They have natural abilities and desires to fight (they also grow stronger after every battle). Their tails that make them unique also give them the ability to turn into Oozarus (giant ape-like creatures when Saiyans see full moons). This form can only be stopped by cutting off their tails (just like what happened to Goku). Sometimes, though, Saiyan tails grow back even after being cut off.
Saiyans can also go Super Saiyan. This is a special status that is trigged with *extreme* anger. There are numerous stages of the Super Saiyan (which we will get to later on). For now, here are the Saiyans we encounter during the show...
[Saiyan Listing]
* Full-Blooded Saiyans
Goku (or Kakarot) | Vegeta | King Vegeta | Bardock | Brolly | Nappa | Turles | Raditz
* Half Saiyans
Gohan | Goten | Trunks | Bra
* Fractional Saiyans
Pan | Vegeta Jr. | Goku Jr.
How can you tell one has just transformed into a Super Saiyan Level 1?
First, their eyes turn blue for 3 seconds then turn green. Then, their hair stands up and turns a mustard-yellow. Their muscles bulge and they become much more menacing.
[Image Of This Level]
Goku: After Krillin is killed by Frieza. (DBZ: Frieza Saga)
Gohan: While training in the Room of Spirit and Time with Goku (DBZ: Early Cell Saga).
Vegeta: Prior to the 19/20 android battle while training in outer space (DBZ: Android Saga).
Future Trunks: In the alternate future, 17 and 18 killed Son Gohan causing him to become SSJ (DBZ: Trunks Special)
Chibi-Trunks: Not determined... (DBZ: Majin Buu Saga)
Goten: While training with Chi-Chi when he was 6 years old (DBZ: Majin Buu Saga)
Gotenks: After fusing as SSJs in the Majin Buu Saga (Majin Buu...).
Brolly: SSJ1: He turned SSJ on the "Trash Planet" when he and his father was about to die (Movie 8).
[Image Of This Level]
The differences are subtle. Level 2 Saiyans change their eye color to green, and while their hair remains yellow, it is spiked closer together at the top. Their muscles bulge out even more than Level 1s, and they become even more menacing in character. They are also covered in a golden aura of light.
[Image Of This Level]
[Characters Who Transform To This Level]
Goku: While training in Hell (DBZ: During the Anoyoichi Budoukai Saga/Beginning of Majin Buu Saga).
Gohan: During the fight with Cell (DBZ: Late Cell Saga).
Vegeta: Vegeta turned SSJ2 when Babidi possessed him, He made it perfectly clear that being possessed raised his power level immensely (DBZ: Between Cell and Majin Buu).
Gotenks: This is never really noticed... probably either did it after fusing or during the Super Buu fight (Majin Buu).
If your friend displays the following traits, chances are they have become a Level 3 Super Saiyan and that you should run for your life IMMEDIATELY.
1. They suddenly have green eyes (though this can be a sign of being a SS1, SS2, or even having a new pair of contact lenses).
2. Their hair stays yellow but grows down to their legs (though this could mean that they seriously need a hair cut).
3. Eyebrows are lost.
4. In a matter of seconds, they have outgrown their clothes with muscles that Mr. T would be proud of. They are constantly training and are FIERCE.
[Image Of This Level]
[Characters Who Transform To This Level]
Goku: While training in Hell. (DBZ: During the Anoyoichi Budoukai Saga/Beginning of Majin Buu Saga).
Gotenks: Achieved during training in the Room of Spirit and Time. (DBZ: Majin Buu Saga).
Traits of the SS4 are easy to pick up:
1. An SS4's eyes turn green, red & brown.
2. Hair turns black & if they got a haircut, their hair grows back the way it originally was.
3. Red fur grows up on their chest.
4. In terms of muscles and fierceness, let's put it this way: you'e be better off fighting a nuclear bomb than an SS4.
The way you would arive at this level of power is you would first have to go Super Saiyan and then turn into a Golden Oozaru (staring at the moon while you are Super Saiyan). Once you have gone this far you must be able to keep a clear mind for a couple of seconds, at this time you transform from the Golden Oozaru to a level 4 Super Saiyan.
Some believe that Level 4 could have been obtained before ever having to go through any more levels of Super Saiyan other than Level 1 (by turning golden Oozaru) and then, through that, Level 4.
[Image Of This Level]
[Characters Who Transform To This Level]
Goku: After Goku becomes Oozaru in a Super Saiyan state (GT: During the Bebi Saga).
Vegeta: Courtesy of Bulma's Brute Ray, he was able to become a Golden Oozaru and then shrink down. (GT: During the Bebi Saga).
Most of the pictures that display Goku in SS 5 are really of Brolly in a lower form (they do look similar though). Even though it doesn't exist here is a picture I made of what I think an ssj5 should look like.
