The Saiyan Transformation Hierarchy

Super Saiyan: The OG Power Flex

We can’t start this list without paying homage to the classic Super Saiyan. Remember the first time Goku went super vs. Frieza? I find myself going back and watching this every now and then for the funsies, but absolute chills, right? This transformation set the bar for everything that came after. But let’s be real, in today’s Dragon Ball landscape, it’s basically the warm-up. Don’t get me wrong, the blonde spikes still hold up, but if you’re not at least on Super Saiyan 2, you’re just playing in the kiddie pool (literally, I think Goten and Trunks could do SSJ1 at three years old).

Super Saiyan 2: The Edgier Brother

When Gohan hit Super Saiyan 2 during the Cell Games, we all knew things were about to get wild. Lightning crackling, hair spikier than ever—it was a game-changer. SSJ2 is like that friend who’s just a little more intense than everyone else, always ready to throw hands. But, as epic as it is, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Time to level up.

Dragon Ball Z | Toei Animation

Super Saiyan 3: Perfect Hair Forever

Ah, Super Saiyan 3—where Goku’s hair decided to say, “Screw gravity!” This form is the literal definition of going over the top. It’s powerful, no doubt, but let’s be honest: the energy drain and super-pronounced 5-head is a real buzzkill. It’s like taking a sports car out for a spin only to realize you’re running on fumes. SSJ3 is flashy and packs a punch, but it’s not the most practical for those long battles.

Super Saiyan God: When Red Is the New Gold

Enter the Super Saiyan God, where things start getting divine. The red hair and slimmer physique make it look more chill, but don’t let that fool you—this form is packing some serious power. Goku’s epic battle with Beerus showed us that the gods weren’t playing around, and this form was our ticket to the big leagues.

Super Saiyan Blue: God-Level With Style

Now we’re talking. Super Saiyan Blue takes the godly ki from SSJ God and amps it up with the classic Super Saiyan power. The result? A badass blue aura and enough power to shake the multiverse. It’s the form of choice for Goku and Vegeta in most serious battles these days. Cool, calm, and devastating—SSJ Blue is the ultimate flex.

While Goku ends up leveling up through another route we’ll talk about later, Vegeta embraces the bold and the blue – pumping this transformation up to Ascended Super Saiyan Blue during the Tournament of Power vs. Jiren.

Dragon Ball Super | Toei Animation

Super Saiyan Rose: The Villain’s Delight

Goku Black rolled in with Super Saiyan Rose and gave us one of the sickest transformations in the series. TLDR: it’s basically Super Saiyan Blue but combined with divine energy and that spicy villainous pink twist. Rose isn’t just about style, though; it’s raw, unfiltered power with a side of sadism. It’s what you get when a god goes rogue, and it’s as terrifying as it is beautiful.

If you want the full-nerd answer though (we always do, right?), the manga goes on to explain this from the perspective of Zamasu, saying “So when a deity surpasses the Super Saiyan God, instead of blue, his hair turns light crimson!” Goku Black then adds, “I will keep this in line with your naming customs… I shall call this state… Super Saiyan Rosé.” – Chapter 20, Page 19 – putting a little twist on this compared to the anime.

Legendary Super Saiyan: The Berserker

We can’t forget the big, green monsters in the room—Broly and Kefla. The Legendary Super Saiyan is a form that turns the calmest of Saiyans into a raging beast. While we get some pretty cool scene’s of Kefla’s fury in the Tournament of Power, I still think that Broly’s power is just off the charts, and in his Legendary form, he’s a walking apocalypse. This isn’t just a power-up; it’s a complete transformation into a force of nature and the absolute top of the food chain. Just ask Goku and Vegeta how their last Broly encounter went…

Honorable Mentions

Beyond Blue and Rose: The Ultra Instinct Phenomenon

Okay, so technically, Ultra Instinct isn’t a Saiyan transformation per se, but let’s not split silvery hairs here. When Goku unlocked this godly technique, the Dragon Ball universe collectively lost its mind. Ultra Instinct is all about pure, unadulterated instinct and reaction speed. Goku moves like a god, dodging and countering without even thinking. It’s not just a power boost—it’s a whole new way of fighting.

During the Tournament of Power, we were able to see the culmination of this technique (that Lord Beerus hasn’t even fully mastered) in all of its glory while Goku and Jiren went toe-to-toe and hot damn was it worth it.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2

Beast Gohan: The Ultimate Throwback

Just when you thought Gohan was out of the game, Dragon Ball threw us a curveball with Beast Gohan, introduced in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Jumping into the honorable mentions slot purely because of lack of information and I believe this to be a hybrid Saiyan/Human technique that pure-blooded Saiyans wouldn’t be capable of.

This transformation is like a love letter to all the Gohan fans who’ve been waiting for him to reclaim his spot at the top since the Cell Games in DBZ. BTW, don’t think we didn’t acknowledge the parallels of Gohan being the first being shown to achieve SSJ2 vs. Cell – only to have raised the bar again with such a badass upgrade as Beast Gohan vs. Cell Max now.

Picture this: the cool, collected Gohan we know and love, but with an aura that screams “Don’t mess with me.” His hair goes wild, silver with a tinge of purple, and his eyes turn red, giving off a vibe that’s more savage than anything we’ve seen from him before.

Beast Gohan isn’t just a new form; it’s a return to his roots, tapping into that raw potential we saw during the Cell Games, but with a new level of ferocity. It’s like the Ultimate Gohan transformation but cranked up to 11. This form doesn’t rely on godly ki or traditional Super Saiyan energy; it’s all Gohan, fueled by his own untapped power and the desire to protect those he cares about.

In terms of raw strength, Beast Gohan is a serious contender for one of the strongest Saiyan forms we’ve seen, proving that Gohan still has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the big boys. If you were starting to sleep on Gohan, this transformation is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

So there you have it, the ultimate Saiyan showdown. Whether you’re Team Blue, Team Rose, or just here for the Ultra Instinct hype, the Saiyan race continues to push the limits of power, style, and pure, unadulterated hype. But hey, that’s just the start of our adventure here at reportafk.com. Stick around for more deep dives into the worlds of gaming, anime, and everything in between.

Stay powered up, and remember—there’s always another level to unlock.