DRAGON BALL FighterZ Secret Locations That Hide the Best Rewards

DRAGON BALL FighterZ doesn’t hide loot chests in a traditional open world, but its secret rewards are tucked into Story mode branches, Arcade route requirements, Dragon Ball summons, lobby unlocks, and stage-specific Dra...

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DRAGON BALL FighterZ story mode map showing hidden routes and rewards
The Story mode map contains the game’s most easily missed unlocks.

DRAGON BALL FighterZ doesn’t hide loot chests in a traditional open world, but its secret rewards are tucked into Story mode branches, Arcade route requirements, Dragon Ball summons, lobby unlocks, and stage-specific Dramatic Finishes. The biggest prizes include Android 21, SSGSS Goku, SSGSS Vegeta, premium lobby characters, Zeni, Premium Z Coins, and cinematic battles you can’t trigger by accident.

This guide separates genuine unlocks from community myths. There are no secret treasure rooms behind destructible scenery, and the game’s map icons are more important than visual exploration. If you know which nodes to prioritize and how the reward systems actually roll, you can collect nearly everything without wasting hours replaying random fights.

Story Mode Secret Locations and Character Unlocks

DRAGON BALL FighterZ Story mode branching map with enemy and ally nodes
Branching nodes decide which Story mode rewards you collect.

The closest thing DRAGON BALL FighterZ has to secret locations is the branching Story mode map. You move across a board of battle nodes, but each turn also consumes time. That matters because some routes contain rescuable allies, optional clone fights, and better reward opportunities before the chapter timer expires.

Look for blue ally nodes and branching paths rather than blindly taking the shortest route to the boss. Rescueable characters join your available team after you reach them, while certain clone encounters award extra experience and Zeni. The map’s red enemy markers are usually mandatory, but neutral and ally markers are where the less obvious value sits.

The most important Story mode reward is Android 21. She unlocks after completing the three major Story arcs, not by finding a particular hidden square. The three arcs are Super Warrior Arc, Enemy Warrior Arc, and Android 21 Arc. Finish the Android 21 Arc’s final sequence and Android 21 becomes playable in every standard mode.

SSGSS Goku and SSGSS Vegeta can also be unlocked through normal gameplay rather than purchased DLC. SSGSS Vegeta unlocks at 300,000 Zeni, while SSGSS Goku unlocks at 500,000 Zeni. You can also unlock either character by completing the required Arcade route with an A rank or better, which is usually faster for experienced players than grinding currency.

Hidden RewardHow to Unlock ItBest RouteWhat to Watch For
Android 21Complete all three Story arcsFinish Android 21 ArcStory completion, not a secret map node
SSGSS VegetaEarn 300,000 Zeni or clear the required Arcade route with A rankArcade for skilled playersDo not spend Zeni casually if saving for him
SSGSS GokuEarn 500,000 Zeni or clear the required Arcade route with A rankZeni accumulation or ArcadeHigher currency requirement than Vegeta
Story team membersReach ally nodes on the mapUse branching pathsSome optional fights cost valuable turns

One practical warning: the Story map is not a free-roaming checklist. A route can become inaccessible when the turn counter advances, so don’t assume you can return later. If your goal is completion rather than speed, take the path that reaches blue ally nodes before the next required boss fight.

For official character and mode details, check the DRAGON BALL FighterZ Steam page and the official DRAGON BALL FighterZ website.

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Shenron and the Seven Dragon Ball Reward Room

Shenron appearing in DRAGON BALL FighterZ after collecting seven Dragon Balls
Seven Dragon Balls unlock Shenron’s four powerful wishes.

Shenron is the game’s most famous hidden reward system, and you can activate him during a normal fight. Collect all seven Dragon Balls, then perform a Light Auto Combo while your team has seven Ki bars. Shenron appears immediately after the combo sequence completes, giving you one of four wishes.

The Dragon Balls are awarded according to the hit count of a combo. A 10-to-19-hit combo awards the one-star ball, 20-to-29 gives two stars, and the pattern continues through the seven-star ball at 70 or more hits. The exact ball is tied to the combo range, so you can deliberately farm a missing Dragon Ball instead of hoping the game selects it at random.

There’s a catch: the game’s Dragon Ball inventory is shared across the match, and both players can contribute toward the same summon. That makes Shenron possible in online play, but it also means you may accidentally help an opponent finish their set. In local or offline battles, use a durable team and build Ki safely before attempting the final Light Auto Combo.

The four wishes are Restore My Health, Bring My Ally Back, Give Me Ultimate Power, and Make Me Immortal. Restore My Health fills the current character’s health, Bring My Ally Back revives a defeated teammate with a portion of their health, Give Me Ultimate Power fills your Ki and grants stronger Ki recovery, and Make Me Immortal provides continuous health and Ki recovery.

WishImmediate EffectBest SituationCommon Mistake
Restore My HealthRestores the active fighter’s healthYour point character is near defeatChoosing it when the active fighter is already safe
Bring My Ally BackRevives a defeated teammateTwo-on-one comeback situationsUsing it when your remaining fighter is already cornered
Give Me Ultimate PowerBoosts Ki and Ki recoveryCharacters who need meter for supersPicking it with no route to spend the meter
Make Me ImmortalProvides ongoing health and Ki recoveryLong, close matchesAssuming it makes you invincible

Shenron is powerful, but it isn’t a guaranteed comeback button. The activation gives your opponent time to recognize the animation and adjust their game plan. If you’re behind with one fighter against three, Bring My Ally Back can create more playable space than a health refill. If both teams are still healthy, Make Me Immortal is usually the most oppressive long-game choice.

