Look at Rebellion. It’s a big, heavy slab of metal that Dante’s been dragging around since the first game. Most players just see it as the "default" sword, the one you use before you get the weird stuff like a motorcycle that splits into twin chainsaws. But honestly? If you don’t understand Rebellion, you don’t understand devil may cry weapons at all. This series has always been about the friction between "cool factor" and frame data. You’ve got these insanely complex tools that look like they belong in a heavy metal fever dream, yet they function with the precision of a surgical instrument.
Dante, Nero, and Vergil don't just carry gear; they carry legacies. Every time you pick up a new devil arm, you’re essentially absorbing the soul of a boss you just thrashed. It’s a weird, morbid cycle of "beat them, wear them."
The Evolution of Dante’s Arsenal
Dante is basically a walking Swiss Army knife of demonic destruction. Since 2001, we've seen him use everything from electric bats (Nevan) to a briefcase that transforms into 66 different forms (Pandora). It’s a lot. But the core of his kit—the stuff that actually wins tournaments and SSS-ranks—is surprisingly grounded.
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Take Cerberus from DMC3. People loved those ice nunchucks because they were fast. They offered defensive utility that the heavy-hitters lacked. Fast forward to DMC5, and we get King Cerberus. It’s not just ice anymore; it’s fire and lightning too. This is where the complexity peaks. You aren't just mashing buttons; you're managing three different elemental modes in the middle of a 50-hit combo. It's exhausting. It's also brilliant.
Most people sleep on the Balrog. Introduced in the fifth game, this set of greaves and gauntlets replaced the classic Beowulf/Gilgamesh archetype. It’s split into Blow Mode and Kick Mode. If you stay in Blow Mode, you build up heat. Once you're glowing red, your punches start causing explosions. It feels visceral. It feels like you’re actually putting in the work. Unlike the Alastor from the original game, which was just "fast sword with lightning," Balrog requires a rhythm. You have to be a bit of a show-off to make it work.
Cavaliere: When a Motorcycle is a Weapon
This is probably the peak of the series' absurdity. Cavaliere is a literal demon motorcycle that Dante rips in half to use as twin buzzsaw-clubs. It’s slow. Very slow. If you’re used to the frantic pace of the Yamato, Cavaliere feels like wading through molasses.
But the "Slow" is the point.
The weapon uses a mechanic called "Top Gear." The longer the saws stay in contact with an enemy, the more damage they do and the more hit-stun they apply. It’s a high-risk playstyle. You’re committing to long animations in a game where enemies can kill you in two hits on Dante Must Die mode. It’s the ultimate "vibe check" for players who think devil may cry weapons are just about mashing the attack button.
Nero and the Philosophy of the Red Queen
Nero is different. He doesn't have a library of twenty swords. He has one. Red Queen is a masterpiece of game design because it incorporates a literal motorcycle throttle into a sword hilt. This is the Exceed system.
If you time a trigger pull exactly when your sword hits an enemy, you "rev" the blade. This coats the next attack in fire and increases its range and power. It’s a rhythmic requirement that turns every single swing into a mini-game. You can't just be "good" at DMC to play Nero well; you have to have a sense of beat.
Then there are the Devil Breakers.
These are disposable prosthetic arms. Some people hate this. They think it’s annoying to have a weapon that breaks if you take a hit. But look at the utility:
- Gerbera: Lets you dodge in mid-air like a jet fighter.
- Punch Line: A rocket punch that you can literally ride like a hoverboard.
- Buster Arm: Replicates the raw power of Nero’s original demonic grab.
- Ragtime: Stops time in a localized bubble.
The variety here is staggering. Nero’s gameplay isn't about switching weapons like Dante; it’s about managing your "magazine" of arms. If you’re in a room full of flying enemies, you want Gerbera. If you’re fighting a massive boss, you might want the raw damage of Helter Skelter. It turns the inventory screen into a tactical briefing.
