Warning: The following article discusses events from the most recent Dragon Ball Super episodes. Please be aware that spoilers will follow.
The latest episode of Dragon Ball Super brought with it a crazy new transformation: Ultra Instinct. For the brief time Goku had access to it, he ascended to a power level that was so far beyond any other, so much so that no one could even see his movements. New transformations aren’t uncommon in Dragon Ball, but Ultra Instinct feels different and could very well usher in a new age for the heroes of Dragon Ball Super.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Ultra Instinct is the implication that it’s not a Saiyan-specific trait, meaning dozens of heroes like Krillin and Tien, whose power has dwindled over the years could receive a much needed boost. During Episode 110, we learn that the various Gods of Destruction are well aware of this form, and it’s something they can achieve, although rarely. This small detail alone is important. The Gods of Destruction are of many different races, which means Ultra Instinct isn’t specific to one race. It’s also important to note that Goku only reaches this state during a fierce battle. It’s made clear that although the Spirit Bomb that nearly killed him helped, it was Goku’s inner strength that unlocked Ultra Instinct. These facts paint a clear picture: Ultra Instinct seems directly tied to an individual's core strength.
Although it’s got quite a glossy coat of paint, Ultra Instinct isn’t the first transformation of its kind, and that’s another reason to be excited. It’s very well stated that Ultra Instinct is obtained, at least for Goku, when he cracks through the barrier inside himself which unlocks his true potential. Sound familiar? It should to longtime fans, as this is almost the exact same phrasing used many years ago when Krillin and Gohan had their potentials unlocked by Grand Elder Guru. Another similar unlocking of true potential happens again to Gohan in his later years, when the Elder Kai teaches him to tap into his hidden power, resulting in the Mystic Gohan form many have come to love.
With that in mind, Ultra Instinct seems to be an evolution of older power unlocking techniques. It’s this very concept that makes Ultra Instinct so interesting. There’s years worth of proof in Dragon Ball that unlocking your inner potential can be done by anyone with enough practice, so following that line of thinking, anyone with enough time and the proper tutelage should be able to reach Ultra Instinct. It may seem unrealistic now, but so too did Super Saiyan until Vegeta and Trunks made it clear that it wasn’t as tough to unlock as initially thought. Dragon Ball has a proven track record of allowing others to unlock a form easier than the person who did it first. It’s quite likely that we will see others (even non-Saiyans) trying to unlock Ultra Instinct in the near future.
For all the good Ultra Instinct might bring to the franchise, it contributes to the never ending power level debacle. Power levels in Dragon Ball have long since stopped making sense, and with Ultra Instinct now in play, there is little stopping Goku from outright fighting and killing the gods that he so often works alongside. If on a whim he can kill a god, then what enemy would remain for him to fight? Dragon Ball is rapidly approaching a point where there is simply no one left for Goku to battle, and that’s not a good thing for a show entirely predicated on fighting.
The logical answer is that new mortal enemies will appear that can also use Ultra Instinct, or some other power, similar to how Jiren currently is on the show. This does raise some questions about the future though, as Jiren is supposedly the strongest warrior among the known universes, which would leave Goku no one greater to fight.Super isn’t quite out of options, though. Four of the twelve universes did not compete in the Tournament of Power. It’s in those universes we may find the future of not just Ultra Instinct, but of the entire Super Series. Ultra Instinct may have its downsides, but its potential to reinvigorate underpowered characters is truly exciting.
Shawn Saris is a freelancer who has a special place in his heart for golden haired heroes. You can read all about his Dragon Ball love over on twitter @MrTheVestman.
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