Summary
TheDragon Ballseries has aged like fine wine, paving the way for future anime by setting the standard for epic fights, transformative power-ups, and masterful storytelling. Largely due to its iconic transformations, Goku has even been featured on a FIFA Qualifier Match poster against Sun Wukong, highlighting just how popular the show has become.
While all transformations are now considered classics, some carry more weight because of their backstories. Some are painful, others haunting, like that of Broly, and many have given us literal goosebumps due to their timing and narrative build-up. Regardless, all of these transformations share one common trait: they are iconic.
Spoilers for various parts of the Dragon Ball series
10Goku Goes Ultra Instinct
Dragon Ball Super, Episode 110
Goku’s Ultra Instinct was undoubtedly the highlight of Dragon Ball Super, a powerful reminder of the series' glory days. It was raw, electrifying, and the moment fans had waited for. When Beerus announced, ‘Here it comes,’ we knew things were about to get intense.
After being absorbed into the Spirit Bomb, it was easy to think Goku may have met his end. But what came next was an exhilarating crescendo of music accompanied by a breathtaking scene as Goku burst back onto the battlefield, transformed and radiating otherworldly energy, completely in a zone unlike anything before.
It felt like a complete personality shift! But what made it better was when Jiren effortlessly dodged Goku’s punch, giving us a heads-up that the balance had finally been restored. The fight was finally on, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
9Frieza’s Final Form On Planet Namek
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 83
When a villain bluffs that they still have wo forms remaining after reaching a one million reading on the scouters, you better believe them. Unfortunately, Piccolo thought it was a bluff. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Frieza’s final form was the perfect recipe to create the definition of anevil villain.
It wasn’t scary like the third form, nor did Frieza take on any more muscles. In fact, it was the opposite, with Frieza almost looking like too easy of a match. But things immediately made sense when Frieza took down Dende with a single laser beam that only Vegeta could even tell was on its way. Frieza had finally shown his true form and every passing second elevated the tension.
8Vegeta Transforms Into Super Saiyan
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 129
TheAndroid Cell Sagais arguably the best in the Dragon Ball franchise and Vegeta’s Super Saiyan transformation is enough to convince you why. Recalling Trunks’ warning, Gohan put two and two together when he saw his father struggling to finish off Android 19. It was the virus attacking his heart. But who could even fight against these Androids? Who would be able to continue on behalf of Goku?
Behold, Vegeta enters. Bruce Faulconer’s score begins playing and you witness a power that had not been seen for thousands of years. Vegeta finally turned into a Super Saiyan. All that hardwork, all that struggle had finally paid off. It was time for Vegeta to reclaim his throne, and a machine was about to sense fear.
7Perfect Cell
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 160
After finally absorbing Android 18, the Perfect Cell began his final transformation. What emerged wasn’t just a more powerful monster; it was arguably thebest villain Dragon Ball ever created. Cell transformed from a brutish beast into a calm, almost elegant figure, exuding a dangerous charm and refined demeanor that contrasted sharply with his Semi-Perfect form.
Yet the power was as terrifying as ever. With a single kick, Krillin was nearly killed, and Vegeta would soon face the consequences of his pride. As Cell chillingly put it, ‘I know what you’re thinking. I’m a nightmare that just won’t go away.’ The Perfect Form was more than an upgrade; it was the arrival of the perfect nightmare that left fans captivated.
6Vegito Is Born
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 269
Ultimate Gohan was supposed to be the final line of defense against Buu, but a brutal twist left him absorbed, creating the monstrous Buuhan. The stakes had never been higher. Yet, in this chaos, Elder Kai offered a last resort, the Potara earrings.
Goku was seconds away from fusing with Tien, but then fate intervened and Baba returned Vegeta from the otherworld. After some heated convincing, Vegeta relented, and the moment those earrings connected, we witnessed the birth of a legend. The ultimate warrior emerged, and even after being transformed into a literal candy, Vegito toyed with Buuhan like it was nothing.
