Dragon Ball: Gohan Beast Is A Bad Transformation, And Here’s Why

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One standout feature in the Dragon Ball Super segment of the series was the innovative approach to character transformations. Unlike the primary Saiyans who primarily evolved through similar Super Saiyan forms, Super introduced unique transformations for each character, highlighting their distinct abilities and amplifying their unique strengths.

In this piece, we delve into the reasons behind the criticism surrounding Gohan’s Ultimate Transformation as Beast, a transformation that has made him a formidable warrior capable of battling alongside Goku and Vegeta in their Divine forms. While fans have been thrilled to see Gohan once more at the center of action and closing the gap with his peers, it’s worth considering that the Beast form may not be as solid or strategically sound as one might hope. Herein, we examine the flaws in this transformation.

Gohan Beast Was A Contrived And Lazy Way To Make Gohan Far Stronger

The Failings of Beast

First Appearance Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Debut Date June 11, 2022

For clarity, it’s important to note that the storyline which rejuvenates Gohan to the strength he once held and places him at the forefront of the series is one of the finest choices in Dragon Ball Super. Over time, many fans have felt that Gohan, despite occasional significant moments, has been underutilized since the conclusion of the Cell Saga.

During the Buu Saga and particularly in the early stages of Super, Gohan wasn’t very active, leading fans to hope for a resurgence of this cherished character. In the Super Hero movie, their wishes came true as he tapped into his Beast form to fight Cell Max, following his belief that the villain had killed his close friend and guide, Piccolo. Prior to this event, Gohan’s most powerful state was his Ultimate form, indicating a significant journey for him to reach a level capable of challenging Super Saiyan Blue and even Ultra Instinct before the Super Hero storyline unfolded.

My goal is an ultimate form that no one has ever seen before!

As a dedicated fan, I must say, witnessing Gohan’s transformation with Beast was nothing short of exhilarating! It was truly a sight to behold. However, it also served as a stark reminder of one of Dragon Ball’s most notable issues – the power creep that the series is infamous for. With just one unusual anger-fueled transformation, Gohan managed to skip the God Ki entirely and unleash a power level comparable to Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego. This has sparked quite a debate among fans, with many feeling it’s a bit too much of a power up.

Fans are expressing concern that the untapped abilities of characters such as Gohan and Broly seem to diminish the effort and dedication Goku and Vegeta have displayed over years, having dedicated their lives to becoming stronger and constantly training. Regardless of whether fans admire or criticize Gohan’s Great Ape transformation, it is difficult for them to accept that he suddenly acquired this form without any buildup and seems artificially designed to match the power levels of Goku and Vegeta.

Critics often point out Gohan’s past transformations, such as Super Saiyan 2 and Ultimate, as evidence for his power. However, it’s not quite a fair comparison because Gohan had to undergo intense training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with his father to achieve his peak Super Saiyan form, and he only did so after getting furious over Android 16’s death. The buildup to these transformations always felt justified. Moreover, Ultimate Gohan could only come into being once Gohan’s full potential was unlocked by Elder Kai.

Many people have voiced criticisms about the storytelling and power scaling in Dragon Ball, often pointing out that certain events appear unexpected and lack coherence. For instance, the emergence of Gohan’s Beast form, despite its impressive design, leaves much to be desired in terms of its origin and the circumstances leading to its unlocking. While this transformation revitalizes Gohan’s significance within the broader narrative, some aspects of its implementation could certainly benefit from more thoughtful development.

Gohan Beast Also Has Nothing Special About It, Unlike Ultra Instinct And Ego

Just Another Power-Up

  • Gohan Beast doesn’t offer anything new.

In this new direction taken by the series, it stands out how exceptional Goku and Vegeta’s ultimate forms have become. The Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego transformations are particularly unique, as they cater to the distinctive qualities of each Saiyan character. Ultra Instinct emphasizes Goku’s mastery over martial arts and technique, whereas Ultra Ego amplifies Vegeta’s aggressive, brawler fighting style.

In essence, this approach is often considered the optimal method for dealing with novel forms, yet Gohan’s Beast form fails to introduce anything fresh in this regard. Rather than emphasizing his strategic intellect or any distinctive feature unique to him, it simply boosts his strength and speed to unprecedented levels, much like how the conventional Super Saiyan transformations functioned. Despite leveraging his potential, the absence of innovative functionality is a aspect that fans had hoped would be different.

Dragon Ball can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-08-21 14:35