BLEACH Rebirth of Souls is the latest addition to the world of fighting games, and it features over 30 characters from one of my favorite animes of all time.

While more characters will be added in the future as DLCs, there's already a healthy set of options available. This tier list will help you narrow down your choices for your potential main inside the game. Before getting started, it's always important to remember that your play style also helps to determine which characters feel better to control.

BLEACH Rebirth of Souls S-tier list

The S-tier characters in BLEACH Rebirth of Souls are the very best characters you can use in the game. These characters have strong move sets that put them ahead of the other fighters available on the roster.

• Shinju Hirako (Hollowfication): Offers two signature moves, and Shinji's kit is absolutely overpowered.
• Grimmjow Jaegarjaquez (Resurreccion: Pantera): Once you manage to learn how his gauge works, Grimmjow is an overpowered character.
• Kisuke Urahara (Shinkai Release: Sode no Shirayuki): Simple gameplay and the moves are easy to master. This is a good choice for a main if you're willing to spend a long time on one character.
• Yoruichi Shihoin (Shunko): Arguably the fastest character in the game, and she's a perfect choice for a main.
• Ichigo Kurosaki (Final Getsuga Tensho): A really great character, but mastering him will require a lot of patience. His moves aren't that easy to pull off.
• Kaname Tosen (Bankai: Suzumushi Tsuishiki, Enma Korogi): Great character for those who prefer reactive gameplay and love to counterattack.
• Ulquiorra Cifer (Resurreccion: Murcielago) (Resurreccion: Segunda Etapa): Good character that offers Reawakening, but the combos can be hard to learn.
• Kenpachi Zaraki (Eyepatch Power Seal Release): His melee moves can strike the enemy from a long distance, which makes them pretty unique.

BLEACH Rebirth of Souls A-tier list

The A-tier characters are slightly behind the S-tier names in their in-game abilities. Spending time with them will help your proficiency with their respective kits and can lead to some of them being as good as lower S-tier characters.

• Coyote Starrk (Colmillo): Good choice for those who prefer characters with range.
• Shunsui Kyoraku (Fill Power Shikai: Katen Kyokotsu): Decent balance between melee and ranged damage, as he has the ability to hit enemies with wind-based twisters.
• Genryusai Yamamoto (Full Power Sikai: Ryujin Jakka): Decent character, but mastering Hellfire mode is going to be tricky.
• Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck (Resurreciion: Gamuza): Good character but her kit doesn't feel special.
• Ichigo Kurosaki Bankai (Hollowfication) (Full Hollowfication): Not as good as his other form, but give it a shot if you love Ichigo's Bankai form.
• Gin Ichimaru (Bankai: Kamishini no Yari): Balanced kit, but not much else to talk about.
• Sui Feng (Incomplete Shunko): Really good if you like using characters with speed and agility.

BLEACH Rebirth of Souls B-tier list

The B-tier characters do alright on their own, but they're weak compared to the names in the S and A tiers.

• Tier Harribel (Resurreccion: Tiburon)
• Sosuke Aizen (Hogyoku Third Fusion) (Hogyoku Fourth Fusion)
• Nnoitra Gilga (Resurreccion: Tiburon)
• Szayelaporro Granz (Resurreccion: La Lujuriosa)
• Renji Abarai (Bankai: Hihio Zubimaru)
• Byakuya Kuchiki (Bnaki: Senbozakura Kageyoshi)
• Rukia Kuchiki (Shikai Release: Sode no Shirayuki)
• Toshiro Hitsugaya (Bankai: Daiguren Hyorinmaru)
• Ichigo Kurosaki

BLEACH Rebirth of Souls C-tier list

The C-tier characters are either too weak in terms of their kits, or I don't like playing with them.

• Shuhei Hisagi (Shikai Release: Kazeshini)
• Kaien Shiba (Full Power Sikai: Nejibana)
• Ikkaku Madarame (Bankai: Ryumon Hozukimaru)
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi (Bankai: Konjiki Ashizogi Jizo)
• Sajin Komamura (Bankai: Kokujo Tengen Myo'o)
• Izuru Kira (Shikai Release: Wabisuke)
• Rangiku Matsumoto (Shikai Release: Haineko)
• Yasutora Sado (Brazo Izquierda del Diablo)
• Uryu Ishida (Ransotengai) (Letzt Stil)

Most characters offer an Awakening option that is listed by their names. A few characters also offer Reawakening, so that's something you should keep in mind. I expect the tier list to vary slightly based on future updates. Additionally, new characters coming as part of future DLCs are expected to be pretty strong and do well on the power curve.

The post BLEACH Rebirth of Souls tier list, all fighters ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

It's safe to call BLEACH Rebirth of Souls one of the most unique arena fighters in the market, as it turns the genre's usual mechanics on its head in favor of a battle system that feels right once you get the hang of it.

Until then, however, it won't be an uncommon occurrence to find yourself scratching your head over some of its mechanics, such as Sublimation. Here's all you need to know about the Sublimation state in BLEACH Rebirth of Souls and a few tips to help you trigger it as quickly as possible.

BLEACH Rebirth of Souls Sublimation explained

Sublimation, also known as the Kikon Channel state, can be triggered on BLEACH Rebirth of Souls by fully raising an Awakened character's Fighting Spirit meter one time. Once active, Sublimation will boost their Kikon Move base DMG by one bar until the end of the battle. If your character has a secondary Awakened Kikon Move, they will get access to it instead. For example, Sublimation Bankai Ichigo gets access to his 5-Koupaku Grand Getsugatensho move and will perform it in place of his 4-Konpaku Point-Blank Getsugatensho no matter the scenario.

Going beyond that, maxing out your Fighting Spirit gauge while in Sublimation allows your character to enter Spirit Drive for a huge boost in damage and overall defense. The state also increases your move and Spiritual Power recharge speed. Ulquiorra, Ichida, Aizen, and Ichigo (Bankai) don't have access to Spirit Drive, thanks to their ability to reawaken.

How to charge your Fighting Spirit fast in Rebirth of Souls

So you can enter Kikon Channel (Sublimation) as soon as possible, knowing how to build up your Fighting Spirit is a must. In true fighting game fashion, though, and apart from the immediate sum gained by using Soul Reverse, you can do that by performing both regular and Reverse combos. Each Koupaku stack lost also offers a huge boost.

What is the reverse gauge in BLEACH Rebirth of Souls?

Now that you know all you need about Sublimation, why not also get a crash course on the game's Reverse Gauge, which allows you to perform reverse actions (R2 + ◻/RT + X) and enter the game's Soul, Burst, and Chain Reverse states once at two bars? You can check out a breakdown of each state below.

After entering any of the above, your Reverse Gauge will be slowly drained until your character returns to normal. Unlike your Spiritual and Fighting Spirit meters, your Reverse Gauge starts fully charged and fills automatically throughout the battle. Its recharge speed, however, increases as your Konpaku total goes down.

It's also important to point out that characters can have unique Reverse Actions as well, with the clearest example being Ichigo's first variant, who can only access signature versions of Soul Reverse (one in his normal state and one while in Bankai). While active, the states will enhance his moveset and change/boost the DMG of his first Awakened Kikon Move. If on Soul Reverse during or after Sublimation, Ichigo will perform the enhanced version of his first Awakened move in place of his second. The move will deal +1 Koupaku DMG.

The post BLEACH Rebirth of Souls Sublimation explained appeared first on Destructoid.

Fighting games have become such a mainstay that it's hard to imagine the gaming industry without them. Such iconic names as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat helped set the stage for the genre in the early 1990s, but with advancements in 3D development, the likes of Tekken would soon cement its place.

Created by Namco/Bandai Namco Studios, the series has been gracing our consoles and PCs for over 30 years, so I thought it was high time to take a look at just how successful Tekken has become, instilling itself as one of the biggest fighting franchises in gaming and helping to push the industry forward.

Now, I'm aware there are several spin-offs, but for the sake of ease, I'll be concentrating on the eight mainline entries, though I will throw in the two Tag Tournament games as well. Just for the hell of it. So here is every main Tekken installment as judged by their Metacritic scores, going from lowest to highest.

What is the best Tekken Game according to Metacritic?

Tekken (1994) - N/A

It should be noted that Tekken (Japanese for "iron fist") is by no means the first ever 3D fighting game. That honor goes to Virtua Fighter, which launched in 1993. However, it would only take one year for Namco to deliver its own brand of polygonal fisticuffs, introducing the first entry in a long-standing series that so far stretches over three decades.