For a detailed look at the game’s official systems and updates, the Bandai Namco game page is safer than relying on outdated forum charts.

Arcade Mode’s Hidden Routes and A-Rank Rewards

DRAGON BALL FighterZ Arcade Mode route and rank selection screen
Arcade performance, not just victory, controls the toughest routes.

Arcade mode hides its rewards behind performance, not exploration. Each route contains a fixed sequence of fights, but your rank determines whether the run branches into a harder path. The most valuable target is an A rank or better, because the hidden character unlocks tied to Arcade progress require that grade on their specified route.

The crucial detail is that Arcade rank is based on how quickly and cleanly you win. Taking heavy damage, using continues, and stretching fights with passive play can push the run below the required grade. Don’t burn your strongest assists early; save Sparking! for a match where the opponent’s health and timer make a comeback impossible without it.

Use a team with reliable corner damage rather than a flashy team that needs perfect confirms. A simple approach such as a medium starter, assist extension, vanish, and level-three knockdown is more valuable here than experimental loops. The CPU can be unpredictable, but it struggles against disciplined anti-airs and safe pressure.

Arcade ObjectiveReward ValueReliable StrategyRisk
Clear the routeRoute completion and currencyUse a stable three-character teamLate fights become harder
Earn A rank or betterCharacter unlock progressWin quickly with low damage takenOne slow match can ruin the run
Reach a harder branchExtra challenge and better scoreMaintain strong performance throughoutBranches punish defensive play

Before starting, visit Training mode and rehearse your anti-air response. The CPU loves jump-ins, vanish attacks, and raw special moves when it is under pressure. A grounded 2H into a full combo often saves more health than trying to challenge every approach with a light attack.

Steamoz’s weapon tier-list breakdown isn’t about FighterZ, but the same principle applies here: choose consistency over spectacle when a run has a strict performance requirement.

Lobby Avatars, Zeni, Premium Z Coins, and Other Missed Rewards

DRAGON BALL FighterZ lobby avatar collection and unlockable character rewards
Lobby rewards are easy to overlook after leaving the main menu.

The Lobby is where many players miss rewards because its collectibles are separate from the character select screen. Spend Zeni in the Lobby Shop to obtain lobby avatars, stamps, titles, and other cosmetic items. The shop’s selection rotates, so check it regularly instead of assuming a single visit exposes every item.

Premium Z Coins are another easily overlooked currency. They come from several progression and reward sources, including Story mode activities and match-related challenges. They’re used for special lobby items and can be more valuable than ordinary Zeni when you’re chasing a particular cosmetic set.

Don’t ignore the daily and event reward panels in the Lobby. Their availability changes with the game’s service schedule, and the exact reward pool can vary by version and platform. If you’re returning after a long break, check every menu marked with a notification rather than heading straight into Ranked.

The game also awards Zeni through Story completion, Arcade clears, Training-related progression, and regular battles. Save currency if SSGSS Goku or SSGSS Vegeta are still locked. Buying random cosmetic capsules first can turn a straightforward unlock into a long grind.

For players who enjoy tracking several long-term unlock systems at once, Steamoz’s beginner build guide offers a useful contrast: FighterZ has no gear build, but it still rewards deliberate resource planning.

Dramatic Finishes Are Secret Locations in Disguise

DRAGON BALL FighterZ Dramatic Finish cinematic between Goku and Frieza
Dramatic Finishes are hidden scenes triggered by precise stage conditions.

Dramatic Finishes aren’t map locations, but they are hidden scenes tied to exact character, stage, and finishing-hit conditions. They’re among FighterZ’s best secrets because the game gives little warning before a standard KO turns into a special cinematic.

The most reliable example is Goku versus Frieza on Planet Namek. End the match with Goku defeating Frieza using a heavy attack or a standing heavy-style finish while fighting on the correct version of the stage. The cinematic recreates the Super Saiyan showdown. Other finishes require specific rival pairings, such as Goku and Kid Buu on the Land of the Kais stage or Gohan and Cell on the Cell Games Arena.

Stage selection matters. Some Dramatic Finishes only activate on a particular stage, and the final blow must come from the correct character. If you’re testing one, turn off stage transitions you don’t need, avoid Ring Outs, and leave the opponent at a sliver of health before switching to the required fighter.

Finish TypeRequired SetupFinal BlowPractical Tip
Goku vs. FriezaPlanet Namek and rival pairingGoku heavy attack finishSet the final hit manually in local battle
Gohan vs. CellCell Games Arena and rival pairingGohan must score the KOKeep Gohan active for the final exchange
Goku vs. Kid BuuLand of the Kais and rival pairingGoku must finish the fightUse a low-damage combo into heavy attack

Some versions and updates add or alter Dramatic Finish availability, so confirm the current pairing list through the Arc System Works official site before farming a scene that may not exist on your platform.

If you want the cleanest completion route, finish Story mode first, preserve Zeni for the two SSGSS unlocks, then target Arcade A ranks. After that, farm Shenron in local battles and use Training mode to set up Dramatic Finishes. FighterZ’s secrets aren’t hidden behind obscure button codes; they’re hidden behind systems the game barely explains. Once you treat the map, currencies, and match conditions as one checklist, the rewards become surprisingly easy to sweep up.

For more focused gaming guides and performance advice, see Steamoz’s PC fixes guide, higher-FPS settings guide, and practical tips roundup.