______   _______          _________ _
(  __  \ (  ____ \|\     /|\__   __/( \
| (  \  )| (    \/| )   ( |   ) (   | (
| |   ) || (__    | |   | |   | |   | |
| |   | ||  __)   ( (   ) )   | |   | |
| |   ) || (       \ \_/ /    | |   | |
| (__/  )| (____/\  \   /  ___) (___| (____/\
(______/ (_______/   \_/   \_______/(_______/
May
444444444
_______  _______                     4::::::::4
(  ____ \(  ____ )|\     /|          4:::::::::4
| (    \/| (    )|( \   / )         4::::44::::4
| |      | (____)| \ (_) /         4::::4 4::::4
| |      |     __)  \   /         4::::4  4::::4
| |      | (\ (      ) (         4::::4   4::::4
| (____/\| ) \ \__   | |        4::::444444::::444
(_______/|/   \__/   \_/        4::::::::::::::::4
4444444444:::::444
4::::4
4::::4
4::::4
44::::::44
4::::::::4
4444444444
___________________________
| Devil May Cry 4 Guide     |
| Created by: Axel7174      |
| FAQ and Walkthrough       |
|___________________________|
Version History
---------------
Version .90 - Started 2/18/08 - Finished 3/03/08
--Guide Created
Version 1.00 - 3/05/08
--Fixed some info, corrected spelling/grammar
Version 1.50 - 3/07/08
--Fixed more info, added slightly to some sections, including a very tiny
addition to Bloody Palace. Added my PSN ID for any who want to friend me for
whatever reason. Corrected a few more spelling/grammar mistakes.
Version 1.80 - 3/14/08
--Fixed some errors I was too blind to see (like putting '07 in the version
history updates instead of '08 -_-. Also added a little more info and fixed
other information. Added the FAQ section finally.
[]====================================[]
|         Table of Contents            |
[]====================================[]
1. Introduction (Intro)
A. Devil May Cry: The Series
B. Nero's Weapons & Abilities
C. Dante's Weapons & Abilities
D. Items
E. Enemies
F. General Tips
G. Frequently Asked Questions
2. Walkthrough
A. Mission 01 (M01)
B. Mission 02 (M02)
C. Mission 03 (M03)
D. Mission 04 (M04)
E. Mission 05 (M05)
F. Mission 06 (M06)
G. Mission 07 (M07)
H. Mission 08 (M08)
I. Mission 09 (M09)
J. Mission 10 (M10)
K. Mission 11 (M11)
L. Mission 12 (M12)
M. Mission 13 (M13)
N. Mission 14 (M14)
O. Mission 15 (M15)
P. Mission 16 (M16)
Q. Mission 17 (M17)
R. Mission 18 (M18)
S. Mission 19 (M19)
T. Mission 20 (M20)
3. Beyond
A. Blue Orb Locations (BluO)
B. Secret Missions (SecM)
C. Bloody Palace (BlP)
D. Unlockables (Unlck)
4. Misc. (Misc)
A. Contact Info
B. Credits
C. Legal Garbage
[]====================================[]
|           Introduction               |
[]====================================[]
(Intro)
******************************
*A. Devil May Cry: The Series*
******************************
So, here we are, 2008 and Devil May Cry 4 has reached US and UK soil. Finally.
Devil May Cry introduced us to a great game and character in Dante. Devil May
Cry 2 took us down a road of mediocrity and then Devil May Cry 3 really
shattered the gaming world yet again. Now finally, Devil May Cry 4 has been
released with an all new protagonist: Nero. With new gameplay aspects, levels,
enemies, bosses, the game continues the Devil May Cry legacy in good fashion.
In writing this guide, I chose to go with the Devil Hunter difficulty. So, any
references made here will reflect those seen in that particular mode. I've also
written it specifically to reflect the control scheme with the PS3. I may at a
later time change it so it can be applied to the Xbox360 but I'm not sure yet.
It's actually not that difficult when you think about it.
*******************************
*B. Nero's Abilities & Weapons*
*******************************
With a new character, you'll spend a decent time becoming accustomed to how he
plays. This will be especially hard if you've played DMC3 very recently.
Luckily, Nero is simple to wield with some practice and eventually that makes
the game much easier. To start off, Nero has two basic weapons: Red Queen and
Blue Rose. I'm going to give the button presses for each move, as well as a
short description and tips for each. I will not be doing this for all of
Dante's moves though.
Red Queen: Red Queen is Nero's sword and it's got a whole different innovation
as compared to Dante's Rebellion. The sword has a motorcycle grip handle,
allowing Nero to rev it and attack with more power. We'll get into the Exceed
system in a moment. First we'll go over Nero's moves with the Red Queen.
Combo 1: Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle
-Very simple. Just hit the button over and over again. Easy and useful when you
are locked on to the enemy.
Combo 2: Triangle, (pause), Triangle, (pause), Triangle, Triangle, Triangle
-A good combo that works against a single enemy. Nero will slash the enemy once
and then proceed to slam his sword down on him continually until finally
slashing upward. The move is effective against one enemy but leaves you very
vulnerable to attacks from behind. It's only recommended to be used when you're
not surrounded closely by a lot of enemies. Having to pause in between the
first and second, as well as second and third slashes is important. You can't
just mash like in the first combo.
