After nearly six months sinceDragon Ball Daimacame to a close, it’s fair to say the series had its share of ups and downs. From a visual standpoint, it might have been the bestDragon Ballhas ever looked, though its pacing was uneven at times and there were a handful of moments in which it seemed somewhat unfocused.
However, the one addition to the series that was seemingly universally praisedwas the return of Super Saiyan 4. The fan-favorite form became little more than a nostalgic bit of trivia whenDragon Ball Superofficially made 1996’sDragon Ball GTa non-canon series, butDaimafinally returned to the ultimate Saiyan transformation nearly 30 years after its debut.
It also did so with a new stylish redesign, putting the series' massive fan base into a hype-induced frenzy that lasted weeks. Now that the dust has settled onDaima, however,it’s time to determine which anime series did Super Saiyan 4 better.
Daima vs GT: Which Series Did Super Saiyan 4 Better?
Both Transformations Are Similar, But Have Their Share of Differences
Though the transformations share the same name and a similar aesthetic,there are quite a few notable differences between them.Dragon Ball Daima’s version keeps Goku in his iconic orange outfit, gives his hair a red tint, and makes his hands much larger, like those of a giant ape.
TheDragon Ball GTversion gave him jet-black hair, and featured him in his yellow bottoms with normal-sized hands. How the form was achieved also differs wildly between versions.Daimasaw the elder Namekian Neva use his magic to unlock the form within Goku, whileGTrequired the fighter to have a tail and first transform into a giant ape.
The way the original transformation was achieved is a bit more of a satisfying sequence of events—at least narratively, incorporating the Saiyan heritage and explaining the form’s primal appearance through the giant ape form. In terms of strength, it’s likeGT’s version is stronger, simply based onwhere in the timeline the stories take place.
Which one is superior visually is mostly subjective, though the black hair and darker reds seem to be a bit more eye-catching in the vintage, washed-outDragon Ball GTaesthetic. The large hands onDaima’s version make sense with the ape-inspired design,though they might have been better in theory than in practice.
In just about every way, aside from the actual action in which the forms appear,Dragon Ball GT’s version seems superior, which might be strange to some considering just how divisiveGTremains.
Can Fans Expect to See More Super Saiyan 4?
The Future Is Uncertain For Dragon Ball
Dragon Ballhas been on a lengthy hiatus since Akira Toriyama’s passing in 2024, but all signs seem to suggest Goku and company aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Now thatDaimahas been established as a canon entry into the franchise, it’s possible Super Saiyan 4 reappears whenDragon Ball Superreturns,though it would take some explaining.
In the current timeline of events,Daimais the only series in which the form is seen or even mentioned, and now that Goku has far surpassed his post-Buu Saga strength,it might be difficult to find usefulness for the form, though it’s not impossible.
Whether it returns or not, fans will be satisfied with seeing Super Saiyan 4 at all, in any shape or form, in modernDragon Ball—and some are sure to beg for more of it whenever the franchise does make its full return.
Rewriting the transformation to be the peak of a Saiyan’s power that scales with their normal strength could work, even if it might be unsatisfying. That way, Goku or any other Saiyan could turn into a Super Saiyan 4 and simply be at the peak of their strength.
Whether it returns or not, fans will be satisfied with seeing Super Saiyan 4 at all, in any shape or form, in modernDragon Ball—and some are sure to beg for more of it whenever the franchise does make its full return. Until then, the originalDragon Ball GTversion has its newer upgrade beat in a few areas, but returning to the transformation in future works might just change some minds.
