Gab Hernandez 
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is an aggressive fighting game, so it pays to know how to counter opponents.
The Dragon Ball franchise is in a renaissance. With the simultaneous release of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero and the new anime Dragon Ball: Daima, fans of the saga have it great right now. Even so, some gamers struggle to get into the groove of Sparking Zero.
Sparking Zero has a surprising layer of complexity compared to other arena fighters. Even so, the game still keeps the hilarious imbalances of Budokai Tenkaichi, but with regular patches being a thing, these likely won’t last. In the meantime, learning to counter is a good way to stay alive in an aggressive Sparking Zero meta.
How to counter in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero on Xbox or PS5
Players can counter attacks with Perception Stance, Revenge Counters, and Super Counters. Given the vast array of offensive moves, it’s only appropriate that players also have multiple defensive options. Each one is situationally useful, so it’s important that players master the controls and learn how to use each one.
Perception Stance
To enter Perception Stance, hold circle on PS5 and B on Xbox. Doing so will automatically block all incoming rush attacks but at the cost of Ki. More importantly, Perception Stance is how players can activate Sonic Sway to counter a rush combo with their own attack.
The downside to Perception Stance is it’s easy to circumvent with a high-mobility move to attack the player from the side. Additionally, Perception Stance cannot block most Ki Blasts, especially Ultimate Blasts.
Revenge Counter
If a player fails to activate Perception Stance in time, they can use a Revenge Counter to break the opponent’s combo. Simply press the right stick while getting hit to use a Revenge Counter. Doing so costs two stocks of the Skill Counter, making it a fast but costly way to escape a bad situation. But against some of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s strongest characters, it’s a good investment.
However, a skilled opponent may spot a Revenge Counter attempt and activate their Perception to counter the Revenge Counter. It is indeed a headache to read.
Super Counter
Super Counters are unsurprisingly super tough to pull off. Players can activate a Super Counter by pressing Up and Square on PS5 or X on Xbox, which knocks opponents away and leaves them open for a flurry of attacks. The counter will not trigger easily, so make sure the timing is just perfect.
