Trunks FAQ
For: Dragonball Z Budokai
By: CloudMS7
Copyright(c)2002 to CloudMS7
Version 2.0
Introduction
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi, and welcome to my very first FAQ.
When I first picked this game up from the store, I had anticipated spending
every minute of my day playing as Vegeta, who is easily my favorite character
from the series, but I just found that his style somehow didn't suit me. I
loved using Final Flash over and over, but that's not exactly the best strategy
if you're looking to be good at this game, which I am. As I was stringing
myself from the ceiling with my controller cord, I said to myself "Hey wait,
Trunks has a sword!" As we all know, sword = good, AND he's one of the few
people who starts out with an attack that nukes the entire stage, leaving only
a crater to battle it out in. So, suffice to say, sword + nuke attack = my new
character.
During the course of this FAQ, I will assume that you at least have a general
idea of how to play the game, especially considering I have little to no ASCII
skills, so a Controller Diagram is out of the question.
My Controller Layout
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since I have an unavoidable habit of assuming that everyone on Earth sets their
controller up exactly how I do, I will tell you how I set up my controller so
if, for instance, I say "Press O", you will know what the hell I'm talking
about.
X = Kick
Square = Punch
(Notice my lack of ASCII skills. Even a square is out of my reach.)
O = Ki Blast
Triangle = Guard
L1 = Guard
R1 = P+G (Grab)
L2 = P+K+G (Transform)
R2 = P+K+G+E (Taunt)
Now, I know you're probably thinking to yourself, "Self, this is easily the
most amazing controller setup I have ever seen in my life. But, I seem to have
a few questions, even though I do realize the incredible potential this layout
has." Not to fear, young one. I will explain.
I changed "Kick" to "X" simply because I have been playing far too much Tekken
lately, and I kept Guarding instead of kicking my opponent in the face.
Since I play an insane amount of Super Smash Bros. Melee, my instincts to Grab
lead me to press R1, so I put "P+G" in place of "P+K", which is easy to
accomplish with my layout. This also explains my placement of Guard in the L1
position, so my first instinct to Guard will be the right one. Then I just put
Transform and Taunt in there, as I use them quite often, for obvious reasons.
So there you go. If I accidentally say "Square" instead of "Punch", you'll
know where I'm at.
---
Note: All damage numbers are calculated while in Normal Mode, non-SSJ. You can
obviously expect more damage from a customized character, but this will serve
as a basis for comparison between moves.
Combos
~~~~~~
In the following section, I'll list every Combo that I know of, as well as a
short tip on what they're for and how to use them.
Punch:
------
P - Damage: 70 - It's not a combo, but it's fast, allowing it to be used to
disrupt your opponent's combo, as well as tack on a quick 70 damage.
P,P - Damage: 135 - Unfortunately, I haven't found any strategic purpose to
perform only 2 punches, as the second has far too much recovery time, leaving
you open for attack.
P,P,P - Damage: 203 - Luckily, this combo works much better than P,P. It does
more damage, while having much less recovery time than P,P or P,P,P,P, making
it a safer bet against a Defensive opponent.
P,P,P,P - Damage: 258 - This combo is basically only useful for setting up a
Buster Cannon shot, as the final P leaves you open due to its recovery time. I
would recommend either stopping after the third P, or going for broke with a
Buster Cannon shot at the end.
P,P,P,Forward P - Damage: 293 - Although similar to the previous combo, it has
one added bonus, and that comes with the final Forward P. Trunks strikes his
opponent with an open palmed strike, which not only is fairly quick, but also
has great knockback power, making it very useful for Ring Outs/Wall Breaks/etc.
The only real downfall to this combo is the recovery time after the final
Forward P, but it's power and damage make it well worth the risk.
P,Forward P,P - Damage: 212 - Good damage, but the bad recovery time means
following this up with either a K or a Finish Buster is your best bet.
Forward P - Damage: 70 - It takes longer to start than a normal P, takes longer
to recover from, and does the same damage. No. Just no.
Forward P,P - Damage: 135 - It's startup time, damage, and recovery time aren't
exactly the greatest, so don't use this one on purpose.
Forward P,P,P - Damage: 203 - Again, it just has too much recovery time to be
truly effective. Your best bet is to keep going.
Forward P,P,P,P - Damage: 283 - From the looks of it, it has a slight edge on
recovery time over the previous combo, so if you need to end your combo, do it
here. That minute difference may save you from taking a Counter combo to the
face. Ouch.
Forward P,P,P,P,P - Damage: 383 - Not only does it finish with a strong punch
dealing 100 damage, but it launches your opponent into the air, making it a
safe, effective combo, but only if you connect with the final hit. If you see
your opponent blocking, be sure to make an attempt to end it with the previous
combo to up your chances of a painless escape. In the air, the final hit
changes to an open palmed strike to the chest, dealing the same damage, but
turning into a great Ring Out weapon. Connect with this in the right place,
and you'll either be sending your opponent through a mountain or outside the
ring. Sometimes the bigger risks are worth it...
Backwards P - Damage: 80 - Well, it has bad startup time, as well as recovery
time, but unlike Forward P, it does more damage. Use it either to mix up your
attacks or to set up for a dashing elbow, explained next.
Backwards P, Forward P - Damage: 160 - It's amazing how few of the people I
have talked to even realize that these two moves can be chained together. It's
a fairly simple combo, consisting of a backfist followed by a rushing elbow.
Like most moves with knockback power, it's main uses are: Ring Outs in the
World Tournament Arena, pushing your opponent away to gain some Ki, and pushing
your opponent through the "wall" of the arena. The main concern here is the
Backwards P's startup time, but the rushing elbow comes out very quickly once
the Back P is connected with. If you're having trouble beating the CP in World
Tournament mode, give this combo a try. Free cheap KO's for you.