Sadly, there is no Metacritic score for the original Tekken. While I could take reviews from other sources, they would only reflect opinions at the time of release rather than scores that continue to be tallied. It's a shame, as it makes it look like the game is somehow bad, which it certainly isn't. It's definitely aged immensely, but it easily took what Virtua Fighter was doing and upped the ante with oodles of personality and deep lore.

Tekken 6 (2007) - 79%

There's a certain point in Tekken's history that's a bit of a blur for me, particularly during this midpoint in the series. I'm very familiar with the earlier installments, but the later ones I only seem to have vague memories of playing. What I'm saying is I'm fairly certain that Tekken 6 is the most recent one I've played, but I couldn't testify to that in court.

It's also interesting to note that this game was released in 2007, which means it'll be turning twenty in a couple of years. And here I was thinking it was modern. The sixth game gave us the Rage system, which afforded characters more damage per hit. In any case, it may be low on this list, but with a Metacritic score of 79%, it's still a bloody good addition to the series.

Tekken 4 (2001) - 79%

I do remember playing Tekken 4. Until 4 am one night. While drunk on rosé wine. This installment made some changes to the series, most notably the ability to move around an arena, making better use of the 3D space.

Tekken 4 was something of a step up from just being able to go back and forth and possibly a bit to the side. The only reason I'm putting this ahead of Tekken 6 (despite the same Metcritic score) is the user reviews have this one slightly higher (7.7 versus 7.5).

Tekken 7 (2015) - 82%

If there's one thing you can say about a Tekken game, it's that you pretty much know what you're going to be getting. You could probably say that about most fighting games, but this might be why even the more recent entries in the King of Iron Fist Tournament seem to do pretty well. The franchise doesn't feel stagnant; instead, it's very much consistent in showing off what it does best.

I know for a fact I haven't played Tekken 7, so I can't comment on my own experience of it. What I can say is that Bandai Namco knows how to deliver what makes fans happy while also tweaking the series to keep things a little bit fresh. Boasting 82% on Metacritic shows that this tactic is evidently working.

Tekken 5 (2004) - 88%

Until I started researching this list, I didn't know how it was going to look. I assumed the later games would have lower scores while the more classic installments would be the most popular. But that doesn't seem to be the case, and I'm here for it.

Tekken 5 has a meaty 88% on Metacritic, which could be down to the fact that this game is credited as taking the series back to its roots. The game's visuals are a step up from its predecessor, we get some new characters, and we also get the new Crush System. On top of that, some old favorites make a return, including Anna Williams and Wang Jinrei.

Tekken 2 (1995) - 89%

While not my personal favorite, Tekken 2 still holds a special place in my heart. It was my introduction to the series, having watched a friend play it on his PlayStation. Said friend would also attempt to pull some of the moves off on me in real life, including that one Nina does where she tries to dislocate your arm from the shoulder. Weirdly, we're not in touch these days.

While Tekken had yet to truly establish itself as a formidable mainstay in the fighting genre, the first game in the series very much set things in motion. As such, the second installment only improved on the original in every way possible, which included giving us new modes for the home release, such as Survival Mode, Time Attack, and Team Battle.

Tekken 8 (2024) - 90%

Look, we are living in pretty dystopian times when it comes to the gaming industry (as well as, you know, the rest of the world). Publishers are intent on nickel-and-diming us for every penny we're worth, and sadly, Tekken 8 is no exception. The gutting of content and selling classic characters as separate DLCs are a testament to the times we're living in, and this is seemingly why the game is showing as "mixed" on Steam.

However, it must be doing something right for it to have a Metacritic score of 90%. Even the user score is showing as 7.6, which is pretty favorable considering criticisms of monetization tactics. But again, Bandai Namco stands tall as a company that can do successful fighting games, once again delivering new systems and mechanics while tweaking what came before.

Tekken 3 (1997) - 96%

I can't tell you how pleased I am to see that not only is Tekken 3 considered the greatest entry in the whole series, but it's also on the first page of Metacritic's best games of all time. It stands tall and proud alongside such iconic titles as The Orange Box, Baldur's Gate 3, and Resident Evil 4. This entry has been my favorite since I first played it all those years ago.

I said earlier how Tekken 2 improved on the original formula. Well, the third game does that even more so. I still remember my jaw dropping at some of the cut scenes; the way Eddy Gordo's limbs moved to show emotion, or the close-up detail of a cop's face as he pursued Paul on his bike. At the time, I'd never seen anything quite like Tekken 3's intro, and if the visuals weren't enough, the fact that we also got the Streets of Rage-inspired Tekken Force mode was just the cherry on top.

What about Tekken Tag Tournament's Metacritic ratings?

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (2011) - 82%

While I said I wasn't too interested in talking about the spin-offs in the series, I feel it's at least worth mentioning the Tekken Tag games. While not canonical to the other games in terms of story, they're noteworthy for offering a ton of characters to choose from, with the crux of the gameplay being the ability to swap between characters in the middle of a fight.

Tag 2, much like what came before it, afforded the opportunity to focus solely on tag team battles. To date, this entry has the most characters in its roster, with 61 fighters to choose from. As far as Tekken spin-offs go, the Tag games are definitely up there in terms of overall popularity and quality, even if Bandai Namco has not given the world any new ones for almost 15 years.

Tekken Tag Tournament (1999) - 85%

The first Tag, released in arcades in 1999 before getting a home release in 2000, was originally intended as an update to Tekken 3 before becoming a standalone release. As such, it sits right between the third and fourth mainline games in terms of release date and has been well-received over the years, with a Metacritic score of 85%. It's surprising, therefore, that a follow-up didn't emerge sooner.

Again, much like Tag 2, this one was notable for having a pretty hefty cast of characters to choose from, with a total of 39 fighters in its roster. That may pale in comparison to its 2011 sequel, but it's worth remembering that there were only three games in the whole franchise at this point. For comparison, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (a contemporary of Tekken Tag Tournament) had just 20 characters.

The post All mainline Tekken games, ranked by Metacritic score appeared first on Destructoid.

Dragon Ball FighterZ was critically and commercially successful, introducing countless players to fighting games and the community surrounding the genre. Currently, gamers are acquiring the Arc System Works title for free through what appears to be an unintentional loophole.

The loophole that they're using to acquire the game is quite simple. For active Xbox Game Pass users, the Xbox One version of Dragon Ball FighterZ is free to download through Xbox's free play days promotion. After launching the game app, players meet with a menu featuring the option to upgrade to the game's Xbox Series X|S version. Selecting to upgrade adds both versions of DBFZ to the player's owned games library.

Twitter user @Wario64, whose account focuses on advertising deals for cheap games, discovered the workaround. His post met with skepticism towards its validity in the comments, and some gamers claimed the loophole didn't work for them.

The workaround is still possible presently, and neither Microsoft nor DBFZ developer Arc System Works has yet to acknowledge the exploit. Although it's feasible that both entities are unaware of what's going on, that scenario seems unlikely.

It's currently unclear if there are plans to fix the loophole or if players who acquired the game in this manner will ultimately lose access. Definitive answers will have to wait until Dragon Ball FighterZ Free Play Days access ends March 2 at 11:59 pm PST.

The post A strange loophole lets Xbox Game Pass users get Dragon Ball FighterZ for free appeared first on Destructoid.

Discord has a server for every interest under the sun, and for more than 300 users in Tekkenscript, that interest is breaking down Tekken 8's code to gain a competitive advantage. Now, a pair of YouTubers are trying to raise awareness of the cheaters.

Tekkenscript is a haven for cheaters, where they share and promote the use of scripts for auto-blocking, combo execution, movement, and more. Members used the cheats in various Tekken 8 game modes, including ranked mode, and shared their accomplishments on the server.

YouTubers Mike Hollow and Blackheart59 brought Tekkenscript to light in a February 26 video highlighting the server's activities, even tagging long-time Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada on Twitter in an effort to put an end to Tekkenscript's cheating.

The site sells access to the script with price points ranging between $3 and $100 and also advertises the capabilities of the cheats on its YouTube page. However, since the release of Mike Hollow's video, nearly all of the server's channels and posts have been deleted except for the ones advertising scripts. It also removed the ability to send messages from all users on the server except for the owners.

Cheating has been a prevalent issue for Tekken 8. As of this writing, neither Harada, designer Michael Murray, nor Bandai Namco have responded to the situation. However, one of the Tekken development team's core philosophies is maintaining frequent communication with the players, so it may just be a matter of time. Meanwhile, more reports of servers and channels like Tekkenscript are surfacing.

