Boy, it's been a while since I wrote one of these. It feels so great to be back.
For years now, all of us have talked of Super Saiyan multipliers. I, like so many others, have become obsessed with transformations and their power, how they work, why there are so many of them, and how they are great or could be better. But one thing has always remained a constant. Super Saiyan has always had a concrete multiplier. Something we could grasp and hold on to that would give our lives meaning, er... I mean... would make scaling easier. However, I have long since come to question this stuff. Now, something I need to do first is give a shoutout to my boy @FluffyCreatureZ. He was the one who introduced me to the Vsbattle wiki concept. Like so many, I too was a little hesitant of trying to force a "One-size-fits-all" scale onto Dragon Ball's wacky world of power levels and scale. However, I was able to glean so many scaling techniques off of them and it opened a whole new world to me, which felt for me the same as Goku achieving Super Saiyan god for the first time. Your tiny world in which you though you had reached your limit had suddenly grown astronomically bigger with a world full of people just as gifted at scaling as you (Would be egotistical if it were not true). So a good bit of thanks to Fluffy. Not often do I thank people I lose debates too, but he truly is a champion of scaling just like @RustlingAlarm57 was back in the day (By "Back in the day", I mean less than two years ago). So, without further ado, let's get into it.
I'm sure all of you remember this...
If you don't, then you'll have no problem believing this theory. You see, in Daizenshuu 7, as well as the Super Exciting Guide, it was stated the Super Saiyan Multipliers (Well, Dizanshuu had them all. The Super Exciting Guide may only contain SSJ1). While most of you likely can not read Japanese, I'm sure you can see the red-circled numbers. 50, 2, and 4 respectively. Essentially, the gist of it is "Super Saiyan has a 50 times multiplier over base", "Super Saiyan 2 is 2 times stronger than Super Saiyan" and "Super Saiyan 3 is 4 times stronger than Super Saiyan 2". These were stated in the Daizenshuu at least, and Toriyama (As well as scaling and statements) held up the 50X multiplier. So from that, we have held it close, and anyone insinuating that it's any other multiplier just feels weird. But the fact is, these multipliers have changed. Now, one thing we all know, Toriyama has stated that he can't even remember half of his scales and info when he writes (Explains a lot, huh.) so he always has to refer to the guides, making them semi-canon, even if not written exclusively by Toriyama-sensei. However, even this has been left in the dust according to scale, logic, and the fact that Toriyama just doesn't seem to scale much anymore. So, the way I am always upset at DBS' scale, is sort of wrong, because my view of the scale is antiquated. I'm using old views through guides to form an opinion without realizing that Dragon Ball Super isn't a continuation as much as a reboot. The old rules may no longer apply as we once believed. But the question is, did they EVER apply? The only time we can confirm any multiplier in the actual series is on Namek when we saw consistent power levels for the final time. Beyond that, there is no way to confirm without sourcing information from guides or the single time we saw the transformation's multiplier with our own eyes. After Namek, it got wonky. Grades were introduced, which were obviously stronger than 50X, and then those were beaten out by Grade 4, which was then proceeded by Super Saiyan 2. That being said, Super Saiyan 1's 50X multiplier stopped being 50X after Namek, and Super Saiyan 2 was never 100X. In fact, when we view it's usage in the Cell Games saga, it takes a Gohan who is weaker than Perfect Cell, and then puts him so far above him that he basically one-shots him. There is no way that a double in power will do that, as not eve Perfect Cell was one-shotting Gohan, so to turn the tables like that needs to put him above 2X. And Super Saiyan 3? Bro, don't even. There is no legit multiplier for it viewed in series as it was basically everything Goku could achieve at the time. Goku can not be scaled through feat, and considering that scale does not agree with Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 2 anymore, there is no way SSJ3's multiplier can be compatible. Just as Fusion is no longer Goku multiplied by Vegeta (At least, I don't guess so. Maybe it is, who knows), these multipliers are antiquated. But this is nothing yet. Wait until I give you the BIG evidence. A paradox so great that for logic to exist, these transformational multipliers MUST BE RETCONNED!
We move onto Dragon Ball Super, a soft-reboot to Z. Wikipedia has this to say about reboot definition.
"Reboots can be cut into soft and hard reboots. Soft reboot follows pre-existing story while still starting anew in many ways. Hard reboot in turn allows any kind of changes and doesn't expand the old canon, completely starting anew."
Dragon Ball Super falls under that, as it remains with it's previous storyline (Don't call it canon, as such a thing no longer exists in Dragon Ball and may never have existed at all, but that's for another theory) all while given the freedom to change things that don't matter anymore, as well as introducing an old concept as new to the next generation who likely did not exist during that time period. This being said, Super Saiyan god, and all divine forms, are no longer defined by number, but by what they can do. Super Saiyan god can destroy a universe, so it's that many times stronger than Super Saiyan 3, but even that is debatable later in the series, as Goku's base becomes that strong, and so Super Saiyan god is then merely defined as "Stronger than Super Saiyan 3". The same is said for Super Saiyan Blue. While it should logically be stronger than Super Saiyan god by 50X, remember that 50X doesn't much apply anymore and it is merely "Stronger than Super Saiyan god). Kaioken is the only form that maintains it's multiplier, as Ikari seems to transcend the previous 10X. SSBE is merely compared to Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken X20, so this makes it the OTHER form that is comparable to an official multiplier. However, as soon as we reach Ultra Instinct, the concepts for their previous multipliers are TOTALLY DROPPED. And they MUST be if logic is to remain. Ultra Instinct was also defined, not by placement, but by feat as Super Saiyan god once was. Upon it's first appearance, the first thing it did was shake a realm of infinite proportions, meaning that it's power is REQUIRED to be infinite, else wise it cannot do that feat. To shake a region that has no walls and expands on to the very end of infinity, so also must Goku's power. That being said, Jiren in his suppressed form matched it, meaning Jiren s comparable to the same thing. Super Saiyan Blue later on, becomes capable of the same, so unless Goku's base has become infinitely strong from the transformation, then he is still finite in base. However, upon reaching blue, he becomes infinite again. So here is the kicker. Super Saiyan Blue can no longer have a finite multiplier. Super Siayan Blue must be INFINITE in multiplier now. You see, if Goku is finite, and he reaches infinity by becoming Super Saiyan 1, 2, 3, 4, god, blue, etc. Then those multipliers are no longer 50, 100, 400, etc. They MUST be infinite, because if they are not, logic is broken. Infinity (Or ℵ0 as it should be recognized. The power doesn't expand to infinity as much as it already has reached the end. Infinity as this is being used is all the countable numbers, which have no end. So for Goku's power to equal ℵ0, his power must not have any finite boundary and must be unmatched by anything that possesses a number, so if you are a power level of 5 with a multiplier of 50, you'll be no closer to beating Goku than you would have if you had a multiplier of 1,000,000. That's how infinity works). is something that can not be reached by finite means of counting, as it represents ALL numbers at once to which there is no end. So, for a finite thing to become infinite by finite means is an oxymoron. You can not divide infinity by 50. Infinity divided by 50 is still infinity. So for Goku to use a transformation to get from a finite number to an infinite number, then that multiplier must it's self be infinite. That is the only way it can work. I know this sort of scaling should be considered crazy as a flaming bat out of the mouth of hell, but it's true. Just as true as Super Saiyan god being universal. It is proven in feat without question as it preformed the feat, and then was commented on by everyone who saw it, stating it was infinite. So we easily know writer intentions. The form's power is infinite. And later on, Vegeta in the Granolah arc states that the potential of Instinct is "Infinite". So there is no debate here. This being said, the fact that no form can divide infinity by any finite number means that there is no way that Super Saiyan Blue can be 50X anything. Maybe 50X infinity, but unless Goku is shaking 50+ infinite voids, there is no multiplier for it. It is merely more of Goku's potential, and since his potential inevitably leads to infinity, his multiplier must be fluid enough to be infinite when it needs to. So, in conclusion, the only scale we can rely on here is this one.
Base < Oozaru < Super Saiyan < Grade 2 < Grade 3 < Grade 4 < Super Saiyan 2 < Super Saiyan 3 < Super Saiyan god/Super Saiyan 4 < Super Saiyan Blue/Super Full Power Saiyan 4 < Super Saiyan Blue Evolved < Ultra Instinct Omen < Mastered Ultra Instinct/Ultra Ego.
That is the only scale that can be counted on as right here. Say what you will about god and 4, or blue and 4's strengthened form, they both are greater than what came before, so this is a logical assumption as any. This is the only way to know scale anymore, and despite everything I say about Dragon Ball: Super's scale boils down to someone clinging to the old scale which may never have been true to begin with. While I still have qualms against Gohan's sudden growth, more so, Android 17's growth based solely on plot, because nobody even knew he still existed until now, the fact is, there is no legit multiplier anymore to hold anything back. So there is no way to see how much Gohan really grew. All we know is he was once galactic, now he's universal. Why? Because he trained and has his Potential Unlocked like he used to. Does it make a lot of sense? Not so much, but then again, we've been looking at this from the perspective of rigid guidebooks. While Dragon Ball Super is far from a master piece (There are so many tiny details that nag the hell out of me!!!!), I have to remember that've been judging this by Dragon Ball Z's loose rules and standards, when this story is geared toward a new generation who knows so little about the old stuff except "Look! It's that green Super Saiyan daddy!" So, while it's okay to be critical of a show, we have to remember that this is a children's show for a generation that we're no longer included in. This is for new Gen Alphas. Even Millennials and some Zoomers, such as me, will be excluded, because this is more than about Z. This is about a new story for the next Gen that's coming through. I will leave it like this with a quote from Chapter 3 of Ezra to explain the situation that the older fans and younger fans find themselves in...
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
We old users weep because we remember the last thing and new it was better. But the younger never saw the old, and think that this is all there is, and even if they do learn, they will be biased toward what they know. This is why we will be divided in opinion, despite nobody being wrong (Well, I'm OBJECTIVELY right due to knowing what good and bad writing is, but that's neither here nor there). So in the end, DBS is good in it's own way, the scale is weird, but then again, it seems to have NEVER agreed with what we know, and the idea that someone can train and go from Lunar level to Galactic level in 7 years is just as ludicrous as someone going from Galactic to Universal in the same time frame. So whatever floats your boat.
TL;DR: Dragon Ball Super introduced the concept of forms with infinite multipliers, making all multipliers before them obsolete, as you can not divide infinity by 50, 100, or 400. It will always be infinity no matter what you use. It's a totally different realm, and most of those previous multipliers never matched much anyway beyond the Namek Saga.
