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Yamato is the signature blade of Vergil and appears in DmC: Devil May Cry. It was handed down to him by his father, Sparda.[1] Vergil is able to alter the abilities of the sword by imbuing it with either Angel or Demon energy from his Nephilim soul.[2][3] Despite its demonic nature, the sword can be seen outside of Limbo.
Description[]
Yamato is a silver katana with a long and slightly curved blade, although it is slightly shorter than the classic Yamato and the straightness of its blade is more in line with a chokutō. Both the grip and scabbard are predominantly black, but unlike the original Yamato, the scabbard does not have a sageo attached. When in Angel Mode or Demon Mode, both the sword and scabbard become wreathed in the respective aura.
Vergil wields the Yamato with a style similar to battoujutsu, but with some modern iaidou/iaijutsu mixed in. Though when not in battle, Vergil keeps the Yamato in its scabbard and uses it as a walking cane.
Yamato is far sharper than ordinary blades, and is imbued with tremendous demonic power. The sword is said to be able to cut through anything, even the very fabric of space itself. This ability is shown primarily through the sword's ability to create portals for its wielder to travel through.
Vergil using Yamato to open a portal.
Also, like its original counterpart, this Yamato is able to create portals. However, while the portals from the original series were cross-shaped with a black haze inside, the reboot version portals instead look like blue circles that emit a blue haze before closing.
Gameplay[]
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The Yamato techniques are more deliberate than the flashy-and-sloppy moves used by Dante's weapons, and embody Vergil's discipline and style.
Yamato is Vergil's only melee weapon, and its style varies depending on Vergil's mode. In default mode, the Yamato unleashes speedy combos, while in Angel Mode, it can attack multiple demons at once, and in Demon Mode, it becomes slower but more powerful. Yamato can be switched to Angel Mode by pressing 
/
/
(indicated by Yamato and its scabbard glowing deep blue), and to Demon Mode by pressing 
/
/
(indicated by Yamato and its scabbard glowing orange-red).
Many of Vergil's techniques can be upgraded to an "Embed" version that leaves a phantom copy of the Yamato within the enemy; this allows him to activate Angel Lift and Demon Pull on a victim with a sword already embedded into them without the need to fire an Angel/Demon-infused sword beforehand first.
Furthermore, although each of his three chargeable attacks can be Just Charged, a specific technique must be purchased to enable this for each of them, unlike Dante's versions where they can be Just Charged off the bat; Vergil's Just Charged versions are separate techniques on their own. The aforementioned attacks also provide invincibility frames for the instant when the weapon is Just Charged on top of as per the norm, being able to bypass several enemies' armored states.
Unlike Dante with his wider-range of versatility and on-demand crowd-control, Vergil's Yamato combined with his sooner-to-access Just Charges and oppressive Sword Illusion control once his kit is fully upgraded can easily output damage with calculated precision. Furthermore, making proper use of Just Charged attacks allows Vergil to bypass armored-enemies for more consistently than Dante can, as they only need to be released on their very first charge compared to Dante needing to reach 2 charges.
Also unlike Dante's Angel weaponry, the Yamato's Angel Mode attacks cannot bypass a Witch's shield and will be deflected as usual, with only Vergil's Sword Illusion shots being able to do so.
Vergil has no way unfortunately, to build up Devil Trigger runes through a personal bypass like his classic counterpart; allowing him to sheath his blade during combat does not affect his Devil Trigger build-up in anyway.
