Goku's True Ultra Instinct, Explained (2024)

Keeping track of all the forms in Dragon Ball can be tricky, as every character has several at their disposal, with many characters gaining at least one new form every saga. While these forms function differently and give their user access to vastly different powers, some have very similar names, making it easy to get them mixed up. No form is a better example of this phenomenon than True Ultra Instinct. While it has an interesting backstory and several special quirks, it is easy to confuse it with the other Ultra Instinct forms shown in Dragon Ball Super.

It should be noted that, despite having similar names, True Ultra Instinct is different from the Perfected Ultra Instinct form that Goku first unleashed in "Ultra Instinct," the 41st chapter of the Dragon Ball Super manga. It is also not a direct upgrade of this form, being closer to a parallel upgrade that takes the idea of Ultra Instinct and puts a new twist on it.

How Did Goku Learn True Ultra Instinct?

Goku's road to True Ultra Instinct starts in "Bardock Vs. Gas," the 82nd chapter of the Dragon Ball manga, which is part of the manga's Granolah the Survivor Saga. This saga pits Goku and Vegeta against the Heeters, a group that acts as brokers for the Frieza Force. But this group is secretly plotting to one day usurp Frieza and take his position as the universe's main tyrant. This plan takes a turn when Goku and Vegeta are tricked into going to Planet Cereal, leading to them getting tangled in a massive conflict. But as Vegeta and Goku try to get to the bottom of this strange situation, they learn that they are not the first Saiyans to set foot on Cereal.

During a fight with Gas, Goku notices Gas is about to attack Monaito to prevent him from healing Granolah. Goku, desperate to buy Monaito some time, grabs Gas and teleports him away using Instant Transmission. Goku does this repeatedly, slowly dragging Gas across the universe. Eventually, Goku reaches Whis and reveals that he's made sure that Gas is too far away from Planet Cereal to return via Instant Transmission, meaning he'll have to travel back the long way. Goku then quickly teleports back to Planet Cereal, leaving Gas behind.

When he arrives at Cereal, Goku notices that Whis planted a communication device on him. Using this device, Whis warns Goku that Gas is flying back at high speed and will arrive in 20 minutes. Monaito says this isn't enough time to heal Granolah, and Whis asks Goku how his practice with Ultra Instinct is going. Goku says he is disappointed with his progress, as he can't keep his heart calm like Whis. Whis chastises Goku for saying this, reminding him that he and Goku are different life forms, so Goku must make his own form of Ultra Instinct rather than simply copying what Whis does. He also reminds Goku that he should stop treating Ultra Instinct like a transformation but more like a way of being. Whis then tells Goku that he needs to listen to the voice inside himself and reach deep to answer who he is, a question that clearly shakes Goku.

Once the call ends, Monaito takes Goku to his house, telling him that he wants to show Goku something. Once in the house, Monaito gives Goku an old scouter, saying it belonged to Bardock, his father. Goku plays the audio saved on the scouter, hoping to learn how Bardock defeated Gas forty years previously. As they listen to the audio, they hear Bardock telling Monaito to flee while Bardock holds Gas off. Bardock ends his message by telling Monaito to "stay alive," a phrase that causes a repressed memory to flash across Goku's mind's eye. Goku recalls the last time he saw Bardock and his mother, Gine, as they peered into the space pod before evacuating him from Planet Vegeta, with Bardock telling Goku to stay alive before starting the launch.

Key Chapters For True Ultra Instinct

In chapter 84, "A People's Pride," Goku grapples with the flashback his father's voice triggered as he relives several moments from his childhood, including witnessing the moment his parents decided to send him away from Planet Vegeta. Once the flashback ends, Goku has a revelation. He realizes what it means to have Saiyan pride and recognizes he's lost faith in his strength. As Vegeta and Goku start arguing, Monaito informs them that a people's pride comes from accepting their nature and sticking to their convictions.

Soon, Gas enters Instant Transmission range and teleports outside Monaito's house. Goku and Vegeta step out to fight him, transforming into their Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego forms as they do. However, despite the pair's power, Gas holds his own against Goku and Vegeta. Due to Vegeta's Ultra Ego growing more powerful the more punishment he takes, he mounts a comeback in chapter 85, "To Each His Own Answer." As Vegeta does this, he tells Goku that he needs to figure out his new Ultra Instinct form quickly to win the fight.

Goku returns to base form, goes to a plateau, and starts to meditate. Vegeta continues to fight Gas, but he eventually tires and drops out of Ultra Ego form. Gas moves to finish Vegeta off, but before he strikes, a force field forms around the downed Vegeta. Gas looks up and realizes that Goku is the one projecting the force field. Goku then uses telekinesis to move Vegeta out of harm's way as Gas asks what Goku plans to do.

Goku happily jumps down from the hill and prepares to fight, quickly starting to power up. Gas asks if Goku plans to use silver hair, blue hair, or something new, only for Goku to inform him that he won't be using either, as he's worked out the best form for pulling out his power. When Gas sees that Goku's hair is still black despite his transformation, he asks what is happening. Goku explains that while in his Ultra Instinct Sign form, he doesn't need to maintain a tranquil heart or calm demeanor. Instead, he can tap into his emotions and Saiyan nature and use them to boost his strength, letting him reach a new form of Ultra Instinct. This theory is proved correct when Goku quickly takes Gas down with this new form, forcing Gas to retreat and regroup.

