Transformations in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 are called Awoken Skills, and they no longer run on a countdown clock. After earlier previews showed a timer attached to forms like Super Saiyan, the mechanic was reworked so that your Ki decides how long you stay powered up. The official Battle System Guide now spells out exactly how that works.
Quick answer: Fill the Awakening gauge to transform, then stay in your Awoken form for as long as your Ki Gauge stays above zero. You drop back to your base form only when Ki hits 0 or you enter Ki Break status.
How Awoken Skills stay active
Awoken Skills are tied to the Ki Gauge rather than a set time limit. As long as you have Ki remaining, you can remain in an Awoken form indefinitely. This matches how transformations worked in the earlier Xenoverse games, where a full Ki reserve kept you transformed for as long as you could sustain it.
You lose the form in two situations. If your Ki Gauge drains to 0, you revert to your standard form. The same happens if you are pushed into Ki Break status. Managing Ki is therefore the core of staying transformed, which is why the timing of when you power up matters in a fight.
Full details on the wider combat controls are laid out in the official Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 Battle System Guide.
Transformation states and conditions
| Condition | Result |
|---|---|
| Ki Gauge above 0 | Stay in your Awoken form |
| Ki Gauge reaches 0 | Return to your standard form |
| Enter Ki Break status | Return to your standard form |
| Awakening gauge filled again | Unlock an additional transformation that restores HP |
| Use the Ki Charge action | Recover both Ki and the Awoken Skill gauge |
Ki Charge action for managing transformations
A Ki Charge action is part of the basic controls. Using it recovers both your Ki and the Awoken Skill gauge, so you can top up your reserves to extend a form or build toward your next transformation. Because Ki now doubles as the fuel for staying transformed, charging becomes a deliberate choice during a bout rather than an afterthought.
Second-tier forms for every race
Each of the six avatar races has its own Awoken Skill, and the stronger version you can reach depends on the race you play. Once the Awakening gauge fills a second time, you can unlock an additional transformation that also restores your HP. That points to a two-stage system where every race has a first form and a higher tier-two form.
The lineup of races includes the newly added Android race alongside the returning options. A recent trailer showed the different races in their upgraded forms.
For Saiyan avatars, only Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 3 have been shown so far. Whether Super Saiyan 2 sits between them has not been confirmed, and the wording around a single “additional transformation” has left that open.
Awoken Skills versus Soul Switch
Awoken Skills are not the only way to change form. Soul Switch lets you house a mentor’s Soul in your own body, taking on that character’s appearance and using their Super and Ultimate Attacks for a short window before you return to your avatar. You can choose to skip Soul Switch entirely and rely on your race-specific Awoken Skill instead, so the two systems act as separate options rather than a single shared meter.
How to tell your transformation is working
You know an Awoken Skill has triggered when your avatar shifts into its transformed appearance after the Awakening gauge is full. The form holds while your Ki Gauge is filled and drops the moment Ki empties or Ki Break lands. Reaching the second-stage transformation is confirmed by the HP restore that comes with it, which is a clear sign you have hit the higher tier.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is being developed by Dimps and published by Bandai Namco, and it is set to arrive in 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. With the timer gone and Ki back in control of your forms, Awoken Skills now behave much like the transformation system longtime players already know.
