Taunts, also known as Provocations, are non-combat gameplay elements that can somehow 'manipulate' a battle. During the games, taunts have different effects such as increasing the player's Stylish Rank and even the D.T. Gauge. However, they were referred to as an "enemy intimidator" due to the effects of a taunt to an enemy. Taunts appear in every game installment except for Devil May Cry 2 and the reboot.

Devil May Cry

Taunts in Devil May Cry serve mainly to replenish the Devil Trigger gauge and prevent the Style Gauge from resetting. There are two kinds of taunts: single-handed and double-handed. Pressing the button rapidly or pushing the right stick down will execute a double-handed taunt, while pressing the button slowly or partially will execute a single-handed taunt. Double-handed taunts replenish more of the Devil Trigger gauge, up to two full glyphs, compared to single-handed taunts, which replenish a maximum of one glyph, but are more difficult to execute. The total amount of the D.T. gauge restored by a taunt is also affected by the distance Dante is from the enemy. The farther away, the less D.T. gauge Dante receives.

Taunts can be cancelled by jumping or rolling, but this forfeits the D.T. Gauge refill effect. Even cancelled taunts, however, prevent the Style Gauge from resetting. By holding one of the directional buttons at the beginning of the taunt, the player can get Dante to move before the taunt animation finishes but after the D.T. gauge replenishes.

Devil May Cry 2

Player-controlled Taunts were taken out of Devil May Cry 2 because the development team felt they did not fit with the direction of Dante's new personality. The player community roundly criticized both decisions,^[1] and taunts returned in all subsequent games.

Devil May Cry 3

The Taunting mechanism was expanded in Devil May Cry 3 to include multiple verbal lines delivered by Dante (and Vergil in the special edition). Pressing causes Dante to use a Taunt. Which line Dante delivers depends on his current Style Rank.

Replies

D - rank

• Come on, wimp.

B/A - rank

• Come and get me!
• Huh, is that it?

S/SS - rank

• Ya scared?
• Hey, do your job!

SSS - rank

• Crazy!
• Let's start the party!
• Sweet, baby!

In the Special Edition, Vergil also has access to taunts. Like Dante, Vergil delivers one of several possible taunts, depending on which weapon he has equipped. Vergil's known taunts are: "You shall die", "Hmph, how boring", "Hmph, what's wrong?", "Come on!", "Where's your motivation?", "Now I'm motivated!", "Rest in peace", "You're going down..." and an evil laugh, the last one being used only in Nelo Angelo DT.

Replies (as an enemy)

• Now I'm a little motivated! (after being hit)
• Where's your motivation? (if Dante doesn't attack Vergil more than 10 seconds)
• You will not forget this devil's power... (preparing Devil Trigger) 
• You're going down... (preparing Devil Trigger)
• You are not worthy as my opponent! (turning Devil Trigger on)
• Haaaaagh! (turning Devil Trigger on)
• Don't get so cocky... (preparing Spiral Swords)
• You trash! (before using Judgement Cut End)
• This is the end! (before using Judgement Cut End)

Replies (as a playable character)

Yamato

• You shall die!
  • If there are enemies present and Vergil remains in the pose, he will start rapidly gaining Devil Trigger gauge.

Beowulf/Force Edge

• Hmph, how boring...
• Hmph, what's wrong?
• ...Come on!

Doppelganger also taunts Dante during their battle in Mission 17 saying, "Come on wimp!", "Hey, do your job!" and "Come and get me!".

HD Collection

When the player chooses the coatless DMC3 or coatless DMC1 character costumes for Dante he uses taunts recorded for the original version but which were left out. These are, "Huh, is that it?", "Hey, do your job!" and "Let's start the party!"

Devil May Cry 4

The function of Taunts in Devil May Cry 4 is slightly different than previous games. Not only do they have a greater impact on enemy behavior, but there are also more of them. Both Dante and Nero have three levels of taunts, with three taunts for each level except the highest tier, for which Nero has four and Dante only has two. Which taunt is used is random within the level, meaning that if the Style Rank is high, Dante or Nero will use one of the three high-level taunts.

Taunting draws the attention of nearby enemies, in case an enemy is attacking a demon, taunting it will force the enemy to attack the player instead. Performing taunts with a high style rank will produce more stylish Taunts, as with Nero's posing with the Red Queen and Blue Rose. Different Taunts have different effects on enemies, for example: some taunted enemies attack faster and more ferociously, while some demons react to a taunt by means of panicking. Taunting in Dante Must Die mode increases the chance of a demon entering its Devil Trigger.

Although this isn't a taunt, pressing the Taunt button (/) while running fast causes Nero to execute an attack called "Rainbow". It is essentially the double-footed kick he performs on Dante during the opening movie.

