Let's be real. It’s been almost twenty years, and we are still talking about this game. There is a reason for that. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (or BT3 if you’re a real one) wasn't just another fighter; it was a simulator that captured the chaotic, planet-shattering essence of Akira Toriyama’s world better than almost anything that came after it. But if you’ve ever tried to sit down and unlock all 161 characters manually, you know the struggle is very, very real. It's a grind that would make a Super Saiyan sweat. That’s why cheats dragon ball z budokai tenkaichi 3 remain such a massive part of the conversation even in 2026. Sometimes you just want to play as Future Gohan or King Cold without spending forty hours in the Sim Dragon mode.
Back in the day, we didn't have DLC. We had "Data Center" codes and the grueling "Dragon History" mode. If you’re playing on an old PS2 or using an emulator to relive the glory days, you've probably realized that unlocking everything the "legit" way is a massive time sink.
The Password System: No, It’s Not Just for Boosting Stats
Most people think the password system in the Data Center is just for showing off custom builds to friends. That's a mistake. While it’s true that the main roster is usually unlocked through the story mode and Dragon Ball wishes, the password system is the only way to get specific, "maxed out" versions of characters that would otherwise take months of Z-Item farming to create.
You go to the Data Center, you hit "Password Input," and you type in those long, annoying strings of characters. It’s tedious. It’s clunky. But it works. A legendary example is the "Max Power" Goku or Broly builds that circulated on GameFAQs back in 2007. These aren't just characters; they are optimized machines with Red Potara items equipped—items you can't even get in the standard game without these specific codes.
The beauty of the password system is that it bypasses the RNG of the item shop. If you want a character with "Master's Spirit" or "Quick Charge" already baked in, you just find the right string of text. It feels like hacking, but it’s a feature the developers left in for the hardcore community.
Stop Googling Fake Button Combos
I need to clear something up because it drives me crazy. You’ll see old forums or sketchy "cheat code" websites claiming that if you press Up, Down, L1, R2 at the main menu, you'll unlock every character.
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That is a lie.
It never worked in 2007, and it doesn't work now. Budokai Tenkaichi 3 does not have "button combo" cheats like a Rockstar game. Every unlockable in this game is tied to either a specific gameplay achievement, a Dragon Ball wish, or the Data Center passwords. If someone tells you there's a "master code" to skip the game, they're probably confusing it with the original Budokai trilogy or just making stuff up for clicks.
Unlocking the Heavy Hitters Naturally
If you're avoiding passwords and want to do it via gameplay, you have to be smart about your wishes. You collect the seven Dragon Balls by smashing buildings in the story mode—usually the World Tournament stage is the easiest place to farm them. But here is the nuance: there are three different Dragons.
- Shenron: Gives you the basic stuff and some stages.
- Porunga: Gives you two wishes, usually high-level Z-items.
- Red Shenron: This is the one you want for the rarest characters like King Cold.
The trick is knowing which dragon will appear. It's based on the "level" of the story mission you are playing. If you’re hunting for the rarest cheats dragon ball z budokai tenkaichi 3 enthusiasts talk about, you're actually hunting for Red Shenron in the GT Saga missions.
The Disc Fusion Secret
This is a "cheat" that younger players often miss because they're playing on digital setups. If you have the original PS2 hardware, you can put in the discs for Budokai Tenkaichi 1 or 2 to unlock the "Ultimate Battle" modes in BT3.
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It’s called Disc Fusion.
For those on emulators (like PCSX2), you can actually "swap" the ISO files in the settings to trick the game into thinking you’ve inserted the physical discs. This unlocks "Course Battles" that are otherwise inaccessible. It’s not a cheat in the traditional sense, but it’s a massive content unlock that feels like a hidden gift. These battles are where the real difficulty lies. We’re talking about AI that reads your inputs and punishes you for even thinking about a Dragon Dash.
Why We Still Use These Shortcuts
Kinda makes you wonder why we don't just play the game normally, right? Well, BT3 has a roster of 161 characters. That is an insane amount of content. The reality is that the "story mode" (Dragon History) is actually pretty short compared to the previous game. The real meat of the game is the Versus mode and the tournaments.
Most people use cheats dragon ball z budokai tenkaichi 3 offers because they want to jump straight into the "What If" scenarios. They want to see if SSJ4 Gogeta can actually take down Beerus (if you're using mods) or how King Piccolo fares against Perfect Cell. The grind to get there shouldn't be a barrier to the fun.
Honestly, the game is also notoriously stingy with Z-points. You earn a pittance for winning a tournament, and the good items in the shop cost a fortune. Using passwords or save-file "cheats" is just a way to respect your own time.
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Maxing Out Your Z-Items
Let’s talk about the Red Potara items. These are the "forbidden" cheats of the game. Normally, a character has a limited number of slots for items like "Health +1" or "Attack +2." Red Potaras ignore the rules. They can give a character infinite Ki, maxed-out defense, or the ability to auto-dodge every single melee attack.
You cannot find these in the shop.
You cannot find them in the story.
The only way to get them is through specific passwords or by using an Action Replay/Gameshark code. In the modern era, you can find "Max Save Files" online that already have these items equipped to every character. It turns the game from a competitive fighter into a complete power fantasy. Watching a Max-Power Broly walk through a Super Kamehameha without flinching is one of the most satisfying things in gaming history.
Practical Steps for Modern Players
If you're looking to get the most out of your session without spending 50 hours grinding, here is exactly what you should do:
- Don't farm the shop. It’s a waste of time. Instead, focus on the "Sim Dragon" mode if you want to level up characters naturally, as it gives much better rewards than the standard tournaments.
- Use the "Data Center" for specific builds. If you're looking for the famous "Blue" or "Red" Potara versions of characters, search for "BT3 Password List" on legacy sites like Neoseeker. These codes are case-sensitive and a pain to enter, but they are the only way to get "illegal" stat boosts.
- Download a 100% Save File. If you are on an emulator, don't bother with cheats. Just download a
ps2_save.maxfile and import it using a memory card manager. This unlocks all 161 characters and all stages instantly. - Learn the "Step-In" Maneuver. No cheat code can save you from a bad neutral game. Practice the "Z-Counter" and "Step-In" techniques in the training mode. The real "cheat" in this game is mastering the teleportation timing, which makes you virtually untouchable.
The community around this game is still incredibly active. With the release of Sparking! ZERO, people are going back to BT3 to see how the mechanics compare. Whether you're using passwords to unlock your favorite fusion or just trying to find a shortcut to the "Great Ape" transformations, the goal is the same: enjoying the most expansive DBZ roster ever assembled. Don't let the grind stop you from seeing everything this masterpiece has to offer.
Get your save files ready, input those passwords carefully, and get back into the arena. The World Tournament isn't going to win itself.