Backwards P, P - Damage: 160 - Nothing special here, but it can easily lead to
a Forward P,P,P,P,P with the right timing. Damage abounds in this combo, but
it's not the most dependable in your arsenal, as it takes quick reflexes and
good timing to pull off. Give it a shot. You'll be very pleased with the
results.
Backwards P, P, Dashing P - Damage: 234 - Ah, more free KO's in World
Tournament mode. The second P in this combo launches your opponent into the
air, leaving them completely defenseless as they fall to the ground. While it
may take a bit of practice, you can easily follow this up with a rushing elbow
(Double Tap Forward, P), tacking on 74 more damage while at the same time
launching your opponent far away from you. What else could a guy ask for?
This is my personal Backwards P-started combo of choice.
Backwards P, Backwards P - Damage: 160 - Well, if you're looking to knock your
opponent down directly in front of you, then have I got the perfect combo for
you. I haven't found a real useful purpose for this myself, unless you're
really looking to shoot your opponent in the back with a Ki Blast while they
lay on the ground. If so, then go right ahead.
Dashing P - Damage: 80 - It's fairly simple, use this while dashing. If you
use this every time you are approaching your opponent, they will obviously
catch on and make you pay, so be sure to mix things up a bit by alternating
between dashing attacks and simply stopping your advance. Sure, it's not the
greatest strategy around, but it'll keep them on their toes. Dashing attacks
aren't known for their stealthy attributes.
Kick:
-----
K - Damage: 80 - Yes, it's quick, but because of the second K's speed, there is
really no reason to stop the combo so quickly.
K,K - Damage: 154 - Now here's your quick K combo of choice. It seems to me
that the second K recovers faster than the first, while retaining the range as
well. Slip this in any chance you have, and if they block it, the small amount
of recovery time will keep you relatively safe.
K,K,K - Damage: 222 - Eh, I'm not particularly fond of this, and I'll tell you
why. The third K, while setting up for further combos, has awful range. If
you're not practically inside of your opponent, this will not land, meaning
stopping your combo here is foolish. You will only be leaving yourself open.
Keep going, my friend.
K,K,K,K - Damage: 340 - Personally, I like to end the K combo after the second
K, simply because the third K can leave you open, but if you're willing to go
all out, the final kick does massive damage. On top of the damage, the final
kick also launches your opponent into the air, far away from you, which can be
good or bad depending on your situation in the battle. If you're losing, it
allows you a chance to gather yourself, as well as let any Support Capsules you
have take their effect. But, if you're winning, sending your opponent that far
away from you can work against you, so use your own judgment to decide, as I
can't rightly guess what your playing style is.
K,Backwards K - Damage: 231 - Although the speed on the first kick is up to
par, the speed on the second kick is lacking a bit. If connected, it does a
great job of sending your opponent into the ground, thus stopping their
advances and letting your regroup a bit. On the other side of the coin, if you
miss with the second kick, you are left wide open, as the point at which the
last hit of the second kick connects is at the highest point of the kick,
meaning you are wide open for the entire duration of Trunks bringing his leg
back down. Be sure they take the first kick cleanly, or be ready to end it as
soon as possible to avoid taking damage with no way to defend yourself.
K,K,Backwards K - Damage: 235 - Luckily, all 3 kicks in this combo are very
fast, meaning there's little chance your opponent will be able to block in
between them, making this a relatively safe combo to use at any point in the
match. Once again, the recovery time on the final kick is a pain, and will
leave you open to attack if they block it, so be sure to keep your eye open to
see if they take the second kick before you commit. Finally, a great way to
finish this combo is with a P,P,P,P,E Buster Cannon combo. It will up your
damage to almost 600, it only costs 1 Ki level, and it requires very little
practice to get the timing down. Just start hitting P after your Kick
connects, and you'll be sure to start it up. One of the easier combos to pull
off with great results.
K,Forward K - Damage: 170 - Another good, quick combo useful for Ring Outs,
Wall Breaks and knocking your opponent away from you. Definitely useful in
almost any situation.
K,K,Forward K - Damage: 231 - Although this combo does good damage, the
recovery from the spin kick leaves you open to attack, so I would recommend
either stopping after the first 2 kicks, or continue the combo with...
K,K,Forward K, K - Damage: 366 - Awesome combo. It does good damage, it's
quick, it's 5 hits, and it doesn't leave you open after the finisher. The only
concern here is that you are left open if the final kick doesn't connect, but
stopping the combo after the second kick should be no problem if your opponent
is blocking. Definitely make this a mainstay in your attacking strategy.
K,K,Forward K,Forward K - Damage: 306 - Basically the same as the previous
combo, only you sacrifice damage for a bit of safety. If you don't connect
with the final kick here, you're much safer than with the previous combo. But,
on the other side of the coin, even if you connect with the final kick, you're
still left slightly open for attack. All in all, I say stick with K,K,Forward
K,K, and stop it early if they are blocking.
Forward K - Damage: 90 - Another reason Trunks is my favorite character, he
knees people in the face. Not only does this move have a rather short amount
of startup time, it leaves your opponent reeling while not taking much time for
recovery. But, the followup kick is so fast that there are very few times that
you would only want to perform this kick, so it cuts down its usefulness quite
a bit.
Forward K,K - Damage: 164 - Trunks starts with his knee, then immediately
follows with a quick kick to the midsection. It's fast with an average
recovery time, and even though the next kick lacks adequate range, your best
bet is to keep going with the combo considering the speed of the next kicks.
Forward K,K,K - Damage: 232 - Unfortunately, it suffers from bad range, so
either stop before it, or keep going afterwards.
