When Capcom teased Devil May Cry 5 it was such a shocker to see someone just rip the Devil Bringer off Nero’s arm, starting the chain of events that will lead to another demonic invasion on Earth. Thankfully, the Devil May Cry protagonist isn’t without any help, as inventor Nico did give Nero somewhat of a replacement - Devil Breakers that can unleash all sorts of hell to demons, depending on how they’re used.
The Devil Breaker becomes a staple mechanic for Nero in Devil May Cry 5 and adds a unique utility spin to what the Devil Bringer provided in the previous Devil May Cry installment. However, while each Devil Breaker is unique, some of them do inevitably become more useful to Nero’s battle strategies compared to the others. Just which Devil Breakers are must-have in a player’s arsenal?
13 Monkey Business
At its core, Monkey Business is simply a model swap of the Helter Skelter, meaning it shares exactly the same moves with only a few unique visuals in between. It looks exactly like it sounds - a mechanical Devil Breaker but this time outfitted with a ton of bananas.
This Devil Breaker cannot be acquired from Divinity Statues or Nico and must be obtained through the Missions. Interestingly enough, Monkey Business was initially available via a code from buyers of Amazon.co.jp copies. It only officially became free DLC as of 2019.
12 Mega Buster
With the Devil Breakers looking like detachable arms after a mysterious man took the original Devil Bringer from Nero, the Mega Buster is easily one of the best gags Capcom inserted in the series. It also has an in-game lore report, with Nico saying she created the weapon because she loved a “little fella” who was a superhero that fought evil.
Visually speaking, the Mega Buster looks exactly like Mega Man’s weapon and even changes a lot of Nero’s animations. There’s even a new stage introduction with Nero teleporting from a beam of white light, similar to the Mega Man games. However, moveset-wise, the Mega Buster is a bit ordinary, with Mega Shot and Mega Charge Shot being decent attacks without much flair.
11 Sweet Surrender
Compared to other Devil Breakers, the Sweet Surrender is draped with white and gold and has a softer touch, with Nico explaining this was to help Nero handle Kyrie with care. Despite being one of the highest-costing Devil Breakers, it doesn’t have any offensive moves except for Break Away. Rather, it constantly heals Nero when activated or can unleash a large heal.
If there’s anything Sweet Surrender does that benefits Nero, it’s that its heals don’t affect the overall stage ranking. However, the lack of offensive abilities can drastically lessen Nero’s combat performance.
10 Gerbera GP01
Befitting the DLC categorization, the Gerbera GP01 is simply the Gerbera but with a new paint job and some upgrades - as Nico herself said. The biggest change the GP01 offers compared to the base model is its handling, as the movement stick neutral will either launch Nero upwards when on the ground or pull him down when he’s in the air. If on the ground, Nero’s upward launch will also pull lighter enemies with him.
Moveset-wise, the GP01 has the exact same moveset as the original Gerbera, making it not necessarily a must-have when it comes to Devil Breaker acquisition.
9 Pasta Breaker
Yet another gag Devil Breaker, the Pasta Breaker is a Helter Skelter core outfitted with various kitchen utensils such as forks, spoons, and even pasta spoons. In fact, even its tip is a fork that apparently can be used as a weapon.
At its core, the Pasta Breaker combines the Break Age move of the Overture and the primary mode of Punch Line, with both effects being much weaker. Despite the similar moves, the primary gimmick of the Devil Breaker is that it moves the “next” Devil Breaker in Nero’s queue to the far back. Theoretically, this can spice things up in Nero’s arsenal, but this can become very situational.
8 Buster Arm
When Nico created the Buster Arm, she wanted to recreate the heavy-hitting Buster ability of the original Devil Bringer from DMC 4. As such, this red weapon looks more like a claw, with its activation prompting the appearance of a huge clawed hand that can grab opponents and throw them around.
This grappling maneuver can be enhanced with certain controls as well, allowing Nero to disable combos and attacks of even the toughest of foes. With the right combo, the Buster Arm can ignore the special armor of certain monsters as well. Even if Nero regains his original Buster ability, the Buster Arm is significantly more powerful in terms of gameplay, especially in higher difficulties..
