Force Edge

Lore & Background

The sword is deeply tied to the events surrounding Sparda, who used his blood and a human priestess to seal Temen-Ni-Gru. Decades later, during the events of Devil May Cry 3, Dante's brother Vergil seeks the Force Edge to complete a ritual using pendants given by their mother, Eva. Vergil believes this will allow him to access the Demon World, but he is ultimately defeated by Arkham, who manipulated both brothers to acquire Sparda's sword. The weapon represents the conflict between the twins; while Vergil sought power through it, Dante fought to stop him. The blade remains a symbol of Sparda's dual nature as both a demon and a protector of humanity, central to the story where Lady coins the phrase 'devil may cry' after her mother's death at Arkham's hands.

In Their Own Story

The narrative arc involving Force Edge begins in Devil May Cry 3 when a large tower erupts near Dante's shop. Dante interprets this as a challenge from Vergil and enters Temen-Ni-Gru. There, he is defeated by his brother, who takes the locket and leaves with Arkham. Later, after reviving via dormant devil power, Dante pursues them to stop the ritual. The climax sees Arkham betraying the brothers to claim Sparda's sword for himself. Following this betrayal, Dante and Vergil defeat Arkham and resume their battle. The weapon remains a key element in the original continuity followed by Devil May Cry 5.

Reader's Guide

In terms of gameplay mechanics described in the source, players assume the role of Dante and must extend long chains of attacks while varying their strikes to maintain high style rankings. The Devil Trigger ability allows characters to assume a devilish form with increased speed and attack strength, utilizing their current weapon's power. In later entries like Devil May Cry 4, new mechanics such as Nero's Sword of Sparda (not Force Edge) allow for pre-charged attacks to gain bonus style points. For players in Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition, the ability to play as Vergil offers a different perspective on utilizing these weapons and styles.

Did You Know?

• Force Edge was central to the ritual Vergil attempted in Devil May Cry 3 to open a portal to the Demon World.
• Arkham manipulated both Dante and Vergil into completing the ritual specifically to acquire Sparda's sword, Force Edge.
• The series' name is inspired by the phrase 'devil may cry,' coined by Lady in relation to the nature of a loving heart.
• Devil May Cry 3 was originally conceived as Resident Evil 4 before being reimagined as an action-adventure game by Hideki Kamiya.