Dragon Ball Z never explicitly highlights Goku’s inaugural Super Saiyan 3 transformation, but it appears to be a metamorphosis that’s reached through the pushing of one’s limits rather than an emotional catalyst like with the previous Super Saiyan transformations. The seven years between the Cell Saga and Buu Saga have stayed a closed book for Dragon Ball. There’s a lot to explore in this lengthy span of time, especially since the entirety of Dragon Ball Super is set within the ten-year time-skip that occurs during the end of Dragon Ball Z. Dragon Ball doesn’t need to do a full series that’s set during this unseen window, but there could at least be an OVA installment or one-shot manga story that properly details Goku’s first taste of Super Saiyan 3 strength. This could become a character-forming moment between Goku and his former mentor, King Kai, who has helped Goku achieve some of the biggest martial arts milestones from his life.

When Does Super Saiyan 3 Make Its Debut?

Goku’s Super Saiyan 3 introduction occurs offscreen, but the transformation officially makes its anime debut in Episode 245, “Super Saiyan 3?!”, when Goku shows off the new form against Majin Buu. Alternatively, manga readers get their first taste of Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball‘s 475th chapter, after it’s properly set up in Chapter 474. Dragon Ball Z only has 291 episodes, which means that Super Saiyan 3 is very much an afterthought.

Goku’s use of the transformation is brief (although it prominently returns in the 12th and 13th feature films), but it gets slightly more play out of Gotenks, who first accesses Super Saiyan 3 strength in episode 260, “Feeding Frenzy.” Both characters briefly entertain the transformation in Dragon Ball Super, but it’s quickly replaced with stronger means of retaliation. Super Saiyan 3’s presence in Dragon Ball GT is also extremely minimal due to Vegeta skipping the stage and the anime’s superior form, Super Saiyan 4.

What Are Super Saiyan 3’s Strengths & Weaknesses?

Super Saiyan 3 is undeniably stronger than its predecessors and it’s a transformation that’s said to access a Saiyan’s full potential that activates power in every drop of their blood. Super Saiyan 3 triggers an electric aura, but its most notable change is the lengthier hair and heavier brow that the user acquires. Super Saiyan 3 strength is four times that of a Super Saiyan 2, which means that it’s eight times as powerful as the standard Super Saiyan transformation. In fact, Goku’s Super Saiyan 3 transformation on Earth is so intense that it alters the planet’s weather and causes clouds to gravitate towards Goku. Apparently, a less-seasoned Saiyan can have their body destroyed by this influx of power if they’re not careful.

A Super Saiyan 3 can accomplish things that would have been impossible for a Super Saiyan 2, but the user is constricted to a tighter timeline. Super Saiyan 3 puts such a strain on the user’s body that the transformation can only be maintained for a limited period. Goku and Gotenks can both skirt around these restrictions because Goku is dead and Gotenks is the product of a fusion. Alternatively, Goku’s use of Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball GT, when he’s stuck with a child’s body, becomes more encumbered, and it increasingly disappears from his repertoire.

Who Can Achieve Super Saiyan 3?

New Super Saiyan milestones can be difficult to first achieve, but it’s only a matter of time before these impossible transformations become the norm for Dragon Ball’s Saiyan warriors. Curiously, this philosophy doesn’t exactly carry over with Super Saiyan 3 and, to date, it’s only Goku and Gotenks who can canonically access this transformation. Super Saiyan 3 feels like more of an elite power-up because of its exclusive access, especially when courageous characters like Vegeta, Gohan, and Future Trunks don’t unlock its secrets.

Super Saiyan 3 is so visually compelling that it should come as no surprise that it’s found a lot of success in Dragon Ball video games and other non-canonical story expansions. Dragon Ball Heroes and Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle have seriously indulged with Super Saiyan 3 chaos. Classic characters like Vegeta, Broly, Future Trunks, Bardock, and even Raditz and Nappa become Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball’s supplemental stories. These “What If?” scenarios lead to entertaining visuals, but there’s something to be said regarding the anime and manga’s precious attitude over Super Saiyan 3.

How Does Super Saiyan 3 Differ From Other Transformations?

Dragon Ball follows a bit of a telegraphed pattern where it’s always looking forward to the future when it comes to its Super Saiyan transformations. Super Saiyan 3 is stronger than Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 2, but the transformation is designed around ki utilization as its priority. Alternatively, the first two major Super Saiyan transformations turn to stamina utilization instead. This means that Super Saiyan 3 is stronger, faster, and has access to stronger attacks, but the body isn’t able to endure it as long. For this reason, Super Saiyan 3 is frequently viewed as a stop-gap solution to greater power, whether that’s Super Saiyan 4, Super Saiyan God, or Ultra Instinct. Super Saiyan 3’s distinct design led audiences to believe that it would ultimately be much more important.

It’s quite telling that Super Saiyan 3 largely gets retired towards the end of Dragon Ball Z’s manga and that its early use in Dragon Ball Super is largely limited to the anime adaptation. It’s entirely possible that individuals like Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan who have gotten so in touch with their bodies and ki control that they might now be able to push Super Saiyan 3 to greater and more practical heights. Many unofficial Super Saiyan middle steps have been discovered by intrepid martial artists and there’s no reason why a Super Saiyan 3 Second Grade is off the table. However, as it stands and with stronger transformations on the table, it’s more than likely that Super Saiyan 3 remains an appealing relic of the past.

Source: Screenrant.com