Forward K,K,K,K - Damage: 303 - Although the spinning kick at the end may look
cool, it's recovery time will hurt you more than it helps if you don't finish
the combo. Keep pressing your Kick button...
Forward K,K,K,K,K - Damage: 371 - There we go. Trunks finishes off the entire
combo with a strong kick to the midsection, launching your opponent backwards.
This full combo does great damage with the added benefit of a small increase in
range from Trunks using his legs as opposed to his arms. Once again, the
launching can be used for Ring Outs, etc.
Backwards K - Damage: 85 - Great damage and range, but horrible startup time.
Better be prepared to finish this off with something, or expect a world of hurt
to be coming your way.
Backwards K, K - Damage: 236 - This short combo does awesome damage considering
its short input sequence, but it still suffers from the bad startup time of the
Backwards K. It should be noted, although, that the risk you take with this
combo is rewarded by your opponent being knocked to the ground, thus allowing
you to either hit him with a quick Ki blast, or wait patiently for their next
move.
Backwards K, Forward K - Damage: 168 - This is one of the faster ways to launch
your opponent into the air, but not the most effective. Unless Aerial fighting
is your forte, stick with the Backwards K,K as your Back K combo of choice.
Backwards K, Backwards K - Damage: 173 - Although this move launches your
opponent into the air for a small amount of time, your options are somewhat
limited to what you can do to them. You have just enough time to either follow
up with a rushing elbow or a Ki Blast, both doing close to the same amount of
damage. If you're relatively new to the game, stick with the Ki Blast, as it
is quick and easy to pull off, but if you can pull off the rushing elbow, do
so. It knocks them a good distance away from you, allowing you to either hit
them with a followup Ki blast, or gather Ki/let Support Capsules do their work.
I've managed to pull off a dashing kick a few times, thus launching your
opponent into the air, but it just doesn't seem as dependable as the elbow or
Ki Blast.
The strongest combo I have managed out of this is to follow the second K with a
P, Forward P, P - Finish Buster combo. Try simply holding Forward and pressing
P 3 times after the second hit connects, then following it with E. It does
good damage and has the knockback power of Finish Buster along with it.
Dashing K - Damage: 90 - Your dashing K does more damage than your dashing P,
but I haven't really grown accustomed to using it. It seems to have less range
than dashing P, so I rarely use it. If you're looking for a change in your
dashing advances, give this a shot, but I wouldn't suggest building an offense
around it.
Guard + Kick - Damage: 195 - This is a quick, damaging "combo" that is actually
more useful than most people give it credit for. It comes out just as fast as
a standard K, only the second and third kicks connect MUCH faster than in a
standard K,K,K combo. The only downfall that this move has is the small amount
of lag after the third kick has connected, but even that is minimal and does
not justify being hesitant about using this move. Also, this move is safer
than a K,K,K combo simply because the final kick launches your opponent into
the air slightly, leaving them defenseless (Although you can't follow up with
an attack until after they have landed due to the lag of the final kick.), and
halting their attacks until they Safe-Fall or land on their face. Overall,
this is actually a great move, and you might even want to hotkey it on your
Controller setup, even though I have not. It's up to you.
Punches and Kicks:
------------------
(For the next 3 moves, P + K means inputting both the Punch and Kick buttons at
the same time.)
P + K - Damage: 100 - This is a simple attack that launches your enemy into the
air, and is one of the faster way to start up some aerial combat. It can be
charged, but contrary to popular belief, charging will NOT increase the power
nor the damage. It is simply a way to ensure that you connect with the attack
when you want to connect with it. It is also one of the elements needed to
trigger Burst Zone, although the timing is rather difficult, and doesn't
accomplish much aside from knocking your opponent away from you (And tiring
your thumbs in the process.). Note: All 3 P+K move have a special attribute,
and that is the fact that you are invincible during the startup, meaning you
can charge them as much as they can be charged without worrying about your
opponents attacks. The only exceptions are Ki combos, such as Buster Cannon or
Finish Buster, and also note that you are not invincible while the attack has
initiated, meaning you can be hit while you are attacking your opponent.
Forward P + K - Damage: 95 - Similar to P+K, this is a simple move intended to
launch your opponent directly forward, which would obviously equate to Ring
Outs, Wall Breaks, etc. It's startup time is a bit slow, but is on par with
moves such as Backwards P, meaning it is an effective tool when going for a
quick Ring Out. I find it especially effective after executing a Guard Break,
as your opponent is wide open and this is an assured way of knocking them back
a good distance.
Backwards P + K - Damage: 85 - This is the third simple task move that employs
P+K, only this one is what I like to call a "Small Airtime Launcher", or one of
the other similar terms I have used throughout this FAQ. This move is fairly
quick, does average damage, and leaves your opponent open to literally ANY
combo you want to throw at them. Buster Cannon, Finish Buster, Physical
Abilities, Physical Attacks, and yes, even Burning Attack can be comboed after
this move, although the timing can be difficult if not practiced enough.
Timing is the key to making this simple move turn into big payoffs, so be sure
to spend some time in Practice mode with this one.
P,K - Damage: 153 - Quick, easy combo to pull off, with the added bonus of the
punch's speed coupled with the knockback power of the kick. Guess which stage
this comes in handy.
P,P,K - Damage: 212 - 2 quick punches, but the speed of the kick leaves
something to be desired. Keep this combo going.
P,P,K,K - Damage: 287 - Great combo. The final kick comes out remarkably fast
after the first, deals good damage, while at the same time lifting your
opponent off the ground, preventing any counters. Recovery time on the final
kick isn't what it should be, so be aware that a savvy Blocking opponent can
make you pay.
