Nero

A teenager who works for the Order of the Sword, using demonic powers inherited from Sparda to hunt demons.

Nero is a central character in the Devil May Cry action-adventure series by Capcom. He serves as the nephew of original protagonist Dante and the son of recurring antagonist Vergil, first appearing as the primary protagonist in Devil May Cry 4. A teenager working for the Order of the Sword, Nero utilizes demonic powers inherited from Sparda to hunt demons before returning in Devil May Cry 5 to fight the demon king Urizen. Created by writer Bingo Morihashi and designed by Tatsuya Yoshikawa, he was intended to distinguish himself from Dante while attracting new gamers. Portrayed through voice acting and motion capture by Johnny Yong Bosch in English and Kaito Ishikawa in Japanese, Nero's narrative focuses on his love for Kyrie and his evolution as a fighter.

Quick Facts

Series: Devil May Cry
First game: Devil May Cry 4 (2008)
Creator: Bingo Morihashi
Designer: Tatsuya Yoshikawa
Voice: EN: Johnny Yong Bosch (Devil May Cry 4 & 5); Joey Lem (Peak of Combat); JP: Kaito Ishikawa
Motion actor: Johnny Yong Bosch
Species: Half-Cambion
Weapon: Red queen (sword); Blue Rose (revolver)

Lore & Background

Nero's story is deeply rooted in love and protection, inspired by manga artist Ramo Nakajima's Amagasaki City series theme: 'I love you, so I protect the city you love.' Initially introduced as a weak character who develops new powers primarily through his Devil Bringer ability, he eventually reaches Dante's level. In Devil May Cry 4, Nero protects his childhood friend Kyrie from demons, leading to his arm becoming the Devil Bringer when she is endangered.

He learns that demon influx was arranged by Sanctus, who resurrected as a demon via scientist Agnus. Revealed as Sparda's descendant, Nero is used as bait but ultimately saves Kyrie and destroys Sanctus with Dante's help. By Devil May Cry 5, the narrative emphasizes Nero's anger at Dante's initial treatment of him. The climax sees Nero awakening his demonic powers to end the struggle between Dante and Vergil, a moment designed to give the story depth and emphasize the power needed to face his father, Urizen.

His relationship with his family was inspired by a mecha anime where a missing father returns with a giant robot targeting his son.

Reader's Guide

Nero was created to be distinct from Dante, with director Hideaki Itsuno aiming for a younger character who acquires new powers throughout the narrative. His gameplay in Devil May Cry 5 emphasizes anger and features the Devil Breaker, a prosthetic arm replacing the original Devil Bringer, which is useful in combat. Purchasers of the deluxe edition received four Devil Breaker weapons, including a Mega Buster based on Mega Man 11. Most of Nero's moves are named after casino terms, a choice writer Bingo Morihashi felt suited his personality.

Visually, Nero was redesigned for Devil May Cry 5 to contrast with Dante's older look; since his name means 'black' in Italian, he wears black clothing. His face was modeled on actor Karlo Baker for realism. While early designs looked more like Vergil, the final design resembled Dante. Although fans speculated about his lineage based on similarities and the Devil Trigger in DMC4, Capcom officially confirmed in June 2018 that Nero is Vergil's son.

Did You Know?

Nero's name was originally planned to be after Auguste Rodin before the team settled on the Roman emperor for simplicity.
Johnny Yong Bosch considers Nero his favorite role, even more than Ichigo Kurosaki or Vash the Stampede.
In June 2018, Capcom officially confirmed that Nero is Vergil's son, resolving long-standing fan speculation from Devil May Cry 4.
The Devil Bringer was originally intended to be part of Dante's mechanics before staff decided a character who cannot transform into a demon developing a demonic arm would be more interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Nero's unique powers and weapons?

He fights with the Red Queen sword and the Blue Rose revolver alongside his demonic right arm, the Devil Bringer, which lets him attack any type of enemy. In Devil May Cry 5 the stolen Devil Bringer is replaced by the Devil Breaker, a prosthetic arm built by Nico that is useful in combat.

How does Nero's story conclude in Devil May Cry 5?

Nero loses his Devil Bringer at the start of the game, when a hooded stranger tears it off to reclaim the Yamato. In the climax he learns that Urizen and V are the split halves of his father Vergil, awakens his full demonic powers, regrows his arm and stops the duel between Dante and Vergil, who then trap themselves in the Underworld to destroy the Qliphoth.

Why was Nero created as a character?

Developers designed Nero to offer a fresh perspective distinct from Dante while appealing to new players unfamiliar with the franchise's history. His background as Vergil's son adds significant dramatic weight to the ongoing conflict between Sparda's bloodline and demonic forces.

What is Nero's relationship to other main characters?

He is the biological son of Vergil, making him Dante's nephew through their shared father, Sparda. Despite initially clashing with his uncle, they eventually form a strong bond as fellow demon hunters.