Nero

D-rank or none.

• What did ya say? - Huh.
• Shall we dance?
• Come on!

B/A - rank 

• Bye-bye! - He-hah!
• Scum! - he-he-heh.
• Starting to heat up!
• Phew - come on!

S/SS/SSS - rank

• Shhhhhhh...
• Okay, this may be fun.
• Hey, hey, hey, come on babes... - okay.
• Come on babes! (starts playing air guitar)

Dante

D-rank or none.

• Come on!
• Hey what's up?

B-rank 

• Alright, baby!

S/SS/SSS - rank

• (Laughs)
• Showdown!
• Get outta here...
• Shall we dance?
• You need more training...

Special Edition

Vergil

D - rank or none

• Show me your motivation! (Draws Yamato with a swing and then sheathes it: the swing can score a hit)
• You think you stand a chance? Ha.

B/A - rank

• (Sigh) ...disappointing.
• You're wasting my time.

S/SS/SSS - rank

• Let's have some fun!
  • Twirls a summoned sword on his finger: this deals continuous damage when present
• This shall be your grave.

Lady

D - rank or none

• Time to go to work!

B/A - rank

• One, two, three... (sigh) ...you guys won't even pay for the pizza.

S/SS/SSS - rank

• Hmm, time for a little maintenance.

Trish

D - rank or none

• May the Savior be with you. (pfft) As if!

B/A - rank

• (Sigh) Might need a new look...

S/SS/SSS - rank

• Do I look like a demon to you?
  • Blows kiss: if it contacts an enemy it will launch them in the air and give an instant SSS rank

Devil May Cry 5

A lot of the taunts from Devil May Cry 4 have been implemented in Devil May Cry 5 as well. DMC 5 also introduces mid-air taunts.

In Devil May Cry 5, the rank levels seems not to be as strict as in previous games: sometimes a "lower" level taunt appears at "higher" ranks and vice versa. The ranks listed are where the taunt is most likely to trigger. Some taunts are also locked by default. Special Provocations must be unlocked by completing the Bloody Palace, and EX Provocations must be purchased for 3000000 each; if paid for through DLC however, the EX Provocations must be toggled on in the skill list as they are toggled off by default.

Nero's Rainbow move also returns, but now only requires Nero to be moving, not running.

During Missions 19 and 20, the enemy Vergil (or Dante, if playing as Vergil) will actually respond to the player's taunts if they are done at the right point in the battle.

The Cooldown for gaining Style with a Taunt is around 60 Seconds.

Nero

D-C rank or none

• What did you say?-Hahaha.
• Shall we dance?
• Come on!

B-A rank

• I'll play with ya! Come on.
• I'll take you down!
• Scum! He-he.
• Come on. (Puts on his hood.)
  • The hood stays on until Nero gets hit or encounters any "blast" effect in the environment that causes him to flinch (e.g the Qliphoth roots breaking into the hotel corridor or Artemis smashing the library windows)
• Yeah, looking good baby! Make love to the camera! Whoo! Work it! Yeah.
• Bye-bye! Hah.

S-SSS rank

• (Throws bullets up in air and catches them with Blue Rose's cylinder) Who's up next?
  • Fully reloads Color Up.
• (Drops to one knee and dramatically spreads arms.) Shhhh.
• Okay! Okay! That was a good one!
• (Puts Red Queen to ground point first and revs it.)
  • Gives one Exceed bar.
• (Spreads arms and beckons as if inviting in front of a big audience.) Okay, okay, yeah, okay! Come on!
• Come on! (Plays air guitar)
  • Nero will continue to play it until interrupted.

Airborne

• Ridin' high!
• Let's get airborne!
  • For both taunts, pressing the Exceed button at the right time gives an Exceed bar. It can even be Max-acted.

Lock-on

• Let's see, which one wants to play?
• (Points to the enemy) Guess who's gettin' their ass kicked?
  • At S-rank or higher

EX Provocation

• (Dances to hip-hop music)
  • if uninterrupted, can higher the style rank to at least S and drops red orbs from the sky

Special Provocation

• Puts on his hood and raises his left arm, fist clenched, “I am the one...with power!”
  • unlocked by completing the Bloody Palace mode (Stage 101) with Nero.
  • while wearing the hood, the attack power rises with each defeated enemy.

Recovery Provocation

• (Chews gum.)
  • Can restore up to two bars of health if uninterrupted.

