Why is Vergil Stronger Than Dante in Netflix's Devil May Cry?

Ever since Vergil appeared as an official character in the Devil May Cry franchise (technically, he didn't debut properly until Devil May Cry 3. Dante's Awakening) fans have been arguing about who of the two sons of Sparda is the strongest. While Dante is more wild-card type of fighter and has a larger arsenal of weapons, Vergil is cool and collected, and is extremely fast. Besides, he can use certain demonic powers that Dante has never learned how to use.

However, years of harsh debate, fans might finally have the answer to the question: Is Vergil Stronger than Dante? Netflix's Devil May Cry Season 2 has presented new evidence on how and when did Vergil got his tremendous abilities.

Why is Vergil more Powerful Than Dante in Devil May Cry?

In Devil May Cry Season 2 Vergil finally meets with his estranged brother Dante, and they both have a lot to say about the time they spent apart from each other. The twins were always special from birth, carrying the blood of Sparda, one of the strongest demon warriors of Makai, but somehow, Vergil appears to be superior to Dante in terms of combat power. Why is that?

The answer lies in the harrowing experience that forged Vergil into the true heir of Sparda. Subjected to torture for years, then, to a harsh training by Mundus himself, who 'gifted' him with the Yamato Katana, and taught him how to tap into his demonic powers.

Meanwhile, Dante strayed through the wrong path, living the life of an urchin and gangster (though it is not yet confirmed in the canon) he ended up becoming some sort of a bounty hunter.

That different lifestyle, with Vergil constantly being tested, suppressing Mundus' enemies, breathing Makai's poisonous air and learning how to control his inhuman heritage is what truly became the foundation for Vergil's power and the difference in level between the two.

It is true that Dante from Netflix's Devil May Cry cannot stop being treated like a ragdoll, and some fans might disagree with this hash treatment (it could be called character development, but sometimes, it is too much), but it is also true that Dante spent most of his life feeding on junk food and drinking strawberry smoothies.

Perhaps, that difference in upbringing is what makes them so different, and what gives Vergil an advantage that ends up with him coming up on top during their final duel in Episode 8. Nevertheless, the show is far from over, and as seen in the season 2 ending, there's more of Dante to see in the future. After he recovers from a severe case of heartbreak, of course.

Comparing Vergil and Dante from Devil May Cry 3

In Devil May Cry 3, we see a different type of storey, with Dante and Vergil officially meeting for the first time. The game is the third installment, but the first in chronological order. Now, if we are talking of raw demonic power, Vergil overpasses Dante once more, but the latter is more versed in other forms of combat. From nunchakus to dual blades, from dual guns to rocket launchers, Dante proves that his versatility is far superior than his brother's.

In the particular case of DMC 3, both Vergil and Dante are at a similar power level, though Vergil controls his demonic side way better. Players had a chance to use both characters in this game, and the two of them have quite different combat styles.

Dante is more forceful and chains combos like a madman, using Ebony & Ivory (or any other ranged weapon) to decimate foes in great number, while dishing out serious damage with a combo of melee weapons that can include the Rebellion Longsword, Agni & Rudra (Dual blades of wind and fire), Nevan (a Scythe/Guitar that releases electric attacks), and other powerful weapons based on the demons he defeats while climbing the Temen-Ni-Gru tower.

On the other hand, Vergil relies heavily on his control of space/time, speed, and well-timed hits with his katana (Yamato) and Gauntlets/Boots (Beowulf), he also uses the Summoned Swords as its primary ranged attack. He is also more powerful while using his demonic mode (Devil Trigger) and can destroy foes with countless attacks in a fraction of a second.

So, in DMC 3, Dante and Vergil are equals in general terms, but fans think that Vergil has ever had a more 'powerful' build since he can control time and the power of Yamato looks cooler than Dante's basic arsenal. But it's all an illusion, since both of them have pretty different styles and combat techniques. The same should be said about the series, but the reality is that Dante has been clearly sidelined by his older twin. We will see what happens in season 3.