SSJ STAGES
Super Saiyan - Level 1
"The Legendary Warrior, with a pure heart…awakened by rage!”
Transgressing oneself and becoming a Super Saiyan is triggered by an event of incredible despair and anger. In the moments leading up to the change, the eyes become unfocused and the body rattles like an earthquake is welling up inside – after which, the transformation occurs like an instantaneous maelstrom of energy! Supposedly, one must have a power level in the multi-millions beforehand, and also have a pure heart (good, evil, or otherwise…) during the time of transformation. The power increase is relatively unknown, as it depends on the Saiyan, and how much training they have undergone.
Visual Changes (from the normal Saiyan) –
- The hair turns deep gold; flows upward into thick, slanted spikes; bangs tend to hang down over the face and sides of the head.
- A complete black border is inscribed around the eyes, giving a much more focused and “mean” look. The pupils turn to a deep green.
- The aura is a steady, form fitting flame of pure white that encompasses the body at all times.
Extra Detail(s) –
- For Saiyans whom haven’t come far in bringing the best from their Super Saiyan forms, a state of great ferocity and ecstasy overcomes them.
- This is the only Super Saiyan transformation that requires rage or any sort of powerful emotion to unlock, as the rest are brought about by training.
- Through rigorous training, a Saiyan can bring himself to a point where Super Saiyan is his natural state. In this manner, he relieves the state of ecstasy normally accompanied by the change. No aura is displayed in this “stage”.
- When a Super Saiyan either brings himself to a point where transforming bring no strain upon himself or makes the stage his natural state, their full power aura undergoes a change in which it becomes larger and more vibrant (the hair may also become slightly more elevated). This also marks the point in which the Saiyan has truly mastered the power of the Super Saiyan – far surpassing the “Super Saiyan type 2” and “Super Saiyan type 3” stages outlined later in this guide.
Anime Perspective: The aura is changed to a “golden ambiance” which is semi-clear. Whereas the Aura was always present before, it tends to come and go in the Anime without any sort of consistency. Also, the hair is changed to yellow as opposed to golden. The power-up sequence is lengthened significantly.
Known users –
- Son Goku
- (Future) Trunks
- Vegeta
- Cell
- Son Gohan
- (Future) Son Gohan
- Son Goten
- Trunks
- Gotenks
- Vegetto
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Super Saiyan - Level 1, Type 2
“Show me what you can do…show me what lies beyond the Super Saiyan!!”
This transformation has no roots in rage – but is brought about by extensive training and control over the state of Super Saiyan. Turning into this state resembles that of an extensive power-up sequence, in which the aura rages uncontrollably and is finally finished with a great flash of light, with a transformed Saiyan at the center.
Visual Changes (from the Super Saiyan) –
- The hair spikes further on end and is more defined.
- The aura for this state is rough, and much more vibrant than that of the previous level.
- Muscle mass increases significantly.
Extra Detail(s) –
- Based on what little we see of this form, it seems the user tends to rely on single-hitting strong attacks, and much less on rapid attacks. This may or may not be a side effect of the extra bulk presented in this state.
Anime Perspective: The aura is changed to a translucent series of repetitious golden waves, which constantly travel upward. Whereas the Aura was always present in the Manga, it tends to come and go in the Anime without any sort of consistency. Also, the hair is changed to yellow as opposed to golden.
Known Users –
- Vegeta
- Trunks
- Son Goku
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Super Saiyan - Level 1, Type 3
Now is your chance!! You’ve got to turn into that Super-Super Saiyan!!!!”
A state the pushes even further beyond the Super Saiyan type 2, taking everything to an even greater level. Conditions to meet in order to transform are the same as the previous stage, but for a longer period of time. Transforming is a much longer process than before, and causes an earthquake as though the planet fearful of the power soon to be unleashed. During this, the pupils may disappear, returning once the transformation is complete.
Visual Changes (From the Super Saiyan type 2) –
- Each hair strand becomes very large and juts out extremely far.
- The aura is very wild and all over the place, and tends to branch off in random directions like a massive surging ball of electricity.
- Muscle mass increases even further, to well over twice the size as the original Super Saiyan.
Extra Detail(s) –
- Because of the incredible increase in muscle mass, the Saiyan finds himself incapable of moving in any sort of fast or fluid manner, leaving them completely useless against an opponent with any kind of speed. Theoretically, this stage would be extremely effective against a large group of much weaker opponents.
Anime Perspective: The Aura is changed to a translucent series of repetitious golden waves, which constantly travel upward and outward. Whereas the Aura was always present in the Manga, it tends to come and go in the Anime without any sort of consistency. As opposed to the previous forms, this one tends to generate sporadic cackles of electricity, as well as blacken the skies above. Also, the hair is changed to yellow as opposed to golden.
Known Users –
- Trunks
- Son Goku
- Cell
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Super Saiyan - Level 2
“Do you want me to show you my new Super-Super Saiyan form too?”
