Summary
- Rising Fighting Spirit grants full Ki at the start, offering a major advantage in battles.
- Divine Blow boosts Ultimate Attack power, allowing these attacks to deliver devastating damage.
- God Ki reduces Ki needed for blasts, aiding in Ki spamming and strategic combat.
Because of the legendary status of the Budokai Tenkaichi series, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero had incredibly high expectations to meet. Fortunately, it has surpassed them, with many already calling it one of the best fighting games ever made. While fans anticipated stellar combat, visuals, and gameplay, one thing that caught everyone off-guard was the difficulty of the game's AI. From the very start of the game where players battle Great Ape Vegeta, it becomes clear that the AI shouldn't be underestimated.
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For players looking to get the upper hand in Custom Battles, offline tournaments, or even online matches, Sparking! Zero introduces Ability Items. These capsules offer a variety of powerful buffs, but with limited item slots per character and a vast selection to choose from, picking the best ones can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are a few standout Ability Items that are undeniably the best choices.
7 Rising Fighting Spirit
Effect: Ki Gauge Starts Out Full At The Beginning Of Battle
Getting a strong start in battles is crucial in Sparking! Zero. There's nothing more frustrating than being caught in a combo right from the get-go and losing a ton of HP before even getting a chance to fight back.
That's where the Rising Fighting Spirit Ability Item shines. When equipped, it gives the player full Ki at the start of the match. Now, whether that Ki is used to perform Z Burst Dashes, spam Ki blasts, or launch an immediate special attack is up to the player, but simply having a full Ki gauge at the start of the fight undeniably provides a huge headstart.
While most Ability Items can be unlocked by simply playing the game's episodes, some can only be obtained by summoning Shenron.
6 Blast Attack Boost 3
Effect: Greatly Increases Blast And Ultimate Blast Attack Power
Few things are as satisfying in Sparking! Zero as landing an Ultimate Attack. Not only do players get to enjoy awesome animations ripped straight from the anime, but these attacks also deal a devastating amount of damage. A well-timed Ultimate Attack can instantly shift the momentum of battle.
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Given how much damage these attacks already do, stacking the Blast Attack Boost 3 Ability Item on top of that almost feels like cheating. When used on a powerful character like Ultra Instinct Goku or SSJ4 Gogeta, their Ultimate Blast Attacks become unstoppable, allowing them to almost one-shot practically any low DP fighter. It's an absolute game-changer, especially in online matches.
5 God Ki
Effect: Cuts Ki Needed For Blasts By Half, Recovers Ki After An Unsuccessful Blast
The "Ki Blast Spam" move has become a bit of a meme among the Dragon Ball fanbase because, whenever it's used in the anime, it's almost always entirely ineffective compared to some of the other moves. However, in Sparking Zero, spamming Ki blasts is actually a viable strategy with several practical uses. It prevents opponents from charging their Ki, keeps them at a safe distance to avoid rush attacks, and can even be used to initiate combos.
However, one downside is that it can drain a lot of Ki quickly if the opponent is adept at blocking or dodging. Fortunately, with the God Ki Ability Item equipped, this problem is solved entirely, allowing players to spam Ki blasts without ever having to worry about managing their Ki.
4 Dende's Healing Ability
Effect: Health Gradually Recovers During The Battle After Some Time Passes
To be truly great at this game, players must avoid taking unnecessary damage as much as possible. Most of the time, all it takes is one perfectly timed Ultimate Attack to end the battle. This is why the Dende's Healing Ability Ability Item is so important, as it gives the player a passive regeneration ability that slowly recovers their health during a fight.
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While the amount of regeneration isn't game-breaking, it provides a steady trickle of recovery that can make all the difference, especially in longer battles. It also serves as a fun nod to Dende, one of the most underrated but important Namekians in the series.
3 The Secret To Dragon Dashes
Effect: Reduces Ki Needed For Dragon Dashes
Movement is king in Sparking! Zero, and at the heart of it is the Dragon Dash. This move allows players to zip across the battlefield, either closing the distance with their opponent or retreating to safety. It's the backbone of any player's movement strategy.
However, the main drawback of this move is its heavy Ki consumption, often leaving players with little energy for special attacks. Therefore, an Ability Item like The Secret To Dragon Dash can be extremely helpful, as it reduces the Ki used by Dragon Dashes. This lets players stay agile without having to constantly charge up their Ki throughout the battle.
2 God Of Destruction Training
Effect: Greatly Increases Max Health
When playing against seasoned players, or even against the game's surprisingly challenging AI, all it takes is one Sparking! Combo for the player's health to be almost completely depleted. Since most characters don't possess a healing ability in this game, having extra HP at the start of the match can be a literal lifesaver.
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This is where the God of Destruction Training Ability Item comes in clutch. It significantly increases the player's maximum HP, easily making it one of the most useful items in the game.
1 Style Of The Strong
Effect: Sparking! Mode Lasts Longer
The first major realization every player has in their Sparking! Zero journey is just how broken Sparking! Mode is. Characters move faster, deal more damage, and can extend combos to devastating lengths. In a nutshell, it makes a character go into overdrive and the fighting suddenly becomes even more like what's shown in the anime. The only downside? It doesn't last very long, meaning players need to make every second count.
However, with the Style of the Strong Ability Item, that limitation is considerably reduced. This item significantly extends the duration of Sparking! Mode, giving players a huge upper hand in battle. Best of all, there's no downside to using it, making it easily the best Ability Item in the game.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Spike Chunsoft
- Publisher(s)
- Namco Bandai
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Action
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
