Best Non-Canon Super Saiyan Forms In Dragon Ball

Highlights

Super Saiyan Bardock embodies Saiyan rage perfectly in a satisfying non-canon transformation in “Episode of Bardock.”
Super Saiyan God Trunks achieves god ki, giving him a cool new form in Super Dragon Ball Heroes, though non-canon.
Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta, although never achieved in the main storyline, appears in Dragon Ball games, showcasing his own menacing form.

As a long-time Dragon Ball fan who’s witnessed the evolution of Saiyan transformations since their humble beginnings, I must say that the non-canon forms have truly added a unique flavor to the series. Among these alternate transformations, the False Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 4 stand out as absolute game changers, each embodying distinct aesthetics that resonate with fans in their own ways.

There’s hardly any debate that the Super Saiyan transformation outshines other transformations in anime. This iconic transformation first appeared on screen in the Dragon Ball Z series way back in 1991, and since then, it has gained immense popularity across various media platforms. Be it television shows, movies, video games, or comics, you’ll find traces of this transformation in almost everything.

Everything about the Super Saiyan transformation is just plain awesome – the color scheme, the design, the aura, and most importantly, the power that comes with it. But what makes this transformation particularly awesome is the number of variations to it, each bringing something new to the table in terms of style and power. While the canon Super Saiyan transformations are well known among Dragon Ball fans, quite a few non-canon variations of this form often slip under the radar despite being just as cool, if not cooler, than their canon counterparts.

1 Super Saiyan Bardock

The Perfect Embodiment of Saiyan Rage

Best Non-Canon Super Saiyan Forms In Dragon Ball

Appeared in: “Episode of Bardock”

Devoted Dragon Ball enthusiasts recognize the significant part that Bardock plays in Son Goku’s narrative. If Bardock hadn’t sent Goku away to Earth, the tale of Dragon Ball would have unfolded quite differently, as Kakarot might never have evolved into the selfless hero adored by fans today. However, despite Bardock’s key role in the storyline, his limited screen presence leaves much to be desired among the fans.

In limited scenes throughout the series, Bardock is portrayed as a common Saiyan, far from powerful enough to achieve Super Saiyan status. But delving deeper into non-main storylines reveals a lesser-known TV special called “Bardock – The Father of Goku” where Bardock demonstrates his Super Saiyan abilities in combat against Chilled, an ancestor of Frieza.

In this fictional narrative, the story doesn’t follow the established timeline, but it’s thrilling to witness Bardock’s portrayal of the legendary Super Saiyan transformation. The character traits of Bardock – his fierce Saiyan anger and unyielding bravery – perfectly align with the ideals of a Super Saiyan, making this one of the most impressive non-canon transformations in the Super Saiyan series.

2 Super Saiyan God Trunks

A New Level Of Power For The Saiyan Warrior

Appeared in: Super Dragon Ball Heroes

From his captivating debut in the Android Series, Trunks has been a beloved figure among numerous Dragon Ball enthusiasts. Over the course of the series, he’s undergone several transformations, including attaining Super Saiyan 1 and 2, and unleashing a unique “Super Saiyan Rage” form in Dragon Ball Super. This extraordinary transformation was impressive on its own, granting Trunks the boost in power to engage Fused Zamasu in combat. However, what left some fans slightly disheartened was that they didn’t get to witness Trunks reaching the Super Saiyan God form.

Well, that was the case until Super Dragon Ball Heroes, in all of its fan-serving glory, finally gave fans a peek at what Trunks would look like if he achieved God ki. The beautiful red hair, fiery aura, and calm demeanor that come with the Super Saiyan God form perfectly complement Trunks’ character, making him even cooler than before. While this transformation is completely non-canon as Super Dragon Ball Heroes is just a promotional anime, it remains an amazing form nonetheless.

3 Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta

A Fan Favorite Non-Canon Form

Appeared in: Dragon Ball Heroes, Raging Blast 2

Vegeta and Goku’s rivalry might just be the greatest rivalry in anime history. These two have been one-upping each other continuously for decades, with Goku always maintaining a small lead, but Vegeta not being too far behind. Every form Goku has ever achieved, Vegeta has achieved as well (or achieved something equivalent to its level). However, this trend surprisingly broke with the Super Saiyan 3 transformation, as Goku achieved it back in the Buu Saga, but Vegeta never matched the form, skipping it entirely.

For Dragon Ball enthusiasts, it’s been a persistent irritant that Super Saiyan 3, a particularly intimidating manifestation of the Super Saiyan form, has never been mastered by a beloved character like Vegeta. To add insult to injury for fans of Vegeta, characters such as Trunks and Goten managed to attain this form within mere six months of training in the Hyperbolic Chamber. However, they could only access it while fused.

As a diehard Vegeta fan, I must admit that my spirits were dampened when the Super Saiyan Blue Evolved form didn’t show up in the main Dragon Ball series. But fear not, fellow gamers and anime enthusiasts! This powerful form has made an appearance in Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 and the Dragon Ball Heroes anime.

4 False Super Saiyan Goku

A Primal Super Saiyan Form

Appeared in: Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug

In the annals of Dragon Ball lore, the False Super Saiyan form has made only a solitary appearance – in a non-canonical film titled Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug, which was released in 1991. At its debut, it failed to garner significant attention and remained distant from the hearts of most Dragon Ball enthusiasts. Consequently, the False Super Saiyan form slipped into relative obscurity for years. However, all that changed in the latter part of the 2010s when the Dragon Ball community began to appreciate the sheer awesomeness of this transformation.

As a die-hard Dragon Ball fan, I can’t help but feel a thrill when Goku unleashes his False Super Saiyan form. Unlike other transformations, this one doesn’t fit neatly into the grand narrative, but there’s an undeniable raw, primal energy about it that sets it apart. When he taps into this power, his eyes turn completely white, and a golden Super Saiyan aura envelops him, yet his hair retains its natural color. This unique aesthetic truly embodies the fury of the Saiyans in a way that feels intensely visceral. It may not make another appearance in Dragon Ball, but it’s heartening to see this underrated form finally getting the recognition it deserves from the dedicated Dragon Ball community.

5 Super Saiyan 4

The Most Iconic Non-Canon Super Saiyan Form

Appeared in: Dragon Ball GT, “Goku’s Ascension”

Among the various non-canonical Super Saiyan forms in Dragon Ball series, Super Saiyan 4 is undeniably the most renowned. Debuting in Dragon Ball GT, this transformation has garnered a massive following despite the show not being universally loved. Compared to other non-canonical transformations, Super Saiyan 4 stands out with its strikingly unique appearance that significantly diverges from the conventional Super Saiyan look that fans have come to recognize.

Although some viewers might not be immediately fond of its distinctive look compared to traditional versions, there’s no arguing that this version is nothing short of stunning. The fiery red fur, the long black hair, the Saiyan tail, and even the striking red eyeliner come together to form an image that is undeniably one of the most fearsome-looking forms ever seen in Dragon Ball. This form marked a new level of power within the series that stood unrivaled for years until Dragon Ball Super appeared. Although it has since been surpassed by the advanced God ki transformations, it will forever hold a cherished spot in the hearts of Dragon Ball fans.

2024-08-16 06:34