P,P,K,Forward K - Damage: 347 - Another good combo to practice. The final kick
not only hits twice, doing great damage, it launches your opponent into the
air, nulling any chance of a counterattack. But, once again, if you miss the
final kick, you are left wide open for attack, so be absolutely sure you can
make contact with it. If they take the first K, you are usually safe to
proceed into the Forward K, so keep your eyes open.
P,P,K,K,K - Damage: 380 - If you connect with the second kick, the final kick
is a Godsent. If you miss with the second kick and attempt to land the third,
you WILL be punished. You have a little bit of leeway in which to hesitate
before initiating the final kick, so don't be afraid to wait on the final press
to see if your second kick connects. It's better than taking a combo simply
because of a missed finisher.
Forward P,K - Damage: 158 - This little combo doesn't serve much of a purpose
unless your opponent is blocking, in which case it would be much better to end
it after your first kick rather than the second.
Forward P,K,K - Damage: 235 - If the first kick connects, continue with the
combo. If it doesn't, don't attempt the final kick, as it does have slightly
more recovery time than the first. Better safe than sorry, eh? The final kick
of this combo acts like your rushing K, as it launches your opponent into the
air. Nothing new here, just a different way of approaching the same result.
Forward P,P,P,K,K - Damage: 396 - Another high damaging combo that you should
get familiar with quickly. It's very easy to pull off, it has awesome
knockback power, and it's similar to the combo used to perform the Burning
Attack, adding a little variety to it as well. The only downside is that if
the first or second kick misses, you are left wide open for attack, so be sure
to end the combo at the first sign of your opponent blocking. Note: The final
K can be charged, but I haven't found an effective use for it as of yet. It
seems that even a slight charge can cause a miss, and the damage doesn't seem
to go up either, so I would stick with a simple kick button tap for the
finisher on this combo.
Backwards P, K - Damage: 180 - Once again, the bad startup time on the Back P
limits its usefulness, but the launching ability of the K makes it worthwhile.
This is a safer alternative than Backwards P, P, Dashing P for launching
purposes, so feel free to alternate between the two to add a little variety to
your attack.
Backwards P, Forward K - Damage: 210 - Did I mention the bad startup time on
Backwards P yet? To put it simply, this accomplishes the same thing the
previous combo did, only it does 30 more damage. Choose whichever suits your
style more, but I prefer this one myself. More damage = good.
Backwards P, Backwards K - Damage: 175 - This acts like the other "small
airtime launchers", only it seems to develop a bit slower because of the knee's
slightly slower startup time in comparison to the P you could follow Back P
with. Is the slightly higher damage worth it? In my opinion, no, but you
choose whichever works best for you.
Once again, you can add Forward P,P,P,P,P after this move with proper timing,
adding much more to the damage total stated before.
P,Forward P,P,K - Damage: 330 - This combo does great damage, it knocks your
opponent into the air, and it can't be disrupted, so why NOT use it? Well,
there's a bit of recovery time at the end, but other than that, it's one of
your best bets. Definitely one of Trunks' best combos.
K,K,Forward K,Forward K,P - Damage: 391 - Not only will this do great damage to
your opponent, but it also sets up for a Finish Buster, which has great
knockback power as well as adding tremendous damage to this already powerful
combo. This is a rather safe combo with some great payoffs. Use it often.
Forward K, P - Damage: 170 - Pretty simple, it's a quick knee to a fast punch.
You have much better combos in your arsenal, but a little variety never hurts.
Backwards K, P - Damage: 159 - Although the bad startup time on the Back K
hampers this combo's speed, the followup punch is very fast. Also, this is yet
another small combo that can lead to either Forward P,P,P,P,P or P,Forward P,P,
Finish Buster.
Note: If I have forgotten any combos, feel free to let me know. Any combo that
ends with a "Small airtime launcher" can usually be followed up with either a
Dashing A, Finish Buster combo, or a Forward P,P,P,P,P, but if you have other
finishers, E-mail me.
Special Attacks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are just a collection of the various Special Attacks, a description of
what they do, and, if applicable, any combos that they can be worked into.
Super Saiyan - Although SSJ is supposed to give you a flat 10% increase in
damage, from my calculations so far, it seems SSJ gives anywhere from a 5-15%
increase, but adds a slight increase in speed to boot. You only need 3 Ki
Levels to activate Super Saiyan, so don't be afraid to start off the battle
with your transformation if you feel the need to do so. This also allows you
to perform "Burning Attack", which is Trunks' incredibly powerful Special
Skill. Since the only downside to being SSJ is a slow drain on your Ki levels,
I suggest being Super Saiyan whenever possible. If you find it doesn't suit
your style, you can even take it out of your Custom Capsule Tray and focus more
on Defense and Buster Cannon/Finish Buster. There's no wrong way to do it, so
give both ways a try.
Super Trunks - Super Trunks will give you an added 10% in damage (On top of the
previous increase from Super Saiyan, or a flat 20% if you like.), as well as a
rumored boost in speed, which I can't confirm as of yet. So far, I haven't
really found that using another slot for Super Trunks is very helpful, as I can
easily gain more damage from a simply Mixed Blood Power Capsule, which is
effective during the entire battle. I do recommend having Super Saiyan in your
Capsule Tray, the main reason being to allow you to use Burning Attack, but
there are better uses for your valuable Capsule Tray slots than this.
Super Trunks2 - It's the same as Super Trunks, only it adds 10% more to your
total damage, making for a full 30% increase in damage as opposed to Normal
Trunks. While doing 30% more damage may sound very tempting, there are
downsides to this power. First, it takes 3 full slots just to allow you to
have the ability to transform to Super Trunks2. Second, you have to attain 5
Ki Levels before transforming, meaning Ki Finisher combos are out of the
question at the beginning of the battle. Lastly, Mixed Blood Power not only
adds 15% damage for the entire battle, but it adds 10% defense as well, making
it a much better option in my opinion, as it'll give you a better overall power
while not forcing you to constantly strive to get your Ki Level up to 5 for the
sole purpose of gaining power. I will say, though, that Trunks looks awesome
when he goes Super Trunks2, and his picture gets cooler, so it's not ALL bad.
