Quick Links
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero offers numerous character episodes, and your performance can unlock different story paths. However, during these episodes, you may face difficult opponents, and the only way to advance is to defeat them fairly.
The first challenge Goku faces in his character episode is Raditz, staying true to the lore as a significant obstacle for Goku. Luckily, you don’t have to take down Raditz right away; your main focus can be survival since he will abduct Gohan and retreat after a brief skirmish.
How to Start the Fight with Raditz
After Raditz withdraws, Goku must decide whether to team up with Piccolo or go at it solo. Opting to go solo kicks off the alternate Side-by-Side route, where you’ll face Raditz with Krillin at the Raditz vs. The Turtle School node.
In this scenario, you need to defeat Raditz within a certain time limit to continue on the Side-by-Side path. If you fail to defeat him in time, the story will revert to the main plot where Goku sacrifices himself to stop Raditz.
If you decide to partner with Piccolo, you’ll also need to defeat Raditz within a set time frame at the Rematch and Result node. Success in this encounter will move you into Goku’s Sparking Episodes within the Pushing The Limit route.
Regardless of whether you team up with Piccolo, the key to progressing through the alternate routes is to take down Raditz quickly.
How to Defeat Raditz
Raditz presents a significant challenge, outclassing Goku in strength, meaning just surviving will be tough, let alone winning—and you’re on a countdown.
This fight is tough partly because it takes place at the start of the character episode when many players might still be adjusting to the combat mechanics.
To take down Raditz, aim to charge your Ki and switch to Sparking Mode right away. Simple melee attack combos won’t make much of a dent against him; he’ll quickly retaliate. However, in Sparking Mode, you could unleash a full combo and follow it up with a Super Kamehameha as he is knocked back.
Raditz tends to play passively, focusing on counterattacks and Beam Ki Blasts. This gives you the chance to recharge your Ki and switch back to Sparking Mode when you can. Plus, after some time, you can switch out characters with Krillin or Piccolo, depending on the node, which can help significantly if Goku’s health is low.
The battle’s time limit isn’t clearly defined, but it’s crucial to act quickly and not waste a moment if you want to win. Otherwise, the fight will end in Raditz’s favor, reverting back to the Saiyan Arc.
If you run out of Skill Points and can’t switch to Sparking Mode, focus on defense rather than attacking with melee strikes, as Raditz tends to counter most of your attacks.
Even when you are in Sparking Mode, it’s wise to keep melee combos short and knock him away before he can escape. To do this, just press the Ki Blast button to push him back and follow up with your ultimate blast.
If you prefer an offensive strategy, you might try grabbing Raditz and slamming him into the ground. Following that, launch a Beam Ki Blast when he’s down to inflict substantial damage. Raditz rarely escapes from grabs, but be cautious—this technique requires you to be very close to him.
Using Kamehameha at close range is also effective since Raditz might not dodge it, allowing you to deal damage for free. This can be particularly useful while waiting for your first Skill Point to charge before switching to Sparking Mode.
Once you’ve activated Sparking Mode, capitalize on every chance you have to launch your attack. You can use Super Perception to counter Raditz’s melee strikes, knocking him back, then either follow up with an attack or simply unleash your Super Kamehameha for significant damage.
You don’t need to eliminate Raditz entirely to progress along the alternate routes. Just wear him down so he has very little health left by the time the timer runs out. If you’ve been performing well, you’ll hear Raditz comment about Goku’s power level being too high before the fight concludes.
Frequently switching to Sparking Mode and using Super Kamehameha after each combo will be your main strategy in this battle. If Raditz performs any special attacks that trigger a cutscene, you can easily avoid damage by pressing RB/R1/E right after the cutscene ends for a High-Speed Evasion.
Raditz’s counterattacks can be quite bothersome, but you can counter his counters by pressing RB/R1/E as he teleports behind you, effectively teleporting behind him instead. This will use up some of your Ki, but it’s better than getting knocked away and suffering heavy damage.
Once you familiarize yourself with the basic combat mechanics, the fight will become much simpler. Feel free to use training mode to refine your skills before attempting to take down Raditz. Alternatively, you can progress through the main story until you feel confident enough to return and challenge him.
What Happens After Defeating Raditz
Going Solo
When you defeat Raditz by opting to go solo, Goku and his Turtle School allies will come together to overcome Raditz, allowing Goku to survive the confrontation.
After their victory, they begin training together in the Side-by-Side route, gearing up for the more powerful Saiyans who are about to arrive.
Teaming Up with Piccolo
Should you choose to team up with Piccolo and successfully defeat Raditz, Piccolo will fire his Special Beam Cannon at a weakened Raditz at the end of the fight, ensuring Goku’s survival as part of the Pushing the Limit route, during his Sparking Episodes.
Once everything is settled, Piccolo and Goku will start training together along with Gohan. However, their training session is abruptly interrupted by the early arrival of the powerful Saiyans.