WARNING: Dragon Ball DAIMA Spoilers Towards End of ArticleAfter 20 exciting episodes, the story ofDragon Ball DAIMAhas finally ended. The journey of Goku and his friends across the dangerous and mysterious Demon Realm has quickly become one of the most beloved entries in the franchise, despite its slow start. While the series might be over, it leaves behind memorable scenes and lovely characters that will live inside fans’ hearts for years.
Woefully, it also left a major plot hole unresolved, one that fans were worried might not be addressed:Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 form. When this transformation was first introduced in episode #18, viewers hoped that the show would address why it was never used again duringDragon Ball Super, something that did not occur. Yet is there truly a need for an explanation about this form’s absence in the sequel?
Daima Did Not Explain Super Saiyan 4’s Absence in the Series
Neither Magic nor Demonic Influence Played a Role in Its Introduction
In episode #18 of theDragon Ball Daimaanime, Goku is defeated by Gomah, who is using the Evil Third Eye to obtain a massive boost in power. As the villain approached the wounded heroes to eliminate them, the Namekian sorcerer Neva used his powers on Kakarot, unlocking his potential and giving him access to the iconic Super Saiyan 4 form. Thanks to this powerful technique, as well as the Demon Realm’s Shenron giving him his adult body back, the protagonist gained enough strength to defeat the Demon King and save the day.
During the ending of episode #20, as the heroes celebrated their victory, Vegeta asked his rival what kind of transformation he utilized. Many expected this to be the moment in which the series would explain that thetransformation was only possible thanks to Neva’s magic or the Demon Realms atmosphere. This would have explained why, despite having such a powerful form, Goku never once used it during theSuperera. Instead, Goku revealed that after fighting with Buu, he had been training to achieve a new transformation, but he was unable to do it alone.
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Neva’s powers did not imbue Goku with magic as many fans believed, it simply unlocked his hidden potential, a technique Namekians have been known to possess since the Frieza Saga. By doing this, the series established that Super Saiyan 4 was not a one-time transformation and gave noanswer as to why it wasn’t used inDragon Ball Super. Goku does not need Neva to unlock his potential again, as the results of that ability are not temporary. As such, he should have been able to use it during his battle against Beerus.
Would Super Saiyan 4 Have Been Relevant for Super?
This Iconic Technique Would Have Become Obsolete Almost Immediately
While it is true thatDragon Ball Daimacreates a massive plothole in the franchise’s timeline, as Goku never once mentioned his new transformation in the sequel, this does not significantly affect the story. When studied carefully, it becomes clear thatintroducing Super Saiyan 4 during the sequel would have been a true waste, as the form would have become useless almost immediately. Realistically, Goku could only use it during his first battle against Beerus in episode #1 of the show. It was during this brief battle that the deity asked Kakarot to show him his most powerful form.
Even if the hero had used Super Saiyan 4, it is unlikely that he would have been able to inflict any damage on Beerus, who is considered to be thestrongest as the God of Destruction. The transformation would have been used once during a short and underwhelming battle only to never be relevant to the story again. Shortly after that initial combat,Goku awakened the Super Saiyan God transformation, which is several times more powerful than any non-godly technique. This would have meant that Super Saiyan 4 would have become irrelevant minutes after its official debut.
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Moreover, the form would not have been used at all during the rest of the series, as neither Goku nor Vegeta were too fond of fighting without their godly forms. The lack of an explanation regarding its existence during the sequel is indeed ahuge continuity problem. Nevertheless, it is ultimately harmless, as it does not play a role in the story ofDragon Ball Superat all. By making it a vital part ofDaima’s final battle, instead of giving it a small appearance in the sequel, the show managed to respectfully homage this iconic form.
Daima’s Story Could Still Continue
The Series Did Leave Some Unexplored Threads
Although the adventures of Goku and his friends in the Demon Realm might have come to an end, this does not mean it will be the last time this dimension will be relevant. One small detail in episode #20 implied that the series could have a sequel in the future. During the ending, Goku and his friends visit a shop inside the Demon Realm, where it is revealed that the Evil Third Eye is a common object sold by merchants. The possibility of another villain acquiring one becomes an inevitable certainty.
If this is the case, the heroes might be needed once again to help save the Demon Realm from danger. This hilarious but significant revelationopens the door for a second seasonto be released in the future, likely taking place before the beginning ofSuper,as there was no mention of a trip to the Demon Realm during that time. This allows the series to explain why Super Saiyan 4 and the Demon Realm were never mentioned during the sequel.
Super Saiyan 4’s Introduction Is Still Epic
When it was first introduced during theGTanime, Super Saiyan 4 became one of the few ideas introduced in this controversial sequel that became universally beloved by fans of the franchise. The transformation is beyond iconic, with followers of Akira Toriyama’s work waiting impatiently to see it become canon for almost three decades. With or without an explanation for its absence in the sequel, seeing it again was surely the highlight of theDaimaanime for millions of fans.
Its revelation was aloving and memorable tribute to both Toriyama’s masterpieceandDragon Ball GT, showing it the love it deserves despite the heavy criticisms it has been subjected to. Nonetheless, it would be beneficial to both the fans and theDragon Ballfranchise if its sudden departure from the timeline could be addressed in the future. Not only would this help maintain Goku’s story in order, but it would also helpDaimaresolve one of its very few issues.
