You're staring at the character select screen, itching to put UI Goku, Beast Gohan, and Broly on the same team. Then it hits you. The red numbers flash. You're over the limit. It’s frustrating, right? The Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DP list is basically the game's way of telling you that you can't just stack gods and expect a fair fight. It’s a balancing act. If you want the power of a Destroyer, you’ve gotta pay the tax.
Destruction Points (DP) are the backbone of the game's competitive and ranked modes. If you've played the old Budokai Tenkaichi games, this feels like coming home, but the math has changed. In Sparking Zero, you typically have a total of 15 points to spend across a team of up to five fighters.
Why does this matter? Because blindly picking your favorites usually leads to a two-man team that gets overwhelmed by a balanced squad of five.
The Logic Behind the Sparking Zero DP List
The developers at Spike Chunsoft didn't just throw darts at a board to assign these values. They looked at the meta. DP reflects a character's raw stats, their move set versatility, and—most importantly—their ability to cheese a win.
A character like Whis or Beerus sits at the top. They cost 10 DP. Think about that. If you pick Whis, you have 5 points left for the rest of your entire team. You're basically betting the house on one guy. On the flip side, you’ve got the "joke" characters or the weaker soldiers. Mr. Satan (Hercule) or a Saibaman usually cost a measly 1 or 2 DP. They aren't there to win the fight; they’re there to soak up damage, stall for time, or act as a tactical swap to reset your opponent's momentum.
The Heavy Hitters (8 to 10 DP)
This is where the "Broken" characters live. We're talking Gogeta Blue, Vegito Blue, and Full Power Broly.
When you look at the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DP list, these characters are expensive because they have high health pools and destructive Ultimate Blasts that cover half the map. Most 10 DP characters have unique mechanics, like auto-dodging or hyper-armor, that make them a nightmare to deal with in a 1v1 scenario. Honestly, if you're running a 10 DP character, you're playing a high-stakes game. One mistake, one missed vanish, and your expensive anchor is gone, leaving you with a 2 DP Yamcha to finish the job. It's risky.
👉 See also: Walkthrough Final Fantasy X-2: How to Actually Get That 100% Completion
The Mid-Tier Workhorses (4 to 7 DP)
This is the sweet spot. Most of your team-building happens here. Characters like Super Saiyan Goku (Mid), Piccolo, or Android 18 usually fall into this range. They are reliable. They have decent combos, manageable ki charge speeds, and can actually hold their own against the heavyweights if you're skilled enough.
A popular strategy right now involves picking two 6 DP characters and one 3 DP support. It’s balanced. You get two heavy hitters who can actually survive a beating and one backup for tactical swaps.
The Budget Fillers (1 to 3 DP)
Don't sleep on the low-cost units. Characters like Chiaotzu, Videl, or Master Roshi are incredibly useful for "DP padding."
If you’ve spent 13 points on two powerhouse characters, you have 2 points left. Instead of leaving that slot empty, you grab a 2 DP character. They can be used to "sacrifice" play—switching them in right before an opponent fires an Ultimate Blast. You lose a weak character, but your star player stays at full health. It's cold-blooded, but it works.
How to Maximize Your 15 Points
Building a team isn't just about picking the highest numbers. You need synergy. Some characters on the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DP list actually play better together because of their switch-in attacks or team-up bonuses.
The "God Lead" Strategy
- Lead: Ultra Instinct -Sign- Goku (9 DP)
- Support 1: Master Roshi (3 DP)
- Support 2: Yamcha (3 DP)
In this setup, you are banking entirely on your skill with UI Goku. Roshi and Yamcha are there purely for their utility. Roshi, for instance, often has access to the "Evil Containment Wave" or stuns that can give Goku a breather. If Goku falls, you've probably lost, but the DP efficiency here is tight.
