Before you head towards your first battles in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, you will need to learn about the moves that you can use. In our latest guide, get to know the battle system as we go over offensive and defensive moves in the game.
*For the following article, we have included timestamps for each section.
SUMMARY
I. Movement
II. Offensive
III. Defensive
I. Movement
In 3D arena fighting games like DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, mastering movement is very important. There are plenty of ways to move not just around the map, but also around your opponent. Let's take a look at some of the most important ones!
Step/Short Dash
Press [✖/A] to go forward or sideways, allowing you to be less static and harder to predict when facing an opponent. By pressing [✖/A], you can move quickly in the direction in which the stick is pushed at the time. If you are close to your opponent, it will perform Step whilst if you are far away, it becomes Short Dash, which is useful for dodging various attacks such as Blast Attack.
Dragon Dash
Press [R2/RT] + [✖/A], to rush at high speed towards the direction the stick is oriented. While this will consume Ki upon activation and during movement, it is a useful way to travel over large maps. This move can be followed by multiple Rush combos or Smash Attack.
Z-Burst Dash
When you press [R2/RT] + [✖/A] + [✖/A], you will be able to perform Z-Burst Dash. This is a High-Speed Movement that allows you to get behind your opponent during Dragon Dash. It consumes more Ki than a Dragon Dash, but also makes it harder for the opponent to Guard.
Quick ascend
Press [R2/RT] + [L1/LB] to rush rapidly upwards while emitting your Ki Aura. During this movement, your Ki gauge will also be consumed.
Quick descend
Press [R2/RT] + [L2/LT] to rush rapidly downwards while emitting your Ki Aura. Likewise, this move will also consume your Ki gauge.
II. Offensive
Rush Chain Actions
Rush Chain combos can be activated by pressing [☐/X] (up to 4 times maximum) + [△/Y] . The longer the combo is, the bigger the damage dealt to your opponent will be, as you will strike them with a chain of combos.
Smash attacks
Smash Attacks are a type of build-up attack that will blow your opponent away when they hit. Their power changes depending on how long you charge up the attack. When performing a Smash Attack, make sure to hit the right timing.
A Power Smash is stronger than a normal Smash Attack and will knock your opponent farther back. Hold down [☐/X] for Smash Attack and release once fully charged for a Power Smash. This move will knock your opponent back and cause massive damage. You can also charge it up not only to keep your opponent at a distance; you can also connect Power Smashes to follow-up attacks such as Dragon Homing and Vanishing Attack, so be sure to incorporate it into your battle strategy.
Lift Strike / Grand Slash
Lift Strike: Press [☐/X] ↑+ [△/Y] to send your opponent flying.
Grand Slash: Press [☐/X] ↓+ [△/Y] directing your attacks downwards. Used from the ground, this move will cause your opponent to go down.
Speed move Combos
Vanishing Assault (close and mid-range)
Press [✖/A] + [☐/X] near your opponent which will allow you to appear and attack them from behind. It can be done at close and medium distances. After performing at close range and knocking back the opponent, you will also have the chance to carry out follow-up attacks.
Step-in Rush
When pressing [✖/A] [☐/X] [☐/X] [☐/X], to perform a Rush Attack moving in from a step.
Burst Meteor
Press [△/Y] + [☐/X] after a Z-burst Dash, enable to follow up with an attack that will slam your opponent down.
Follow-ups
Dragon Dash Attack
An attack you can unleash during Dragon Dash. Press[☐/X] during a Dragon Dash, or hold down the button for an attack that knocks back the opponent. Can be followed up with a Pursuit Attack.
Dragon Homing
This allows you to chase after a blown-away enemy. Press [✖/A] + [☐/X], following up with a quick dash [✖/A] in the air. This move can lead to a Dragon Smash as a follow-up attack which can deal additional damage.
Vanishing Attack
Press [△/Y] to perform a follow-up attack after a Vanishing Assault [✖/A] + [☐/X] even without pursuing your opponent via Dragon Homing. The direction in which you will send your opponent can be oriented with directional controls.
Lightning Attack
Press [⭘/B] when a follow-up is possible to execute an attack that will send your opponent towards the ground. Use this technique after a Vanishing Assault [✖/A] + [☐/X], when you want to move a fight to the ground.
Throw
Press [R1/RB] + [☐/X] to grab your opponent and perform a Throw Attack. A lot of characters in the game have a unique grab attack.
Ground Throw
Press [R1/RB] + [☐/X], allowing you to grab an downed opponent and throw them. Use this attack to keep up the pressure on a downed opponent while also causing further damage.
III. Defensive
Guards
Press [R1/RB]; Guards can be oriented with ↑or ↓ . Certain attacks are directed from above or below, so High and Low Guards can be useful for specific responses.
Watch out for certain offensive and defensive moves, as directed Guards can actually put you at a disadvantage. The Guard can be broken by a Guard Break.
Recovery
Ground/Wall Recovery
Press ↓ before hitting a wall or the ground.
Dragon Dash recovery
Press ↑ before hitting the ground or a wall. Enables to return directly back to your opponent with a Dragon Dash.
Counters
Super Perception
Hold [⭘/B], consumes Ki or skill count (depending on the counterattack) and counters your opponent before getting hit. If you use Super Perception at the last moment against an opponent's Rush Attack, a Sonic Sway will be triggered. This allows you to quickly dodge their Rush and counter while also reducing their Ki. It can also counter some Blasts such as Kamehameha,but it will cost 2 Skill Count.
Z-Counters
Press [R1/RB] before your opponent's Vanishing Assault lands. The longer an exchange continues, the greater the damage a return counter will deal. An exchange of Z-Counters will continue until you or your opponent fails to correctly time your counter.
Revenge Counter
Press [R3/R] to perform a counterattack that can be used even when being attacked. Using this attack consumes a Skill Count, but it is an effective response to any type of attack by your opponent. Pay attention to the direction you're being hit from before trying to use a Revenge Counter.
Super Counters
A counter that is effective against almost all attacks. Press ↑+ [☐/X] to deliver a huge blow to counter your opponent. It can be used even while getting hit as well as against attacks from behind, but extremely precise timing is required.
Evasion
High-Speed Evasion
Press [R1/RB] right before some attacks, evading the attack and creating a chance of countering and sweeping your opponent in the process.
Step-in Sway
Press [✖/A] and then [R1/RB] which will allow you to perform an attack evasion.
In order to become a true warrior, master all combos, strategies and even more in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZEROthe first entry in theDRAGON BALL Z: BUDOKAI TENKAICHIseriesin more than 15 years will be released on11th October 2024.
PREORDER
Stay tuned for more updates as we eagerly await the release of DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO!