Dante's Gameplay

Explore Dante's unique gameplay styles in Devil May Cry 5: Trickster for evasion, Royalguard for defense, Gunslinger for ranged attacks, and Swordmaster for melee prowess. Learn key moves and strategies.

Dante's gameplay in Devil May Cry 5 is defined by his four distinct styles: Trickster, Royalguard, Gunslinger, and Swordmaster. Each style offers a unique approach to combat and traversal, allowing for a highly customizable and dynamic playstyle.

Trickster

The Trickster style focuses on mobility and evasion rather than direct combat. Its primary action is a directional dash that provides invincibility frames, perfect for dodging attacks or repositioning. Upgrades expand movement options, including Sky Star (an aerial dash) and Air Trick, which teleports Dante to an enemy, useful for closing distances and extending combos. Flipper allows recovery from knockback, and Mustang provides an aerial boost when dashing into an enemy. Ground Trick offers a ground-based teleport to an enemy.

Royalguard

Royalguard is a defensive style centered around blocking attacks to build and release power. Blocking normally depletes the Devil Trigger (DT) gauge, but perfectly timed blocks (Royal Block) grant DT gauge and fill the Royalguard meter. Releasing stored energy with Royal Release deals damage, with a perfectly timed release (just as an enemy attacks) dealing more. Royal Revenge uses stored energy for a counter-attack with more lenient timing than Royal Release. The Royalguard meter can be expanded with upgrades. Mastering Royalguard requires knowledge of enemy attack patterns, as practice against bosses is limited to actual missions.

Gunslinger

Gunslinger enhances Dante's ranged capabilities, with new maneuvers unlocked for each firearm as the style is upgraded. The Gun Stinger for the Coyote-A shotgun functions similarly to Dante's Stinger sword attack. This can combo into Cut-In moves for mid-attack adjustments. For the Dr. Faust, Red Hot Night allows Dante to charge and unleash meteor-like projectiles that deal significant damage, even after a charge time. Holding the attack button can further charge Red Hot Night for increased damage, with a fully charged shot dealing over 5,000 damage.

Swordmaster

Swordmaster focuses on expanding the movesets of Dante's melee weapons. Initially, it provides skills like launching enemies into the air with swords. With Devil Sword Dante, the style conjures swords that perform different actions based on input. Dance Macabre is a long combo ending in powerful strikes. For Balrog, movesets differ based on Blow Mode or Kick Mode, with Pyromania (in Kick Mode with Ignition active) extending combos. Cavaliere gains enhanced combos, with Wheelie Jump launching enemies higher. King Cerberus gains fire-elemental attacks, with Role Play (comboed into electric attacks) and Hot Stuff (a combo ender) being notable. Lightning attacks are generally effective, with Revolution and Regicide aiding combos. Percussion is useful for hitting multiple enemies when surrounded.

Dante begins with Rebellion (sword), Balrog (gauntlets), Ebony & Ivory (pistols), and Coyote-A (shotgun). Additional weapons, like an extra Kalina Ann, can be acquired later in the story (e.g., Mission 11).

The Rebellion and Sparda swords share the same moveset, with Sparda replacing Rebellion at the start of Mission 11. Skills purchased for Rebellion carry over to Sparda.