You know that feeling when you're playing a fighting game and a character just clicks? Not because they’re broken or have some infinite combo that makes people rage-quit, but because they carry a specific weight. That’s Future Gohan in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. Honestly, he’s probably one of the most emotional additions to the roster, and for a long time, fans were genuinely worried the developers would mess him up.
There was this massive debate for years. Why did the old games always give him two arms? In the original Budokai Tenkaichi series, he had both, even though he famously lost one fighting Androids 17 and 18. It felt like a weird censorship thing. But Sparking Zero finally leaned in. He’s got the one-arm model, the one-armed fighting style, and a moveset that feels like he’s actually struggling against a world that’s falling apart.
The One-Arm Factor: More Than Just a Model Swap
For the longest time, Japanese gaming regulations were a bit finicky about showing dismemberment on "hero" characters. That’s why in Xenoverse 2 or BT3, Gohan would just sort of keep his left arm tucked away or use it sparingly. It looked awkward. Basically, he was a two-armed man pretending to be a one-armed man.
In Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, they finally fixed this.
He actually fights with one arm. It’s not just a visual choice; it changes his entire kinetic flow. His strikes have this desperate, wide-swinging momentum because he doesn’t have that second limb to balance himself or provide extra leverage. If you watch his idle stance, he’s leaning into the void where his arm used to be. It’s gritty. It’s exactly what the character needed to feel authentic.
You’ve got to respect the attention to detail in his animations. When he fires a Masenko, he’s bracing himself differently. His "Fierce Combination" ultimate isn't just a rehash of Adult Gohan's moves. It’s a sequence that feels like a final stand. He isn't fighting to win a tournament; he's fighting because if he stops, the world ends.
Unlocking the Last Hero: Don't Waste Your Zeni
If you just booted up the game, you’ll notice Gohan (Future) isn’t there. He’s locked behind a bit of a grind, but you have two ways to get him.
- The Shop: You can buy him for 60,000 Zeni. But wait. Don't do that yet. You need to hit a certain Player Level first, and honestly, 60k is a lot of money when you’re trying to buy items or other characters.
- The Custom Battle: This is the "correct" way to do it. You need to complete the "Defiance in the Face of Despair" challenge.
Actually, there’s a prerequisite for that challenge too. You have to beat the "Stop Android!" mission first. In "Defiance in the Face of Despair," the game puts you in Gohan’s shoes against both Android 17 and 18. It’s a 2-on-1 fight, which is notoriously annoying in Sparking Zero because the AI loves to coordinate their attacks while you’re mid-animation.
👉 See also: Why the Chicago Tribune Daily Word Jumble Still Rules the Breakfast Table
The trick? Use the Senzu Beans. The game gives you two of them, triggered by clicking the left analog stick when the icon pops up. Don’t use them at 80% health. Wait until you’re blinking red. If you can bridge the gap with his "Power Up to the Very Limit" skill, you’ll get a massive buff that lets you shred through 17’s health bar before 18 can even rotate in.
Why He’s Low-Key a Ranked Monster
People usually flock to the fusions like Gogeta Blue or Vegito because they have flashy teleports and screen-clearing ultimates. But Future Gohan is a sleeper hit in ranked matches.
His DP (Destruction Point) cost is usually lower than the top-tier monsters, making him a perfect "anchor" for your team. Most players don't realize how fast his recovery frames are. Because he only uses one arm for his primary strike strings, his hitbox is slightly different, and some players struggle to time their counters against him.
🔗 Read more: Free Online Games Block: Why Your Network Hates Fun and How to Fix It
The Skill Set Break Down
- Hyper Masenko: It’s faster than the standard version. You charge it on the side of the head rather than above it. It catches people off-guard because the visual cue is shorter.
- Special Beam Cannon: Yes, he can do it one-handed. It’s a great beam for punishing people who spam ki blasts from a distance.
- Power Up to the Very Limit: This is his bread and butter. It refills ki and boosts attack power. If you’re playing Future Gohan and you aren't using this every time you have a spare second, you're playing him wrong.
Honestly, the "Gohan Black" What-If scenario in the story mode is where he really shines. It’s one of those "Sparking Episodes" where the timeline deviates. What if Gohan actually went to the future and encountered Goku Black? The dialogue between them is cold. It gives the character a level of closure we never got in the original History of Trunks special.
The Verdict on Future Gohan in Sparking Zero
Is he the strongest character in the game? No. If you’re going up against a skilled Whis or a Beerus player, you’re going to have a hard time. But he’s probably the most rewarding character to master. There’s something deeply satisfying about beating a 10-DP Jiren with a one-armed Gohan who’s technically "weaker" according to the lore.
He represents the core of Dragon Ball—the struggle.
If you want to get better with him, stop trying to play him like Super Saiyan 2 Teen Gohan. He isn't a glass cannon; he’s a brawler. Use his "Wild Sense" to dodge, stay in the pocket, and abuse his high-stagger combos.
Next Steps for Your Future Gohan Mastery:
- Complete Gohan’s Story Path: Look for the "A Mentor's Guidance" branching path to see how his presence changes the Cell Saga events.
- Practice the "Defiance" Battle: Even if you bought him from the shop, go back and beat the challenge. It’s the best way to learn how to manage multiple opponents with his specific move speed.
- Check the Custom Battle Creator: Players have already uploaded some insane "Future Timeline" scenarios that are much harder than the base game missions.