Dragon Ball 10 Things That Dont Make Sense About Ultra Instinct Goku

Dragon Ball recently introduced an awesome new form to Goku's arsenal. While Ultra instinct is very strong, some things about it make no sense.

Of all of the shonen anime to come out over the years, Dragon Ball is an extra special series that doesn’t just still hold a spot in many fans’ hearts, but its popularity has only grown over the years. Dragon Ball is arguably even more popular now than during its original run and audiences are still hungry to see Goku take on new threats and keep the universe safe.

Transformations are a major element from Dragon Ball that have begun to define the series. Goku has gone through the whole spectrum of Super Saiyan forms, but his newest look, Ultra Instinct, is still in its infancy and it's resulted in some confusing developments.

10 If He's In Control Of It Or Not

One of the most fascinating details about the Ultra Instinct form is that it works by the body moving off of pure reflexes to a level where it can anticipate movement before it’s even happened. It requires the user to let go of agency in their body and just trust the natural rhythms of their limbs. There’s a zen serenity to be found in this, but it should also mean that Goku is basically a zombie during the form. Goku is still able to have rational conversations and even plan out strategies while in this state.

9 How He Activates It

Transformations are a big deal in Dragon Ball, but often the circumstances that surround these big moments are just as pivotal for the characters. Goku has suffered in exchange for new power. Unlike Super Saiyan, Ultra Instinct bases itself in calmness and serenity. Appropriately, this oneness with himself is what helps Goku achieve the form. However, later on it’s shown that intense training can also be a contributing factor, which seems counterintuitive. Additionally, the passing of Merus also plays a crucial role in Goku’s apparent mastery of the form, which seems to involve both sadness and anger, too.

8 How Many Different Forms It Has

Dragon Ball is no stranger to introducing a powerful new transformation and then revising it after the fact. The original Super Saiyan transformation had many addendums before Super Saiyan 2 was finally unveiled. A similar process takes place with Goku’s relationship with Ultra Instinct.

Goku’s initial attempts with the new form are imperfect, but as he tries to perfect them there are allusions to Ultra Instinct –sign- (or Omen), but Goku’s recent battle with Moro features a perfected Ultra Instinct Mastered. It’s unclear if these forms are specific to Goku’s experience with Ultra Instinct, or the standard.

7 Why His Spirit Bomb Helped Trigger It

In the earlier days of Dragon Ball Z, Goku’s most powerful move is his Spirit Bomb and it’s still treated as an epic maneuver when there aren’t any other options. Curiously, Goku turns to the technique during the Tournament of Power, only for it to ultimately result in Goku accessing the power of Ultra Instinct for the first time. It’s an act that comes as a major surprise, but it’s never made clear how these two events are connected. It speaks to the very random nature of Ultra Instinct, which reveals itself when it’s never alluded to earlier.

6 The Color Of His Hair And Aura

There have been so many transformations throughout Dragon Ball that the series has needed to resort to radical different hair colors just to help differentiate them apart. This is even more fundamental in the manga where black and white panels can only convey so much. Super Saiyan God and Super Super Saiyan Blue have taken the hair color into radically different directions, but Ultra Instinct continues this trend. The anime has depicted Goku with white hair, pupils, and a rainbow-like aura. However, in the manga, Jaco explicitly refers to how Goku has silver hair when he appears to master it.

5 How Strong He Is

Power-scaling is never an easy thing in a series like Dragon Ball and even though it’s incredibly exciting to see characters reach new plateaus of power, it can lead to inconsistencies along the way. Beerus and Whis say that Goku’s at the equivalent power of Gods.

In Goku’s most recent fight against Moro his physical attacks cause the whole planet to be affected. However, Jiren is able to reasonably hold his own against Goku while in this form. This is Goku’s first foray with Ultra Instinct, but it still seems like it should have been more effective against him.

4 How Long It Lasts

Celestial characters like Whis and Beerus are well versed with Ultra Instinct, both Goku and the audience are left in the dark over many of its specifics. Goku has been able to tap into the transformation only a handful of times, but each attempt has led to highly different results, especially in terms of how long it lasts. Sometimes it’s like Ultra Instinct is a delicate balance with the body that can be lost, whereas at other times a loss of strength nullifies it. Goku can also turn it off and on with a level of control that’s inconsistent.

3 If He Can Perform Other Moves During It

The occasions that Goku has tapped into the power of Ultra Instinct are few and far between. During these occasions, Goku has been able to handle his opponents simply due to absurdly quick reflexes and basic combat skills. Goku has typically been able to combine some of the other powerful attacks in his arsenal with his various transformations. This is seen in a minor capacity during the Tournament of Power but is then otherwise absent. The Gods of Destructions’ Hakai seems like an ability that would naturally fit with it.

2 It Contradicts His Personality

Dragon Ball has always depicted Goku as an exceptionally strong individual, but despite this raw strength, he’s one of the more jovial and laid back characters in the series. In fact, Goku’s constant naivety has resulted in numerous problems for the Earth. Goku is also extremely disciplined, having undergone training from numerous masters, all of which have helped him refine his skills. Ultra Instinct pushes the principle of an inherent understanding of one’s body and submitting it to its natural impulses. Goku’s not one to overthink a situation, but Ultra Instinct’s serenity still feels like a stretch for him.

1 Why It Drains His Energy So Much

Dragon Ball has featured so many different power upgrades throughout its run that as characters become stronger it naturally has to find ways to believably ground them. A common example of this is how Super Saiyan 3 or other strong transformations have time limits on them due to how much they drain the user’s energy. This seems to also be the same with Ultra Instinct, but it seems antithetical to the principles of the form. It’s one thing for Goku to fade out of the form because he loses his calm, but he’s also shown to be completely spent afterward.