The Dragon Ball series is easily one of the most high-octane and epic shonen series around, featuring a wealth of incredible battles and awe-inspiring power-ups that have become legendary in their own right, with the Super Saiyan transformation being one of the most notable mentions in this regard.

It's a testament to the immense power scaling present in the Dragon Ball series — especially Dragon Ball Super — that the original Super Saiyan form has now been completely dwarfed by a wealth of incredible transformations, which are widely considered to be some of the strongest transformations in the history of Dragon Ball.

Updated on March 20, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Dragon Ball is one of the greatest shonen manga of all time. Akira Toriyama's work was celebrated as a piece of fiction that shaped future generations, letting them enjoy the goodness of Dragon Ball as they charged up a Spirit Bomb with Goku and helped him save the world time and time again. This legendary creator may be gone, but his legacy will persist for time immemorial. The focus on transformations in this series was quite influential, making it clear how valuable this powerup really is.

24 Great Ape

A Transformation Triggered When A Saiyan With A Tail Gazes Upon The Full Moon

• First Appearance: A Wish to the Eternal Dragon (Episode 12, Dragon Ball)

The revelation of Goku being an alien was something that rattled fans of the original series, who were surprised to see Toriyama take such a bold route. All of a sudden, Goku's quirks made sense — he is a member of the Saiyan race, with his tail letting him bolster his powers by transforming on the night of a full moon.

This transformation is used by Vegeta to overpower Goku during their battle. It takes the combined efforts of every warrior in existence to take down this powerful Saiyan before he gets the Dragon Balls and wishes for immortality.

23 Super Saiyan

The Transformation That Started It All

• First Appearance: Transformed at Last (Episode 95, Dragon Ball Z)

The first appearance of the Super Saiyan transformation makes for one of the most memorable moments in anime history, with Goku and his pals struggling against Frieza even after hitting him with a powerful Spirit Bomb. Enraged at being damaged by this move, Frieza pierces Piccolo with a finger beam before taking Krillin and exploding him, sending Goku into a frenzy that ends with him achieving this legendary transformation.

Frieza was no match for this transformed Saiyan, who straight-up humiliated him before leaving him behind in the dust after deeming him unworthy of battle. The emperor didn't take this insult lying down and unleashed a final attack that was quickly punished by Goku, ending this fight once and for all.

22 Super Saiyan 2

Marked The End Of Cell After Gohan Finally Achieved His Latent Potential

• First Appearance: Cell Juniors Attack! (Episode 184, Dragon Ball Z)

Gohan's potential has been shown time and time again in Dragon Ball Z before the advent of the Cell Saga. Despite having untapped latent power that dwarfs most other Z Warriors, Gohan's gentle nature prevented him from really hurting his opponents, which took away from his effectiveness as a fighter. However, after witnessing Cell's brutality and the deaths of his father and Android 16, something snapped in Gohan. He finally gave in to his anger, leading to one of the greatest transformation scenes in Dragon Ball history.

In his Super Saiyan 2 form, Gohan outclassed Perfect Cell in every way and served him an overdue slice of humble pie. He was so powerful that one of his arms needed to be taken out of commission by an ultra-powerful Cell to even the odds... but, despite this injury, Gohan managed to unleash a Kamehameha for the ages that took Cell out once and for all.

21 Super Saiyan 3

An Ear-Piercing Scream That Showed How Much Of A Strain This Transformation Is

• First Appearance: Super Saiyan 3?! (Episode 245, Dragon Ball Z)

There was a time when the Super Saiyan 3 transformation was considered by many to be the peak of the series. The amazing transformation coupled with an iconic look has helped this form easily establish a legacy that is still quite palpable.

However, with the advent of Dragon Ball Super, one has to admit that the Super Saiyan 3 transformation has taken somewhat of a backseat. It might be one of the weaker transformations now, but it's still a great treat to witness regardless.

20 Strongest Form 1

A Transformation Achieved By A Saiyan Infested With A Tuffle Parasite

• First Appearance: The Fall of the Saiyans (Episode 29, Dragon Ball GT)

Dragon Ball GT introduced the race of Tuffle Parasites, with Baby being the most notable of the lot. These parasites can take over Saiyans and increase their power level to new heights.

This leads to the creation of Strongest Form 1, which is an extremely unique transformation indeed. It's too bad that this transformation was only touched upon in the outdated Dragon Ball GT and the redundant Dragon Ball Super Heroes.

