Dragon Ball universe, differs greatly from the other of the Saiyan race. Ever since he was a child, he displayed an aversion to fighting and violence, preferring to spend his time studying. Gohan seems to consider himself more human than a Saiyan.

Being in touch with his human half could be the reason why his latest transformation, Beast Form, is so powerful. This new technique could be the pinnacle of Gohan’s human potential, a topic that has been constantly brought up throughout the series. Akira Toriyama, the late creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, may have intended Gohan’s Beast Form to be the human equivalent of a Super Saiyan.

Gohan Does Not Rely On His Saiyan Blood

Gohan has stated in the past he prefers to consider himself a human

During the Tournament of Power arc of Dragon Ball Super manga, Gohan proved his incredible power by fighting the fused warrior Kefla. When questioned about his refusal to use his Super Saiyan form, Gohan revealed that he had decided long ago to focus on growing as a human. This line directly references Gohan’s Ultimate form, a transformation that does not utilize the young warrior’s Saiyan abilities. Unlike Super Saiyan, a form that becomes more powerful by feeding off its ’s emotions, the Ultimate form is the result of a being’s potential being released. While using this new form, Gohan chooses to fight like a human rather than as a Saiyan.

During Dragon Ball’s Frieza Saga, Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma went to Planet Namek looking for a way to revive their friend. While on the planet, Goku’s son and best friend had their true potential unlocked by the Gran Elder Guru. However, Gohan's true strength remained dormant, perhaps because the Elder was too old and about to die, so he couldn't bring it all out, or because Gohan was still a kid at the time. Many years later, during the Majin Buu Saga, the Elder Kai performed a similar ritual that gave Gohan his Potential Unleashed form, later called Ultimate Gohan.

At the time of its debut, Potential Unleashed Gohan was considered the strongest non-fused fighter in the series.

The Beast Form is considered to be an evolution to Ultimate Gohan, harnessing all the anger, power, and determination of its s to grant them a massive power boost. Nonetheless, this transformation once again does not draw from the young man’s Saiyan heritage. While in this state, Gohan is demonstrating the raw power of humanity, staying true to his convictions of not relying on his alien blood. Still, it is unlikely that Goku’s son would be able to harness this kind of power without being half-Saiyan.

The Real Explanation For Beast Hints That Gohan Isn't The Only One Who Could Unlock It

Beast Form may not be Exclusive to Gohan

While Gohan received a fair amount of focus in certain arcs, some fans need to that he is not the only Saiyan-Human hybrid in Dragon Ball's world. Suppose Gohan's Beast transformation can be unlocked thanks to the combination of Human and Saiyan potential. In that case, it's fair to assume that Goku and Vegeta's other children could eventually unlock the Beast form with the proper training or rituals that helped Gohan access his considerable potential.

Characters like Goten, Pan, Young Trunks, and Vegeta's youngest child, Bulla, have yet to see much development or impact on the story of Dragon Ball Super. And while those characters had arguably underutilized roles during the events of Dragon Ball GT, which is canon to the franchise's official timeline, a remake of the series or continuation of the story could see all of those characters rise to greater heights than they ever have, especially if they find a way to access Gohan's formidable new transformation.

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Saiyan Blood Is Still Important

Gohan still has many advantages due to his bloodline

While Gohan may not want to keep relying on transformations exclusive to the Saiyan race, he is still a part of this group. His Saiyan Battle Instincts will always be superior to those of a regular human, as he is part of a race born to fight. Gohan’s legacy also seems to play a role in his Beast transformation, as it has often been compared to the Super Saiyan form. During chapter 103 of the Dragon Ball Super manga, Gohan told his father that he managed to achieve his Beast Form by allowing his rage to almost control him.

The Super Saiyan form follows a similar concept, with Goku being able to use it for the first time after Frieza causes him to become angrier than ever. Both forms are directly linked with their s’ emotions, making them more similar than what Gohan initially believed. These similarities become even more apparent when Goku, during the same chapter, realizes that Gohan’s Beast Form could be the key to helping Broly control his rage while in Super Saiyan state. Gohan’s alien blood will always be a part of him, but his actions to prove his human half is equally valuable are irable.

The Dragon Ball franchise has always been about suring limits and improving oneself. With Beast Form, Toriyama may have wanted to focus on how humans can become elite fighters like Saiyans, and also bring Gohan back to the top, after unsuccessfully trying to make him the protagonist during the Majin Buu Saga. Gohan’s Beast Form, while aided by the young man’s legacy, is proof that one does not need Saiyan abilities to become an incredibly powerful warrior, and it's one of the best innovations introduced in Dragon Ball Super.