Cheaters negatively impact the health and longevity of a game, so hopefully, Bandai Namco can act soon to prevent further cheating, and Tekken 8 can continue thriving.

The post YouTubers are working to shut down a Tekken 8 Discord community just for cheaters appeared first on Destructoid.

Sibling rivalries aren't usually settled with ordnance, but most siblings aren't world-renowned assassins.

Anna Williams is officially returning to the franchise in Tekken 8, and Bandai Namco heralded her re-entry with a new gameplay trailer.

Anna retains her Chaos Judgement stance and mixups out of crouch from previous games and sports new wrinkles. Along with Tekken 8's universal heat mechanics, she has new moves centered around the rocket launcher she carries into battle.

Anna uses the RPG judiciously in her moveset for its projectiles and as a melee weapon. She even has a new stance using the firearm that can be cancelled into Chaos Judgement, creating some nasty mixup opportunities and combo routes. Hitting an opponent with an RPG move leaves a purple aura on them, which could be a debuff or damage over time mechanic. However, the rocket launcher isn't just a tool for combat, and Anna holds it so dearly it has a name: Lovely Tom. This name stems from Anna's love for the slapstick comedy cartoon Tom and Jerry.

Anna continues her 30-year-long rivalry with her sister, Nina, and forms a new one with season 1 DLC character Lidia Sobieska. Anna's rivalry with Lidia is due to their mutual interest in fine dining, which might threaten the assassin's standing as the best chef in Tekken or allow her to cement it.

A mid-March Tekken Talk will go over Anna's movelist and mechanics in greater detail before she is available for early access on March 31 and fully released on April 3.

The post Anna Williams Brought a Rocket Launcher to a Fist Fight appeared first on Destructoid.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero took off in 2024, dominating the fighting game genre with its highly competitive tournaments. 2025 promises to bring even more content with the latest lineup of characters and modes.

If you own the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition of the game, you'll be able to access several additional content in the near future. Bandai Namco has already announced that there will be post-launch add-ons, and we're here to show when to expect the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLCs to be released.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC release date

The Hero of Justice Pack will be the first DLC of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, launching on Jan. 23, 2025. For those eager to dive in early, a special 72-hour access period will be available. The pack centers around the hit film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, where Gohan and Piccolo go against the notorious Red Ribbon Army.

Two other DLCs have already been confirmed but have yet to get an official release date. Although the timeframes are shrouded in mystery, we know that it will involve Dragon Ball Daima, the most recent anime of the franchise. DLC 2 will include Glorio and Vegeta (Mini) from the series, as well as a few more surprise characters.

Features from DLC 3 are still kept under wraps, but it will likely continue off from the second add-on, providing more characters from Daima. Those who own the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition of Dragon Ball Sparking Zero will gain access to this content automatically. But if you don't own either of these editions, you can buy the Season Pass separately for $34.99.

What's included in Sparking Zero Hero of Justice DLC?

To get a sneak peek at the Hero of Justice DLC, here's a look into what it has to offer:

• 11 New playable characters
• 1 Costume
• 3 Custom Battles
• 72 hours early access availability

Since the Hero of Justice Pack derives from the Super Hero film, you'll have access to a few characters from this storyline. There's also a costume that seemingly depicts a classic Red Ribbon Army outfit. You can try them all out in the three new Custom Battles. These battles typically include a What If? scenario, which presents a unique situation that diverges from the canon Dragon Ball timeline, allowing you to explore different outcomes.

All Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC characters

The Sparking Zero DLC 1 Announcement Trailer and official Steam page confirms the following characters:

• DLC 1:
  • Gamma 1
  • Gamma 2
  • Gohan (SH)
  • Gohan Super Saiyan 2 (SH)
  • Ultimate Gohan (SH)
  • Gohan Beast
  • Piccolo (SH)
  • Piccolo Potential Unleashed (Power Awakening)
  • Orange Piccolo
  • Orange Piccolo (Giant)
  • Cell Max
• DLC 2:
  • Glorio
  • Vegeta (Mini)

In DLC 1, our heroes, Gohan and Piccolo, come in various forms, expanding their collection in Sparking Zero's base version. Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo are among the best variants, showcasing their ultimate forms. However, if you prefer a more villainous role, the antagonists, Gamma 1, Gamma 2, and Cell Max, will be available to play in the upcoming DLC.

After some time has passed, you can get ready for Dragon Ball Sparking Zero's next batch of characters from Daima. The current version already includes Goku (Mini), and we'll likely get more Mini variants with the second and third add-ons.

The post When will Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLCs release? Expected dates, content, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

In a similar fashion to what happened with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Dragon Ball FighterZ might be experiencing its own modding revolution, as modder Kongmeng brought the game back to the spotlight via their DIO - Character Moveset Mod, which seemingly adds the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure villain as a playable character.

According to Kongmeng on the mod's page on GameBanana, the project took around a year to complete and makes use of manually tweaked versions of the Dio and The World models found in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle. In a comment, they also revealed that Dio's gameplay, which is unique when compared to the DBFZ cast, was inspired by versions of the character in both All-Star Battle and the fan-favorite Heritage to the Future.

The mod will also allow players to browse through Dio's ability list and take him to the field in two alternative costumes, Shadow Dio and High VoltaTge. Once the mod is installed, Dio will take Cell's spot on the character selection screen. To add to that, following the overwhelmingly positive reception of the mod, Kongmeng revealed through X that they plan on creating even more characters.

How to Download and Install the Dio Mod in Dragon Ball FighterZ

As recommended by its creator on the mod's page, the best way to download and install the DIO - Character Moveset Mod can be done by using Tekka's Unverum modding tool, as the movelist and alternative costumes will only work with it. You can download the modding tool by heading to its page on GameBanana.

Once the modding tool is ready, you will be able to get our chosen mod by selecting Dragon Ball FighterZ as your game of choice and then searching for it before downloading it. Following the download, simply head to Manage Mods and enable it to add Dio Brando to your game.

You can currently play Dragon Ball FighterZ on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. If the mod inspired you to give it a go, you can also play JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R on the same platforms.

The post Yes, you can now play as Dio in Dragon Ball FighterZ appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the most highly anticipated fighting game releases outside of the big three, 2XKO will allow players to take control of their favorite League of Legends champions in 2v2 battles where team synergy and mastery are the keys to success.

But given how League's roster is composed of more than 160+ playable characters, it's a given that the large majority of them won't be featured in the spinoff. So that you can see if any of your favorites made the cut, here are all of the champions and skins confirmed to be present in 2XKO.

All 2XKO confirmed champions and skins

The 2XKO roster is currently composed of Ahri, Yasuo, Darius, Ekko, Illaoi, Braum, and Jinx, with everyone's favorite trouble child being its latest addition. You can check out more on each of the confirmed characters below, which includes a look at all of their already confirmed skins.

Ahri

One of the first champions ot join the 2XKO roster and an absolute fan favorite, Ahri is a rush-down character who excels at applying pressure from both close and mid-range. She also has in her projectiles the right tools to keep opponents in check and open them up for highly damaging mixups on both the ground and the air.

All 2XKO Ahri skins

The only announced skin for the nine-tailed fox in 2XKO is Dynasty Ahri. Like in the original game and as you can see below, apart from her overall look, the skin also changes the color of both her Foxfire orbs and effects to bright pink. Like with each champion's default look, all skins in 2XKO also have color variants.

Yasuo

Equally beloved and hated by the game's community, Yasuo is a character who excels at neutral given his ability to deflect projectiles by performing Wind Wall and the range of his normals/specials. His biggest tool, however, lies in his Calm stance, which enables long-range attacks and can be canceled from any of his specials for extended combos and highly damaging mix-ups.

All 2XKO Yasuo skins

Bladesong Yasuo is the only Yasuo skin revealed for 2XKO. Featuring a look that led to many Varus comparisons upon its reveal, the skin was —like Dynasty Ahri— made available for the first time during the game's August 2024 Alpha Lab test. No skins apart from Dynasty Ahri and Bladesong Yasuo were revealed at the time of writing.

Darius

Featured as part of the game's roster since the world first learned about what would become 2XKO, Darius is a mid-range heavy hitter capable of keeping opponents locked in place through both range and might. That is further amplified by his ability to apply the Wound effect to targets, which boosts your duo's block (or chip) damage against them. But be careful, as the effect will end and need to be reapplied after any member of your team takes damage.