19 Golden Great Ape

A Powerful Great Ape Transformation That Drastically Increases The Power Of A Tailed Saiyan

• First Appearance: The Tail's Tale (Episode 33, Dragon Ball GT)

There's no denying that GT toyed around with some interesting concepts, starting as an homage to Dragon Ball's early years before shifting into the more battle-oriented format fans had come to love. The biggest revelation in this series was the introduction of a new Super Saiyan form that had a fair amount of buildup to it.

The precursor to Super Saiyan 4 is the Golden Great Ape form, which brings with it a state of mindlessness and reckless abandon. Only warriors with the mental fortitude to retain their sense of self in this state can contain this overflowing power and achieve Super Saiyan 4.

18 Super Saiyan 4

Goku Unlocks His Adult Form With This Transformation In GT

• First Appearance: Back in the Game (Episode 34, Dragon Ball GT)

While the Super Saiyan 4 transformation isn't considered to be canon by many, there's no denying the fact that this particular powerup is immensely powerful in its own right and deserves a mention in such a competitive list.

Dragon Ball Heroes has made it quite evident that the Super Saiyan 4 transformation isn't a slouch by any stretch of the imagination, standing toe-to-toe with transformations that use god ki as well... even though this portrayal might not exactly be canon.

17 Super Saiyan God

A Divine Form That Opens The Door For God Ki To Become The Norm In Dragon Ball

• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods

The idea of a new Super Saiyan transformation existing in the Dragon Ball universe was something that intrigued fans to no end, and most people would agree that the Super Saiyan God transformation was a great way for the Saiyans of the series to gain access to a whole new level of power.

While this form might've been painfully ignored after its first appearance in the series, there's no denying the immense power of this form regardless. A person under the effects of this transformation might not look physically imposing, but the massive power boost more than makes up for this poor first impression.

16 Golden Frieza

Marks Frieza's Much-Needed Power-Up To Be On The Same Level As Super's Strongest Warriors

• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'

The revival of the popular series villain Frieza was a major source of jubilation for fans of the series who wanted to see more of this iconic tyrant. So, when Frieza finally managed to unlock a new level of power in the form of Golden Frieza, it was only a given that fans were in for a treat.

While one might agree that this form isn't all that powerful when compared to how much Dragon Ball Super has evolved since then, there's no denying the fact that Golden Frieza is an incredibly powerful warrior who can certainly take care of himself in a fight against powerful opponents in this state.

15 Super Saiyan Rage

A Weird Transformation That Lets Trunks Stand Toe-To-Toe With Powerful Beings Like Zamasu And Goku Black

• First Appearance: Zamasu's Ambition The Storied "Project 0 Mortals" of Terror (Episode 61, Dragon Ball Super)

For the most part, Trunks felt like a fighter relegated to the backseat during the Future Trunks arc in Dragon Ball Super. However, after being on the receiving end of a physical and emotional beatdown, he finally attained the power required to break his limits.

This led to the emergence of Super Saiyan Rage, a high-powered version of Super Saiyan 2 that allowed him to fight on equal footing with fighters who sported god ki! It's a testament to the resilience of this individual that he managed to reach this level of power through sheer willpower.

14 Legendary Super Saiyan

A Unique Super Saiyan Form Only Reserved For A Few Select Super Saiyans Like Broly And Kale

• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan

Dragon Ball Super: Broly is quite possibly the greatest Dragon Ball movie of all time, featuring an intriguing — and misunderstood — antagonist with one of the most powerful transformations of all time.

The Legendary Super Saiyan transformation is something that Dragon Ball Super definitely experimented with — Kale being the first and foremost example of this. However, the true potential of this transformation was seen with Broly, who ended up ascending to a level of power that was so intense that Goku and Vegeta had to resort to the Fusion Dance to even the odds.

13 Super Saiyan Rose

A Form Unlocked After Divine Ki Is Utilized By A Saiyan Body With The Mind Of A Deity

• First Appearance: Rematch with Goku Black! Enter Super Saiyan Rose (Episode 56, Dragon Ball Super)

Watching Goku Black take on the Super Saiyan Rose form for the first time was an absolute treat to behold. It also showed that the villain was no slouch and would give both Vegeta and Goku a run for their money.

His powers were unique and brutal as well, making the Super Saiyan Rose form even more intimidating. It's a shame that the form was only present for one arc before being relegated for the foreseeable future.

12 Super Saiyan Blue

Also Known As Super Saiyan God Ascended Super Saiyan

• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'

Also known by the lengthy moniker of Super Saiyan God Ascended Super Saiyan, the Super Saiyan Blue form is easily the most popular form in the entire series, being used multiple times throughout a slew of different arcs.

