V is a weirdo. There is really no other way to put it. When Capcom first showed off the third playable protagonist for Devil May Cry 5, the collective gaming world scratched its head. We were used to Dante’s pizza-fueled bravado and Nero’s hot-headed punk energy. Then comes this lanky, tattooed guy in sandals who reads William Blake poetry while demons are trying to rip his throat out. Honestly, it was a massive risk for a franchise that basically defined the "character action" genre.
Most people saw him as a temporary gimmick. A bridge. But if you actually look at the mechanics of V from Devil May Cry 5, he’s the most narratively significant character the series has ever introduced. He isn't just a summoner. He is the literal personification of Vergil’s humanity, stripped of the power-hungry ego that defines the Alpha and the Omega.
The Reality of Playing V from Devil May Cry 5
The combat is polarizing. Let’s be real. If you’ve spent fifteen years mastering the "Smoking Sexy Style" of Dante’s weapon switching, playing as V feels like you’re suddenly trying to play a real-time strategy game inside a brawler. You aren't the one swinging the sword. Instead, you're managing three distinct entities: Griffon, Shadow, and Nightmare.
Griffon handles your ranged attacks, screaming insults in a way that reminds everyone of the first Devil May Cry boss. Shadow is your melee tool, shifting into blades and needles. Nightmare is the "nuke" button. It’s a chaotic dance. You have to position V safely—because he’s incredibly fragile—while simultaneously directing your pets to stay aggressive. If V takes a hit, it hurts. If his pets "stalemate" (basically a temporary death), he's defenseless.
It’s a glass cannon playstyle. It’s also the only time the series has forced us to think about spacing in a meaningful way. Dante and Nero want to be in your face. V wants to be exactly three feet away, looking cool while his cat does the work.
Why the Poetry Actually Matters
You’ve probably heard him recite The Marriage of Heaven and Hell a dozen times during a single mission. It’s easy to write it off as "edgy anime stuff." But it’s actually a brilliant piece of environmental storytelling. V is dying. From the moment he manifests, his body is crumbling. He uses the book as a focus to maintain his crumbling existence.
The choice of William Blake isn’t accidental. Blake’s work often dealt with the duality of man—the "Songs of Innocence" versus the "Songs of Experience." This is the core conflict of Vergil. By separating his human half (V) from his demon half (Urizen), Vergil thought he was shedding weakness. What he actually did was create a version of himself that finally understood what it felt like to be small. To be scared. To need help.
V is Vergil without the Yamato to hide behind. When he says, "I have no name; I am but two days old," he isn’t just being cryptic. He is literally a newborn consciousness trying to make sense of a lifetime of trauma.
The Connection to Vergil and the Series Lore
If you haven't finished the game, look away. But since it's been out for years, let's talk about the reveal. V is half of Vergil. Specifically, the half that remembers being a child in a burning house.
The demons he summons—Griffon, Shadow, and Nightmare—aren't just random monsters. They are the nightmares Vergil suffered when he was enslaved as Nelo Angelo by Mundus. By summoning them, V is literally fighting alongside his own trauma. It’s heavy stuff for a game that also features a motorcycle being used as a chainsaw.
This adds a layer of empathy to Vergil that was missing in previous games. In DMC3, Vergil was a cool antagonist. In DMC5, through V, he becomes a tragic figure. You see him struggling to walk. You see him relying on Nero—the son he didn't know he had—to carry the weight he can no longer bear.
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The Evolution of the Summoner Archetype
Summoners in action games usually suck. They’re often passive. They stand in the back and wait for a meter to fill up. Capcom tried to fix this by making V’s involvement mandatory for the kill.
The "Finishing Blow" mechanic is the secret sauce. His pets can't actually kill demons. They can only "gray out" their health bars. V himself has to teleport in with his cane and deliver the final strike. It forces the player to jump into the fray at the last second, maintaining the flow of the action. It's rhythmic. It's rewarding. It’s also a bit of a nightmare on the "Dante Must Die" difficulty setting because one mistimed teleport means instant death.
Some fans argue that V's gameplay lacks the depth of the others. There are fewer "frames" to memorize. There are no Royal Guard timings to perfect. That's true. But V offers a different kind of complexity. He’s about battlefield awareness. While Nero is focused on one enemy, V has to be watching the whole room to make sure Shadow isn't getting swarmed while Griffon is charging a lightning bolt.
How to Actually Get an SSS Rank with V
If you're struggling to get those high style rankings, you're probably being too passive. People think V is a "sit back and relax" character. He isn't. To get an SSS rank, you need to be doing three things at once.
- Read the Book: Hold the button to read your poetry whenever you have a second of breathing room. It builds your DT (Devil Trigger) gauge. You need that gauge to keep Nightmare on the field and to "auto-control" your pets so they don't die.
- Double-Tasking: You can input Griffon’s commands and Shadow’s commands simultaneously. They are mapped to different buttons. You should be charging Griffon’s lightning while Shadow is performing a combo. If you aren't pressing both buttons, you aren't playing V correctly.
- The Cane Teleport: Use the "Gambit" move to close the distance. V’s cane isn't just for show; it's a mobility tool.
Don't forget that Nightmare is basically an "invincibility" button. When you summon him, V often hops on his back. While you're riding Nightmare, you're mostly safe from ground-based attacks. Use this time to read the book and max out your DT so you can keep the chaos going as long as possible.
V's Legacy in Devil May Cry
Will we see V again? Probably not in his human form. Since he re-merged with Urizen to bring Vergil back, V technically doesn't exist anymore. However, his influence is all over Vergil’s DLC moveset. Vergil can now summon a spectral version of V as a "World of V" attack, which clears the screen and heals him.
It’s a nice nod to the idea that Vergil hasn't forgotten his time as a human. He’s more "complete" now. He’s still a power-hungry jerk, sure, but he’s a jerk who knows what it’s like to be V.
The experiment of V was a success because it proved that Devil May Cry can be more than just "sword go swoosh." It can be weird. It can be literary. It can be a little bit emo. And honestly, the franchise is better for it.
Actionable Tips for DMC5 Players
If you're jumping back into the game or trying it for the first time, don't sleep on V's upgrades.
- Prioritize Shadow's Mobility: Buy the "Hedgehog" and "Skewer" moves early. Shadow needs to be able to hit multiple enemies to keep the pressure off V.
- Griffon's Flap: This is your double jump. It’s essential for staying in the air and away from enemy hitboxes.
- Don't spam Nightmare: It's tempting to bring the big guy out immediately, but save him for when your other pets are stalemated. Summoning Nightmare instantly revives Shadow and Griffon, which can save a run.
- Auto-Attack is a Trap: You can spend DT to make your pets act on their own, but their AI isn't as smart as a human. Use it sparingly, mainly when you need to focus 100% on dodging a boss's "bullet hell" phase.
V might not be everyone’s favorite, and he might not have the raw "cool factor" of a guy with a flaming sword. But he’s the soul of Devil May Cry 5. He turned a standard sequel into a character study. Next time you play his missions, stop focusing on the buttons and listen to the lyrics of "Crimson Cloud." It tells you everything you need to know about a man who was literally falling apart at the seams.
Mastering V requires a shift in perspective. You aren't the hero; you're the conductor of a very violent orchestra. Once that clicks, the SSS ranks will start rolling in naturally. Use your DT to keep the pets active, stay in the air with Griffon, and always, always keep reading that book. Experience the game's difficulty levels with a fresh eyes by leaning into V's unique rhythm instead of fighting against it.