7 Helter Skelter
While the Helter Skelter looks like a golden spiral with a claw at the end, its combat animations can have it unfurl to a set of blades that encircle its core. In the game, the Helter Skelter can drill through opponents and even parry enemy counter-attacks. Unfortunately, being a single-target weapon, constant use of the Helter Skelter can leave him open for counters from other directions.
However, the Helter Skelter shines in its simplicity, especially since there’s only one button needed to drill through foes. Its power output can also crack tougher shields and deal a lot of damage in a single-use.
6 Rawhide
In the story, Nico creates Rawhide from the remains of the demon machine Gilgamesh after Nero quickly dispatches it. As a result, the Devil Breaker appears like a condensed spring with a two-pronged hook at the end. When in use, Nero shows Rawhide’s true form as a long whip with bladed edges and a claw tip, making it an excellent companion for long-ranged combat.
Players can rely on Rawhide to get enemies closer to them, but it does need a bit of technical mastery to completely work in the player’s favor. Depending on the position, its attacks also force Nero into a limited invulnerable state.
5 Ragtime
When Nero defeats the Elder Geryon Knight, Nico creates the Ragtime, which looks like a mechanical hand with complex machinery. In combat, Ragtime unfolds into a huge clock around the wrist with various gears appearing. When triggered, it can slow down time for enemies trapped in its radius.
With this in mind, it makes sense why Ragtime can become a player’s most-used Devil Breaker, especially when practicing combos given its overpowered nature as a time-slower. Slowing down enemies is also a great way to dish out some heavier attacks with least resistance.
4 Tomboy
Unlike other Devil Breakers, the Tomboy and its color scheme resemble more like construction equipment. However, it shines best when synergizing with Nero’s weapons. With the Red Queen, the Tomboy combines with its aesthetic and gives it more lighting power at Exceed Level 3. With the Blue Rose, the Tomboy will help it reveal some sort of magnetic accelerator system.
Aside from the neat visuals, the amplifying power the Tomboy offers makes it much easier to use with Nero’s gameplay, making it a contender compared to Dante’s flashier style. This can greatly help players get more combos in without worrying about how to synergize the Devil Breaker’s moves within them.
3 Punchline
In the game’s trailer, Nero is seen riding a Devil Breaker to punch through enemies, and this is exactly what Punchline offers. Despite looking like an ordinary red-and-gold gauntlet, its attacks give Nero a lot of versatility in terms of range.
Aside from the rocket hand launcher and the rocket surfing, Punchline has a lot of “hidden” moves that synergize with other combos. With this complex moveset, Punchline is easily one of the heaviest-hitting Devil Breakers that offer a lot of flexibility to playstyles.
2 Gerbera
One of the more mundane-looking Devil Breakers, the Gerbera simply looks like a green-and-black Devil Breaker with nothing special except an emitter at the palm. When used, the vicious weapon Gerbera unleashes a shockwave that affects enemies differently. For instance, the shockwave can not only propel Nero away or closer to enemies but also have the chance of launching them with him as well.
As such, the Gerbera is a good way for Nero to initiate combos and attacks while moving around the battlefield. Moreover, the Gerbera’s shockwave is also a great way to block incoming attacks, boosting Nero’s overall defense.
1 Overture
The Overture sports an ordinary silver, blue, and gold look that gives it a very “friendly” feel, and it’s exactly what it is. Being the first Devil Breaker that Nico created, it tries its best to replicate the Devil Bringer’s most basic functions. When triggered, its “palm blast” unleashes an open hand that attacks enemies nearby.
Despite its simplicity, the Overture does offer a lot of practicality when it comes to combat, especially against bosses. Aside from its raw damage output being the highest among all Breakers, its flexibility can help beginners get acquainted with the game or veterans have a lot of fun with creative combos.
Devil May Cry 5 is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Amazon Luna.