While some may argue that the luster of this form has diminished somewhat following the various ways in which fighters using this form were hindered or defeated, there's no denying the fact that Super Saiyan Blue is still an extremely powerful form that deserves a ton of credit for opening the doorway to new heights of power — once again — in Dragon Ball Super.

11 Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken

Combines The Control Of Super Saiyan Blue With The Calming Focus Of The Kaio-ken

• First Appearance: A Developed "Time Skip" Counterstrike? Here Comes Goku's New Move! (Episode 39, Dragon Ball Super)

After being outclassed by Hit and his Time-Skip, Goku realized that he needed to tap into a major power reserve to even the odds against this worthy foe.

He managed to do so by taking the boundless power of Super Saiyan Blue and combining it with the Kaio-ken, allowing him to multiply his power exponentially and outclass Hit in a battle for the ages.

10 Destroyer Form

Top Channels The Energy Of A Destroyer, Harboring It Without Tearing Apart In A Feat Of Impressive Strength

• First Appearance: A Commanding Presence! The Advent of Top the Destroyer! (Episode 125, Dragon Ball Super)

Top was a formidable enemy whose power reserves were truly incredible. The fact that Jiren was the only fighter more powerful than him in Universe 11 is a testament to just how powerful Top really was.

His Destroyer Form allowed him to utilize the powers of a God of Destruction and lay waste to his enemies. In fact, Vegeta could've easily been defeated by Top in his form had he not unlocked his very own power during the Tournament of Power.

9 Orange Piccolo

Aside From The Stupid Name, This Form Gives A Much-Needed Power-Up To Piccolo

• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero served as a great way to place the spotlight on other characters aside from Goku and Vegeta. This movie gave Piccolo and Gohan their moment to shine against the remnants of the Red Ribbon Army.

In this movie, Piccolo makes a wish to unlock his latent potential, which makes him a force to be reckoned with. On top of that, Shenron also gave Piccolo a power-up that let him transform into what he dubs Orange Piccolo.

8 Super Saiyan Blue Evolved

An Ascended Variant Of Super Saiyan Blue That Vegeta Unlocks During The Tournament Of Power

• First Appearance: Body, Soul, and Power Unleashed! Goku and Vegeta! (Episode 123, Dragon Ball Super)

During the Tournament of Power, Vegeta realized that he needed to reach a new level of power without walking the same path that Kakarot did. The Prince of all Saiyans transformed this mental fortitude into physical strength and reached a new level of power with the Super Saiyan Blue transformation.

Super Saiyan Blue Evolved is an incredibly powerful transformation that allowed Vegeta to get the upper hand on Top and defeat him in battle. One can only wait and see the role this transformation will play in the sequel to Dragon Ball Super.

7 Ultra Instinct Sign

An Imperfect Form Of Ultra Instinct

• First Appearance: Goku Enkindled! The Awakened One's New Ultra Instinct! (Episode 110, Dragon Ball Super)

Ultra Instinct is a transformation that was mentioned time and time again by Whis during his training, which made it all the more satisfying to see Goku reach this level of power during the Tournament of Power.

While his first few attempts to reach this form resulted in an incomplete transformation, the massive boost in power allowed him to wipe the floor with Kefla, courtesy of one of the most iconic Kamehamehas in the entire series.

6 True Ultra Instinct

A Compromise For Goku That Lets Him Channel The Power Of Ultra Instinct Without Losing His Saiyan Instincts

• First Appearance: To Each His Own Answer (Chapter 85, Dragon Ball Super)

In the manga, Goku tried to master the Ultra Instinct form but was unable to do so. The calmness of the form was something that Goku found hard to master, clashing with his natural instincts as a warrior.

Instead of trying to force himself to fight differently, Goku decided to adopt a different version of the Ultra Instinct that was more in line with his manner of fighting. This led to the formation of True Ultra Instinct, which sees Goku in one of his strongest forms.

5 Super Full Power

Jiren's Maxed-Out Form

• First Appearance: The Greatest Showdown of All Time! The Ultimate Survival Battle! (Episode 130, Dragon Ball Super)

Jiren is one of the most powerful fighters the Z Warriors have ever come across. His power was immense and pushed both Goku and Vegeta to the very limit.

His power became even more impressive after he unleashed a Super Full Power form that turned him into a force of pure and utter destruction. If Goku hadn't mastered Ultra Instinct, then it's very much possible that Universe 7 would've resoundingly lost the tournament.