Devil May Cry's popularity is thanks to its characters as much as its legendary gameplay. For a series that never takes itself too seriously, its characters are full of personality, memorable lines, and individuality, and no two characters personify the series better than Dante and Vergil.
The two sons of Sparda have been at each other's throats since the start, but Vergil only came into his own in Devil May Cry 3. Since then, the fandom has been split: who is the best between Dante and Vergil? Below, find five ways Dante is the best (and five ways Vergil is).
10 Dante Has The Style
If it's one thing Dante fans love, it's style. Whether it's riding a demon skateboard or using dance moves as weapons, the man is never satisfied with the simple things. Dante's strongest advantage over Vergil as a character is his commitment to style; he does it all with a nonchalant attitude, too.
This characterization really came into its own in Devil May Cry 3, but even before that, Dante had a quiet, stylish aura about him. If you prefer your half-man-half-demon characters to err on the side of the bombastic over finesse, then Dante is the one.
9 Vergil Has The Finesse
Looking up gameplay of skilled Devil May Cry players with Vergil is an experience. Vergil may lack the weapon variety of Dante, but he more than makes up for it with a fighting style that breathes finesse. Watching him fight is akin to watching an anime battle, but it never veers into cheesy territory.
Dante is stylish and wild, Vergil is calm and controlled, and this is reflected perfectly in Devil May Cry's gameplay. Both brothers offer something for all players, whatever their taste.
8 Dante's Weapon Variety
Dante uses a lot of weapons throughout the Devil May Cry series. While for large parts he leans on Rebellion and Ebony & Ivory, each game is filled with a cocktail of ready-made demon stompers. When complemented by a myriad of fighting styles, players who appreciate jumping between weapons will fall in love with Dante's gameplay.
Devil May Cry 5 stands out for its commitment to zany, varied weapon choices. The entire series is built on the foundation of offering as many tools to the player as possible. The ability to swap weapons was made to be incredibly easy in Devil May Cry 3's Switch port, too.
7 Vergil Has Yamato
By contrast, Vergil does not have as many weapons as Dante, but they are consistently amazing. Yamato — Vergil's katana — is a weapon that looks and feels like the character; it's refined, quick, and purposeful. In gameplay terms, it's an absolute blast to use in Devil May Cry 3 & 4. If Vergil's Devil May Cry 5 release keeps up the same quality, then Yamato's legacy is set to be intact.
For players who prefer mastering a few playstyles with a high skill ceiling, Vergil's sword will leave them thinking he's the best of the pair.
6 Dante Has Attitude
The opening to Devil May Cry 3 is timeless. It's memorable not for how ridiculously fun it is, but the clip encapsulates Dante's attitude. His laidback, happy-go-lucky charm in the face of hordes of demons and horrors is endearing.
Despite being half-demon, he's still able to find fun in pretty much anything. For many, Dante is the best because he's a symbol of Zen-like coolness, all packaged in a dude who loves pizza and good vibes.
5 Vergil Has Composure
If Dante wants to have fun, Vergil wants ruthlessness. His dedication to form exudes confidence — while Dante expresses his combat prowess through creativity, Vergil expresses it through efficiency. Vergil still has a penchant for eye-catching attacks and quips, but it's underpinned with a focus on strength first. For some, this is more impressive than Dante's body-surfing pursuits.
While Marvel vs Capcom 3 is not a part of the Devil May Cry franchise, Vergil stands out in that game for insane damage and precision with a high skill ceiling. The game acts as a small ode to the character's penchant for pure skill, and he was one of the best characters in the game.
4 Dante's Resolve
Dante doesn't have everything his own way. His fights against Vergil are fifty-fifty affairs, but it never stops him from dusting himself off and trying again. Throughout numerous games, Dante is stomped by a particular boss or enemy, but he never loses his charm.
Beneath his care-free aesthetic, Dante is a character who refuses to give up. He's resolved to reach his goals and save Earth, even if he doesn't admit it — he cares. For that reason, many see Dante as the best out of him and Vergil.
3 Vergil's Dedication
Vergil is dedicated to being the strongest, to the point where he sacrifices the last part of his humanity in Devil May Cry 5. While his mission does lead to a lot of hurt people, he's happy enough to dish out some self-sacrifice, too. Vergil fans may love him for his samurai-like composure and all-around badass-ery, but under that façade is a character who is dedicated.
Dante is dedicated to his own goals, too, but not to the extent of Vergil. Vergil, as the more serious one, is more focused on his mission. In terms of dedication, Vergil pips Dante.
2 Dante's Humanity
Dante ultimately beats Vergil for one reason: he accepts his human side. Vergil neglects his humanity in order to be strong. This leaves him with a missing piece that Dante has.
Vergil is often seen as a solitary, lonely figure, but even if Dante is rough around the edges, he builds relationships with real people. By balancing both sides of his personality, Dante proves to be the best out of the pair.
1 Vergil's Vulnerability
Vergil conceals a lot of his human side, but through V, players are able to see what his humanity is really like. Obsessed with books, quotes, and meditations on meaning, V is the embodiment of the human half of Vergil.
What V shows is that under Vergil's dedication to becoming a powerful demon, he still held distinctly human feelings and pursuits. Through V, players see Vergil as vulnerable which gives the character some much-needed emotional depth. Dante may wear his heart on his sleeve, but that doesn't mean Vergil is a robotic person. Many see him as the best character because he can be empathized with.