Buster Cannon - Damage: 280 (Alone), 479 (Complete Combo) - The two more
prominent combos that trigger Buster Cannon are: P,P,P,P,E and Forward
K,P,P,P,E. If you have created a Custom Trunks, chances are you will be using
P,P,P,P,E more often, to save slots for other Capsules. If not, Forward
K,P,P,P,E works just as well, except with the added bonus of a longer range on
the initial hit. Whichever works for you is the one you should use. The
damage difference is minimal, but be aware that Buster Cannon has no knockback
power, which can lead to a counterattack from your opponent.
Finish Buster - Damage: 300 (Alone), 541 (Complete Combo) - The two most common
combos to initiate Finish Buster are: P,Forward P,P,E and K,K,Forward K,Forward
K. Both are equally easy to pull off, but the kicks do quite a bit more
damage, at the cost of a small amount of speed. Not only does Finish Buster do
more damage, it has an innate knockback attribute, making it perfect for World
Tournament Ring Outs, Wall Breaks, etc. There really is no downside to using
Finish Buster, so I focus on this more than Buster Cannon.
Burning Attack - Damage: 1100 (Alone) - Burning Attack can be triggered by
pressing: Forward P,P,P,K,E. Simple enough. Oh, and by the way, 1100 damage.
And that is just in the original Super Saiyan mode. Ouch. Learn to connect
with this on a regular basis and victories will come much, much easier.
Blast Attack - Damage: 559 (Complete Combo) - Initiated by K,K,Forward K,K,E.
Nothing entirely special about Blast Attack. It does good damage, and it only
costs 1 Ki level, making it a great move to have in your Capsule Tray. I'm
more of a fan of the Ki Blasts, myself, so I tend to not put this into my
Custom Trunks, but it's definitely worth it if it suits your playing style.
Energy Burst - Damage: 833 (Complete Combo) - Initiated by Forward P,P,P,P,E.
The benefits are that it does great damage, puts your opponent far away from
you, and leaves you fairly safe during the startup combo, all important factors
when considering whether to put it into your Capsule Tray or not. But, it does
have a couple downsides to it. For one, the Forward P isn't the fastest combo
starter around, making it a bit more risky to start than the previous combos.
Second, it costs 2 Ki levels, which may be a bit more than you are willing to
use on one move if you have gone the Super Saiyan/Super Trunks route. Third,
there's no knockback power, meaning its sole purpose is dealing damage
(Although, it does quite a good job of accomplishing that task.). All in all,
this is another tossup whether you want it in your tray or not. If you are
using Super Trunks/Super Trunks2, I wouldn't suggest placing this in your
arsenal. On the other hand, if you are using Normal Trunks, or have a Gero's
Perpetual Energy R&D equipped, this is a great fit for your Capsule Tray.
Rapid Fall Slash - Damage: 250 - It's your basic grab attack. Personally, I
don't even have this attack in my tray, as I find it much more beneficial to up
my Attack and Defense with my Capsule Tray slots. If you find yourself
fighting an opponent who constantly blocks, either play the waiting game with
them or use a Guard Break (A strong attack, such as Dashing P, that breaks
through your opponent's Guard, leaving them open for attack.) and they'll
eventually leave themselves open. On the other hand, if you just can't seem to
get by without a Grab attack, then by all means put Rapid Fall Slash in, as it
does decent damage, has a good startup time, and is relatively safe to use.
Meteor Break - Damage: 587 - Sure, it's fun to watch, but using 3 Ki Levels to
do 587 damage is NOT in your best interest, especially if you are using
SSJ/Super Trunks. There are plenty of 1 Ki level combos that do as much damage
as Meteor Break, so I recommend removing this from your Capsule Tray in favor
of Energy Burst or an extra Support Capsule.
Capsule Information:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The prominent reason this game is such a vast improvement over previous DBZ
games is the addition of the Exciting Skills System. If you need to know more
about the E.S.S. in general, there is an in-game tutorial as well as a full FAQ
here on GFAQ's that will teach you everything you need to know. This portion
of my FAQ will cover each Capsule that Trunks can equip, and why you
should/shouldn't place it in your Capsule Tray. (I covered all Ability/Physical
Capsules in my "Special Skills" section. I'll add a brief summary after each
Capsule here, but please refer to "Special Skills" for a detailed explanation.)
Ability:
--------
1. Super Saiyan - 10% increase in damage, slight boost in speed, slow drain
on Ki, takes 3 Ki Levels to activate.
2. Super Trunks - 20% increase in damage, slight boost in speed, slow drain
on Ki, takes 4 Ki Levels to activate.
3. Super Trunks2 - 30% increase in damage, slight boost in speed, slow drain
on Ki, takes 5 Ki Levels to activate.
4. Buster Cannon - Basic Ki Blast combo, average damage, uses 1 Ki Level.
5. Finish Buster - Ki Blast combo with knockback power, above average
damage, uses 1 Ki level.
6. Burning Attack - Trunks' Ultimate Move, massive damage, only usable in
Super Saiyan or above, uses 3 Ki Levels.
Physical:
---------
1. Blast Attack - Good damage, no knockback power, uses 1 Ki Level.
2. Energy Burst - Great damage, relatively safe and easy to execute, uses 2
Ki Levels.
3. Rapid Fall Slash (Grab) - Below average damage, unblockable, uses no Ki
Levels.