Combo 3: Triangle, Triangle, (pause), Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle,
Triangle
-This is a very good combo. Nero will do his two slashes, then after a pause,
will unleash a few very wide slashes that will hit enemies around him. It's a
decent crowd control attack but it has its limits and won't always guarantee
you won't get hit while performing it. After the pause, you can just tap
Triangle continually to unleash he latter part of the combo.
Combo 4. Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, (pause), Triangle
-Not much to say about this one. It's basically the same combo as the original,
but Nero gives his final slash a little extra oomph.
Air Combo: (in mid-air) Triangle, Triangle, Triangle
-Pretty simple. While you're in the air this will help juggle the enemy but
there's nothing special about it. Roulette Spin is better.
Roulette Spin: (in mid-air) Triangle, Triangle, (pause), Triangle
-This move is not only a good air move, but it will help you once or twice in
the course of the game. Nero will slash twice, and then spin in the air with
Red Queen. The result is a move that propels him somewhat higher into the air.
High Roller: Hold R1 + Back on the Left Analog Stick and press Triangle
-This move is good to begin your aerial combos. If you're familiar with DMC,
you should know that this move will let you chase the enemy if you hold
Triangle. This will let you jump after the enemy and begin an aerial combo if
you wish. I find it's useful if I'm focusing on one enemy and there are others
surrounding me. I can take to the air and avoid damage for the time being.
Streak: Hold R1 + Forward on the Left Analog Stick and press Triangle
-This move is performed in the same control scheme as Dante's Stinger,
but the similarities end there. Instead of a forward thrust, Nero lunges with
a very wide sweeping slash. This is a great move to control a crowd and keep
enemies away from you while you deal with others.
Split: (in mid-air) Hold R1 + Forward on the Left Analog Stick and press
Triangle
-With Split, you'll be airborne when you perform it, and Nero will come
crashing down on his enemies with his sword. Useful to tag on the end of an
aerial combo. I personally like to juggle an enemy with Roulette spin, and if
there's another enemy underneath me, I'll crash down on them with Split.
Calibur: (in mid-air) Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick, then
Forward on the Left Analog Stick and Triangle
-This move is basically the airborne version of Streak, and it's tough to pull
off sometimes. If you practice though it becomes easier, but you might still
find that in battle situations you can't perform it as easily as you would
hope. When you take to the air don't have the Left Analog Stick held in any
direction. Press it back and then forward quickly in one fluid motion and press
Triangle and you should succeed.
Shuffle: Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick, then Forward on the
Left Analog Stick and Triangle
-Basically the same exact deal with Calibur except you'll be doing it on the
ground. This move is a good move, you'll move away from your enemy, allowing
you to avoid damage and then dash right back toward them allowing you to
counterattack. It's one of those moves that's difficult to implement, but if
practice it makes the difference in becoming a master at the combat system.
Whew. That was a lot, wasn't it? Ok, now we'll go over the Exceed System. This
is very, very important.
***************
*EXCEED SYSTEM*
***************
The Exceed System is exclusive to Nero and it's what makes him a whole
different ballgame from Dante, as well as making DMC4 much more innovative in
its combat system as compared to the earlier installments. Nero has a
motorcycle grip handle on Red Queen and you can use it in battle to supercharge
his attacks. This is not an easy process and can be difficult. However, if
you've tried the demo, you might have some experience with this. I can't really
help much in the way of learning the intricate timings and such, but Ninja99
has a very useful guide on the message boards that is detailed on such things.
The very basic way to use the Exceed system is to hold L2 to rev the Red Queen.
You simply hold L2 for a moment, then release and quickly hold it again. You
should see the meter in the top left filling up. As it reaches the top, it will
fill up a lamp. You have three lamps, that is, three hits to use with an Exceed
boost. They'll be used whenever you attack, so if you fill three lamps and then
proceed to slash three times in a row; you'll execute three slightly more
powerful attacks and your lamps will be empty.
Revving like this is useful in a few ways. If you know a boss fight is coming,
you can prepare by filling the three lamps ahead of time. It's not much, but it
is at least nice to start the fight off on the right foot. The other thing is
to unleash the Exceed versions of certain moves in mid battle when at their
full strength by revving three lamps. We'll get to those in a moment.
There is a more useful way to get lamps however. This is what Ninja99 details
in his guide on the board. By pressing L2 immediately following one of Nero's
sword slashes, you can instantly fill a lamp in the Exceed gauge. This requires
precise timing and therefore, can be difficult to learn without the proper
amount of practice. Personally, I find it's easy to begin with Nero's most
basic combo: Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle. Practice with this combo
and try to time L2 presses after he finishes each slash. Try it enough times
and you should be able to do that combo with at least 2-3 correctly timed
slashes. This applies to every move as well, including Streak, Split, Roulette
Spin, everything. Learning the time for pressing L2 on these moves can take
time but it's not critical to your experience. It helps tremendously however
so it's worth it to learn. Again, check Ninja99's guide for help on this.