Movesets[]
| Action | Command (PS3) |
Command (Xbox 360) |
Command (PC) |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slasher (閻魔刀・斬; Yamatō: Zan, lit. "Yamato/Yama Blade: Slash") Slasher Embed Yamato: Slash: Crime (閻魔刀・斬・罪 Yamatō: Zan: Tsumi?, lit. "Yama Blade: Slash: Crime") |
 ,, (ground)
|
 ,, (ground)
|
 ,, (ground)
|
Slasher - A succession of two sheath-clubbing-strikes and a powerful final draw slash. Level 2 - Deals more damage. Slasher Embed - leaves a sword embedded in the enemy via the final slash connecting. |
| Crosscut (閻魔刀・乱; Yamatō: Ran, lit. "Yamato/Yama Blade: Riot") |
,,—,,, (ground)
|
,,—,,, (ground)
|
,,—,,, (ground)
|
A set of multiple striking attacks via 2 dual-reaping slashes with a powerful finishing diagonal slash. Level 2 - Deals more damage. |
| Upperslash (斬り上げ; Kiriage, lit. "Slashing Lift") |
 (ground)
|
 (ground) |
 (ground)
|
A powerful upward slash that launches enemies skyward. Hold // to follow the enemy into the air. Can be cancelled into Judgement Cut If followed-up into after certain moves however, it may end up bugged to where Vergil stops midway before the actual hitbox comes out, so proceed with caution when using this move and try to follow-up into it from another grounded attack to bypass this bug. Likely fixed in Definitive Edition. |
Judgement Cut (次元斬; Jigenzan, lit. "Dimension Slash") Judgement Cut Charge (次元斬・練; Jigenzan: Ren, lit. Dimension Slash Refine) (Level 2 charge) Perfect Slice (次元斬・極; Jigenzan: Kyoku, lit. "Dimension Slash: Extreme") (Just Frame Charge) |
(hold)
|
(hold)
|
(hold)
|
Judgement Cut - Vergil draw-slashes an enemy into a slash vortex. Judgement Cut Charge - Makes the vortex larger. Perfect Slice - Makes the vortex more damaging and able to damage all enemy types; to execute Perfect Slice, release // at the exact moment Vergil's sword is charged.
|
| Aerial Rave (閻魔刀・天; Yamatō: Ten, lit. "Yamato/Yama Blade: Heaven") Aerial Rave Embed Yamato: Heaven: Crime (閻魔刀・天・罪 Yamatō: Ten: Tsumi?, lit. "Yama Blade: Heaven: Crime") |
,, (midair)
|
,, (midair)
|
,, (midair)
|
A midair 3 slash combo that juggles airborne enemies. Level 2 - Deals more damage. Aerial Rave Embed - Leaves a sword embedded in the enemy upon the final slash connecting. |
| Helm Breaker (兜割り; Kabutowari, lit. "Helmet Splitter") |
(midair)
|
(midair)
|
(midair)
|
A devastating overhead fall-down strike that slams an enemy into the ground. |
| Action | Command (PS3) |
Command (Xbox 360) |
Command (PC) |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Slash (居合疾走; Shissō Iai, lit. "Dashing Quick-Draw") |
+ (ground)
|
+ (ground)
|
+ (ground)
|
A dashing move that allows Vergil to pass through enemies leaving a trail of slashes behind. Has invincibility frames. Level 2 - Deals more damage. |
| Flare (羅閃斬; Rasenzan, lit. "Gauze Flash Slash") |
+ (ground)
|
+ (ground)
|
+ (ground)
|
A spiraling slash attack that strikes all enemies surrounding Vergil as he moves forward a bit. Level 2 is more damaging and can be charged to become Rising Star. |
Rising Star (羅閃天翔; Rasen Tenshō, lit. "Gauze Flash Heaven Soar") Solar Flare (羅閃天翔・極; Rasen Tenshō: Kyoku; lit. "Gauze Flash Heaven Soar: Extreme") (Just Frame Charge) |
+ (hold, ground)
|
+ (hold, ground)
|
+ (hold, ground)
|
Rising Star - A charge move that launches Vergil and surrounding small enemies into the air via a jumping upper-spin slash. Level 2 - Deals more damage. Solar Flare - Deals more damage in comparison and launches all enemy types; to execute Solar Flare, release // at the exact moment Vergil's sword is charged.