The Elegance of the Yamato
We have to talk about Vergil. His kit is the opposite of Dante’s. While Dante is messy and experimental, Vergil is precise. The Yamato isn't just a katana; it’s a spatial tool. It can cut through the fabric of reality.
In terms of gameplay, the Yamato is defined by the "Judgment Cut." It’s a move that hits enemies from a distance with a flurry of invisible slashes. Expert players don't just use it; they "Just Frame" it. By releasing the button at the exact millisecond a slash finishes, you create a chain of explosions.
Vergil’s other tools, like Beowulf and Mirage Edge, serve to fill the gaps the Yamato leaves. Beowulf is for heavy, single-target impact. Mirage Edge is for crowd control and keeping enemies pinned down. It’s a very "ordered" way to play a game that is usually chaotic.
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Why Some Weapons "Fail"
Not every weapon in the series is a winner. Anyone remember the Artemis from DMC3? It was a laser-firing bow-thing that felt incredibly clunky compared to the pistols, Ebony & Ivory. It lacked the immediate feedback that makes the series great.
Or look at Lucifer from DMC4. It’s a backpack that sprouts glowing pink needles. You throw the needles into enemies and then "clap" to make them explode. On paper, it’s cool. In practice, it was so complicated that only the top 1% of players could actually make it look good. Most people just found it confusing. It's a reminder that devil may cry weapons need a balance of accessibility and depth. If a tool is too weird, it loses the "power fantasy" element that brings people to the franchise in the first place.
The Technical Reality of Styling
If you want to actually get better at using these weapons, you have to stop thinking about "killing enemies" and start thinking about "holding them in the air."
The entire combat engine is built around gravity—or the defiance of it. Most weapons have a "launcher" move (like Dante's High Time). Once an enemy is in the air, they are helpless. The game becomes a juggling simulator.
- Check your frames: Some weapons, like the King Cerberus, have very fast recovery times. This means you can cancel an attack into a dodge much faster than you could with something like the Kalina Ann rocket launcher.
- Switching is mandatory: You cannot get an SSS rank using only one weapon. The "Style" meter explicitly penalizes repetition. You have to cycle through your gear. Use the shotgun to knock an enemy back, then switch to the Cavaliere to close the distance, then finish with Rebellion.
- Weapon Buffs: Don’t forget that some gear has hidden properties. The Faust Hat in DMC5 actually lets you earn more Red Orbs, but it costs orbs to use. It’s a literal "pay to win" mechanic built into the game's lore.
Practical Steps for Mastering the Gear
If you're looking to move past the "mashing" phase and actually master these tools, start with these specific habits.
First, spend an hour in the The Void (the practice mode). Pick one weapon and learn its "delayed" combos. Most weapons in DMC have different moves based on whether you pause for a half-second between button presses. If you don't know the difference between a "Stinger" and a "Million Stab," you're leaving 60% of your damage on the table.
Second, learn to "Jump Cancel." This is the holy grail of DMC combat. If you buy the "Enemy Step" skill, you can jump off an enemy's head. Doing this resets your animation. It allows you to use "air-only" moves multiple times without hitting the ground. This is how players stay in the air for five minutes straight. It works with almost every weapon, but it’s easiest to practice with Dante’s pistols or Nero’s Red Queen.
Lastly, pay attention to the camera. In many DMC games, including the older ones, enemies won't attack you if they aren't on screen. You can use your weapons to manipulate the crowd simply by positioning yourself so that the "scary" enemies are behind the camera's field of view. It’s a bit of a "cheese" tactic, but when you're playing on Dante Must Die difficulty, you use every advantage you've got.
The weapons in this series are more than just stat sticks. They are the personality of the game. Whether you’re revving a sword like a Harley-Davidson or playing a guitar that shoots vampire bats, the goal is always the same: look as cool as possible while doing as much math as possible.
Go into the equipment menu and unequip the weapons you don't like. Contrary to what some completionists say, you don't need to carry everything. A lean loadout of three weapons you actually know how to use is infinitely better than a full inventory of stuff that confuses you. Master the Rebellion, then move to the weird stuff.