Now, while your regular slashes are empowered when you have a lamp to use to
boost them, they won't make a very noticeable difference in the long run. There
are however, certain moves in Nero's disposal that are especially made for the
Exceed system. These moves become empowered with a fiery explosion off of the
Red Queen when you perform them with at least one lamp full. The more lamps you
have, the more powerful the technique will be, granted you purchase the correct
abilities. The moves are as follows:
Exceed Streak: Nero will unleash his streak but with a powerful fire attack,
and will spin in place after he lunges unleashing a slash as he turns. The
result is a much fiercer Streak attack. With more lamps, Nero will perform more
turns as he unleashes his slashes, all combined with a fierce fire attack from
his blade. This move is by far one of the greatest crowd control moves in the
game.
Exceed High Roller: Nero will perform his High Roller, but then spin and slash
a second and third (depending on how many lamps you have) time, all with a fire
special embedded. Great for really putting the hurt on an enemy before you send
them airborne.
Exceed Split: A.K.A. Double Down (you'll see why). This is also another great
move and probably my favorite after Exceed Streak. Instead of coming down with
his blade stretched out in a cleaving sort of way, Nero will come down with the
tip pointing down. As always, it will be accompanied by a fire special, and
upon hitting the ground, a fiery shockwave will go off around Nero's immediate
area. There is no difference in Nero's movements with more lamps for this move.
That does not mean there is no benefit to using it with more lamps. To the
contrary, with two or three lamps, the area of the fire shockwave is increased,
which will allow you to hit more surrounding enemies. The move is also known as
Double Down, because that is what Nero shouts when he unleashes it with three
lamps.
Exceed Calibur: This is again, the airborne version of Streak and there's not
much difference in the Exceed version except for the fire attack and how Nero
will spin as he unleashes the slash. Unlike the Exceed Streak, Nero will not
spin more times for each lamp you have when you use this. More lamps will still
mean more damage though, obviously.
Exceed Shuffle: Again, the difference is the fire attack added on Nero's slash.
Otherwise, it's just a beefed up version of the original attack. Nero will only
slash twice too, even if you have three lamps.
Now, we'll briefly discuss Nero's firearm, the Blue Rose. The Blue Rose is not
much unfortunately, when compared to Dante's Ebony & Ivory. It's good to use if
you wish to tag tiny bits of damage on an enemy (especially a boss) from a
distance, but don't rely on it too heavily for hurting your foes. It's just
a bonus really, helping to keep certain enemies at bay. It only has one move.
Charge Shot: Hold Square and release.
-Extremely simple. Just hold Square until Nero's arm glows and release. As you
purchase the upgrades for this, you'll be able to do a bit more damage, but
again, it's not an amazing addition.
Devil Bringer: Last but not least, Nero's arm. This is the third dimension that
is added to DMC4 that makes the fighting so much more innovative and fun in
my humble opinion. Instead of just shooting and slashing, you now have this,
with Nero only of course. Circle controls Nero's arm and there's not much to
it in terms of moves, but it has more than it's worth in usefulness.
Buster: This is the standard move for the Devil Bringer and the one you'll use
most frequently. By pressing Circle, you'll grab your enemy, and perform some
sort of move on them, generally being a slam or a throw. It varies between each
enemy and some enemies have very unique Buster moves when you use it on them.
Buster becomes an amazing tool when you use it in boss fights however. When you
see the opportunity arise (I will elaborate on this below), you can use the
Buster on the boss to unleash a powerful combo that is not only damaging, but
fun to watch. Note that some enemies are immune to this and some can block it
but with repeated Buster attacks, their guard can usually be broken. Be aware
that with Devil Trigger engaged, the Buster move will usually be different and
will be more powerful.
Snatch: This is the other move you'll use a lot. Holding R1 and pressing Circle
will let you grab your enemies from a distance and bring them closer. This is
extremely helpful for quickly chaining combos and increasing your Stylish
meter. Snatch can be used on the ground and in mid-air.
Hold: With the Aegis Shield, you'll be able to grab your enemies with Buster
and use them as a shield by holding Circle. Personally, I found this move
somewhat useless. I was not very much in the interest of holding my enemies
and rather wanted to attack as often as I could. Furthermore, I found that it's
not always helpful for if your enemies attack from a certain angle you'll still
sustain damage. Hold will be useful for you to complete a certain Secret
Mission however.
The final area of Nero’s techniques is the Devil Trigger moves. I've named
them as such for spoiler purposes as the real name would give away something.
Devil Trigger: Activate it using L1 and you'll enter a powered state. Your
moves will hit harder and a slow regen system will be employed, allowing you
to regain lost health. This is good for quickly whittling down bosses' health,
as well as trying to turn the tide in a fight if you're getting beat.
Summoned Swords: When firing the Blue Rose in Devil Trigger state, you'll also
be able to shoot some small swords. Obviously, your ranged attack will be more
powerful in this state.
Maximum Bet: (in Devil Trigger state) Hold R1 + Back on the Left Analog Stick
and press Triangle + Circle
-This technique is pretty good while in Devil Trigger state but can be a little
tough to pull of sometimes. I can't say much more but it's a useful move and I
recommend it for Devil Trigger. You can also hold this move to make the attack
all the more powerful. It's very useful against bosses with big body masses
like Berial and Bael/Dagon because if you charge it and manage to hit them
when you release, they'll take a lot of damage as the attack slowly shreds
through them.
