Dragon Ball is one of the most popular shonen anime of all time, known for its superhuman fights and climactic transformations. One of the series' most iconic transformations is the Super Saiyan transformation used by main character Goku and many other members of the Saiyan race. The Super Saiyan form has had many upgrades and versions over the years, and one of the most well-known of these forms is Super Saiyan 4, a transformation that first appeared in Dragon Ball GT.
Although the form is quite popular, since it is currently not part of Dragon Ball canon, it has not appeared very often outside of Dragon Ball GT. While many people are aware of the form, there are a lot of specific details about Super Saiyan 4 that are not as well known.
10 Super Saiyan 4 Isn't Related To The Other Transformations
Despite being called Super Saiyan 4, the form isn't really related to the other forms of Super Saiyan outside of the first one. Instead, the transformation is based around utilizing the power of the Great Ape, specifically the Golden Great Ape form that only a Super Saiyan can attain.
Since the attainment of Super Saiyan 4 is based around controlling the power of the Golden Great Ape, it's not necessary for the user to achieve Super Saiyan 2 or 3 in order to achieve this form. This is clearly evident since Vegeta is able to attain Super Saiyan 4 despite never achieving Super Saiyan 3.
9 Super Saiyan 4 Brings The User To Their Prime
In the beginning of Dragon Ball GT, Goku is de-aged back to his child years. He spends the rest of the series in this form, except when he transforms into Super Saiyan 4. In that case, he is inexplicably transformed into an adult.
This is because Super Saiyan 4 restores its user to when they were at their prime. For Goku, that would have been when he was an adult, which is why the transformation ages him up. Vegeta also looks younger when he becomes a Super Saiyan 4.
8 Goku Used The Earth To Become A Golden Great Ape
In the series, it's stated that Saiyans must look at the moon when becoming Great Apes. However, the truth is that they use the Blutz Waves that the moon gives off in order to activate their transformation. These Blutz Waves aren't just given off by moons, but by any celestial body.
When Goku is in the middle of fighting Baby on the newly created Planet Plant, he catches sight of the nearby Planet Earth in the sky. He uses the Blutz Waves being emitted by the Earth in order to transform into a Golden Great Ape. While initially, it seemed like a turn for the worse, that was what eventually allowed Goku to become a Super Saiyan 4.
7 There's More Than One Way To Become A Super Saiyan 4
A Saiyan can only become a Great Ape (or a Golden Great Ape) if they have their tail. Vegeta, who lost his tail a long time ago, therefore had a bit of a roadblock when he was trying to attain the Super Saiyan 4 transformation.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways in which a Saiyan can achieve the form. Vegeta eventually did so by using Bulma's Blutz Wave Generator to charge him full of Blutz Waves, which allowed him to transform into a Great Ape despite not having a tail.
6 Super Saiyan 4 Allows Its User To Absorb Energy
Super Saiyan 4 doesn't just boost its user's abilities, it also grants them various powers as well. Once such power is the ability to absorb energy. While energy absorption is not exclusive to the Super Saiyan 4 transformation, it does end up being one of Super Saiyan 4's more helpful abilities.
One major example of when this ability is used is when Goku absorbs Baby's Revenge Death Ball Final. He uses the energy to fire back with his own devastating 10x Kamehameha, allowing him to turn the tides of the fight.
5 Super Saiyan 4 Has A Full Power Version
Many forms of Super Saiyan have alternate versions, and Super Saiyan 4 is no exception. One such version is the Full Power version, which Goku can only achieve by absorbing energy from fellow Saiyans. The transformation gives him a red aura that glows all over his body.
In the Full Power version, Super Saiyan 4 Goku is even more powerful than ever before. However, the extra power can also put a strain on his body, like when he used this form against Syn Shenron. However, the power boost is a benefit that outstrips the risk of the technique.
4 Only Goku Can Become A Super Saiyan 4 At Will
While Goku initially needed to become a Golden Great Ape before he could ascend to Super Saiyan 4, in later episodes of GT he is able to transform into the form at will. It soon becomes so natural to him that he doesn't even need to think about it.
The case is different for Vegeta, who still needs the power of the Blutz Waves even after having already become a Super Saiyan 4 once. This may have to do with the fact that Vegeta does not have his tail, but it still doesn't explain why Goku can become Super Saiyan 4 without needing the Blutz Waves himself. Perhaps it's just another one of Goku's unique abilities.
3 Broly From Dragon Ball Super Has A Power Similar To Super Saiyan 4
Dragon Ball Super introduces a new version of Broly that is different from the original movie version. This Broly has a couple new powers and abilities that set him apart from his original.
One such ability is the Wrathful state, a state in which Broly becomes overwhelmed by the power of the Great Ape. His form does not change, but he becomes slightly bigger and much stronger than he is usually. While this is not a true Super Saiyan form, it still bears a lot of resemblance to Super Saiyan 4, especially since both forms draw on the power of the Great Ape.
2 Super Saiyan 4 And Super Saiyan Blue Are Evenly Matched
There's nothing Dragon Ball fans like more than discussing power levels, and the topic of Super Saiyan 4 vs. Super Saiyan Blue can be quite enticing. However, since Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super are not connected, it can be hard to determine which of the two forms is more powerful.
Super Dragon Ball Heroes, a spin-off series that brings together character from all over Dragon Ball's canon, suggests that the two forms are actually evenly matched. In the first episode, Super Saiyan Blue Goku ends up squaring off with an alternate Goku with the power to become Super Saiyan 4. While their fight is short, it's clear that the two Gokus are equal in fighting power.
1 Saiyans Besides Goku and Vegeta Have Also Attained The Form
Dragon Ball Heroes is an arcade game series where many what-if possibilities in Dragon Ball are explored. While the canonicity of such events is generally cast into doubt, it's still fun to see the alternate paths that characters could have gone down.
It's in this series where we can see many other characters aside from Goku and Vegeta achieve Super Saiyan 4. Gohan is one prominent example, but Broly and Bardock have also managed to become Super Saiyan 4 as well. While a Super Saiyan 4 transformation may not be in the cards for Dragon Ball Super, it's nice to see that the form has not been forgotten by its creators.