4. Meteor Break - Average damage, fast, but doesn't do enough damage to
warrant the 3 Ki Levels used.
Support:
--------
1. 1/3 Senzu Bean - 1 slot - The 1/3 Senzu Bean is activated when you are
KO'd, reviving you with 1/3 of your Health restored as well as giving you
1 Ki level. Now, I realize it doesn't sound like much, but this is
actually one of the better values for just one Capsule Tray Slot. For
the most part, battles are won by very slim margins, meaning your
opponent has at least less than 1/3 life left when you are KO'd. What
the 1/3 Senzu Bean does is bring you back into the fight, and even though
it doesn't completely fill your gauges like the full Senzu Bean does, it
gives you enough power to finish off your opponent even if you make a
mistake or two in the process. All in all, unless you seem to be losing
your battles by an insane amount of Health (In which case you should be
practicing, not wasting 2 added Capsule Slots on the full Senzu Bean.), I
would suggest sticking with the 1/3 Senzu Bean to protect you from a
quick KO.
2. Senzu Bean - 3 slots - I've already talked a bit about it with the 1/3
Senzu Bean, but I'll reiterate. Most battles are won by small margins,
meaning your opponent won't have much life left when he/she KO's you.
So, do you really need to completely fill your entire Health and Ki
levels? I think not. With those 2 slots, you can easily raise your
Attack/Defense/Ki levels to a high level, in which case you wouldn't even
need a Senzu Bean. Not to mention the fact that Senzu Beans aren't your
most effective Defense in World Tournaments. But, once again, if you are
a Defensive player and prefer Turtling your opponent as opposed to a more
Offensive strategy, I can see where this would do you a world of good.
It would give you an insanely high margin of error, while allowing you to
equip Saiyan Heritage to ensure your victory after your first death. So,
it's really up to your playing style. That's why they call it a "Custom"
Trunks.
3. Normal Fiber Jacket - 1 slot - Plain and simple, it's a 10% increase in
your Defense. Although that may sound like a good deal, you also need to
know that the Mixed Blood Power not only increases your Defense 10%, it
also increases your attack by 15%, and is just as easy to acquire as the
Normal Fiber Jacket. But, if you are just starting out in the game, and
have very few Capsules, any little bit helps and this is a great
Beginner's Capsule, so don't be afraid to place it in your tray if you
feel the need.
4. Quality Fiber Jacket - 2 slots - Like the Normal Fiber Jacket, only it
gives you a 20% increase in Defense, as well as taking an added slot in
your Capsule Tray. Once again, I feel that Mixed Blood Power does you
more good for less slots, so I suggest skipping this one as well.
5. Sturdy Fiber Jacket - 3 slots - Just like the other two Jackets, only it
adds 30% to your Defense, and takes yet another slot in your tray. I
myself can't justify using nearly half my slots to gain 30% Defense, but
then again, I'm an Offensive styled player, so I'd much rather boost my
Attack than my Guard. If you are looking to build a Defensive oriented
Trunks, this may be the first step you want to take. Put this, a Senzu
Bean and Mixed Blood Power/Saiyan Heritage in your Tray, and I don't
think you'll be dying any time soon.
6. Missing - ??? - I haven't got this Capsule yet, so that makes it quite
difficult to tell you how to use it. It sits to the right of the Sturdy
Fiber Jacket, so any info on what this could be would be much
appreciated.
7. Gero's Energy R&D - 1 slot - In theory, this would be a great Capsule to
have equipped, as any time you reflect an opponent's Ki Blast, you gain
Ki energy. But, sadly, the usefulness of this capsule is ruined by the
simple fact that there are hardly any Ki Blasts shot, much less
Deflectable Ki Blasts. At most, you'll see 5 Ki Blasts come your way in
a battle, and if you deflect 3 of those, you may even gain 1.5 Ki levels,
and that's only if you time it to Deflect-Back each time. Make it 0.9 if
you simply deflect it away from you. I just don't think that this
Capsule is the best use of your valuable slots, unless you have a friend
who is determined to shoot 20 Ki Blasts your way each battle. Then, and
only then, I would suggest equipping this, but for normal purposes, look
towards your other capsules.
8. Gero's Deflection R&D - 1 slot - No. Just no. Don't do it. I'd rather
have a blank spot in my Capsule Tray.
9. Gero's Deflect-Back R&D - 1 slot - Well, it has one thing going for it,
it's not the Deflection R&D. Ki Blasts just aren't strong nor plentiful
enough to fill up a valuable slot with an auto-Deflect-Back, as you can
easily Deflect it yourself with very little practice in timing. Spend 5
minutes in Practice Deflecting a Ki Blast against the CP and you'll be as
proficient at it as you need to be. Skip this one.
10. Mixed Blood Power - 1 slot - Now here's a Capsule definitely worth your
while. For one Capsule Tray slot, you get a 10% Defense increase, as
well as a 15% Attack increase, making this one of the best values for
Support Capsules in the game. Also, this lasts the entire battle, making
it much more useful than Capsules such as Rage/Serious/Kami Water etc.,
so placing this in your Capsule Tray is a must for almost any style of
player.
11. Viral Heart Disease - 2 slots - Without Vaccine, this is one of the more
worthless Capsules you can place in your Tray, especially considering
that it takes 2 slots. Now, if you want to use this in conjunction with
Vaccine, it can be a very lethal combination, especially against any
annoying Defensive players you might come up against. The longer it
takes them to KO you, the more damage they take, meaning it's perfect in
that situation. But, on the other side of the coin, if you facing an
Offensive player, they may be able to take advantage of your lack of
Skills/Defense that you have given up because of the 3 slots you have
given up for this tactic. Know your opponent before attempting the Viral
Heart Disease/Vaccine combo. Note: Viral Heart Disease/Vaccine is the
easiest way to win the World Tournament at the higher difficulties, which
makes earning money a breeze. Set the Match Time to 30 seconds, equip
the 2 capsules, then Guard/Evade for the entire battle.
