Summary
- Z Burst Dash is crucial for closing the gap with opponents, positioning for combos and quick combat.
- Z Counter is essential for defense, requiring precise timing to escape combos effectively.
- Perception allows for countering rush attacks with ease, a versatile tool every player should master.
While Dragon Ball games have always been known for having highly satisfying fighting mechanics, there's something truly special about the way the Budokai Tenkaichi series handles combat. These games genuinely make the player feel like they're in the Dragon Ball world, fighting for their life — which is one of the main reasons why this series is still so incredibly popular. Now, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero continues this legacy and does it better than ever. It brings even sharper, more dynamic combat that captures the high-octane action fans love from the anime.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: 6 Iconic Characters That Are Missing From The Initial Roster
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero includes an impressive lineup of characters, though not every fan-favorite has made the initial cut.
Anyone with a decent background in fighting games can jump into Sparking! Zero and easily pick up on its foundational moves, but that won't be enough to breeze through the tougher story episodes, let alone dominate in ranked matches. The combat system involves many intricate moves, but a few key ones are essential for all players to master if they want to leave their competition in the dust.
6 Z Burst Dash
An Easy Way To Close The Gap On The Enemy
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PlayStation |
R2 + X + X |
|---|---|
|
Xbox |
RT + A + A |
One of the biggest challenges beginners face in Sparking! Zero is figuring out how to close the distance between themselves and their opponent. With how fast-paced and dynamic the game's combat is, being unable to get close to the opponent can lead to some pretty drawn-out, frustrating battles. The good news is that the solution to this issue is simpler than it seems. The best way to get up close and personal with the opponent is by using the Z Burst Dash. With this move, the character zooms across the battlefield, closing the distance almost instantaneously.
To make things even better, the Z Burst Dash positions the player character directly behind the enemy. This allows for a combo to be initiated easily, as blocking attacks from behind is particularly tricky in this game.
The best way to practice these moves is by going into the Super Training mode and selecting "Battle Training."
5 Z Counter
The Most Important Defensive Move
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PlayStation |
R1 |
|---|---|
|
Xbox |
RB |
When it comes to defense , few moves are as crucial as the Z Counter. When executed with perfect timing, it lets players break free from combos by teleporting behind their opponent. All Sparking! Zero players know just how frustrating it is to get locked in a combo, so the importance of the Z Counter cannot be understated.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO Trophy Guide
There are 50 Trophies in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, most of which can be unlocked by playing through every saga of Episode Battle mode.
The downside of this move, however, is that it demands near-perfect timing. Therefore, mastering this move requires some serious practice, but once players get the hang of it, they'll never have to worry about getting trapped in a combo again.
4 Perception
A Highly-Effective Way To Counter Attacks
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PlayStation |
Circle |
|---|---|
|
Xbox |
B |
Perception is one of the easiest yet most effective tools for countering an opponent's rush attack. By holding the appropriate button, players can enter the Perception Stance, allowing their character to use a small amount of Ki to automatically counter any incoming rush attack.
What makes this move truly great is how versatile it is. Not only can the player simply hold the stance to perform a counterattack, but they can also time it perfectly to trigger the Sonic Sway. Since counterattacks are such a key aspect of the game's combat, every player needs to master Perception.
3 Revenge Counter
A Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card
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PlayStation |
Right Stick |
|---|---|
|
Xbox |
Right Stick |
Oftentimes, when players get locked in a combo in Sparking! Zero, it can feel like there's just no escape. Maybe the opponent's attacks are just too quick for a Z Counter, or they're too skilled to fall for Perception. In cases like these, the Revenge Counter acts as a lifesaver.
By using two stocks of the Skill Counter, players can instantly break free from a combo with a Revenge Counter. However, it's important to note that opponents can technically counter this move with Perception, though pulling that off is exceptionally difficult.
2 Vanishing Assault
A Versatile Move That Works For Both Offense And Defense
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PlayStation |
Square + Triangle |
|---|---|
|
Xbox |
X + A |
When it comes to flexibility, Vanishing Assault is easily one of the best moves in the game. If the player is at close range, it teleports them directly behind the opponent, while at mid-range, it simply teleports them closer to the opponent. While it may seem like a very simple move on paper, it can be used to dodge attacks, start combos, and close the gap with the enemy, making it highly versatile.
Every Playable Character in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero (Full Sparking Zero Roster)
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero seems destined to have more playable characters than any of the Budokai Tenkaichi games that came before it.
Every player needs to master this move, as it's useful in virtually every aspect of combat. However, one thing to keep in mind is that it consumes a full bar of Ki, so spamming this move like Vegeta spams energy attacks is probably not a good idea.
1 Super Counter
The Most Difficult, Yet Most Effective, Move To Pull Off
|
PlayStation |
Left Stick Up + Square |
|---|---|
|
Xbox |
Left Stick Up + X |
While there are countless ways to counter an opponent's attack in Sparking! Zero, none are as effective as the aptly named Super Counter. As its name suggests, this move counters the opponent's attack and knocks them away, leaving them wide open to attack. What sets this move apart from others is that it consumes no Ki or Skill Counter stocks, and it cannot be countered using Perception. It also works on every type of attack except for ultimates.
The button combination for the Super Counter is very easy, but the timing is where the real challenge lies. It's definitely one of the more difficult moves to master in the game due to how precise the timing needs to be, but once players perfect that aspect, it feels almost like a cheat code in battle.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Spike Chunsoft
- Publisher(s)
- Namco Bandai
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Action
