Devil May Cry 5 Guide#
“I am the storm that is approaching!” — Vergil
| Item |
Detail |
| Title |
Devil May Cry 5 |
| Developer |
Capcom |
| Publisher |
Capcom |
| Release date |
March 8, 2019 |
| Platforms |
PC (Steam), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
| Genre |
Action |
| Engine |
RE Engine |
| Playtime |
Main story: 12-15h |
| Difficulty |
Medium |
| Metacritic |
89/100 |
| Series |
The fifth mainline entry in the Devil May Cry series |
Why You Should Play It#
- The series’ peak combat mechanics — DMC5 has the most refined combat system in the series
- Three playable characters — Dante, Nero, and V, three completely different combat styles
- The stylish ranking system — Stylish! Smokin’! Smokin’ Sick Style! SSS!
- Powered by RE Engine — the series’ best visuals at a stable 60fps
Guide Map#
| Sub-guide |
Contents |
For whom |
| Beginner |
Controls basics, the ranking system, the tutorial missions |
New players |
| Story |
Full plot analysis and background story |
Story fans |
| Nero |
Red Queen combos, the complete Devil Breaker lineup |
Nero players |
| Dante |
Four Styles, every weapon explained |
Dante players |
| V |
Familiar control, the Charge system |
V players |
| Vergil |
DLC character, Judgement Cut, the Concentration gauge |
Vergil players |
| Weapons |
Data comparison of every weapon and recommendations |
All players |
| Bosses |
How to beat every boss and the strategies for each |
Players stuck on a fight |
| Combat |
Jump-cancel combos, air juggles, Royalguard perfect blocks |
Advanced players |
| Upgrades |
Skill tree analysis and value-for-money picks |
Planners |
| Collectibles |
Blue Orb fragments, Secret Missions |
Collectors |
| Bloody Palace |
Strategy for the 100-floor challenge |
Challenge seekers |
| Achievements |
Unlock conditions for every achievement |
Trophy hunters |
| Secrets |
Easter eggs, classic costumes, Secret Missions |
Explorers |
| Missions |
Key points for all 20 missions |
Players stuck on a mission |
| S Rank |
The ranking system explained and the S-rank conditions |
Rank chasers |
| Difficulty |
The five difficulty modes explained |
Challenge seekers |
| DLC |
Vergil DLC, Bloody Palace, costumes |
DLC buyers |
| Tips |
50 advanced techniques |
Advanced players |
| FAQ |
Specs, controller setup, newcomer questions |
Everyone |
Core Mechanics at a Glance#
| Mechanic |
What it does |
| Stylish Rank |
D→C→B→A→S→SS→SSS; the combo evaluation climbs as you vary your attacks |
| Devil Trigger |
Spend the DT gauge to raise attack power and regenerate health |
| EXceed |
Perfectly timed charges empower Red Queen attacks |
| Style system |
Trickster / Swordmaster / Gunslinger / Royalguard |
| Summoned Swords |
Ranged support attacks while maintaining the Concentration gauge |
| Break Age |
Consume a Devil Breaker to release one powerful blow |
| DT Explosion |
Spend the entire DT gauge for area damage |
| Sin Devil Trigger |
The ultimate form, unlocked in Mission 20 |
All 20 Missions#
| Mission |
Setting |
Playable character |
Key point |
| Mission 01 |
Qliphoth outer wall |
Nero |
Tutorial; defeat the giant demon |
| Mission 02 |
Red Grave City streets |
Nero |
First Devil Breaker combat |
| Mission 03 |
Catacombs |
Nero |
First visit to Nico’s shop |
| Mission 04 |
Qliphoth first level |
Nero |
Goliath boss fight |
| Mission 05 |
Red Grave City rooftops |
V |
Tutorial for V’s controls |
| Mission 06 |
Qliphoth depths |
V |
Artemis boss fight |
| Mission 07 |
Underground facility |
Nero |
Obtaining the third arm |
| Mission 08 |
Qliphoth middle levels |
Dante |
Tutorial for the four Styles |
| Mission 09 |
Demon palace |
Dante |
Phantom Vergil fight |
| Mission 10 |
Qliphoth core |
V |
Griffon boss |
| Mission 11 |
Red Grave City |
Character rotation |
Large-scale battles |
| Mission 12 |
Qliphoth periphery |
Dante |
Hell Caina boss |
| Mission 13 |
The human world |
Nero |
Reunion with Vergil |
| Mission 14 |
Inside the Qliphoth |
Dante |
Obtaining King Cerberus |
| Mission 15 |
Qliphoth core |
V |
Urizen boss |
| Mission 16 |
Deep in the Qliphoth |
Dante |
Malphas boss |
| Mission 17 |
The Qliphoth |
Everyone |
Preparation before the decisive battle |
| Mission 18 |
Qliphoth summit |
Dante |
Final battle with Vergil |
| Mission 19 |
The soul-purifying tree |
Nero |
Nero awakens his Devil Trigger |
| Mission 20 |
Top of the soul-purifying tree |
Dante + Vergil |
Final boss |
Nero’s Full Arsenal#
| Weapon |
Type |
How obtained |
Special effect |
| Red Queen |
Greatsword |
Starting weapon |
EXceed charges empower it |
| Blue Rose |
Pistol |
Starting weapon |
Two-round burst |
| Revolver Nidan |
Pistol |
Obtained automatically in M03 |
Three-round burst variant |
| Tomboy |
Devil Breaker |
Nico’s shop |
Temporarily boosts the Red Queen |
| Punch Line |
Devil Breaker |
Obtained in M04 |
Motorcycle-form shockwaves |
| Overture |
Devil Breaker |
Obtained in M02 |
Shock trap |
| Ragtime |
Devil Breaker |
Obtained in M03 |
Slowdown force field |
| Helter Skelter |
Devil Breaker |
Obtained in M05 |
Pierces armor |
| Buster Arm |
Devil Breaker |
Obtained in M07 |
Powerful grab attack |
| Gerbera |
Devil Breaker |