V

None-C rank

• Hm. (Turns his back to the enemy and just stands for a while.) Running out of time.
• (Whistles and summons both Shadow and Griffon at once.) Come on!
• This is only going to get harder. (Summons one of his familiars in the palm of his hand.) You sure you're up to it?
  • If Nightmare is summoned, this taunt can damage adjacent enemies.
• You are itching to play. (Summons one of his familiars in the palm of his hand.) I can tell.
  • He can only perform these if at least one of his familiars is not currently summoned.

B-A rank

• (Clutches his head) I need... more... strength...
• (Laughs at length) You make me laugh.
• (Puts cane under his arm and golf-claps) Hmm. So hungry for death.

S-SSS rank

• (Plays air violin of Niccolò Paganini's Caprice No. 24.)
• (Conducts an invisible symphonic orchestra of Richard Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries.) Thus endeth your requiem.
• (Tap dances.)

Airborne

• (Speaks into cane as if it is a microphone) Come on!
• (Spins and lands in a dramatic knee drop.) I envy your optimism.
  • At S-rank or higher.

Lock-on

• (Makes an elaborate swing with his cane and points to an enemy.) You first.

EX Provocation

• (Dances to a rendition of Singin' in the Rain)
  • if uninterrupted, can higher the style rank to at least S and drops red orbs from the sky
  • this is much safer due to V being able to attack while taunting

Special Provocation

• (Sweeps his hand over the cane, wreathing it in purple light.) Who's ready to die first? (Swings it like a lightsaber.)
  • unlocked by completing the Bloody Palace mode (Stage 101) with V.
  • Causes the cane to temporarily deal more damage and not rebound off the enemy.
  • When used next to an enemy V will lock onto it automatically and use the taunt like a 5 hit combo dealing damage with the last swing sending the enemy flying away.
  • If the enemy is in a purple state the last hit will act as a finisher

Dante

None-C rank

• Man. (Turns his back to the enemy.) I'm bored.
• (Summons Devil Sword Dante in one hand, then quickly into other.) Huh. This should make things easier.
• (Claps and beckons, as if a dog.) Come on, come at me boy!
• (Claps and beckons, as if a dog.) Come on, you can do it! Over here!
• (Beckons) Aww, what's the matter?

B-A rank

• (Yawns) You look like you just had your ass handed to you.
• (Beckons with both hands) You aren't scared, are you?
• (Shrugs) Eh, you aren't slacking are you?
• (Beckons) Come on! Show me whatcha got.

S-SSS rank

• (Beckons elaborately) Come on baby, come get me!
• (Laughs) Guts and honor.

Airborne

• (Throws Lucifer's rose.)
  • If it hits an enemy, it launches them into the air, dealing a small amount of damage.

Lock-on

• And now, I'm going to play... with... you!
• (Throws Lucifer's rose) ...And you are set free.
  • If it hits an enemy, it launches the enemy upwards, dealing a small amount of damage (30) and will higher the style rank even further.
  • At S-rank or higher

EX Provocation

• (Dances to 70s music)
• if uninterrupted, can higher the style rank to at least S and drops red orbs from the sky

Special Provocation

• “What you lack...is this!”, points behind himself, where a heart formed by Mirage Swords appears. Then sweeps his hair back, “Thought you'd like it.”
  • unlocked by completing the Bloody Palace mode (Stage 101) with Dante.
  • hair stays slicked back until Dante gets hit or activates Devil Trigger or Sin Devil Trigger.
  • while Dante's hair is slicked back the amount of his DT gauge acts as a modifier to his melee weapon damage – from ×0.8 at empty gauge to ×1.2 at full gauge.

Counter Taunts (as an enemy, Special Edition-Vergil exclusive)

• "(laughs) Alright! You wanna play? Let's play!"
  • used when Vergil uses his EX Provocation in Mission 20. Causes Dante to joyously dance-off with the Doppelganger for as long as the animation plays out.
• "Well, look at you... Think ya could take this a teeny bit more seriously? For me?"
  • used if Vergil taunts Dante when he isn't attacking.

• "You're trembling... Is that fear? Or excitement?"
  • used if Vergil taunts Dante when he isn't attacking.
    

Vergil

Note: after the Special Edition Day One title update sheathed Yamato is no longer displayed in Vergil's hands in Sin Devil Trigger.

Stylish rank None–D

• Draws Yamato with a swing, “Show me your motivation!” Then sheathes it.
  • the swing damages enemy on contact (100).
  • can happen with Mirage Edge or Yamato
  • can be followed with a perfect Judgement Cut.
  • if Vergil sheaths his blade he will gain 3 bars of DT
• Fixes his collar, “You think you stand a chance? Hmm.”

Stylish rank C–A

• Turns away and runs his hand through his hair, “You're wasting my time.”
• Sighs and shakes his head, “Disappointing.”

