Awakenings are permanent Transformations that are constantly active after you have gained access to them.

Stacks. Some Awakenings can be gained multiple times (each instance being referred to as a Stack), gaining its Attribute Modifier Bonuses, but not gaining repeat instances of its Traits (see — Double Dip). You can only have a number of Stacks on each Awakening up to its listed number of Maximum Number of Stacks. Some Transformation Traits possessed by Awakenings may have a number in brackets after the name of the Trait, these Traits are only active once you have obtained a number of Stacks in that Awakening equal to or exceeding the listed number.

Z Stacks. If any effect of an Awakening’s Trait has ‘Z’ listed where a number would usually be, ‘Z’ is equal to the number of Stacks you possess for that Awakening.

Awakening Classification. Awakenings have two different forms of classification: Awakening Type and Awakening Origin. The differences are explained here:

• Awakening Type. An Awakening’s Type represents the general strength of the Awakening. Most Awakenings fall into either Greater or Lesser Awakenings. Greater Awakenings are stronger and more rarely given Awakenings, while Lesser Awakenings are weaker and more plentiful. There are also Super Awakenings, which serve to define a Character’s path once they begin to reach divine levels of power. Each Character can only possess a single Super Awakening.
• Awakening Origin. An Awakening’s Origin represents the nature of the Awakening; either Body or Mind.

Grand Awakening. Each Super Awakening possesses a Grand Awakening, a unique Trait whose effects do not apply until the Grand Awakening has been activated. Each Super Awakening has their own Grand Trigger, a condition that must be met during this Combat Encounter before enabling a Grand Awakening. While that condition is met, that Character has access to the Full Awakening Maneuver (detailed below).

The Grand Trigger is listed as an effect in the Grand Awakening, using the Grand Trigger Keyword.

Awakening Limit. You can only possess a certain number of each type of Awakening, with your current Awakening Limit depending on your base Tier of Power. You can only possess a single Super Awakening, but for the others, the table below shows your maximum number:

Temporary Awakenings. An effect or your ARC may grant you a Temporary Awakening. A Temporary Awakening is an Awakening that you only have access to until the end of a Combat Encounter and does not count towards your Awakening Limit.

Gaining access to a Temporary Awakening cannot grant you New Level of Power.

There are two levels of Temporary Awakening:

• Level 1: At the end of the Combat Encounter, your ARC may allow you to keep this Awakening if they deem it fitting for your Character and the campaign. In this instance, it stops being a Temporary Awakening and is subject to the Awakening Limit.
• Level 2: This Temporary Awakening will be removed without discussion at the end of the Combat Encounter.

The purpose of the levels for a Temporary Awakening is to facilitate and balance certain effects, while also allowing your ARC to manage expectations (a Level 1 Temporary Awakening has potential for becoming something more, while a Level 2 Temporary Awakening will always be merely temporary).

Enhancements are techniques that allow for a Character to specialize their combat style and increase their power without dramatically changing their appearance, usually being described as some kind of technique or stance, rather than a traditional transformation. The most iconic example is the Kaioken, which is a technique that boosts the power of the user. As with all Transformation Types, Enhancements have their own rules:

Burst Limit [1/Encounter]. Upon entering an Enhancement through the Transformation Maneuver, or using the Transformation Maneuver to change your Enhancement’s Grade, you may choose to trigger its Burst Limit Trait.

Enhancement Classification. Enhancements have two different Types: Standard and Special. Standard Enhancements are your typical Enhancement, while Special Enhancements are Enhancements that showcase an evolution or a rediscovery of the use for an Enhancement you already possess. As such, they possess several rules unique to themselves:

• Enhancement Evolution. Every Special Enhancement has an Initial Enhancement, which is listed below their Enhancement Type. They are considered to be this Initial Enhancement for any effects and you cannot gain access to a Special Enhancement until you have Mastered their Initial Enhancement.
• Redefined Enhancement. You cannot use a Special Enhancement in conjunction with their listed Initial Enhancement or any other Special Enhancement that possesses that same Initial Enhancement.