What Do We Know About True Ultra Instinct?

While True Ultra Instinct hasn't had much spotlight time yet, thanks to the explanations given by Whis and the fight with Gas, fans have a good idea of how it works. Perfected Ultra Instinct is a state that Angels like Whis are always in. This is easy for them, as Angels always have calm hearts because they're so powerful and detached from day-to-day life that they have nothing to worry about; no one can scratch them, let alone defeat them. Additionally, their biology is naturally suited to operating within this state of existence, making the whole process a breeze. While other people can emulate this calm state (as Goku does when he enters Perfected Ultra Instinct), they must constantly work to maintain it, because they are forcing the state upon themselves rather than existing within it.

This is a massive problem for Goku, as he is the opposite of a calm-hearted person. This is only made worse by Goku's Saiyan heritage, as Saiyans are a proud warrior race who love combat and are always trying to get stronger. Because of this, Goku can only stay in Perfected Ultra Instinct for a short period, making it a less-than-perfect tool in battle. True Ultra Instinct allows Goku to avoid this issue by tapping into his fiery emotions and love for battle, letting him draw extra strength from them. This is why Goku enters True Ultra Instinct via Ultra Instinct Sign. Unlike Perfected Ultra Instinct, this form doesn't require the user to maintain a calm and focused heart, making it easier for Goku to summon and focus his emotions before going True Ultra Instinct.

Another thing to note is that True Ultra Instinct looks a lot like the form it's based on, Ultra Instinct Sign. However, unlike that form, Goku doesn't have to maintain an aura when using it. When Goku doesn't have the aura activated, he has his base form hair. When Goku does have the aura active, his hair changes to the Ultra Instinct Sign style, gaining slightly more volume and glowing highlights. This sets it apart from forms like Perfected Ultra Instinct or Super Saiyan Blue, which massively change Goku's appearance.

The full power of True Ultra Instinct is not currently known. But from what has been shown so far, it seems like True Ultra Instinct has the automatic dodging ability of Perfected Ultra Instinct. The form also gives Goku a massive power boost, allowing him to hit harder and take more damage without getting knocked out of the form. One thing to note is that, based on what's been shown, Goku is far from invincible in True Ultra Instinct form. Later in the Granolah the Survivor Saga, both True Ultra Instinct Goku and Ultra Ego Vegeta get easily defeated by Awakened State Gas and Black Frieza, showing that they've got a long way to go until they can become invincible warriors. Also, Goku implies that his time in the form is limited in chapter 85, "To Each His Own Answer," suggesting it has the energy-draining drawback that other powerful forms in the Dragon Ball universe have.

However, it should be noted that when Goku spars with Gohan in Dragon Ball Super Chapter 102, "Son Goku vs. Son Gohan," and Chapter 103, "A Legacy Toward the Future," the dialogue between Whis and Beerus and the fight itself suggests that Goku has further refined True Ultra Instinct while training with Whis. During the fight, Goku goes toe-to-toe with Gohan Beast with ease. Plus, the energy released during the battle utterly decimates Beerus' planet, something no other fight has done. This suggests that Goku could take down even the mightiest foes using this new form with a bit more training time.

One of the most intriguing things about True Ultra Instinct is the story it is being used to tell. True Ultra Instinct represents Goku designing a unique path for himself — a path that pulls from every facet of his life and history, from his Saiyan biology and early upbringing to the techniques he's learned during the events of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super. True Ultra Instinct's appearance perfectly illustrates this.

Rather than transforming Goku's appearance, he retains his usual appearance because he isn't taking on a new form but fully embracing himself. Plus, unlike some previous forms, Goku retains his usual personality while in True Ultra Instinct, further enhancing the idea that this new form represents Goku building a path that is a celebration of him and the journey he has taken during his life. In theory, this could open the door to Goku's True Ultra Instinct becoming like the Perfected Ultra Instinct Angels use, where it is not a form Goku transforms into, but a state he constantly exists in, totally in tune with his body and one with himself.

True Ultra Instinct is one of the most fascinating forms in Dragon Ball history due to its abilities and what it represents in the overall story. Goku has spent Dragon Ball Super trying to master Ultra Instinct, so having him create a new form born from recalling repressed memories from his childhood is a big, world-shaking moment with massive ramifications. This is even more exciting as Perfected Ultra Instinct is already a fan-favorite form due to its unique dodging abilities and immense power. So, a more powerful version of this form that weaves in Goku's history and the Saiyan legacy will quickly win fans' hearts and likely establish itself as a beloved form. Only time will tell what's next for Goku and his True Ultra Instinct form. However, based on Dragon Ball's history, a powerful new form suggests that a powerful new foe is just around the corner, one who will once again push Goku to his very limits.

• 

  Dragon Ball Super

  With Majin Buu defeated half-a-year prior, peace returns to Earth, where Son Goku (now a radish farmer) and his friends now live peaceful lives.

• 

  Dragon Ball

  Son Gokû, a fighter with a monkey tail, goes on a quest with an assortment of odd characters in search of the Dragon Balls, a set of crystals that can give its bearer anything they desire.