Capcom shipped Devil May Cry 5 on 8 March 2019 on the RE Engine, eleven years after Devil May Cry 4. The campaign is a prologue plus 20 missions that rotate between three playable characters: Nero with the Red Queen and single-use Devil Breaker arms, the physically useless summoner V, and Dante with four switchable styles and six Devil Arms. Vergil came to the PC version as a separate 4.99 dollar character on 15 December 2020, playable in story missions, the Void and Bloody Palace.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Queen | S | Nero players who want the highest damage ceiling in the game without spending Devil Breakers | Nero's sword carries the Exceed system, a motorcycle-style throttle that injects fuel into the blade. |
| Gerbera | A | Dodging boss attacks and extending air combos as Nero | A Devil Breaker that fires a shockwave and, more usefully, dashes Nero through the air in any direction. |
| Balrog | A | Dante burning down a staggered boss quickly | Dante's gauntlets and greaves, split into Blow mode for fast punches and Kick mode for heavier kicks, with a heat gauge that builds while you attack. |
| Dr. Faust | B | Farming Red Orbs for upgrades on repeat mission runs | A hat that spends Red Orbs as ammunition and returns far more Red Orbs than it costs when its attacks land. |
| Yamato | B | Vergil players once the 4.99 dollar DLC character is installed | Vergil's katana, which cuts through space and drives his Judgement Cut and Judgement Cut End. |
S-Tier: Red Queen
Nero's sword carries the Exceed system, a motorcycle-style throttle that injects fuel into the blade. Timing the tap to the moment of impact banks a rev, and three banked revs plus a MAX-Act produce Nero's single hardest hit.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Nero players who want the highest damage ceiling in the game without spending Devil Breakers |
| Key Mechanic | Style rank from D to SSS |
| Recommended Role | Nero |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Red Queen: Pairs naturally with Nero thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Gerbera
A Devil Breaker that fires a shockwave and, more usefully, dashes Nero through the air in any direction. Its Break Age releases a wide laser, but most players spend it on mobility instead because Nero has no air dash otherwise.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Dodging boss attacks and extending air combos as Nero |
| Key Mechanic | Nero's Exceed and Devil Breakers |
| Recommended Role | V |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Gerbera: Pairs naturally with V thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Balrog
Dante's gauntlets and greaves, split into Blow mode for fast punches and Kick mode for heavier kicks, with a heat gauge that builds while you attack. It has the highest raw damage per second of Dante's melee Devil Arms once it is heated.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Dante burning down a staggered boss quickly |
| Key Mechanic | Dante's four switchable styles |
| Recommended Role | Dante |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Balrog: Pairs naturally with Dante thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Dr. Faust
A hat that spends Red Orbs as ammunition and returns far more Red Orbs than it costs when its attacks land. Under Gunslinger it puts hats on enemies and detonates them, which is both a farming tool and one of the best crowd control options Dante has.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Farming Red Orbs for upgrades on repeat mission runs |
| Key Mechanic | V fighting through familiars |
| Recommended Role | Vergil |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Dr. Faust: Pairs naturally with Vergil thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Yamato
Vergil's katana, which cuts through space and drives his Judgement Cut and Judgement Cut End. Charging Yamato attacks draws on the Concentration gauge, so Vergil hits hardest when he is moving with purpose rather than mashing.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Vergil players once the 4.99 dollar DLC character is installed |
| Key Mechanic | Devil Trigger and Sin Devil Trigger |
| Recommended Role | Dante's four combat styles |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Yamato: Pairs naturally with Dante's four combat styles thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Mission 2: Qliphoth
- Gerbera → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Balrog → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Red Queen → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Learn MAX-Act rather than settling for single revs. Tapping Exceed at the exact frame the Red Queen connects banks a rev, and hitting three in a row triggers MAX-Act, which roughly triples the damage on the following attack. It is the largest free damage increase available to Nero and costs no Red Orbs.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Devil May Cry 5 Guides
- Devil May Cry 5 Devil May Cry 5 Overview
- Devil May Cry 5 Best Builds
- Devil May Cry 5 Tier List
- Devil May Cry 5 Walkthrough
- Devil May Cry 5 Beginner's Guide
- Devil May Cry 5 Tips & Tricks
- Devil May Cry 5 Combat Guide
- Devil May Cry 5 Boss Guide
- Devil May Cry 5 Maps & Locations
- Devil May Cry 5 Crafting Guide
- Devil May Cry 5 Classes & Characters
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