Ekko

A mix-up machine and one of the game's most technical but rewarding characters, Ekko excels through his ability to perform unthinkable reversals and cross-ups by activating his Z-Drive, which allows him to place afterimages in the field and then rewind to their position at will. As we can expect of a prodigy, he also has in his Attempt #37 Ultimate a great tool, as it can be performed as a counter to either escape tricky situations or finish a match with style.

Illaoi

Even if having in her high-damaging normals and more straightforward specials a great source of damage, Illaoi has in her ability to spam tentacles in the field her biggest differential, as they can either automatically attack opponents or perform follow-ups. That allows the Truth Bearer of Nagakabouros to excel at controlling the tide of battle, all while also being capable of performing extended combos. Just keep in mind that the tentacles can be easily destroyed by a single hit.

Braum

A heavy-hitter capable of freezing opponents on the spot, Braun is a character that mixes utility with a solid defense, the latter a fruit of his ability to shield himself and his ally by performing Stand Behind Me. He can also acquire Unbreakable by performing certain moves, which will provide armor. Unbreakable can also be spent to power up many of his specials, such as The Heart of the Freljord, as well as his assists.

Jinx

The game's newest starting roster addition, which many already knew was coming, Jinx seems to bring to the table exactly what you can expect of a zoner, given her ability to mix up her heavy hammer strikes and keep opponents away with Pow-Pow (her machine-gun) and Fishbones (her rocket launcher), all while also planting plenty of traps.

As shown in her Sneak Peak trailer, she seems to have low mobility, which is expected if we consider the amount of weight she carries. Those looking to test out Jinx will be able to do so for the first time during 2XKO's upcoming Spring 2025 playtest.

When will 2XKO be released?

2XKO is set to be released in 2025 for both PC and current-gen consoles —PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. As you wait for the game to be released, don't forget to also check out our League of Legends Swarm Tier List.

The post 2XKO roster: All confirmed champions and skins appeared first on Destructoid.

The return of one of Sega's flagship franchises is official. A new Virtua Fighter title is currently being developed.

But the announcement wasn't made with a ton of fanfare, or a red carpet parade. In fact, there isn't even a trailer for the new game yet. Instead, Sega's global head of transmedia, Justin Scarpone casually made the reveal during an interview with VGC:

So we have a suite of titles in development right now that fall into that legacy bucket, which we announced last year at The Game Awards; Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Shinobi, and we have another Virtua Fighter being developed.

It's incredibly surprising that a reveal of this magnitude was done in such a relaxed manner. Although Virtua Fighter isn't as culturally relevant as it was in the past, it's still a hefty intellectual property and was the first 3D fighter ever. Still, the fighting game community is already abuzz with rumors and speculation on what to expect from Sega.

The biggest question is whether or not the title in development is the long-awaited Virtua Fighter 6, or yet another update of an older game in the series. And this is a fair inquiry, considering for nearly 20 years the franchise received only updates to Virtua Fighter 5.

Most recently, Sega released Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, a 2021 PlayStation 4 exclusive, which leads us to the next big question concerning the new game: Will Sega release the new Virtua Fighter on more than Sony consoles? This topic wasn't addressed in Scarpone's interview, and gamers likely won't know how little information was made public for a while.

Further down the line, features like rollback netcode, crossplay, online training mode, and replay takeover will be hot topics for discourse concerning the new installment, and hopefully more details become known sooner rather than later.

Until then, fighting game enthusiasts can rest easy knowing Virtua Fighter is back.

The post Sega rep confirms new Virtua Fighter game in unusual fashion appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're still looking to improve your collection and get more resources in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, the Shenron summonings can be highly beneficial.

Shenron is one of the different summoning types available in the game. To summon him, you'll need to gather seven Dragon Balls. You can choose between five different types of wishes, but not all of them are the same. Here's my ranking of the five different summons, from least to most helpful.

All Shenron summonings ranked in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

Do note that this ranking is based on personal preferences, and the order will change based on your current collection and factors like how much Zeni you might already have.

5. I Want More Titles

Sure, you can get some exclusive titles by wishing to Shenron, and they can be really cool if you want to show them off to your friends. That said, farming Dragon Balls to spend on wishes seems a tad foolish to me. At the end of the day, the titles, exclusive or not, don't offer any in-game advantage, and spending your hard-earned resources might not be the most advisable thing to do.

4. I Want New Outfits

This entry can be swapped with I Want More Zeni if you love the alternate outfits provided by Shenron. He can grant you alternate outfits for Roshi, Krillin, Yamcha, and Goku. Unfortunately, outfits are purely cosmetic, and there are plenty of other methods to get them aside from spending your Dragon Balls.

3. I Want More Zeni

In my book, Zeni is the most helpful resource as it can be used to get Ability items and fighters alike. Shenron can grant you 300,000 Zeni, which will instantly help you get access to some of the better characters. Similarly, the Ability items can be handy to help you clear a few challenging stages. That said, you'll soon find that earning Zeni in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero isn't a difficult task.

2. I Want You to Raise My Player Level

Similar to Zeni, your level will go up as you complete more fights. But getting a wish will help you accelerate quicker and unlock more items in the shop. Leveling up goes down in importance with time, but when you're just getting started with the game, a boost to your player levels will be immensely helpful.

1. I Want to Complete an Episode Battle

If you make this wish, you'll get a Dragon Orb. This resource is incredibly helpful in unlocking the Sparking episodes. Sparking episodes are what-if-styled alternate storylines that are available for eight different characters. To unlock them, you'll often have to complete secondary objectives of specific episodes. That problem can be solved by using a Dragon Orb, and it can be beneficial to clear some of the harder second challenges.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: All Shenron summonings ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the first basics to master in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is the controls, which will help you to get better in the game.

While the control layouts vary based on your platform, the overall system is pretty precise. If you're on consoles, you can also choose between two different layouts - Classic and Standard. Both systems have some core differences, along with separate button inputs. Let's take a look at the controls for Dragon Ball Sparking Zero on all available platforms.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: Xbox controls (Standard)

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: Xbox controls (Classic)

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: PlayStation controls (Standard)

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: PlayStation controls (Classic)

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: Keyboard controls

If you're on PC, I will still recommend using a controller, as it will help you play the game better.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: Full Controls guide appeared first on Destructoid.

Breaking out of combos can be one of the most essential things to do during a fight in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, but it's easier said than done.

When you're playing against the AI at lower difficulties, it's pretty easy to break combos. Moreover, the AI at lower difficulty hardly chains combos in the first place. But that's not the case when you're playing a human opponent or crank up the difficulty of the AI. In such contests, you'll find your opponents attempting plenty of combos, which makes it crucial for you to counter the combos and escape the chain without taking too much damage.

Disclaimer: Standard layout used.

How to counter combos in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

In my experience, Ranked has plenty of players who love to Super Dash towards you. An easy and effective way to stop that is by using your Ki Blast. Just step back and hit them with your Ki Blast. This will stop their dash, and they're also open to getting hit by the Blasts. While there are better ways to counter and escape combos, this is a simple trick that's useful against those who want to spam the Super Dash move.

• Vanish: Vanishing can be an effective way to escape combos. Just press the R1/RB button the moment your opponent is going to land an attack, and you'll vanish in thin air, only to reappear and catch them off guard. This is the simplest way to vanish, but there are plenty of more advanced variants. Make sure to read our guide on how to master Vanishing techniques in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.
• Sidestep: Something as simple as Sidestepping can be equally effective at dodging combos. It does not require any Ki or complex button mashing. To get good at sidestepping, you'll have to anticipate what your opponent is doing. Knowing the direction of your attack will be critical, as you'll want to either move to the left or the right. Sidestepping isn't only an excellent dodge move, but you can also start your combos by pressing the Square button.
• Sonic Sway: Sonic Sway is my favorite form of defense, and using it effectively makes a huge difference. To perform Sonic Sway, you'll have to press the R1/RB+ Circle/B buttons. The Circle/B button has to be pressed right before your opponent lands their attack. If you need a guide, here's how to master Sonic Sway.

Out of all available methods, Super Counter is the most complicated maneuver to master. Once you're comfortable with this skill, you'll be able to break any combo move attempt of your opponent and land some mighty punches yourself. To perform a Super Counter, you'll have to press the LS (up) + Square/X.