12. Vaccine - 1 slot - Unless used in conjunction with Viral Heart Disease,
this is quite worthless. The only real situation I see this being useful
in is if you are fighting a friend who is using the Viral Heart
Disease/Vaccine combo, in which case you null his advantage while only
using 1 Capsule slot. It would be rather foolish of your opponent to
reveal their Custom Capsule setup to you, so this is a rare, rare
occasion.
13. Super Holy Water - 1 slot - To be quite honest, I can't tell you what
this does. I've taken it into Practice Mode, but I can't seem to get it
to change any stats, nor does it seem like I take less damage, but I
could be wrong. If you have any in-depth info on this, feel free to
Email me.
14. Saiyan Heritage - 1 slot - Once again, I can't seem to get any official
percentages on how much this increases your Attack and Defense, but I can
say that I do see a noticeable difference in how much damage I give
out/receive after this is initiated. If you plan on using a Senzu Bean
in your tray, I will recommend going for broke and adding this in to
maximize your powers in your 2nd life.
15. Serious! - 1 slot - When your life reaches 1/3 or less (Meaning you have
gone down into your red/orange bar.), your Attack is increased by 10%.
Well, it's not the worst Capsule you could find, but I'd much rather
stick with an Ability, Physical, or Mixed Blood Power/Normal Jacket
Capsule if I wanted a 1 slot improvement. I say skip it.
16. Serious!! - 2 slots - Same thing, only it initiates at half life, and
you get a 20% increase in Attack. Depending on low life to up your
Attack is usually not the best strategy, but this is probably the best
value of the 3 "Serious" capsules. I'm not a big fan of them myself, but
if it suits your style, then go for it.
17. Serious!!! - 3 slots - Same thing again, only it initiates at 2/3 life,
and gives you a 30% increase in Attack. I have to say, I was tempted by
the 30% increase, but 3 slots is just a bit too much for me to sacrifice.
If you are willing to go all out with this one, be sure to save your Ki
levels for later in the fight for when you can deal the most damage with
your boosted Attack power.
18. Rage! - 1 slot - 10% increase in Attack for the first 10 seconds of the
battle. Battles aren't won in 10 seconds. Leave it be.
19. Rage!! - 2 slots - Same, but 20% for 15 seconds. They're not won in 15
seconds, either. Skip it.
20. Rage!!! - 3 slots - This is probably the worst of the 3, as it wastes 3
very valuable Capsule slots. It gives you a 30% increase in Attack for
20 seconds. Folks, I'm sorry to say that battles just aren't over in 20
seconds. Plus, this commits you to an all out Attack pattern for 20
seconds straight, and if your opponent sees that, you stand little to no
chance of pulling off any effective attacks. Mixed Blood Power (Do I
mention this Capsule enough?) gives you 25% worth of stats, only it's for
the entire battle, whether it lasts 1 second or 3 minutes. Don't rely on
any Capsule that requires you to be at a certain Health/Time Frame to
become active, as it only limits your abilities and your options while
battling. If you want your battle cry to be "I'm really strong for 20
seconds and half my Capsule slots are gone! Charge!", then by all means
put Rage!!! in.
21. Potential - 2 slots - Well, I must say, Potential is one of the better
Capsules out there, especially for an all out Attack Trunks. You start
out with a 10% increase, and then every 8 seconds, your attack is
increased 10% for a maximum of a 40% total increase. So, in about 30
seconds, you have yourself a 140% Attack rating, which is higher than
Super Trunks2 gives you, and all for only 2 slots. Did I mention it
lasts the entire battle? Well now I did. Potential should definitely
should be high on your list of priorities, and it goes perfectly with a
Super Saiyan Trunks using Burning Attack.
22. Super Kami Water - 1 slot - Super Kami Water is one of the more commonly
used Capsules, and you can see why. It gives you a 30% increase in
Attack from the beginning of battle, and it lasts throughout the entire
match. But, it initiates a drain on your Health. Now, I realize 30% is
incredible, especially for one Capsule, but the Health Drain is just too
much. The second you run into a slow paced, Defensive player who is well
versed in the art of blocking, you WILL lose. He simply has to block and
evade while watching your Health fade down to 1/6th it's total. This is
yet another Capsule that forces you into an almost blind attack pattern,
and I just don't think it's worth the risk for you. Keep your health
around, and depend on Super Saiyan/Mixed Blood Power/Potential for your
Attack increases. Note: The only exception to the rule may be if your
are trying to set up a one hit killer Trunks. Give him Capsules such as
Super Saiyan, Super Trunks, Super Trunks2, Mixed Blood Power/Potential,
and 2 Burning Attacks, and you'll be doing over 2000 damage in a single
attack. Give it a shot, and see what you think.
23. Gero's Perpetual Energy R&D - 3 slots - Well, this Capsule boils down to
strictly what style of player you are. It gives you unlimited Ki,
meaning you can perform a Ki combo at any point in the battle, which is
obviously a good thing. But, it doesn't allow any Transformations (No
Super Saiyan.), and it takes up 3 of your 7 slots, meaning your Attack
and Defense will most likely be lower. So, do you go for unlimited Ki
attacking, or do you go for higher stats/move selection? The choice is
up to you, but I have decided against Gero's Perpetual Energy R&D, simply
because I love Burning Attack, and I love the insane amount of damage it
does. Plus, Trunks looks too cool in Super Saiyan mode to not use it, so
I have made my decision. If you like to focus solely on Buster Cannons,
Finish Busters and Physical Capsules, then this is the perfect Capsule
for you.
