Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball covers a lot of ground, but there are many differences between each series in the saga even if they all expand upon the same story. Characters use many popular energy attacks throughout Dragon Ball, but none have become as iconic as the series’ Super Saiyan transformations. Super Saiyans have become series mainstays in both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super.
On its surface level, the Super Saiyan transformation hasn’t demonstrably changed between series and it still represents the same thing. However, Dragon Ball Super has incorporated some slight revisions and changes that highlight subtle differences between these transformations across Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super.
10 There’s A Greater Strain On The User’s Body In Z
Super Saiyan transformations push its users to incredible heights and Dragon Ball Z indicates that these forms can sometimes be too volatile for their own good. Super Saiyan Third Grade becomes too bulky in muscle to be practical and Super Saiyan 3 puts such a strain on the user’s body that it can only be maintained for short bursts of time.
It’s a Super Saiyan form that Goku indicates works best in the afterlife for this very reason. Dragon Ball Super’s new Super Saiyan forms don’t come with the same physical exertion and the Super Saiyan God transformations can be switched between for maximum performance.
9 Trauma Doesn’t Need To Be A Trigger In Super
A fundamental Super Saiyan ingredient during Dragon Ball Z is some sort of trauma or incredible burst of anger. This becomes the final trigger that pushes characters over the edge and it’s usually the result of a loved one’s death.
Dragon Ball Super’s Super Saiyan transformations seem incredibly more casual and the result of consistent training and being at peace with one’s body rather than an external tragedy. The major Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue transformations don’t require the same emotional pain and neither do Universe 6’s Saiyans for their changes.
8 The Eye Color Changes Differ In Super
The changing hair color and style is one of the most distinct details about a Super Saiyan transformation. However, this metamorphosis includes a unique change in eye color that adds a lot to the equation. Dragon Ball Z’s Super Saiyans all gain green eyes from the transformation.
Dragon Ball Super makes some major changes here with Super Saiyan God’s red eyes and Super Saiyan Blue’s blue eyes. This goes even further with Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego, which have silver and purple eyes, respectively. The series has decided that it’s worthwhile to experiment in this area rather than sticking with green eyes.
7 The User Experiences God Ki In Super
Ki is the central energy that fuels Dragon Ball and it’s essential for everything from flashy techniques to Super Saiyan transformations. A new Super Saiyan form multiplies the user’s base level ki in serious ways.
This tradition continues in Dragon Ball Super, but it also equips the user with God ki, which is a much more select energy force that’s only perceptible to the strongest and most worthy of individuals. God ki’s perks are quite specific, but they’re now available to Goku and Vegeta after Super’s new Super Saiyan stages.
6 Universe 6 Saiyans Experience The Transformation Through Body Focus
There's a fascinating moment in Dragon Ball Super when Goku and the rest of Universe 7's main Saiyans meet Cabba, Kale, and Caulifla from Universe 6. These Saiyans have never heard of Super Saiyans before and the transformation gets distilled to a process that was never present in Dragon Ball Z.
Universe 6 Saiyans talk about channeling a tingly feeling in the small of their back, like where a Saiyan's tail would be, that gets expanded into the Super Saiyan transformation. It's a type of change that's triggered through an understanding of one's body, whereas Universe 7's Super Saiyans come to be through external catalysts.
5 Super Saiyan Can Be Combined With Kaio-Ken In Super
Prior to Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation, his Kaio-Ken Attack was one of his most effective battle tools. The Kaio-Ken Attack allows Goku to multiply his strength and speed, albeit at the cost of an intense physical strain. Goku completely drops the Kaio-Ken (outside of filler) after he becomes a Super Saiyan and it was fair to assume that these two power-ups can’t be used in conjunction with each other.
Dragon Ball Super goes against this premise when Goku boldly combines the Kaio-Ken with his Super Saiyan Blue form during his fight against Hit in the Tournament of Destroyers. This opens up a lot of possibilities including what Super Saiyan 3 Kaio-Ken would be like.
4 A Ceremonial Ritual Can Be Used To Achieve Super Saiyan In Super
Dragon Ball Z treats Super Saiyan transformations as personal, individual accomplishments that mark extreme excellence above everyone else. Dragon Ball Super slightly changes these rules when it comes to Goku's Super Saiyan God ascension against Beerus.
Goku triggers this power through a Super Saiyan God ritual, wherein five righteous Saiyans assemble and donate their energy to Goku. It's a method of transformation that's antithetical to everything that's come before it and apparently something that's not even necessary since Vegeta achieves his transformation on his own accord.
3 The Transformations Focus On Hair Color, Not Length, In Super
The physical changes that take over a Super Saiyan make it a particularly fun metamorphosis. The hair color change and complimentary aura become the most striking element of the Super Saiyan transformation. Blonde hair, an electric aura, and increasing hair length become staples of any new Super Saiyan transformation.
Dragon Ball Super’s two new Super Saiyan tiers–Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue–opt for hair color and aura changes rather than hair that’s somehow more prominent than Super Saiyan 3. This changes the idea that a Super Saiyan transformation needs to have blonde hair and a whole spectrum of colors is now open to explore.
2 Its Healing Factor Changes Upon Super Saiyan God Status
One of the more indistinct details about Super Saiyans is that they involve some sort of healing factor in addition to their remarkable strength. Super Saiyan transformations typically fixate on power. However, Dragon Ball Z features a minor instance where Goku transfers life energy over to an injured bird, which becomes fully healed and flies away.
Alternatively, Dragon Ball Super's anime includes an instance where Goku's Super Saiyan God form allows him to heal wounds on his own body rather than helping others through the transfer of life energy. This "God Heal" skill isn't used again, so it's difficult to determine its conditions and limitations.
1 Each Saiyan Can Develop Their Own Super Saiyan Advanced Version In Super
So much of Dragon Ball Z has characters like Goku and Vegeta matching each other’s milestones when it comes to their transformations. Dragon Ball Super introduces the idea that each character can forge their own paths and develop unique evolutions that are specific to them. For Instance, Vegeta develops Super Saiyan Blue Evolved as a temporary alternative to Ultra Instinct, which he’s since replaced with Ultra Ego.
Goku Black has his Super Saiyan Rosé transformation that appears to be his Super Saiyan Blue equivalent. Future Trunks even experiences an upgraded Super Saiyan Rage form during the very same fight against Zamasu. Gohan Beast has become a more recent addition, too.
