For over 40 years, the the recently made canon Super Saiyan 4, viewers love the various forms Goku uses to defeat his opponents.

Yet, despite being considered quite powerful, there is a transformation that has sadly never achieved the same level of popularity or success as its peers: Super Saiyan 3. This is mostly due to how brief its uses have been and how little effectiveness it has in battle. However, there is a certain charm to this form that comes from these traits, and they fit the themes of the Majin Buu Saga perfectly.

Super Saiyan 3 Was Never Meant To Shine

The Form Meant the Heroes Had Reached Their Limits

Introduced during the Majin Buu Saga, considered by fans as one of the best arcs in the original Dragon Ball Z series, Super Saiyan 3 is a form Goku created while in the Other World. This technique pushes the body of its to the limit, utilizing their energy to give them a massive boost in strength, resilience, and agility. It was an extremely powerful form, but its power output was so high that s would have a limited time before they were forced to deactivate it.

Super Saiyan 3 was powerful enough to fight Good Buu on equal , a feat that no other fighter had achieved during the arc. The only reason why Goku was not able to finish the fight was because he overused the form and reduced the time he was allowed to be on Earth, as he was dead during that time. Lamentably, this pattern would repeat itself throughout the saga, and most recently during the retcon-filled Dragon Ball Daima. Whenever the technique was used, the fighters would be unable to defeat their opponents in time, with only a handful of exceptions.

There seems to be a reason behind the seeming ineffectiveness of the transformation, one that Akira Toriyama made clear during the rest of the Buu Saga. While imposing in nature, Super Saiyan 3 was meant to represent the limits of a Saiyan while fighting on their own. Goku might have been the most powerful character at the time, but even he was unable to defeat Buu alone. It was not until the heroes realized that they needed to forces that they were able to significantly harm the Majin.

Training Alone Was Not Enough To Win

Toriyama Wished To Change the Formula in Dragon Ball Z

Even though it is understandable that fans will not feel the same attachment to Super Saiyan 3, seeing as it was nowhere near as effective as its predecessors, its role in the series was executed brilliantly. During the two previous major arcs of the Dragon Ball manga, Goku and his friends relied heavily on the Saiyans’ transformations to win their battles. Kakarot’s first time becoming a Super Saiyan is still one of the most iconic and memorable moments in the franchise, and Gohan’s battle against Cell is legendary.

Toriyama must have noticed that the formula of his fights was becoming repetitive, so he decided to change things drastically. He still included a power-up for the protagonist during the Buu Saga, but this time, this form was not the key to victory. Whether it was through a time limit or simply Buu’s innate strength, Super Saiyan 3 was never able to defeat the demonic creation. Its introduction was still an amazing surprise, and there is no denying that it is a mighty form for any Saiyan warrior to achieve.

Nonetheless, this technique alone was not enough for the heroes to defeat Buu and save Earth, given that the monster was among the strongest villains Dragon Ball ever introduced. Toriyama made sure that the lessons of the Buu Saga revolved around the strength of unity and cooperation. This was not only seen via the prevalence of Fusion during the arc but also during the finale, with Goku defeating the monster only because of the help of his friends and allies.

Goku and Vegeta’s Journey Was Defined by Super Saiyan 3

​​​​​​​The Heroes Were Forced To Accept Their Weaknesses

While most anime fans agree that Goku is one of the most popular and friendly anime characters in history, thanks to his amicable personality, the hero has many flaws. One of the biggest, shared by most of the Saiyan race, is their fascination with battle and strength. Kakarot might not be as in tune with his heritage as other characters, such as Vegeta, but he still holds a sense of pride. Goku’s desire to become stronger would often manifest in his transformations, as they were physical representations of his progress.

The failure of this transformation in battle was the push the Z Warriors needed to understand that some enemies cannot be defeated by training alone.

Super Saiyan 3 was supposed to be his ultimate technique, one that he spent years perfecting in the Other World. Yet, despite all of his training and hard work, his effort was not sufficient to defeat a monster such as Majin Buu. The failure of this transformation in battle was the push the Z Warriors needed to understand that some enemies cannot be defeated by training alone. Kakarot was quick to accept this reality, but Vegeta, who was raised as a proud Saiyan, refused to bend the knee until there were no other options left.

Super Saiyan 3 Could Never Be Replaced

​​​​​​​The Form Is Still an Iconic Part of the Dragon Ball Franchise

Super Saiyan 3 lamentably never managed to obtain the same level of popularity and success as other Dragon Ball transformations. Its role in the series, as well as its less-than-appealing design, has no doubt hurt its performance among fans. Nevertheless, despite its reduced , the series would not have been the same without its introduction. Super Saiyan 3 is a staple of the franchise, not only thanks to its epic introduction, but also because of its limited use. Seeing a Saiyan access this form is a treat that fans are rarely able to enjoy.