Summary
Though Vergil was technically introduced to the much belovedDevil May Cryseries in the third game, he actually made his debut in the very first title, where he took the form of Nelo Angelo. Despite Dante already being an immensely popular character, quickly becoming one of gaming’s biggest icons not long after he was introduced, his sharp and stoic brother, Vergil, arguably has just as many fans as the protagonist, and one of the many reasons why is his expressive way with words.
Vergil loves giving big and bombastic speeches to preach his beliefs before cutting his enemies down with the Yamato, but considering he’s related to Dante, Vergil’s also not shy about dropping a few cheesy one-liners now and again. The fan-favorite swordsman has, therefore, let out plenty of impactful, memorable, and thought-provoking quotes which allDevil May Cryfans will be familiar with.
8"Thank You, Nero"
Vergil’s Sick And Twisted Way Of Expressing His Fatherly Affection
It’s not revealed until fairly late inDevil May Cry 5’sstory that Vergil is thefather of Nero, but without the two even needing to interact, this line makes it clear just how little Vergil actually cares about his own son. Earlier in the game, Vergil had sliced off one of Nero’s arms so he could reclaim his blade, the Yamato, to heal himself.
As a result, this is Vergil’s way of thanking his son for bringing him back, despite Nero having no say in the matter, and not even knowing that he was related to the man in any way by this point. An eerie line which emphasizes what Vergil truly values most in his life; anything that can give him more power and strength.
7"Leave My Brother Alone"
Seeing Vergil Defend His Brother Makes For A Very Heartfelt Moment
Though Dante and his brother Vergil feel like very different characters in theDMCreboot game developed by Ninja Theory, they do still retain most of the key characteristics that fans are familiar with. For example, while they don’t act as hostile in this game, Dante and Vergil do still feel opposed to one another, which is why the moment where Vergil decides to step in and save his brother fromMundusis such a stand-out.
When plunging the Yamato into Mundus' back, Vergil demands the demon lord to stay away from his brother, showing a much more compassionate side to the character which is often overshadowed by his obsession with might and power. Though Dante and Vergil’s alliance was short-lived, seeing Vergil show any amount of true compassion to his knucklehead brother is still a rarity.
6"Might Controls Everything. And Without Strength, You Cannot Protect Anything. Let Alone Yourself"
Dante’s Brother Puts His Obsession With Growing More Powerful On Full Display
Dante and Vergil would deal with the tragic loss of their mother in very different ways. While Dante would reject the demonic side of his lineage due to putting blame on his father Sparda, Vergil would instead embrace the power that comes from the blood running in his veins. This would give him an obsession with power, strength, and might, which is all that matters in the world, considering it’s the only means to protect something, in his eyes.
This is just one of the many lines Vergil throws out inDevil May Cry 3to belittle Dante with, though it’s more of a reflection of Vergil’s own mindset and outlook on life. Clearly, this is Vergil’s guilt at not being able to protect his mother being made crystal clear, though it’s presented as a mantra on the importance of power and might.
5"You Are Not Worthy As My Opponent"
Vergil Will Always Belittle His Opponents Before Slicing Them In Two
While Vergil isn’t one to let his massive ego go unnoticed, one way he will decide to showcase his superiority over an enemy, no matter how formidable they may seem, is by getting into their head with words of discouragement. In Vergil’s mind, nobody, not even Dante, is capable of taking him on and coming out the victor in a swordfight, which is made clear by thismemorable quote, which is one of his most insulting lines in the series.
While the quote does a good job at showcasing Vergil’s snobby persona, it’s also become somewhat of a meme among theDevil May Crycommunity as a way to poke fun at an enemy who is getting completely annihilated in-game. This is a classic quote from Vergil which can easily be thrown out to get unde an opponent’s skin.
4"Now I’m A Little Motivated"
A Bizarre Line Which Shows The Goofier Side Of Vergil’s Character
While Dante may be more than happy to dropone-linerslike they’re going out of style, Vergil tends to be a little more meaningful with his language, though this specific quote shows that he’s still capable of throwing out bizarre comments every so often. During the intense battle between him and his brother inDevil May Cry 3, there’s a chance Vergil can say this line out loud in the middle of the duel, which can easily catch players off guard with how out of left field it is.
Vergil doesn’t quite have the trash-talking expertise that Dante does, but it’s still a charming line nonetheless which has become one of the character’s most popular memes. If anything were going to get Vergil pumped up and motivated, it would be clashing swords yet again with his longtime rival and brother.
3"On That Day, If Our Positions Were Switched, Would Our Fates Be Different?"
Deep In Contemplation, Vergil Reflects On That Tragic Day, Moments Before His Epic Battle With Dante
With Eva’s death sending Vergil and his brother down their own unique paths in life, the two would end up becoming very different from one another, despite always being bound by family ties. By the time that Vergil appears inDevil May Cry 5though, it’s clear his view of Dante has started to soften a little bit, with a clear indication of this being when he contemplates how his life would be different if he were in Dante’s shoes.
Despite being a rather throwaway line that doesn’t amount to much in the story, it’s still a thought-provoking quote which has been the topic of many online discussions ever since the game first released.
2"Leave Me, Unless You Want To Be Stuck In The Demon World"
Vergil’s Final Line Before Leaving His Brother For Good
Though Vergil acts as an antagonist throughout much of the third game, it gradually becomes clear that his determination to live up to the expectations of Sparda is what is primarily putting him at odds with his brother. In the final moments of the game, after the two engage in a clash which pushes them both to their absolute limits, Vergil, realizing Dante has a life to live outside of their conflict, encourages Dante to escape before being trapped in the Demon World, Sparda’s home.
As a way to end off Vergil’scompelling character arc, this line does an excellent job at subtly showcasing his changing attitude as he comes to acknowledge, and maybe even respect, his brother Dante. Though Vergil would turn up in the very next game, this quote is still impactful for how much it says about Vergil and his true underlying feelings for his sibling.
1"I Need More Power"
The Legendary Son Of Sparda Has Always Wanted To Achieve The Same Thing All His Life
Vergil isn’t shy about preaching his lust for power to anyone who will listen, but the most iconic case of this comes inDevil May Cry 3, where he says it while clenching his fist in fury. What has allowed this iconic quote to stand the test of time is how much it conveys about Vergil’s personality and ideology in just four simple words.
Vergil’s unhealthy desire to obtain more and more power by any means necessary is ultimately at the core of his character, and is what many people know him for. As a result, it’s a simple line which still does a good job at shedding light onhow ruthless Vergil truly isin his journey to becoming as powerful as his late father.
