Originally posted by Merlyn
Are the other levels of Super Saiyan even needed to reach this form?If not, then if a Saiyan reaches SS4 after reaching the other forms (SS 1-3) first, then would that SS4 be more powerful than a Saiyan who didn't reach those forms first?
Iirc, you need to first transform into a Golden Ape after you've unlocked the Super Saiyan form, and then gain control of the Golden Ape form.
So in short, yes, for at least SSJ. Not sure about SSJ2.
The ability to access at least SSJ1+conscious control over the Golden Oozaru are all that seemed to be required to transform into a SSJ4. As Vegeta demonstrated, the other forms of SSJ are superfluous--- theoretically, he could have transformed into a SSJ4 back in the Android/Cell saga.
As for the second part of the question, the ability to access other forms of SSJ doesn't appear to increase/decrease the power of a SSJ4. For example: Goku was able attain SSJ3, while Vegeta could only attain SSJ2(ie. Goku was several times more powerful than Vegeta)--- yet their powers were pretty much identical as SSJ4.
It's all centered around that pesky tail. Without a tail, the Z fighters became insanely powerful. With a tail, Goku and Vegeta became godly.
Originally posted by juggermanIf he transformed into an Oozaru after going SSJ, then theoretically there should have been no reason he couldn't have bridged the gap to SSJ4(if it were a canon manga transformation, of course.)
So if Vegeta had his tail when he went SSJ he could have jumped straight to SSJ4?
Originally posted by Galan007
If he transformed into an Oozaru after going SSJ, then theoretically there should have been no reason he couldn't have bridged the gap to SSJ4(if it were a canon manga transformation, of course.)
Don't you think it would have been a weaker SSJ4, though? Their base level has to tie in, somewhere.
As odd as it sounds, I don't think so.
After all, Goku was capable of transforming into a SSJ3 when he transformed into a SSJ4, while Vegeta could only transform into a SSJ2. This means Goku would have been several times more powerful than Vegeta, pre-SSJ4 transformation.
But despite such a huge power-gap existing between them, their SSJ4 forms appeared to be equal. /shrug.
Like most people said already, you need SSJ1, but no higher. SSJ2 would probably mean it's easier to control your Golden Great Ape, but it shouldn't be required(at least in theory). So yes, Vegeta could have gone SSJ4 during the Cell saga if he grew his tail back and looked at the moon... oh, and if SSJ4 was cannon. lol
Anyway, the SSJ forms are multipliers, so the multiplier would have been constant. Vegeta's base was weaker in the Cell saga, so his SSJ4 would be weaker, but the multiplier would stay the same. 👆