During the Saiyan Saga in Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta, while talking to Nappa, briefly mentions the legend of Super Saiyan. This being has immeasurable power that can be attained by a Saiyan once he gets strong enough. Well, the legend that Vegeta mentioned came true in the Frieza Saga when Goku pulled off the unthinkable.
The pure rage that Goku felt when his best friend, Krillinndied was converted into something incredible as Goku turned into a Super Saiyan, sporting a beautiful look of golden hair and crackling of electricity around his body. This transformation marked the beginning of many more to come in the anime and here are some facts about the legendary Saiyan form.
10 Who Was The First Super Saiyan?
There hasn't been any concrete story linked to the presence of the very first Super Saiyan but during the Frieza Saga, Vegeta mentions the legend of the transformation and how it happened thousands of years ago. The Super Saiyan transformation that Vegeta mentioned looked pretty different as it was a Great Ape with golden hair. Apparently, the Saiyan became so powerful after going through the transformation that he was able to destroy a whole planet.
9 The S-Cells And Their Use
Super Saiyan is a transformation that is linked to the genes of the Saiyan race, who seem to carry with themselves what are called the S-Cells. There need to be enough S-Cells in the body of a Saiyan to be able to transform into a Super Saiyan. Because Goku and Vegeta were able to, it meant that they had enough S-Cells in their body, which were transferred to their kids. Thus fans can see the ease with which Gohan, Trunks, and Goten were able to become Super Saiyans.
8 It's The Anger And The Frustration
Goku mentions the way a Saiyan can trigger the Super Saiyan transformation. Even if one has enough S-Cells, he/she still has to wake them up. Goku said that Saiyans become Super Saiyans through need and not by will.
Once a Saiyan gets acclimatized to it, he/she can trigger the transformation by will. For example, Goku became Super Saiyan after he watched Krillin die, while Gohan turned into Super Saiyan 2 after watching his father take a hell of a beating in the Cell Saga.
7 A Form That Makes Saiyans Unpredictable
Super Saiyan has a lot of effects on a Saiyan's physical and mental health. Of course, the strength grows exponentially but also the psychology of a Saiyan changes. They become more angry, impulsive, and filled with rage as can be seen from Goku's fight against Frieza. Before turning into a Super Saiyan, he seemed calm but as soon as his hair turned golden, he was overcome with the feeling of getting revenge.
6 The Power Increase Is Unfathomable
After seeing numerous transformations over the anime history, fans have forgotten the kind of power increase the Super Saiyan transformation gave Goku. Before it, he was no match for Frieza but after going through the changes, he was playing with the Evil Emperor like he was a tennis ball. To date, the first Super Saiyan transformation is considered to give a Saiyan an incredible power increase, something that cannot be said about Super Saiyan 2 or Super Saiyan 3.
5 Powered Up Versions Of Super Saiyan
There are some misconceptions about the Super Saiyan transformation and its different forms. While Super Saiyan First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade are known to be powered up versions of Super Saiyan, there is an argument that suggests even Super Saiyan 2 and Super Saiyan 3 are nothing but powered up and mastered versions of the first Super Saiyan. In fact, in the Cell saga, Goku tells Gohan that the simple Super Saiyan transformation is the best base to push on and find better variations to the power.
4 Super Saiyan God In The Super Saiyan State
Another uncanny ability that Saiyans possess is the way they can get used to a certain power level. So much so that even if the transformation fades off, their body is somehow able to get used to it and still produce the same level of power and energy. In Dragon Ball Super, something similar happened when Goku's Super Saiyan God form disappeared and he reverted back to being a Super Saiyan.
He didn't lose the God-level energy or power because his body was able to get used to it. This suggested that with proper training, there really are no bounds to what a Super Saiyan can do.
3 Super Saiyan Transformation Of A Deity
A Dragon Ball Super saga that showcased a God in a Saiyan's body was the one involving Black Goku. He was none other than Zamasu, who found the Super Dragon Balls and wished for Goku's body so that he could have the Saiyan's ability to get stronger with every blow. Surprisingly, though, his transformations were very different as he introduced the Super Saiyan Rose form. Still, Black Goku talked about it like it was a normal Super Saiyan transformation indicating that the transformation looked different because he is a deity.
2 The Legendary Super Saiyan
Broly and Kale are the well-known Legendary Super Saiyans in the Dragon Ball Universe but they might not be the only ones. A Saiyan is able to transform into this state, thanks to his/her rare genes that appear in a Saiyan every once in a thousand years. This big green form is absolutely breathtaking to watch and as a matter of fact, it is stronger than Super Saiyan Blue. The form itself is known to be demonic but in reality, it just amplifies the rage of the Saiyan who is using the transformation.
1 A Pure Heart
Becoming a Super Saiyan is not easy at all and while Goten and Trunks wouldn't know that, their respective fathers, Goku and Vegeta surely do. The S-Cells in their body that allows them to transform into a Super Saiyan need to be enough and it is believed that their count increases if a Saiyan has a gentle spirit or in other words, he/she has a pure heart. Of course, Vegeta doesn't have a gentle spirit but he compensates for it through his unstoppable training and hard work. This also explains why Goku, almost always, is able to transform into a greater form before Vegeta. It is due to his pure heart.