Dragon Ball FighterZ
Officially Dragon Ball FighterZ (Arc System Works / Bandai Namco)
3-vs-3 TAG-TEAM 2.5D FIGHTING GAME by ARC SYSTEM WORKS (Guilty Gear + BlazBlue creators) + BANDAI NAMCO, released 2018. Cel-shaded ANIME-VISUAL FIDELITY mimicking DRAGON BALL Z animation. 40+ CHARACTERS including Goku (multiple forms), Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, Broly, Jiren, and DLC additions. FGC (Fighting Game Community) TITLE at EVO 2018-2024 (2018 launch player counts EVO's biggest ever); World Tour finals with $500K+ prize pool 2019 + 2020.
Quick facts
Category
Esports
Type
Individual
Players
2–2
Duration
~5 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Estimated origin
Released January 2018 by Arc System Works (developer) + Bandai Namco (publisher) on PC/PS4/Xbox One/Switch; huge FGC launch — became EVO 2018's largest entrant field (~2,900); FighterZ World Tour esports circuit 2018-2020 with $500K+ prize pools; ROLLBACK NETCODE added 2022 (previously delay-based).
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Deplete OPPONENT'S 3-CHARACTER TEAM's health across dynamic tag-team combat with ASSISTS + SUPERS.
Rules
Basic rules
3-VS-3 TAG-TEAM: each player picks 3 CHARACTERS; ACTIVE fighter can TAG-IN teammates or CALL ASSISTS mid-combo
Signature 3v3 tag format.
SIMPLIFIED INPUTS: 4 face buttons (Light-Med-Heavy-Special), AUTO-COMBO SEQUENCES + universal 236+H fireball make it accessible for newcomers while pro-level executions are deep
Signature accessible-input system.
SUPER-DASH: universal HOMING RUSH that closes distance instantly — makes NO-ZONING-SAFE + very aggressive game state
Signature Super Dash mechanic.
VANISHES + SPARKING BLAST + DRAGON BALL SUMMON: universal defensive parry + team-buff + REVIVE fighter with 7 Dragon Balls collected
Signature Dragon Ball summon mechanic.
40+ CHARACTERS: Goku (Base, SS, SSGSS, GT, Ultra Instinct, Vegito), Vegeta (Base, SS, SSGSS), Broly (DBZ + DBS), Frieza, Cell, Beerus, Jiren, Android 16-21, Nappa, Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien, Krillin, Videl, Master Roshi, Kefla, Gogeta (SSGSS + Blue + Ultra Instinct), etc.
Signature 40+ character roster.
EVO 2018-2024 mainstage; 2018 had biggest entrant field ever (~2,900)
Signature EVO major stage.
ROLLBACK NETCODE added late 2022 — dramatically improved online play + esports viability
Signature rollback netcode update.
FighterZ World Tour 2018-2020 with $500K+ finals prize pool
Signature World Tour circuit history.
Scoring
Best-of-3 or Best-of-5 rounds per match; tournaments use Best-of-5 or Best-of-7 sets in bracket format.
Win condition · Deplete opponent's 3-team HP first.
Equipment
GAMING PC (Steam) or PS4/PS5 (via backwards compat)/Xbox One/Xbox Series/Switch
Standard console/PC.
FIGHT STICK or PRO CONTROLLER (Hitbox + Razer Panthera common at pro level)
Signature FGC input hardware.
MONITOR ~1ms input lag (BenQ ZOWIE common at tournaments)
Signature pro tournament monitor.
Terminology
- Super Dash
- Universal homing rush attack.
- Vanish
- Universal defensive counter/reversal (costs 1 meter).
- Sparking Blast
- Team-power-up used to boost combos + defense.
- Assist
- Backup character called into fight for combo or defensive help.
- DHC
- Delayed Hyper Combo — chaining supers between team members.
- Dragon Ball Summon
- Collecting 7 Dragon Balls in-round summons Shenron to grant wish (revive, damage, healing).
- TOD
- Touch of Death — full combo from full HP.
- FighterZ Pass
- DLC bundle of new characters.
Major competitions
EVO — Dragon Ball FighterZ (mainstage 2018-2024)
annual (Aug) · Las Vegas, USA · since 2018
Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour (2018-2020, official circuit)
annual · Global (JP + US + EU finals) · since 2018
Combo Breaker (Chicago FGC major)
annual (May) · Chicago, USA · since 2015
Red Bull Kumite (invitational)
annual · Rotating (Paris, Vegas, London) · since 2015
CEO Fighting Game Championships (Daytona, FL)
annual (June) · USA · since 2010
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Arc System Works (developer)
Founded 1988 · Yokohama, Japan
Bandai Namco Entertainment (publisher + esports operator)
Founded 2006 · Tokyo, Japan
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- SonicFox (US, non-binary, 5× EVO champion — Dominique McLean, largest-earning DBFZ player)
- Kazunoko (JP, EVO 2019 runner-up)
- Wawa (US, EVO 2018 champion)
- GO1 (JP, Goichi Kishida, multi-Combo Breaker + Red Bull Kumite winner)
- Nitro (US, Combo Breaker 2020 winner)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Dragon Ball FighterZ— Wikipedia
- Bandai Namco DBFZ official— Bandai Namco