Summary
Dragon Ball,as a series, is no stranger to pushing transformations to their limit and marketability. In fact, for a lot of people, Super Saiyan is not just brilliant storytelling but also a marketable form that has captured the attention of a lot of readers and fans. Super Saiyan 2 pushed it to a limit and excitement for many people, as the idea of pushing transformations to stronger heights also meant that it was a matter of time before we got to the topic of this article. Super Saiyan 3, as Goku coined it, was his strongest transformation for some time, even with its very brief introduction inDragon Ball.
So why is it that today its meaning has been lost, and why exactly is it never used in Goku’s arsenal anymore, and what were the issues that it had before? It’s an admittedly important question to answer.
Super Saiyan 3’s Basics
What These Mean
Admittedly, understanding the transformation requires one to look atGoku during the Buu Saga. When the saga reaches a certain point, it reveals that Goku has achieved Super Saiyan 2, and a form even further beyond that. Facing off against Buu and Babidi, Goku reveals the Super Saiyan 3 transformation to the shock of the Planet and everybody on it. This transformation showed Goku’s hair growing longer and spikier, along with having lost his eyebrows for no confirmed reason, and an immense amount of strength that could go up against Majin Buu easily. However, there was a great drawback to this transformation for Goku when he transformed into it again versus Kid Buu, considering that the transformation took a lot of stamina from Goku to use and even maintain for a long time.
While this drawback made it seem that the transformation wasn’t worth it, it certainly can be said that at the time it was the strongest transformation ofDragon Ballat the time. Even Gotenks, the fusion between Goten and Trunks, managed to achieve this same transformation, which gave them a chance against Super Buu before it had absorbed any fighters. There is reason to say thatthe transformation is viable,and its stamina drawbacks can be overcome with enough training and exposure to it.
However, while this transformation is very important to Goku and some other fans, despite its design choices, Super Saiyan 3 hasn’t been used or seen more prominently as an ace transformation aside from when Goku used it against Beerus. There could be various reasons for this, but it can be chalked down to a simple answer.
Why It Hasn’t Returned
And Probably Won’t For Some Time
The transformation that is Super Saiyan 3 isn’t viable anymore, and especially now more than ever. It’s the norm inDragon Ballthese days, but this transformation isn’t going to return simply because ithas been proven ineffectivefor the new reaches of strength that Goku wants to achieve. It didn’t work against Beerus, it has barely been used ever again since the first face-off with Beerus, and it certainly won’t be used against Beerus when Goku has improved his Ultra Instinct. However, it will most likely remain a transformation that Goten and Trunks will use with Gotenks; although not even that has much value at the moment thanks to the power gap.
However, fans may yet have a good reason to love the transformation. After all, for a majority of people, it represented the peak of Goku’s strength and abilities, especially since, beforeDragon Ball Super, they thoughtDragon Ball Zwas officially over and never getting a new continuation. Thankfully, that isn’t the case anymore.Dragon Ballmay not be using Super Saiyan 3 as a reliable transformation anymore, but it did represent Goku’s peak and acceptance of his strength and willingness to keep improving even in the afterlife. For a majority of people, that’s what this transformation represented; acontinual growth in strength and a refusal to settle for less.Even if the transformation came about as a way for Akira Toriyama to give Goku strength and much more power, it still holds a special place in the hearts of many people. For good reason,Dragon Ballwill keep the transformation in stock and for understanding of how far Goku had come in that stage of his life.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball is a franchise by Akira Toriyama which follows the adventures of Goku, a powerful warrior who protects the earth with his group of friends. A recent title from the series is Dragon Ball: The Breakers, an action style game where 7 players have to survive being hunted by the Raider.
