- "He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man."
- ― Dr. Samuel Johnson
- "Just because I fly into a blind, homicidal rage at the drop of a helm doesn't mean I'm incapable of appreciating the finer things in life."
- ― Berserker (8-Bit Theater)
- "A stubborn enough person can survive just about anything. Rage is a hell of an anesthetic"
- ― Zaeed Massani (Mass Effect)
- "It's a soulless killing machine that can't be destroyed or controlled. If you let that thing loose, it will kill everything that it comes across."
- ― Adam Strange talking about Doomsday (Krypton)
- "They are rage, brutal, without mercy. But you... you will be worse. Rip and tear, until it is done."
- ― Doom
The archetype of an unbelievably powerful individual with a desire for battle regardless of their own physical condition.
Also Called[]
- Going Postal
- The Barbarian
Properties[]
The character is a berserker; a being that can empty oneself of all rational restraints in battle and completely immerse oneself in combat becoming a dangerous warrior for both friend and foe. The ability allows the user to ignore fatal physical damage as if it never affected them and continue fighting with a frightening level of stamina while also being unpredictable and erratic in combat, making it hard to counter them. The rareness of this power makes up for one's opponent being super strong by boosting the user's adrenaline and stamina to the point where they are able to wear out their opponent through sheer tenacity and ferocity alone.
In some cases, the user is able to go in a berserk form through sheer rage or when they are in imminent danger.
Associated Powers[]
- Accelerated Combatant
- Anger Empowerment
- Berserker Combat
- Berserker Defense
- Bloodlust Empowerment
- Clouded Mind
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Body
- Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Combat
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Agility
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural Durability/Invulnerability
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Endurance
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Reflexes
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Speed
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Stamina
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Strength
- Peak Human/Enhanced/Supernatural/Absolute Survivability
- Feral Mind
- Injury Immunity
- Unpredictability
Variations[]
Associations[]
- Berserker Arts
- Berserker Inducement
- Berserker Magic
- Combat Embodiment
- Indomitable Rage
- Violence Embodiment
- War Embodiment
Flaws/Weaknesses[]
- The ability may be temporary due to the emotional/power overload, usually self-destructive and/or with a severe backlash at the end.
- May not be able to tell friend from foe while in the berserk state, and may risk accidentally hurting or even killing allies, friends or loved ones.
- While a user is able to ignore the effects of injuries sustained in the berserk state, these injuries may take full effect when they come out of the state, with ugly consequences if too much damage was taken.
- While this ability makes the user much more powerful and resilient, it may also make them less intelligent.
- May be reversed by Serenity Inducement.
Example Characters[]
See Also: The Berserker.
Anime/Manga/Manhwa[]
- Julie Sigtuna (Absolute Duo)
- Guts (Berserk)
- Nosferatu Zodd (Berserk)
- Luck Voltia (Black Clover)
- Zangetsu (Zanpakutō Spirit) (Bleach)
- Kenpachi Zaraki (Bleach)
- Nnoitra Gilga (Bleach)
- Saya Otonashi (Blood+)
- Berserker Behemoth (Beyblade Shogun Steel)
- Claymores (Claymore); via Awakening
- Shikabane Hime (Corpse Princess); via killing 108 Shikabane
- Origami Tobiichi (Date A Live); via the Inverse Form
- Belphemon Rage Mode (Digimon)
- Broly (Dragon Ball series)
- Broly (DBS) (Dragon Ball series); via transformation
- Cell Max (Dragon Ball series)
- Kale (Dragon Ball series); via transformation
- Kid Buu (Dragon Ball series)
- Various Saiyans (Dragon Ball series)
- Son Gohan
- Elfman Strauss (Fairy Tail)
- Irene Belserion (Fairy Tail)
- Gluttony (Fullmetal Alchemist)
- Muru-Muru (Future Diary); when her seal is broken
- Members of the Yato Clan (Gintama)
- Kagura
- Kamui
- Saulcai/Prosecutor (Hero Killer)
- Aza Chōbē (Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku)
- Yumiko Takagi (Hellsing); as Yumie
- Taitō Shirei (Hero Tales); via Rage of Alkaid
- Bellcross (Heroic Age)
- Issei Hyoudou (Highschool DxD); via Juggernaut Drive
- Inuyasha (InuYasha); when his demon blood takes over
- Bajio (Kingdom)
- Ba Nan Ji (Kingdom)
- Man Goku (Kingdom)
- Josuke Higashikata (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part IV: Diamond Is Unbreakable); Whenever someone insults his hair
- Demolt (Konjiki no Gash Bell!')
