The Saiyans are known throughout the universe as the most powerful warriors. They are a warring race that is actively looking for enemies to fight and planets to conquer. And once they set their eyes on a target, they will power through them, annihilating anything that dares to stand on their path.

That is why for the longest time, Saiyans have been considered to be the most powerful race in the universe. At least that is the case until Frieza comes along. Numerous factors contribute to the Saiyan’s legendary strength, but these particular traits are some of the biggest reasons behind their centuries of dominance.

RELATED: Dragon Ball: The Gods of Destruction, Explained

Addicted to Combat

There are numerous races of warriors that would actively go and conquer other races within their vicinity throughout the universe. Some do it to acquire lands or resources, some do it to fulfill their deranged ambitions, and some do it simply as a means to make money. Both Frieza and the Saiyans belong to the last category. They are in the conquering business to make money. However, there is one crucial difference that separates these two, which is Saiyans’ insatiable thirst for combat.

Saiyans do not only fight in order to earn money, but rather they set up a business to capitalize on their tendency to fight. Because fighting is a way of life for Saiyans. Frankly speaking, they will gladly fight against anybody without any reason at all. The stronger the opponents, the bigger and brighter the fire of battle that lights up in their hearts. They will even fight against each other just to satisfy that thirst. It’s unclear when or who was the first Saiyan who came up with the idea of the conquering business, but thanks to that, the race can make a living while doing what they love best.

This addiction to combat exists in every pure-blooded Saiyan. Even the peace-loving Goku is also afflicted by this vice. Fortunately, Goku’s thirst for combat is not stained by violent tendencies or desire to kill other living beings. He simply wants to fight strong people. This goes to show that Saiyan’s violent impulses can be reigned and even channeled for good things with the right guidance and environment.

What Doesn’t Kill Them Make Them Stronger

Saiyans are not the only combat-crazed race out there, but the one thing that sets them apart from their peers is the fact that they get stronger whenever they face defeat. And we're not talking about just a simple warrior mentality here, their body actually gets stronger whenever they are defeated. This is precisely what happened over and over again to Saiyans like Goku and Vegeta in the series.

No matter how badly a Saiyan is defeated, as long as they are still alive and get a chance to recuperate, they will come back stronger than before. This concept is actually not unique to Saiyans. The muscle fibers of Humans and animals also work using a similar principle. Our muscle fibers also need to experience wear and tear in order to get bigger and stronger.

What makes Saiyans special, however, is the fact that this principle does not only work on their muscles but also their whole body. Their bones will get thicker and denser, their energy level will increase tremendously, and their combat sense will be sharper than before. The level of improvement may differ depending on the individual, but the principle works the same for every member of this race. This is why it is dangerous to engage in a prolonged fight against a Saiyan. Because what doesn't kill them will truly make them stronger.

Appetite for Destruction

Saiyans combat addiction, and the fact that they get stronger after every fight will eventually lead to their final trait, an appetite for destruction. This is a trait that usually lies dormant within Saiyans and will only come to the surface in certain situations, such as during an intense conflict or when they are overtaken by uncontrollable wrath. In such situations, they will unleash all of their power and cause an untold amount of destruction. This usually happens when they are transformed into great apes. After all, it is harder to control their emotions during that state.

The tendency to lose control differs between each individual, but it is still a seed that exists within every member of the Saiyan race. Although it can be difficult to control a Saiyan once they go berserk, this kind of rampage is actually useful during the early stage of their invasion project. After all, wreaking havoc is a good and easy way to cause panic and confusion among enemies. By the way, Vegeta has come close to this state on more than one occasion during the series, such as during his first fight against Goku.

To summarize, the Saiyan race managed to become the most powerful warrior race in the universe by taking advantage of their absurd physical and mental prowess. The most notable ones are their combat addiction, the fact that they get stronger after each fight, and their appetite for destruction. So in a way, you can say that Saiyans are marvelous at what they do because they follow their passion and do what they love for a living. They take advantage of their unique physical attributes, and they have the tendency to go over the top from time to time.

Dragon Ball is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

More: Dragon Ball: Who Was The Original Red Ribbon Army?