Look, let’s be real for a second. Most licensed anime games are, well, kind of a cash grab. You usually get a 3D arena fighter with shallow mechanics that relies entirely on your love for the brand to keep you playing for more than a weekend. But Dragon Ball FighterZ? That game was—and still is—built different. When Arc System Works took the reigns of the Dragon Ball franchise, they didn't just make a "Dragon Ball game." They made a high-level, 3v3 tag-team fighter that forced the competitive community to actually sit up and take notice.
It’s been years since the initial launch in 2018. You’d think the hype would have died down by now, especially with newer titles hitting the shelves. Honestly, it hasn't. Between the rollback netcode update and the sheer depth of the roster, it’s still the gold standard for how to handle an IP.
The Secret Sauce of Dragon Ball FighterZ
What makes it work? It’s the balance between accessibility and absolute technical chaos. You’ve got the "Auto-Combo" system, which elitists love to complain about, but it’s actually brilliant. It lets your younger sibling pick up a controller and feel like a Super Saiyan immediately. But if you try that against anyone who knows what they're doing? You’re getting "Happy Birthday'd"—that's when someone catches two or three of your characters in one combo—and your health bar will vanish before you can even say "Senzu Bean."
The game uses a 3-button attack system (Light, Medium, Heavy) plus a Special button for ki blasts. Simple, right? Wrong. Once you factor in assists, vanish moves, and the "Super Dash," the game becomes a high-speed chess match played at 60 frames per second.
The visuals are the other big factor. Arc System Works used a specific 3D-modeling technique that mimics 2D hand-drawn animation. It doesn't just look like the anime. Sometimes, it looks better than the anime. Every "Dramatic Finish"—like Goku turning into a Super Saiyan against Frieza on a crumbling Namek—is a frame-by-frame recreation of the manga’s most iconic panels.
The Power of Rollback Netcode
For a long time, the biggest complaint about Dragon Ball FighterZ was the "delay-based" netcode. If you weren't playing on a wired connection with someone living in your same zip code, the lag was unbearable. It felt like playing underwater.
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Finally, the developers implemented Rollback Netcode for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. This changed everything. Rollback basically predicts your inputs and fixes discrepancies instantly, making online play feel almost like you’re sitting on the same couch. It breathed new life into the competitive scene. Without it, the game probably would have faded into "Discord fighter" territory. Now? The ranked ladders are still sweating.
Breaking Down the Roster Meta
The game launched with 24 characters. Now, after several seasons of DLC, we’re sitting at 44. That is a massive amount of variety, though you’ll still see a lot of the same faces in high-level play.
- Lab Coat 21: She broke the game for a while. Seriously. Her debuff move that lowered opponent damage was so oppressive that she had to be nerfed into the ground, and even then, she’s still a menace.
- Gogeta and Vegito (SS4 and Blue): The fusions are everywhere. They have massive reach, high damage, and some of the coolest-looking Level 3 supers in the game. People love to hate them because their "5L" (standing light attack) seems to hit from across the screen.
- The "Anchor" Characters: Characters like Tien or Z Broly are legendary anchors. When you’re down to your last character and have seven bars of meter, Z Broly becomes a terrifying tank that can delete a full health bar in two touches.
One thing people get wrong is thinking you need the top-tier characters to win. You don't. A skilled Beerus or Majin Buu player can absolutely dismantle a generic "fusion" team because nobody knows the matchup. This game rewards laboratory time. If you spend three hours practicing a single loop in training mode, you will see those results in your win rate.
Why the 3v3 Tag System Never Gets Old
Dragon Ball FighterZ owes a huge debt to Marvel vs. Capcom. The tag mechanics allow for "Z-Assists," where your off-screen teammates jump in for a quick attack.
You aren't just playing one character; you're managing a team's synergy. Does character A’s assist help character B extend their combo? Can character C use their "Sparking Blast" to clutch out a 1-vs-3 comeback? The "Sparking Blast" is your once-per-match power-up. It increases damage, heals blue health, and makes your moves safer. Using it too early is a rookie mistake, but waiting too long can mean losing your best character before they can even go off. It’s all about the risk-reward.
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Common Misconceptions and Frustrations
I hear this a lot: "The combos are too long."
Yeah, they can be. Getting hit by a "Touch of Death" (TOD) combo—where one mistake leads to a dead character—feels bad. But here’s the thing: performing a TOD in a real match is actually pretty hard. It requires perfect timing, specific resources, and zero lag. Most of the time, the game is about winning the "neutral" game. That’s the dance where both players are trying to find an opening.
Another gripe is the "Super Dash." It’s a homing move that flies right at the opponent. New players spam it. It’s annoying. But it’s also the most punishable move in the game. If you see it coming, you just hit "Down + Heavy" (2H). This move has anti-air properties and leads into a full cinematic combo. Learning to "2H" a Super Dash is the first step to moving from "scrub" to "intermediate."
The Competitive Legacy
The Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour has seen some of the most legendary moments in fighting game history. Who could forget SonicFox and Go1’s rivalry? Their matches weren't just about button mashing; they were about psychological warfare.
Watching Go1 block a "high-low-left-right" mixup that would be invisible to a normal human being is like watching a master class in focus. The game has a high ceiling. Even if you aren't trying to be a pro, watching the pros will show you things you didn't even know were possible with the engine.
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How to Get Good (The Actionable Part)
If you're jumping in now, don't just head straight into Ranked. You'll get chewed up and spit out.
- Finish the Tutorial and Combo Challenges: They’re basic, but they teach you the rhythm.
- Learn the "Universal Combo": Most characters in the game share a similar combo structure (2M > 5M > jc > jL > jM > jL > 2H...). Learn this. It works for almost everyone.
- Pick a Team You Like, Not a "Tier List" Team: You'll play better with characters you actually enjoy. If you love Piccolo, play Piccolo.
- Watch Replays: The game has an in-game replay theater. Watch how high-ranking players use your specific characters.
- Focus on Defense: Everyone wants to press buttons. The players who win are the ones who know when to stop pressing and just block.
Dragon Ball FighterZ isn't just a game for Dragon Ball fans. It's a masterpiece of the fighting genre. It captures the speed, the stakes, and the sheer "hype" of the source material while maintaining the integrity of a competitive e-sport. Whether you're playing for the story mode—which features an original character, Android 21, designed by Akira Toriyama himself—or you're grinding for the rank of "Zeno," the game offers a depth that few others can match.
The community is still active, the netcode is finally where it needs to be, and the skill ceiling is somewhere in the stratosphere. If you haven't tried it yet, or if you've been away for a few years, there’s never been a better time to jump back into the lobby.
Next Steps for New Players
Start by picking one "Point" character (someone who builds meter) and one "Anchor" (someone who can function without assists). Spend thirty minutes in training mode practicing your movement—specifically the "instant air dash" (IAD). Being able to dash over an opponent's head and hit them from behind is the quickest way to start winning matches at the lower ranks. Once you've got that down, look into "safe jumps" to keep your pressure going even after a knockdown.
The learning curve is steep, but the view from the top is incredible.