Battle Basics

Learn the essential combat mechanics in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, including offensive and defensive maneuvers, Super Attacks, Surge mode, and support character abilities.

This guide covers the fundamental battle mechanics in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, detailing offensive options, defensive maneuvers, and the use of support characters.

Offensive Options:

• Melee Attacks: Use Circle/B for basic melee combos. Completing a combo knocks back opponents. Other finishers can be activated with X/A, Square/X, and Triangle/Y during a combo.
• Ki Attacks: Use Square/X for Ki attacks, which consume Ki. Hold Triangle/Y to replenish your Ki gauge.
• Super Attacks: Equip up to four Super Attacks per character. Hold L1/LB to access a menu and press the corresponding face button to unleash them.
• Surge Mode: Triggered when the Tension Gauge is full. Hold Triangle/Y while the Ki gauge is also full. Surge mode boosts stats, allows unique attacks, Super Attack cancels, combo extensions, and automatic chasing of knocked-back opponents. It also enables chaining Super Attacks.

Defensive Options:

• Blocking: Hold L2/LT to block. Shields have a color indicator (blue, yellow, red) showing their remaining strength. Blocking minimizes damage even during an attack.
• Burst: While guarding, press Square/X to unleash a shockwave that can push opponents away and cancel one incoming attack. Uses Ki.
• Vanish Attack: While guarding, press X/A to quickly teleport behind an opponent and strike them. Uses a significant amount of Ki.
• Multi-Enemy Awareness: Arrows on the screen indicate other enemies not in view. These arrows turn red when an attack is incoming, signaling the need to dodge.

Support Characters:

• Up to two support characters can assist in combat, attacking independently or using their Super Attacks.
• Support Super Attacks: Hold R1/RB to access their Super Attack menu. Support characters can equip two Super Attacks.
• Z Combo: Once the gauge surrounding a support character's portrait is full, and all support character gauges are filled, a Z Combo can be initiated by pressing L1/LB + R1/RB. This is a cinematic attack that always hits.