Warning: Contains spoilers for Dragon Ball Daima episode #19its own updated version of the form.
While fans were elated to see the transformation return in episode #18, "Awakening", questions arose surrounding how Super Saiyan 4 could fit within the series' canon. Never is there any mention of the form in Dragon Ball Super, which follows Daima in the timeline. As fans obsessively theorized, Dragon Ball Daima episode #19, titled "Betrayal" premiered, and made the situation even less clear. Debuting Super Saiyan 4 in all its glory on an adult Goku, the series has created quite the continuity problem, and it needs addressing quickly.
Daima's Super Saiyan 4 Is Now Even More Confusing
The Fan-Favorite Form Is Never Mentioned Again in the Series
When Daima introduced its updated Super Saiyan 4 transformation, the series left its specificities largely ambiguous. The legendary elder Namekian, Neva, seemed to unlock Goku's potential, similar to the way Gohan's and Krillin's were by the Grand Elder Guru on Planet Namek. Following the sequence, he arose in an all-new form. It was theorized that Goku might not be able to reach the form on his own, therefore it doesn't appear again later down the timeline of events.
That theory was squashed, however, when the newly released episode #19 featured Goku once more powering-up into Super Saiyan 4 without any Namekian assistance. The new-look transformation in its full-power has scratched an itch that fans of GT have long been unable to reach, and is the perfect callback to the 1996 anime while bringing a modern flavor of its own to the instantly recognizable form. Unfortunately, the scene has also created issues for the franchise's canon timeline to which there may be no answer.
Is Dragon Ball Daima Meddling Too Much With the Timeline?
Super Saiyan 4's Absence From Dragon Ball Super Doesn't Make Sense
Though Goku powering up into a Super Saiyan 4 in Daima's latest episode is undeniably cool, it doesn't make much sense. When Beerus arrives on King Kai's planet, the series' iconic main character explicitly tells him there are no transformations left after he turns into a Super Saiyan 3. This could have been explained if Neva was needed for Goku to reach the form, but episode #19 features the Saiyan using it on his own. The anime has left itself few options for coherent explanations, and with only one episode of Daima remaining, it needs to offer one quickly.
Don't Quit at Goku, Dragon Ball Daima Needs to Make Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta Canon ASAP
Dragon Ball Daima must feature Vegeta Super Saiyan 4 as soon as possible because this transformation might be restricted to limited use.
Dragon Ball Daima has been a near flawless addition to the franchise, and has succeeded in taking the best of Dragon Ball GT and turning it into something new. The battle between Earth's heroes and the evil king Gomah is still raging on, and though Goku has a new, familiar form which needs some explaining, he isn't out of the woods just yet. Only one episode remains of Goku's latest anime adventure, and fans won't want to miss out on its finale, airing February 28, 2025.
Dragon Ball DAIMA is the fifth overall series in the action-adventure anime franchise. It features most of the classic cast 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.
- Seasons
- 1
- Story By
- Akira Toriyama