✨ Don't miss: Stick War: Why This Flash Classic Still Dominates Strategy Gaming
The Balanced Trio
- Fighter 1: Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta (7 DP)
- Fighter 2: Ultimate Gohan (7 DP)
- Fighter 3: Mr. Satan (1 DP)
This is a much safer bet. You have two genuine threats. If Vegeta gets caught in a combo, Gohan can step in with high-tier defensive stats. Mr. Satan is just there because you had an extra point, and honestly, winning a match with a Dynamite Kick is the ultimate flex.
Why Some Rankings Might Surprise You
You’ll notice some weird discrepancies when scrolling through the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DP list. For example, why is Future Trunks (Sword) sometimes ranked higher than a literal Super Saiyan God?
It comes down to frame data and reach.
Characters with swords often have disjointed hitboxes. This means they can hit you from a distance where your punches won't reach them. In the hands of a pro, a 6 DP Trunks can be more dangerous than an 8 DP Broly because he's harder to punish. The DP list reflects potential, not just "Power Levels" from the anime. If it followed the anime perfectly, the game would be unplayable. Everyone would just pick Whis and the match would end in five seconds.
The Evolution of DP in Ranked Play
As the meta shifts, expect the community to find "DP-efficient" monsters. These are characters who are undercosted for what they provide. Back in the BT3 days, certain forms of Perfect Cell were considered steals for their DP cost. In Sparking Zero, players are already eyeing characters with fast teleportation moves as the "value" picks.
If a 5 DP character has a move that can reliably bypass guards, they are effectively worth 7 DP in a competitive setting. Learning these nuances is what separates a casual player from a rank-climber.
🔗 Read more: Solitaire Games Free Online Klondike: What Most People Get Wrong
Real Talk: The Limitations of the DP System
The system isn't perfect. One major complaint among veteran players is that the 15-point limit feels restrictive if you want to play a "Themed Team."
Want to run the full Ginyu Force? Good luck. Depending on their individual costs, you might find yourself hitting that cap faster than expected. The game encourages variety, but it also forces you to make tough choices. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't have the fused powerhouses and a full bench of backups.
Also, keep in mind that transformations affect DP. If you start as Base Goku and transform into Blue, you are essentially playing a character that is "worth" more than what you paid at the start, but you had to earn that transformation through the skill gauge. It’s a layer of strategy that makes the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DP list more than just a static chart of numbers.
Practical Steps for Dominating the Meta
Stop picking your team based on who looks coolest. Or, well, keep doing that if you're playing offline, but if you're heading into the ranked trenches, follow these steps:
- Identify your Anchor: Pick one character you are absolutely lethal with. This is your closer. If they cost 8+ DP, your team must be built to protect them.
- Learn the "1-Point Wonders": Spend time in training mode with characters like Mr. Satan or Saibamen. Learn their one annoying move. Use it to frustrate opponents into making mistakes.
- Count your Ki: High DP characters often have slower Ki recovery or require more bars for their big moves. Balance them with characters who can generate Ki or provide buffs.
- Watch the Patch Notes: The Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DP list isn't necessarily set in stone forever. Developers often tweak costs if a certain character becomes too dominant in the online ladders.
The goal isn't just to use the most powerful characters. The goal is to use the most efficient ones. Find the 5 DP fighter who plays like a 7 DP god, and you’ll find yourself winning a lot more matches than the person who just mashed the "Super" button on a 10 DP powerhouse.
Experiment with different combinations. Try a team of five 3-point fighters. It’s a chaotic way to play, but the sheer volume of health bars and switch-ins can drive an opponent crazy. Ultimately, the DP list is a puzzle. Solve it, and you own the arena.
Actionable Insights:
- Test Synergy in Training: Don't just check DP; check how fast your characters swap. A high-DP character with a slow swap-out speed is a liability.
- Budget Your Team: Always aim for exactly 15 points. Leaving points on the table is leaving "health" on the table. Even a 1 DP character can take a hit that would have otherwise ended your main's run.
- Master Transformations: Since you "buy" the base form's DP, characters with powerful transformations are often more point-efficient than characters who start in their final forms. Use this to bypass the point cap during a match.