Dante and Vergil are portrayed as extremely close in power throughout the Devil May Cry series, with their relative strength often depending on the specific point in the story and their motivations during fights.

• Early in the series , particularly in Devil May Cry 3 , Vergil is initially stronger than Dante. However, as Dante accepts both his demon and human sides, he surpasses Vergil in strength by the end of DMC3 and proves his superiority in multiple fights

• In Devil May Cry 5 , Vergil attains new power by consuming the Demon Fruit, enhancing his abilities significantly. This levels the playing field, making him roughly equal in power to Dante, who has also grown stronger by merging Sparda's demonic energy with himself

. Some sources suggest Vergil may even have a slight edge in raw power due to his focused dedication to strength, but Dante's adaptability, fighting style, and motivation often give him the upper hand

• In terms of fighting style , Vergil is considered more refined and precise, relying on speed and technique, while Dante is more powerful but sometimes reckless, using a wider arsenal of weapons and styles

• Overall consensus among fans and lore is that Dante and Vergil are essentially equal in strength by the latest games, with their battles often decided by motivation, tactics, and circumstances rather than sheer power difference

In summary, Vergil was stronger early on, but Dante grew to match and sometimes surpass him. By Devil May Cry 5 , they stand on nearly equal footing, with Vergil possibly having a slight raw power advantage but Dante's versatility and fighting spirit balancing the scale. The outcome of their fights often hinges on who is more motivated at the time