The Saiyans were an ancient race from
Planet Vegita. They were accompanied by another race called the
Tsufuru. The Saiyans clearly overpowered the Tsufuru, and conquered them. They were often hired out to conquer and/or destroy other planets and races. The Saiyans are a race of born warriors. They are gifted with many abilities, including the ability to use many
Ki attacks, and the ability to their power to increase dramatically after serious injuries. This business led to their demise when an alien,
Frieza, who later became afraid of their increasing power, hired them.
Bardok, father of
Goku, leads the Saiyans to revolt against Frieza. Frieza easily destroys them along with the entire planet. The only Saiyans to survive this are Goku,
Vegita,
Broly,
Nappa,
Radditz,
Paragus, and
Taurus. All of these Saiyans were sent away at the time. Goku was sent to away to Earth to grow up to destroy Earth. When he is the age when he is supposed to destroy Earth; Radditz, Nappa, and Vegita arrive. Radditz reveals Goku’s Saiyan name,
Kakarot. Throughout the series Radditz and Vegita are the only two to really call him this. Goku and
Chichi have two kids,
Gohan and
Goten, and Gohan and
Videl had one child named
Pan. Gohan and Goten are half Saiyan and half Human, and Pan is a quarter Saiyan and three quarters Human. Vegita and
Bulma have two kids
Trunks and
Bra who are both half Saiyan and half Human.
Saiyans are able to obtain certain Saiyan “levels” reguarding their power level, or Ki. The first level and most basic level is Saiyan. From this level they can obtain 2 power levels. First they can transform into
Oozaru, or Were-Monkey. This is done when a Saiyan that still has their tail looks at the full moon. Their power is increased by many times, and grows to extreme sizes. The second way they can go is
Super Saiyan. Their power level must be a certain amount to get to this amount, plus a rage level needs to be reached. This level is characterized by their intense increase in power, and their new look. Their hair turns from the normal black with black eyes, to a golden blond hair and Blue-green eyes. Goku is the first to reach this level on planet
Namek. After fighting Frieza for a while and he uses the Spirit Bomb attack, Frieza kills
Krillin and attacks
Picollo to the point where he looks dead. This causes Goku to become extremely enraged and allows him to obtain Super Saiyan. Vegita, Gohan,
Goten,
Trunks, Gotenks, Gogeta, and Broly all obtain this level. After this the Super Saiyan 2 can be reached. Super Saiyan 2 is very similar to the first level. The Saiyan’s hair grows slightly, and the power level is increased. Gohan is the first to obtain this level while he is fighting Cell when
Cell crushes
Android 16’s head. Goku, Gohan, Vegita, and Broly all obtain this level. After this level is Super Saiyan 3. At this level the hair grow a lot, and the power is increased a lot. You will also notice the Saiyan no longer has eyebrows and the face seems longer. This level is hard to keep because there is a constant loss of energy during this state. Goku is the first to obtain this level during the
Majin Buu saga.
Gotenks also obtains this level. After this level Oozaru Gold or Golden Were-Monkey can be reached. This level can be reached while looking at the moon in Super Saiyan. It is different from regular Oozaru by the golden fur instead of brown and the increased power level. This level is required to become Super Saiyan 4. Goku and Vegita obtain this level. Super Saiyan 4 is a very different level. This level is not always considered a Super Saiyan level because it does not fit the characteristics. The Saiyan grows in size and is covered in red fur. The hair returns to black along with the eyes, which get a red ring around them.
Gogeta is an exception, his hair turns red and his body fur becomes brown. There is an intense power increase, and the tail is required. Goku’s tail was wished back so this could be accomplished to defeat
Bebi. Vegita uses
Bulma’s invention, the Brute Ray, to reach this level because he lost his tail. Goku, Vegita, and Gogeta obtain this level. Once a level is obtained, it is much easier to rise into it after that.
Saiyans, along other races, have the ability to fuse. The
fusion is done a few ways, and the more known fusions are between Goku and Vegita, and Goten and Trunks.