Showdown: (in Devil Trigger state Hold R1 + Forward on the Left Analog Stick
and press Triangle + Circle
-This move is bittersweet. It is indeed a pretty cool move, as Nero unleashes
a volley of fierce attacks. The cost is high though and it makes it difficult
to pull off, almost to the point where you might consider that it's not worth
the trouble. When you input the button commands, Nero will charge the attack
for a few seconds, leaving you very vulnerable. Knowing which enemies will let
you have windows like this is imperative. Some enemies like Scarecrows and
Frosts will not let you pull this off easily. Other enemies like the Blanco
Angelo will give a decent amount of time to pull this off with just a mere
stun. Furthermore, if you don't land the first hit of this attack (let's say
your enemy sidesteps the attack), you won't pull it off at all.
Finally, we'll go over some other assorted abilities. Some of these are free,
while others will have to be bought. As I will not cover all of Dante's moves
below, let any of these following moves apply for Dante as well.
Side Roll: This shouldn't be foreign to a veteran DMC player. The side roll,
performed by holding R1 and pressing the Left Analog Stick left or right with
a press of X will allow you to roll away from enemy attacks. It's very useful,
so be sure to know when to use it.
Table Hopper: This is a sort of bonus move of the Side Roll. If you time it so
that you perform the Side Roll just as an enemy is about to hit you, Nero will
move swiftly out of the way and this move will put you in position to counter
much better. I personally never used it much except by accident a few times.
If you're keen on keeping high combos going however, this is a good move to
learn, as a good dodge will add very slightly to your Stylish. Table Hopper can
be upgraded twice, and it basically adds another dodge to the chain. So by
using Table Hopper once, if you press the buttons again quickly, you can do a
second and even third dodge that will put you in an even more advantageous
position.
Speed: This move is not very useful in the grand scheme of things, but it's
still useful in general and I recommend it as one of the moves you get early.
If you played the demo you should know what this is. If you keep moving in the
same general direction, you will eventually enter a faster running mode. This
simply allows you to get from point A to point B quicker. It will also let you
do the dropkick move, which if nothing else, is cool and will add very slightly
to your Stylish meter.
Get More Orbs: Not really a move or anything but an ability I figured I would
mention. It will let you grab orbs from longer distances. As orbs are very
important, you should consider getting this whenever you have the chance.
Air Hike: Another technique veteran fans should know. This is your double jump.
Useful for reaching high places and staying in the air longer. I would again
recommend you try to get this early although it's not critical. I personally
didn't get it until after I had beaten the game the first time.
Enemy Step: This move allows you to do a double jump by landing on top of an
enemy as a stepping platform to vault off of. If you watch it performed in the
Library, it kinda looks cool but it honestly isn't worth it. It's definitely
not something you should buy to favor some other useful ability.
Exceed 2: This move pours two lamps into your Exceed attacks (Split,
High Roller, etc). So, when you have at least two lamps filled and perform one
of those special Exceed moves, it will automatically use both lamps. Sound bad?
The effect is a more powerful version of the original attack. For example, Nero
will spin twice when performing Exceed Streak, instead of just once.
Exceed 3: This is the advanced version of the previous ability. It lets you
pour three lamps into your special Exceed moves. It makes Exceed Streak very
dangerous and also gives you access to Double Down.
Max-Act: This ability is not extremely important as it is mostly a sort of luck
thing. Basically, with the most precise of timings, you can fill up the
Ex-Gauge all the way, instead of filling just one lamp. It's helpful on higher
difficulties but again, not something you should focus on early in lieu of
other abilities.
That covers everything in Nero's arsenal. Now we'll move on to Dante. For
Dante who has many more moves, I will not cover all of his, but will rather
just provide you the button inputs and some general tips on certain moves.
********************************
*B. Dante's Abilities & Weapons*
********************************
You'll play as Dante for roughly half of the game, after playing as Nero for
the first half. Even if you've played DMC3 recently, you'll probably feel
pretty awkward jumping into Dante's shoes for the first time in DMC4 after
playing as Nero for so long. Rightfully so, as they are quite different.
*********
*Weapons*
*********
Rebellion: Dante's sword Rebellion is where you'll first find yourself in a
moment of awkwardness most likely. If you've practiced the Exceed system a lot,
you'll probably find yourself (like me) wailing on the L2 button as Dante
swings his sword. Since Dante obviously doesn't have the Exceed system, this is
simply a waste but it's something you'll have to get used to. Dante's Rebellion
attacks are pretty simple and straightforward.
Combo 1: Triangle, Triangle, Triangle
Combo 2: Triangle, Triangle, (pause), Triangle
-The third Triangle press will add a Million Stab to the combo
Helm Breaker: (in mid-air) press Triangle
High Time: Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick + Triangle
Stinger: Hold R1 + Forward on the Left Analog Stick and press Triangle
Million Stab: Release the Left Analog Stick and hold Triangle after performing
Stinger
Gilgamesh: Gilgamesh is a fist and foot weapon similar to Beowulf in DMC3.
I thoroughly enjoyed Beowulf's moves, but I did not like that Dante wore the
greaves and gloves all the time even when the weapon wasn't currently selected,
so for that reason, I tended not to use it as much as I wished. Gilgamesh does
not have that problem and is much more useful.
Combo 1: Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle
Combo 2: Triangle, Triangle, (pause), Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle
Full House: (in mid-air) Press Triangle
Draw: Hold R1 + Back on the Left Analog Stick and press Triangle
Straight: Hold Triangle and release after a Draw
-Hold Triangle for a moment after Dante has backed away from performing the
Draw technique. Can be charged.
