You've probably been there. You are staring down a Frost or a Mega Scarecrow in Bloody Palace, you go for that satisfying dmc 4 nero grab, and—nothing. Nero just swings his glowing blue arm at the air, or worse, he gets smacked out of the animation. It is frustrating.
Honestly, the Devil Bringer is the heart of Nero's gameplay, yet most players treat it like a simple "press button to win" mechanic. It’s not. If you’re just mash-grabbing, you are leaving about 60% of Nero’s damage and style potential on the table.
The Basic Science of the Buster
Basically, the "grab" in Devil May Cry 4 is officially called the Buster. On a controller, it's usually mapped to Circle or B. But here is the kicker: the move changes completely depending on your state.
If you are locked on to an enemy and far away, you get Snatch. That’s the spectral hand that pulls them to you. If you are close, you get the actual Buster grab. But did you know that doing it in the air vs. on the ground often results in entirely different animations?
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Take the Hell Caina. On the ground, Nero performs a long, cinematic execution involving his revolver, Blue Rose. It looks cool, sure. But in a crowd? You're a sitting duck. If you jump and grab that same enemy, Nero just slams them into the dirt. It’s faster. It’s safer. It keeps your momentum going.
Damage Numbers You Should Know
People argue about damage all the time, but the data from the community (shoutout to the old GameFAQs lab rats) is pretty clear. On a standard Scarecrow, a base Buster does roughly 13 units of damage.
Compare that to:
- DT Buster (Devil Triggered): 26 units. Literally double.
- Air Buster: Usually matches the ground damage but finishes in half the frames.
- Summoned Swords: If you're in DT, you can actually fire swords during the grab animation for extra chip damage.
Why Your Boss Grabs Are Failing
This is where most people get "kinda" annoyed. You see a boss like Berial or Echidna, they're stunned, and you go for the grab. Sometimes it works; sometimes Nero just bounces off.
Timing is everything. For bosses, the dmc 4 nero grab usually requires a "downed" state. You have to break their poise.
For example, with Berial, you need to extinguish his flames first. Once he’s hunched over and grey, that’s your window. But here’s an expert tip: you can actually "counter-buster" some bosses. If Credo throws a spear at you, and you time the Buster button just as it's about to hit your hand, Nero will catch the damn thing and hurl it back.
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It’s a high-risk, high-reward parry. Most players never even try it because the window is tight—we’re talking just a few frames before impact.
The Secret "Hold" Mechanic
You've likely beaten the game once and unlocked the ability to Hold enemies. Most people forget this exists.
After you beat Credo, if you hold down the Buster button instead of tapping it, Nero doesn't finish the throw. Instead, he holds the enemy in front of him like a meat shield.
- Frontal Protection: The enemy absorbs all incoming projectiles and melee hits from the front.
- Repositioning: You can literally walk around with a demon in your hand while charging your gun.
- Style Preservation: Getting hit ruins your rank. Holding a shield doesn't.
It is honestly one of the most underrated defensive tools in the series. If you’re playing on Dante Must Die difficulty, mastering the Hold is the difference between a Gold Orb and a Game Over.
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Advanced Tech: DT Canceling and I-Frames
Let’s get technical. The dmc 4 nero grab does NOT give you full invincibility (I-frames) for the entire duration. You are vulnerable at the start and the end.
This is why Devil Trigger (DT) Canceling is a godsend.
In DMC4, Nero's DT activation has a "burst" that grants immediate I-frames and knocks enemies back. If you realize you timed a Buster poorly and an enemy is about to hit you, pop DT. It cancels the recovery frames and keeps your combo streak alive.
Also, if you are in DT, your Buster becomes a "Devil Buster." Nero’s spectral wings turn into giant hands. On certain enemies, like the Frosts, the animation completely changes to a multi-hit beatdown. If you mash the Buster button during these DT animations, you can actually increase the number of hits and total damage.
How to Rank Up Faster Using Grabs
Google searches often ask how to get those SSS ranks. The secret isn't just using the grab; it's when you use it.
The game rewards variety. If you just spam Buster, your style meter will tank.
Instead:
- Launch an enemy with High Roller.
- Follow up with a few aerial slashes.
- Finish with an Air Buster.
- As they hit the ground, use Snatch to pull in the next victim.
This cycle keeps the "Style" points flowing because the game sees the grab as a "finisher" rather than a repetitive move.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Next Session
If you want to actually master the dmc 4 nero grab, don't just read this and go back to mashing. Try these three specific things in your next Mission or Bloody Palace run:
- Practice the Spear Catch: Go to the Credo boss fight (Mission 11). Don't even try to kill him. Just stand back and try to Buster his spears. Learn the visual cue—it's right when the spear tip is about to touch Nero’s outstretched palm.
- The "Jump-Grab" Habit: For the next hour of play, force yourself to never use a ground Buster. Always jump first. You'll notice immediately how much less damage you take from surrounding mobs.
- DT Mashing: Next time you grab a boss in Devil Trigger, don't just watch the movie. Mash that Circle/B button. Watch the health bar melt faster.
Nero's arm is basically a cheat code once you stop treating it like a standard attack and start treating it like a tactical tool. Go hit the lab and see for yourself.