5Goku Transforms Into Super Saiyan 4
Dragon Ball GT, Episode 35
As Goku lies on the brink of death, staring at Earth from Planet Plant and reminiscing about his cherished memories, he begins to transform into the Golden Great Ape, unleashing a furious rampage, but Pan manages to bring him back to his senses. This pivotal moment sets the stage for the Super Saiyan 4 transformation.
This time, there are no intense screams. Instead, it’s emotional as you catch glimpses of Goku’s childhood in silence. The Super Saiyan 4 form is nothing short of a nightmare, featuring striking red fur, a tail, red eye markings, and black hair, an homage to the ancestral history of the Saiyan race.
4Goku Transforms Into Super Saiyan 3
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 245
It may be one of the most memed transformations in Dragon Ball history, infamous for taking too long, achieving little, and feeling ill-suited for drawn-out fights, but there’s no denying that Super Saiyan 3 is iconic. Goku stops Babidi and Majin Buu to buy time for Trunks to grab the Dragon Radar by giving Buu a crash course onall his Super Saiyan forms.
But then, in a jaw-dropping twist, Goku begins transforming into Super Saiyan 3. The result? An eyebrowless powerhouse with flowing, long hair, radiating an overwhelming aura that even has Piccolo sweating for the safety of Earth. However, this transformation comes with a significant drawback: it demands an immense amount of life energy, a resource Goku is running low on. While we can’t help but question why he didn’t finish off Buu when he had the chance, this moment remains one of the most unforgettable scenes in anime.
3Broly Transforms Into The Legendary Super Saiyan
Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan
What is arguably the most breathtaking and painful display of power, the legendary Super Saiyan, took the Z Warriors by surprise, so much so that even Vegeta was brought to his knees in fear. Broly’s transformation into the Legendary Super Saiyan begins with screams of agony as we witness his skin literally shred apart to make room for his bulging muscles.
The horror and cold-blooded nature of this transformation, paired with Broly’s unsettling smile and the eerie music in the background, left every Z Warrior clenching their fists in shock, completely bewildered about how they would possibly take down the monster before them. This was the one moment when fans desperately wished for a non-canon villain to be made canon.
2Gohan Transforms Into Super Saiyan 2
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 185
Gohan’s Super Saiyan 2 transformation, so powerful even Cell muttered, “Incredible,” was the undisputed peak of the Cell Saga. Where Trunks, Vegeta, and even Goku had fallen short, Gohan achieved the impossible, amplifying his power without sacrificing speed. And he did it all at the age of 11. With his friends barely clinging to life against the Cell Juniors and Gohan pleading for mercy, hope seemed nearly lost until Mr. Satan threw Android 16’s head toward Gohan.
A few words of encouragement were all it took to unleash the beast that had been lying dormant within. What came next was a transformation that rattled the entire battlefield. Gohan erupted in a chilling scream, power surging through him as he shattered his limits. Cell, unfazed, mocked him, claiming he was making the same mistake as Trunks. But Gohan took it further. As Gohan’s Theme echoed through the scene, Gohan’s aura sparked with electricity, signaling the arrival of a new force. At that moment, Gohan was no longer a boy, he had become a man. This was Dragon Ball at its absolute peak.
1Goku Transforms Into Super Saiyan
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 95
As far as canon transformations go, Goku’s Super Saiyan awakening is as legendary as it gets. When Frieza ruthlessly killed Krillin after surviving the Spirit Bomb, it looked like Goku had finally reached his breaking point. He was losing the last of his humanity. And that’s when the legendary transformation began. The sky darkened, lightning crackled, and the ground trembled as Goku struggled to control his rage.
Then, it happened. His hair turned golden, his eyes green, and we were already out of our seats. We could hardly believe our eyes. This was it. This was the moment when the myth of the Super Saiyan, passed down for generations, finally took form before us. The legend had become reality. Goku had transformed into the legend himself.
