Dragon Ball Sparking Zero sure is tough, and to stand a chance when battling through the game’s online mode you will need to know how to defend yourself properly.
Characters in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero have a wide variety of attacks, but the game is also filled with counters and defensive maneuvers, which vary in usefulness depending on how you use them. The game’s combat system is really dynamic and there are lots of ways you can respond to different attacks, so it can be a little overwhelming at first.
Defensive Maneuvers and You: Part One
The most straightforward defensive move you have is the block (RB/R1), which lets you completely negate most enemy attacks. Blocking leaves you open to overhead attacks and low sweeps, and you can compensate for that by holding up or down on the joystick while guarding to switch stances. Timing your block properly at long range will also let you deflect regular Ki blasts.
Blocking right before being attacked can trigger a Vanish, letting you swiftly evade enemy attacks. Vanishes can also be used at will to disappear during your combo, confusing your opponent and giving you more opportunities to press the attack. Vanishes only cost Ki, so they are usually the safer defensive option as long as you have the resources.
Ki isn’t your only resource in Sparking Zero, however, as you can also spend skill points (the blue bar next to your Ki) to perform certain defensive actions. The Revenge Counter (R3/RS) allows you to stop an enemy combo on its tracks with a counter-attack, spending two skill points and performing a follow-up move depending on your distance from the enemy.
Defensive Maneuvers and You: Part Two
The Perception system (O/B) is a little more complex, and uses up multiple resources to get you out of tight situations. Holding the Perception stance will use up your Ki, automatically letting you dodge a regular attack for zero skill points.
Perception can also become Super Perception if you have the skill points and Ki to spare. Super Perception lets you deflect/nullify a blast super for two skill points and a bit of Ki, allowing you to take the beam head-on and receive no damage.
Perception and Super Perception use the same button and don’t require any specific timing as long as you are holding the stance before being hit. Contrary to popular belief, there is no gameplay difference between deflecting and nullifying a beam. Nullification happens on the ground while deflections happen while flying, and both serve the same purpose.
