Super Saiyan’s are without a doubtDragon Ball’smost iconic transformation and the original stands as one of the more recognizable designs in anime and manga. Introduced during the culmination of the Frieza Saga, the ability to go Super Saiyan started off as an incredibly rare and legendary feat, but has since become a standard measure of strength for every character with Saiyan lineage.
Dragon Ball Superadded to Super Saiyan lore, first with the introduction of Super Saiyan God inBattle of Gods,and later with the Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (often referred to as Super Saiyan Blue) form introduced in the followingResurrection of Ffilm. While Ultra Instinct stands as the current end-all-be-all, one prominent non-canon transformation might benefit from being reworked into the series.
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For years,Dragon Ball GT’sSuper Saiyan 4 stood as the successor to Super Saiyan 3. Being a part of theGTcanon, SS4 could never be thought of as an official part of the series but was recognized invarious games and other mediathroughout the years.Super’sintroduction of Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue circumvented SS4, officially making it a thing of the series’ past. But just as Broly was re-imagined forDragon Ball Super: Broly,the same can be done for Super Saiyan 4.
What Would Happen With Super Saiyan 4’s Iconic Design?
Super Saiyan 4’s design is a big part of what made it stand out compared to its predecessors. Rather than keep with the gold-haired, green-eyed look that made the first three so distinguishable, it mixed in elements of the Great Ape andSuper Saiyan transformationsas a sort of humanoid hybrid between the two.
The lore behind Super Saiyan 4 would very likely change, as it doesn’t suit the current narrative direction. But while design changes are to be expected, it would be better if Toriyama or whoever make sure that the new Super Saiyan 4 retains the sharp design and unique characteristics that have made it so popular within the fan base.
How Characters Attain Super Saiyan 4 Would have To Change
If SS4 were to be brought back, the biggest issue to fix would be its implementation. As its design would suggest, reaching Super Saiyan 4 is dependent on a Saiyan being strong enough to reach anotherGTvariant form; the Golden Great Ape. The formfirst appeared in aDragon Ballfiller episodeand was then expanded upon inGT.Saiyans must not only be able to reach this form, but manage to regain their conscience after the fact to make the leap to Super Saiyan 4.
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InGT,Vegeta additionallyneeds to be exposed to Blutz Waveswhenever he wants to transform. The series’ writers made it so that Goku could trigger it as he would any other transformation, and that seems like the best way to approach it should it ever return.
Giving SS4 so many parameters feels redundant, and would only slow down the pacing of any sequence it’d be utilized in. Even Ultra Instinct, as strong as it is, doesn’t require nearly as much build-up and allows for a much smoother transition when used in battle.
Where It Would Fit In
Though SS4 served as Goku and Vegeta’s peak inGT,both Super Saiyan Blue and Perfected Ultra Instinct stand as the current plateaus for their respective abilities inSuper’scanon. The problem with injecting Super Saiyan 4 into the current narrative lies with where it fits in. As it stands, Perfected Ultra Instinct seems like it’ll be Goku’s signature transformation, while Vegeta is pushing the limits of what Super Saiyan Blue can do.
Though watching Goku, Vegeta, and others reach new heights has become a big part of what drivesDragon Ball’snarrative, the series could easily give the feat to another Saiyan character. Many fanswould love to see Gohantake on a larger role in the franchise, but as is the case with Goku and Vegeta, Gohan’s Mystic form from the Buu Saga remains his signature transformation. Since Trunks, Goten, and Pam are all too inexperienced to believably reach this level, Broly is left as the most logical choice.
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Paragus speculates that the reason his son is able to match Vegeta and Goku’s raw strength during their battles inBrolyis due to him channeling the strength of his Great Ape form. This is very similar to the Super Saiyan 4 transformation process, though there’s no way to know of whether this is intentional yet.Broly’s subconscious useof his Great Ape form in battle allows for an established method of re-introducing the transformation into the main series.
It’d be fitting for Broly, a fan-favorite character whose popularity over the years brought him into the official canon, to receive a transformation introduced under similar circumstances. Pairing Super Saiyan 4 with Broly’s Legendary Super Saiyan form could not only solidify his push as one ofDragon Ball’sstrongest characters but give the beloved transformation the same beneficial treatment he received whenSuperbrought him back into the fold.