|
| Orbit (月輪連斬; Getsurin Renzan, lit. "Moon Ring Chain Slash") Orbit Embed Getsurin Renzan: Crime (月輪連斬・罪 Getsurin Renzan: Tsumi?, lit. "Moon Ring Chain Slash: Crime") |
+ (midair)
|
+ (midair)
|
+ (midair)
|
Orbit - Vergil juggles enemies in the air with a vertical spinning slash before striking them into the ground below. Level 2 - Deals more damage. Orbit Embed - Leaves a sword embedded in the enemy once the final slash connects. |
| Aerial Flush (月影斬; Getsu'eizan, lit. "Moon Shadow Slash") Aerial Flush Embed Getsu'eizan: Crime (月影斬・罪 Getsu'eizan: Tsumi?, lit. "Moon Shadow Slash: Crime") |
+ (midair)
|
+ (midair)
|
+ (midair)
|
Aerial Flush - Vergil launches a heavy sword disc projectile at nearby enemies from midair from his draw slash. Can automatically aim at nearby targets within a certain range in front of Vergil. Level 2 - Deals more damage. Aerial Flush Embed - Leaves a sword embedded in the enemy. |
| Action | Command (PS3) |
Command (Xbox 360) |
Command (PC) |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divorce (魔震斬; Mashinzan, lit. "Demon Quake Slash") |
+,, (ground)
|
+,, (ground)
|
+,, (ground)
|
A heavy succession of 3 power-reaping slashes. Level 2 - Deals more damage. This is the only Demon Mode move that can directly damage and break Death Knight shields. |
| Volcano (煉獄突; Rengokutotsu, lit. "Purgatory Thrust/Stab") Volcano Charge (煉獄突・練; Regokutotsu: Ren, lit. "Purgatory Thrust/Stab: Refine") (Level 2 charge) Atomic (煉獄突・極; Regokutotsu: Kyoku, lit. "Purgatory Thrust/Stab: Extreme") (Just Frame Charge) |
+ (ground)
|
+ (ground)
|
+ (ground)
|
Volcano - Vergil strikes the ground with a sword plant pushing enemies away. Volcano Charge - Makes the ground erupt small enemies into the air; to execute, hold and release //.Atomic - Has a larger radius and launches all enemy types; to execute Atomic, release // at the exact moment Vergil's sword is charged.
|
| Killer Bee (流星脚; Ryūseikyaku, lit. "Meteor Leg") |
+ (midair)
|
+ (midair)
|
+ (midair)
|
With Demon energy, Vergil launches down towards enemies with a diving kick, bouncing off slightly upon properly connecting. Level 2 - Deals more damage. |
| Drive (断獄斬; Dangokuzan, lit. "Conviction Slash") Drive Embed Dangokuzan: Crime (断獄斬・罪 Dangokuzan: Tsumi?, lit. "Conviction Slash: Crime") |
+ (midair)
|
+ (midair)
|
+ (midair)
|
Drive - Vergil slashes down sending an enemy slamming into the ground. Drive Embed - Leaves a sword embedded in the enemy, but only if the physical slash connects and not only just the projectile. |
| Stomp (煉獄墜; Rengokutsui, lit. "Purgatory Crash") |
+ (Drive, midair)
|
+ (Drive, midair)
|
+ (Drive, midair)
|
Following a Drive attack, Vergil charges his sword and crashes down on top of the fallen enemy with a sword plant that emits a shockwave. This move is more powerful from greater heights with a larger effect upon landing. Level 2 - Deals more damage. |
Etymology[]
The "Enma" within the literal meaning of the weapon's name as Enma Katana (閻魔刀 Enmatō?) is a reference to "Enma Ō", the Japanese name for the Hindu judge of the afterlife, "Yama", so that the Devil Arm's name is idiomatically read in the same manner as Yamato (大和?), though can also be formatted as "Yamatō/Yamatou".
大和 is a Japanese term referring to the people and traditional nationalistic spirit of Japan, and in the past to the nation itself. Thus, it is appropriate as the name of the weapon symbolizing Vergil's aesthetic and commitment to tradition and power, as opposed to Dante's personality of resistance symbolized by the Rebellion.
Despite the in-game pronunciation of the weapon being "Yeh-maa-toe", the actual pronunciation would be "Yah-mah-tow".
Trivia[]
- In spite of Vergil's dive kick move having the same English name as one of classic Dante's moves done with the Beowulf, its Japanese name is still the same as classic Vergil's move done with the same weapon.
- Likewise, Vergil has his own Japanese names for the shared techniques of Drive, Aerial Flush and Stomp (including Volcano extending to the classic series as well).
- Flare/Rising Star, unlike Judgement Cut and Volcano, have no "Refine" naming in their Japanese names, and are Level 2 in both English and Japanese.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ DmC: Devil May Cry, Upgrade — Yamato: "Vergil's sword handed down to him by his father, Sparda."
- ↑ DmC: Devil May Cry, Upgrade — Yamato (Angel Mode): Vergil's Nephilim soul imbues the Yamato to perform unique attacks.
- ↑ DmC: Devil May Cry, Upgrade — Yamato (Demon Mode): Vergil's Nephilim soul imbues the Yamato to perform unique attacks.