddish hue) combined with incredible muscle bulk shows this is a unique power enhancement and is very impressive in comparison. While that status makes it not quite as significant now—this intense power was something only seen here. Its existence doesn't reduce any power or limit other variations in later storylines; showing only minor overlap and is important to note!

Also Read: Dragon Ball Super: Moro Arc and the Cell Saga: A Loving Tribute

Conclusion: The Ever-Expanding Power of Super Saiyans

Dragon Ball's Super Saiyan saga isn’t just impressive power boosts. It’s incredibly compelling character storytelling; providing interesting layers upon an existing framework that makes this incredible world so immersive! Those 21 transformations showcase ingenuity; emphasizing clever evolution in techniques and a truly imaginative and varied universe! From basic power enhancements (the early Super Saiyan stages) through unique capabilities with drawbacks and ultimately the use of those mystical powers that transcends limitations in Ultra Instinct— the insane scope alone is truly astonishing, making for another amazing aspect which further cements the universe’s importance!