View source for DBFZ/Defense

==Blocking==
Blocking is an integral action to keep yourself alive. Knowing how to use which block in which situation will improve your game immeasurably. Not only will you be able to defend better and survive longer, but in some cases you will be able to resume your offense faster.
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===Ground Block===
[[File:DBFZ_GroundBlock.png|thumb|250px|Ground blocking comes in high/low varieties]]
Basic ground blocking is the most common defensive option. Stand block can be performed by simply holding {{Ni|4}} ({{Ni|7}} can also be used in situations when jump cannot be performed). Crouch block can be performed by holding {{Ni|1}}.

Stand block can guard against high and mid attacks, while crouch block can guard against mid and low attacks. While in blockstun, the character will automatically stand block if no directions are held, and will crouch block if any downward directions are held.

Remember, you cannot block Dragon Rushes and throws!
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===Air Block===
[[File:DBFZ_AirBlock.png|thumb|150px|More blockstun than ground blocking]]
Basic air blocking is even easier: simply hold any backward direction while airborne. Air blocking does not have high/low blocking, but instead come with the restriction that you suffer more blockstun than ground blocking (2 more frames to be precise), which will likely force you to the ground while giving the opponent even more frame advantage.

Landing while in air blockstun does not cancel out the remaining blockstun - instead you will transition immediately into ground crouching blockstun with 4 more frames for the remainder of blockstun.
:For example, after blocking an attack in the air that causes 13F blockstun, you land after 10F. That means after landing, you will be in blockstun for 7F before you are free to move.

Also remember that after air blocking, your jump options are restored! This means that you can do something like double jump to block an aerial projectile, then double jump again, or airdash afterwards, if you're not too close to ground.

As with ground blocking, you also can't air block against air Dragon Rush and air throws.
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===Pre-Block===
When grounded, holding {{Ni|4}} or {{Ni|1}} when near an attack will cause the character to stay in place and perform a "pre-blocking" animation. Pre-block will lock you out of walking backward, using Z Assist and Z Change.

The range at which pre-block can occur is the same across all attacks, but not all attacks will trigger pre-block. For example, you can walk backward out of command grabs since they don't trigger pre-block.
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===Crossup Protection===
When a character is currently in blockstun, they will be able to block attacks coming from behind them by holding either backward and forward directions, or even by not inputting any direction at all. This crossup protection doesn't allow you to make "illegal" blocks: you still must block high/low correctly.

Projectiles and assist-type attacks has an extra layer of protection. If a side switch happens while these attacks are active, they can also be blocked with backward and forward directions, but not by running.

While it is impossible to have left-right mixups using assists with long blockstun, if there's even an 1F gap in the blockstring, the character will turn to face the opponent and you will not be protected from crossups.

A rule of thumb is to always block with respect to the opponent's point character.

WIP: Airborne and grounded crossups are treated differently...
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===Rising Overhead Protection===
[[File:DBFZ_RisingOverhead.png|thumb|While Android 16 is in standing blockstun, Frieza's rising j.L connects if he continues to block high, but whiffs if he switches to blocking low]]
Most overhead air normals when done with upward momentum will whiff against characters that are blocking low, even if their hitbox and hurtbox are overlapping!

Air normals that push the character upward are also affected by this. There are special cases that aren't air normal, also have this restriction on them.

This results in a few inconsistencies in Sparking state:
*At certain angles, canceling a blocked Super Dash into j.L can sometimes stuff reversal 2H, while other times will whiff and be punished. This is because blocked Super Dash at these angles will push the character slightly upward, triggering this protection
*Using Vanish (No Attack) immediately into an overhead can also whiff against crouching opponents due to the same reason that the character is pushed upward
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==Z Reflect==
[[File:DBFZ_ZReflect.png|thumb|Guards highs, lows and cross-ups. Pushes the opponent away]]
Z Reflect is a defensive tool that has guardpoint from frame 1 against all strike and projectile attacks beside Sparking Blast. While a whiffed Reflect is vulnerable during its recovery, a successful Reflect cannot be punished by any mean, and it also gains the ability to be canceled into attacks. Furthermore, if you successfully Reflected strike attacks, the opponent will be pushed over halfscreen away.

This is a very strong defensive option as it can beat meaties, safejumps, frametraps, creating space between you and your opponent, and when combined with attack cancelation, it can punish certain attacks that would otherwise be unpunishable with blocking!

