He’s cocky. He’s stylish. He’s got a sword the size of a surfboard and a habit of eating pizza while demons literally try to disembowel him. But if you’re looking for a straightforward answer to the question does Dante have a love interest, you’re going to find yourself in a bit of a "it’s complicated" situation.
Dante isn't your typical protagonist. Unlike Nathan Drake or Link, there isn't a clear "love of his life" waiting for him at the end of every mission.
It’s weird, right? For a guy who radiates that much "cool guy" energy, his romantic life is basically a desert.
The Trish Dilemma: It’s Not What You Think
When Devil May Cry first dropped in 2001, everyone thought Trish was the one. She crashes through his office door on a motorcycle, looks exactly like his dead mother (yikes), and eventually helps him take down Mundus. Most games would have ended with a kiss. Instead, Dante gives her his father's sword and they go off to work as partners.
The "looks like his mom" thing is the elephant in the room.
Honestly, it makes any romantic subplot between them feel incredibly off-putting. The developers at Capcom have danced around this for decades. In the first game, Dante even cries for her, which is the most emotion we ever see from him, but it feels more like he’s grieving a piece of his lost family than a girlfriend.
By the time we get to Devil May Cry 5, Trish is basically a coworker. They have a deep bond, sure, but it’s built on shared trauma and professional demon hunting.
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Lady and the "Will They, Won't They" Energy
Then there’s Lady. She’s the human badass who debuted in DMC3. She actually shoots Dante in the head within minutes of meeting him. That’s a classic meet-cute in the world of demon hunting, I guess.
Throughout the third game, there is a genuine spark. They challenge each other. They share a tragic backstory regarding their fathers. By the end, they’re sitting in the rain together, and it feels like the foundation for a real relationship.
But it never happens.
If you look at the light novels or the Devil May Cry anime, Dante and Lady are just... friends. Or at least, they’re friends who owe each other money. Lady often treats Dante like a deadbeat brother who can’t pay his bills. There’s a certain level of comfort there, but the romance is perpetually on the back burner.
The Lucía Factor
Let’s talk about Devil May Cry 2. Most people don't want to talk about it because the game was, frankly, a bit of a mess. But it introduced Lucía, a character who clearly had feelings for Dante.
She asks him to kill her at one point because she discovers she’s an artificial being. Dante, in his peak "cool" era, flips a coin to decide his fate and goes into the demon world instead. It’s heroic. It’s dramatic.
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And then she’s never mentioned again in the mainline games.
Lucía is the closest thing to a "canon" love interest who actually expressed romantic desire for him, but because the game was poorly received, her character was essentially sidelined. It’s a shame, honestly.
Why Capcom Keeps Dante Single
There’s a reason for this. Hideki Kamiya and later Itsuno (the directors) seem to prefer Dante as a lone wolf. Making him a family man or giving him a steady girlfriend might actually ruin the "cool" factor.
Think about it.
Dante’s whole vibe is based on being unattached. He has no mortgage. He has no kids (unlike Nero). He has no boss. If he had a love interest, he’d have something to lose. The stakes would change from "cool action movie" to "family drama."
Also, there’s the whole "half-demon" thing. Dante is essentially immortal or at least ages very slowly. Finding a partner who can keep up with a guy who gets impaled by a sword every Tuesday and just shrugs it off is a tall order.
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What the Fans Think (The Shipping Wars)
If you spend five minutes on Tumblr or Reddit, you’ll see the fans have plenty of opinions on does Dante have a love interest.
- Dante/Lady: The most popular "grounded" ship. People love the banter.
- Dante/Trish: Controversial because of the "Eva" (his mom) resemblance.
- Dante/Vergil: (Yes, people ship the brothers. Let’s just move past that quickly.)
- Dante/Pizza: This is the only 100% canon relationship in the series.
In DMC5, we see a much older, scruffier Dante. He’s more of an uncle figure to Nero. He seems perfectly content being the legendary devil hunter without a wife or kids. He has a family—it’s just a weird, dysfunctional family of demon hunters and weaponsmiths.
The Human Element in a Demon's Life
While Dante doesn't have a girlfriend, he isn't heartless. That’s the irony of the series. He’s the "Devil" who "May Cry." His love interests are more metaphorical. He loves humanity. He loves the memory of his parents. He loves (in a very violent way) his brother Vergil.
In the Devil May Cry anime, we see him looking after a young girl named Patty Lowell. It’s not romantic, obviously, but it shows he has a capacity for care that isn't just about swinging a sword. He’s a protector.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans of the Lore
If you're trying to piece together Dante's romantic history, stop looking for a wedding ring. You won't find one. Instead, look at how he treats the women in his life:
- Read the Light Novels: If you want more flavor, the DMC1 and DMC2 novels (though their canon status fluctuates) give a bit more insight into his inner thoughts.
- Watch the Anime: It shows Dante’s day-to-day life. You’ll see him interacting with Lady and Trish in a way that feels like a bickering family.
- Check out DMC5: Pay attention to the photos in his office during the end credits. It tells you everything you need to know about who he values.
- Accept the Platonic: In a world where every hero needs a "damsel" or a "love interest," Dante stands out because he doesn't. He has partners and rivals.
Basically, Dante is married to his work. He’s a guy who loves the thrill of the fight more than the quiet of a home. Until Capcom decides to give him a serious reboot or a legacy-ending story, he’s going to remain the world's most stylish bachelor. If you're looking for romance in the series, you're better off looking at Nero and Kyrie—they handle the "lovey-dovey" stuff so Dante doesn't have to.
Keep your eyes on the DMC6 rumors, though. With the way the story is evolving, who knows? Maybe we'll see a side of Dante that finally puts his sword down. But for now, he’s just a man, his pizza, and a whole lot of demons to kill.