Is Ultra Instinct the Most Overrated Transformation in Dragon Ball History?

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Summary

  • Ultra Instinct introduced a new direction for Dragon Ball transformations with its unique properties.
  • Some fans debate whether Ultra Instinct is overrated, as it has been challenged by non-Divine beings.
  • Despite criticisms, Ultra Instinct presents a challenge and training opportunity for Goku to perfect his ultimate form.

Since the Tournament of Power, fans have been thrilled to discover that the Dragon Ball franchise has taken a fresh approach to transformations compared to its previous style. Although the classic Super Saiyan forms continue to be adored and hold a significant place in the series’ history, they began to seem repetitive and lackluster as each new form essentially increased the user’s power through vague methods and added longer hair.

Although these iconic forms didn’t introduce anything particularly new before, the arrival of Ultra Instinct with its unique attribute that nothing else in the series could match, certainly broke that trend. However, since the conclusion of the Tournament of Power arc in Dragon Ball, some fans have expressed a sense of disappointment due to less frequent appearances, which has led to the form being labeled as overrated. Now, let’s explore whether this assessment holds any merit.

Why Some Fans Think Ultra Instinct Is Overrated

The Failings of the Transformation

First Appearance Dragon Ball Super, Episode 129, “A Transcendent Limit Break! Autonomous Ultra Instinct Mastered!”
Debut Date March 4, 2018
  • Some fans feel that due to it being gotten the better of quite often, it’s overrated.

In the early episodes of Dragon Ball Super, Ultra Instinct was hinted when Goku’s body prevented him from attacking Beerus without his control. But it wasn’t until much later in the series that viewers were given an authentic glimpse of this, which turned out to be a supreme defensive method across the multiverse. This technique is famously employed by the Angels, beings regarded as the most powerful in existence.

Some fans argue that this technique, being legendary and wielded by the strongest characters, should not be excessively powerful compared to lesser abilities. For instance, in Chapter 103, Goku and Gohan engage in combat using their most potent forms to showcase Gohan’s remarkable Beast state. Unlike Ultra Instinct, Beast is not a transformation designed for housing Divine Techniques.

Despite being outmatched on paper, they managed to outmaneuver Goku in his most powerful form by moving too fast for its automatic dodging abilities to keep up. This upset some fans because they believed that a technique as prestigious as Ultra Instinct shouldn’t be bested by something that supposedly falls short compared to it. If the form that embodies the Angel’s Divine Technique can be exploited by almost anyone, then according to these critics, it’s a technique that has been oversold and undeserving of its reputation.

While this instance isn’t unique, it shares similarities with past storylines like Moro and Granolah. One issue evident in the series becomes apparent here – an overabundance of transformations that seem excessive. Even though Goku achieved Ultra Instinct during the Tournament of Power, subsequent manga arcs found him switching between mastered state, ‘true’ state, employing the technique in his base form, Super Saiyan God form, and more. This resulted in unnecessary complexities for fans to follow, with critics arguing that if the technique is as powerful as claimed, there wouldn’t be a need for such frequent changes.

Why Ultra Instinct Is Not An Overrated Technique Or Form

The Legendary Divine Technique

  • Due to how legendary and powerful it is, it makes sense why it would take a lot of time and effort for Goku to master Ultra Instinct so he could tailor it to himself.

Introducing Ultra Instinct into the Dragon Ball series signifies a significant shift from previous transformations in the franchise, as it offers more than just boosting speed and strength through ambiguous methods. Instead, it functions as an unparalleled defense mechanism in the universe, which can only be mastered by someone with an exceptionally tranquil mind and spirit. Given Goku’s serene nature, this transformation fits him perfectly.

From my perspective as a die-hard fan, the way the series has depicted Goku’s handling and mastery of his powers is quite logical. Granted, the contention about Gohan being on par with his Beast form sparked some controversy, but that’s another discussion altogether. However, given the ongoing nature of the series, it’s essential to introduce a counter for this form to ensure there’s something that Goku is continually striving to achieve; otherwise, it could become monotonous. For instance, if Goku’s Ultra Instinct became invincible against all perils, every adversary he faced would be insignificant, rendering the series remarkably uninteresting.

When everyone seems to be opposing me, it simply means I have a tougher battle ahead. But instead of backing down, it motivates me to work even harder and strive for victory all the more!

It’s impressive how Super is handling things. Right now, it appears that only extraordinary speed can match Ultra Instinct, a feat that even applies to the Angels, as Whis mentioned that despite their multiversal status, they are in an ongoing state of Ultra Instinct but vary in precision with it, with Grand Priest having the highest level of accuracy. This difference might indicate the reaction speed of the Angels, which would be significantly faster for a mortal like Goku.

It makes sense that Goku, who struggles with extremely fast speeds, needs to work hard on mastering his Ultra Instinct ability. And while there’s debate about whether Goku requires various states to be more precise in this form, it does seem accurate. Once Mastered Ultra Instinct has been attained, though, it could become the definitive form of Goku, one that he eventually perfects without having to switch between all these different states for greater precision.

Dragon Ball can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-05-26 17:38