Combat

The game offers a user-friendly tutorial about the game's combat system. You can review the tutorials by talking to the robot named Garid near the Time Nest entrance. Also, the actual buttons in the illustrated tutorials will vary depending on the controller type layout you selected. (The screenshots below use Type C)

Movement / Boosting

Note: You don't need to keep holding X to boost; once your character is boosting forward, just steer him/her to the direction you want. He /she will only stop after you let go of the stick.

Lock-on

This is a very important control that you'll apply on every battle. Unlike most fighting games, battles in DBXV are fast-paced and happens mostly while flying. It will be hard to connect your attacks if you don't lock on to your intended target. This also allows you to home in on an opponent easily when boosting.

Attacks

Weak attacks are quick but don't deal that much damage. They're perfect for opening combos where you can connect strong attacks, and eventually, Super Attacks. Combos ending with Strong attacks have a solid knockback effect.

Ordinary Ki blasts are not primarily used for dealing damage but to harass opponents or stop them on their tracks. However, Ki Blast adepts like the Frieza race can excel in using Ki Blasts as a primary attack method.

As the game describes, throws are effective in taking care of blocking enemies and a knockback attack will usually throw the opponent off guard, allowing you to use a boost-combo follow up.

Guarding

Blocking enemy attacks is the basic way of protecting yourself from damage. This requires Stamina to use. Just Guard is like the "Perfect Guard" on most games. This is a bit difficult to time but if you did, you'll not only stun your enemy but also gain one bar of Ki to counterattack with heavy damage.

Counterattacking

Vanishing requires two stamina bars to execute when taking damage from an enemy attack or one bar when you're guarding. This move allows you to teleport behind your enemy to counterattack while avoiding further damage at the same time. Take note that the opponent can also vanish in response to your vanish, while you can do it the second time and so on. Usually, you can do two consecutive Vanishes so use this sparingly.

Overpowering a Guarding enemy

Charge attacks are slow but if they connect, they'll crush the enemy's Guard, leaving them open for follow up attacks. You can also use Vanish offensively to circle around the enemy and attack him/her from behind.

Super Attacks

Most Super Attacks need Ki to use. It's advised to use Super Attacks after landing a combo of basic attacks, to have a higher chance to connect. You can freely change what Super Attacks assigned in each button by accessing Customize > Skills in your menu.

Ultimate Attacks and Evasive Skills

You can have two Ultimate Attacks. You can learn new Ultimate Attacks by completing Parallel Quests or learning them from Masters. Ultimate attacks deal more damage obviously but they require more Ki. (About 3 times more than ordinary Super Attacks)

In the other hand, characters can only have one Evasive Skill. This is the best defensive skill you can trigger, at a cost of more stamina. Consider using this only during emergencies or when you're really in a bind.