In the universe of Dragon Ball, the Saiyan race are some of the most powerful figures in the entire galaxy. These aliens are capable of amazing physical feats, even before they learn the ability to fully unlock their powers and reach Super Saiyan.
Although most of the Saiyans ended up achieving that level of power at some point, not all of them lived long enough to even make an attempt. Notably, Vegeta's original ally Nappa was killed long before he could have ever even seen a Super Saiyan. Now, we're taking a closer look at Nappa and whether or not he could've gone Super Saiyan.
WHAT IS A SUPER SAIYAN?
Super Saiyan is a powered-up physical form that only Saiyans have the power to access. The Saiyans are already one of the more fearsome races in the galaxy, and they possess a number of abilities that make them stronger in combat. They are born with monkey tails that transforms them into a giant ape form when there is a full moon. They possess the ability to greatly channel their ki, allowing them to shoot powerful energy blasts and fly. Anytime they are almost killed, they return to health stronger than they were before.
Super Saiyan transformations are when the Saiyan reaches a point of fury that changes them into a newly enhanced form. There are multiple levels of Super Saiyan transformations, each one empowering the Saiyan even more. they can even reach a point where they gain enough power to stand up to gods of destruction and the most powerful figures of the multiverse.
WHO WAS NAPPA?
Nappa was one of the few Saiyans who was able to survive the destruction of Planet Vegeta. Since he was off-world and protecting the young Prince Vegeta at the time, the two of them continued to serve under Lord Frieza. What they didn't know was that Frieza had destroyed the planet because he'd learned of the legendary Super Saiyan, and feared that power ever being unleashed. They spent years traveling around the galaxy alongside another young Saiyan soldier, Raditz. As Saiyans, they had a serious advantage in combat around the galaxy, although they weren't the most powerful or respected of Frieza's armies.
Eventually, Raditz went to Earth to find his brother, Kakarot. However, instead of conquering the world as he'd been intended to, the boy had grown up as Goku - completely unaware of his true identity. When Radditz and Goku were killed, the other two Saiyans found out about the existence of the wish-granting Dragon Balls. They went straight to Earth, working their way through the defenders of the planet to make a wish for immortality. Nappa by himself was personally responsible for the deaths of Chiaotzu, Tien and Piccolo. Krillin and Gohan were only saved by the timely arrival of Goku, who'd been resurrected by the Dragon Balls. He was able to easily defeat Nappa one-on-one thanks to his training with King Kai, and Vegeta killed him out of disgust for his defeat.
Can Nappa Go Super Saiyan?
Nappa has everything he needs to turn Super Saiyan, technically. The ability to go Super Saiyan is dependent on Saiyan geneology, which Nappa has. Even distant descendants of the Saiyans, with far more human DNA in their genes than Saiyan, are shown to possess this ability. Goku Jr. and Vegeta Jr. both transform into Super Saiyans during their brief appearances. Even if Dragon Ball GT hasn't recognized as canon thanks to the continuation of Dragon Ball Super, it's still implied that anyone with Saiyan heritage has the potential to reach that advanced state.
The problem is that Nappa isn't really ready to become a Super Saiyan, physically or mentally. When he's killed, many of the franchise's heroes are far weaker than they would be when they would reach Super Saiyan status. Goku especially would need to be far more power before he reached that point. Between this fight and when he would go Super Saiyan fighting Frieza, Goku was almost killed twice, giving him a massive boost each time. He also trained on his trip to Namek under intense gravity, giving him another power boost. Everyone else, even the younger half-Saiyans, were more powerful than Nappa when they first made the transformation. If Nappa was ever restored, he could potentially train enough to become strong enough to reach that point.
Another major part of becoming a Super Saiyan is feeling extreme anger or loss, transforming a Saiyan's inner rage into external power. This usually is necessary to unlock the transformation.
Like Ki, it's basically an extension of their inner strength amplifying their physical attributes. Nappa has never been shown with the kind of attachment that makes such a transformation possible. Goku had to lose Krillin, Gohan had to lose Android 16, and Future Trunks had to lose his version of Gohan to achieve the kind of fury needed to transform for the first time. Vegeta had to essentially have a breakdown during a meteor storm to achieve Super Saiyan, and both Goten and Kid Trunks got their powers transformations during tough training sessions with their parents. There's no one Nappa seemed to actually care about, since he joked over the death of Radditz with ease. The closest thing he got to that kind of push would have Vegeta murdering him, but even that didn't transform him. Still, it would be fun to see his mustache glow bright gold during a fight.