Attaining the legendary golden aura in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 remains one of the primary goals for players who choose the Saiyan race. Unlike the first game where skills were often tied to random drops in Parallel Quests, the sequel utilizes a more structured, progression-based system. As of 2026, the game has expanded its roster of transformations significantly, but the path to the original Super Saiyan forms (SS1, SS2, and SS3) follows a specific narrative arc involving the Capsule Corporation time rift.

The fundamental requirements for Saiyan awakening

To begin the journey toward becoming a Super Saiyan, the initial and most critical requirement is that the character must be of the Saiyan race. Other races, such as Earthlings or Namekians, have access to their own specific Awoken Skills (like Potential Unleashed or Giant Form), but the golden transformation is restricted to Saiyans.

Progression is gated by character level. One cannot simply walk into the training grounds and demand the power at level one. The game requires a baseline of experience, reflecting the character's growth in the Time Patrol. Generally, the first opportunity to unlock the transformation occurs once the character reaches Level 40. Before this milestone, focusing on the main story missions (Time Patrol quests) and completing early Parallel Quests is necessary to accumulate the required experience points.

Step-by-step to the standard Super Saiyan transformation

Once the character hits Level 40, the path to the transformation opens through the Capsule Corporation time rift. This is one of the five large floating structures in Conton City. Unlike standard instructors who stand in the city streets, the version of Vegeta located inside this rift serves as the gatekeeper for Saiyan-specific power.

Sparring with Vegeta

Inside Capsule Corp, Vegeta will challenge the player to a series of sparring matches. These are not part of his standard mentorship training but are specialized missions designed to test the limits of a Saiyan warrior.

  1. First Sparring Match: Early in the game, Vegeta will fight to test the player's basic combat prowess. Completing this is necessary to move forward.
  2. Second Sparring Match: At Level 40, Vegeta will offer a second challenge. After defeating him, he will express frustration that the player has not yet achieved the Super Saiyan state despite their growing strength.

Consulting the Briefs family

Following the second sparring match, a quest marker will appear. The player must speak with Bulma and then with Kid Trunks, both of whom are located within the Capsule Corporation area. They provide context on what it means to push past one's limits. After these conversations, returning to Vegeta will trigger the specific mission required to unlock the skill.

The mission: Saiyan Awakening

This mission is a unique battle where the player faces off against both Vegeta and Goku. During the fight, the "Super Saiyan" Awoken Skill is temporarily equipped to the character's skill set. Once the player activates the transformation during the dialogue prompt in battle and completes the mission by defeating both legendary rivals, the skill is permanently added to their inventory. It is important to note that this single skill covers Super Saiyan 1, 2, and 3 simultaneously.

Understanding the mechanics of SS1, SS2, and SS3

The Super Saiyan skill in Xenoverse 2 is dynamic, meaning the level of transformation achieved depends entirely on the amount of Ki bars available at the moment of activation.

  • Super Saiyan 1: Requires at least 3 bars of Ki. This form provides a moderate boost to physical strikes and Ki blast Supers while slightly reducing Ki recovery from basic attacks.
  • Super Saiyan 2: Requires 4 bars of Ki. The stat boosts are more significant, and the hair becomes more rigid with occasional bio-electricity (sparks) in the aura.
  • Super Saiyan 3: Requires 5 or more bars of Ki. This is the most powerful variant of the standard set, drastically increasing damage output. However, it comes with a major drawback: Ki recovery from landing basic strikes is significantly slowed, making it essential to use a Ki-charging skill to maintain offensive pressure.

Unlocking specialized Saiyan variants

While the standard golden form is iconic, many builds benefit from specialized versions of the transformation. These are unlocked through different milestones and offer unique stat distributions.

Super Vegeta

Super Vegeta is a variation of the transformation that focuses heavily on Ki Blast Supers rather than physical strikes. This is ideal for players who prefer long-range combat and ultimate attacks like the Final Flash.

