Bizarre Lineage gives every player a default Human sub ability, but the real power comes from swapping it out for one of four specialized alternatives. Sub abilities sit alongside your Stand and fighting style, granting three active moves, a passive buff, and a unique dodge color. You can equip one sub ability and one fighting style at the same time, and switching later is possible — you just need to meet the new sub ability's requirements and finish its NPC questline.
Quick answer: The five sub abilities are Human (default), Vampire, Ripple (Hamon), Cyborg (Half Human Half Machine), and Spin. Each is unlocked through a specific NPC trainer scattered across the map's bus stops.
Human — The Starting Baseline
Human is the sub ability every character begins with. It provides a passive HP regeneration of 0.02 HP every 0.1 seconds and nothing else — no active moves, no dodge color change. Think of it as a blank slate you'll want to replace as soon as you've leveled up enough to tackle a trainer's quest.
Ripple (Hamon) — Stun-Heavy Anti-Vampire Specialist
Ripple draws from Parts 1 and 2 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, channeling sun energy through controlled breathing. It is widely considered the strongest sub ability for combo potential because all three moves stun opponents, and every Ripple attack deals bonus damage to Vampire users. The passive grants slight HP regeneration, and the dodge shifts to a yellow hue with invincibility frames.
| Move | Effect |
|---|---|
| Sunlight Yellow Overdrive | A rapid melee barrage that knocks back opponents and stuns them. Strong damage output, especially against Vampires. |
| Sendo Ripple Overdrive | Fires a Hamon wave forward at long range, pushing back and stunning enemies. Excellent for starting or extending combos. |
| Scarlet Overdrive | A charged dash punch that ragdolls the target and burns them. Also provides mobility for repositioning. |
Trainer: Talk to the Ancient Ghost near Bus Stop 13. Look for the sunflower area nearby. Complete his quest — part of which involves defeating Night Vampires — to unlock all three moves.
Vampire — Maximum Regeneration and Sustain
Vampire is the go-to sub ability for players who want to outlast opponents. Every Vampire move heals you, and the passive introduces a red blood meter that triggers bonus HP regeneration once filled. On top of that, you get a constant +0.02 HP regen, and with High Speed Regeneration active, an additional +0.04 HP — making Vampire the strongest regen-focused option in the game. The dodge turns red.
| Move | Effect |
|---|---|
| Space Ripper Stingy Eyes | Fires pressurized laser beams from your eyes, stunning and burning the target. Works well as a combo ender or ranged poke. |
| Leeching Terror | Grabs the opponent and drains their blood, healing you in the process. A solid combo ender with built-in life steal. |
| Flash Freeze | Uppercuts the target, freezes them, then slams them down. Leaves the opponent stunned and works as a combo starter or extender. |
How to unlock: You first need a Stone Mask (also called Vampire Mask). You can buy one from the shop or find one in chests scattered around the map. Use the mask to transform — this triggers a cinematic animation. After that, travel to Bus Stop 18, enter the gate, turn left toward the cave before the large castle, pass through the cave, and go right to reach the chapel. The Elder Vampire is inside on the left. Complete his questline to unlock all abilities.
Cyborg (Half Human Half Machine) — Defensive Powerhouse with Ranged AOE
Cyborg increases your defense by 15 percent, reducing all incoming damage passively. The moveset leans heavily into ranged artillery, giving you area-of-effect options that most other sub abilities lack. The dodge shifts to a purple hue. While the individual moves hit hard, they don't combo as smoothly with Stands and fighting styles compared to Ripple or Vampire, which is why experienced players sometimes rank it a tier lower for pure PvP.
| Move | Effect |
|---|---|
| Ultraviolet Radiation Apparatus | Grabs the enemy, slams them to the ground, and fires UV blasts. Deals extra damage to Vampires. |
| Machine Gun | Fires a burst of bullets from the torso in a cone shape. Briefly stuns enemies and pushes you backward from the recoil. |
| Missile Volley | Launches missiles in a line that explode and stun on impact. Good for zoning and area denial. |
Trainer: Head to Bus Stop 3 and find Rudol von Stroheim nearby. Complete his questline to unlock all three moves.
Spin — Steel Ball Mastery from Part 7
Spin is based on the golden ratio phenomenon from Part 7 of JoJo's. It gives you access to Steel Ball weapons and a moveset that mixes ranged projectiles with a powerful grab. The dodge is yellow-hued, similar to Ripple, and includes invincibility frames.
| Move | Effect |
|---|---|
| Ricochet | Throw up to two steel balls at an enemy. If the first misses, it hovers in the air. If the second connects, it can ricochet into the target for follow-up damage. |
| Cyclone Breaker | Summons a golden ratio triangle on the ground. A green tornado of spin energy appears and tracks enemies along the pattern. |
| Corkscrew | Charges forward, grabs the enemy, and spins them while dealing continuous damage. |
Spin's trainer location follows the same pattern as the others — find the corresponding NPC on the map and finish their quest chain.
Sub Abilities vs. Fighting Styles — How They Interact
Sub abilities and fighting styles are separate systems. A sub ability changes your dodge visuals, gives you a passive, and provides three active moves. A fighting style also grants three active moves, but additionally changes your basic M1 and M2 attacks through new weapons. You can run one of each simultaneously, and both work alongside your equipped Stand.
The fighting styles currently in Bizarre Lineage are Karate, Boxing, and Kendo, each with their own trainer NPCs. Pairing the right sub ability with a complementary fighting style and Stand is where build optimization really starts.
Which Sub Ability Should You Pick?
For pure combo and stun potential, Ripple stands above the rest. Its long-range Sendo Ripple Overdrive can start combos from a distance, and every move chains naturally into Stand attacks. Vampire is the better choice if you want to win through attrition — the constant healing and life steal let you survive extended fights. Cyborg's 15 percent defense boost is straightforward and always active, making it a solid pick for newer players who want passive durability without worrying about mechanics. Spin offers a unique projectile-based playstyle with creative ricochet mechanics that reward precision.
You can switch sub abilities at any time by meeting the requirements for a different one and completing the associated NPC quest, so there's no permanent commitment. Experiment with each to find what pairs best with your Stand and fighting style of choice.