V is arguably the most unique playable character in Devil May Cry 5, relying entirely on his summoned familiars—Shadow, Griffon, and Nightmare—to do the fighting for him. While his playstyle might seem passive compared to Nero and Dante, it demands strategic positioning, precise execution, and an understanding of enemy behavior. If you’re struggling to get S-Ranks or survive on Dante Must Die (DMD) or Hell and Hell, these tips will help you optimize your gameplay and make V as deadly as his demon-hunting counterparts.
1. Rebind Controls for Simultaneous Attacks
The default control scheme limits your ability to attack efficiently with both Shadow and Griffon. A highly effective strategy is to rebind their attack buttons to triggers, allowing you to control them simultaneously with ease.
- Map Shadow’s attacks to one trigger and Griffon’s to another.
- This setup allows both familiars to attack at the same time, increasing your damage output and style meter gains.
- Additionally, it makes charging certain attacks much easier while maintaining offensive pressure.
This small tweak in controls makes a huge difference in fluidity, allowing you to pull off more complex and efficient attack sequences.
2. Utilize Charged Attacks Frequently
Both Shadow and Griffon have charged attacks that deal significant damage, hit multiple enemies, and build massive style meter points. A simple yet highly effective strategy is:
- Charge both Shadow’s and Griffon’s attacks at the same time.
- Release them simultaneously for a high-damage, multi-hit sequence.
- This tactic can be risky, as you cannot use your familiars while charging, but the payoff is massive style points and enemy control.
When playing on higher difficulties, where enemies are more aggressive, mix charged attacks with standard moves to keep pressure on foes while maintaining mobility.
3. Manipulate the Camera to Control Enemy Behavior
A lesser-known but game-changing mechanic in Devil May Cry 5 is how enemies react to the camera. If an enemy is not visible on-screen, they will not attack.
- Position V in a safe corner where enemies are off-camera.
- Use Shadow and Griffon to attack freely while keeping V out of harm’s way.
- This ensures enemies don’t retaliate, making it easier to maintain no-damage runs and earn higher ranks.
While this isn’t a stylish tactic, it is a life-saving strategy for Hell and Hell mode, where taking a single hit means instant death.
4. Use Auto-Augmentation to Boost Damage
V has the ability to augment his familiars’ attacks, increasing their power and effectiveness.
- By pressing the D-pad + Melee or Gun button, Shadow and Griffon will attack automatically.
- While in this state, their attacks deal more damage and continue even if you stop pressing buttons.
- A great strategy is to input a move manually and immediately activate augmentation to boost the attack’s power before it lands.
This technique maximizes damage and efficiency, particularly against tougher enemies and bosses.
5. Save Devil Trigger to Revive Familiars Instantly
One of V’s biggest weaknesses is how fragile his familiars are. On Dante Must Die, enemies deal enormous damage to them, and on Hell and Hell, they die in one hit.
- Summoning Nightmare instantly revives all fallen familiars.
- Keep at least one Devil Trigger bar reserved for emergencies.
- Not only does Nightmare revive them, but his spawn attack also deals significant damage, making this a dual-purpose survival and offensive tool.
Using Nightmare strategically can turn the tide of battle, especially when facing bosses or multiple high-tier enemies.
6. Read from V’s Book to Sustain Devil Trigger
V’s poetry-reading ability is one of the most underrated mechanics in his kit.
- Reading the book builds Devil Trigger continuously.
- If done near enemies, it also boosts your style meter, leading to higher mission ranks.
- This allows for more frequent Nightmare summons, further increasing your damage potential.
A good tactic is to find a safe moment to read, such as when:
- Enemies are recovering from attacks.
- Your familiars are mid-combo.
- Nightmare is already active, keeping enemies occupied.
By integrating book reading into your combat loop, you’ll keep Nightmare in the field longer and maintain high Devil Trigger availability.
7. Accept That V Has No Game-Breaking Moves
Unlike Dante’s Real Impact or Nero’s Ragtime, V lacks a single, overpowered move that can trivialize the game. Instead, his playstyle relies on methodical positioning, calculated use of resources, and managing his familiars effectively.
V requires a different mindset than Nero or Dante. The key to success is:
- Keeping distance from enemies while attacking with familiars.
- Managing Devil Trigger wisely for revivals and Nightmare summons.
- Using all of his tools—camera manipulation, charge attacks, and book reading—to control the battlefield.
While he may feel challenging to use, once mastered, V can be an unstoppable force, capable of controlling crowds and maintaining consistent S-Ranks.
Final Thoughts – How to Dominate as V
Mastering V in Devil May Cry 5 comes down to understanding his unique mechanics and playing strategically. Unlike Nero and Dante, V is not an upfront fighter—he thrives on managing his summons, keeping himself safe, and optimizing style points.
✅ Rebind controls to attack with Shadow and Griffon simultaneously.
✅ Charge attacks often to hit multiple enemies and gain style points.
✅ Manipulate the camera to prevent enemies from attacking.
✅ Use auto-augmentation to increase attack power.
✅ Save Devil Trigger to instantly revive familiars.
✅ Read the book frequently to keep Nightmare active longer.
✅ Understand that V lacks game-breaking moves—focus on strategy and positioning.
V might seem weaker at first, but with proper execution, he can dominate even the hardest difficulties. By mastering his tools and playstyle, you’ll conquer Dante Must Die, Hell and Hell, and even achieve those coveted S-Ranks.
That’s it for this guide! If you found these V tips helpful, be sure to stay tuned for more Devil May Cry content. Now go out there and command your familiars with style!
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