Transcendent. Some Enhancements can be made Transcendent, marked by having the Transcendent Aspect. When you gain access to or Master an Enhancement with the Transcendent Aspect, you can choose to make it Transcendent. Transcendent Enhancements have a few additional rules:

• Enhancement Stacking. A Transcendent Enhancement is considered a Form for the sake of using multiple Transformations at once. This means a Transcendent Enhancement cannot be used in conjunction with a Form, but you may use an Enhancement in conjunction with a Transcendent Enhancement.
• Burst Recovery. While in a Transcendent Enhancement, or upon entering a Transcendent Enhancement, if a Burst Limit Trait is triggered, immediately regain Ki Points equal to 1/2 of your Maximum Ki Points.
• Transcendent Traits. If you have mastered a Transcendent Enhancement, you may be able to gain access to its Transcendent Trait. A Transcendent Trait functions as a second level of Mastery for an Enhancement, granting it a new Trait that dramatically increases the strength of the Transformation. To gain a Transcendent Trait, you simply master a Transcendent Enhancement an additional time.

In the Dragon World, there are many different and powerful beings that can change or rapidly evolve. Perhaps the most iconic is the Super Saiyan Transformation. As with all Transformation Types, Forms have their own rules:

Ki Multiplier. While you are in a Form that you entered through the Transformation Maneuver, your Maximum Ki Points are doubled and your Max Capacity is increased by 1/2. 

Legend Realized. You cannot gain this effect more than once per Transformation per Combat Encounter. The first time you use the Transformation Maneuver to transform into a Form during each Combat Encounter, roll 2d10(T) and increase the Dice Score by your Power Level. Restore Life and Ki Points equal to the total Dice Score.

If this is your first time entering any Form during this Combat Encounter, triple the amount of Ki Points regained through this effect (calculated after rolling).

Transformation Line. Forms with various Stages are part of what is known as a Transformation Line. A Transformation Line is an overarching term used to refer to all Transformations in that Transformation Line, used for various effects.

Transformation Stages. A Stage is a level of a Transformation Line, each being their own Transformation. For example, think of the Super Saiyan 2 Transformation, which is the second Stage of the Super Saiyan Transformation Line. Stages gain access to the Traits of all previous Stages for that Transformation, so Super Saiyan 2 gains access to Super Saiyan 1’s Traits in addition to its own. Stages are only used by Forms and to gain access to a Stage, in addition to any prerequisites, you must also possess access to all Stages below that Stage.

Transformations with Stages may use the ‘S’ term. ‘S’ is equal to that Transformation’s Stage (this is useful as higher Stages gain the Traits of lower Stages).

Null Stage. Some Forms have their Stage listed as 0. Stage 0 means that, for all effects and purposes, despite being a Form and a Transformation, this is considered your Normal State (rather than a Form or a Transformation) and benefits from none of the usual rules for Forms (such as Ki Multiplier) or Transformations (aside from any Transformation Traits and Attribute Modifier Bonuses it possesses). A Null Stage is always considered mastered and, upon suffering from Stress Exhaustion, if you have access to a Null Stage, you will return to the Null Stage instead of your typical Normal State (as it serves as your Normal State – you will still be unable to enter any other Transformation until you stop suffering from Stress Exhaustion).

If you have access to multiple Null Stages, you may choose which one you enter upon returning to your Normal State.

Multiple Transformations per Stage. In some cases, multiple Transformations will occupy the same Stage of a Transformation Line. In this case, when you are in a higher Stage, you can select whichever option you like upon entering that Transformation to gain the Traits of as long as you have access to that Transformation and meet its Racial Requirement and Prerequisites as usual.

Step-by-Step Transformation. While you are in a Form, if you would Transform into a different Form with a higher Tier of Power Requirement, reduce the Stress Test Requirement of that Transformation by 1. Double this reduction if you are transforming into a Transformation of the same Transformation Line. Step-by-Step Transformation only applies to the initial Stress Test to enter the Transformation. Further Stress Tests use that Transformation’s normal Stress Test Requirement.

Form Classification. Forms have two different Sub-Types: Alternate Forms and Legendary Forms. Alternate Form are your typical Form, while Legendary Forms are more powerful Forms that you tend to gain access to at higher Tiers of Power. As such, they possess several rules unique to themselves:

• Evolving Traits. Higher Stages of a Legendary Form may include the names of Traits from their lower Stages in brackets after the name of one of their Traits. If that’s the case, the Trait gained by this higher Stage replaces the listed Trait gained from the lower Stage.
• Legendary Traits. Each Legendary Form has a Legendary Trait. These Legendary Traits are Traits that your Character possesses at all times after gaining access to that Legendary Form. If a Legendary Form has multiple Legendary Traits, you must choose which one you gain upon gaining access to that Transformation.