Berserkers Unit Guide

Unit Details

• Season 7: Wolves of Ragnarok
• Acquisition: Seasonal Challenges
• Unlocked Via: Seasonal Unit Challenges
• Type: Melee Infantry - Special
• Era: Heroic Era

There is no subtlety to a Berserker unit. It exists for one purpose and for one purpose only: to engage an enemy directly and to tear them apart as quickly as possible so that the frenzy can begin anew. There are unit formations for the Berserker commander to consider, one to lessen the threat of incoming ranged attacks and another to brace against a foolhardy foe, but these are game formalities. Simply put, if a Berserker unit isn’t engaged in battle, it should either have been wiped out or the battle declared over. Any other scenario would be a dereliction of duty on the part of the warlord.

As well as swinging their double axes with ursine efficiency, Berserkers can deploy a devastating charge that will claw into almost any enemy, before engaging the floored foe. Having consumed large quantities of certain substances prior to battle, Berserkers are also able to enter a frenzied state for a short period of time, during which the unit will be able to increase its already savage attacks while apparently laughing in the face of death itself.

Though something of a cliche, the modern image of a berserker is largely accurate. The Old Norse word berserkr is understood to mean “bear-shirt”, which through the ages has been reinterpreted to mean bare-chested, giving us the enduring visage of the raging barbarian in furry underpants that has become such a staple of fantasy and historical fiction. Were you to fully clothe the berserker in animal skins, the wild-eyed warrior, axes akimbo, charging forward with no regard for personal safety, pretty much nails it.

The modern meaning of “berserk” (as in ‘a murderous frenzy’), alludes to the worshipping of bears (as well as wolves and boars within other clans). By wearing an animal’s skin and assuming its form and manner, the committed warrior hoped to acquire its ferocity in battle, thinking themselves immune to the wounds that might fell others. The abundance of certain types of mushroom and seeds found in Viking graves suggest that a berserker’s self-induced hysteria may well have been augmented with hallucinogenic plants. However, regardless of how they prepared for a battle, there’s no doubt that berserkers were an effective force in the midst of one.

While there’s no shortage of lightly-armoured, heavily-armed melee fighting units in Conqueror’s Blade, by introducing Berserkers we are fully embracing what has become an enduring archetype. Moreover, we can pitch the iconic Norse warriors against those from across the medieval world that they’d never had the chance to cross swords (or axes) with otherwise. 

There is no subtlety to a Berserker unit. It exists for one purpose and for one purpose only: to engage an enemy directly and to tear them apart as quickly as possible so that the frenzy can begin anew. There are unit formations for the Berserker commander to consider, one to lessen the threat of incoming ranged attacks and another to brace against a foolhardy foe, but these are game formalities. Simply put, if a Berserker unit isn’t engaged in battle, it should either have been wiped out or the battle declared over. Any other scenario would be a dereliction of duty on the part of the warlord.

As well as swinging their double axes with ursine efficiency, Berserkers can deploy a devastating charge that will claw into almost any enemy, before engaging the floored foe. Having consumed large quantities of certain substances prior to battle, Berserkers are also able to enter a frenzied state for a short period of time, during which the unit will be able to increase its already savage attacks while apparently laughing in the face of death itself.

Stay tuned to the official website and our social channels for more news on Season VII: Wolves of Ragnarok before its launch on March 18! For further reading on Viking berserkers, check out History Extra.

Core Unit Statistics

Unit Traits:

• Rage - This unit builds up Rage by fighting, which then powers its other skills.
• Frenzy - Berserkers can go into a frenzied state if they are in combat long enough. This greatly enhances their attributes, but renders them uncontrollable.
• Battle Madness - Each time the Berserkers launch an attack, their slashing damage is increased by 20 points and their damage resist is increased by 5%. Lasts 4.5 seconds. Can stack up to 10 times. Upon reaching 10 stacks, Berserkers recover HP.
• Northlanders - Leadership value is decreased by 10 during Season VII.

Formations:

• Dispersed - This unit stands in a loose formation to lesson the impact of enemy attacks.
• Line - This unit forms two lines, ideal for launching attacks.

Unit Orders:

• Odin's Charge - The Berserkers charge with their axes, knocking the enemy down, inflicting a lot of damage and acquiring a small amount of Rage.
• Berserkers Assault - The Berserkers swing their axes quickly and unleash an area attack which consumes a small amount of Rage. Berserkers also get 4 stacks of High Spirits.
• Frenzy - When Frenzied, the unit takes significantly less damage, inflicts more damage, and is immune to crowd control debuffs, but cannot be given orders.

Veterancy Paths:

Core Path:

• Razor-Sharp (2) - Each level Increases piercing defense by 3%

Top Path:

• Hone (3) - Each level Increases slashing armour penetration by 3%
• Bloodbath (1) - Cannot be stunned by ordinary attacks while using ordinary attacks.
• The Soldiers Life (3) - Each level increases Health by 3%
• Reflexes (3) - Each level reduces ranged damage taken by 5%.
• Red Mist (1) - Upon using Odin's Charge, a 10% Damage Resist buff is applied for 10 seconds.
• Cold Blood (3) - Each level increases slashing damage and slashing armour penetration by 3%.
• Move as One (3) - Each level increases movement speed by 10%.
• Breakthrough (1) - Increases the number of enemies each soldier can attack with a single normal strike by 1.
• Greater Wrath (1) - When Frenzy finishes, the unit will immediately recover 2000 health.

Bottom Path:

• Second Wind (3) - Each level reduces Odin's Charge cooldown by 2 seconds.
• Reflexes (3) - Each level increases ranged resistance by 5%.
• Recklessness (1) - Rage is increased by 25% upon hitting an enemy with Odin's Charge.
• Hone (2) - Each level increases slashing armour penetration by 3%.
• Frenzy (3) - Each level increases Berserker Assault damage by 5%.
• Uncouthness (2) - Each level increases Odin's Charge damage by 5%.
• Razor-Sharp (3) - Each level Increases piercing damage by 3%.
• Recklessness (1) - Rage is increased by 25% upon hitting enemy with Odin's Charge.
• Bloodbath (1) - Increases Frenzy damage by 20%.

Unit Kit Crafting

Related Information:

• Season 7: Wolves of Ragnarok
• Shield Maidens (5.0 Stars)
• Sons of Fenrir (3.0 Stars)