Sparking! Zero Releases Huge Update for April 2025

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has revealed patch notes detailing all the changes and adjustments coming to the title in April 2025. Bandai Namco’s latest DLC has managed to bring Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero’s roster up to an astonishing 200 playable characters.

After releasing in October 2024, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has proven to be a massive success, as it has managed to sell over five million copies worldwide since launch. Some of its success certainly has to do with the fighter’s massive roster, which launched with over 180 playable characters. Since then, Bandai Namco has been busy releasing DLC and making balance adjustments to keep the game fun and fair for its dedicated community.

A recent announcement from Bandai Namco detailed what players can expect to see in its latest update, which includes some adjustments to characters within Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero’s enormous roster. For instance, the damage from giant characters’ Rush Attacks and Smash Attacks has been nerfed. They’ll also now take increased damage from melee attacks and have a longer recovery time after missing Rush and Smash Attacks. The Ki recovery speeds of Mr. Satan, Master Roshi, and Yajirobe have also been reduced, which many fans seem to be happy about. Characters like Recoome and Nappa have also had their health reduced, making them a little less beefy.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Reveals Patch Notes for April 2025

The developers also made some general adjustments to the battle system, such as increasing the rate at which Ki is automatically recovered for the first Ki gauge. There has also been an alteration to improve the way the camera functions during fights between giant and normal-sized characters. Many of the announced changes have been well-received, but some people were hoping for an even bigger reveal. While unconfirmed, it has been rumored that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero could be coming to Nintendo Switch 2, which has excited many fans of the franchise.

It was recently leaked that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero’s DLC pack for Dragon Ball Daima will include characters like Glorio, Majin Kuu, Panzy, the new Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta, and more. It seems as if these rumors were true, as gamers with early access are able to play these characters right now. Those without early access will be able to unlock the DLC on April 24. While many Vegeta fans are happy about the DLC pack, some players have expressed disappointment about not seeing the new Super Saiyan 4 version of Daima Goku included with the DLC. However, it’s always possible this new transformation could be added to the game’s ever-expanding roster at some point in the future.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero April 2025 Patch Notes

Changes and Adjustments by Game Mode:

Episode Battle

Adjusted the balance of some stages to reflect changes to the battle system.

Bonus Battles

Adjusted the balance of some Bonus Battles to reflect changes to the battle system.

Added 2D cutscenes and text.

Changes and Adjustments to Features:

Battle Rules

In Offline Battle, Player Match, World Tournament, and Training DP Battle, players can now select total DP amounts of 10/15/20.

Fixed an issue where the last settings were not retained after the game ended.

Character Select Screen

Added a display switching function.

Options

Added the ability to switch the sound quality of some battle SFX.

Changes and Adjustments to the Battle System

Short Dash

Reduced the speed of backward Short Dashes.

Reduced the recovery time after initiating a Dragon Dash during a Short Dash.

High-Speed Dragon Dash

Adjusted the input timing to make it easier to connect Rush Attacks upon arrival near the opponent.

Reduced the time required to fully charge Smash Attacks during High-Speed Dragon Dash.

Adjusted the system so that even when manipulating the trajectory during High-Speed Dragon Dash, the player will ultimately reach the front of the opponent.

Z-Burst Dash

Reduced the Ki needed for activation and changed the system to consume Ki based on the distance traveled after activation.

General Melee Attacks

Increased the ki recovered upon hitting an opponent.

Adjusted the system to make attacks less likely to deviate from their target when used against an opponent immediately after they use a Step.

Rush-in

Fixed an issue where guarding was possible between Rush-in and Rush Attacks in some cases.

Rush Chains

Made it possible to activate Rush Chains even while Rush Attacks are being automatically evaded by characters like Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct and Whis.

Smash Attack

Adjusted the system to allow for smoother connections when using Smash Attacks during Rush Attacks.

Rush Ki Blast

Reduced damage.

Strengthened the damage reduction correction when hitting multiple times in a row.

Smash Ki Blast

Reduced the damage of spreading-type Smash Ki Blasts.

Made it possible to deflect Smash Ki Blasts from Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct -Sign- and Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct.

Increased the Ki needed for and recovery time after firing unblockable Smash Ki Blasts.

Perception

Made it impossible to perform Perception during guard stun.

Increased the time window for follow-up attacks after a successful Perception.

Increased the Ki needed for upon activation.

Increased the Skill Count requirement for using Perception against Smash Attacks and Rush Chains from 1 to 2.

Super Perception

Buffed the effects granted upon deflecting a Blast. (Increased effect amount, extended effect duration)

Slightly restored Ki upon deflecting a Blast.

Blast

Reduced the damage dealt when hitting with Blasts or Ultimate Blasts during a combo.

Reduced the damage dealt when hitting with Blasts consecutively.

Auto-reflect

Only characters with DP 7 or higher can activate Auto-reflect during Sparking! Mode.

Other

Increased the automatic Ki recovery speed for the first Ki gauge only.

Adjusted the camera behavior during battles between normal-sized and Giant Characters.

Adjusted the system to prevent accidental throws during Air Combos when using Classic controls.

Adjusted the time until character switching becomes available.

Changes and Adjustments to Skills

Skills that automatically evade enemy attacks (e.g., Wild Sense, Afterimage)

Made it so that the effect is canceled if Perception is used during the effect’s activation

Kale: Cry of Rage

Increased the activation time.

Changes and Adjustments to Blasts

Unblockable Explosive Wave-Type Blasts (General)

Increased the expansion speed of the effect range.

Rapid Ki Blast-Type Blasts (General)

Future Trunks (Super): Final Flash

Increased Ki needed for and damage.

Super Trunks: Finish Buster

Whis: Symphonic Destruction

Can now be evaded with High-Speed Evasion.

Changes and Adjustments to Characters

Giant Characters (General)

Reduced the damage of Rush Attacks and Smash Attacks.

Increased the recovery time after missing with Rush Attacks and Smash Attacks.

Increased the damage taken from Melee Attacks.

Reduced the speed of backward Short Dashes.

Master Roshi, Mr. satan, Yajirobe

Reduced Ki recovery speed.

Androids with Automatic Ki Recovery (General)

Automatic Ki recovery is now stopped during Z-Counter.

Androids (General)

The silhouette of the character is no longer visible to the opponent while Z-Search is deactivated.

Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct -Sign-, Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct

Increased the cooldown time when attempting to fire another Smash Ki Blast after using one.

Dr.Wheelo

Reduced the maximum number of Skill Count.

Nappa

Recoome

Spopovich

Gogeta (Super), Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan

Reduced the damage of Smash Ki Blasts and decreased Homing performance.

Hirudegarn

Fixed an issue where Rush Attacks would hit even when the opponent was guarding.

Other

Flying Kicks

Adjusted the hit position.

Throw Evasion

Adjusted the system to make it less likely for the camera to switch momentarily upon activation.

Improved usability and operational stability