Son-Goku trains so hard that he learns several Saiyan forms throughout Dragon Ball. One of them is hardly seen in the manga and anime. As the Saiyan himself explains, there is a good reason for that.
Which form is it? It is the Super Saiyan 3, or SSJ3 for short. This is the first level at which the appearance changes drastically:
- The Saiyans receive a massive, blonde mane on their heads at this level. However, they lose their eyebrows.
- In return, the brow area protrudes slightly, and the expression becomes darker than usual. This distinguishes the final design from its original design.
- The SSJ3 can only be achieved by those who have previously reached the SSJ and SSJ2. Additionally, they must undergo years of training.
The SSJ3 was rarely seen, even rarer was the Saiyan power. Besides Son-Goku, only Gotenks, the fusion of Son-Goten and Trunks, has used this form. Son-Goku himself explains the reason for the rare usage in manga chapter 476.
The adventures of Son-Goku and Co. continue with Dragon Ball Daima:
That’s why SSJ3 is so rarely seen in Dragon Ball
Why is SSJ3 so rarely seen? Son-Goku transforms into SSJ3 during his fight against Majin Boo and tries to stop the villain. But Master Kaio warns that Son-Goku should revert back. He would use up all the time he has left on Earth and should actually teach Son-Goten and Trunks how to fuse.
That is why, after the brief encounter with Boo, Son-Goku is at the Palace of God with Piccolo. Son Goku explains to the Namekian that he does not have much time left because he used SSJ3.
The Super Saiyan 3 is actually intended only for “the other world,” or the afterlife. If SSJ3 were to be used in places like Earth, where time flows, it would consume too much energy. This would leave the fighter completely exhausted.
Therefore, SSJ3 cannot be used on Earth because it consumes too much stamina. In longer battles against stronger opponents, it would be a disadvantage if a Saiyan could only transform briefly. Then the fight could turn against them as time goes on.
Who can use SSJ3? The Super Saiyan 3 is only rarely used:
- Son-Goku transforms into SSJ3 three times in his battle against Boo
- Gotenks uses SSJ3 twice in the fight against Boo
- In Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball GT, the third level appears sporadically
- In the Dragon Ball Z movies – The Movie: Fusion, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods, and Dragon Ball Z – The Movie: Dragon Fist, Son-Goku also uses SSJ3
Since there are more forms after SSJ3, Son-Goku and the other Saiyans now transform into different forms. So it is possible that this level will be even rarer to see in the future.
After Super Saiyan 3 follows, for example, SSJ4. Did you know that this form was not even drawn by Akira Toriyama himself? Dragon Ball Daima: The creator draws his own version of Super Saiyan 4 and drives fans crazy
