"The vast forests of our lands are said to be filled with the spirits of beasts. Sometimes those beasts join us on the battlefield: Berserkers. Wild, free, and utterly without fear, they fight with twin axes but their true weapon is their passion. There is an ancient riddle: what is stronger than steel? Blood is our answer; blood and fury."
Berserkers are a playable hero class in For Honor.
Overview[]
Chaotic and brutal dual-axe-wielding Vikings. That is the simplest way one can describe the Berserkers. Their savage love of combat strikes fear into the hearts of most, friend and foe alike. The Berserker fights relentlessly, capable of vanquishing foes before they can mount a decent defense. Unconcerned with their personal safety in putting up a proper defense, these vicious warriors focus instead on killing as many enemies as they can.[1]
Armor[]
Historically, Berserkers have been described as warriors who would charge into battle without armor, instead wearing the pelts of whatever animals they believe themselves to be possessed by. Like their historical counterparts, the Berserkers wear little armor, only light leather shoulder pads and animals pelts with a mask over their eyes.
Weapon[]
Viking Hand Axe - The Viking have turned a common tool into a vicious, highly effective weapon. The hand axe combines speed of handling with the balance required for accurate throwing over short ranges. Their lethality is legendary when placed in the hands of the blood-crazed Berserkers, especially when they come as a set.
Viking Hand Axe
Trivia[]
- Historical texts and Icelandic literature describe the berserkers as Viking champions who would charge into battle in a trance-like, almost animalistic, fury.
- At the time, it was believed that this uncontrolled fury was the result of them being possessed by the spirits of animals on the battlefield. In the present, some speculate that this trance was the result of them consuming a hallucinogenic mushroom while others believe it was self-induced hysteria brought about by concentration and sheer force of will.
- Despite popular belief, a berserker's act of going berserk was not due to any form of psychosis, rage or insanity. Many texts describe berserkers capable of holding proper conversations before and during battles.
- Icelandic literature describes several tribes that were classified as berserkers, each one with a totem animal they worshiped.
- One tribe in particular was called "the berserkir" because of the bear skins that they wore to mark their status. This is because berserkir translates roughly into "bear-shirt".
- Berserker's Signature, "Number One" is a homage to Stefán Karl Stefánsson, a voice actor and performer who had died from bile duct cancer on August 21, 2018. Stefán has been credited ambiguously to lines for the Viking faction in For Honor, some sources noting that he did the voiceover for the Viking faction in the initial 2016 trailer for the game.
- The Berserker's pose and the Signature's title references "We are Number One," a musical number from the Icelandic Children's TV Show, "Lazy Town." Stefán stared in singing this song as the show's central villain, with the song becoming an internet phenomenon a few years after the song had aired on the show. This was the highlight of Stefán's popularity.
- The credibility of this claim is further compounded by the subtitle of the signature: "In Memoriam - To our Number One villain."
- Some sources state that Stefán had played the role of the Berserker, be it in Multiplayer or as an enemy during the Story Campaign. Having this Signature on the Berserker may be a confirmation to this rumour.
- In particular, in past versions of the game allied (and own) heroes sometimes had a different voice actor from enemy heroes of the same class (such as on Warlord, Warden, Berserker, Shugoki and Lawbringer), and sometimes this "enemy" voice actor also performs the hero's native language lines. In this case, Stefán appears to be performing the "enemy" Berserker as well as his Icelandic lines in general (where Berserker's other grunts and exertions are performed by Patrick Seitz).
Quotes[2][]
- Icelandic: "Þú ert dauður!" – English: "You are dead!"
- Head Crusher
- Icelandic: "Náði þér!" – English: "Caught you!"
- Deflect
- Icelandic: "Drepa, drepa, drepa!" - English: "Kill, kill, kill!"
- Recognition Emote
- Icelandic: "Hér, muntu deyja!" - English: "Here, you shall die!"
- Male Berserker, Dismemberment Execution
- Icelandic: "Í dag, muntu deyja!" - English: "Today, you shall die!"
