Making Sense of Saiyan Transformations and Power Ups

[Almighty Majin]

This franchise has shown us many different ways that Saiyans can power up and transform. I will attempt to organize and make sense of these mechanisms. I will only be including Saiyan forms. Kaioken, Ultimate, Ultra Instinct, etc. will NOT be included.

Saiyan Power Boost Path:

Spoiler:

Saiyan Recovery Boost - When a Saiyan recovers after receiving injuries, they gain a substantial power boost. (Used by all Saiyans until they reach a certain level of strength)

Saiyan Combat Boost - Saiyans adapt and get stronger as they fight. (Used by all Saiyans once recovery boosts become obsolete, it is the next stage)

Saiyan Spirit Boost - Saiyans can fight beyond their limits through sheer resolve and willpower. (Used by specific Saiyans who have the resolve: i.e. Bardock vs Gas)

Oozaru Path:

Spoiler:

Oozaru - By looking at a full moon (or artificial equivalent), a Saiyan with a tail transforms into a giant ape. Their power is multiplied tenfold and they lose their senses. (Used by Saiyans with a tail)

Controlled Oozaru - An Oozaru with their senses intact. They have the benefits of the power boost gained by the transformation while retaining their fighting instincts and ability to strategize. (Used by Vegeta and potentially other elite and some mid-class Saiyans)

Wrathful - The ability to utilize the Oozaru power in base form. The body bulks up greatly and the senses are lost. (Used by Broly)

Controlled Wrathful - The power of Oozaru in base with mental faculties retained. (Used by Broly potentially, perhaps also used by Shallot early in Dragon Ball Legends)

Super Saiyan Path:

Spoiler:

False Super Saiyan - An incomplete and unstable version of the Super Saiyan form likely accessed due to a lack of S-Cells. (Used by Goku against Lord Slug)

Super Saiyan - The basic Super Saiyan form accessed by having an abundant amount of S-Cells and a catalyst to trigger the transformations. Higher S-Cell count leads to easier time transforming. 50x multiplier. (Used by various Saiyans in the franchise, first shown off by Goku against Freeza)

Super Saiyan Grade 2 - Bulked up version of the Super Saiyan form achieved by channeling excess power into the body. (Used by Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks)

Super Saiyan Grade 3 - Overloaded version of the Super Saiyan form that trades speed and stamina for extra power. (Used by Goku, Future Trunks, and Caulifla)

Partial Super Saiyan - After mastering Super Saiyan, a Saiyan can partially use the power of Super Saiyan in their base form. Could be thought of as the mastered and refined variant of the False Super Saiyan state. (Used by Goku in the Other World)

Mastered Super Saiyan - Also referred to as Grade 4, it is the initial Super Saiyan form without the strain. It is achieved by becoming acclimated to the Super Saiyan form over an extended period of time. (Used by the Saiyans on Earth after training Super Saiyan)

Super Saiyan 2 - A Super Saiyan ascended beyond a regular Super Saiyan. Think of it like the "Grade 2" variant of the Mastered Super Saiyan state. (Used by Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Future Trunks, and the Universe 6 Saiyans)

Super Saiyan 3 - A Super Saiyan state that goes even further beyond. It is an overloaded form similar to the Grade 3 Super Saiyan state. Unlike Grade 3, it does not slow down the user, but it does drain stamina greatly. (Used by Goku and Gotenks)

Enhanced Super Saiyan 2 - A boosted variant of the Super Saiyan 2 state equaling or surpassing Super Saiyan 3. Achieved through rigorous training and improving the basic Super Saiyan 2 form. Alternatively accessed through sheer rage. (Used by Vegeta and Future Trunks)

Full Power Super Saiyan 3 - A variant of Super Saiyan 3 without the stamina drain. This form seems to either grow back a Saiyan's tail or utilizes it to mitigate the stamina drain. (Potentially used by Goku in GT, used by Cumber in Heroes)

Super Saiyan Rage - A limit breaking Super Saiyan form accessed via a build up of trauma and rage released all at once. (Used by Future Trunks)

God Ki Path:

Spoiler:

