Dragon Ball remains amidst the most iconic anime of all time. Perhaps information technology is most well known, nonetheless, for how seemingly in every fight, when the situation looks nearly dire, a character unveils some new power-upwardly transformation strong plenty to pummel the bad guys to a lurid.

Iconic hero Son Goku has had many forms over the years, from Super Saiyan to Giant Ape. However, not all forms are created equal, and some forms are truly more awe-inspiring than others. This list is not a ranking of the most powerful forms, but the almost unforgettable. Which transformations left audiences with their jaws on the floor? Which ones left an bear on? From Dragon Brawl to Z to GT to Super, which Goku forms were the coolest?

xi 11. Base Goku

Let'south start with the basic course. Goku, in his base grade, is all the same a strength to be reckoned with. He spent all of Dragon Ball, after all, in this grade (with a couple of noticeable exceptions). Yet, in base form, he is at his everyman level of power.

While iconic, Base Goku oftentimes discounts this form in order to transform into something far more super.

10 x. Super Saiyan 2

Gohan's transformation into a Super Saiyan 2 is one of the most iconic moments in Dragon Brawl Z history. Only past the time Goku entered the form, information technology had already become erstwhile-hat. He simply spends one real fight employing the form -- against Majin Vegeta.

Notwithstanding, by the time Goku could transform into Super Saiyan two, he had already unlocked the ability of Super Saiyan iii, making this form obsolete.

9 9. Golden Not bad Ape

The Gilded Great Ape is a second transformation that appears but in Dragon Ball GT. While Baby Vegeta's Gold Great Ape transformation is more iconic, Goku's was equally important. Goku transforms into the Gilded Great Ape when staring into the sight of a total Earth/full moon.

But when Pan helps Goku regain his senses tin he have command of this powerful form, inbound into the legendary Super Saiyan 4 form. Information technology'due south a nice throw-back to the pre-Super Saiyan era of transformations.

8 8. Ultra Instinct

Ultra Instinct is undeniably the most powerful course Goku has always taken. However, by the time Goku went Ultra Instinct, many fans felt burned out by all the new forms.

That isn't to say Goku's last boxing with Jiren, where he transforms into his Ultra Instinct form, is anything less than stellar. As the ultimate finale of the Universal Survival arc, it is zippo short of epic. Only is it more memorable than the prior forms Goku takes? On this listing, not then much.

seven 7. Peachy Ape

The Slap-up Ape course is Goku'due south offset transformation in Dragon Ball, taking place only a dozen episodes in. When Goku's tail is exposed to the light of a Full Moon, he transforms into a gigantic, uncontrollable Ape. With ten times as much forcefulness as usual, he is a destructive, chaotic force.

The Not bad Ape form is a terrific force to exist reckoned with, just Goku is completely unable to command himself during this grade. There's a reason Goku doesn't willingly transform into a Great Ape like his rival Vegeta. That and without a tail, yous can't transform.

vi half dozen. Super Saiyan 4

Dragon Ball GT gets a lot of hate from fans for being more than than a little dizzy. Even so, Goku'southward Super Saiyan four form is arguably one of the coolest things to ever come out of the series.

Dissimilar every other transformation to this point, Goku's hair remains jet black, only a red coat of fur sprouts all over his trunk. He goes from his child form to his adult grade, sporting an incredibly absurd, coarser voice. The just underwhelming office almost Super Saiyan 4 Goku, all the same, is that it is no longer canon.

5 5. Super Saiyan God

Perhaps the hardest class for a Saiyan to reach, Goku'southward Super Saiyan God form immune him to match the force of the legendary God of Destruction himself, Beerus. Only achievable thanks to the unification of pure-hearted Saiyans, Goku'south sheer forcefulness in this grade is enough to bend the fabric of reality to the breaking point. 1 transformation permanently empowers a Saiyan across all prior limitations.

Super Saiyan God form is rarely seen after the initial fight with Beerus but does make a reappearance when Broly comes knocking.

4 four. Kaio-Ken

For a while, this was Goku's peak ability. The Kaio-Ken technique multiplies the user's power by a given factor, but, in plow, puts an incredible strain on the fighter's body. Virtually notably, Goku used this technique in his iconic beam struggle with Vegeta during the Saiyan Saga. The coolest function about Kaio-Ken is the incredible strain it puts on the user. Unlike nigh transformations, its weakness is what makes every fight that employs information technology all the more incredible.

However, post-obit reaching Kaio-Ken x20 against Frieza, the form was mostly retired in favor of Goku's Super Saiyan form. Yet, there were periods later on where Goku would employ the Kaio-Ken in conjunction with his Super Saiyan forms.

iii 3. Super Saiyan 3

Goku goes Super Saiyan mode in Dragon Ball Z.

Super Saiyan 3 is the Goku transformation that literally rocked an entire planet. It is likewise the point where Goku's forms became increasingly ridiculous. Gilded hair? Sure. Lightning bolts around your torso? We tin handle that.

Losing your eyebrows and growing waist-long hair? Gaining enough power to literally pause cities autonomously?

Super Saiyan 3 remains at once Goku's most ridiculous and incredibly absurd transformation. It started a real trend for Goku finding a new transformation every arc or two. And the initial transformation remains arguably the most iconic moment of the entire Buu Saga.

two ii. Super Saiyan Bluish

Super Saiyan Blue -- or Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, if y'all're not into breathing as you speak -- takes things back to a simpler time. Less complicated than other high-level transformations, Super Saiyan Bluish looks much like the Super Saiyan transformation, but with new blue hair.

Beginning used by Goku confronting Golden Frieza, it immediately became the iconic transformation of Dragon Brawl Super. For modern fans, it is the summit. Simple. Powerful. Incredibly absurd. Arguably, no other class Goku has ever taken remains as iconic as this one. Except for one...

one 1. Super Saiyan

Anime GOKU DEFEATS FRIEZA AFTER BECOMING A SUPER SAIYAN

The classic. Goku's initial transformation into a Super Saiyan remains for many a high-point of Dragon Ball Z. Frieza pushed Goku a little too far by killing Krillin, which triggered this legendary transformation. At a time where transformations weren't a regular occurrence, the weight of this moment shifted the rest of everything to come in Dragon Ball.

Only to make matters more than interesting, the Super Saiyan course was played with throughout the entire Android Saga. Goku's decision to make Super Saiyan his base form helped shift Goku's powers to a whole new level, leading to one of the greatest, nigh iconic fights in the serial: Goku vs Cell.  Even afterward his initial transformation, there are several classic moments where Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan fans merely cannot forget, such as when Goku went Super Saiyan in his fight confronting Cooler, using his aura to resurrect a dying bird.

Undeniably, this is Goku's nearly iconic course.