How do you deal with them? I kinda figured a good way (i think), but i'm just wondering if there is a better way - with both characters also.

With Nero ATM i just dodge while charging blue rose, then when he does the electric attack i dodge and shoot. When his barrier goes down i unleash with DT (maximum bet and showdown plus DB) and repeat - oh and that self destruct bit at the end is really annoying - it's killed me many times....so yeah any help is appreciated

Yeah these little pricks are annoying. I usually go with Pandora and Trickster for Dante, dodge and shoot(jump and use the gatling gun if you need it), and unleash on him when the shield goes down. Once he goes red I usually just shoot at him as to not get caught in the explosion when he dies.

What else can you really do with Nero? Here's a thought though. If you use Lucifer with Dante and stick some of the swords in him when the shield is down, if they explode when the shield is up does he still take damage?

Well i got some new games so i've taken a break from DMC4 -but i remember i came up with a strategy for nero in SOS (haven't played the Dante portion yet - and the other two modes are too insignificant for a concrete strategy to matter)

Anyway, i just would dodge - that would be my main priority - while also charging up BR. Then when it stands still i would shoot, then keep firing until it moves again. If it does that electric surge thing i would dodge then continue shooting - basically get in as many charged shots as possible with minimum health loss. When his shield goes down i would go up to him and trigger DT - which would stun him a little, giving me enough time to do showdown (dam i love that move) - then i followed up with a buster, then turned off DT - this would send him into 'self destruct' or red mode. Anyway, i would just do the same as i did first - although its really annoying if you get hit as then you lose a shit load of health...