Fans of Dragon Ball Daima got understandably excited when Goku transformed into Super Saiyan for the first time in the series, as that is always an iconic moment, no matter the year or stage of the Dragon Ball franchise. For a while, it seemed that Super Saiyan would be Goku's ace during his Daima adventure, as none of the enemies he has met in the Demon Realm up to this point seemed like a real threat. Also, as the series is aiming for a simpler, more adventure-focused tone, a shift away from transformations and power-ups was to be expected.
However, Dragon Ball Daima actually surprised fans by showing Goku using another one of his forms a lot sooner than expected. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment during Goku's battle against the Tamagami, and it actually serves another purpose too. As the Tamagami were said to be stronger than Dabura, a villain appearing in Dragon Ball Z during the Majin Buu saga, it was surprising that Goku could defeat one of the guardians of the Demon Realm's dragon balls only in his basic Super Saiyan form. However, that turns out not to be the case.
Goku Already Used Super Saiyan 2 in Dragon Ball Daima
Goku Briefly Uses This Form During the Tamagami Battle
During the final stages of Goku's incredible battle with the Tamagami of the Third Demon World, right before firing his Kamehameha, the now-diminutive Saiyan experiences a subtle change. Blue lightning can be seen mixed with his aura, and his air stands up even more than usual. Both these traits are what differentiate Super Saiyan 2 from the previous stages (along with the power increase). This is more clearly visible after Goku delivers the final blow to the Tamagami and he stands still for a moment, waiting for an eventual counterattack.
Super Saiyan 2 is a form not usually associated with Goku, who used it only briefly during the Majin Buu saga, in his duel against Majin Vegeta. The reason is that Goku achieved this form while training in the Other World after dying against Cell, and he also surpassed it by achieving Super Saiyan 3, which he uses extensively against Majin Buu. The only reason why Goku used Super Saiyan 2, in fact, is that he did not want to humiliate Vegeta during their duel (at least according to the Saiyan Prince).
However, as Daima takes place after the Buu saga, there is no reason why Goku should not be able to use Super Saiyan 2. While the third form is a lot more problematic in his current kid state, because it burns too much energy and even adult Goku could not maintain it for long, these should be no such issue with Super Saiyan 2. However, there is a good reason why Goku keeps using his base Super Saiyan state instead, at least apparently.
Goku Never Actually Used the Classic Super Saiyan Form in Daima
While it may seem that the Super Saiyan form goes straight from the basic one to Super Saiyan 2, that is not actually the case. There are a few steps in between that were explored during the Cell saga, each coming with its own benefits and drawbacks. The last of these steps is commonly referred to as Super Saiyan Full Power (also known as Super Saiyan Stage 4), is the mastered form of the Super Saiyan state. Goku and Gohan are the first to achieve it while training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber before the Cell Games.
The main feature of this transformation is that it essentially makes Super Saiyan a "basic" state for the user. Goku and Gohan, in fact, train by remaining in Super Saiyan for the longest time possible, even when not actually training and going by their daily activities. The "classic" Super Saiyan, instead, is characterized by a constant explosion of energy and overflowing aura, which usually goes along with a battle-altered mental state.
The purpose of the Super Saiyan Full Power is to reduce the energy consumption associated with this form. This is a recurring issue in the franchise, to the point that it returns in Dragon Ball Super when Goku and Vegeta are trying to master their Blue forms. It is also the reason why Super Saiyan 3 is considered the worst of the transformations, as its energy consumption is too high to make it efficient.
When Goku transforms into Super Saiyan in Daima, he looks like the mastered form. He is calm and natural, and his aura is not overflowing. This is a great detail for fans of the franchise because it shows that Daima is taking into consideration everything that happened in Dragon Ball Z, including the intricacies of a power system that rarely stayed consistent. Goku can thus use Super Saiyan with almost no effort, reserving a switch to Super Saiyan 2 only for the most important moments, a similar strategy to what Vegeta will adopt in Dragon Ball Super with his Super Saiyan Blue form.
Goku Going Super Saiyan 2 Explains a Daima Plot Hole
The Tamagami Are Stronger Than Imagined
Image By Joshua Fox When the dragon balls of the Demon Realm were introduced, the concept was a welcome change to one of the basic premises of the franchise. Rather than being scattered around the three Demon Worlds, the spheres were guarded by three powerful warriors created by the same Namek who created the dragon balls, Neva. This means that anyone wanting to express a wish has to beat them, and the series explicitly states that no one achieved it before, including the previous powerful rulers of the Demon Realm.
This statement really hyped up the strength of the Tamagami. Dabura, the previous king of the Demon Realm, is said to be as strong as Cell during the Majin Buu saga, and he couldn't collect the dragon balls. Even if Dabura's strength in Dragon Ball Z is increased by Babidi's enhancement magic, it still didn't make much sense that Goku could beat a Tamagami in basic Super Saiyan when Dabura failed to do so. However, the fact that Goku went Super Saiyan 2 during his Tamagami fight clears up this point and explains why Dabura could never collect the dragon balls.
It will be interesting to see where Dragon Ball Daima will go in terms of transformations and power-ups. Super Saiyan 2 is a criminally underrated form, one of the fans' favorites, that sadly was surpassed too quickly in the original series. It will be great to see Goku, and perhaps Vegeta, make more extensive use of it in Dragon Ball Daima, or maybe even surpass it again to defeat stronger enemies lying in wait.
Dragon Ball DAIMA is the fifth overall series in the action-adventure anime franchise. It features most of the classic cast members as de-aged versions of themselves, including Goku, Vegeta, and Bulma. The series was announced at NYCC 2023, with creator Akira Toriyama returning to handle DAIMA's run.
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