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Sparking Zero: Who are the best Z-rank characters in DP Battle?

The best Sparking Zero DP Battle characters

With players now figuring out Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, the best Z-rank characters for DP Battle have risen, and it’s not who fans think.

Despite the blatantly unbalanced characters, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero has become a darling among fans of the anime and manga. While many newcomers disliked the overpowered characters, Budokai Tenkaichi fans are used to these power gaps. If nothing else, it’s fitting for Dragon Ball, where characters range from eccentric pro wrestlers to literal gods.

Even so, the meta may surprise fans who expected iconic characters to populate the tier list. Many players gravitate towards DP Battle, as it allows for using multiple characters in a single match, as opposed to 1v1 fights. The huge roster enabled some surprisingly effective team compositions.

Who are the best Z-Rank characters in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s DP Battle?

As of October 2024, the best characters in Sparking Zero at Z-rank are Yajirobe, Master Roshi, and Recoome.

Instead of heavy hitters like Goku, Vegeta, or Freeza, the top tiers of DP Battle are decidedly gimmicky gag characters. Yajirobe’s Senzu skill works as it does in the series, bringing characters back from the brink with full health. 

In addition to the powerful heal, the startup for the Senzu skill is fast enough to make counters difficult. With a single lift strike, players can use the Senzu skill for a measly 2 DP, immediately negating any progress the opponent has made.

Master Roshi’s health bars, plus his defensive skills, make him nigh unbeatable as well. Overall, the top-tier characters excel not for strong attacks but for sheer survivability. Most of the ones below Yajirobe and Master Roshi essentially follow this formula.

Will Yajirobe get nerfed in Sparking Zero?

It is unknown if Yajirobe will be nerfed anytime soon, but Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero‘s best characters could be taken down a peg in an update.

The Budokai Tenkaichi series was never known for balance changes. In fact, most balance changes came from the community instead of the developers, such as the Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Sparking Reborn patch. Still, Budokai Tenkaichi largely predates the concept of balance patches on anything but a handful of PC games.

Nowadays, gamers, especially those on live service titles, expect developers to finetune the game throughout its lifespan. With Yajirobe’s oppressive grip on the DP battle meta, fans may convince the developers to nerf the bean daddy.

Written by Gab Hernandez X Twitter Logo

Gab Hernandez has a particular love for video games that give players control over the narrative direction, such as Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Disco Elysium. Gab spends just as much time playing games as they do gushing about them online to anyone who will listen. Their work has also been seen on TheGamer, Gfinity, and Wargamer, and you can follow them on Twitter / X at @HardlyWorkinGab.

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