Ultra Instinct (2024)

Ultra Instinct^[3][4][5] is an ultimate technique that separates the consciousness from the body, allowing it to move and fight independent of a martial artist's thoughts and emotions.^[6] It is an extraordinarily difficult technique to master, even for the Hakaishin. However, angels like Whis appear to have mastered it. As a result, it is known as the "state of the gods" (神の領域, kami no ryōiki).

This technique uniquely manifests as a transformation in Son Gokū and is his most powerful form, transcending Super Saiyan Blue. Despite this, Beerus and the other gods recognize the transformation's completed form, hinting that it might not be completely unique to Gokū.^[7]

Appearance[]

Most users of Ultra Instinct, such as Whis, do not display a noticeable difference when using the technique. However, Son Gokū and Moro adopt a unique transformation when using it. When the technique fully manifests, Gokū's eyes and hair become a distinctive silver coloration. His hair remains raised slightly and his aura remains crystalline—though, in addition to blues and whites, it now sports purple and red hues as well and is noticeably brighter.^[8] In the manga, the Hakaishin Beerus notes that any god would recognize this form as the technique Ultra Instinct.^[7] This seems to be the case in the anime as well, as Whis and Beerus both recognize it and the Hakaishin from each universe stand to acknowledge Gokū's achievement.^[9]

This later proves true when Moro obtains Ultra Instinct by copying the abilities of the Angel Merus. After adopting the completed form, Moro's mane turned from brown to silver, and the markings under his eyes became pale, signifying his use of the technique.^[10]

Attributes[]

The body of any living being is accompanied by limitations. For one to fight — or to even perform basic actions — they must first process their actions and think with their brain. Doing this limits their speed and will hamper their ability to fight effectively. The ultimate goal for a fighter is the Mastery of Self-Movement, the ability for each and every part of their body to act and think on its own; this allows for much greater reaction speed, as a fighter no longer needs to take the time to process their actions, and can simply do them. Whis has mastered this ability, though Beerus possesses a more rudimentary form, and has not mastered it.^[11][12]

For those who have not mastered the technique, they are still more than capable of utilising it, as seen when Beerus faced off against the Hakaishin in the Zen Exhibition Match; he avoided a good majority of their techniques without even looking, though still managed to be caught as he had not mastered it completely.^[11][12]

Whis, who has completely mastered the technique, was able to fend off two Saiyan Beyond Gods with no trouble, handling them as if they were children.^[11] Gokū would later show off a mastered version of this technique as well, accompanied by a new form that incorporated this style on instinct.^[13] Whis states that, if one were to master this technique, they could, in theory, avoid any threat. Recognizing whether someone is using Ultra Instinct seems to be rather difficult as it requires someone to know about Ultra Instinct and be familiar with a person's fighting style.^[14]

Gokū achieved "perfect Ultra Instinct" (完全なる身勝手の極意, kanzen-naru Migatte no Goku'i; English TV "complete Ultra Instinct") by focusing completely on his fight with Jiren and building up heat within himself throughout the match.^[9] He also abandoned the idea of allowing his emotions to rule over him, as they often did in his Super Saiyan transformations, and instead focused on making his heart calm and gentle.^[7] Releasing the heat in a galaxy-like disc of energy, Gokū then absorbed it back within himself, allowing him to manifest the completed technique, which granted him a power that surpasses that of a Hakaishin.^[15][16]

The power of Ultra Instinct is staggering, allowing him to easily outclass Jiren even once the alien increased his power to maximum. Ultra Instinct also allowed Gokū to both attack and defend against Jiren without thinking.^[1] This allowed the Saiyan to avoid most of the Pride Trooper's attacks and deliver devastating counterattacks. His energy attacks, now dark blue in coloration, were also capable of completely canceling out Jiren's own.^[15] Lastly, Gokū, while using Ultra Instinct, lacks the strange voice phenomenon he displayed when demonstrating only an omen of the technique.^[15]

Strangely, whenever Gokū yells while displaying the omen of Ultra Instinct, his voice is accompanied by a double timbre; that of his own voice, and a deep, rumbling affair that most resembles the Great Monkey Transformation.^[17][4]

Drawbacks[]

The largest drawback of Ultra Instinct is the difficulty in which the technique is to master. For instance, the Hakaishin Beerus spent millions of years in training and still has not mastered the technique. A significant part of this difficulty comes with the technique's massive stamina drain. For one who has not trained enough with Ultra Instinct, the forcible instinctive movements of the body in combat exact a terrible toll. As a result, novice users of Ultra Instinct cannot maintain it long.^[7][15]

Like his Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan Blue transformations, Ultra Instinct was susceptible to Gokū's rage, allowing him yet another explosive increase in power and speed whenever Jiren angered the Saiyan. However, because this explosion of emotion disturbed the calmness of his heart that allowed him to obtain the technique in the first place, Gokū's ability to use Ultra Instinct expired rather painfully shortly thereafter.^[15]

Finally, though Gokū can activate the omen of Ultra Instinct at will, he cannot use the true technique at will; he told Vegeta at the end of the Tournament of Power that this form was the result of him being backed into a corner, and he currently cannot use it of his own accord.^[18]

In Other Media[]

In Video Games[]

Ultra Instinct Son Gokū appears in Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2, during a cutscene in the DLC Extra Pack 2 Infinite History story mode. If Gokū is the Future Warrior's master and they side with Fu, Gokū will adopt this form when Fu boost the Future Warrior so they can fight Gokū. The form, however, is not long-lived, as Gokū quickly transforms from Ultra Instinct into the completed state.

Creation and Conception[]

According to an interview, Akira Toriyama designed Ultra Instinct — including its name — as a power-up for Son Gokū that would be distinct from the Super Saiyan form. It was only decided after the flow of the Universe Survival Arc's story had been decided on.^[19][1]

Trivia[]

• Ultra Instinct's usage in the Dragon Ball Super series greatly mirrors Super Saiyan God; the intake of a large amount of energy from other fighters, resulting in the shattering of Gokū's limits and raising him to a new state, only for the form to run out before he could defeat an enemy who surpassed his strength.
  • Similarly to Super Saiyan God, Ultra Instinct appears to have a time-limit and is also referred to as the state of the gods (神の領域, kami no ryōiki).
• Gokū refers to the completed form as True Ultra Instinct (真身勝手の極意, Shin Migatte no Goku'i) in the extended minute long preview for DBS129.
• While far from the same technique, Villainous Mode characters in Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2 are able to dodge melee strikes completely. No. 13 was given a similar technique, called Data Input, that mirrors this effect for a brief period.

See Also[]

• Genki Dama Super Saiyan

References[]