Dragon Ball Z: Team Training GBA ROM Hack – Full Game Overview
Game Information
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Dragon Ball Z: Team Training is a fan‑made Pokémon ROM hack of Pokémon FireRed, created by Z‑Max. It transforms the traditional Pokémon world into a Dragon Ball‑themed adventure while retaining the core FireRed mechanics. Rather than catching Pokémon, players collect and train “fighters” drawn from the broader Dragon Ball universe — including Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and other related media — and battle their way through a modified Kanto region filled with DBZ elements.
The game has been updated over the years and is considered completed as of version 9.2 (released April 21, 2024). This version includes numerous enhancements, new characters, moves, and bug fixes compared to older releases.
Story Overview
The narrative in Team Training largely follows the over‑arching framework of Pokémon FireRed’s story — you begin your journey in a familiar region, battle through gyms, and face an organization bent on domination. However, most Pokémon, NPCs, and core characters have been swapped out for figures from the Dragon Ball universe, and many story beats are reimagined to fit this theme.
Your adventure begins much like a standard Pokémon game: you choose a starter fighter (typically favorites like Goku, Vegeta, or Gohan) and set out to grow stronger by battling, capturing fighters, and progressing through elite battles — but with Dragon Ball lore, techniques, and characters integrated into the plot.
Key Features
- Fighters Replace Pokémon: All Pokémon are replaced with DBZ characters, often referred to as fighters (around ~200 available in latest versions).
- Dragon Ball Techniques as Moves: There are roughly 170 attacks, including Kamehameha and many signature DBZ moves, along with some classic Pokémon techniques.
- Fusion System: Certain fighters can combine using systems inspired by the Dragon Ball universe to create fusion fighters with enhanced abilities.
- Custom Maps & Sprites: Many locations, overworld sprites, and battle backgrounds are redesigned to reflect DBZ settings or Dragon Ball‑style visuals.
- New Items: Objects such as capsules (replacing Poké Balls), senzu beans (healing items), Scouters (as a Pokédex analog), and more are introduced.
- Music & Audio: Music tracks have been altered to fit the DBZ theme, though some original FireRed music remains.
- Battles remain fundamentally similar to Pokémon, but with Dragon Ball–flavored attacks and themes.
- Types still exist, but type strategy is notably simplified (e.g., Fighting beats Dark, Dark beats Ghost/Psychic) and not deeply strategic compared with typical Pokémon games.
Dragon Ball Locations & Tips
Dragon Balls:
- 1-star: Truck at RR Base port (surf required)
- 2-star: Behind a rock on Route 20
- 3-star: Mt. Moon, after defeating the trainer before the exit
- 4-star: Indigo Plateau, just before the Pokémon Center
- 5-star: Capsule Corporation, after defeating Pilaf
- 6-star: Route 10, hidden near a tree
- 7-star: Route 8, in the north corner above a rock tunnel
- Characters: SSG Goku, SSG Vegeta, SSG Gohan (one available depending on starter choice).
- Requirements: Beat the league, catch at least 60 fighters, obtain National Scouter, and possibly repair the One Island machine with ruby & sapphire.
- Tip: Use a level 49+ fighter and Max Repels to encounter them easily. They flee like Entei/Raikou/Suicune.
Cave & Guard Progression:
- Imperial Cave: Guard disappears after defeating the league.
- Tea for Guards: Talk to the old woman in West City to pass guards to Satan City.
- Talk to Guru (Route 25) or Old Kai (Victory Road) to boost stats for certain fighters (list includes Krillin, Yamcha, Tenshinhan, Chiaotzu, Ginyu, Dodoria, and more).
- Located at Capsule Corporation 2F, evolves Kid/Teen Gohan and Trunks into their Future forms.
- Ruby: Mt. Ember → defeat Pilaf henchmen → hand to Celio for Rainbow Pass.
- Sapphire: Ruin Valley (requires Cut) → Dotted Hole → recover from Pilaf Warehouse → hand to Celio.
- Obtain Aurora Ticket at Memorial Pillar → Red Ribbon Base → Birth Island puzzle (similar to Deoxys puzzle in FireRed). Cheat code provided if ticket missing.
- Cumber, Hit, Botamo, Magetta, Pride Troopers: Tanoby Key puzzle → Tanoby Ruins.
