Migatte no Gokui: How Goku used Ultra Instinct in the DBS anime
![UI Goku vs Jiren UI Goku vs Jiren, first fight](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa206d8ed-d379-4973-91d0-fa8cc0260e2a_640x362.png)
Goku first drew on Ultra Instinct in his battle against Jiren the grey, by far the strongest opponent the Saiyan had ever faced. Yet, with his limit being super saiyan blue, he had no answer for Jiren's sheer power... until, he awoke Ultra Instinct--migatte no gokui.
DBS anime...
Whis teaches both Goku and Vegeta prior to their battle against the resurrected Freeza that they need to learn to allow their bodies to move without conscious thought and that once they overcome that hurdle, they'll have the speed to evade all damage.
Tournament Of Power Recap
Goku first activates Ultra Instinct in the tournament of power against Jiren, when all his power (super Saiyan blue plus kaioken times 20 and a powerful spirit bomb) aren't enough to defeat him. First, Goku's eyes become stern and focused, and he has a brilliant gradient aura after he unlocks incomplete ultra instinct.
![Goku's Ultra Instinct Goku's first attempt at Ultra Instinct](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e64d190-ef13-40a1-aaca-009de68410e5_639x358.png)
Then against Kefla, Goku finds incomplete ultra instinct again but this time, he delves much deeper into the new form and his dodges and reflexes are exemplarily fast, even when Kefla enters super saiyan 2 state.
![Goku vs Jiren, second-face off Goku is delving deeper into Ultra Instinct during his battle with Jiren](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0f5b6050-0b94-47ec-bc34-4a76216e198b_639x360.png)
Then, for the third time Goku enters into incomplete ultra instinct, and he's able to land a good hit on Jiren. After a while without gaining an advantage, Goku relaxes and is able to delve deeper even as he fights Jiren until he finally finds the vaunted level of Mastered Ultra Instinct, a limit-breaking transformation in ultra instinct state.
![Goku MUI Goku reaches the Mastered Ultra Instinct form](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F119e9c4a-30d4-4547-b947-293bfaf406f9_640x457.png)
My theory:
I believe that from the very first instance when Goku accesses Ultra instinct against Jiren, he was only drawing on the little power of the Ultra instinct form.
In the second and following instances, he was able to draw on even more of UI form's power since his body remembered how he was able to the first time.
Basically, for the tournament of power, Goku's ultra instinct dwelled on the form-aspect of Ultra instinct, where he intended to transform into a stronger opponent to defeat Jiren.
I don't think this is a stretch because Goku's instincts (on which he's able to summon Ultra Instinct) encompass his desire to win and defeat Jiren and so his Ultra instinct gets keener and sharper the longer he fights Jiren, all the while instinctively ignoring the backlash of such an immense power on his body.
I think this is where the anime's portrayal of Goku's ultra instinct is spot on: Goku fighting on instinct is him developing his ultra instinct during the heat of battle, sharpening his attacks and trusting his subconscious--letting go and moving on instinct--so he can react quickly, without ever for a second doubting his power while simultaneously gauging his opponent's power as well. This is why, when Jiren can't fight anymore, it appears that Goku relaxes, and the backlash hits with a fiery fury that he loses the power and the form--he'd been gauging Jiren's power and attacks unconsciously so that now that Jiren can't attack him, his body gives out of the form but then the physical drawback remains.
In conclusion
In the tournament of power, Goku was relying on the Ultra Instinct form, even when it was "incomplete". His incomplete ultra instinct is his instinctual desire to progressively match and then surpass his opponents (Jiren and then Super Saiyan 2 Kefla). His final ultra instinct is the silver-haired limit-breaking Mastered form of Ultra Instinct where he completely gives in to the power and can attack on instinct while avoiding all damage.