- Female Berserker, Dismemberment Execution
Fighting Style[]
Berserkers are intimidating Viking engines of death. They combine close-combat harassing abilities and have infinite chain attacks that make their offense intimidating to face against. Their uninterruptible stance allows them to be relentless even in the face of multiple enemies.
- Difficulty: Hard
- Harasser fighting style
- Short-range fast attacks
Special Capabilities[]
- Zone attacks strike multiple times in a row and can be used mid-chain
- Infinite Uninterruptible Chain that can end with Unblockable attacks to harass opponents
- Deflect ability that leads into a guaranteed guardbreak
Perks[]
Available Perks for the Berserker can be viewed on the Perks page.
Feats[]
| Tier | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bounty Hunter
Passive | Gain Health & Stamina when you kill another hero Unlocked at level 1   |
Rush
Trigger to gain movement speed for a short duration Unlocked at level 5   |
Storming Trap
Trap that damages enemies. Unlocked at level 13  |
| 2 | Executioner's Respite
Passive | The base healing of Executions are increased by 50%. Unlocked at level 1   |
Bear Trap
Medium damage trap that stops victims in their tracks. Unlocked at level 7  |
Doom Banner
Nearby enemies have lower defense and attacks while within range. Unlocked at level 15   |
| 3 | Throwing Axe
Throw an axe that deals medium damage. Unlocked at level 1  |
Sharpen Blade
Attacks inflict low Damage over time. Unlocked at level 9   |
Fury
Raise speed, attack and defense stats for a short duration. Unlocked at level 17  |
| 4 | Berserker
Significantly raise your speed, attack and defense. Unlocked at level 1  |
Fear Itself
Enemies around you have lower Stamina regeneration and defenses Unlocked at level 11   |
Fire Flask
Throw a projectile creating a fire area of effect. Unlocked at level 19   |
Moveset[]
General[]
- Renown: Assassin - Earn more Renown in 1vX fights, by killing enemy Heroes, and getting killing streaks to unlock your feats in a match. (non-Dominion/Breach gamemodes only)
- Revenge Mode - Boosts Damage and Health. All Attacks are Uninterruptable. Parry and Throws knock enemies down. Attacks are Auto-Parried on activation.
- Dodge: Deflect - Dodge in the direction of an incoming Attack just before impact to Deflect it. A deflect does not interrupt the incoming attack, but in trade grants a Hero access to unique follow-ups.
Hero Specific[]
- Brute Force - After a Deflect, Berserker can perform Brute Force, a special Guardbreak that is guaranteed and ignores all Guardbreak invulnerabilities.
- Alternating Infinite - During Dance of the Paired Blades, Attacks need to alternate between Lights and Side Heavies to continue.
- Light Chain Starters - Head Slicer, Spin Chop and Skilled Slash can act as Chain Starters, but have to be followed by a Heavy Attack.
- Heavy Chain Starters - Zone Attacks and Slashing Rush can act as Chain Starters, but have to be followed by a Light Attack.
- Top Heavy Finisher - A Top Heavy Attack cannot be chained further, even as an Opener. If it's not a Chain Opener or a Dodge Attack, it will be Unblockable.
- Bear Mauler Finisher - Bear Mauler Finishers are Unblockable.
- Dance into Mauler - The Dance of the Paired Blades Infinite chain can flow directly into the Bear Mauler chain.
- Unstoppable Onslaught - Boar Rush, Head Slicer, Head Crusher, Slashing Rush, Skilled Slash and all attacks after a Chain Opener all have Uninterruptible Stance.
- Unflinching Feint - Basic Chain Openers initiated immediately after a Feint are Uninterruptible. Lights after a Feint are also slightly faster and cost less Stamina.
- Early Uninterruptible Stance - All instances of Uninterruptible Stance on Berserker starts up earlier into the attack than most instances of Uninterruptible.
- Unrelenting Head Slicer - Head Slicer is Enhanced, thus is not interrupted if blocked. Does not apply when blocked by a Superior Block.
- Undodgeable Spin Chop - Spin Chop is also Undodgeable.
- Dodge Combat - Berserker can cancel the recovery of any of their attacks with a dodge.