Stylish rank B–SS

• Looks at his fist, “This barely even counts as a warm-up.” Then performs a spin kick.
  • with Beowulf selected.
  • doesn't deal damage.
• Draws Mirage Edge from his back with a swing and points it forward, “Is that all?”
  • with Mirage Edge selected.
  • doesn't deal damage.
• Enters a fighting stance, “Ha! Try me!”
  • if uninterrupted and finished, raises Concentration to the maximum.

Stylish rank A–SS

• Pulls out V's book, “Hmm. Shall I entrust it... to him?”
  • restores about 3 DT Gauge bars.
• “There is no time for doubt... I know what must be done.” Transforms Yamato into Nero's severed Devil Bringer hand and back.

Stylish rank S–SS

• Sets sheathed Yamato's tip in the ground, “This shall be your grave.”
  • in human form (before the SE Day One update also in SDT).
• Sets Mirage Edge's tip in the ground, “I shall surpass Sparda!”
  • in SDT.
• can happen with mirage edge or Yamato

Stylish rank SSS

• “Let's have some fun!” Twirls a Mirage Blade on his finger then crushes it.
  • When Vergil is twirling the blade on his finger, it deals damage (12 per hit) and can juggle a launched enemy.
  • Once he crushes the blade, it deals damage (112) and can launch an enemy.
• Sits down seiza-style then performs a sword dance with Yamato.
  • Sword swings deal no damage.
  • Fully restores the DT Gauge upon the sword sheathing.
  • Can be followed with a perfect Judgement Cut.

Aerial

• Sends three Mirage Blades downwards.
  • Blades deal damage (50 per hit) and can launch an enemy.
• Quickly draws Yamato in a wide swing (similar to Aerial Rave first hit).
  • Stylish rank S–SSS with Yamato or Mirage Edge selected.
  • The swing deals damage (70).
  • Can be Jump Cancelled with an Enemy Step and repeated again indefinitely.
  • Can be followed with a perfect Judgement Cut.

Lock-on

• “Have you decided... which one of you will die first?” Points with left hand and sends a Mirage Blade.
  • The Mirage Blade has no range restriction, deals damage (50), embeds into and can launch an enemy locked on to.

EX Provocation

• Watches incredulously as his Devil Clone appears in front of him and starts dancing around to the techno remix of the "Dies irae" portion of Mozart's Requiem, “Tch... how droll.” Then slashes the Clone as soon as it finishes dancing, “That's enough!”
  • Switches to Yamato for the duration of the taunt.
  • If uninterrupted, can higher the style rank to at least S and drops red orbs from the sky
  • The slash deals damage (100) and can knock an enemy back upon contact.
  • Can be followed with a perfect Judgement Cut.
  • Using it against Dante in Mission 20 will cause Dante to laugh and join in with his own EX Provocation, having a dance-off with the Doppelganger for the taunt animation's entire length.

Special Provocation

• “You think to make a fool of me?” draws Yamato and enters a for 4 seconds stance before performing a powerful horizontal slash. “Pathetic!” sheathes the sword.
  • Unlocked by completing the Bloody Palace mode (Stage 101) with Vergil.
  • Enemies hit by the slash will be extremely slowed down until Vergil sheathes Yamato.
  • The higher the number of enemies caught in the slash, the higher the damage upon sheathing (800 with one enemy), enemies then can crumple to the ground.
  • Can be followed with a perfect Judgement Cut.

Counter Taunts (as an enemy)

• “Thank you for that... Now I shall give you death in return.”
• “Fine... I suppose this is how you wish to die.”
• “You mock me...!”
  • at Stylish rank S–SSS.
  • 3 meters or more between Vergil and the player.
  • while Vergil isn't attacking.

Unused

In Devil May Cry 5, an unused taunt for Nero is present in the game's files.^[2]

He will say "I'm gonna take this hand... and shove it up your ass!"

Gallery

References

Gameplay
Interface	Gauges - Map - Stylish Rank - Vitality Gauge
Gameplay Features	Difficulty Mode - Bloody Palace - Costumes - Extra Bonus - Gameplay Extras - Secret Missions
Techniques	Actions - Aerial Rave - Air Hike - Air Raid - Buster - Charge Shot - Crazy Combo - Devil Trigger - Distorted Combo - Inertia - Jump Cancel - Just Charge - Just Combo - Kick 13 - Round Trip - Shot Cancel - Sky Star - Slash Cancelling - Stinger - Summoned Swords - Taunt
Styles	Dark Slayer Style - Doppelganger Style - Gunslinger Style - Quicksilver Style - Royalguard Style - Swordmaster Style - Trickster Style
Objects	Blood Clot - Divinity Statue - Items - Key Items - Orbs - Sealed Doors - Trigger Devices
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