- Koruru (Konjiki no Gash Bell!)
- Riou/Leo (Konjiki no Gash Bell!/Zatch Bell!); via the spell Girufadomu Barusuruku
- Grisor (Konjiki no Gash Bell!)
- Faudo (Konjiki no Gash Bell!)
- Alviss (Marchen Awakens Romance); while brainwashed by his Zombie Tattoo
- Chimera (Marchen Awakens Romance); fused with the Ghost ÄRM, Hydra
- Saturn (Marchen Awakens Romance); after his Darkness ÄRM, Finsternis broke
- Allenby Beardsley (Mobile Fighter G Gundam)
- Stella Loussier (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny)
- Four Murasame (Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam)
- Jinchūriki (Naruto)
- Gaara
- Naruto Uzumaki; formerly
- Zabuza Momochi (Naruto)
- Cursed Seal Users (Naruto)
- Jūgo (Naruto)
- Kai Watari (Nectar of Dharani)
- King Cobra the 3rd (Ninjutsu)
- Himari Noihara (Omamori Himari)
- Cavendish (One Piece); as Hakuba
- Charlotte "Big Mom" Linlin (One Piece); through her food cravings
- Utsutsu Hasegawa (Pupa)
- Yume Hasegawa (Pupa)
- Sacrifar Users (Rave Master)
- Haru Glory
- Orson (Record of Lodoss War)
- Tenmei Mikogami (Rosario + Vampire); in his True Form as a Kishin
- Tsukune Aono (Rosario + Vampire); via his Ghoul Transformation
- Kahlua Shuzen (Rosario + Vampire)
- Demons (The Seven Deadly Sins); via Indura Transformation
- Meliodas (The Seven Deadly Sins)
- Hibiki Tachibana (Symphogear)
- Tojo Basara (Testament of Sister New Devil)
- Demons (Wise Man's Grandson)
Folklore/Mythology[]
- Lancelot (Arthurian Legends)
- Hercules (Greek Mythology)
- Cu Chulainn (Irish Mythology)
- Samson (Judeo-Christianity)
- Modi (Norse Mythology)
- Vidar (Norse Mythology)
Cartoons[]
- Aaron and Farris (Berserker)
- Professor Padraic Ratigan (The Great Mouse Detective)
- Adam/He-Man (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Revelations); as the power incarnate.
