The Super Saiyan transformation wasn’t introduced until well past Dragon Ball’s original halfway point, but its prominence both in the series proper and pop culture would suggest that Super Saiyans were always a part of the franchise’s lifeblood. In truth, Super Saiyans were a late series addition in the context of the original story.
But what an addition they were! Goku turning Super Saiyan for the first time was a momentous occasion, and Dragon Ball has tried recapturing that moment several times over– sometimes even surpassing Goku’s initial transformation in quality. It’s always a big deal when someone turns Super Saiyan for the first time.
10 Son Goku (Frieza Arc)
The transformation that started it all isn't half as bombastic the ones that would follow, but that in itself is significant. There is a simple elegance to Goku turning into a Super Saiyan for the first time that's really only replicated with Future Trunks' debut. What really sells Goku's transformation, though, isn't how the trigger is conveyed, but the emotion surrounding it.
Goku turns Super Saiyan only after following an extremely long fight against Frieza. A genuine endurance match, the main cast are left battered and exhausted by the time the Genki Dama strikes Frieza. For the Genki Dama to not only fail but for Krillin to be killed before Goku's eyes marks an emotional turning point within the Saiyan that brings out the power that was always festering inside of him.
9 Future Trunks (Cell Arc)
Fans like to claim that Super Saiyan has become less special with time while forgetting that Dragon Ball made its overuse an actual plot point. The race to Super Saiyan 2 ends up being the driving force for every Saiyan character in the Cell arc's second half, but Akira Toriyama more importantly introduced Future Trunks as a Super Saiyan not long after Super Saiyan Goku's fight with Frieza.
This is important for two reasons. The first is that it keeps Super Saiyan from being an ability which inherently puts Goku above other. If Trunks can do it, it keeps Goku from being special. More importantly, Trunks comes from a future where Super Saiyan isn't enough, ensuring there can still be narrative tension with the legendary form in play.
8 Vegeta (Cell Arc)
Future Trunks brings with him a warning about the Artificial Humans wreaking havoc in his timeline, giving Goku and the rest of the Dragon Team an opportunity to prepare for their arrival. Vegeta uses this time to teach himself how to transform into a Super Saiyan, tapping into his pure evil tendencies to trigger the transformation. Or so he says.
Vegeta notably appears when Goku has shockingly lost to Android 19. The Heart Virus kicking in at the worst possible moment, a Super Saiyan Goku is hopelessly beaten by 19. In a rare moment for the character, Vegeta gets to one-up Goku– dialogue even specifying that Vegeta's Super Saiyan has surpassed Goku's.
7 Son Gohan (Cell Arc)
Upon waking up from his heart attack induced coma, Goku comes to the same conclusion as Vegeta: if they're going to defeat the Artificial Humans, they're going to need to improve Super Saiyan. Goku suggests they train in the Room of Spirit and Time, a chamber where a year inside is only a day outside. Vegeta & Trunks train first, greatly improving their strength, but failing to refine Super Saiyan.
Goku follows the same path, but he very quickly comes to the conclusion that adding offense onto Super Saiyan would be a waste in the long run. Goku instead refines Super Saiyan's stamina, making it his base form. Before he can get to that point, however, he very methodically instructs Gohan how to turn Super Saiyan. Watching Goku give his son Super Saiyan lessons is endearing, and highlights some nice development for both the Son men.
6 Son Goten & Trunks (Majin Buu Arc)
There's a lot of humor at the core of the Majin Buu arc right from the get-go. Gohan opens the story arc as the Great Saiyaman, his flirting with Videl is plenty fun to see, and the build up to the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai is a rare series of chapters where the Z-era is actually allowed to stop & breathe. Naturally, Goten and Trunks are used as a peak source of humor.
Goten reveals that he learned how to turn Super Saiyan training with Chichi, a fact which flabbergasts Gohan considering how hard he and his father trained to trigger the form. Vegeta likewise reacts with pure shock as he sees Trunks transform into a Super Saiyan, baffled that his hard work has been overshadowed by a child.
5 Gotenks & Vegetto (Majin Buu Arc)
The back half of the Majin Buu famously introduces fusion into Dragon Ball, a technique with allows two characters to combine into a substantially stronger warrior. The first of these fusions seen is Gotenks, a fighter even stronger than Goku, born from Goten & Trunks doing the fusion dance. While he can't turn Super Saiyan at first, Gotenks irons out the kinks easily with time.
Vegetto is the result of Goku & Vegeta fusing with the Potara earrings and stands out as the singles strongest characters in the original Dragon Ball. While Goku and Vegeta fuse in their base forms, Vegetto turns Super Saiyan immediately in the manga. Wasting no time to put Buuhan in his place.
4 Cabba (Universe 6 Tournament)
Dragon Ball Super didn't really get going until the Universe 6 Tournament arc, but at least the tournament itself is home to some fun fights and a surprising touch of development for none other than Vegeta. Through Cabba, a Universe 6 Saiyan, Vegeta finally gets to play mentor to a character. Vegeta sees potential in Cabba and is determined to push the Saiyan past his limits.
Threatening to come to Universe 6 and wreak havoc on Planet Sadla, Cabba is pushed to his breaking point and transforms into a Super Saiyan. It isn't enough for Cabba to defeat Vegeta, but his strength clearly impresses the Prince of All Saiyans aas Vegeta keeps his mentor role up for the remainder of the anime.
3 Caulifla & Kale (Universe Survival Arc)
Recruiting Saiyans for the Tournament of Power, Cabba enlists the help of both Caulifla and Kale. While Kale can't quite pick up on the form right away, Cabba manages to teach Caulifla how to transform into a Super Saiyan. Notably, she pulls it off with even greater ease than Cabba himself. Caulifla even later manages to learn Super Saiyan 2 during the Tournament proper.
Similar to Caulifla picking up Super Saiyans 2, Kale doesn't trigger Super Saiyan until the Tournament of Power. Notably, her transformation is a bit more traditional as Kale's trigger ends up being her intense feelings for Caulifla.
2 Kefla (Universe Survival Arc)
With the two women now Super Saiyans, Universe 6 gets a massive advantage in the Tournament of Power– but it still isn't enough in the face of God Ki. Using Potara earrings, however, Caulifla and Kale manage to fuse into Kefla, a warrior with a Veggeto-esque aura courtesy of the strong chemistry between her two hosts.
Like Vegetto, Kefla is born in her base form before transforming into a Super Saiyan. Unlike Vegetto, however, Goku's raw strength pushes Kefla into needing to use Super Saiyan 2. It's also worth noting that Kefla hair color takes after Kale's uniquely green Super Saiyan coloring.
1 Broly (DBS: Broly)
Last but not least, the former legendary Super Saiyan himself. Broly was introduced into the canon through Dragon Ball Super: Broly, a film picking up where the Tournament of Power left off. The movie notably puts Broly in the role of protagonist for quite a while before, of course, shifting into non-stop action until credits roll.
Wanting to bring out Broly's full power, Frieza kills Paragus while Broly fights Vegeta. Frieza then tells Broly that Paragus was killed because of the fight, snapping Broly's already fragile mind and turning him into a Super Saiyan. Broly only gets stronger from there, giving Goku, Vegeta, & Frieza the fight of a lifetime.