Kick 13: Hold R1 + Forward on the Left Analog Stick and press Triangle
Flush: This move basically makes your jump an attack when you have Gilgamesh
equipped. Not much else to say about it.
Lucifer: Ah yes, Lucifer. Here's a unique and fun weapon. It's one of those
weapons that is difficult to master, but if you do, you become a better player
for it. Lucifer's arms allow Dante to cast out floating swords which can pierce
and stick into his enemies, allowing him to detonate them later. As he can cast
many swords at a single time, the damage you can do to numerous enemies makes
Lucifer a force to be reckoned with in the right hands.
Combo 1: Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle (repeat)
Combo 2: Triangle, (pause) Triangle
Combo 3: Triangle, (pause), Triangle, (pause), Triangle
-Timing on the third strike can be tough, wait til Dante has turned his body
almost all of the way to press Triangle a third time.
Combo 4: Triangle, Triangle, (pause), Triangle
Combo 5: Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, (pause), Triangle
Splash: (in mid-air) Hold Triangle
Ecstasy: Hold R1 + Back on the Left Analog Stick and press Triangle
-This move will detonate deployed swords
Pin-Up: Hold R1 + Forward on the Left Analog Stick and press Triangle
Now on to Dante's guns.
Ebony & Ivory: Dante's famous pair of handguns. More useful than Nero's Blue
Rose, E&I still only have one move.
Charge Shot: Hold Square
Coyote A: Dante's Shotgun. A more powerful gun that works good in closer
quarters.
Charge Shot: Hold Square
Pandora: Here we go. This is the fun one. Pandora is more of a multipurpose gun
and its abilities are very useful. Originally disguised as a suitcase, it has
666 forms. Unfortunately you'll only be using a handful, but it's ok, this
weapon still kicks ass.
PF013 Epidemic: Press Square
PF124 Hatred: Hold Square and press the Left Analog Stick left or right three
times
-You can only aim up or down so be careful
PF398 Revenge: (while in PF124 Hatred mode) Spin the Left Analog Stick twice in
any direction
PF262 Jealousy: (in mid-air) Press Square
********
*Styles*
********
Sword Master: Sword Master is probably the most useful style in DMC4. In DMC3
my favorite was Gunslinger but unfortunately that style is a bit nerfed. Also,
the combat in DMC4 calls for you to be more aggressive so Sword Master is the
way to go.
Rebellion
---------
Prop: Press Circle
Shredder: Press Circle after performing Prop and hold
Aerial Rave: (in mid-air) Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle
Drive: Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick + Triangle and Circle
simultaneously
Quick Drive: Press Triangle and Circle simultaneously
Over Drive: Press Circle twice immediately after performing Drive
Dance Macabre: Hold R1 and press Forward on the Left Analog Stick and tap
Circle continuously
-This is one of my favorite moves. Remember to keep tapping Circle.
Gilgamesh
---------
Shock!: Hold Circle
-Can be charged to two levels depending on how long you hold Circle
Shocking!: (in mid-air) Press Circle
Beast Uppercut: Hold R1 and press Forward on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
Rising Dragon: Hold Circle before unleashing Beast Uppercut until Dante's fist
flashes
Divine Dragon: (reminds me of Legend of Dragoon) Hold Circle until Dante's fist
flashes twice
Real Impact: Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
-Similar to Divine Dragon but it can't be charged which is actually helpful
because the damage is nearly identical, so you don't have to wait as long
Lucifer
-------
Discipline: Press Left Analog Stick in any direction and press Circle
-This move will reposition and deployed blades around you.
Climax: Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
Bondage: Hold R1 and press Forward on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
-This will reposition the blades around an enemy instead. Once they surround
him, the blades will attack.
************
*Gunslinger*
************
Gunslinger was my favorite but now it has less of the moves that it did in DMC3
but perhaps rightfully so as some of the moves accented Dante's age in that
iteration. Regardless, Gunslinger will boost the abilities of your guns, making
it more than helpful when things get shaky.
Ebony & Ivory
-------------
Twosome Time: Press Circle and use Left Analog Stick to fire at enemies
Rain Storm: (in mid-air) Press Circle
Honeycomb Fire: After performing Twosome Time, let go of Left Analog stick and
tap Circle repeatedly
-This move will only work if you're firing both guns on the same enemy.
Coyote-A
--------
Fireworks: Press Circle
Fireworks Air: (in mid-air) Press circle
Backslide: Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
Gun Stinger: Hold R1 and press Forward on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
Pandora
-------
PF594 Argument: Press Circle when in Gunslinger and Pandora equipped and some
of the Disaster Gauge filled. Press Circle to unleash the special attack, and
Square to unleash regular attacks.
-You need to have around half of the Disaster Gauge filled to unleash the
Circle attack. With a full gauge you can do it twice, depending on how much
you've upgraded Gunslinger.
PF422 Grief: Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
PF666 Omen: Hold R1 and press Forward on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
***********
*Trickster*
***********
Trickster was never a favorite of mine. With the removal of the wall running
ability, I find it even less helpful. Still, if you need to really move, this
Style is a bit useful.