- Close Combat - If you miss any attack, its recovery can be cancelled by a Zone Attack or Slashing Rush.
- Opening Combat Feint - You can cancel the startup of a Heavy Opener with a dodge.
- Head Crusher Sprint - If a target is outside normal leap range when attempting Head Crusher, Berserker will sprint before initiating the leap. While sprinting, it is possible to feint the move to stop performing Head Crusher; once the leap itself starts, the move cannot be feinted.
Moves[]
(From Guard Mode)
| Type | Name | PC | XB1 | PS4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dance of the Paired Blades |  LMB, RMB or RMB, LMB
|
RB, RT or RT, RB
|
R1, R2 or R2, R1
|
|
|
Bear Mauler | RMB, RMB, RMB | RT, RT, RT | R2, R2, R2 |
|
Boar Rush (Not in Guard Mode) | ↑ + RMB | LS↓ + RT | LS↓ + R2 |
|
Spin Chop | A or D + Space, LMB | LS← or LS→ + A, RB | LS← or LS→ + X, R1 |
|
|
Head Slicer | W + Space + LMB | LS↑ + A, RB | LS↑ + X, R1 |
|
|
Head Crusher | W + Space, RMB | LS↑ + A, RT | LS↑ + X, R2 |
|
|
Slashing Rush | S + LMB + RMB | LS↓ + RB + RT | LS↓ + R1 + R2 |
|
|
Skilled Slash |  , LMB
|
, RB
|
, R1
|
| Brute Force |  , MMB
|
, X
|
, ⬜
|
Equipment[]
*Star weapon
**Rarity unknown
| Armor Styles | Weapon Styles | |
|
| |
Executions[]
 Work The Leg |
 This. Is. Valkenheim! |
 Double Your Efforts |
 Severe Amputation |
 Blood Rage |
 Final Dance |
 Punch Drunk |
 Cannonball Dropkick |
 Timber! (Berserker) |
 Move It Along! |
 Watch This! |
 Vehement Axe Stomp |
 Head Cracker |
 Spark It Off |
 Almost Dropped It |
 Dismemberment |
 Split Not |
 Absolute Frenzy |
 Nice Catch! |
Emotes[]
Passive Stance[]
 Despair |
 Chopped |
 Axe For Victory |
 Major Fail |
 Show Off |
 Flipout |
 Berserker Coin Toss |
 Kill Card (Berserker) |
 Recognition (Berserker) |
 Solet (Berserker) |
 Reluctant Applause (Berserker) |
 Row Your Boat |
Fighting Stance[]
 Lift Off |
 Handled |
 Crossover |
 Axe Twirl |
 Chest Beat |
 Throat Slitter |
 Ageatavel (Berserker) |
Executions[]
 Requiescat In Pace |
 Rampage Of Ragnarok |
 Cheaty Flute |
 Blow Your Own Horn |
 Harpy Hey Joe |
 Lute Not |
 Sylvan Vaporization |
 Horkos Pharmakos |
 Sylvan Metamorphasis |
 Revenant Slayer |
 Ulfhednar Killer |
 Shiryo Avenger |
 Jiangshi Banisher |
 Minified And Put Aside |
 Minified And Magnified |
 Minified And Stomped |
 Minified And Kicked Away |
 Wolf Among Sheep |
 Ilma's Scythe |
 Cane You Feel It |
 Brought You A Gift |
 Chimera Salvation |
 Blades of the Vanguards |
 Resounding Defeat |
 Deadly Hare |
 Sylvan Detachment |
 To The Great Beyond |
 Feast Upon The Weak |
 The Masquerade Is Over |
 Unquenchable Wolf |
 Farewell, Chimera Music Box |
 Farewell, Chimera Zither |
 Farewell, Horkos Bagpipe |
 Farewell, Horkos Violin |
 Wrathful Concision |
 Willful Concision |
 Sorrowful Concision |
 Artful Concision |
 Aegir's Reach |
 Anchors Down |
 Chill Out |
 Death Metal Triangle |
 Fish In A Barrel |
