Which Devil May Cry Game Has the Best Combat System in Your Opinion?

[rencefolap]

Hey everyone, I'm a longtime fan of the Devil May Cry series, but I recently replayed a few entries and started thinking — which game really nails the combat the best?

Each title has its own strengths:

- DMC3: Tight combos, style-switching (in Special Edition), and that classic feel.
- DMC4: Nero’s Devil Bringer added something fresh, and Dante’s full style-switching was insanely fun once mastered.
- DMC5: Easily the most polished combat system — smooth, fast, and packed with options across all characters.

Personally, I think DMC5 wins for sheer depth and fluidity, but DMC3 still feels the most raw and stylish. There's a certain charm in mastering it, especially on higher difficulties.

What about you? Which entry had the most satisfying combat for you — and why?
Would love to hear others' rankings or hot takes (even if someone says DmC 2013 ).

Looking forward to reading your thoughts!

 

[DoomSlayer87_Sss]

In terms of sheer depth and what you can pull off i would have to say 4, but 5 has more fun combat with almost as much depth but more creativity. I miss guard flying though.

 

[dantemustgrind]

In terms of sheer depth and what you can pull off i would have to say 4, but 5 has more fun combat with almost as much depth but more creativity. I miss guard flying though.

I never could figure out guard flying to any meaningful degree. I can sometimes pull off a star-rave against Berial, but that is about it, and I'll sometimes throw in a guard mid-air to trickster teleport to get back in to deal more damage.

- DMC4: Nero’s Devil Bringer added something fresh, and Dante’s full style-switching was insanely fun once mastered.

I like your optimism about mastery of DMC4. That game''s combat system is endlessly complex. I've gotten pretty good at DMC4, but I cannot say I have mastered the game to any meaningful degree. Sure, I've S-ranked all missions and beaten Bloody Palace many times, but my name is not Donguri lol. He is the GOAT of DMC4. There is a relatively new Youtuber called Ven0m0us (iirc) and he is excellent at tutorials for advanced tech in DMC4. ChasterTech has some great vids on the subject, too.

My favorite game in the series is for sure DMC3. And now with the Crimson Mod I could argue that it is the most complex in the series. It opens up a similar depth to DMC4 that the vanilla release just could not compete with. It has been my opinion for a long time that the best system in the series is from 4. I like 5 just fine. My only issue with 5 is that it has some gross-out moments with the Cliphoth Tree. Similarly, I am not a big fan of the Mission 9 cutscene for 3 when Dante comes out of the whale's eyeball. It's just nasty. But that has nothing to do with your question, admittedly.

5 is probably the easiest system to look cool while playing. 4 is the deepest with inertia, guard flying, star raves, and a high difficulty and skill ceiling. My goodness, the Lucifer weapon alone is just an unbelievable add to the arsenal. It opens up all sorts of possibilities with air combos, and insanely precise timing. Timing out Lucifer explosions and swordmaster moves in sync with enemy gravity and Dante's position is just terribly difficult to fathom, and yet combo mads feature that kind of thing constantly. I have pulled off some pretty awesome stuff for my own play, but nothing like what is in combo mads. And 3 is the most fun by a long shot. I have fun with every DMC game.

 

[BrawlMan]

In order:

1. DMC5
2. DMC3SE (on Switch) - On the fly style switching makes it hard to go back and play any non-Switch versions of the game. You got bloody palace co-op too. Automatic win for the combat.
3. DMC4SE - The vanilla version is pretty much obsolete now, and I have no reason to go back for it. Having a much larger cast and LDK mode makes it much more replayable. I don't care got guard flying though, and will always hate the chimera infected enemies.
4. DmC: Definitive Edition
5. DMC1

If we add Bayonetta in the mix:

1. DMC5
2. Bayonetta 2
3. DMC3SE (on Switch)
4. DMC4SE
5. DmC: Definitive Edition
6. Bayonetta
7. Bayonetta 3
8. DMC1