The first true transformation beyond the original state of Super Saiyan – this stage is not so common as its predecessor(s) and sets an entirely new standard for the way battles are fought. Gohan unlocked the ability to tap this power in the Room of Spirit and Time, but held himself back for a number of reasons. It isn’t until the Cell Game that it is finally forced out of him. Based on this, along with Goku and Vegeta’s eventual following in those footsteps, it can be concluded that this stage is unlocked simply through training and completely mastering the state of Super Saiyan.
Visual Changes (from the Super Saiyan) –
- The hair spikes stand as far upward and on end as possible, with the occasional tendril hanging down in front of the Saiyans face.
- The aura holds itself very far out from the body, a further extreme of the Aura of the type 2 Super Saiyan. Most unique is the thick bolts of lightning that surge all over the body constantly.
Extra Detail(s) –
- A side effect of this incredible level of power is that warriors now inflict damage upon one another at a rate greater than previously seen, and the landscape suffers great damage even from missed punches.
Anime Perspective: The aura is changed to a translucent series of repetitious golden waves, which constantly travel upward. Whereas the Aura was always present in the Manga, it tends to come and go in the Anime without any sort of consistency. Also, the hair is changed to yellow as opposed to golden. The streaks of lightning are removed and replaced with an occasional bolt of blue electricity, which only lasts a half a second or so, and tends to not reappear for quite some time. There are a couple of exceptions, where there the same blue bolts scrambled chaotically around their bodies during sequences where they were waiting for one another to attack.
Known Users –
- Son Gohan
- Cell
- Son Goku
- Vegeta
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Oozaru: When exposed to the light of a full moon, a Saiyan involuntarily transforms into a giant ape-like beast. While in this form the Saiyan's power is greatly increased. There are two ways to reverse it, one is to chop off the tail of the Saiyan, and the other is to get rid of the source of moonlight.
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Super Saiyan - Level 3
“Okay, then…I’ll have to go past the Super Saiyan level beyond the original Super Saiyan!”
Behold the Ultimate Super Saiyan!!! This transformation marks the end of the progression of Super Saiyans, and is the greatest culmination of Saiyan power when naturally realized. Only 2 warriors every unlocked this state, one of which is a fused warrior. This is also the only Super Saiyan stage capable of matching up against the series’ final central antagonist – Majin Boo. The exact requirements for bringing forth this power aren’t even really known, because it isn’t explored with much depth.
Visual Changes (from the Super Saiyan level 2) –
- The hair grows several times in length, down to the back of the waist or knees (depending on users own height).
- The aura closely resembles that of the Super Saiyan level 2, but the border almost seems to meld right into the air itself from time to time.
- The eyebrows disappear completely, giving the Saiyan a face that may somewhat resemble that of a Namekian.
Extra Detail(s) –
- The demand of Ki required to tap the awesome power the Super Saiyan level 3 makes it so that it can only be freely used in the afterlife. When used in the living realm, it causes the user to either borrow against time before returning to the netherworld, or completely drain oneself of all power after just a few minutes of transforming. It may well be impossible to access the full power of this state in the living realm. For fused fighters, this stage can be used freely, but with a time limit of 5 minutes.
Anime Perspective: The Aura is changed to a translucent series of repetitious golden waves, which constantly travel upward, except for when Goku first showcased the form during his fight with Majin Boo. A good deal of the time, the aura bowed out in all directions, appearing as a constant spark of light. Whereas the Aura was always present in the Manga, it tends to come and go in the Anime without any sort of consistency. Also, the hair is changed to yellow, as opposed to golden. The streaks of lightning are removed and replaced with an occasional bolt of blue electricity that scrambles through the air, occasionally striking and destroying pieces of the surrounding landscape.
Known Users –
- Son Goku
- Gotenks
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Golden Oozaru: A level that was achieved by Goku and Bedi-Vegeta in Dragon Ball GT. This is the most powerful form of Oozaru, actually, the most powerful of all stages that a Saiyan can achieve, demonstrated by Goku in DBGT episodes 38-40, when he swatted Bedi-Vegeta all over Planet Plant (Bedi's recreation of the Tsufuru home planet.) The main physical difference with the Ougon stage, is that the fur is yellow instead of brown. Also before Planet Vegeta was taken over by the Saiyan, it was also called "Planet Plant", of coarse before renamed to Planet Vegeta.
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Super Saiyan 4: The final transformation that a Saiyan is able to achieve. This transformation isn't even considered real by some, because it is only done in Dragon Ball GT, which was not drawn by Akira Toriyama. The first part of this transformation involves a Saiyan having a tail. When a very strong Saiyan looks at the full moon, they become a Golden Oozaru. Similar to the Oozaru transformation, but the fur is gold. Then the Saiyan must be enraged and put all of his anger into himself to reach Super Saiyan 4. If he succeeds, the Golden Oozaru becomes a Super Saiyan 4. Super Saiyan 4 is the strongest transformation, and has no downsides. Once again, Goku is the only Saiyan to become Super Saiyan 4 by himself. Vegeta becomes Super Saiyan 4 because his wife Bulma creates a device called a Brute Wave which stimulates his body turning him into a Super Saiyan 4. And one other Saiyan can reach Super Saiyan 4. The fusion of Super Saiyan 4 Goku and Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta creates Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta, the strongest person in the entire anime
