Summary
- Super Saiyan Bardock embodies Saiyan rage perfectly in a satisfying non-canon transformation in "Episode of Bardock."
- Super Saiyan God Trunks achieves god ki, giving him a cool new form in Super Dragon Ball Heroes, though non-canon.
- Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta, although never achieved in the main storyline, appears in Dragon Ball games, showcasing his own menacing form.
When it comes to transformations in anime, it's almost impossible to argue that the Super Saiyan transformation doesn't trump them all. This legendary transformation made its on-screen debut in the Dragon Ball Z anime back in 1991, and since then, it has become a household name across all forms of media. Whether it be TV shows, movies, video games, or comics, references to this transformation can be found in just about anything.
Everything about the Super Saiyan transformation is just plain awesome - the color scheme, the design, the aura, and most importantly, the power that comes with it. But what makes this transformation particularly awesome is the number of variations to it, each bringing something new to the table in terms of style and power. While the canon Super Saiyan transformations are well known among Dragon Ball fans, quite a few non-canon variations of this form often slip under the radar despite being just as cool, if not cooler, than their canon counterparts.
1 Super Saiyan Bardock
The Perfect Embodiment of Saiyan Rage
- Appeared in: "Episode of Bardock"
True Dragon Ball fans understand just how crucial Bardock is to Son Goku's story. If Bardock never sent Goku off to planet Earth, the entire story of Dragon Ball would've been drastically different, with Kakarot never becoming the selfless hero fans know and love today. But given Bardock's pivotal role in Dragon Ball's story, his lack of screen time leaves a lot to be desired for the fans.
In the brief moments he appears in the series, Bardock is shown as a low-class Saiyan who's nowhere near strong enough to become a Super Saiyan. However, if fans explore beyond the canon storyline, they'll find a slightly obscure TV special called "Episode of Bardock" in which Bardock transforms into a Super Saiyan to fight Chilled, one of Frieza's ancestors.
While this special is a "what-if" storyline, making the transformation non-canon, seeing Bardock achieve the legendary Super Saiyan transformation is still incredibly satisfying. This form suits Bardock's character perfectly. His Saiyan rage and sheer courage embody the essence of a Super Saiyan, making this undoubtedly one of the best non-canon Super Saiyan transformations.
2 Super Saiyan God Trunks
A New Level Of Power For The Saiyan Warrior
- Appeared in: Super Dragon Ball Heroes
Ever since his memorable introduction in the Android Saga, Trunks has remained a fan-favorite character for many Dragon Ball fans. He's gone through numerous transformations throughout the show, achieving both Super Saiyan 1 and 2, and even unlocking a special "Super Saiyan Rage" form in Dragon Ball Super. While this special transformation was amazing in its own right, giving Trunks the power-up he needed to go toe-to-toe with Fused Zamasu, fans were left slightly disappointed that they never got to see Trunks achieve the Super Saiyan God form.
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Well, that was the case until Super Dragon Ball Heroes, in all of its fan-serving glory, finally gave fans a peek at what Trunks would look like if he achieved God ki. The beautiful red hair, fiery aura, and calm demeanor that come with the Super Saiyan God form perfectly complement Trunks' character, making him even cooler than before. While this transformation is completely non-canon as Super Dragon Ball Heroes is just a promotional anime, it remains an amazing form nonetheless.
3 Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta
A Fan Favorite Non-Canon Form
- Appeared in: Dragon Ball Heroes, Raging Blast 2
Vegeta and Goku's rivalry might just be the greatest rivalry in anime history. These two have been one-upping each other continuously for decades, with Goku always maintaining a small lead, but Vegeta not being too far behind. Every form Goku has ever achieved, Vegeta has achieved as well (or achieved something equivalent to its level). However, this trend surprisingly broke with the Super Saiyan 3 transformation, as Goku achieved it back in the Buu Saga, but Vegeta never matched the form, skipping it entirely.
This has always left a bad taste in the mouths of Dragon Ball fans, as Super Saiyan 3 is easily one of the most menacing variations of the Super Saiyan form, so a fan-favorite character like Vegeta never achieving it is a massive deal. To rub even more salt into the wounds of Vegeta fans, Trunks and Goten were able to achieve the form within six months of training in the Hyperbolic Chamber, albeit they could only do it while fused.
However, not all hope is lost for Vegeta fans, as the form has appeared in both a Dragon Ball game, Raging Blast 2, and the Dragon Ball Heroes anime. While this doesn't make the form canon, at least fans get to see what the form could have looked like if Vegeta decided not to skip it. The long hair of the form suits Vegeta's character design surprisingly well, and its stamina tradeoff for power complements Vegeta's fighting style perfectly.
4 False Super Saiyan Goku
A Primal Super Saiyan Form
- Appeared in: Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug
The False Super Saiyan form has only made a single appearance in Dragon Ball history, in a non-canon movie called Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug. When the movie first came out in 1991, it didn't gain much attention and struggled to resonate with most Dragon Ball fans. So, unfortunately, the False Super Saiyan form fell into obscurity. But this all changed in the late 2010s when the Dragon Ball community finally started to realize how awesome this transformation truly is.
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Despite being a non-canon transformation that doesn't serve any real purpose in the grand scheme of things, there's just something so incredibly raw and primal about this form. When Goku achieves it, his eyes go completely white and he gains the golden Super Saiyan aura, but his hair remains its natural color. This gives the False Super Saiyan transformation a unique aesthetic that personifies the Saiyan rage in a way that feels incredibly intense. While it's unlikely that this form will ever be seen again in Dragon Ball, it's nice to see that it's finally getting the praise it deserves from the Dragon Ball community.
5 Super Saiyan 4
The Most Iconic Non-Canon Super Saiyan Form
- Appeared in: Dragon Ball GT, "Goku's Ascension"
Super Saiyan 4 is easily the most famous non-canon Super Saiyan form in all of Dragon Ball. Introduced in Dragon Ball GT, this transformation has managed to build a huge fanbase even though the show itself isn't necessarily a fan favorite. When the Super Saiyan 4 form is compared to all the other non-canon forms, it stands out with its extremely unique aesthetic that completely deviates from the traditional Super Saiyan look that fans have grown accustomed to.
And while some fans may not be fond of how different it appears compared to its canon counterparts, there's no denying that it just looks downright awesome. The red fur, the long black hair, the Saiyan tail, and even the red eyeliner combine to create what is arguably the most intimidating-looking form ever shown in Dragon Ball. This form also introduced a new echelon of power to the show that remained unparalleled for decades until Dragon Ball Super arrived. Since then, it has been overshadowed by the modern God ki transformations, but it'll always hold a special place in the hearts of Dragon Ball fans.