As effective as Super Counter is, I have found it extremely difficult to time correctly (you're likely going to do better than me). If you can time the move perfectly, you'll avoid every combo/move with high damage. To get better, you can always train against the AI in Super difficulty to build up your muscle memory. That said, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero provides plenty of ways to escape a combo, even if you're not good at Super Counter.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: How to escape Combos appeared first on Destructoid.

Porunga is one of the three gods in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero who can make your wishes come true, and quite literally.

If you manage to gather seven Namekian Dragon Balls, you can summon Porunga to appear in front of you. Just like Shenron, he offers four different choices. While you're free to choose any of the four options, it's always better to opt for the best one when starting your adventures. In this article, I have ranked all four wishes from worst to best.

All Porunga wishes in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero ranked

While creating the tier list, I considered the viewpoint of a beginner. When you're just starting out in the game, extra Zeni is pretty useful, and for different reasons.

4. I want More Titles

This option might be a great choice if you're a completionist/have unlocked the entire roster. The titles you gain from Porunga are exclusive, and there is no other way to unlock them. It's a really cool showoff to your friends as well since getting Namekian Dragon Balls is challenging. Out of all the choices when it comes to titles, 'World Domination' is my favorite.

3. I Want You to Raise my Player Level

Raising your player level in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero has plenty of benefits. While you can always level up by playing the game, you can boost your growth with help from Porunga. One of the biggest benefits of leveling up is the availability of more items in the shop to buy (even including characters).

2. I Want More Zeni

Getting Zeni in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero isn't tricky, but they can be highly beneficial when you're just getting started. Compared to Shenron and Super Shenron, you get lesser Zeni from Porunga. This might make the wishes seem less valuable, but they can be pretty useful in the short run.

1. I want Ability Items

Ability Items allow you to customize your characters and make them more potent during battles. The Ability Items offered by Porunga are exclusive to the god, and more importantly, they will help you save your Zeni in the process. You can then use your Zeni to unlock more characters from the shop. You can pick between four different items, and my favorite is Broly's Ring. You can wish for this item three times, and it's not available anywhere else for purchase.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: All Porunga wishes ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

In Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, you'll come across some mighty foes from time to time, and Ultra Instinct Goku can be an absolute nightmare to deal with.

Without any doubt, the Ultra Instinct form in Goku is one of the strongest ones in the game, and it's not fun when you've to defeat that. You'll come across Ultra Instinct Goku in one of Jiren's episode battle campaigns, and completing the task can be a considerable challenge. Thankfully, you can ease your life by understanding a few tips and tricks that will make your job a lot simpler.

When do you fight Ultra Instinct Goku in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

You go up against Ultra Instinct Goku in the second last episode of Jiren's Sparking episode. Titled "The Defeated," this is the hardest fight I have come across so far. Before you can face up against Goku, you'll need to defeat Android 17, SSGSS Vegeta, and Golden Frieza.

Incidentally, you'll start your fight against Goku in his normal form. Right when you think about getting the better of him, Goku transforms into his Ultra Instinct form (yes, it's as demoralizing as it sounds).

How to defeat Ultra Instinct Goku in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

In Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, you can button-mash and defeat some opponents (at least in lower difficulty). Ultra Instinct Goku is not that opponent, and I haven't seen anyone dodge close attacks better. What makes him a bigger threat is the amount of damage done by his simple Ki blasts. Keeping these factors in mind, here's what you can do to defeat him with Jiren.

• Your Sparking meter is your key since you won't want to try to do close attacks. But Goku won't stand and let you charge up, which makes it important for you to learn Instant Transmitting. That will allow you to get behind his back and send him flying across the map. This will allow you the space to charge up your Ki meter.
• Use Jiren's Meditation technique to restore the health that you've lost. But make sure not to spam the ability, as it's pretty expensive. If you take substantial damage against Vegeta and company, restoring your health before facing Ultra Instinct Goku is a good idea. Do remember that the Meditation technique will not be available once Jiren transforms to his Full Power form.

Defeating Ultra Instinct Goku isn't easy - while these tips will work, you'll still need to use your skills to execute them. The chances of something going wrong are high, and you might find yourself in tough spots quite often. Feel free to restart if you feel that your plans/attempts to dodge damage early on have failed. That will save you time and energy, and you can avoid repeating the mistakes as well.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: How to defeat Ultra Instinct Goku appeared first on Destructoid.

Vegeta is my second favorite character in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, and his Sparking episodes allow you to explore two unique alternate storylines.

Vegeta is one of the eight characters present in the Episode battle mode, and his main saga is pretty solid canonically. But if you want to enjoy different endings, there are two Sparking episodes to explore - Parental Bond and Number One Spot. Both alternate storylines require you to play the main saga and complete some additional objectives. Let's first take a look at how you can access Parental Bond.

How to unlock Vegeta's Parental Bond episode in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

In the Wind-Up Doll quest, you'll fight against Android 18. To unlock Parental Bond, you'll have to defeat Android 18 as quickly as possible. For such quests, I keep a timer of three minutes as a boundary. Additionally, you can't fully defeat Android 18, so you will have to simply reduce her health.

Once you've defeated Android 18, you'll face Trunks in the next episode. You'll unlock an extra path towards the main path if you fail against Trunks.

How to unlock Vegeta's Number One Spot episode in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

In the Wicked Heart episodes, you'll come across Babidi. If you want to not succumb to his Brainwashing, a hidden objective has to be completed. To do so, you'll have to defeat Trunks in the Preparing for the World Tournament episode. You can't change the default difficulty setting and must not take too many hits from Trunks.

If you manage to complete the hidden objective successfully, you'll get the chance to withstand Babidi's Brainwashing and unlock the Number One Spot Sparking episode inside the game. The Number One Spot is an interesting storyline, but I like Parental Bond more. Unlike characters like Goku and Future Trunks, Vegeta doesn't have a third Sparking episode to unlock.

The post How to unlock all Vegeta Sparking episodes in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero appeared first on Destructoid.

Goku is undoubtedly one of the main characters in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, and there are plenty of storylines to enjoy.

While Goku has a dedicated episodic story, he has three different Sparking episodes. These are alternate storylines that don't follow the canon and allow you to explore what-if scenarios. Unlike the main episode, the three Sparking episodes remain locked. There are specific tasks you'll need to complete in order to unlock the alternate storylines and progress through them.

First, let's take a look at how to unlock the Side by Side episode.

How to unlock Side by Side in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

The Side by Side is a fantastic storyline where Goku stands up against Raditz and all the fellow Saiyans. To trigger this episode, you'll have to reject Piccolo's help to fight Raditz. Instead, you'll have to accept Krillin's help for the same job, which is then followed by the remaining episodes.

The fight against Vegeta is a true sight to behold for every hardcore Dragon Ball fan.

How to unlock Pushing the Limit in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

Unlocking Pushing the Limit is pretty similar to triggering Side by Side. In Side by Side, you choose to take help from Krillin to defeat Raditz. To activate Pushing the Limit, you'll have to accept Piccolo's help, but Raditz has to be defeated before Piccolo executes the Special Beam Cannon. You should ideally target to defeat Raditz within three minutes, as that's a safe number to consider.

This episode features two memorable contests between Goku and Vegeta, and the former also faces Nappa.

How to unlock The Changed Future in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

You can only unlock this Sparking episode by making decent progress in Goku's main saga, where you end up going against Cell. You'll get the choice to face off against Cell during Piccolo's fight against Android 17. You'll have to defeat Cell without a single hit from the Solar Flare.

The last Sparking episode is all about Goku's trysts against the Androids. It's not among the favorite alternate storylines for sure, but you might like it. Additionally, Goku's main saga also has several smaller branches, so make sure to try them out after finishing the main storyline for additional rewards and alternate endings.

The post How to unlock all Goku Sparking episodes in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero appeared first on Destructoid.

With over 180 characters in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, it's never easy to separate the best from the rest.

While your available roster is slightly limited at start, you'll quickly start to unlock new characters. This even includes characters like Goku (Mini), who comes with the Ultimate/Deluxe Edition of the game. Others like SSJ4 Gogeta can be unlocked by fulfilling certain gameplay conditions. That said, let's take a look at how the current fighters can be ranked across different tiers.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero tiers explained

The available rosters have all be ranked in the following tiers.

