When Capcom teasedDevil May Cry 5it 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, theDevil May Cryprotagonist 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.
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The Devil Breaker becomes a staple mechanic for Nero inDevil May Cry 5and adds a unique utility spin to what the Devil Bringer provided in the previousDevil May Cryinstallment. 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?
13Monkey Business
At its core,Monkey Businessis simplya model swapof 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.
12Mega Buster
With the Devil Breakers looking like detachable arms aftera mysterious mantook the original Devil Bringer from Nero, theMega Busteris 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 theMega Mangames. However, moveset-wise, the Mega Buster is a bit ordinary, with Mega Shot and Mega Charge Shot being decent attacks without much flair.
11Sweet Surrender
Compared to other Devil Breakers, theSweet Surrenderis draped with white and gold and has a softer touch, with Nico explaining this was to help Nerohandle 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.
10Gerbera GP01
Befitting the DLC categorization, theGerbera GP01is 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.
9Pasta Breaker
Yet another gag Devil Breaker, thePasta Breakeris 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.
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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.
8Buster Arm
When Nico created theBuster Arm, she wanted to recreate the heavy-hitting Buster ability of the original Devil BringerfromDMC 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..
7Helter Skelter
While theHelter Skelterlooks 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 Skeltershines 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.
6Rawhide
In the story, Nico createsRawhidefrom 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.
5Ragtime
When Nero defeats the Elder Geryon Knight, Nico creates theRagtime, 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 combosgiven its overpowered natureas a time-slower. Slowing down enemies is also a great way to dish out some heavier attacks with least resistance.
4Tomboy
Unlike other Devil Breakers, theTomboyand 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.
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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 toDante’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.
