Over a decade ago, the Dragon Ball series reshaped the Saiyan power dynamics with the introduction of Super Saiyan God in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. This marked a pivotal moment where a new form emerged, challenging the existing Super Saiyan transformations.
The competition between Super Saiyan 3 from Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga and Super Saiyan 4 from Dragon Ball GT was fierce, with the arrival of Dragon Ball Super establishing Super Saiyan God as the new benchmark for power, pushing the series into uncharted territory. Let's explore the distinctive features of Super Saiyan God and how it reshaped the power hierarchy in the franchise.
Unraveling Super Saiyan God
Super Saiyan God is a legendary transformation among Saiyans, tapping into divine ki to unleash unmatched power levels beyond traditional Super Saiyan forms in Dragon Ball Z. Even the mighty Super Saiyan 3 pales in comparison to this divine form's might.
According to the Saiyan lore narrated by Shenron, a Super Saiyan God once graced Planet Vegeta, defeating evil Saiyans with unprecedented power. However, due to the form's limitations, it faded into myth shortly after its brief appearance, allowing evil to resurface on the planet.
The Divine Ritual
To attain this divine form, a sacred ritual is required, as detailed by Shenron. The process involves five virtuous Saiyans joining hands to channel their energy into a sixth Saiyan, who embodies the essence of a Super Saiyan God upon successful completion. While the ritual varies slightly between Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Super, the core remains consistent.
Both versions depict a circle of Saiyans transferring their energy to the chosen one, manifesting a blue aura before the transformation takes place. The anime rendition adds intricacies like altered weather conditions and physical contact during the ritual, enhancing the visual spectacle.
Upon transformation, the Super Saiyan God radiates a pinkish-red aura, crimson eyes, and vibrant hair, embodying the divine essence. Initially perceived as unattainable power, Goku and Vegeta later mastered the form through rigorous training with Whis, unlocking its full potential independently.
Ascending Beyond Limits
Upon transformation, the Super Saiyan God emanates a fiery red aura, a departure from traditional Super Saiyan alterations. Notably, the form accentuates a lean, youthful physique, diverging from the muscular build of previous Saiyan transformations, mirroring divine beings in the Dragon Ball universe.
The mental composure of a Super Saiyan God sets it apart, contrasting the aggressive nature of prior Super Saiyan iterations. One distinctive trait is the ability to sense godly ki, albeit requiring adaptation. Users can absorb and neutralize attacks, with healing capabilities embedded in the godly ki, offering regenerative powers.
Harnessing Godly Might
The composed demeanor of Super Saiyan God mandates a strategic combat approach, emphasizing evasion and calculated strikes over brute force. Despite its immense power surpassing previous forms, improper control can lead to catastrophic consequences, highlighting the need for mastery.
Goku's initial struggles with the form underscore its challenges, with stamina depletion posing a significant hurdle. Over time, both Goku and Vegeta honed their skills, seamlessly transitioning between Super Saiyan Blue and Super Saiyan God to optimize efficiency in battle.
Super Saiyan God's introduction marked a pivotal shift in the series, ushering in a new era of godly ki-based power dynamics and character-specific transformations. This transformative journey laid the groundwork for future evolutions like Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego, propelling the Dragon Ball franchise into uncharted realms of power and potential.
Stream Dragon Ball Super on Crunchyroll for more Saiyan adventures.