Among all the action anime series that have made a lasting impression on audiences, Dragon Ball Z is still one of the most popular series. Dragon Ball has been around for decades. Even when there was no new anime content, the franchise was still producing new mediums like video games. Dragon Ball has had many successes over the years, but Dragon Ball GT is still one of anime's most controversial sagas. 😥
First introduced in the Dragon Ball GT saga, the Super Saiyan 4 Form (超サイヤ人フォー 4, Sūpā Saiya-jin Fō ) is not canonical with the main Dragon Ball series. Yet despite this, it is a transformation which has managed to find a place in the hearts of fans and which has also marked Akira Toriyama's series forever. 💖
It's easy to attack DBGT for its many inconsistencies, but there is at least one aspect of the series that still holds a lot of our attention, namely its Super Saiyan 4 transformation. So let's not wait another second to tell you the 10 Best Facts About Super Saiyan 4 !
10. THE FIRST SUPER SAIYAN 4
Dragon Ball sometimes alludes to the previous history that its universe has known. Even though characters like Goku and Vegeta are the most powerful Saiyans the universe has seen in ages, there were still individuals who surpassed them long ago. 🏆
So there are obviously allusions to the legendary Super Saiyan Yamoshi , and a similar approach is taken with the SSJ4 form. Old Kaio Shin has a lot of knowledge about Super Saiyan 4, even before Goku's first transformation. So it's possible that he saw one in the past or at least heard legends of their existence. 📖
9. THE IMPROVED TECHNIQUES OF SUPER SAIYAN 4
The Super Saiyan 4 is already a huge improvement over the Super Saiyan 3 form due to the fact that there is no time limit for this transformation. In addition to the strength upgrade that comes with the SSJ4 state, it would also appear that the new power could lead to advanced abilities. 🧬
After Goku becomes Super Saiyan 4, he uses the Kamehameha x10 technique, while Vegeta is able to perform the Glowing Flash attack. Additionally, Gogeta 's Super Saiyan 4 form can perform the Big Bang Kamehameha attack and even the Big Bang Kamehameha x100 in the DBZ video games. Be careful though, these new moves are limited to their Super Saiyan 4 forms. 🎮
8. WHO DESIGNED SUPER SAIYAN 4?
Much of the Dragon Ball GT series' not being taken seriously is due to the fact that Toei Animation implemented much of the storytelling without the involvement of Akira Toriyama . For example, Toei Animation character designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru was responsible for the main look of Super Saiyan 4. 📝
It's true that Toriyama had a hand in revising the design in some ways and limiting its appearance, but Nakatsuru still did most of the work. The transformation is meant to be a nod to the Saiyan's origins and primitive nature, which is why he is much closer to apes than previous forms. 🦧
7. HOW TO TRANSFORM INTO SUPER SAIYAN 4
A controversial moment in the Dragon Ball GT anime series is when Vegeta first achieves the Super Saiyan 4 form. This demonstration is met with some disdain, as he actually achieves the form through artificial means, thanks to the help from Bulma. ⚙️
Dragon Ball GT explains that the elusive Blitz waves are essential to transforming into Super Saiyan 4. Bulma will therefore create impressive technology, capable of simulating these waves enough to cause the right stimulation in Vegeta's insides and thus trigger the transformation. 💥
He's happy with the power, but it's a technique that's very contrary to how Vegeta usually works for his transformations. Indeed, he has always preferred to use his rage to win and his perseverance to reach a higher stage of power, which adds to the saga a new reason not to appreciate him. 😣
6. THE LOGICAL SEQUEL OF SUPER SAIYAN 3
Whether Super Saiyan 4 should be considered canon to the original series or not is the subject of much debate. Certainly, SSJ4 and the majority of Dragon Ball GT episodes are Toei creations, but there is perhaps a subtle nod to Super Saiyan 4 in the other series. Specifically, an important moment near the end of DBZ where Goku becomes a Super Saiyan 3 for the first time. ✨
As Goku gains this new power, he has a brief vision of a half-Saiyan and half-Pilgrim hybrid, reminiscent of his race's lineage. We assume that this vision is the basis of the form of the future Super Saiyan 4. You can learn even more about Goku thanks to our Ultimate Guide produced recently!
5. SSJ4 AND KAIO-KEN
Dragon Ball Z features the Kaio-Ken attack as a major asset for Goku, but he will stop using it when he becomes a Super Saiyan. Many believed that the two transformations could not be combined because it would put too much strain on the user's body. 🩹
Granted, Super Dragon Ball Heroes is a promotional anime that isn't exactly canonical, but it does show Super Saiyan 4 Xeno Gogeta using the Kaio-Ken's ability to fight a Demon God. This is an extremely powerful burst of power, but one that is apparently possible and could continue to be used in future episodes.
4. SUPER SAIYAN 4 FORM
Dragon Ball GT begins with Goku finding himself stuck in his child body due to a misunderstanding caused by Pilaf during his wishes with the crystal balls. Goku is still very strong in this young body, but he doesn't have the full strength of his adult form. This results in a very strange transformation when Goku becomes a Super Saiyan 4. We remind you that the Dragon Ball GT Wallet is available at the Goku Shop if you are a fan of the saga! 👛
Apparently the strain of Super Saiyan 4 is too much for this young body, so Son Goku returns to his adult appearance every time he is a Super Saiyan 4 and then reverts back. It’s still very shocking to see this change in size happening! 🧒🧑
3. GIANT GOLDEN MONKEY SSJ4
One of the first trademarks of Dragon Ball is that Saiyans can transform into great apes (Oozaru) . The giant ape transformation is crucial in the early chapters of Dragon Ball Z, but it becomes somewhat irrelevant after Super Saiyan transformations become the norm. 🙈
Super Saiyan 4 attempts to return to this concept in the DBGT series, but in the form of the Great Golden Ape. It's almost a Super Saiyan version of the form that is triggered by the sight of a full Earth, rather than a full moon. He has incredible strength, but he must then harness this energy to become a Super Saiyan 4.
2. SUPER DRAGON BALL HEROES
The major Super Saiyan transformations are generally well defined in relation to each other, but there are also less distinct stages that occur between major transformations. SSJ4 plays with this briefly. At one point, Goku reaches full Super Saiyan 4 power, which is an enhancement of sorts and also features a red aura that comes with the character. 💥
Dragon Ball video games also deal with Super Saiyan 4 Full Power Limit Breaker. Only Xeno Goku and Xeno Vegeta reach this stage, but it enhances their aura even more and their bodies are said to be completely filled with overflowing ki energy. 🥋
1. THE SAIYAN HYBRIDS
A crucial part of the Super Saiyan 4 transformation is that it respects the roots of the Saiyan race and provides access to this primal, ancestral power. Both Goku and Vegeta learned that a tail is necessary to achieve the Super Saiyan 4 form due to the Great Golden Ape stage. 🦧
It is therefore uncertain whether tailless Saiyan hybrids , like Goten and Trunks, can successfully reach this stage. The Dragon Ball video games have been blurring these lines ever since Gohan became one, but he also had a tail at one point. 🐒
The debate rages on! What is your opinion on this? Do you think that one day a new character will be able to achieve this form? Tell us in the comments young Saiyan! 💬