You're hovering over the Sparking! Zero character select screen, picking Goku (Super) Mid, and feeling confident. Then the match starts. Suddenly, your opponent is teleporting behind you every three seconds, and your "Chase Change" isn't doing what you think it should. It’s frustrating. Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is a masterpiece of chaos, but it’s also a game that demands you understand the literal frames of animation you're playing with. If you don't grasp the Sparking Zero Chase Change mechanics, you’re basically just a punching bag with cool hair.
The reality is that "Chase" isn't just one thing in this game. It’s a suite of movement options. People get confused because the game doesn't always hold your hand through the transition between a standard Dragon Dash and a dedicated Chase Change maneuver. You’ve probably tried to swap characters mid-combo only to realize your timing was off by a millisecond, leaving your incoming fighter wide open for a Beam Attack.
Honestly, the learning curve here is more like a vertical cliff. But once you realize that the Sparking Zero Chase Change is tied directly to your Ki management and your ability to read a knockback trajectory, the game opens up. It stops being a button masher and starts being a high-speed chess match.
What Most Players Get Wrong About the Sparking Zero Chase Change
Most people think "Chase" just means flying fast. It doesn't. In the context of the Sparking! Zero meta, the Chase Change is specifically about maintaining offensive pressure while rotating your roster. You hit a heavy finisher. The opponent flies backward across the Namekian plains. You trigger a switch.
Here’s where it gets tricky. If you just tap the switch button, your new character flies in at a generic angle. That's a death sentence against high-level players who know how to punish raw swaps. The actual Sparking Zero Chase Change requires you to input the dash command simultaneously with the swap during a hit-stun window. This forces the incoming character to inherit the momentum of the combo. It keeps the pressure "red hot," as the developers at Spike Chunsoft intended.
I’ve seen dozens of threads on Reddit and Discord where players complain that their characters "feel heavy" during swaps. They aren't heavy. You're just missing the Vanishing Attack window that bridges the gap. You have to treat your team as a single, fluid entity rather than three separate health bars.
The Ki Cost Problem
You can't just spam this. Every time you initiate a high-speed chase or a mid-combo change, you're burning resources. If you find yourself in "Max Power" mode—the iconic Sparking! state—the rules change. Your Chase Change becomes significantly faster, and in some cases, it allows for follow-ups that are physically impossible in your base form.
However, the "Zero" in the title refers to more than just the series reboot; it refers to the precision required. If your Ki hits zero mid-chase, your character will enter a fatigue state. You’ll see them huffing and puffing. In that moment, your "Chase Change" becomes a liability. Your opponent will likely use a Revenge Counter or a Perception move to turn your aggression against you.
Mastering the Vanish into Chase Change
To really get good, you need to master the Vanish. In previous Budokai Tenkaichi games, the timing was a bit more forgiving. Here? It’s tight. When you launch an opponent, you have a split second to initiate a Vanish Chase. If you swap characters during this exact moment, you execute a Sparking Zero Chase Change that bypasses the standard travel time.
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- The Launch: Use a heavy finish or a charged Ki blast to create distance.
- The Buffer: Don't wait for the animation to finish. Buffer your switch command.
- The Directional Input: Hold the stick toward the opponent. If you let it go neutral, the Chase Change often loses tracking.
It sounds simple. It isn't. In the heat of a 5-v-5 team battle, your brain is tracking your health, your Ki, your Skill Count, and the opponent's "Sparking!" gauge. Adding the mechanical layer of a perfect Chase Change is what separates the casual players from the ones sitting at the top of the ranked ladders.
Why the Community is Divided on "Chase Control"
There is a legitimate debate right now about whether the "Standard" or "Classic" control scheme is better for executing the Sparking Zero Chase Change. "Standard" uses the newer, more streamlined inputs. "Classic" tries to mimic the PlayStation 2 era.
If you're a veteran, you probably swear by Classic. But honestly? Standard makes the Chase Change much more accessible because it maps the dash and the swap to buttons that don't require you to play "claw" style with your controller. I’ve tested both. Standard feels more responsive for the high-speed directional changes required during a chase, even if it feels "wrong" to the old-school purists.
Advanced Tactics: The "False" Chase
One of the coolest things you can do with the Sparking Zero Chase Change is the "False Chase." This is a high-level bait. You initiate the movement as if you’re going to follow through with a combo, but you cancel it into a Guard or a Perception move.
Because the visual effects in this game are so intense—literally filling the screen with sparks and light—your opponent will often panic-react. They might burn their own Ki on a teleport. By using the Chase Change to get close and then not attacking, you force them to waste resources. It's psychological warfare.
Real-World Example: Goku (Super) vs. Broly
Imagine you’re playing as Goku. You hit Broly with a Meteor Smash. As he flies away, you trigger the Sparking Zero Chase Change to bring in Vegeta. Instead of immediately hitting X or Square (depending on your console), you wait. Broly’s player expects a follow-up and triggers a disruptive shout. Since you didn't commit to the attack, you're free to dodge and counter-hit during his recovery.
This level of play is what makes the game feel like the actual anime. It's fast. It's loud. It's incredibly punishing if you mess up.
Practical Steps to Improve Your Chase Game
Stop practicing against the AI. The AI in Sparking! Zero has "perfect" reactions that don't mimic human behavior. If you want to master the Sparking Zero Chase Change, you need to head into the training lab and set the dummy to "Manual" or jump into player matches.
1. Drill the "Switch-Dash"
Spend ten minutes just launching the opponent and switching. Don't worry about the combo. Just look at the Ki bar. Notice how much it chunks off when you do it correctly versus when you're just flying manually.
2. Focus on the Skill Count
Some Chase Change variations—especially those involving specific Z-Burst dashes—require Skill points. If you're at zero, your "change" will be slow. Keep an eye on those blue bars at the bottom of the screen. They are just as important as your health.
3. Watch the "Revenge Counter"
If you chase too predictably, your opponent will hit R1+Triangle (or the equivalent) and swat you away. To counter this, try to angle your Sparking Zero Chase Change. Don't fly in a straight line. Use the analog stick to "spiral" toward the opponent. It makes your hitbox harder to pin down for a counter-move.
4. Learn the Character-Specific Speeds
Burter has a significantly faster chase speed than someone like Second Form Frieza or semi-perfect Cell. If you're switching from a slow character to a fast one, your timing for the Sparking Zero Chase Change has to adjust. The "snap" happens sooner.
The biggest mistake you can make is treating every character the same. A "Chase" with Jiren feels heavy and impactful. A "Chase" with Dyspo is a blur. You need to build muscle memory for your specific team composition.
If you’re still struggling, check your internet connection. In a game this fast, a 50ms delay can turn a perfect Sparking Zero Chase Change into a whiffed move that leaves you wide open for an Ultimate Blast. It's a game of inches and frames. Treat it that way, and you'll start seeing those "Win" screens much more often.
Go into the "Super Training" mode specifically for "Dash and Movement." Most people skip this because they think they know how to move. They don't. The nuances of the "Short Dash" versus the "Long Dash" are the foundation of every successful chase. Master the movement, and the combat will follow. Balance your aggression with Ki recovery, and never, ever let your gauge hit empty while you're mid-air. That's the secret. It's not about being the fastest; it's about being the most efficient with the speed you have.