• God tier - These characters are literally gods, and you need to improve your game if you are playing badly with them
• S-tier - These characters might be slightly off the top, but they will still pack a punch over most of the names on the roster.
• A-tier - Great characters who have certain limitations.
• B-tier - Mediocre characters who have far too many limitations to be used competitively.
• C-tier - No, just no. (On a serious note, they're good filler characters in DP Battles).
• D-tier - Avoid playing these characters, unless you have nobody else to play with.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero God-tier fighters

• Beerus
• Whis
• Vegito, Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Gogeta (Super), Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Gogeta (GT), Super Saiyan 4
• Broly (Super), Super Saiyan Full Power
• Fused Zamasu, Half-Corrupted
• Jiren, Full Power
• Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct
• Broly (Z), Legendary Super Saiyan
• Goku (Super), Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct
• Goku (GT), Super Saiyan 4
• Vegeta (Super), Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Vegeta (GT), Super Saiyan 4

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero S-tier fighters

• Omega Shenron (GT)
• Goku Black, Super Saiyan Rose
• Fused Zamasu
• Hit
• Kefla, Super Saiyan 2
• Jiren
• Toppo, God of Destruction
• Anilaza
• Super Vegito
• Super Gogeta (Z)
• Gotenks, Super Saiyan 3
• Golden Frieza
• Super Buu, Gotenks Absorbed
• Super Buu, Gohan Absorbed
• Kid Buu
• Goku (Z - End), Super Saiyan 3
• Goku (Super), Super Saiyan God
• Goku (GT), Super Saiyan 3

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero A-tier fighters

• Gogeta (Super)
• Gogeta (Super), Super Saiyan
• Gotenks, Super Saiyan
• Frieza (Z), Full Power
• Perfect Cell
• Super Buu
• Broly (Z), Super Saiyan
• Broly (Super), Super Saiyan
• Cooler, Final Form
• Metal Cooler
• Fusion Android 13
• Full-Power Bojack
• Super Janemba
• Super Baby 2 (GT)
• Great Ape Baby (GT)
• Syn Shenron (GT)
• Cabba, Super Saiyan 2
• Caulifla, Super Saiyan 2
• Kale, Super Saiyan (Berserk)
• Kefla, Super Saiyan
• Toppo
• Majin Vegeta
• Vegeta (Super), Super Saiyan God
• Gohan (Teen), Super Saiyan 2
• Gohan (Adult), Super Saiyan 2
• Ultimate Gohan
• Vegito

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero B-tier fighters

• Android 17 (Super)
• Dabura
• Lord Slug (Giant Form)
• Cooler
• Hirudegarn
• Super Baby 1 (GT)
• Frost
• Cabba, Super Saiyan
• Kale, Super Saiyan
• Kefla
• Dyspo
• Goku (Z - Mid), Super Saiyan
• Goku (Z - End), Super Saiyan
• Goku (Z - End), Super Saiyan 2
• Goku (Super), Super Saiyan
• Goku (GT), Super Saiyan
• Vegeta (Z - Early), Super Saiyan
• Super Vegeta
• Vegeta (Z - End), Super Saiyan
• Vegeta (Z - End), Super Saiyan 2
• Vegeta (Super), Super Saiyan
• Gohan (Teen), Super Saiyan
• Gohan (Adult), Super Saiyan
• Gohan (Future), Super Saiyan
• Trunks (Sword), Super Saiyan
• Trunks (Melee), Super Saiyan
• Super Trunks
• Majin Buu
• Majin Buu (Evil)
• Majuub (GT)
• Future Trunks, Super Saiyan
• Gotenks
• Frieza (Z), 4th Form
• Mecha Frieza
• Frieza (Super)
• Cell, Perfect Form
• Goku (Z - Mid)
• Goku (Z - End)
• Goku (Super)
• Goku (GT)
• Great Ape Vegeta
• Vegeta (Z - Early)
• Vegeta (Z - End)
• Vegeta (Super)
• Gohan (Future)

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero C-tier fighters

• Goku Black
• Zamasu
• Cabba
• Caulifla
• Kale
• Bergamo
• Ribrianne
• Kakunsa
• Roasie
• Android 17
• Android 18
• Broly (Z)
• Broly (Super)
• Android 13
• Bojack
• Janemba
• Baby Vegeta (GT)
• Android 16
• Piccolo (Fused with Kami)
• Trunks (Melee)
• Future Trunks
• Trunks (Kid), Super Saiyan
• Goten, Super Saiyan
• Frieza (Z), 1st Form
• Frieza (Z), 2nd Form
• Frieza (Z), 3rd Form
• Cell, 1st Form
• Cell, 2nd Form
• Goku (Z - Early)
• Goku (Mini)
• Vegeta (Z - Scouter)
• Gohan (Teen)
• Gohan (Adult)
• Great Saiyaman
• Piccolo
• Nail
• Tien
• Trunks (Sword)
• Trunks (Kid)
• Goten
• Uub (GT)
• Bardock
• Captain Ginyu
• King Cold
• Android 19
• Dr. Gero
• Super Garlic Jr.
• Dr. Wheelo
• Turles
• Lord Slug
• Tapion

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero D-tier fighters

• Goku (Teen)
• Gohan (Kid)
• Krillin
• Yamcha
• Cell Jr.
• Pan (GT)
• Raditz
• Nappa
• Zarbon
• Super Zarbon
• Dodoria
• Cui
• Recoome
• Burter
• Jeice
• Babidi
• Videl
• Master Roshi
• Master Roshi, Max Power
• Chiaotzu
• Yajirobe
• Saibaman
• Guldo
• Frieza Force Soldier
• Spopovich
• Mr. Satan

If you want a simpler system to differentiate between the fighters, you can simply judge by their DP requirements in Ranked battles in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Tier list: All characters ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero's Ranked mode is the ultimate test of your arena fighting skills, and it's also a great way to get better at the game.

There are plenty of different modes to enjoy in the latest Dragon Ball titles, including offline showdowns and episodic sagas. While some are targeted towards casual fun, others will allow you to relive iconic moments from the Dragon Ball saga. Ranked, in comparison, is quite different from the other modes, and there's a strong emphasis on team building.

All Ranked modes in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

The Ranked mode can be broken down into two types.

• Single Battle: It's a one-on-one battle where you and your opponent select a character and then go up against each other. This isn't my favorite option in Ranked, but it's a good choice if you want some quick action or have only a few minutes to spare.
• DP Battle: DP Battle allows you to construct a team with multiple fighters, and you can have at most five characters. But you can't select just about anyone; you'll need to make your squad out of 15 DP.

That's all when it comes to the Ranked mode in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. While Single Battles don't rely much on strategy, the same can't be said about DP Battles.

Best tips for DP Battles in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Ranked mode

To shine in DP Battles, the main idea is to get a balance between the number of fighters you're using and how effective they're in fights. The first thing to avoid is characters in their strongest forms. For example, a fighter like Goku in his SSGSS form will cost 8 DP, while his normal form will only cost 5 DP. You can easily power him up in a fight to unlock his SSGSS form without locking the extra DP.

I find using three great fighters a sweet spot, but you can also opt for 4 of them. Out of the 4, any two will share the bulk of winning the fight, while the remaining two will serve a supporting role. You could use five fighters, but you'll end up without mid-tier fighters, and frankly, you shouldn't require five of them to win a battle.

Note that not all characters can transform, so check out our guide on how to transform during a battle.

The post How does ranked mode work in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero? appeared first on Destructoid.

SSJ4 Gogeta is one of the most exciting characters to use in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, but he's one of those who remain locked at first.

While the latest Dragon Ball fighter has over 180 characters to choose from, many of them are locked. Thankfully, you can unlock almost all of them, including Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta, by just playing the game. However, the unlocking method often varies from character to character; hence, knowing the steps will help you save time and energy.

How to unlock SSJ4 Gogeta in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

Unlike characters like Goku (Mini), you don't need to own the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition to get SSJ4 Gogeta. In fact, once you go to Zeno's Stamp Book, you should be able to see exactly what needs to be done to unlock Gogeta's Super Saiyan 4 version.

• Select and play ten battles with Gogeta.
• This can be done in offline or online battles, and contests with the AI also count.
• Once your ten battles with Gogeta are complete, Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta will be unlocked automatically and added to your roster.

A second method is also available, which allows you to unlock SSJ4 Gogeta from the shop. For this method, you must have a player level of 10 or more. Once you've reached player level 10, the character should be available for purchase from the shop.

