The December 2024 Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero patch has dropped. This update adds a number of features while providing some quality of life changes to the roster.
As expected, Android 19 and Dr. Gero have been nerfed. They’ll no longer be able to stall a match out indefinitely by repeatedly ascending and descending as the action now costs gauge perform, just like with the rest of the roster.
Last month, some drama emerged when two players were disqualified from an official Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero tournament for showcasing this exploit. However, it seems that the competitors were successful in making the developers aware of this major issue.
Characters like Great Ape Vegeta and Dr. Wheelo have had their health totals reduced. This should make them a little easier to defeat during gameplay.
While playing in local multiplayer, it actually wasn’t possible to select any stage. This was a strange omission, but it has since been resolved with the update.
Overall, this isn’t a super major patch as there are only a few adjustments, but the gameplay adjustments are definitely important for the game’s longevity.
Check it all out below:
• All stages can now be selected in 1Pvs2P.
• Battle Setup
– Added the ability to switch character display methods.
– Added the ability to customize team members’ settings.
• Rank Match/Player Match
– Added the ability to skip the animation that appears at the start of battle. (Both players must operate the game.)
• Player Match
– Added the ability to choose whether team members are public or private when forming a team.
• Custom Battle Edit Mode
– Added alphabetical sorting to text sorting.
• Options
– Added the ability to change the camera focus during battles to a closer distance.
• High-speed dragon dash (new action)
– PS5 : Press and hold R2 + × / XSX|S : Press and hold RT + A to add the action “High-speed Dragon Dash” which moves towards the opponent at high speed.
• Smash Fighting
– The opponent will no longer flinch when hit by a rush energy blast while charging a smash melee attack.
– When charging a smash melee attack during a rush melee attack, the amount that the charge time is reduced based on the number of hits has been increased.
• Rush Blast
– The time it takes to fire the next shot after the maximum number of shots set for each character has been reached has been increased.
• Rush Bullet Repelling
– Rush Bullet Repelling
• Steps
– Improved the state where you will be immune to some attacks immediately after starting the step.
– Rush energy blasts and smash energy blasts can now also be avoided.
• Z-Burst Dash
– The amount of Ki consumed when activating it has been increased.
• Burst Smash
– Ki will no longer be consumed when activating it and will instead consume an amount based on the distance traveled.
• Blast
– Damage has been increased when using a boost.
• Z-Search
– Z-Search will no longer lose track of your opponent when characters are swapped.
– You will now quickly regain sight of your opponent if they enter your line of sight from the front when Z-Search is not locked onto them.
• Z-Counter
– The input window has been shortened.
– Z-Counter will become more difficult to perform if performed consecutively.
– Ki consumed has been increased when successfully performing a Z-Counter.
– Skill Count increase speed has been reduced when successfully performing a Z-Counter.
• Revenge Counter
– Skill Count consumed when using Perception against Revenge Counter has been reduced from 2 to 1.
• Rush Attacks during Sparking! Mode
– Gradual damage reduction of consecutive hits has been increased.
• Combos
– The final attack of Aerial Combos and Aerial Slash Combos will no longer be interrupted by guarding.
• Character Switch
– Health recovery rate of Standby characters has been reduced.
• Z-Burst Dash (Giant Characters)
– The tackle done by Giant characters during Z-Burst Dashes is now guardable.
• Skills that cause instant Sparking! Mode
– Skill Count consumed has been increased.
• Skills that increase stats in general
– Skill Count consumed has been decreased.
• Afterimage Strike
– Effect duration has been reduced to 10 seconds and will be removed if your opponent uses Perception while you are under the effect.
• False Courage
– Skill Count consumed has been increased from 1 to 2.
• Technique: All I Need Is Five Seconds!
– Skill Count consumed has been increased from 3 to 2 and status increase upon activation has been increased.
• Stardust Barrier
– You can now activate it while receiving melee attacks from the front.
• Long-Range Blasts and Ultimate Blasts
– Speed has been reduced.
• Super Vegito: Final Kamehameha
– Ki consumed and damage has been increased.
• Goku (Mini): Quick Rush
– Trajectory can now be changed while Rushing.
• Mr. Satan: Present Bomb
– Increased ending lag after activation.
• Android 19/ Dr. Gero
– Health/Ki amount absorbed on successful throw has been adjusted.
– Dragon Dash, Quick Ascend, and Quick Descend now consume Ki.
• Cell 2nd Form
– You can now escape the throw.
• Cooler
– Amount of Health restored upon transforming has been increased.
• Giant Characters
– Increased the time it takes to charge a Smash Attack and reduced its power.
• Great Ape Vegeta / Dr. Wheelo
– Maximum health has been reduced.
• Other
– We have improved performance and ease of use.