Super Saiyan God - A divine form achieved when a Saiyan acquires access to God Ki. Can be achieved via a ritual of absorbing the power of 5 pure hearted Saiyans. Could also potentially be achieved through divine training. This form takes some time to adjust to and has a time limit. (Used by the original Super Saiyan God and Goku, Vegeta had to have achieved this as well while training with Whis)

Saiyan Beyond God - A Saiyan that absorbs the power of Super Saiyan God into their base form achieves this state. (Used by Goku and Vegeta)

Mastered Super Saiyan God - After training god power enough, a Saiyan loses the Saiyan Beyond God state and regains access to the full refined power of Super Saiyan God without the time limit. (Used by Goku, Vegeta, Shallot, and Giblet)

Evil Saiyan Path:

Spoiler:

Evil Aura - A Saiyan can tap into their inner evil and release a dark aura that empowers them. (Used by Cumber, Turles, and Giblet)

Evil Saiyan - An evolution that draws out a Saiyan's dark power, granting them a state similar in appearance to Super Saiyan 3, but retaining the Saiyan's original hair color. (Used by Cumber and Turles)

Oozaru + Super Saiyan:

Spoiler:

Golden Oozaru - A Saiyan who has achieved Super Saiyan can become a Golden Oozaru by looking at the full moon. (Used by Goku against Bebi)

Super Saiyan 4 - A Golden Oozaru that can retain their mental faculties and control their power compresses down to the Super Saiyan 4 state. (Used by Goku and Vegeta in GT)

Full Power Super Saiyan 4 - A Super Saiyan 4 that absorbs an abundant amount of energy, making it their own and powering up beyond their original power. (Used by Goku against Bebi and Omega Shenron)

Super Saiyan 4 Limit Breaker - A form achieved by surpassing the limits of Super Saiyan 4. (Used by Xeno Goku and Xeno Vegeta in Heroes)

Wrathful Super Saiyan - A form that combines Super Saiyan with the Wrathful state. Can also be controlled. (Used by Broly)

Oozaru + God Ki:

Spoiler:

Crimson Oozaru - An Oozaru with God Ki. (Hypothetical, original Super Saiyan God had a tail so he may have been able to access this form)

Oozaru + Evil Ki:

Spoiler:

Evil Oozaru - An Evil Saiyan in the Oozaru state. (Hypothetical, but potentially may have been used by the evil Saiyans that the original Super Saiyan God fought in the past)

Super Saiyan + God Ki:

Spoiler:

Super Saiyan (God Ki Absorbed) - A Saiyan who absorbed the power of Super Saiyan God and continues to use it in Super Saiyan. The precursor to Super Saiyan Blue. (Used by Goku in Battle of Gods)

Super Saiyan Blue - Super Saiyan God combined with Super Saiyan. (Used by Goku and Vegeta in Super)

Completed Super Saiyan Blue - A mastered version of Super Saiyan Blue that reduces all Ki leakage, allowing its full potential to be used. (Used by Goku and Vegeta in Super)

Super Saiyan Blue Evolved - A form achieved by surpassing the limits of Super Saiyan Blue. (Used by Vegeta)

Super Saiyan + Evil Ki:

Spoiler:

Evil Super Saiyan - A Super Saiyan with Evil Aura. Can likely be combined with Super Saiyan 2 and 3 as well. (Used by Cumber as well as Goku and Vegeta but they could not control it)

God Ki + Evil Ki:

Spoiler:

Evil Super Saiyan God - A Saiyan that has combined God Ki and Evil Ki. (Used by Giblet)

Oozaru + Super Saiyan + God Ki:

Spoiler:

Blue Oozaru - A Saiyan who has achieved Super Saiyan Blue can become a Blue Oozaru by looking at the full moon. (Hypothetical)

Primal Super Saiyan God - Super Saiyan 4 with God Ki. (Hypothetical)

Oozaru + Super Saiyan + Evil Ki:

Spoiler:

Evil Golden Oozaru - Golden Oozaru with Evil Ki. (Used by Cumber)

