Shield Special
Release
Dante holds out his left palm and lunges forward, using all his royal gauge. The more the gauge the stronger the attack, however it's overall weak even maxed out.
That is, unless he times the first frames of the attack with an enemy's attack. If hit during the first moments, he'll do a Royal Release, taking no damage and multiplying the attack's power, damage, and even range, zooming across the screen and punishing zoners.
This is another key ability of the royalguard style introduced in DMC3.
Neutral Special
Gunslinger / Trickster
A multi-part special attack similar in the vein to Joker's Gun special
Grounded, Dante pulls out Ebony and Ivory and go into a stance where he points the guns out but doesn't shoot.
Holding the button down charges them to fire powerful shots for a limited time when the button is released, though firing them un-enhanced is possible, ala Bayonetta. Also like her this button can be mashed for additional shots. Unlike Bayonetta though, he can walk backwards and forwards while the shots go off.
From here, pressing Up will have Dante perform Downpour, a cartwheel whilst shooting Ebony and Ivory downwards at the enemy.
Pressing Down will have Dante do Twosome Time, where Dante switches to shooting the shots in both directions at once.
Pressing Forwards or Backwards will have Dante do Trickster's Dash in the direction inputted. This can be repeated up to 3 times, though the endlag is high and there's no invincibility frames.
He can also cancel the move with shield.
The gun attacks are all moves Dante is able to use in DMC3 in his Gunslinger Style while the dashes are key to the Trickster Style.
Aerial Neutral Special
Aerial Gunslinger / Trickster
In the air, he goes into the same charge until letting go stance, though he aims it diagonally down. True to the game, firing shots causes him to stall his fall just slightly.
Downwards will then activate Rainstorm, the outwards to downwards shooting spiral while falling
Upwards will have Dante use Cloudburst, a spinning gun and sword combination attack.
Forwards and Backwards will have Dante use Sky Star, where he dashes forward or backwards from a sigil formed in the air, giving him a situational airdash and combo extender
He can also cancel the move with airdodge.
The gun attacks are all moves Dante is able to use in DMC3 in his Gunslinger Style while the air-dashes are key to the Trickster Style.
Side Special Grounded
Round Trip
Dante charges for a quick moment before throwing Rebellion forward which travels, spinning around before coming back, knocking anyone caught back into Dante's face.
A move used since DMC1 but was altered to a version never used again in DMC3, though Vergil in that game retains the classic Round Trip.
Side Special Aerial
Killer Bee
Dante does a diagonal Divekick which spikes the enemy in the direction he's flying. The landing hitbox has a shockwave that pops enemies directly upwards for continued attacks.
A move used since DMC1 for gauntlet weapons. It lives on in each installment under a different name.
Down Special
Devil Trigger
Dante transforms into a full bodied devil, embracing his demonic heritage and increasing the attack power of several of his moves, or even modifying others. Draws from a pool of energy replenished by attacking enemies. Pressing this button again cancels the transformation while conserving leftover meter. He also gains the ability to triple jump in this form ala MvC3 and to glide for a short period of time as in DMC3, patching up his recovery and adding a ton of more options to his mobility and comboes. All Rebellion attacks gain a red trail while all gun attacks are now charged with red electricity. His forward smash and grabs are modified.
An iconic part of not only DMC3 but DMC as a series.
Up Special Grounded
High Time Launcher
Dante does a rising slash with him leaping up into the air with the enemy. Unlike similar moves of this type it does little knockback but doesn't leave him vulnerable, letting him start combos in the air quite easily.
A move Dante's had since DMC1. This is the held version where Dante rises with the enemy leaving them open for air combos.
Up Special Aerial
Air Trick
Dante teleports a short distance. While it's mediocre as far as teleport recoveries go and thus doesn't allow him to go far offstage, it doesn't put him in free fall and has next to no endlag, making his pressure game unparalleled
staple of the Trickster ability in DMC3
