7 Shocking Facts About SSJ4 Goku GT That Completely Change Its Legacy In 2025
The Super Saiyan 4 transformation, a fan-favorite form from the non-canon sequel series Dragon Ball GT, continues to spark intense debate and curiosity among the global fanbase, even as new *Dragon Ball* content is released. As of late December 2025, the legendary red-furred warrior has experienced a surprising resurgence in popularity and relevance, largely due to recent developments that have re-contextualized its place in the franchise.
Originally a powerhouse unique to Dragon Ball GT, SSJ4 Goku represented the ultimate fusion of Saiyan humanity and its primal Great Ape roots, providing an aesthetic and lore-based alternative to the divine transformations seen in Dragon Ball Super. This article breaks down the most critical, often-overlooked, and current facts about SSJ4 Goku GT—including its shocking connection to the newest *Dragon Ball* project—that you need to know right now.
The Primal Power: SSJ4 Goku GT’s Profile and Transformation
Super Saiyan 4 (SSJ4) is arguably the most visually distinct and lore-heavy transformation in the entire *Dragon Ball* franchise. It is a form that rejects the 'god' path and instead embraces the raw, bestial power of the Saiyan race, culminating in a sleek, powerful, and fur-covered appearance.
- Full Name: Son Goku
- Series Debut: Dragon Ball GT (1996–1997)
- First Appearance (SSJ4): Episode 35, "Goku's Next Level" (During the Baby Saga)
- Prerequisite Form: Golden Great Ape (Oozaru)
- Key Components: Requires exposure to Blutz Waves (artificial or natural) to trigger the Golden Great Ape form, followed by regaining self-control and channeling the power.
- Appearance: Reddish-pink fur covering the torso, dark red-lined eyes, and long, wild black hair (unlike the golden hair of SSJ1-3).
- Unique Feature: The transformation temporarily reverts Kid Goku back to his adult body, a strange biological anomaly specific to the *GT* continuity.
- Major Battles: Fought Baby Vegeta, Super 17, Syn Shenron, and Omega Shenron.
7 Facts That Define The SSJ4 Goku GT Legacy
Despite its non-canon status relative to Dragon Ball Super, the Super Saiyan 4 transformation remains a cultural touchstone. Its unique origin, power level debates, and recent appearances have solidified its legendary status.
1. SSJ4 Is the Only Form to Require the Golden Great Ape Stage
Unlike Super Saiyan 1, 2, and 3, which are achieved through intense rage and training, the SSJ4 transformation is rooted entirely in the Saiyan's primal nature. Goku first achieves this form after being exposed to Blutz Waves (generated by the Earth and the Tuffle parasite Baby) and transforming into the destructive Golden Great Ape. It is only after his granddaughter, Pan, reaches out to him, allowing him to gain control over the monstrous state, that he successfully channels the power into the controlled, humanoid SSJ4 form. This connection to the Oozaru (Great Ape) is what makes SSJ4 an "evolution of the tail" rather than a standard Super Saiyan progression.
2. The Transformation Temporarily Fixes Kid Goku’s Body
A bizarre but crucial detail of the *GT* storyline is that the Black Star Dragon Balls wished Goku back into a child's body. However, every time he transforms into Super Saiyan 4, his body temporarily reverts to his adult form. This detail implies that the raw, immense power of SSJ4 is so fundamental to his Saiyan biology that it overrides the magic of the Dragon Balls, at least until the form is deactivated. This unique trait is often cited in power scaling discussions as evidence of the form's sheer magnitude.
3. SSJ4’s Power Multiplier is Debated to Be Massive
The power scaling of SSJ4 is notoriously difficult because *GT* is non-canon to *Super*. However, fan-driven analyses, often based on *GT* guides and video game data (like *Dokkan Battle*), suggest a colossal multiplier. While the canonical SSJ3 multiplier is 400x base, some fan-wiki analyses have theorized the SSJ4 multiplier could be astronomically high, sometimes cited in the millions, to account for the massive leap in power needed to fight characters like Full Power Baby Vegeta. While these numbers are speculative, the consensus is that SSJ4 Goku is vastly stronger than his SSJ3 counterpart, easily surpassing the power level of Kid Buu.
4. It Is Generally Weaker Than Super Saiyan God (SSJG)
For years, the biggest fan debate was SSJ4 vs. SSJG/SSJB. The current, widely accepted power hierarchy places SSJ4 Goku from *GT* below the divine forms introduced in *Dragon Ball Super*. Feats and official statements, such as those found in certain *GT* guides, indicate that SSJ4 Goku from the Baby Saga was significantly weaker than SSJG Goku from the *Battle of Gods* arc. The introduction of *Divine Ki* in *Super* established a new tier of power that the purely mortal-based SSJ4 cannot reach in the original *GT* context.
5. Akira Toriyama Personally Designed the GT SSJ4 Costume
Although *Dragon Ball GT* was primarily an anime-only sequel produced by Toei Animation without the same level of involvement from original creator Akira Toriyama, he did contribute to the form's design. While the initial concept was developed by *GT* character designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, Toriyama drew his own version of the SSJ4 design for the *GT* Dragon Box release. This involvement, however minor, shows his appreciation for the form, which is a crucial detail for fans who wish to connect the form to the main creator's vision.
6. The Form Has Been Re-Canonized and Re-Imagined in *Dragon Ball DAIMA*
This is the most recent and significant development. The 2024–2025 series, *Dragon Ball DAIMA*, features a version of the Super Saiyan 4 transformation, which has shocked the fanbase. In *DAIMA*, Goku and Vegeta are once again turned into children by a magical curse, but they achieve their own version of SSJ4. Crucially, a producer for the series confirmed that Akira Toriyama personally designed the *DAIMA* Super Saiyan 4. This new version is distinct from the *GT* form, as it reportedly does not require the Golden Great Ape prerequisite and has a slightly different, more monkey-like proportion, tying the form back to the creator’s vision and giving it a new, albeit non-GT, canonical life.
7. SSJ4 Represents The "Heroic" Taming of Saiyan Bestiality
Beyond its power, the Super Saiyan 4 transformation holds deep thematic significance. It is often celebrated as the perfect form because it represents Goku taking the most dangerous, destructive, and feared aspect of his Saiyan heritage—the Great Ape—and turning it into something heroic, beautiful, and controlled. Unlike the rage of SSJ1 or the brute force of SSJ3, SSJ4 is a state of primal clarity and mastery over the inner beast, making it a favorite for fans who appreciate the deeper lore of the Saiyan race and Goku’s journey of self-acceptance and limit-breaking power.
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