24. Breakthrough (Trunks) - 7 slots - This is attained after all 7
Dragonballs are collected and Shenron is summoned. It will be covered in
detail in the "Breakthrough" section.
Breakthrough:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To put it simply, Breakthrough is the best Capsule in the game, and may be the
best overall use of your Custom Tray Slots, if you choose to go this route.
Once you have obtained the Breakthrough skill for Trunks from Shenron, and
equip it, you will notice right away that it takes up your entire Tray. Don't
worry, it is quite a bargain for any player. Equipping Breakthrough gives you
the same effect as adding:
Super Saiyan
Super Trunks
Super Trunks2
Buster Cannon x2
Finish Buster x2
Burning Attack x2
Blast Attack x2
Energy Burst x2
Rapid Fall Slash x2
Meteor Break x2
So, in effect, you are getting 17 slots worth of abilities for the 7 slots
Breakthrough takes up. Every attack you have will start to do insane amounts
of damage, and you have access to them all at the same time. It gives you an
extraordinary amount of variety to attack your opponent with, and variety is
the single greatest asset you can have on your side. Nothing makes up for
starting a combo, knowing exactly what you are going to finish it with, and
knowing that your opponent has no clue of what is coming his way. For
instance, if you start a punch combo, you can use Buster Cannon, Finish Buster,
Burning Attack or Energy Burst, with very little noticeable difference in the
startups. Or you could simply stop your Punch combo, and watch as he is
Guarding in fear of what is to come next. Free Grab. (That's equipped, too, by
the way.) Never, ever commit yourself to a single attack pattern, as I've said
before. This not only gives you numerous attack patterns, it doubles their
effectiveness, and gives you 3 Saiyan levels to play with as well.
But, there is of course a down side. It, obviously, takes up all your slots,
meaning you won't have room for any special effects such as Senzu Bean,
Potential, Mixed Blood Power, etc. Also, it does nothing to improve your
Defense, making this a more Offensive player friendly skill. I definitely
recommend equipping this and using it for a while, even if you are looking for
a Defensive character to use. It's well worth your time to check it out and
see what kind of options you really have with Breakthrough equipped.
Custom Trunks:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With all that said, let me show you how I have set up my Custom Trunks when I
am not using Breakthrough.
1. Super Saiyan
2. Buster Cannon
3. Finish Buster
4. Burning Attack
5. Mixed Blood Power
6. Potential
This is how I set up Trunks for general, all purpose fighting. This is what I
find to work best with my playing style, as it gives me plenty of variety, as
well as giving me a huge boost in Attack with the Super Saiyan/Potential/Mixed
Blood Power combo. After about 30 seconds, you will have 165% (After Potential
has hit its Max.) Attack in Super Saiyan mode, while having an added 10% in
Defense. Now, you can easily take out Buster Cannon or Finish Buster, putting
in any other capsule of your choice, but I like having variety in my character.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a fighter is limiting yourself to a
single attack pattern, as it is just too predictable, and your opponent will
take advantage of it. So, if you choose to take an attack out, be sure you
have something to make up for it, or plenty of Defense to make up for any
cracks in your fighting style.
Also, you could easily take out Super Saiyan and Burning Attack, focusing on
other attacks or even boosting your stats, but I have chosen this way for a
couple of reasons. For one, Trunks looks awesome in Super Saiyan mode, and the
point of a game is to have fun, so do whatever it takes to make you enjoy the
game. Second, having Burning Attack is always good idea, as 1300 + damage is
nothing to scoff at, and can easily turn the battle in your favor in a matter
of seconds. Third, Super Saiyan also gives you a slight boost in speed, which
is always a welcome addition to your arsenal, not to mention the fact that no
other skill in the game will add to your speed.
Miscellaneous:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is where I'll put any information that doesn't really affect the game, but
is a fun little diversion.
Costume Changes:
----------------
Press X - "Arrival Trunks" - Trunks will be decked out in his Capsule Corps.
Jacket, Black Pants, and will have his sword sheathed behind his back. My
personal favorite.
Press Square - "Cell Saga Trunks" - Trunks will be decked out in Saiyan Armor,
with much longer hair than "Arrival Trunks". Also, Trunks looks awesome as a
Super Saiyan in this costume, so be sure to check that out.
Stage Destruction:
------------------
Planet Namek - Be sure to use Burning Attack while fighting on Planet Namek. </pre><pre id="faqspan-2">
It will destroy the stage as usual, but instead of the usual crater, it will
turn into the Namek that was being slowly destroyed during the final battle
between Goku and Frieza. Definitely cool.
Update Log
~~~~~~~~~~
Version 1.0 - First Version
Version 2.0 - Included forgotten combos, More Special Attack info, Capsule
Information, Breakthrough Information, Custom Trunks information
Planned Information in Future Updates:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Damage for each move in each SSJ level.
2. More in-depth strategies
3. Any character specific strategies that come to my attention
4. Fixing any missed/incorrect information
Thank You's
~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to everyone E-mailing me with information. Unfortunately, I had most of
the information you were giving me (Such as Super Trunks, etc.), but I
appreciate it that you are willing to help. I do need that final capsule
information, since I haven't found it yet.
~~~~~~~
Closing
~~~~~~~
That's all I have for you right now, but you can expect more and more updates
as I get further along in my quest to create the Ultimate Trunks. I'm
continuously learning more and more about Budokai, as we all are, so you can
expect that some changes may occur in my strategy from here on out.
If you have any information I might need, feel free to email me at:
[email protected]
Please put "Trunks FAQ" in the title, or I will most likely delete it, which
wouldn't do either one of us a whole lot of good.
Thanks for reading. I hope I helped you out.
