Summary
Transformations are perhaps the most recognizable aspect of the entireDragon Ballfranchise. Ever since the early days, the focus placed on the transformations that various heroes and villains go through has been a central theme in the story, especially considering the importance of characters needing to get even stronger. Quite often, the transformation that a hero goes through is the main reason why a villain is defeated.
As such, the most well-known line of transformations are the various Super Saiyan forms that the Saiyans can use.The strongest of these is Super Saiyan 4, which was recently made canon inDragon Ball Daimadespite being introduced decades prior. However, despite its canonicity, it is a form that couldn’t work inDragon Ball Superno matter how much fans would’ve liked to see it. So, let’s take a look at why this is.
First Non-canon Appearance
Dragon Ball GT, Episode 34, “Back in the Game”
The only real answer to the question of why the Super Saiyan 4 form couldn’t work inDragon Ball Superis quite simple and apparent; Akira Toriyama hadn’t thought ofbringing the form into the canonuntil the making ofDaima, so the prospect was never there during the airing ofSuper. However, despite this, let’s see why it couldn’t work from an in-universe perspective.
On a narrative level, Super Saiyan 4 serves as the big transformation for theDaimaseries. No matter how the story played out, this form was always meant to be the big reveal, specifically as a means of finally entering the canon storyline. Just as Super Saiyan 4 was forDaima, the line of God Ki transformations was meant to be forSuper. Super Saiyan God, Blue, Ultra Instinct, and Ultra Ego are meant to be the signature transformations of their respective series.
Power comes in response to a need, not a desire. You have to create that need.
Super Saiyan 4 was always one of the most beloved transformations in the entire series despiteGTbeing met with heavy criticism overall. Because of this, fans had been hoping to see this form introduced in the main continuity, which it finally was withDaima. So, it simply wouldn’t have worked inSuperbecause the power hierarchy of the series waspushed to its peak with the introduction of Beerus, Whis, and the many warriors from the multiverse, so the heroes needed something other than their standard Super Saiyan forms to stand a chance.
Sure, this could have been worked to be Super Saiyan 4, but the divine nature of the Gods and Angels meant that the mortals needed something to be sort of on par with them, so God Ki was introduced. Plus, if this was going to happen anyway and Super Saiyan 4 was still made a part ofSuper, it would’ve greatly lessened its impact since it would have been completely overshadowed by the God forms that the Saiyans achieved later on.
The Only Ways For The Form To Work InSuper
How It Can Work If Done Properly
Despite the clear reasons why Super Saiyan 4 wouldn’t work inSuper, this isn’t necessarily the case if it is done properly. The bigger point that works against its introduction inSuperhas to do with whether it is only introducedas yet another Saiyan formthat could very easily be overpowered by anyone with God Ki. However, the prospect of character-specific transformations changes everything.
In the Tournament of Power, Goku awakens his Ultra Instinct for the first time, which Vegeta is unable to do. Later on in the same arc, Goku amplifies the strength of his Super Saiyan Blue with Kaioken, which, again, Vegeta couldn’t do, though he makes up for this by unlocking a new state called Super Saiyan Blue Evolved, which makes him just as strong. This showed a new trend within the series about how transformations would be handled in the future, which was further cemented with Vegeta unlocking Ultra Ego instead of Ultra Instinct.
This opened the door for character-specific transformations that would play on the strengths of each individual instead of giving them all the same line of forms. Due to this, Super Saiyan 4 could be introduced inSuperas a character-specific transformation for Broly,which would also bring him upto the level of Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego. Though he currently has his Full Powered Super Saiyan state, Super Saiyan 4 just suits him perfectly and would serve as the best option for Broly’s ultimate form.
Conversely, this could also be a transformation unique to the Saiyans of Universe 6. It was shown that these Saiyans are quite different from their Universe 7 counterparts, so for them to have unique tendencies that allow them to access this special form more easily would be an amazing addition to the series, particularly because they would be made relevant again.
