Why are you people talking about DMC4 Dante as if he's the strongest...? DMC2 Dante is the one at the end of the timeline
Technically DMC2 Dante is the strongest....its unknown how old he is in 2 but he is definitely older than DMC4 who was in his mid 30's.
Its like this is terms of power.
DMC3 Dante at the beginning: Didn't had DT just healing and supernatural durability, could get his ass kicked by Vergil
DMC3 Dante in the mid: Earned DT, had super speed, insane healing, higher durability, and supernatural strength, is on par with Vergil
DMC3 Dante at the end: More stronger as he finally finds his resolve (cuz a true hero never really becomes powerful til they develop a resolution or goal) and could own Vergil (albeit Vergil did lose a bit due to his own mishaps)
DMC1 Dante: Possibly stronger than his DMC3 self but more mature. Could tank anything like a boss and only showed fatigued at the end after whooping Mundus's ass (twice). He only lost to Nelo (Vergil) due to him being cocky.
DMC4 Dante: Never showed off his full potential and easily owned a kid who took down a God (a false God though) and a guy who fought with an awakened Sparda. In the manga (written by the same guy who wrote DMC4) Dante admits Nero in terms of brute power is better than him (Dante was just that good). Dante owned everyone in that game without even giving a f*ck.
DMC2 Dante: He took down everyone and everything like they were cake. Nothing phased him at all not even the 2nd Demon God Argosax, who he owned like a boss and he did it with ease and wasn't even tired at the end (even Bayonetta got tired after facing Balder and Jubileus). Nothing but pure skill and badassness...no Sword of Sparda Power Up, no unshakable resolve, no random (NOW I'M MOTIVATED SO I CAN'T LOSE MOMENT), not of that. He went in there and f*ck **** up like he was unstoppable and not only that he has the most OP DT in all of the games and not including Majin Form which should be called "God Mode" since he is untouchable in that form. DMC2 was too easy because Dante was too OP and that he went to the Demon World. I would definitely like to see a DMC2 sequel where Dante just goes to the UnderWorld and cause mayhem and hell (under a new leader after Dante owned their past 2 ones) just send their entire army and their best demons and Dante just go ham (meanwhile Nero, Trish, and co. is in the human world doing something story relevant).