Your frame advantage against any attack on Reflect is most often better than on block, but not strictly better all of the time. And depending on the situation, pushing the opponent away might not be desirable. Thus, it is important to learn when and when not to use Reflect.

Notes about Reflect:
* It can only be used on the ground with 4S input (can't be used with 7S or 1S). While mashing Reflect will disarm any frametrap in a blockstring, you'll have to be standing in order to use it, leaving you vulnerable to any true string low attacks.
* When being Reflected, attacks will be treated as though they were blocked. Although some attacks will also have unique behaviors only for when they're Reflected.
* Learning which attack to use after a successful Reflect, and when you should attack at all is also important, as certain blockstrings can continue pressure even after they're Reflected and will Counter Hit you.

Note: Videl does not have Z Reflect, but rather, a unique command dodge.
{{#lsth:DBFZ/Frame Data|Z Reflect}}

==Breaking Dragon Rush==
[[File:DBFZ_DragonRushBreak.png|thumb|Get off me!]]
When the opponent catches you with a Dragon Rush, press any attack button between 4 frames before the hit until 4 frames after the hit to break the rush (total 9F: 4F before + the frame it hits + 4F after). Dragon Rush' green flash cue appears on frame 7, thus at point blank, the last frame you can break a Dragon Rush is frame 17 from the flash.

If two Dragon Rushes meet each other, both are automatically broken. This increases the break window as you can input L+M way earlier than the 9F window of other buttons.

On Dragon Rush break, both players break away from each other, recover full screen away, and restore all air options.
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==Z Change==
[[File:DBFZ_ZChange.png|thumb|Change! Your teammate will come in with a Super Dash]]
Hold A1/A2 to swap out your point character with another on your team. An alternative quick Z Change can be performed by pressing {{Ni|6}}+A1/A2, which can be turned off or configured to {{Ni|2}}+A1/A2. After using a Z Change, you cannot use your teammates for anything else for a short time. Following that, there's a cooldown on using the character that was called back for a Z Assist or another Z Change. Cooldown will not commence while the opponent is in stun, but will continue if it has already commenced.

You can perform Z Change while in a neutral state or from normals or specials. Players often cancel into Z Change after hitting the opponent with 5H, 2H, j.2H or during a special with a long attacking duration since that allows players to safely change in a new character while extending the combo.

You can not perform Z Change while blocking or while in proximity block animation.
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==Guard Cancel==
[[File:DBFZ_GuardCancelChange.png|thumb|Stop the opponent's offense. Punishable if they anticipate it. Can still be used when down to one character]]
When you're in blockstun and on the ground, press {{Ni|6}}+A1/A2 at any point to swap out your point character with another on your team at the cost of 1 Ki Gauge. On hit, the opponent is knocked away about half screen, resetting the game back to neutral. On block, you cannot act and are fully punishable. As with a Z Change, you are locked out of using the character you tagged out for a short period of time. If you are down to one character, you will cancel into an attack that teleports behind the opponent instead, similar to a Vanish, only much slower and with some forward movement after the teleport.

Guard Cancel and combos started with it cannot KO.

† Despite being frame 1 fully invulnerable move, deals regular amount of recoverable health instead of 100% recoverable health. 
{{#lsth:DBFZ/Frame Data|Guard Cancel}}

===Vanish Guard Cancel===
Pressing {{Ni|6}}+{{M}}+{{HV}} during blockstun will trigger a vanish at the cost of 2 bars. This allows for escapes from stronger pressure.


===Reflect Guard Cancel===
Z Reflect and Super Dash can also be performed during Ki blast's blockstun as a weaker version of Guard Cancel.

More on this is described [[DBFZ/Attack_Attributes#Attack_Attributes|here.]]
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==Limit-Breaking Power==
[[File:DBFZ_LimitBreak.png|thumb|A gold trim appears around the portrait]]
When your team is down to one character left, they will be given a multitude of powerful perks:

*Gains 1 Ki gauge
*Damage is increased by 20%
*Deals 10% more unrecoverable health (yellow health)
*Sparking! will not end if you're in the middle of doing a combo

Resurrecting a teammate with [[DBFZ/Gauges#Dragon Balls|Shenron]] will remove these perks (beside the 1 Ki gauge) until you're back to one character again.

Limit-Breaking Power won't trigger if the team starts out with one character, via Local Battle Mode's "1 vs. 1" or "Any Number" Battle Format or other means.
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==Navigation==
{{DBFZ/Navigation}}