Although Piccolo was initially introduced as a villain in the Dragon Ball franchise, he has won a special place in the hearts of many fans and has been a beloved character ever since he turned good. Piccolo’s relationship with Gohan, Goku’s son, is one of the strongest bonds in Dragon Ball. Even though he often takes a backseat in battles to make way for Goku and Vegeta, his branching paths in the Episode campaign puts him front and centre. Piccolo’s branching path completely alters the conclusion of the Android/Cell Saga compared to the original story.
All Piccolo Branching paths in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO
In Piccolo’s campaign, the only branching path you can unlock and play is called A Mentor’s Guidance. Instead of having Goku confront Cell and the other Androids when they show up, Piccolo’s branching paths reimagine the story by letting Piccolo take the lead in the battle. In this guide, we’ll go over how to trigger Piccolo’s branching paths and what it involves.
A Mentor’s Guidance Path
To start Piccolo’s unique branching paths in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, all you need to do is choose to help Goku during his fight against Android 19. Although Piccolo stays on the sidelines in the original story, this sparking episode has him stepping in for Goku and taking on a central role in the Android/Cell Arc. After you choose to help Goku, a cutscene will play where Piccolo urges him to leave the battle. Piccolo then steps in to fight Android 19 in Goku’s place. Defeat Android 19 to complete the first episode of Piccolo’s sparking narrative. You’ll receive 1,000 Zeni and 50 Player EXP as a reward.
Androids 16, 17, and 18 arrive and announce their intention to fight Goku, but Piccolo chooses to take them on instead. While Vegeta battles Android 17, Piccolo faces off against Android 18. Lower Android 18’s health to end the fight, and Gohan will come to help Piccolo after taking some significant damage from his own battle with her. Upon completion, you’ll receive 1,000 Zeni and 50 Player EXP.
Goku’s Request Episode is a filler, so there’s no battle. Instead, it explores how Piccolo chooses to fuse with Kami, another Namekian, to boost his power and become a real threat to Cell and the other Androids. In a later cutscene, Goku asks Piccolo to help train Gohan to prepare him for the upcoming fight against Cell. Cell finally shows up and absorbs Android 17. In his second form, he’s far too strong for Piccolo to take on by himself. You’ll need to lower Cell’s health to complete this Episode. Rewards are 1,000 Zeni and 50 EXP.
After realizing they can’t defeat Cell, Piccolo and Gohan head back to the Hyperbolic Chamber to keep training. To progress in Piccolo’s Sparking storyline, you need to defeat Gohan in this Episode to win 1,000 Zeni and 50 EXP. Just like in the anime, Cell invites Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, and the others to take part in the Cell Games. Instead of Goku being his first opponent, Piccolo steps up to face Cell. Lower Cell’s health to unlock the final Episode of Piccolo’s branching paths and receive rewards of 1,000 Zeni and 50 EXP.
Now powered up, Cell and Piccolo engage in an intense battle. You need to reduce Cell’s health to zero to complete this Episode and trigger the final cinematic of the branching path. Just a heads-up: this fight can be quite challenging. Make sure to catch Cell off guard early and try to minimize damage to yourself. Charging up Piccolo’s sparking meter will allow you to land close-range attacks without getting countered too often, and using Ki attacks from a distance is a great way to chip away at Cell’s health. Gohan will ultimately step in to defeat Cell, this time with Piccolo’s help instead of Goku’s. Rewards you will receive are 1,000 Zeni and 50 EXP.
