Rabid celebration for Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball franchise has never been stronger, but there’s still a ton of criticism that accompanies the anime-only sequel series, Dragon Ball GT. Dragon Ball GT attempts to bring the franchise back to the original series’ roots in some respects, which results in a mixed bag of storytelling that’s still able to showcase some strong ideas and entertaining new transformations.

RELATED: 10 Times GT Ignored Everything The Original Dragon Ball Stood For

One of the most popular elements from Dragon Ball GT that still shows up in video games is the unique Super Saiyan 4 transformation. The transformation’s look is hard to forget, but there’s a lot about this power upgrade that gets overlooked.

10 It Requires A Tail And Is First Triggered By The Great Ape Form

Golden Great Ape Baby Vegeta taunts Super Saiyan 4 Goku in Dragon Ball GT

Saiyan genealogy has gone through some fascinating evolutions since the start of the original Dragon Ball series. A Saiyan’s tail used to be the main defining feature of this warrior race, but Dragon Ball Z slowly moves towards tail-less Saiyans once Super Saiyan transformations become more practical than the Great Ape form. Super Saiyan 4 has a primal connection to the Saiyan people’s past and channels their Great Ape energy. This means that a Super Saiyan 4 requires a tail and must first go through the Great Ape transformation.

9 It Doesn’t Have A Time Limit Like Super Saiyan 3

Anime super-saiyan-4

It’s always exciting when a new Super Saiyan transformation gets unveiled, but there have been certain stages that almost seem more problematic than helpful due to their many restrictions. Super Saiyan 3 plays an important role in the fight against Majin Buu, but the powerful form puts such a strain on the user’s body that it can’t be maintained for very long and threatens to separate fusions at a faster rate. Super Saiyan 4 is an upgrade in every sense from its predecessor since it’s not only stronger, but it doesn’t strain the user’s body or come with an accompanying time limit.

8 It Can Be Used In Tandem With The Kaio-Ken Attack

Anime Dragon Ball Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta Kaio-Ken Attack

Another one of Goku’s more powerful techniques during his pre-Super Saiyan days is the Kaio-Ken Attack strength upgrade. This power boost allows him to drastically improve his speed and strength, albeit at the price of an intense physical strain on his body.

RELATED: 6 Things Dragon Ball GT Borrowed From The Movies (& 4 It Borrowed From Anime Filler)

For a long time, there was speculation if Goku could use the Kaio-Ken Attack in tandem with his Super Saiyan forms. The promo anime, Super Dragon Ball Heroes, features an exciting moment when Xeno Gogeta makes use of the Kaio-Ken while he’s in his Super Saiyan 4 form. It translates into pure power.

7 It Can Absorb Energy Attacks

Anime 8 goku super saiyan 4

Each new Super Saiyan transformation contains a higher level of power than its predecessor, but they also sometimes come with less obvious perks that can be vital when it comes to defense. Healing and energy absorption powers can be the deciding factor in an even battle, and Goku proves that Super Saiyan 4 has powerful absorption capabilities after he consumes Baby’s Revenge Death Ball Final and transforms its energy into fuel for his 10x Kamehameha. This skill gives Super Saiyan 4 a serious advantage over its complementary forms, and even Super Saiyan God uses up some of its own power when it absorbs attacks, which doesn’t happen here.

6 Its Power Is Comparable To A God Of Destruction's

Anime Super Saiyan 4

God of Destruction Beerus and his corresponding Angel, Whis, make their debuts in Dragon Ball Super, which explores Super Saiyan God and beyond as opposed to Dragon Ball GT’s Super Saiyan 4 form. However, Dragon Ball’s many video games, especially the Xenoverse series, bridge these gaps and allow various canons to intermingle and co-exist. Xenoverse shows that a Super Saiyan 4 form doesn’t only impress Beerus and Whis, but it also prompts Whis to inquire as to whether Goku is interested in going down the path to becoming a God of Destruction. He must recognize something comparable with Super Saiyan 4.

5 It Can Be Artificially Triggered

Anime super saiyan 4 vegeta transformation

Character relationships have developed in fascinating ways and gained a lot of nuance since Dragon Ball’s start, but one dynamic that the series loves to return to is the competitive rivalry that exists between Goku and Vegeta. The two are often following in each other’s footsteps, and Goku is the first one to become a Super Saiyan 4.

RELATED: Super Saiyan 4 Vegito & 9 Other Dragon Ball Characters That Only Exist In Heroes

Vegeta actually stoops to artificial means to reach this milestone after he learns that Blutz Waves are essential to achieving this form. Bulma develops an artificial Blutz Wave generator that pushes Vegeta past his previous potential, but this isn’t a tactic that works with other levels of Super Saiyan.

4 A Child’s Body Doesn’t Seem To Be Able To Withstand It

Super Saiyan 4 Goku and Vegeta consider their options in Dragon Ball GT

A major change that Goku experiences early on in Dragon Ball GT is when a misguided wish from Pilaf reverts Goku back to his child state. Goku’s return to a smaller stature doesn’t inconvenience him much. He’s still able to turn into a Super Saiyan and do most of what he previously could. However, it’s interesting to note that Goku regains his adult body whenever he transforms into a Super Saiyan 4, only to become a child again when it’s over. It’s a strange metamorphosis, but it seems to indicate that a child’s body just can’t handle the immense burst of power.

3 It Increases The User’s Height

Anime Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta

Each Super Saiyan transformation has a corresponding radical physical change in appearance, typically the user’s hair. Super Saiyan 4 is by far the most drastic since it covers the Saiyan’s body with red fur, removes some of their clothes, and returns them to a more primal state as if they’re somewhere between a Saiyan and a Great Ape. Apparently, this transformation also slightly increases the user’s height. It can be seen that Vegeta gains a few inches whenever he turns into a Super Saiyan 4, which doesn’t accompany the previous forms unless the Saiyan’s hair is included in the calculation.

2 It Produces A Reddish Aura

Anime Dragon Ball Heroes Super Saiyan 4 Limit Breaker Broly Transforms

The color of a Saiyan’s hair and their stronger abilities is an important part of the Super Saiyan transformation, but the user’s aura also experiences substantial change. The previous Super Saiyan transformations are accompanied by yellow auras and an increased presence of electricity that can even be dangerous to some extent. Super Saiyan 4’s aura, particularly in the video games, is represented with a red hue that sometimes also gains a yellow glow. The red aura is the dominant factor here, and Super Saiyan 4s also lose the electricity that’s present with the previous forms.

1 It Produces Stronger Versions Of The User's Signature Attacks

Anime BIG Bang Kamehameha gt

A well-timed power boost can turn the tide of any battle, but the capabilities of Super Saiyan 4 go beyond just a general boosting of stats. In addition to the general upgrades that Super Saiyan 4 provides its user, it also naturally allows them to deliver more extreme versions of their signature attacks. These stronger versions of old techniques appear to be inherent since Goku instinctively knows how to perform a 10x Kamehameha once he becomes a Super Saiyan 4. Similarly, Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta doesn’t struggle with his new 100x Big Bang Kamehameha maneuver.

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