Transformation Ability

       

Transformation Ability
変（へん）身（しん）能（のう）力（りょく） Henshin Nōryoku
Other	Super Transformations (超変身, Chōhenshin; Jap. anime, "Nightmare Super Transformation") Devilish Transformation
First Appearance
Manga Debut	Volume 22, Chapter 263
Anime Debut	DBZ053 DBK025
Movie Debut	Movie 8
Data
Type	Ability
Class	Supplementary
Derived technique(s)
Golden Freeza Fourth Transformation (Movie-only)
Users
Coola (Movie-only) Freeza Frost Zarbon

Transformation Ability is the genetic trait to transform at will, exclusive to transforming-type extraterrestrials such as Zarbon and Frost Demons.

Attributes

The number of transformation that one undergoes varies by the user's racial group. A prime example is Zarbon was only able to transform once, where as Frost Demons have the uncanny ability to transform up to a series of three times. This ability changes the user's physical appearance to varying degrees, but always causes a tremendous spike in their battle prowess. Depending on the species, the number of transformations seems to vary.

Versions

Zarbon

Main article: Devilish Transformation Zarbon was the first shown to use the Transformation Ability, showcased during his fight with the Saiyan prince Vegeta on Namek. The alien has stated to abhor the form, as it causes him to become rather hideous, and he favors beauty. When transformed, Zarbon becomes rather reptilian in nature, his face indeed losing the beauty he prides, with his nose melding into his face, gaining pebbled, reptilian skin, as well as sharpened teeth and nails. He also gains increased muscle mass, though this does nothing to his speed and stamina. In the anime, Zarbon's voice also changes. Zarbon gains a massive increase in power to go along with the physical changes, and utterly overwhelmed Vegeta the first time he transformed into this state. However, in their second encounter, Vegeta's increase in power after recovering from the beating Zarbon gave him was enough to overwhelm this form. In the anime, this form was given the name Devilish Transformation (悪魔の変身, Akuma no Henshin; FUNimation "Hideous Transformation").

Zarbon, a user of the Transformation Ability.

Freeza

First Transformation

Freeza in his First Transformation.

The first transformation, so far only showcased by Freeza, is the first in the line of the Frost Demon's transformative abilities. This transformation comes with a multitude of physical changes; a notable increase in height, elongated horns, and enlarged muscles. In fact, this form is identical to the previous state, and is merely "larger". Notably, this form also resemble's what appears to be Cold's base state. In the anime, this form also comes with a stark deepening of the voice. 

In this state, the Frost Demon's power skyrockets; Piccolo could feel Freeza's enhanced ki from across Namek, as could Gokū, who was recuperating in a pod. This state would be the first of many to instill fear into Vegeta, who had been confident when facing Freeza's base state. To further increase his formidable power, Freeza showed the ability to control his power level. Freeza seemed invincible in this state, as neither Gohan nor Vegeta could permanently damage him.It would be Piccolo's eventual assimilation with the fellow Nameccian Nail that would push this form to its limit and force Freeza to transform further. Furthermore, in the anime, Freeza claimed that this form had a power level of 1,000,000; however, no such claim was made in the manga.

Second Transformation

Freeza in the races' Second Transformation.

This is the second transformation available to the Frost Demon race, and, when used by Frost, this form is referred to as the Assault Form (突撃 形態, Totsugeki Keitai). This form is perhaps the most unique out of all of the available forms, as the appearance is by far the furthest from the first and third. While certain traits tend to differ between Frost Demons, there are some commonly shared aspects; in this form, the skull elongates, and the horns move along the newly stretched skull as well. In Freeza's case, he gains multiple horns, and they turn white, but Frost's horns stay black and he only keeps his original two. Additionally, Freeza gains two large spikes on his back, while Frost does not. The facial features are the most different in this form compared to any other; the Frost Demon loses their nose, as it has melded into their mouth instead causing it to resemble a beak.

The power increase of this form is astronomical; Freeza, who was evenly matched with Piccolo, began to dominate the battle, and even the newly assimilated Nameccian could only call Freeza a monster. This increase in power is followed also by an immense increase in speed, to the point that Piccolo was unable to keep up with Freeza, being out-sped as well as overpowered.

In the case of Frost's usage, the Frost Demon, who had been losing against Son Gokū, was able to turn the tables and briefly overpower the Saiyan before he transformed into his regular Super Saiyan form, by which point this form was overpowered.

Frost

Final Transformation

Frost in his species' third transformation.

The third transformation available to the Frost Demon line is, in actuality, their "true" and final form. When used by Freeza, this form is referred to simply as Super Freeza (超フリーザ, Sūpā Furīza). This form is the "true" form of a Frost Demon, the original form they were born in, as the base state and previous two transformations were transformations meant to control the Frost Demon's incredible power. In this state, it varies between Frost Demons, as seen in the case of Freeza and Frost, but the similarities remain; the body becomes shorter than the two previous forms, as well as taking on a much "sleeker" appearance. The horns, and in Freeza's case, spikes, from the previous forms disappear, and their cranium is now smoother and rounder; the lines previously on their face remain intact as well. While Freeza's three-toed feet remain, Frost's feet appear similar to shoes; it is not known whether these are actually his feet, or true footwear.

The power increase of this form is the strongest by far, as Freeza was able to utterly overwhelm the entire Dragon Team, Vegeta, and merely toyed with Son Gokū during their fight, even surviving a 20-Fold Kaiōken Kamehameha with only mild burns and claims of pain. This form's greatest example of durability is surviving the Extra Large Genki Dama, a Genki Dama composed of the energy from Namek and other planets within the Solar System, though Freeza claims he almost thought he had died. This form, however, was instantly overwhelmed by Son Gokū's Super Saiyan transformation.

When used by Frost, the form showed similar flaws, being immensely powerful, but Gokū's Super Saiyan transformation was enough to turn the odds in his favor.

Freeza himself as shown the ability to boost the power output of this form by various percentages; 50%, 75%, and 100% full power have been showcased. In the case of the latter, it causes the only known physical alteration, leading to a huge increase in Freeza's muscle mass, as well as a massive power output. Despite this, the full power output of this form was taxing on Freeza's body, causing his power to rapidly deplete; even before the depletion, however, Super Saiyan Gokū dominated the battle entirely, the 100% Freeza being no match for the legendary warrior.

In Other Media

Movies

Main article: Fourth Transformation In the movies, Coola, Freeza's elder brother, debuted in his true form, the Third Transformation. Furthermore, he has exhibited yet another transformation unique to his race. Unlike the other forms, which were transformations to control the power of the Frost Demon, Coola's "Fourth Transformation" is a transformation to increase power. This form, in addition to the physical changes, come with an immense power enhancement that allows Coola to easily overwhelm Gokū in both his base state, and Kaiōken states. It was, however, eventually overwhelmed by the Super Saiyan transformation.

Creation and Conception

Originally, there were no plans Toriyama made for Freeza to transform. However, down the line, Toriyama decided it would be cool to make it seem like a bluff, only to have Freeza transform for real. His habit of giving characters progressively complex and tough-looking forms, only to end in one final sleek form, showed through Freeza's set of transformations as well. Freeza's third form was also the shortest shown due to Toriyama's dislike of drawing complex appearance. Initially, he hadn't planned on giving Freeza three transformations, and jokingly thought to himself that he should have limited it to two.