Like the first "Xenoverse" title, players can customize their in-game characters on "Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2" based on their preferences. The new game title features five different races — Saiyan, Frieza, Earthling, Majin and Namekian — that each features different strengths and weaknesses. Aside from the look, gender also adds another dimension in identifying the stats of playable characters.

Saiyans remain a popular choice among players, considering that the main characters of the anime and manga series belong to this race. While having high attack power, Saiyans suffer from low health, making these not the best frontline characters. However, this is compensated by their ability to increase their attack power every time they take damage. What is interesting about this race is that stats increase when they get revived following a knockout. Male Saiyans have strong melee attacks, and their buffs last relatively longer. Female Saiyans, on the other hand, have higher Ki and recover their stamina faster.

The Frieza race is somewhat similar to the Saiyans, in that both have low health. However, while the latter makes up for this by having high attack power, the former makes up for this by being faster and more powerful, and having the ability to recover stamina fairly quickly compared to Saiyans. Their speed increases even more as their health lowers in battle. The Frieza race has no gender distinctions.

Earthlings have the most balanced stats compared to the other races, with no apparent strengths or weaknesses. This makes this race a good choice for first-time players who want to get a feel of the game. However, it is worth noting that they have the ability to automatically recharge their Ki, unlike others who need to go into battle to recover this. Filling up Ki allows Earthlings to increase their attack power. Females have stronger Ki attacks, while males have more powerful Strike Supers.

Majins have good defense but low stamina, which essentially make this race the tank of the game, a good choice for players who want to be at the frontline. While male Majins have higher health compared to the females, the latter make up for this by having a better chance at evading critical attacks.

While having the lowest attack power compared to other races, Namekians have more health compared to others, effectively making this the inverse of the Saiyans. However, this race also has the ability to recover lost health, and their stamina gets replenished much faster compared to others. The two perks have led some players to believe that the strongest character that can be built in-game is the Namekian once its stats have been maxed out.

While players can choose to play as either a male or a female Namekian, there are no gender perks and disadvantages for this race.