Relive classic battles or create your own showdowns in Arc System Works’ Dragon Ball FighterZ! Perform signature moves and feel like the strongest Saiyan. Graphics nearly indistinguishable from the anime, smooth controls, and fast-paced flashy combos will push you to keep fighting, win or lose. Learn how to hold your own and play like a pro without entering the series’ hyperbolic time chamber.

Beginner’s Guide to Dragon Ball FighterZ

Players eager to jump into this stylish 2D fighter should understand the basics before attempting complex combos. Players pick three characters to form a team and fight to defeat their opponent’s trio. Traditional fighting game mechanics apply, but with a few twists.

Season 3 Changes: New Assists, Character Select Screen, and Tutorials

Dragon Ball FighterZ Season 3 brought more than just new characters and balance changes. There are now proper tutorials to learn the game, two new assists for the entire roster, and a revamped character select screen.

This patch effectively revitalized the meta. More of the cast is viable, resulting in more team diversity at the highest level and more exciting matches.

Combos and Movement

Should you jump cancel, double jump, vanish, hop, super jump, or instant air dash? Dragon Ball FighterZ has a plethora of movement options to extend combos and mix up your opponent. This is one tutorial you won’t want to tech. 

How Do I Pick a Character and Team?

Get to know the Saiyans and figure out which character will take your power level over 9000! 

Playing the hero doesn’t mean you’ll always win like one. See if one of the many villains or Z-Fighters is right for you!

When Should I Use Assists?

There’s more to characters than picking your favorite. Some characters team better than others due to their assists and compensating for any weaknesses your team may have. Having trouble approaching with one character? The right assist might help you get in and pressure your opponent. Knowing when to pull the trigger and call for help is part of the learning curve.

Here's a brief look at all 76 assists prior to the release of Kefla:

When Should I Go on the Offensive?

The concept of turns, advantage state, and neutral are integral to all fighting games. Neutral is when players fight for advantageous positioning, advantage state is when you’re pressuring your from the optimal distance based on your character, and turns are when it is your chance to attack. Work hard to ensure your opponent never gains the upper hand in terms of turns and position. Check out these tactics to turn the tide and make your opponent wish they could summon Shenron for help!

How to Summon Shenron and use the Dragon Balls?

Calling the Eternal Dragon to do your bidding is a quintessential part of the Dragon Ball franchise. Using the auto combo nets one random Dragon Ball, while longer combos earn certain balls depending on the number of hits. For example, thirty hit combos reward players with the three-star ball and 20 hit combos reward players with the two-star ball. Note both players share Dragon Balls. Performing an auto combo after maxing out the Ki Gauge at level 7 and collecting all seven Dragon Balls summons Shenron. You can then refill your health, revive an ally, steadily heal for the rest of the match, or get another Sparking Blast. Some wishes do come true!

When to Use Sparking Blast?

Sparking Blast boosts damage, builds meter and assist charges faster, heals, and gives attacks unique properties. Activating it with fewer characters makes Sparking Blast more powerful. The stronger the Sparking Blast, the longer it lasts. Super Dash to close gaps, jump cancel additional moves for mixups, and figure out character-specific Sparking Blast combos.

How to Punish Sparking Blast?

Sparking Blast is a powerful mechanic, however, that doesn’t mean you should let your opponent take advantage of it! You’ll get a feel for when they’ll go for it based on their health and character count. Patience, spacing, and baiting are key. Play safe and smart to squash the Spark!

Reflect, Tagging into Supers, Instant Air Dash, and Crouching Heavy Tips

Unfortunately, the tutorial doesn’t always teach you everything. Here are a few more quick tips:

• Reflect deflects Ki blasts and other moves, destroying parts of the stage and creating new aesthetics. 

• Hold back and Press tag to perform a level 3 tag super. You can tag into a level 3 super, but not out.

• Instant air dashing might be easier if you hold forward and press super dash mid-air.

• Half circle forward and press tag to tag into a super for one meter.

• Crouching Heavy is invincible to airborne moves, making for an effective anti-air and combo starter.

How to Dragon Rush and Snapback?

Dragon Rush launches your foe into the air for combos. It can even force your opponent to switch their assist character with the one currently on the field. This strategy, called Snapbacks, can disrupt their strategy and give you the opportunity to eliminate any weakened characters. 

How to Beat Super Dash?

Super Dash can seem like a fun, fast, and simple approach, despite being easily exploitable. Spamming is ill-advised in medium and high-level play, although you might get away with it against beginners. Punishing constant Super Dashes is Dragon Ball FighterZ 101.

Should I Use Ki Charge?

Strike a pose, or maybe don’t! Most players don’t charge Ki because they can build meter effectively through combos and movement. 

If beating foes doesn’t charge Ki as fast as you’d like, perform a Ki charge to build meter.

How to Vanish Effectively?

Many epic moments in Dragon Ball feature the signature vanish sound effect followed by a few ferocious fists smacking characters into the sky before another vanish and finally a slam into the ground. Vanishing sets up combos, extends your turn, and puts players in better positions. You also get to hear that satisfying sound. 

How to Do Super Moves?

Kamehameha dangerous foes or maybe just turn them into less harmful sweets with Super Moves! Every character has a number of unique Supers requiring Ki gauges to pull off. For example, "Father Son Kamehameha" costs three gauges, while “You Know What? I Hate You!” costs one.

The diverse range of supers means there’s no shortage of spectacles! Make one your signature or simply view a character’s that you might otherwise never see.

What are Dramatic and Destructive Finishes?

Dramatic and Destructive Finishes are show-stopping endings to matches. Destructive Finish happens whenever someone wins with a powerful attack. Dramatic Finishes are far more memorable, requiring specific characters and stages. Winning with a standing Heavy attack triggers cutscenes complete with banter and extra eye-candy.

Character Intros

What is the Story?

Android 21, a human turned Android, summons some of the Universe’s fiercest foes and constrains everyone’s power. Taking place between the “Future Trunks” and “Universe Survival” arcs of Dragon Ball Super, the story is split into three arcs: Super Warrior Arc, Enemy Warrior Arc, and Android 21 Arc. Thanks to Dr. Gero’s link system, the player can possess various fighters and provide them with the strength necessary to overpower Android 21.

The story mode also features revealing character dialogue!