Evil Super Saiyan 4 - Super Saiyan 4 with Evil Ki. (Hypothetical, but Cumber could possibly achieve it)

Super Saiyan + God Ki + Evil Ki:

Spoiler:

Evil Super Saiyan Blue - Super Saiyan Blue with Evil Ki. (Used by Vegeta in Heroes)

Oozaru + Super Saiyan + God Ki + Evil Ki:

Spoiler:

Evil Blue Oozaru - Blue Oozaru with Evil Ki. (Hypothetical)

Evil Primal Super Saiyan God - The pinnacle of non-limit breaking Saiyan forms. (Hypothetical)

Additional notes:
Super Saiyan Rose is a unique form taken on by Saiyans who are natural gods like Goku Black.
Legendary/Berserker Super Saiyan is a unique mutation of the Super Saiyan forms.
Certain limit breaking forms like Super Saiyan Rage, Super Saiyan 4 Limit Breaker, and Super Saiyan Blue Evolved are likely accessed via the Saiyan Spirit Boost power up that I described earlier.

[Grimlock]

Well, if the idea is to "make sense" as well as explain and catalogue these forms, then:

Wrathful - The ability to utilize the Oozaru power in base form. The body bulks up greatly and the senses are lost. (Used by Broly)

I wouldn't say "base form" considering Broly displayed different characteristics from his actual base form. Meaning it's a transformation, as his hairstyle changes and the color of his eyes does too.

False Super Saiyan - An incomplete and unstable version of the Super Saiyan form likely accessed due to a lack of S-Cells. (Used by Goku against Lord Slug)

Nor the movie itself or guidebooks revealed enough of the form for us to say that it is "unstable". From its very brief appearance, Goku didn't seem to have any problems with it. But, by the virtue of being "incomplete", a step below Super Saiyan, I would certainly assume its multiplier to be x25, it makes total sense.

Super Saiyan Grade 2 - Bulked up version of the Super Saiyan form achieved by channeling excess power into the body. (Used by Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks)

Same thing here, I assuredly think this form's multiplier to be x75, making it a perfect "Super Saiyan 1.5". Partly because...

Super Saiyan Grade 3 - Overloaded version of the Super Saiyan form that trades speed and stamina for extra power. (Used by Goku, Future Trunks, and Caulifla)

... The drawback of this form is such that it only makes sense for its multiplier to be very high. Higher than Super Saiyan 2's. I can't see this form having a multiplier below x100. It's a perfect trade-off, if you ask me.

Other users include: Cell.

Partial Super Saiyan - After mastering Super Saiyan, a Saiyan can partially use the power of Super Saiyan in their base form. Could be thought of as the mastered and refined variant of the False Super Saiyan state. (Used by Goku in the Other World)

What the heck is that!?

Mastered Super Saiyan - Also referred to as Grade 4, it is the initial Super Saiyan form without the strain. It is achieved by becoming acclimated to the Super Saiyan form over an extended period of time. (Used by the Saiyans on Earth after training Super Saiyan)

"Mastered Super Saiyan" name doesn't exist. Only "Super Saiyan Full Power" and "Super Saiyan Grade 4". An idea that was seemingly abandoned after its introduction, as no other Saiyan displayed the difference between Super Saiyan and this mastered form.

Super Saiyan 2 - A Super Saiyan ascended beyond a regular Super Saiyan. Think of it like the "Grade 2" variant of the Mastered Super Saiyan state. (Used by Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Future Trunks, and the Universe 6 Saiyans)

Other users include: Bardock, future Gohan, Gogeta, Vegetto, Gotenks, Cell and Shallot. Goku Black uses the divine version of it, called Super Saiyan Rosé 2.

Super Saiyan 3 - A Super Saiyan state that goes even further beyond. It is an overloaded form similar to the Grade 3 Super Saiyan state. Unlike Grade 3, it does not slow down the user, but it does drain stamina greatly. (Used by Goku and Gotenks)

Other users include: Bardock, Gohan, future Gohan, future Trunks, GT Trunks, Gogeta, Vegetto, Raditz, Nappa, Xeno Gohanks, Cumber and Shallot. Goku Black uses a divine version of it, called Super Saiyan Rosé 3.

Enhanced Super Saiyan 2 - A boosted variant of the Super Saiyan 2 state equaling or surpassing Super Saiyan 3. Achieved through rigorous training and improving the basic Super Saiyan 2 form. Alternatively accessed through sheer rage. (Used by Vegeta and Future Trunks)

Do we know if in Vegeta's case it is even a permanent thing or if it was just a thing caused by the rage of the moment? I don't remember this being ever brought up again. In Trunks' case it's a power-up thing that he seemingly can activate or deactivate on command.

Golden Oozaru - A Saiyan who has achieved Super Saiyan can become a Golden Oozaru by looking at the full moon. (Used by Goku against Bebi)

People tend to forget but Baby Vegeta also used Golden Oozaru against Super Saiyan 4 Goku. I remember Vegeta addressing this in the Evil Dragons saga, but I don't remember what he said exactly.

Super Saiyan 4 - A Golden Oozaru that can retain their mental faculties and control their power compresses down to the Super Saiyan 4 state. (Used by Goku and Vegeta in GT)

Other users include: Gogeta, Bardock, GT/Xeno Gohan and Xeno Vegetto.

Full Power Super Saiyan 4 - A Super Saiyan 4 that absorbs an abundant amount of energy, making it their own and powering up beyond their original power. (Used by Goku against Bebi and Omega Shenron)

What Goku uses against Baby Vegeta is Super Saiyan 4 Full Power. And what he uses against One-Star Dragon is Super Full Power Saiyan 4. I believe Dragon Ball Legends recently (well, not that recently) made that distinction. These two forms seemingly aren't quite the same, if I remember correctly.

Super Saiyan 4 Limit Breaker - A form achieved by surpassing the limits of Super Saiyan 4. (Used by Xeno Goku and Xeno Vegeta in Heroes)

The actual name is Super Full Power Saiyan 4: Limit Breaker. So it's related to Super Full Power Saiyan 4, not Super Saiyan 4 Full Power.

Other users include: Xeno Gogeta and Xeno Vegetto.

Additional notes:
Super Saiyan Rose is a unique form taken on by Saiyans who are natural gods like Goku Black.
Legendary/Berserker Super Saiyan is a unique mutation of the Super Saiyan forms.
Certain limit breaking forms like Super Saiyan Rage, Super Saiyan 4 Limit Breaker, and Super Saiyan Blue Evolved are likely accessed via the Saiyan Spirit Boost power up that I described earlier.

You forgot to mention Super Saiyan Rosé Full Power. We don't know what it is, but based on the design, it seems to be a "Super Saiyan 3.5". The hair is as long as a Super Saiyan 3, it has eyebrows and a tail. So it's almost like as if Goku Black is going into Super Saiyan 4.

There is also Super Saiyan 4 Full Power that only Broly has it. We don't know if it has any relation to Super Saiyan 4 Full Power that Goku uses in Dragon Ball GT.

[dbgtFO]

Partial Super Saiyan - After mastering Super Saiyan, a Saiyan can partially use the power of Super Saiyan in their base form. Could be thought of as the mastered and refined variant of the False Super Saiyan state. (Used by Goku in the Other World)

What the heck is that!?

The infamous "pseudo" Super Saiyan incident when Goku takes on the Ginyu Force in Hell and Toei changed it from the preview from the last episode showing him in regular Super Saiyan.

[Grimlock]

The infamous "pseudo" Super Saiyan incident when Goku takes on the Ginyu Force in Hell and Toei changed it from the preview from the last episode showing him in regular Super Saiyan.

Oh hell, I had completely forgotten about that. Still, I don't think that was acknowledged as a form, so I don't know why would people do it.

[theherodjl]

It's a little funny to me how a simple artistic decision to make Goku's hair easier to ink would end up creating a convoluted series of powers ups involving hair getting longer & spikier, growing all over the body, or changing color several times. I kinda wonder what would happen if the Saiyans were hairless? Maybe the "Super Saiyan" would just be a giant humanoid, growing akin to Oozaru except just giant versions of their regular selves?