The Devil May Cry series is known to be quite difficult, especially on harder difficulties provided in the game. When you begin Devil May Cry 5, you only have access to two difficulties, Human and Devil Hunter. Getting an ending on either of those two will unlock Son of Sparda. Playing and achieving an ending on Son of Sparda will unlock Dante Must Die, which is considered one of the more challenging difficulties in the game. If you can manage to finish the game on that difficulty, then you will unlock the final two, Heaven or Hell and Hell and Hell. The difficulties follow a strict heirarchy, which is as follows:

• Human > Devil Hunter > Son of Sparda > Dante Must Die > Heaven or Hell > Hell and Hell

The main difference with these difficulties is the health that enemies have, as well as the damage they do to you. From Son of Sparda and onward, the missions can become a little more hectic. That’s because stronger enemies will start appearing in the lower missions. As an example, the Empusa Queen normally begins appearing in Mission 05, but on Son of Sparda and harder difficulties, you can find one even in the Prologue. Also, enemies will start becoming more aggressive and some even gain new attacks.

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Some difficulties will add harder monsters in earlier levels, like the Empusa Queen in the Prologue above

The following is a table that details the differences, in terms of how much health enemies and the damage they do: