The most bizarre transformations in Dragon Ball

Key insights

• Dragon Ball transformations can be strange, but they don't take away from the magic of the series.
• Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo all achieve powerful new forms through unique means.
• Some transformations, such as Super Saiyan Rage, affect power scaling but maintain characters' relevance.

Dragon Ball is a series that pretty much everyone knows by now. This legendary battle shonen series took the world by storm, opening the way for anime to gain a foothold in the West and attracting many to check out the other great stories the medium has to offer.

The transformations in Dragon Ball It's a joy to watch, but sometimes these shapes can be difficult to digest. Some of these forms are ugly, strange, or poorly reasoned. These transformations are not so bizarre that they take away the magic Dragon Ball; They are just very strange.

8 Zarbon's monster form

Zarbon sacrifices his beauty to become stronger than ever

• Known User: Zarbon
• Anime debut: “Zarbon's Surprise” (episode 53 of Dragon Ball Z)

After being hunted by Frieza's minions, Vegeta finds himself in a difficult situation as he seemingly has the upper hand over Zarbon, but this handsome anime character reveals a transformation that makes him even more striking.

Seeing Zarbon transform into a monster that pulverizes Vegeta is surprising, but the Saiyan shows the power of the Zenkai Boost by coming back from the brink of death and being strong enough to take out a transformed Zarbon in his rematch.

7 Potential released

Gohan stays in place for a long time and becomes powerful

• Known User: Son Gohan
• Anime debut: “Unlucky Break” (episode 262 of Dragon Ball Z)

Gohan's transformations have been very varied, with his Potential Unleashed form appearing after one of the most bizarre power-up sequences in the entire series. He was forced to sit still while old Kai seemed to fool around instead of trying to make him stronger.

It was only when Gohan flexed his muscles in anger that he revealed the Old Kai's work, slowly unlocking his potential until he could take on Super Buu in a one-sided competition. If Gohan hadn't been cocky, his Potential Unleashed state would have been enough to take him out Dragon Ball Zis the final antagonist.

6 Gohan beast

After escaping his training, Gohan becomes enraged and becomes the strongest warrior in the universe

• Known User: Son Gohan
• Anime debut:Dragon Ball Super: Superhero

Dragon Ball Super: Superhero has its cool moments, but most people would have to agree that Gohan's transformation doesn't get the buildup it deserves. First of all, the character once again ignores his training, to the point where he can't even recognize Piccolo when he's in disguise.

However, when he arrives to rescue Pan, the fight escalates and Gohan handles the situation until he sees Piccolo fall after a heavy blow. Unable to contain his anger, Gohan unlocks a new transformation so powerful that it even puts Ultra Instinct Goku to shame, which is hard to digest.

5 Orange Piccolo

Piccolo desires a way to unlock his latent power from Shenron

• Known User: Piccolo
• Anime debut: Dragon Ball Super: Superhero

Despite the nature of the series, it's strange that no one asked Shenron or any of the other wish-granting dragons to give them a new form. That's exactly what Piccolo does when he asks Shenron to unlock his potential and lay the foundation for an entirely new transformation that surprises everyone.

Piccolo himself cannot believe that all it took was one wish to gain such immense power. Orange Piccolo may be a terrible name for this unique transformation, but the bizarre nature of its introduction Dragon Ball shouldn't distract from how this form can finally help Piccolo stand on equal footing with the other Z Warriors.

4 Pseudo-Super Saiyan

Lord Slug is surprised to see Goku taking a new form

• Known User: Son Goku
• Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug

Lord Slug is an interesting film that gives viewers a glimpse of another antagonist who looks like Piccolo and takes advantage of the youth's desire to become stronger than ever. He displays this power against Goku after beating him to a pulp and angering him.

However, Goku doesn't take his terrible words lightly and unconsciously unlocks a Pseudo-Super Saiyan transformation long enough to turn the tables. It's a unique sight to see Goku being enveloped in the Super Saiyan aura without his hair transforming. After this brief appearance, this incomplete Super Saiyan transformation has never appeared again since.

3 Super Saiyan Rage

Trunks' anger helps him perform a new transformation to be on equal terms with Zamasu and Goku Black

• Known User: Future tribes
• Anime debut: “Zamasu's Ambition, the famous 'Project 0 Mortals' of terror” (episode 61 of Dragon Ball Super)

While it's true that Trunks needed to access a new form in order to be relevant in the fight against Goku Black and Zamasu, Super Saiyan Rage was a strange solution to this problem. Somehow, this Saiyan unlocked a new level of base transformation that helped him reach almost the same power level as Goku and Vegeta, two Saiyans who had to unlock divine ki to unlock new Super Saiyan levels.

“Super Saiyan Rage” is a cool image, but it throws away the power scaling to make “Future Trunks” meaningful. It's one of the many problems that plague this story arc Dragon Ball Super which fans have often complained about.

2 Frieza's third form

Frieza looks like a xenomorph in this transformation

• Known User: Frieza
• Anime debut: “Frieza's Second Transformation” (Episode 82 of Dragon Ball Z)

Considering how Frieza is constructed as the final antagonist of the Namek saga, it's easy to understand why this villain goes through multiple transformations to showcase his power. Before he reaches his final form, viewers are treated to a unique design that transforms Frieza into an anime xenomorph.

Frieza's alien appearance makes for a strange sight, but the antagonist is captivating enough to make fans forget the bizarre nature of this transformation. His power continues to increase in this form, making it clear that the Z Warriors are helpless without Goku.

1 Veku

A hilarious failed fusion when Goku and Vegeta mess up the dance

• Known Users: Goku and Vegeta
• Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn

The Fusion Dance is a great way for two characters to combine their bodies and transform into a fused entity. However, if this dance is messed up, the fusion can fail and result in a silly warrior who does not have the power to raise his voice.

This is when Goku and Vegeta fail to fuse properly and Veku is created. This bumbling idiot is either too bulky or too skinny and has to wait for the fusion timer before separating so the two Saiyans can try the fusion dance again.