All of Goku's Evolutions in Dragon Ball Z (& How He Got Them)

From becoming a Great Ape to using Ultra Instinct for the
first time, Goku has demonstrated some of Dragon Ball's biggest
transformations.

While transforming as we know was never developed until the
Namek arc, it has always been a part of Dragon Ball's gimmicks. The character
Oolong is built entirely on the concept, and the first narrative arc concludes
with Goku enduring a monstrous transformation at the sight of the full moon.

Transformations are engrained in the DNA of the story, given
how many varieties of Super Saiyan follow the Namek arc, as well as all of the
forms Dragon Ball Super has introduced. Goku has displayed some of Dragon Ball's
greatest transformations, ranging from becoming a Great Ape to unleashing Ultra
Instinct for the first time.

As the Dragon Ball franchise approaches its 40th
anniversary, the series shows no signs of slowing down. The Dragon Ball Super
manga is still being published on a monthly basis, while the anime series has
been on hiatus since 2018, multiple feature-length films have followed in its
wake. This element allowed Goku to put his strength to the test against more
opponents, pushing him to levels — and transformations — he never imagined
imaginable.

Oozaru (Started to look Just At Full Moon)

The original Dragon Team is trapped inside Pilaf's palace
and is allowed to perish overnight, in danger of being fried alive as the sun
comes up above them. Fortunately, a full moon appears that night, and Goku has
a tail that allows him to turn into a greate ape.

 

Oozaru Goku relieves everyone from Pilaf's prison, but his
rampage has no limitations. With no sense of identity, Goku destroys everything
and everyone around him, throwing his allies in danger. Yamcha, together with
Puar, slices off Goku's tail and saves the day.

Kaioken

After dying at the commencement of the Saiyan arc, Goku
continues his training with Kaio in the afterlife. Kaio teaches Goku two
techniques in particular: the Genki Dama and the Kaioken. The Genki Dama is
demonstrated in advance, but Toriyama keeps Kaioken's unveiling for the battle
against the Saiyans. It's important to note that, while Kaioken is actually a
technique, the Namek arc allows Goku to use it as a transformation. Goku may
boost his transformations using Kaioken in Dragon Ball Super, resulting in a
new Goku transformation.

Super Saiyan

Unlike in his encounter with Vegeta, where he lets Kaioken
ruin his body, Goku bows out before Frieza gives him the chance. Instead, he
devotes all of his energy on a Genki Dama, which only serves to enrage Frieza.
Frieza retaliates by murdering Krillin, but this proves to be his undoing.

 

After witnessing his closest buddy being ripped to bits
right in front of his eyes, Goku changes into the famed Super Saiyan, obtains a
second wind, and forces Frieza into one of the series' most humiliating
defeats. Because of its heroic introduction, Super Saiyan remains the most
famous of Goku transformations.

Super Saiyan 2

The Cell storyline focuses
heavily on the Super Saiyan condition and how to push it even farther. Vegeta,
Trunks, and Goku each have their unique augmentations (called Grade forms), yet
they are all apparently variants on the standard Super Saiyan. A new
appropriate form is not presented until Gohan activates Super Saiyan 2 during
the Cell Games.

 

After Goku dies during the Cell
Games, he activates Super Saiyan 2 while practising in the afterlife. Goku will
most likely use Super Saiyan 2 sooner rather than later (evidenced by a lack of
stamina drain). In a flash instance versus Yakon, Goku first demonstrates the
form.

Super Saiyan 3

It's curious how Toriyama
introduces Super Saiyan 2 for Goku, only to remove it shortly after. Goku uses
the form to combat Majin Vegeta, but he never uses it again (in the original
manga, at least). Goku's transformation, which occurs for the first time while
delaying against Buu, shocks the actual cosmos.

Given the enormous toll Super
Saiyan 3 takes on a living body — and how much work Goku puts into morphing
while dead — it's no surprise that the form takes Goku a long time to perfect.
He's since mastered Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball Super, although its
representation in the Buu storyline is too large for Goku.

Super Saiyan 4

When it first appeared in Dragon
Ball GT, the Super Saiyan 4 transformation was a huge hit. While this Goku form
and the series in which it debuted were subsequently declared non-canon, it
continued to appear in video games and merchandising. Goku sought greater
strength after being vanquished by Baby as a Super Saiyan 3.

Goku attained Super Saiyan 4 by
first retrieving his Saiyan tail, which he did with the assistance of Old Kai,
Sugoro, and Shusugoro. Goku was able to transform into a Golden Oozaru as a
result of this. Goku had limited control over this form at first. When Pan
managed to reach him, Goku regained control of his Golden Oozaru form. As a
result, Goku completed his ascension to Super Saiyan 4, which comprised a
mature physique.

Super Saiyan God
 

Battle of Gods is mostly a
character study of Son Goku and the concepts that constitute Dragon Ball. The
plot revolves around an unstoppable foe who pushes Goku to his limits but never
gives him the joy of accomplishing so. Goku is humbled throughout the Battle of
Gods, particularly during the Super Saiyan God ceremony.

 

Saiyan Superpower God is not a
shape Goku obtains on his own; rather, he obtains it via the strength of
others. It's not something he desires, but he recognises that it's necessary.
At the same time, Beerus acknowledges Goku's competence, even if his power is
not. There's a lot to think about when it comes to Goku's character in Dragon
Ball Z.

Super Saiyan Blue

Vegeta and Goku practise with
Whis after the events of Battle of Gods. The anime and manga never show how
each martial artist activates Super Saiyan Blue, but everything suggests they
master it during this training time. As Whis teaches them the art of God Ki,
it's probable that SSB will remain one of their special aims.

Super Saiyan Blue has
subsequently evolved into the Dragon Ball Super Super Saiyan, serving as Goku
and Vegeta's basic forms. While the blue looks great with Goku's Resurrection F
outfit, it's a little boring with his Turtle School uniform.

Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken

Following the defeat of Golden
Frieza, both Goku and Vegeta attempted to build on their newly discovered Super
Saiyan Blue skills. Later in Dragon Ball Super, Vegeta did this, but Goku soon
discovered a new path by employing an ancient method.

 

Goku was able to use the Kaioken
technique because he had superior ki control thanks to Super Saiyan Blue. Goku
had intended to save this form for a rematch with Beerus, but felt compelled to
use its ability multipliers to overcome Hit's time-skip method. The downsides
of Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken were the same as those of the standard Kaioken, as
Goku's body couldn't handle it forever.

 

Perfected Ultra Instinct

Ultra Instinct -Sign- was
insufficient to defeat Jiren in the Tournament of Power; Goku needed to go
deeper by completing his Ultra Instinct form. Pushing himself to the limit in
his Ultra Instinct -Sign- form, Goku stayed on the defence against an avalanche
of Jiren blows. After a while, Goku resisted.

 

This offensive assault led in
Goku achieving Perfected Ultra Instinct. He didn't attain Ultra Instinct -Sign-
again until he trained with Merus during the Moro arc. After Merus' erasure,
Goku activated the full Ultra Instinct when he kept his emotions in check
during a sorrowful time. Goku has used the form at will since then.

Divine Ki Giant Battle Avatar

During the Galactic Patrol
Prisoner storyline, Goku is tested to the maximum by Planet-Eater Moro. Goku
attempts to shatter the warlock's forehead crystal in order to prevent the
warlock from detonating and destroying the cosmos, only to be kidnapped and
drained of energy by his opponent. However, owing to Uub's and Goku's other
allies' divine energy, the series' protagonist was able to recharge and take on
a new form: Divine Ki Giant Battle Avatar.

This form, which resembles
Susanoo from the Naruto franchise, is a physical manifestation of Goku's Divine
ki. So far, the metamorphosis has only occurred when Goku is in perilous
situations against Moro and Gas, the main adversaries of the manga's most
recent arcs.

True Ultra Instinct

Goku's emotions must be entirely
calm in order for him to use Perfected Ultra Instinct. While this
transformation greatly improves his power, it does not correspond to Goku's
innate temperament. When the Saiyan warrior battles, he is motivated by
passion, ambition, and wrath, and as a result, Perfect Ultra Instinct isn't
utilising his abilities. True Ultra Instinct, which Goku obtains by uniting
Ultra Instinct -Sign- with his Saiyan emotions, however, is perfectly suited to
his battle-driven mentality.

 

During the Granolah the Survivor
narrative, Goku and Vegeta struggled to defend themselves from Gas until the
former developed this form. He won the upper hand over Gas by utilising its
increased power, even after the villain survived Granolah's final blow.