Obtained in M06 |
Aerial dash attack |
Dante’s Full Arsenal#
| Weapon |
Type |
How obtained |
| Rebellion |
Greatsword |
Starting weapon |
| Ebony & Ivory |
Pistols |
Starting weapon |
| Cerberus |
Gauntlets |
Obtained in M04 |
| Agni & Rudra |
Dual swords |
Obtained in M05 |
| Nevan |
Guitar |
Obtained in M07 |
| Beowulf |
Gauntlets |
Obtained in M09 |
| King Cerberus |
Nunchucks |
Obtained in M14 |
| Sparda |
Greatsword |
Obtained after clearing the game |
| Devil Sword Dante |
Demon sword |
Awakened in M19 |
Boss Strategy Overview#
| Boss |
Mission |
Weakness |
Recommended strategy |
| Goliath |
M04 |
Fire attacks |
Use the explosives in the arena and keep your distance |
| Artemis |
M06 |
Light element |
Have V’s familiars besiege it from range |
| Vergil (phantom) |
M09 |
None |
A lesson in blocking and dodge timing |
| Griffon |
M10 |
V’s Nightmare |
Pincer with familiars; avoid facing it head-on in the air |
| Urizen (M15) |
M15 |
Multiple phases |
Shatter the crystal, then damage the body |
| Malphas |
M16 |
The high-flying wings |
Use flying familiars to chase down the wings |
| Vergil (final) |
M20 |
Sin Devil Trigger form |
Commit every skill and every resource to the duel |
The Ranking System Explained#
| Rank |
Score range |
How to hold it |
Attack bonus |
| D |
0-999 |
Default starting rank |
None |
| C |
1000-2999 |
Keep attacking |
None |
| B |
3000-4999 |
Don’t repeat moves |
10% |
| A |
5000-7999 |
Vary your combos |
20% |
| S |
8000-11999 |
Fast combos + dodging |
30% |
| SS |
12000-17999 |
Take no damage + keep attacking |
50% |
| SSS |
18000+ |
Extremely stylish play |
100% |
FAQ#
| Question |
Answer |
| Best character for newcomers? |
Nero — the most straightforward to handle, with the highest tolerance for mistakes |
| The hardest mode? |
Hell and Hell — one hit kills, and enemies have their highest aggression |
| How do I unlock Vergil? |
Buy the Vergil DLC |
| Is there Chinese? |
Yes, full Simplified/Traditional Chinese support |
| How do I unlock Bloody Palace? |
It unlocks after clearing the main story on any difficulty |
| Is keyboard viable? |
A controller is recommended, but keyboard works (with sensible key bindings) |
| What carries over between difficulties? |
Skills, Blue Orb fragments, and weapon levels carry over |
| What DLC is there? |
The Vergil DLC + Bloody Palace DLC + the costume DLC pack |
| Is there online multiplayer? |
Only the Cameo system (you occasionally glimpse other players’ phantoms) |
| Are Red Orbs scarce? |
Enough for a normal playthrough; farming the Bloody Palace covers every skill |
The Five Difficulties#
| Difficulty |
Unlock condition |
Notes |
| Human |
Default |
Low enemy aggression; for story-focused players |
| Devil Hunter |
Default |
The standard experience; recommended for newcomers |
| Son of Sparda |
Unlocked after clearing the game |
Stronger enemies, with new elite enemies added |
| Dante Must Die |
After clearing Son of Sparda |
Lethal hits + Devil Triggered enemies |
| Hell and Hell |
After clearing Dante Must Die |
Three hits kill you; enemies at full aggression |
Collectibles Census#
| Type |
Count |
Location |
| Blue Orb fragments |
31 |
Hidden spots across the missions |
| Purple Orb fragments |
4 |
Special challenge rewards |
| Secret Missions |
12 |
Scattered through the missions |
| Red Orb chests |
5-8 per mission |
Interactive scenes and hidden areas |
| Background objects |
Many |
Found by examining the environment |
Recommended Newcomer Route#
- M01-M04: learn Nero’s basics and the timing of EXceed charges
- M05-M06: learn V’s ranged control and how Griffon and Shadow work together
- M07-M10: switch to Dante and practice the four Styles; unlock Cerberus
- M11-M15: mixed three-character combat; polish your combo proficiency
- M16-M20: push at full force and prepare for the final duel
DLC Summary#
| DLC |
Contents |
Price |
| Vergil DLC |
A fully playable Vergil + dedicated story |
$4.99 |
| Bloody Palace DLC |
The 100-floor Bloody Palace challenge |
Free |
The costume DLC pack rounds out the add-ons listed in the FAQ above; the source’s exact pack name and full costume list were not verifiable, so we leave it unnamed rather than guess.
- Sekiro — demanding, timing-driven action where one combat system must be mastered completely
- Stellar Blade — stylish combo-driven character action with a parry of its own
- Sifu — pure martial arts action built on knowing your move list inside out
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty — fast, aggressive melee action against demonic hordes
- Black Myth: Wukong — a boss-rush-heavy action game built around varied stances
Hardest Bosses · Wukong Bosses · Best Soulslikes
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics, story, Nero, Dante, V, Vergil, weapons, bosses, combat, upgrades, collectibles, the Bloody Palace, achievements, secrets, mission walkthroughs, the S-rank guide, difficulty settings, DLC, 50 advanced tips, and the FAQ — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Devil May Cry 5 section.
If you read Chinese, the mission-by-mission walkthrough there carries the per-mission detail behind the 20-mission table above.