Getting Started

Getting Started: Dragon Ball FighterZ

Welcome to Dragon Ball FighterZ! This guide is built for brand-new players to help you survive your first hour, avoid common pitfalls, and build a strong foundation. We focus on practical steps, not advanced combos.

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First Hour Walkthrough

1. Launch the game – After install, let the intros play or skip them. You’ll land at the main menu.
2. Go to Practice Mode first – Select "Battle" > "Practice". This is the safest place to learn controls without pressure.
3. Complete the Tutorial – From the main menu, choose "Dojo" > "Tutorial". It covers movement, attacks, Ki blasts, Super Dash, Vanish, and basic combos. Do not skip this.
4. Try a few matches vs. CPU – Set difficulty to Very Easy. Use the team you saw in the tutorial. Focus on using your three characters and switching.
5. Unlock the Story Mode basics – Select "Z Stories" and play the first chapter. It introduces cutscenes and simple fights. You’ll earn Zeni and experience.
6. Spend your first Zeni – Go to the Shop (Zeni tab) and buy one simple color variation for a character you like. Don’t waste Zeni on capsules yet.

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Character Roster (No Character Creation)

Dragon Ball FighterZ does NOT have character creation. You play as a fixed roster of iconic Dragon Ball characters. The base game includes 21 characters (e.g., Goku, Vegeta, Frieza, Cell). DLC adds more (e.g., Broly, UI Goku).

Your job is to choose 3 characters to form a team. You can mix and match freely from the start. No unlocks needed for the base roster.

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Controls on All Platforms

Below are the default controls. Important: You can customize these in Settings > Controller Settings.

Movement: Left stick / D-pad. D-pad is recommended for precise inputs.

• Special Moves: Quarter-circle forward + Light/Medium/Heavy (e.g., →↓↘ + attack).


• Super Move: Quarter-circle forward twice + Heavy (or two attack buttons).


Keyboard note: Default is awkward; consider remapping to something like: A S D W for movement, and U I O P J K L for attacks.

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User Interface Overview



Main Menu:

• Battle – Vs. Player, Vs. CPU, Ranked, Casual, Arena, Practice, Replay.


• Z Stories – Single-player story mode (3 arcs). Good for earning Zeni and learning matchups.


• Arcade – Classic arcade mode with branching paths. Earn titles.


• Dojo – Tutorials, Combo Challenges, and advanced lessons.


• Lobby – Online hub; you create an avatar and walk around. Can queue matches, buy items, and chat. (You can skip Lobby for offline play.)


• Shop – Spend Zeni or Capsules (earned free or bought with real money) for colors, stamps, titles, and more.


• Customize – Change your team’s colors, stamps, and title.


• Options – Sound, display, controls, network.


In-Battle HUD:

• Top of screen: Health bars for your 3 characters (blue = alive, gray = KO’d). Below health is the Ki gauge (max 7 bars).


• Bottom-left: Your team order. Bottom-right: Opponent’s team order.


• Center: Timer (99 seconds per round).


• Sparkling effect: When Sparking Blast is active, your character glows and health regenerates.


Important: The Ki gauge is consumed by special moves, Super Dashes, Vanish, and Sparking. Manage it carefully.

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Essential Early Objectives



1. Learn the universal combo: Light x3, Medium, Heavy (or Light x3, Ki Blast, Super Dash, Light x3, Heavy). This works for most characters.
2. Master basic defense: Hold back to block (low blocks crouching, high blocks standing). Use Vanish (L1) to escape pressure.
3. Practice switching characters: Press L1+L2 to tag out. Use assists (hold L1/L2 + direction) to extend combos or cover your approach.
4. Learn Sparking Blast: Activate it when you have at least 1 Ki bar. It boosts damage, speed, and health regen. Use it defensively after being hit or offensively to start a rush.
5. Complete the first 3 Tutorials: They teach movement, Super Dash, and Vanish. Don’t skip.
6. Play through Z Stories Chapter 1: It’s easy and rewards Zeni and experience.

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What to Do First and What to Avoid



Do:

• Spend 30 minutes in Practice mode before any online match.


• Turn on “Input Display” in Practice options to see your inputs.


• Use a simple team of three characters you like (e.g., Goku, Vegeta, Gohan).


• Play Vs. CPU on Very Easy to build muscle memory.


• Save replays of your losses to watch later (you can disable this if you want).


Avoid:

• Jumping into Ranked matches immediately – you’ll face skilled players and get frustrated.


• Mashing buttons. Learn a simple sequence (e.g., L, L, L, M, H) and stick to it.


• Wasting Zeni on expensive capsule packs (cosmetics only). Save for character colors you really want.


• Trying advanced combos (2M, 5M, etc.) before you can reliably do basic ones.


• Ignoring the tutorial – it is essential for understanding the game’s unique mechanics.

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Early Resource Priorities

Spending priority: Character colors > level up to unlock lobby avatars > cosmetics only if you care.

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Common Beginner Mistakes

1. Not blocking correctly – Hold back to block high attacks; crouch+back for low attacks. Most beginners forget to block low against sweep attacks.
2. Using Super Dash too much – Super Dash can be beaten by 2H (Down + Heavy). If you spam it, opponents will punish you hard.
3. Ignoring assists – Your two bench characters can be called in to extend combos or interrupt pressure. Start using L1+Forward assist to end a combo.
4. Failing to manage Ki – Don’t waste all 7 bars on raw supers; save 3 bars for a Super Dash? Actually, save at least 1 bar for Vanish escape.
5. Not using Sparking Blast – Many new players forget to use it. Activation gives you a huge advantage.
6. Over-trying hard combos – Stick to simple bread-and-butter combos (L, L, L, M, H, then super). Complexity comes later.
7. Giving up after losing one character – Fight smart with your remaining two. Teams are designed for comebacks.

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Day-One Checklist

• [ ] Complete Tutorial 1-3 in Dojo.


• [ ] Spend 15 minutes in Practice mode with one character: do light attacks, heavy attacks, Ki blasts, Super Dash, Vanish, and Sparking Blast.


• [ ] Play one Arcade match on the easiest path.


• [ ] Play the first two chapters of Z Stories.


• [ ] Customize your team’s colors (buy one color for your main).


• [ ] Try one online Casual match (willing to lose; it’s okay).


• [ ] Watch one replay of your match (win or lose) to see mistakes.


• [ ] Set a simple team: three characters you like. No tier lists needed.


• [ ] Adjust controller settings if needed (e.g., Switch jump button if uncomfortable).


• [ ] Most important: Have fun! You will lose many fights; it’s part of learning.

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Final tip: Dragon Ball FighterZ is fast and deep, but the fundamentals (blocking, basic combos, assists, Sparking) will carry you far. Stick with it, and you’ll be Super Saiyan in no time.