The Decline of Super Saiyan...

The Decline of Super Saiyan has been in the works for longer than you think. From when Goku transformed into SSJ for the first time, to the latest Ultra Instinct power in #DragonBallSuper we have seen this power decrease in hype and now become an also-ran in terms of excitement. Why is that? When did this start? Well #DragonBallZ might have some clues as to the possible start of this trend.

#DragonBall

This video is about us explaining what might have made the Super Saiyan power boring.

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[MasakoX]

Thanks for watching! Hope you're all having a great day and stay safe. :)

[Paxchi]

To me, the introduction of Super Sayian was a huge boost to the Dragon Ball franchise, but also needed to be handled carefully to avoid it simultaneously becoming the overall death knell for the franchise. And unfortunately, it wasn't.

See, before the introduction of Super Sayian, fights in Dragon Ball or DBZ were never solely about raw power. It was a huge factor, but things like teamwork, tactics, techniques, even skill could close power gaps to various degrees. Even techniques like the Kaioken* and Genkidama were high risk/reward powers that required sacrifices to pull off, so they couldn't just be spammed for an instant win.

Super Sayian made things solely about raw power. All of the clever tactics against Frieza, all the team-work, sacrifice plays, even superior martial arts skill, none of it mattered. It came down to who had more raw power, and that was it. And if had been that way SOLELY for Frieza, it wouldn't have mattered. It would have been that culmination of a prophecy giving Goku enough power to defeat someone who required raw power to defeat.

Having more Super Sayians wasn't the problem. Making it some form Sayians could aspire to reach made sense, and the idea that it unlocked this massive amount of raw potential within them was cool. But then they needed to either make it a power boost to close the gap with more powerful opponents, or give Super Sayian it's own drawbacks.

For instance, the focus on anger and rage could have giving it a limitation that a Super Sayian can't use more advanced tactics and techniques. That could have been a reason why they couldn't use the Kaioken in conjunction with Super Sayian mode: the technique is just too complex to use while in Super Sayian. It could have created instances where there'd be an excuse not to use Super Sayian mode when more tactics or skill was required. Goku out of Super Sayian mode could have fought more like an experienced martial arts master, while Goku in Super Sayian mode fights more like a brawler. It could have been a way to showcase the difference between Goku and Vegita. Vegita would see Super Sayian mode as the solution to every problem, while Goku would be willing to go in and out of Super Sayian mode depending on the situation.

The other thing that cheapened Super Sayian was the idea of "grades". Making Super Sayian 2 specifically a unique upgraded form of Super Sayian meant that the base form was now something lesser, and afterwards everything was going to be about who had the most powerful and newest form of Super Sayian. They should have simply gone with the idea that Gohan's "Super Sayian 2" was simply the expression of Gohan cutting loose for the first time, completely tapping into his raw potential and THAT was why his Super Sayian mode was more powerful. Super Sayian should simply be a boost to the base form's power, so to get stronger you need to train in your basic form. In this way, whoever was the stronger Super Sayian would depend solely on how strong their base form was.

By making the series all about raw power, by not giving Super Sayian any drawbacks and by introducing "grades" of Super Sayian, DBZ completely crippled the idea of the basic Super Sayian form, so that they'd HAVE to release multi-colored hair modes, different hair styles and the like to remain relevant. Super Sayian should have simply been a unique visual cue that the Sayians are going all out and favoring power over technique, not an easy indicator of who's more powerful.

*And as a sidenote, the humans should have absolutely been taught the Kaioken as a way to keep them relevant. The very act of training with the Kaioken would have toughened them up and made them stronger, and allowed them to stay relevant to the series. Especially if the show didn't become about raw power and could have allowed weaker but skilled characters to still have a chance.

[GrimmGrinner]

When it became so basic that you're not a true saiyan if you can't transform. The fact that Vegeta was suprised by Cabba's inability that showed how simple it became.

[myriadmediamusings]

Remember back in the day when Super Saiyan 1 in the Frieza Saga was a huge deal and the most powerful force in the universe?

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[TheWarmachine]

*during Super Saiyan Bargain Sale*
Oprah Winfrey: "YOU'RE A SUPER SAIYAN! YOU'RE A SUPER SAIYAN! EVERYBODY IS A SUPER SAIYAN!"

[brendanlyttle]

MadakoX: Is Super Saiyan declining?
Frieza: It had better be!

[justinpullen]

I think it was Goten and Trunks that did it. They're just able to do it when we saw all the other characters have to struggle to attain the form and those moments actually fueled the narrative. At least with Future Trunks it added to the mystery of "who is this kid, " and Gohan going SS2 was meant to be the culmination of the character. After the Cell saga though, it felt more like "hey check out these new forms!"

[eleos-]

I think we can all agree that Super Saiyan is now just another form of Base form. Not a power up; a variation.

[TheWarmachine]

3:50 Vegeta: "Oh my heart is pure. Pure. Unadulterated. Badass.

[JJ_R]

Ah, Super Saiyans. The Legend turned simple plot device.

[tonysintheattic]

The first transformation like that I think is actually just a foreshadowing; that Kaio-Ken against Ginyu is iconic Goku.

[Gensolink]

Well i guess you could argue transformations in general are just a way to sell toys now

Honestly multiple saiyan form isnt a problem in and of itself. But toriyama power crept its cast. The new transformations makes everything else obsolete instead of having different niches

[TheWarmachine]

4:06 *how Vegeta actually attained Super Saiyan*
Vegeta: "I WANNA BE A SUPER SAIYAN! I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA! I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA!"

[nicwoolfe]

Super Saiyan’s been in decline ever since The Great Bargain Sale of ‘93.

[TheWarmachine]

6:31 At least Cabba and Kale got their Super Saiyan by being enraged. While Caulifla got her Super Saiyan just by feeling a tingling on her back.

[MrKing-heeo]

I think it started in the Android saga. Then they had to create evolutions of the forms one after another.

[xylisisvarlett]

Dragonball is like WOW. Every expansion makes the previous entirely irrelevant. Sucks.

[georgehouliaras]

Super Saiyan kinda became a joke when an old man in his basement created a bunch of toasters who were stronger than it :( And then one of the toasters can magically rival Super Saiyan Blue because he defend animals against poachers on some random island. WTF?

[Bonzothefifth]

There’s also the occurrence around the same time when Piccolo managed to leapfrog the base power of SSJ to take on 17, who’d handily proven capable of handling the first level Super Saiyan form with ease (as you touched on). That proved that while SSJ was certainly an impressive upgrade, it wasn’t necessarily the universal dominator the legends claimed it was and that (in theory) it was possible for non-Saiyans to reach the same heights with sufficient work and the right help.

This got even more highlighted Pre-ToP, when Piccolo just shrugged off SSJ2 Gohan like it was nothing. But the biggest example of this would be Jiren, who seemingly got to where he is simply through grinding alone, with seemingly no transformations, shortcuts or hacks (like zenkais) necessary. Which is honestly a *way* more impressive feat than any SSJ form could achieve when you think about it. If he'd been a better written character, it would have almost felt a shame to see him lose in the end.

[alexanderstavroulakis]

Pretty sure it began the moment Goten and Trunks where able to transform as children.