This isn't my preferred method, as you'll need to spend 120,000 Zeni. Spending Zeni on a character that can be unlocked for free makes no sense. While getting Zeni in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero isn't difficult at all, it's better to save them for items/characters that can't be unlocked by another method.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: How to unlock SSJ4 Gogeta appeared first on Destructoid.

Ability items in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero can often make a massive difference, especially so if you're participating in a challenging battle.

There are several ways to obtain these Ability items inside the game. While some are exclusive to summonings from Shenron and Porunga, others can be found inside the shop. You can simply spend your Zeni to buy them and use them for any character you like. With 50 different choices, it can be hard to select the best ones to use.

Best Ability items in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

I have considered only the effect of the Ability items when judging the best ones. Some of these items might be pretty hard to unlock or purchase, but their in-game effects in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero will make it worth the extra effort.

Getting some of these items can be difficult, but thankfully, you can always have a cheaper substitute for many of them. For example, certain items have a cheaper alternative (although their effects aren't as good as their upgraded versions).

All things considered, I have yet to encounter a stage where not having an Ability item has prevented me from clearing it. That said, it's always beneficial to store a few of the ones mentioned on this list for the tougher quests.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: Best Ability Items listed appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're tired of Babidi's Brainwashing in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero's Episode battle mode, there's a way to avoid the conclusion and unlock a fresh storyline in the process.

The Episode battle mode re-enacts some of the iconic moments from the Dragon Ball series inside the game. However, there are plenty of alternate storylines as well, popularly known as Sparking episodes. You'll have to complete certain tasks before you can unlock them, and this is also true for Vegeta's Number One Spot Sparking episode. To unlock that, you'll need to learn how to not succumb to Brainwashing in one of the episodes on the main storyline.

How to shake off Brainwashing in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

Unless you complete certain prerequisites, you won't be given the chance to shake off Babidi's Brainwashing. To get the option, you'll need to complete the Preparing for the World Tournament episode in Vegeta's Wicked Heart saga in the default difficulty setting.

However, that's only part of it - to complete the hidden objective, you'll need to avoid taking too many hits (or absorb too much damage. The information isn't available on the main screen, unlike other episodes, which can make it quite confusing for players.

Now, you can follow your own strategy to defeat Trunks, but focus more on charging your Ki whenever you get the chance. You'll have to rely heavily on your Ki blasts and then execute the Cosmic Circle as the episode comes to an end. Do remember that all you've to do is reduce Trunks' health to complete the episode, and get the option to shake off Brainwashing.

If you choose to do so, it will also trigger the Number One Spot Sparking episode. If you want to learn how to complete the alternate storyline, make sure to check out our guide to explore all of Vegeta's Sparking episodes in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: How to not succumb to Brainwashing appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the best ways to make your Dragon Ball Sparking Zero experience far more rewarding is by making your summoning wishes to Porunga.

To summon Porunga, you'll need the Namekian Dragon Balls, which have to be earned by grinding the game. But that's not all, since there are a few more conditions as well. Let's take a look at how you can unlock this character and the easiest way to complete the process. Additionally, we will also explore the different wishes you can make after summoning the

How to unlock Porunga in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

To get the wishes from Porunga, you'll first need to summon. To do that, you're going to need seven Namekian Dragon Balls in your inventory. These dragon balls are different from the other types, which are used to summon Shenron and Super Shenron. Once you've seven, you'll be able to call upon Porunga, who will grant you wishes to unlock.

The best way to get Namekian Dragon Balls is to defeat the AI in combat. While you can do this quite easily, here's our guide to make the entire process a lot more efficient. If you follow the steps mentioned in our guide, you'll be able to find Shenron Dragon Balls as well and raise the proficiency level of your characters.

Do note that, ultimately, getting Namekian Dragon Balls is a matter of luck. But the right process will help you farm a lot of them in a quick time.

What do you get from Porunga in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero?

In this case, the wishes granted to you will be slightly different from those of Shenron. Shenron offers a wider variety of stuff, but Porunga allows you to have more items. Here are the different things you can get from your wishes.

• 120,000 Zeni per wish, and 360,000 Zeni if all three wishes are used on Zeni.
• Exclusive titles
• Raise player levels
• Ability items, some of which are incredibly useful in boss battles.

Personally, I think going for Ability items is the best choice unless you're desperate for Zeni. While the latter will help you unlock more fighters, it's really easy to get the resource. Moreover, the Ability items you get from Porunga (and Shenron) are exclusive to them.

The post How to summon Porunga in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero appeared first on Destructoid.

Namekian Dragon Balls are freely obtainable in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, but getting them at a consistent level can be slightly difficult.

Dragon Balls, much like the original lore, are required to make summons (slightly different from what we were used to seeing in the anime and reading in the manga). Thankfully, there are no microtransactions and stuff, which means that the only way to get these magical items is by playing the game. Unfortunately, you can end up spending a huge number of hours if you don't know what you're doing in the first place while trying to find Namekian Dragon Balls.

How to farm Namekian Dragon Balls in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero?

The Namekian Dragon Balls are used to summon Porunga, and like other types, you can keep a maximum of seven in your inventory. But first, you'll have to earn them, and to do so, you'll have to defeat the AI in solo battle. I have absolutely no idea why it only works against the AI in offline battles, but that's the case.

Now, the simple but inefficient way to complete the process is by playing against the AI. But there's no fixed number when it comes to completing fights, and it's best to avoid this process. Instead, you can use the World Tournament to set up your fights and make the process faster. But before that, here's the simple process (but it will take longer).

• Select your strongest fighter.
• Select someone who is extremely weak as your opponent, and make the difficulty low.
• Finish the fight as quickly as possible, and then restart.

By all means, farming in the World Tournament is a lot better, and for multiple reasons.

• Select Offline Battle, and choose World Tournament.
• Turn on the Out-of-Bounds ruleset.
• Select a fighter with an excellent Ki Blast (Gogeta is a good example) or who has a Ki Blast requirement of two bars.
• Equip the Rising Fighting Spirit Battle Ability item to your character.
• As the match begins, press the R2+Square button and then skip the dialog.
• This will immediately hit your opponent with the blast and send him out of bounds.

Once the process is complete, repeat it till you have the Namekian Dragon Balls in your inventory. Do note that the drop rate of Namekian Dragon Balls is less than that of Shenron Dragon Balls. But if done correctly, these steps will take less than a minute to complete. It's a way more efficient process than just randomly battling the AI in the hope of finding Dragon Balls in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.

From what I found on the internet, the AI difficulty doesn't matter in terms of the drop rate of these precious items. However, I am yet to ascertain that in my play sessions, so it's something you should keep in mind if your luck isn't exactly rewarding.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: How to get Namekian Dragon Balls appeared first on Destructoid.

If there's one currency in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero that runs out pretty fast, it is Dragon Balls.

When you're playing the game for the first time and completing the Stamp Book, you'll get plenty of this resource. Once that part is complete, finding both the Shenron and Porunga Dragon Balls can become very difficult. Thankfully, there's a pretty handy way to get these mythical balls quickly, which will also help you to raise the proficiency level of your characters.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Dragon Balls farming method explained

Like every other video game, farming here refers to a systematic and sustainable way of getting a resource (Dragon Balls, in this case). This method doesn't exploit any cheat/bug, and you can keep getting plenty of balls by simply playing.

Before we begin with the process, there are two prerequisites you need to fulfill.

• Pick any character with a powerful Ki blast that can be spammed.
• Use the Rising Fighting Spirit Battle Ability item (the best way to get this item is by purchasing with Zeni from the shop).

If you're short of funds, just use a character whose Ki Blast requires two Ki bars.

• Go to the Battle menu.
• Set up an offline match against CPU, and use the World Tournament stage.
• Turn on the Out of Bounds Rules option.
• Set the CPU difficulty to Super (lower this if required, but it will affect the drop rate of the Dragon Balls).
• Equip the Ability item from the Customize menu, and put the selected character in the first slot.
• Fill the remaining slots with low-proficiency characters (this will help you complete two tasks at once).

Press the R2 and Square buttons to execute a Ki blast, and press the start/options button. This will skip the dialog, and your character will perform the Ki blast first thing in the battle. This will cause your AI opponent to fly outside the ring, and you get to score an out-of-bounds win. If you fail to do this, simply restart (rather than wasting your time to get a legitimate out-of-bounds win).

In my experience, you get a Shenron Dragon Ball after 7 fights on average. Porunga Dragon Balls can take a lot more attempts (it took me 27 attempts to get the first one). That said, it takes about 40 seconds to complete one of these fights, so you can easily get at least a few Dragon Balls in an hour or two.

