Saiyan levels
Saiyans are a species from the planet Vegeta (that means Vegeta was their Prince). The Saiyans were very brutal and uncivilized, barbaric even. They killed off their more advanced counterparts on their planet (the Tuffels). This conquest left them with a problem though, namely their technological developments were halted. So they then built a rocket ship and went from planet to planet, conquering them and trading them for more advanced technology. The Saiyans became like planet brokers.
They have natural abilities and desires to fight (they also grow stronger after every battle). Their tails that make them unique also give them the ability to turn into Oozarus (giant ape-like creatures when Saiyans see full moons). This form can only be stopped by cutting off their tails (just like what happened to Goku). Sometimes, though, Saiyan tails grow back even after being cut off.
Saiyans can also go Super Saiyan. This is a special status that is trigged with *extreme* anger. There are numerous stages of the Super Saiyan (which we will get to later on). For now, here are the Saiyans we encounter during the show...
[Saiyan Listing]
Goku (or Kakarot) | Vegeta | King Vegeta | Bardock | Brolly | Nappa | Turles | Raditz
Gohan | Goten | Trunks | Bra
Pan | Vegeta Jr. | Goku Jr.
Obviously, the higher the level of a Super Saiyan, the more powerful. Being so, Super Saiyan Level 1 is relatively weak (when compared to Super Saiyan Level 4).
How can you tell one has just transformed into a Super Saiyan Level 1?
First, their eyes turn blue for 3 seconds then turn green. Then, their hair stands up and turns a mustard-yellow. Their muscles bulge and they become much more menacing.
[Image Of This Level]
Level 1 is still quite powerful.
[Characters Who Transform To This Level]
Goku: After Krillin is killed by Frieza. (DBZ: Frieza
Saga)
Gohan: While training in the Room of Spirit and Time with
Goku. (DBZ: Early Cell Saga)
Vegeta: Prior to the 19/20 android
battle while training in outer space. (DBZ: Android Saga)
Future
Trunks: In the alternate future, #17 and #18 killed Son Gohan causing him to
become SSJ. (DBZ: Trunks Special)
Chibi-Trunks: Not determined... (DBZ: Majin Buu Saga)
Goten: While training with Chichi when he was 6 years old. (DBZ: Majin Buu Saga)
Gotenks: After fusing as SSJs in the Majin Buu Saga. (Majin Buu...)
Brolly: SSJ1: He turned SSJ on the "Trash Planet" when he and his father was about to die. (Movie 8)
USSJ occurs between SSJ1 and SSJ2. While it does make one grow much more powerful, it seriously slows them down as well (incredibly big muscles can do that to a person).
[Image Of This Level]
I call this the "forgotten" SS level.
Second level Saiyan-jins are a step higher and more powerful than the level 1.
The differences are subtle, but are there. Level 2 Saiyans change their eye color to green, and while their hair remains yellow, it is spiked closer together at the top. Their muscles bulge out even more than Level 1s, and they become even more menacing in character. They are also covered in a golden aura of light.
[Image Of This Level]
Pint-sized power.
[Characters Who Transform To This Level]
Goku: While training in Hell. (DBZ: During the Anoyoichi Budoukai Saga/Beginning of Majin Buu Saga)
Gohan: During the fight with Cell. (DBZ: Late Cell Saga)
Vegeta: Vegeta turned SSJ2 when Babi Dee possessed him, He made it perfectly clear that being possessed raised his power level immensely. (DBZ: Between Cell and Majin Buu)
Gotenks: This is never really noticed... probably either did it after fusing or during the Super Buu fight. (Majin Buu)
Now we're talking about some serious power here. Super Saiyans at Level 3 become truly a force to be reckoned with and is much harder to attain than going from SSJ1 to SSJ2 (but it's the jump is much more powerful).
If your friend displays the following traits, chances are - they have become a Level 3 SSJ and that you should run for your life IMMEDIATELY the next time you see him/her.
1. They suddenly have green eyes (though this can be a sign of being a SSJ1, SSJ2, or even having a new pair of contact lenses).
2. Their hair stays yellow but grows down to their legs (though this could mean that they seriously need a hair cut).
3. Eyebrows are lost.
4. In a matter of seconds, they have outgrown their clothes with muscles that Mr. T would be proud of. They are constantly training and are FIERCE.
[Image Of This Level]
Goku achieved this status in Hell. Hence the
halo.
[Characters Who Transform To This Level]
Goku: While training in Hell. (DBZ: During the Anoyoichi Budoukai Saga/Beginning of Majin Buu Saga)
Gotenks: Achieved during training in the Room of Spirit and Time. (DBZ: Majin Buu Saga)
What can be more powerful than a SSJ3? What can be make an SSJ3 run for their lives? Why, an SSJ4 of course.
Traits of the SSJ4 are easy to pick up:
1. An SSJ4's eyes turn green, red & brown.
2. Hair turns black & if they got a haircut, their hair grows back the way it originally was.
3. Red fur grows up on their chest.
4. In terms of muscles and fierceness, let's put it to you this way: you'e be better off fighting a nuclear bomb than an SSJ4.
The way you would arive at this level of power is you would first have to go super saiyan and turn into a Golden Oozaru (staring at the moon while you are Super Saiyan). Once you have gone this far you must be able to keep a clear mind for a couple of seconds, at this time you transform from the Golden Oozaru to SSJ4.
Some believe that SSJ4 could have been obtained before ever having to go through any more levels of supersaiyan other than SSJ1 by turning golden Oozaru and then through that SSJ4.
[Image Of This Level]
Only in DBGT.
[Characters Who Transform To This Level]
Goku: After Goku becomes Oozaru in an SSJ state (GT: During the Bebi Saga)
Vegeta: Courtesy of Bulma's Brute Ray, he was able to become a Golden Oozaru and then shrink down. (GT: During the Bebi Saga)