 Get Whale Soon |
 Off The Hook |
 The Huntress' Prey |
 Ran's Bestowment |
 What Goes Around |
 Just Add Oil |
 A Plague Unto You |
 Blow Dart Barrage |
 Jorogumo's Hunter |
 The Spider's Thrall |
 Gruesome Punishment |
 Killing Them Frostly |
 Fear Not The Darkness |
 Kunai Blast |
 Mjolnir's Flight |
 Tessenjutsu |
 The Assassin's Blade |
 The Ghost & The Chosen |
 The Solar Flare |
 Voidfeather |
 War Weary |
 Dagger Fumble |
 Rewind Time |
 Honor Fulfilled |
Dagger Fumble |
Rewind Time |
 Friend, Foe, Forehead |
 Lure of Riches |
 Barroom Brawl |
 Ruyi Jingu Bang |
 With My Bear Hands |
 Snake Whisperer |
 No Weapon Needed |
 I Have Chops |
Emotes[]
Passive Stance[]
 The Bard's Instrument |
 Sword In The Stone |
 Ready To Rumble |
 Volcanic Destruction Blast |
 Jack O Lantern |
 Leap Of Faith |
 Penguin Walk |
 Vortiger's Ascent |
 Shadows of the Hitokiri |
 Zhanhu's Fire |
 Dubious Assessment |
 One Of Your Shrugs |
 Howl At The Moon |
 Confused Warrior |
 Skeptically Swaying |
 Horkos Grimoire |
 Sylvan Book |
 Sylvan Meditation |
 In ChaRAHcter |
 Muscular Archer |
 Muscular Biceps |
 Message Board |
 Sylvan Panacea |
 Selfish Drinker |
 Chimera Bagpipe |
 Chimera Music Box |
 Chimera Violin |
 Chimera Zither |
 Horkos Bagpipe |
 Horkos Music Box |
 Horkos Violin |
 Horkos Zither |
 Odaiko |
 Raising Glasses |
 Suspended Gong |
 The Bodhran |
 The Field Drum |
 Suspicious Tumbleweed |
 Elegant Dance |
 The Bard's Triangle |
 Gryphon's Fireside |
 Boxing Drill |
 Mad Alchemist |
 Stars of Destiny |
Boxing Drill |
 Think About It |
 My Juggle Act |
 Most Wanted |
| Think About It |
My Juggle Act |
 Chimera Crew |
 A Light In The Dark |
 Sun's Out Chairs Out |
 Dev Handshake |
 Handle With Care |
 Popcorn Snack |
 Follow My Lead |
 Snake Crossing |
 Rocking Horse |
 Rhythms of Shibu |
 Absolute Enthusiasm |
 Aftershock |
 Insatiable Thirst |
 Ice Fishing |
 Poultry Power |
 Ride Of The Coconuts |
 Shovel Drop |
 Slipping Hazard |
 Story Time |
 Surf's Up |
 Magician's Trick |
 Plant A Tree |
 Buried Treasure |
 Land Ho |
 Time Manipulator |
 Honor Demands! |
Gryphon's Fireside |
 Icefall Throne |
 Disco Dance |
 Red Envelope |
 My Furry Bestie |
 Dumpling Appetite |
 Horkos Crew |
Fighting Stance[]
 Snowball Fight! |
Executions[]
 Dainslief |
 Sjaund |
 Death By Spears |
Emotes[]
Passive Stance[]
 Down The Hatch! (Viking) |
 Rub Salt In The Wound (Viking) |
 Banner Of Arms (Vikings) |
| Heroes | |
|---|---|
| Knights | Warden - Conqueror - Peacekeeper - Lawbringer - Centurion Gladiator - Black Prior - Warmonger - Gryphon |
| Samurai | Kensei - Shugoki - Orochi - Nobushi - Shinobi Aramusha - Hitokiri - Kyoshin - Sohei |
| Vikings | Raider - Warlord - Berserker - Valkyrie - Highlander Shaman - Jormungandr - Varangian Guard |
| Wu Lin | Tiandi - Jiang Jun - Nuxia - Shaolin - Zhanhu |
| Outlanders | Pirate - Medjay - Afeera - Ocelotl - Khatun - Virtuosa |