Is Your Spark Just A Dud In Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero? (2025)

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero resurrects the fan-favorite anime fighter after an over-decade-long hiatus. And we can confirm it has all of the hallmarks you remember. There are over 180 characters, extensive story campaigns, and, last but not least, a combat system that will make you kamehameha your controller toward the TV screen. We don't mean that negatively - just get ready for a challenge.

So, if Sparking Zero's difficulty spikes brought you here, we're happy to provide solutions. In several ways, new players can make the most of their experience and overcome Super-Saiyan-level obstacles. We'll tell you how to farm Zeni, unlock rare items, and fight like a master with these beginner tips!

Beginner Battle Training Is A Must-Play To Understand The Game

If you feel like flying by the seat of your nimbus, Sparking Zero's tutorial stage will give you a suitable starting point. However, in our experience, we felt the tutorial wrapped up too fast to absorb all of Sparking Zero's controls and maneuvers. So, our first stop after the tutorial was to hop into Super Training.

Super Training includes a mode called Battle Training that we love because it breaks down Sparking Zero's mechanics into bite-size hands-on lessons. We recommend playing through the Beginner section of Battle Training lessons to review everything you learned in the tutorial in more detail.

Another boon of Battle Training is that the lessons are repeatable. Therefore, you can re-do lessons until you feel confident you can perform basic techniques from memory. And believe us when we say you'll need hyperreactive muscle memory to manage against Sparking Zero's fast and formidable opponents.

When You Hit A Wall In A Character Episode, Focus On A New Character

Did we mention Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is challenging? (Oh, right. We did. But we'll repeat it!) Try completing Chapter 1 of Goku's Episode Battle without using a continue. Sure, you could lower the difficulty if you wish. However, if you're stubborn and prideful like us, you likely won't want to.

Luckily, you'll unlock several new character episodes within Goku's first chapter. So, if you struggle to defeat a boss in one character's arc, you can begin pursuing another character's arc.

Approaching Episode Battle this way will help you raise your Player Level, which gives you access to more potent ability items. Then, you can revisit the battles that tested your might with a more decisive advantage.

The Ki Gauge Is The Key To Victory

Ki is arguably the most valuable resource in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. You'll use the Ki Gauge to access several techniques and maneuvers, including Ki Blasts, dashes, Perception counters, Super Attacks, and Sparking mode. These abilities can quickly decide a match.

Since Ki unlocks much of your fighter's potential, charging Ki is a priority. Ki charging is similar to meter-charging mechanics in other fighting games, including JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R. You can charge Ki anytime, but doing so will render you defenseless.

It would be best if you found ways to safely charge Ki to win matches in Sparking Zero. Conversely, it's critical to interrupt opponents when you see them charging their Ki. Lastly, if your opponent's Ki is high, avoid them until they spend it or pressure them into spending it on defensive maneuvers.

Keep Enemies On The Defensive With Rush Chains

Sparking Zero has two basic attacks: Ki Blasts and Rush Attacks.

• Ki Blasts are long-range beam attacks that consume your Ki Gauge.
• Rush Attacks are close-range punches and kicks that can link into Rush Chain combos.

While Ki Blasts are safer due to their range, Rush Attacks cause more damage. More importantly, successful Rush Chains will keep your opponent on the defensive, preventing them from charging their Ki.

We recommend studying your character's Rush Chains in Training Mode. You can review them by examining the "Explanation of Controls" via the Pause menu. Each Rush Chain has unique finishers that push your foe in different directions. Therefore, mixing up these chains will make your attacks more challenging to read, rendering your enemy's defense ineffective.

Equip Ability Items To Heighten Your Skills

Since Sparking Zero is so challenging, you'll need a little boost to progress through the game. (Okay, maybe more than a little boost.) Fortunately, you can equip your character with performance-enhancing Ability Items.

Ability Items grant buffs to your character, including but not limited to:

• Maximum Health Boosts
• Increased Attack Power
• Auto-Recovering Health/Ki
• Auto-Dodging
• Reduced Ki Usage

And there's much more where that came from!

How To Get Ability Items

You can purchase Ability Items with Zeni in the Shop. New items will become available in the Shop as your player level increases. Therefore, it's in your best interest to visit the Shop frequently. You'll know new inventory is available whenever you see a red exclamation point icon on the Shop And Customize page in the Main Menu.

How To Equip Ability Items

You can equip Ability Items via the Customize menu. Follow the steps below:

1. Open the Shop/Customize menu and select "Customize."
2. Select the character you want to equip items to.
3. Choose an empty Ability Item slot. Then, select the item you want to equip to said slot.
   1. You can unlock more Ability Item slots by raising your Player Level.
   2. You can equip the same item to multiple characters simultaneously.
4. You can remove an Ability Item from a slot by selecting it a second time.
5. The Ability Items you equip will automatically take effect after you exit the Customize menu.

Target Challenges And Missions To Farm Zeni

Money Zeni makes the world go round in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. One visit to the Shop will show you all the Ability Items, Characters, Costumes, BGM, and other goodies you can unlock with Zeni. But you have to make Zeni to spend Zeni. So, what's the fastest way to do so?

You can quickly farm Zeni by satisfying challenge and mission conditions. There are two lists of tasks you can pursue:

• Zen-Oh's Orders: These challenges reward you for surpassing game milestones.
• Whis's Stamp Book: These missions reward you for satisfying special conditions, which you can view by revealing the details of Whis's wish.

Search both lists for the easiest challenges and missions, and complete those first. Your Zeni reserves will increase exponentially!

Dragon Ball Wishes Can Help You Overcome Tough Obstacles

According to Dragon Ball lore, collecting seven Dragon Balls summons powerful beings that can grant any wish your heart desires, including resurrecting someone from the dead. So, it makes sense that Dragon Ball wishes can also accomplish great things in Sparking Zero.

When you encounter a tough boss battle, hit a skill wall, or wish to unlock an OP character, consider redeeming a Dragon Ball wish via the "Come Forth..." menu. There are three types of Dragon Ball wishes, each with different requirements and rewards.

Use The Stage Environment To Your Advantage

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero features various notable locations from the manga and anime, including West City, Planet Namek, and the vast open fields associated with some of Dragon Ball's most pivotal battles.

Each stage has unique features. And since Sparking Zero is a 3D fighter, environmental factors significantly impact gameplay. Always consider a stage's layout in your gameplay strategy. Where are good hiding places to charge your Ki? Are there large structures nearby that you can knock your enemies into? These considerations can make or break a match.

Don't forget World Tournament rules, in which matches are winnable by knocking opponents out of bounds. You must develop strategies for pushing opponents out of the World Tournament arena. Furthermore, we recommend you practice recovery and evasion maneuvers to prevent you from getting pushed out.