Dash: Press Circle
Sky Star (in mid-air) Press Circle
Mustang: Hold Circle while dashing
-If you collide with an enemy you'll jump on top of them
Flipper: Hold Circle after being knocked down
Air Trick: Hold R1 and press Forward on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
-You'll appear above an enemy instantly. Perhaps the only really cool move in
this style
*************
*Royal Guard*
*************
Royal Guard is another less helpful style, unless you're a very skilled player
that is. Royal Guard really tests your reaction timing and reflexes. It's not
an easy Style to master at all, but if you take the time, you'll find it fun
and interesting... maybe.
Block: Press Circle
-Holding Circle will minimize damage slightly and charge the gauge slightly.
the press of Circle at the exact moment you're hit by an enemy attack.
Air Block: (in mid-air) Press Circle
Royal Block: Press Circle at the exact moment of enemy attack
-Requires precise timing and will charge the gauge more
Release: Hold R1 and press Forward on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
-This move will release the power you've stored in the gauge
Air Release: (in mid-air) Hold R1 and press Forward on the Left Analog Stick +
Circle
Royal Release: Perform a Release at the exact moment of enemy attack
Dreadnaught: Hold R1 and press Back on the Left Analog Stick + Circle
Whew, I'm kind of glad to be done with that. If you wish to know more about any
moves, consult the game's Library which will show you short video of each move.
Or you can contact me and I'll try to help you out.
**********
*D. Items*
**********
If you're a veteran, you probably are very familiar with the various items of
Devil May Cry 4, as they have not changed since the series' inception. Still,
I am obligated to list them for new players and for organization purposes.
Orbs
----
Red Orbs: These are your currency for other items. Collect as many as you can.
They are located in breakable items in just about every room of every level.
Enemies will also give you some when you slay them. Some Red Orbs can also be
found in secret spots, indicated by Nero's arm glowing when near.
Green Orbs: Health orbs. These will be useful, especially on higher
difficulties. They will restore portions of your health depending on the size
and also on what difficulty you're on. Like Red Orbs, they can be found in
breakable items although less commonly, and from enemies.
White Orbs: These are not quite as common as the first two. White orbs will
restore your Devil Trigger gauge.
Gold Orbs: Gold orbs will be useful for new players and for those brave enough
to tackle Dante Must Die mode. They will revive you where you die should you
choose to use them. You can only hold 3 at a time, but you'll find a couple
throughout the game. Beware though. Using one penalizes your score at the end
of the mission.
Blue Orbs: These are the very important orbs. A whole Blue Orb will add
another portion to your life meter.
Blue Orb Fragment: This is what you need to make a Blue Orb. Find four pieces
to construct one. They can be found in various places in the levels, and also
as the reward for beating a Secret Mission (details below).
Stars
-----
Vital Star S: Restores a small portion of your health. The portion that will
be restored is determined by the difficulty you're playing on.
Vital Star M: Restores a large portion of your health.
Vital Star L: Restores all of your health.
Devil Star S: Restores a small portion of your Devil Trigger gauge.
Devil Star L: Restores your entire DT gauge.
Other
-----
Holy Water: Will damage surrounding enemies
************
*E. Enemies*
************
Devil May Cry 4 shares a few enemies with DMC1, but they do not behave quite
the same, nor do the same strategies apply all the time. There are also many
more enemies and I will detail them and some tips to help you conquer them.
Scarecrow: These are the basic enemies. They'll attack you with blades. They're
not really aggressive and will only attack when you're near. Some will try
to flip and somersault at you however. The best strategy is to limit yourself
to one, or if you can, use Nero's Combo 2 and try to take on more. Buster will
work wonders on them. Trying not to get surrounded by them is paramount. Other
than that, they're relatively simple to defeat.
Mega Scarecrow: These guys are very big, and you will first encounter them as
Dante. The key to these guys is targeting. In most cases, they will not attack
you if you're not facing them and/or targeting them. This will not apply all
the time, but you'll find if you don't mess with the Mega Scarecrows, you might
have time to deal with other enemies. They take a lot of punishment but if you
keep them on the ground, you can beat them easily.
Frost: These guys are probably my most hated enemy. Simply because I can always
count on a Frost to break my Stylish combo. Frosts always attack in pairs. Many
times you will find a new Frost replacing a fallen one. Their attacks consist
of ice projectiles that are very annoying and best avoided by jumping, a
forward swipe attack, and a jump attack that ends with them coming crashing
down with an ice attack. If you're a little far from them they might send a
blast of ice that snakes across the ground toward you. If you're really far
they will sort of vanish and reappear near you. Use Buster often to hurl one
Frost away, so you can focus on one at a time. They may shield themselves in
ice sometimes. Just Buster them continually, or if you're Dante, blast them
with Pandora or continuous Stingers.
Assault: Assaults are similar to their DMC1 brethren. They will burrow and fire
projectiles at you. Most of the time however, they leave you significant
windows with which to attack them. If you stay aggressive and don't let up on
your barrage, you can beat them without getting hit, and also get a good
Stylish rating. Vary your attacks with some Busters, as the grab for them can
hurt nearby Assaults. Watch out for their air attack, when the Assault jumps up
and starts spinning. It's easy to avoid though, but they may do it twice.
Blitz: This enemy is the notorious newcomer to DMC4. Blitz will be first
encountered as Dante, unless you're playing on Son of Sparda or higher, in
which case Nero will have the "pleasure" of dealing with one first. Blitz can't
be hurt by melee weapons while its electric shield is up. To lower it, you've
got to pelt them with bullets. Obviously, Dante has an advantage, being able
to use Pandora. If you keep jumping, you can use Jealousy and other forms to
lower its shield quickly. Nero will have a tougher time, being limited to Blue
Rose. Once its shield is down, as Dante, attack it quickly, even use your Devil
Trigger if you have it. As Nero, use Buster with some attacks if you want, but
just use Buster again and again to weather it down. Blitz is hard to keep track
of since it moves instantly across the area. It attacks by lunging at you, or
firing a concentrated beam of electricity at your position. The latter is easy
to avoid, but sometimes it will use a sweeping attack so be careful. Also, it
may disappear, leaving you confused. That's your cue to start moving, as Blitz
will appear below you and come sailing up. When you've weakened it, it will
regain its shield and glow red. This is where Blitz truly becomes annoying. At
any time, it may try to lunge and grab you. If it succeeds, you're in big
trouble. It will basically overload with energy, killing itself but taking you
with it. Your best bet is to stay airborne and keep firing at it until it dies.
If you are caught by this attack though, you can escape if you have your Devil
Trigger. Activate it and run away as the Blitz explodes. If you play on Dante
Must Die Mode, avoiding this kamikaze attack or using Devil Trigger to escape
is paramount. I've been caught by the attack on DMD with pretty much a maxed
out and nearly full health bar and the attack still killed me.
Gladius: These swords were created by Agnus. They fly around and will start to
glow. They will spin in one of two ways, horizontally or vertically. This will
tell you which attack is coming, a thrust or an uppercutting slash, the latter
is harder to dodge. The Gladius are pretty weak though and can be destroyed
with just a few slashes. Or better yet, you can Buster them and throw them at
Agnus or at each other or other enemies.
Cutlass: I hated these guys at first, but they weren't tricky enough to quell
my hatred for Frosts. These fish enemies you'll only encounter in Missions 06
and 16 so you won't have much in terms of practice for them. Still, they're not
too hard. They will swim around in the floor around you, basically avoiding you
for the most part. At certain points they will try to pop out from below you
and slash you with their fins. This is easy to avoid but not if you're trying
to fight one of them. Pay attention to the sound they make when attacking. As
Nero, try to use Snatch to grab one. It may be tough but you can slow them down
by shooting them. This will allow you to grab them or slash them if you're
close enough.
Basilisk: I disliked these guys too, but maybe it's just because I thought they
were annoyingly stupid. These enemies are like dogs, and will shoot fire at you
from distances. They attack in large groups generally. Dante will be the first
one to deal with them (on Devil Hunter), so you'll really never get the chance
to Buster them as Nero, that is until later when you might encounter some when
fighting Agnus again in Mission 19. As Dante, Stinger and Helm Breaker help, as
well as Combo 2. Trying to avoid them all is tough but not impossible. Taking
to the air will not help you sometimes. You may see a Basilisk charging its
attack and therefore try to take to the air to avoid it. They will often jump
up after you and still hit you. If you get to fight some during the Agnus fight
later or if you're on Bloody Palace, you can Buster them to use one as a cannon
and fire a shot at another enemy. It's difficult to get the aiming right
though.
Chimera Seed: You'll learn to hate these guys, especially on high difficulties.
They're black and appear from Echidna's seed pods. On their own, they're very
weak and can be killed instantly by Nero's Buster. Their goal however is to
take over Scarecrows or Assaults and combine to form more powerful (and
annoying) enemies. So whenever you see them, Buster or Stinger them immediately
to avoid some frustration.
Chimera: This is the result of the Chimera Seed combining with a Scarecrow.
They're very annoying to say the least. Not only are they stronger defensively,
their blades now flail at you at random times. This can prove very difficult to
deal with when you're slashing at them at close quarters or trying to Buster
them. Beware of their blades at all times and only attack after the blades have
done their thing. As Dante, weaken them with Pandora first.
Chimera-Assault: When the Chimera Seed combines with an Assault, you're really
going to start hating the little ****ers. Unlike normal Assaults which usually
give you plenty of time to whoop them, the Chimera versions are much more
aggressive. Add the presence of the Chimera blades, and you're looking at a lot
of frustration, especially on higher difficulties. They seem to deploy their
blades more often than the Scarecrow Chimera, so sometimes Nero won't be able
to Buster them, as the Buster animation for Assaults is long and the blades
will usually start flailing before you're done. Stick to Blue Rose and sword
attacks. As Dante, use Pandora and sword attacks.
Mephisto: These guys are pretty easy, but can be annoying in large groups or
with other enemies, especially on higher difficulties as they tend to not just
sit back and watch you beat up on their friends and instead try to have at you.
The first thing you'll probably notice is your normal attacks have very little
effect on them. Use Nero's Devil Bringer and use Snatch on them continually,
which will weaken their cloaks. If you're playing as Dante, you can use
Coyote-A, or later, Pandora to drop its cloak. Once the cloak is gone, you're
free to pelt them with sword attacks and Busters. The Mehpisto will fly around
you quickly, then a gold glow will appear on its finger (E.T. phone home? o_O).
That means it’s about to attack with a finger laser... thing. Easily
avoidable
by rolling. Sometimes it will spin and place and flail at you with its cloak.
Also easy to avoid by jumping. One of its more annoying attacks is when it
flies back quickly and suddenly, then comes charging at you. This is easy to
avoid if you see it coming. Just jump out of the way. The other attack has the
Mephisto spinning its cloak very fast like it’s a saw. This attack will
require
you to jump too, but unlike the previous attack, it won't come at you right
away. When it begins spinning its cloak like that, wait a second or two then
jump to avoid being hit. Memorizing their attack patterns will become crucial
for one Secret Mission.
Faust: Fausts are the more advanced Mephistos. You'll only encounter one at a
time though, but they'll usually be paired with two Mephistos. Like Mega
Scarecrows, a Faust will generally not attack you unless you target it. This
will not always work and on higher difficulties especially, the Faust will not
be ignored and try to attack you even if you're dealing with other enemies. On
Devil Hunter though, you should be able to take out the Mephistos first. The
Faust has some similar attacks. It will attack with deployable lasers then you
can avoid by rolling. It will also move back like the Mephisto, and then come
sailing at you with its claws. If you don't have Air Hike, this attack may be
too tough to avoid by jumping, so you may want to roll away instead. Fausts
are tougher to uncloak, as they will take many more Snatches to weaken, as well
as more Coyote-A/Pandora blasts if you're Dante. Eventually, though, they will
go down. Unlike Mephistos, which are beatable in only one uncloaking if you
attack them hard enough, bringing down a Faust will most likely require two or
more trials.
Blanco Angelo: These guys are pretty easy. They tend to attack in groups later
but are still not very hard as they are not aggressive and when they do attack,
they are very slow. Their front flank is fortified (hm, consonance) by a shield
which makes direct attack tough unless you strike them after they have tried to
hit you. Slashing them from behind makes it easy to defeat them, but if you
really want to hurt them, try Bustering them. Nero will impale them with their
own lances and send them flying. This is very helpful if you manage to aim them
at each other. You can also Buster them while they're flying around.
Alto Angelo: Probably my most hated enemy after Frosts. These guys command
Blanco Angelos and send them through different attack patterns and stuff.
Despite that, it's generally better to go after the Blancos first, since they
are much weaker and easier to kill. Alto Angelos will charge up a sort of
Streak attack. This is easy to avoid by jumping. They will also slash at you
three times when they're close. The slashes are slow and lazy but if you're hit
by one, it's hard to avoid the other two. Altos have much better shields and
you can't Buster them from behind like the Blancos. Instead, weaken their
shields by using Split/Helm Breaker and Buster again and again. Eventually, the
shield will break, and that's when you say (to quote Billy Madison), "Now
you're all in big, BIG trouble!" That's your cue to Buster them. Nero will
suplex them followed by a dropkick (really cool). Or you can Buster them while
in DT state for a cooler attack. One other thing to note is that one of the
formations that the Alto can set up with the Blancos, is an attack where they
charge a giant energy ball that will fire at you. If you time it right, you can
use Buster to send it right back at them. Not only will this kill all of them
in most cases, it will also get you a nice Stylish rating.
Fault: These guys you will only encounter generally in one mission (Mission 14)
and in a Secret Mission. You might find some during the latter stages of the
Mission 18 boss though. They appear wherever you're standing and try to come up
and grab you. If they succeed, you'll be pulled into another dimension where
you'll be forced to fight off some enemies, including Chimera type enemies.
Obviously you are then advised to avoid these things. However, the best thing
to do is wait for them to pop up (listen for the slither sound they make) and
avoid the attack, then quickly strike back with some slashes to kill them.
There are only a few in each area of Mission 14, and once you kill them they're
gone for good. One other advantage in killing them is they always drop small
green orbs that you can use to restore some health.
*****************
*F. General Tips*
*****************
1. Don't let yourself get surrounded. If you see enemies creeping toward your
back, take to the air to avoid them and escape or counterattack. A Split/Helm
Breaker will help shake off some enemies that have gathered below you. Air Hike
will also help.
2. Use your Buster often. The Devil Arm is very useful when you use it to throw
your enemies around. About 2 Busters will also fill your Stylish meter a bit,
then you can do some combos and return to Buster to keep the Stylish going.
3. Pay close attention to the bosses and their posture as you weaken them. When
a boss enters a weakened state (the boss looks like they're slouching), that's
your cue to attack them with a Buster. This will unleash a supercombo attack.
4. You might very well die a few times against bosses. Don't fret. It can take
some time to learn their moves and better prepare yourself for fights.
5. Don't be afraid to replay previously cleared missions to get more orbs and
Proud Souls, as well as search for Secret Missions and Blue Orbs. Sure, you'll
be going back instead of proceeding to the next levels, but you can acquire
orbs and other things to better prepare you for the battles ahead.
6. This guide is set for Devil Hunter but if you're playing on Son of Sparda or
especially Dante Must Die, do all you can to acquire all the Blue Orb pieces. I
cannot stress this enough, as you will need as much health as you can get.
7. Manage your skills well. I give suggestions throughout the guide but in the
end, it's all up to you. Buy what you need or what you simply think is cool. Be
sure that you know you can refund Proud Souls at any time to buy other skills.
****************************
*Frequently Asked Questions*
****************************
Here I'll briefly address what might be common questions received. One note on
this. Don't let this discourage you from e-mailing me if you need help. I like