You’ve probably spent hours mashing the triangle button, watching Dante carve through a pack of Empusas or Scarecrows, and never really thought about the hunk of metal in his hands. It’s just "the sword," right? But if you’re a long-time fan of the series, you know that a Dante sword Devil May Cry discussion is basically a dive into family trauma, demonic physics, and some of the weirdest retcons in gaming history.
Honestly, everyone remembers Rebellion. It’s the iconic one. The skeletal guard, the screaming skull, the massive blade that looks like it weighs as much as a small car. But if we’re being real here, Rebellion is kind of the "middle child" of Dante’s arsenal. It wasn't even there at the start.
The Rebellion Identity Crisis
Believe it or not, back in 2001, Dante didn't have Rebellion. He had Force Edge. That plain-looking, gold-hilted broadsword was supposed to be his big inheritance from Papa Sparda. When Devil May Cry 2 rolled around—the game most people try to forget—the developers just... swapped it. Suddenly, Dante had this jagged, gothic claymore called Rebellion.
No explanation. No cutscene. He just had it.
It wasn't until Devil May Cry 3 that Capcom decided to give it a soul. They turned it into a "keepsake" from Sparda. The lore tells us it represents "retaliation," which is a cool way of saying it’s a physical manifestation of Dante’s rebellious teenage phase against his demon blood.
But there’s a mechanical secret to Rebellion that most casual players miss. Its whole "gimmick" is unification. While Vergil’s Yamato is designed to separate—literally cutting through dimensions or splitting humans from their demons—Rebellion is designed to join things together.
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It’s why Dante has to get stabbed with it to wake up. He gets skewered in DMC3 by Vergil, his blood hits the steel, and the sword "wakes up." But more importantly, the sword wakes him up. It fuses his human and demon halves into a functional Devil Trigger.
Why Everyone Still Uses Rebellion (Even When It's "Weak")
In Devil May Cry 5, something painful happens. Urizen—the demon half of Vergil—basically pimp-slaps Dante so hard that Rebellion shatters. It’s a genuine "oh crap" moment. For the rest of the game, you’re forced to use the Devil Sword Sparda, and eventually, the Devil Sword Dante.
But here’s the thing: after you beat the game, a lot of pro players go right back to Rebellion. Why?
- Prop Shredder: On the newer swords, this move is buried in a combo. On Rebellion, it’s a dedicated button in Swordmaster style.
- Style Points: Rebellion actually does less damage than Sparda or DSD. In Devil May Cry, killing things too fast is a bad thing. You want them to live long enough for you to get that SSS rank.
- The Look: Let's be honest, the Devil Sword Dante (DSD) looks like a giant, glowing red popsicle. It’s cool, but it lacks that classic, heavy metal aesthetic.
The community is pretty split on this. Some love the utility of the "Summoned Swords" that float around you with the DSD, while others miss the simple reliability of a standard Stinger or Million Stab with the old reliable blade.
The Sparda and the Secret of "DSD"
When Dante finally fuses Rebellion and the Sparda sword together in DMC5, he creates the Devil Sword Dante. This isn't just a name change. It’s a lore milestone. It signifies Dante finally surpassing his father.
Sparda was a legend, sure. But his sword was a tool he left behind. By creating his own blade from his own blood and his father's legacy, Dante stopped living in Sparda's shadow. Basically, he stopped being "the son of Sparda" and started being just Dante.
Mechanically, this sword is a beast. You get:
- Interceptors: Swords that automatically shoot at enemies while you’re in Gunslinger.
- Chasers: Swords that add extra hits to your melee attacks.
- Escorts: Swords that shield you and let you tank hits in Royal Guard.
It’s objectively the "best" weapon in the series if you're looking at raw numbers and versatility. It integrates his styles directly into the blade’s behavior. But man, there’s just something about the way Rebellion clinks against the ground in a cutscene that hits different.
Common Misconceptions About Dante's Blades
People always ask if Alastor or Agni & Rudra are "better" than his main sword.
The short answer is no. Those are Devil Arms—demons who turned into weapons. Rebellion and the DSD are "Devil Swords." They are extensions of Dante himself. When he uses Alastor (the lightning sword from DMC1), he's using a tool. When he uses Rebellion, he’s using his own power.
Another weird fact? Rebellion has been used to stab Dante more than any other weapon in the franchise. Vergil did it, Nero did it, and eventually, Dante did it to himself. It’s less of a weapon and more of a very aggressive key to his heart.
Getting the Most Out of Your Swordplay
If you’re trying to actually get good at the game and not just mash buttons, you need to understand the "overlap."
If you unlock the "Irregular Full Custom" skill in DMC5, you can actually equip Rebellion, Sparda, and Devil Sword Dante all at the same time. This is where the real high-level play happens. Since the game treats them as different weapons, you can cycle between them to reset your combo decay. You can hit a Stinger with Rebellion, switch to Sparda for a High Time, then swap to DSD for an Aerial Rave.
It's overkill. It's ridiculous. It's exactly what the series is about.
To really master Dante, you've got to stop thinking of the sword as just a melee tool. It’s a rhythm instrument. The delay between your button presses changes the combo. The style you’re in changes the properties of the blade.
Actionable Steps for Players:
- Unlock "Irregular Full Custom" by beating the game on Son of Sparda difficulty. This lets you carry multiple swords.
- Practice the "Drive" move. It’s one of the best crowd-control moves Dante has, but the timing is tighter on the DSD than it was on the old blades.
- Don't ignore Swordmaster. Most people stay in Trickster for the dash, but Swordmaster is where the sword’s true moveset lives.
Whether you're sticking with the classic Rebellion for the style or moving up to the god-tier power of the Devil Sword Dante, the blade is the heart of the game. Just try not to get stabbed by it too often.
Next Steps for Your DMC5 Run
- Go into The Void (practice mode) and test the damage difference between a basic Combo A using Rebellion versus the Devil Sword Sparda. You’ll notice Sparda hits significantly harder on the final strike.
- Check your equipment loadout and try a "Sword-only" run. It forces you to learn the nuances of Jump Canceling and Style Switching without relying on the flashy projectiles of Dr. Faust or King Cerberus.