Dragon Ball: Why Super Saiyan 4 Isn’t In Dragon Ball Super

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Dragon Ball: Why Super Saiyan 4 Isn't In Dragon Ball Super

Highlights

  • Super Saiyan 4 from Dragon Ball GT represented a return to Saiyan basics, but won’t likely appear in Dragon Ball Super.
  • The requirements for achieving Super Saiyan 4 involve specific conditions and haven’t been found in Dragon Ball Super’s storyline.
  • Cluttering transformations in Dragon Ball Super make it difficult to include Super Saiyan 4, which belongs to its own canon.

As a seasoned Dragon Ball fan who has been following the franchise since the days of Goku and his quest for the Dragon Balls, it’s always bittersweet to see beloved transformations like Super Saiyan 4 missing from the current series. I remember the thrill when Goku transformed into this powerful form during the GT era, a transformation that truly harkened back to our Saiyan roots and embodied the raw power and wild spirit of our favorite warrior.

In its initial run, the show Dragon Ball lacked the continuity we see today, and it didn’t feature the beloved Super Saiyan 4 that many Dragon Ball GT fans admired. Most would agree that the Super Saiyan 4 transformation marked a significant milestone, returning to the raw, brutal essence of the Saiyans, while also acknowledging a wilder aspect of their heritage. Notably, Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan 4 to battle Baby, and this form has remained popular, often reappearing in various Dragon Ball spin-offs and video games.

In Dragon Ball Super, we don’t see Super Saiyan 4, and it seems highly unlikely that this transformation will reappear. But, why has this transformation been omitted from the series, and what reasons might there be to exclude it in favor of new transformations in Super?

No Discovery, And A Different Focus.

Why The Transformation Hasn’t Been Found

Dragon Ball: Why Super Saiyan 4 Isn't In Dragon Ball Super

Despite exhibiting an impressive display of power during the events following Z, the Golden Great Ape transformation was only unveiled later on. This transformation is unique to Saiyans and involves strict conditions: they must transform into a Golden Great Ape, retain consciousness within the transformation, then forcefully condense their energy into Super Saiyan 4 form. However, this can only occur under a full moon or with the presence of Blutz Waves that trigger the Golden Great Ape transformation for Goku and Vegeta. Given these prerequisites, it’s possible that Bulma could potentially make it happen with sufficient effort.

From a dedicated fan’s perspective, Dragon Ball Super has consistently expanded its universe on a cosmic scale, and the progression from Super Saiyan God to Ultra Instinct undeniably suggests that Goku and Vegeta are attaining divine powers. These powers might not eclipse the strength of Super Saiyan 4, but it’s tricky to incorporate ‘non-canon’ content like this into Dragon Ball Super. The transformation is different from God Ki, Super Saiyan God, and Ultra Instinct transformations, which aren’t as ingrained in the characters’ storylines as Super Saiyan 4 was in GT. Goku and Vegeta don’t have any indications or even hints of Super Saiyan 4 existing within the Dragon Ball Super narrative, so they lack motivation to uncover it. Moreover, there are additional reasons why this transformation is absent from Dragon Ball Super.

Cluttering Transformations

And Why It Could Be A Problem

It’s true that Dragon Ball features numerous transformations apart from Super Saiyan 4, and the God Ki possessed by Goku and Vegeta is too significant to be replaced or considered equivalent. Since their transformations belong to a distinct evolutionary path, they don’t have the means to discover another form like Super Saiyan 4 at this moment. They are currently dedicating their efforts to refining their existing forms under Beerus and Whis’ guidance. Each transformation offers different strengths, but maintaining Super Saiyan 4 continuously is challenging, and Goku and Vegeta require extensive practice with it to make it more effective.

It’s possible that we won’t witness Super Saiyan 4 in Dragon Ball Super due to the reasons mentioned earlier and because it originates from a separate canon. Fitting this transformation into the current narrative can be challenging, so for now, it seems that fans will only encounter Super Saiyan 4 in spin-offs and video games. At this point, it appears that the Dragon Ball universe has given us an amazing transformation, but it’s not easily integrated into the story without feeling forced.

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2024-08-07 19:36