- Chiro (Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go)
Comics[]
- Red Lantern Corps (DC Comics)
- Hulk (Marvel Comics)
- James “Logan” Howlett/Wolverine (Marvel Comics)
- Laura Kinney/X-23 (Marvel Comics)
- Thor Odinson (Marvel Comics); via Warrior Madness
- Sabretooth (Marvel Comics)
- Raphael (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW)
Live Television/Movies[]
- Johan (American Gods)
- Sento Kiryu/Kamen Rider Build (Kamen Rider Build): via Hazard Trigger
- Aruto Hiden/Kamen Rider Zero-One (Kamen Rider Zero-One); via MetalCluster Hopper
- Touma Kamiyama/Kamen Rider Saber (Kamen Rider Saber); via Primitive Dragon Wonder Ride Book
- Tony Morecombe (MisFits)
- Bearers of the Mark of Cain (Supernatural)
- Berserkers (Teen Wolf)
- William Corvinus (Underworld Evolution)
Literature[]
- Rachel (Animorphs); in bear form
- Barak (The Belgariad)
- Taur Urgas (The Belgariad)
- Damen (Captive Prince)
- Conan of Cimmeria (Conan series)
- Harry Dresden (The Dresden Files)'; when in the Winter Knight mantle
- Lycanthropes (The Dresden Files)
- Dwarven Battleragers (Forgotten Realms)
- Wulfgar (Forgotten Realms)
- Beorn (The Hobbit)
- King Kull (Kull series)
- Eomer of Rohan (Lord of the Rings)
- King Theoden of Rohan (Lord of the Rings)
- Hurin (The Silmarillion)
- Maedhros (The Silmarillion)
- Solomon Kane (Solomon Kane series)
Video Games[]
- Asura (Asura's Wrath)
- Augus (Asura's Wrath)
- Azrael (Blazblue)
- Brick (Borderlands series)
- Salvador (Borderlands series)
- Krieg (Borderlands series)
- Goliaths (Borderlands series); triggered by shooting off their helmets
- Ryu (Breath of Fire); via Kaiser
- Artorias the Abysswalker (Dark Souls)
- Manus, Father of the Abyss (Dark Souls)
- Magic users (Disney: Twisted-Wonderland); via Overblot
- Doomguy (Doom series)
- Werewolves (The Elder Scrolls)
- Kratos (God of War)
- Jiralhanae (Halo)
- Saïx (Kingdom Hearts)
- Zach Ursus Ae-Jarino (MARDEK)
- Krogan (Mass Effect); via Blood Rage
- Painwheel (Skullgirls)
- Rick Taylor (Splatterhouse series)
- Evil Ryu (Street Fighter); via Satsui no Hado
- Akuma (Street Fighter); via Satsui no Hado
- Vicious (Tales of Crestoria)
- Touken danshi (Touken Ranbu); via Shinken Hissatsu
- Berserker Class Servants (TYPE-MOON); via Mad Enhancement
- Asterios
- Atalanta Alter
- Arcueid Brunestud
- Beowulf
- Caligula
- Cú Chulainn (Alter)
- Darius III
- Frankenstein's Monster
- Heracles
- Hijikata Toshizo
- Huwawa
- Hyde
- Jack the Ripper
- Kijyo Koyo
- Lancelot
- Li Shuwen
- Lü Bu
- Minamoto no Raikou
- Penthesilea
- Spartacus
- Undyne (Undertale); as Undyne the Undying
- Berserker (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Valkyr (Warframe); via Hysteria ability
- MERC Berserker (Madness Project Nexus 2)
- Lola (Gunvolt Chronicle:Luminous Avenger iX); via Darkness Trigger
- The Blood Maidens (Mary Skelter); via Blood Skelter Mode
- Berserker (Megami Tensei)
- Iori Yagami (SNK)
- Leona/Leona Heidern (SNK); via the Riot of the Blood (sometimes)
- Ryuji Yamazaki (SNK)
Tabletop Games[]
- Warriors of Khorne (Warhammer 40,000)
- Vampires (Vampire the Masquerade); via Feral Mind
Web Comics/Original[]
- Jeff the Killer (Creepypasta)
- Thog (The Order of the Stick)
- Complains of Names (Goblins: Life Through Their Eyes)
- The Brute (The Fear Mythos)
- SCP-076-2 - "Able" (SCP Foundation)
- SCP-083-D - Duke (SCP Foundation)
- SCP-096 - The "Shy Guy" (SCP Foundation); whenever it's face is looked at.
Known Objects[]
- Berserker Staff (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
- Berserker Armor (Berserk)
- Red Power Rings (DC Comics)
- Berserk Compound (From Commonplace to Worlds Strongest); after story only
- Hazard Trigger (Kamen Rider Build)
- MetalCluster Hopper Progrisekey (Kamen Rider Zero-One)
- Primitive Dragon Wonder Ride Book (Kamen Rider Saber)
- Ghost ÄRM, Hydra (Marchen Awakens Romance)
- Darkness ÄRM, Finsternis (Marchen Awakens Romance)
- Berserker System (Mobile Fighter G Gundam)
- Asgeir (Ordeal)