How Goku Unlocked Ultra Instinct, Explained

In Dragon Ball, no character has received more transformations and zenkai boosts than Goku, the main protagonist of the story. Even when creator Akira Toriyama attempted to shift the focus to his son, Gohan, a change of mind focused the main story on Goku once more, which meant bigger and better transformations down the line in the Dragon Ball story.

While Goku became the first Saiyan to reach Super Saiyan 3, during his battle against Buu in the Majin Buu Saga, Dragon Ball Super introduced a new transformation that was not only superior to the previous form — it eclipsed it. This, of course, is the Ultra Instinct form, a transformation that transcends the limits of any mortal, and grants the power of a God.

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What Is Ultra Instinct?

A Transformation of the Angels

In Dragon Ball Super, Ultra Instinct is a transformation introduced by Whis, known to be the form Angels take and are able to maintain at all times. During training sessions with Goku and Vegeta, Whis is able to use Ultra Instinct on a casual level, dodging all attacks without blinking an eye, and delivering words of wisdom. Ultra Instinct isn’t just a power-up that makes the user stronger, it grants them the ability to move without thinking.

In order to use Ultra Instinct, one must abandon all thought during battle and move on instinct alone. Due to Goku’s comedic inability to overthink, Ultra Instinct becomes a possibility for him to attain, especially as he nears the ceiling of his limits. For the same reason, Vegeta, who overthinks every situation tenfold, is not able to get close to the Ultra Instinct form and use its power.

When Does Goku Unlock Ultra Instinct?

In Episode 110 of Dragon Ball Super, titled “Goku Enkindled! The Awakened One’s New Ultra Instinct!“, Goku is in the heat of a battle with Jiren, Universe 11’s strongest fighter. It is remarked that Jiren was not at full power during his fight with Goku, who had neared his limit while in his x20 Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-ken state. An attempted Spirit Bomb was deflected back at Goku, and when his defeat was all but guaranteed, Goku emerged from the blast in a new form.

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Standing in the blast zone, Goku appeared out of his powered-up form and took the appearance of his usual base form, except something was different. Goku had a different aura around him, one that was immediately recognized by Jiren. Now in the Ultra Instinct Sign form, the base form of Ultra Instinct, Goku could now sense all incoming attacks, and dodge them with careful precision.

The transformation not only surprised those on the battlefield, but the Angels and Gods of Destruction observing from a distance. Ultra Instinct, in any form, was believed to be a transformation only obtainable by the Gods and Angels. To witness a mortal from a distant universe was not only unheard of, but thought to be impossible. Yet, Goku had reached it, and was using its power to push Jiren back for the first time in the Tournament of Power.

Other Appearances of Goku’s Ultra Instinct

When Has Goku Used The Unstoppable Transformation?

Introduced in the Dragon Ball Super series, Goku has already used the Ultra Instinct form occasionally. The transformation has also been pulled out in battle in the Dragon Ball Super manga, making it Goku’s ace up his sleeve and the power he relies on to get the upper hand. Unlike Vegeta’s Ultra Ego form, which is revealed during the Moro Arc, Goku’s Ultra Instinct is one that has been utilized time and time again.

In total, Goku has used the form in five episodes of the Dragon Ball Super anime, and ten chapters of the Dragon Ball Super manga.

• Dragon Ball Super, Episode 110 — the official debut of Ultra Instinct Sign, used during his fight with Jiren.
• Dragon Ball Super, Episode 115/116 — the second time Goku uses this form, this time in a battle with Kefla.
• Dragon Ball Super, Episode 128 — used in his second fight with Jiren, reminding himself that Universe 7 is relying on him to win.
• Dragon Ball Super, Episode 130 — the introduction to Mastered Ultra Instinct, the powered-up version of Sign.
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 55 — achieved once more after training with Merus for six months.
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 58 — used Ultra Instinct to defeat Saganbo, one of Moro’s henchmen.
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 59 — brought out the full power of Ultra Instinct during his first fight with Moro.
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 63 — used Ultra Instinct Sign again, only to get taken down with one blow from Moro.
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 68 — Goku’s last use of Ultra Instinct Sign in the manga during his battle with Moro
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 64/65 — Goku brings out Mastered Ultra Instinct to counter Moro’s power, and turn the tables on him for good.
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 68 — Earlier in the chapter, Goku used Sign. Towards the end, he brings out Mastered Ultra Instinct to demonstrate his handle of it to Whis.
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 73 — While fighting Granolah’s clone, Goku brings out Mastered Ultra Instinct to get the upper hand.
• Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 84 — Alongside Vegeta, in his Ultra Ego form, Goku powers up to Mastered Ultra Instinct to take down Gas.

Can Someone Else Achieve Ultra Instinct?

Yes, there are many characters that not only have the potential to reach the Ultra Instinct form, but many who have already done so. Whis, and the many Angels from each universe, are always in a state of Ultra Instinct, which explains their ability to dodge all attacks effortlessly. Gods of Destruction, while not naturally capable of entering Ultra Instinct, train with their assigned Angel to one day reach this level.

There are other forms that, while not at the status of the Ultra Instinct transformation, are almost at the same level of power. For example, Vegeta’s Ultra Ego form gives him the ability to absorb attacks that have landed on him and turn them into pure power. This is a stark contrast to the Ultra Instinct ability, which grants the user to skillfully evade all incoming attacks without giving them a thought.

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