Make sure you're not maxing out the total number of balls you can hold at a given time (seven) in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.

The post How to farm dragon balls in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero? appeared first on Destructoid.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero isn't even a week old, and there are already accusations of cheaters spoiling the experience of some users by abusing the Ki refill system.

In all fairness, it's not necessary to play online to enjoy Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. The offline side has plenty of amazing content in it to keep you engaged for tens of hours at least. But playing online against other players is a great way to test your skills, as long as everyone plays fair. Unfortunately, a clip has surfaced that clearly shows that at least a small part of the community could be cheating (unintentionally, perhaps) to win unfairly.

Does Dragon Ball Sparking Zero have cheaters?

Things have been going pretty smoothly for Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, which has received plenty of positive reactions from fans all over the world. Unfortunately, at least a small part of the community might be misusing a mod to behave unfairly in online contests.

Based on the post made by Reddit user JokingBR2The-Sequel, a minute-long clip showcases a worrying incident. While the OP was using Gogeta, the opponent was using Kefla. Unfortunately for the OP, any attempts to raise Gogeta's Ki bars were interrupted by Kefla consistently spamming her super, Gigantic Ray.

As visible on the clip itself, Kefla's Ki bar never reduced irrespective of how many times Gigantic Ray was spammed. That shouldn't have been the case in the first place. It's pretty clear that the Kefla user was using cheats of some kind, and the possible reason could have been a mod on Nexusmods.

Several users on the Reddit post mentioned how a mod used to reduce the costs of Ultimate Blast and Z Burst Dash to 0 somehow managed to work online. The last time I checked using the link, the mod had been deleted (thankfully). For the record, the mod shouldn't have worked online, but it did, which also showcases that Dragon Ball Sparking Zero might not have any anti-cheat software on it.

With the mod now removed, one can only hope that the game's online experience will be free of any form of unfair gameplay. Be it Ranked or casual, online battles should test player skills and their ability to control the characters they choose.

Can you instantly refill your Ki bar in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero?

Recharging or refilling your Ki bar is pretty easy - just press the R2 button. But yes, you can't just keep it pressed at all times, as recharging will leave you vulnerable to attacks. Similarly, performing your attacking moves like Ki Blast will also empty the bar (otherwise, people will just abuse the system from a distance and never get into melee combat).

If you do notice a user's Ki bar recharging automatically at any point, this could be another mod mentioned by a Reddit user in the comments of the above Reddit post.

Hopefully, these reports in the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero community will not reoccur, and players worldwide will be able to enjoy the gameplay without any form of undue influence.

The post Can you automatically recharge Ki in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero? Exploring “Cheater” accusations in Ranked mode appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're a fan of Future Trunks in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, there are plenty of different paths to explore.

Future Trunks is one of the eight characters available in Episode battle mode, but that needs to be unlocked first. Once you've completed Chapter 7 in Goku's saga, you'll get to play through all the branching paths in Future Trunks. There are three alternate storylines to explore in the form of this Sparking episode.

Future Trunks has the following alternate storylines to enjoy.

• Shining Hope
• Embarking Toward Tomorrow
• Inherited Pride

All Shining Hope episodes in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

To access Shining Hope, you'll need to complete the Twisted World Episode, where you go up against Goku Black and Zamasu. You'll need to defeat your opponents as quickly as possible; as a target for such quests, I always try to complete them within three minutes.

All Embarking Toward Tomorrow episodes in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

To trigger Embarking Toward Tomorrow, choose "Go with Gohan" in Father or Teamwork (we will come back to this in the next Sparking episode as well).

All Inherited Pride episodes in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

When you are in Trunk's Choice episode in the main storyline, choose to stay in the present. This will let you access the Inherited Pride storyline, and instantly pit you against Gohan, Piccolo, and Vegeta. All you need to do is reduce their health by half to proceed.

Completing the three Sparking episodes will help you unravel new storylines with fresh endings. You'll also earn Zeni and player EXP, both of which are useful as you continue your in-game grind.

The post Dragon Ball Sparking Zero: All Future Trunks Branching Paths in Episode battle mode appeared first on Destructoid.

Ability items allow you to tweak your characters in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero and help you make them even more powerful.

These capsules can be picked up while playing the game, and when activated, they will provide a few massive buffs to your chosen characters. When used properly, these capsules can help you clear a tough piece of content without breaking too much of a sweat. Let's take a look at all the ability item capsules you can find in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.

All Ability Item capsules in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

When selecting an Ability Item capsule to use in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, you'll want to pay attention to what they do exactly. Using the wrong capsule will simply lead to its waste.

How to get Ability Item capsules in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero?

You can get Ability Item capsules for free in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero by completing missions. However, the drops are purely random, so you can't rely on this process. Instead, it's better to buy them from the in-game shop using Zeni. This is the best way to get the capsules. Finally, Shenron summoning also has certain capsules that are exclusive to it.

The post All Ability Items and their effects in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're not satisfied with the massive cast of characters in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, Goku (Mini) is one specific form that could be on your bucket list.

It's pretty clear that Dragon Ball DAIMA will have a fair share of influence on at least a few of the characters inside the game. While it's expected that the upcoming characters in future DLCs could have a fair few from those who are present in the new show, you can already play with Goku (Mini) in the game. Unlike most of the unlockable characters in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, the smaller form of Goku's accessibility will be an issue for some.

How to play with Goku (Mini) in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero?

In case you still need to purchase the game, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is available in three different editions - Standard, Digital Deluxe, and Ultimate. As of writing, Goku (Mini) is locked as part of the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions.

Goku (Mini) is also available if you pre-ordered the physical copy from certain retailers. But that's no longer possible since Dragon Ball Sparking Zero was released worldwide on October 11. If you have pre-ordered a physical copy, a code will be sent to you via email. If you purchase the digital version (Deluxe or Ultimate), Goku (Mini) will be available immediately inside the game.

While he's not a must-have character, given the already massive roster, Goku (Mini) is pretty different from his other forms. The Mini form has two main moves - Sleep and Warm-up Exercise. Sleep lets him recover his lost HP, while the latter enables him to buff up three different stat points to provide a temporary boost.

It's unclear if Bandai Namco will allow Standard Edition owners to unlock the character inside the game. So far, the only way to play with him is by buying the two more expensive editions of the game.

While the smaller form of Goku might not be unlockable for everyone, there are plenty of things you can access by just playing the game. This includes new characters via Shenron summonings, and here's our guide about it.

The post How to unlock Goku (Mini) in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're playing Dragon Ball Sparking Zero on PC, there is a cool way to play local co-op with your buddy while splitting the display into two parts.

No, there's no official way you can get the view for two players on one screen simultaneously. On PC, however, a mod is already available to remove this limitation without having any noticeable effect on the performance. Let's take a look at how you can enable this amazing mod across eligible maps, which will let you prove your arena fighter skills against your friend.

How to enable splitscreen in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

To enable the split-screen, you'll need to download the "Let's Fight Somewhere Else!" mod from Nexusmods. The credit belongs to user Sora101Ven, who was kind enough to create the mod and also mention the detailed steps you'll need to use it.

Before you can use the Let's Fight Somewhere Else mod, you'll need to install the UE4SS and UETOC. The former allows functions overriding in Unreal Engine, while the latter allows mods to activate on games built in the newer Unreal Engine variants.

• Click on this link to download UE4SS.
• Click on this link to download the UETOC Signature Bypass.
• Go to Steam and open the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero settings.
• Select Manage and then choose Browse Local Files. A new window will pop up - keep it open for the entire modding process.

First, let's complete the steps to install UE4SS and UETOC.

• Open the SparkingZERO folder.
• Select Binaries, and then select Win64.
• Move all the extracted files from the UETOC and UE4SS download folders inside the Win64 subfolder.
• Open UE4SS-Settings.ini, and change the following setting: bUseUObjectArrayCache = true --> false

Now, we can install the mod. Assuming you've downloaded it already, go back to the SparkingZero subfolder.

• Select Content, and then choose Paks.
• Open the mod's ZIP folder, and move the LogicMods folder under Paks.

If installed successfully, you'll be able to see the UI directly inside Dragon Ball Sparking Zero by simply pressing the M button. If you choose to utilize the mod, make sure to check for the latest updates, as its capabilities have already increased from its original state.

The post How to play splitscreen in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero (with mods) appeared first on Destructoid.