To unlock Super Vegeta, the character must reach Level 60 and return to the Capsule Corporation time rift to spar with Vegeta once more. After defeating him in his Super Vegeta state, the skill is granted. Like the standard version, it has two stages: Super Vegeta 1 (3 Ki bars) and Super Vegeta 2 (4 Ki bars). There is no Super Vegeta 3, reflecting the canonical limitations of that specific power-up.

Future Super Saiyan

This form is highly valued for its rapid Ki recovery, which is better than any other Saiyan transformation. To obtain this, players must finish the main story campaign and complete the secret ending involving the "Distorted Time Eggs." After collecting all five eggs from the various time rifts and completing the subsequent missions in the Time Nest, the character will unlock the Future Super Saiyan form. It only goes up to the first stage but offers the fastest stamina recovery, making it a defensive and tactical favorite.

Reaching the God Tiers: SSG, SSGSS, and Beyond

For those seeking the power seen in the modern era of the franchise, the God forms require a different approach involving friendships and high-level training with specific masters.

Super Saiyan God (Red)

Unlocking the Super Saiyan God (SSG) form does not depend on a specific battle with Vegeta. Instead, it involves the Dragon Balls and the power of friendship.

  1. The Wish: First, gather all seven Dragon Balls and summon Shenron. Select the wish "I want to become a Super Saiyan God."
  2. The Friendships: Shenron will explain that the power requires five mentors. The player must maximize their friendship meter with Goku, Vegeta, Gohan & Videl, Gotenks, and Pan. This is done by taking them on Parallel Quests and completing their training lessons.
  3. Lord Beerus: Once the friendships are maxed out, talk to Beerus at the Patroller Academy to receive the Awoken Skill.

SSG is unique because it significantly boosts basic attack speed and damage, and it features a unique "timing" mechanic where landing hits at the exact moment of contact yields massive damage, though it doesn't boost Supers as much as other forms.

Super Saiyan Blue (SSGSS) and Evolved

Super Saiyan Blue (SSGSS) and its evolved state represent the pinnacle of Saiyan power in the base game updates.

  • SSGSS (Blue): Reach Level 90 and maximize the friendship level with Whis. Once these conditions are met, Whis will grant the Blue transformation. This form provides a massive damage increase across all categories but constantly drains Ki over time.
  • SSGSS Evolved (Deep Blue): Reach Level 95 and maximize friendship with both Whis and Vegeta. Talk to Whis again to unlock this state. It offers the highest damage multiplier in the game for Saiyan-specific forms but has an even faster Ki drain than the standard Blue form.

Choosing the right form for the build

Selecting which version of Super Saiyan to use depends heavily on the character's attribute allocation and playstyle.

For a Striker Build focusing on basic attacks and physical Supers, the standard Super Saiyan 3 or Super Saiyan God (Red) are often considered the most efficient. The physical damage boost in SS3 is substantial, though the player must manage their Ki carefully.

For a Ki Blast Build, Super Vegeta 2 or SSGSS Evolved are the superior choices. These forms maximize the damage of Ultimates. However, when using SSGSS Evolved, it is almost mandatory to equip a Super Soul that provides Ki auto-regeneration (such as "Time for a little nap!" or "I think I'm getting the hang of this") to counteract the natural drain of the form.

For Competitive Play (PvP), many prefer Future Super Saiyan or Super Saiyan God. The faster stamina recovery of the Future variant allows for more frequent vanishes and defensive maneuvers, which are often more valuable in a duel than raw damage power.

Strategic advice for the 2026 meta

In the current state of Xenoverse 2, the introduction of universal forms like "Beast" and "Ultra Instinct" has given Saiyans even more options. However, the Super Saiyan line remains relevant due to its specific stat synergies and the iconic aesthetics.

When attempting to unlock these forms, players are encouraged to use the 40-ton weights Super Soul to double their experience gain, reaching Level 40, 60, and 90 much faster. Additionally, using the "Infinite History" scenario in the Time Nest is the most efficient way to grind mentor friendships for the God forms.

By following the structured path at Capsule Corporation and maintaining relationships with the legendary trainers of Conton City, any Saiyan character can evolve from a basic warrior into a god-tier combatant capable of handling the toughest Parallel Quests and Expert Missions the game has to offer.