- Zamasu & Black: Mystic Ticket required → Navel Rock via Outcast Island → battle.
- 3 Ape Tails: Pilaf Warehouse, Lost Cave, Sevault Canyon
- God Stones: Gowasu reward, Trainer Tower (Super Mode), Lost Cave, Super Shenron wish
- Fusions: Potara earrings (Trainer Tower Z/Double Z, Victory Road), Up-grade (GT Mode prize)
- Ocarina: Awaken Hildegarn (God’s Tower)
- Radar: Given by Brief’s aide near RR Base
- Bicycle: Bike Voucher from Red Ribbon Base → Namek Town shop
- Location: Roshi’s Island lab
- Cost: 30,000 Zenis per fusion
- Mechanics: Level, IVs, EVs averaged. Moves can be kept or reset to default. Nature may adjust one stat by ±10%. Shiny status and XP are not preserved.
Metamol
- Goku + Vegeta = Gogeta
- Goten + Trunks = Gotenks
- Goku + Vegeta = Vegeto
- Kaioshin + Kibito = Kibitoshin
- Zamasu + Black = Merged Zamasu
- Caulifla + Kale = Kefla
- Super Buu + Ult Gohan = Buuhan
- Super Buu + SSJ3 Gotenks = Buutenks
- Baby + Majin Vegeta = Baby Vegeta
- C-17 holding Up-grade + C-17 = Super C-17
Known Bugs & Issues
- Sprite Quality Inconsistencies: Some back sprites or overworld graphics may not visually match the rest of the game and can appear jarring.
- Shallow Type Strategy: The typing system is minimal; many fighters share types, reducing battle depth and making type advantage less meaningful.
- Difficulty Balance: The game overall is relatively easy until the late game (Gym/League).
- Fast‑Forward Glitches: Some emulators may not support fast‑forward correctly with this hack.
- Save Errors (Emulator Settings): Without proper save type configuration (Flash 128k) or with certain emulators, players may see errors like “save file deleted” or experience corrupted saves.
Screenshots
Download Links
Documentation
Developer Information
Developer / Team: Z-Max
Credits:
- Graphics: Luiz F. O. Champloni, Carlos Pestana, Emadart, Diogo Alencar, Guilherme Augusto, Saten, Dr. Sapphire Birch, Pablogilpaz, Shadow12S, Khuraudo, Tapionproductions, Nahue77, Mugen Mundo Team, Prince of the Twilight, Alucard, DBZ games (DBZ Supersonic Warriors, DBZ Legacy of Goku, DB Advanced Adventure, DB GT Transformation, DBZ Attack of the Saiyans, DBZ Super Butouden, DBZ Ultimate Battle 22, DBZ Harukanaru Goku Densetsu)
- Coding: FBI's custom givepokemon routine, Chaos Rush's move animations tutorial, DrFuji and karatekid552 for the tutorial about custom backgrounds
- Testing: Noirium, Speeder, Roy
- Tools: Advance Map, XSE, YAPE, Advanced Series, NSE, Advance-Trainer, Advance-Text, Item Editor, Move Editor, NTME, PGE, Pokedex Order Editor, Trader Advance, Type Resistance Editor, Sappy, Anvil Studio, Rom Header Editor, Gimp, Irfanview, HxD.
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: Pokecommunity
Community Link: https://dragon-ball-z-team-training.fandom.com/wiki/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do Fighters replace?A: Fighters take the place of Pokémon; each battle involves them instead of Pokémon creatures.
Q: Do moves and items still work like Pokémon?
A: Yes. Moves retain categorization and effectiveness, but they are renamed and redesigned to match Dragon Ball abilities. Classic items may have new names (e.g., capsules instead of Poké Balls).
Q: How many characters can you recruit?
A: Around 200 unique fighters appear in the game’s latest versions, drawn from across the Dragon Ball franchise.
Q: How long is the game?
A: A typical playthrough may be roughly ~20 hours for the main story and ~30–45 hours for completionists (sources note similar lengths for large ROM hack RPGs).
Q: Can I play this on standard Pokémon emulators?
A: Yes, as it’s based on FireRed. However, newer builds and certain emulators (like using VBAM) may introduce save issues; many players report Flash 128k save type settings help mitigate them.
How to Play
Requirements
- A Game Boy Advance emulator
- A compatible ROM base
- Patch file (IPS / UPS / BPS)
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