Why The Berserker Armor Is The Greatest Power Up Of All Time 

I liked the detail that Skullknight died in it, so when Guts finds it, it has a skull motif, but when he wears it, it gets a hound motif, the armor adapts to the wearer.

Ahhh, I like that observation "Behelit is a cost of others, Berserk armor is cost at one's self."

I just now realized that the more Guts gets control over the armor, the more the Berserker armor turns from a metallic beast into a simply wolf themed set of Gothic plate armor.

Guts did earn the armor. His entire life was a trial

I love Berserk because at its heart, it's not about a man getting stronger through training or magic or whatever, it's about a man who has been hurt in the past and needs to learn how to rely on others. The Berserker armor is the perfect example of that since it requires Guts to rely on Schierke to prevent him fr losing his mind.

I just hope Berserk finishes while I'm still alive...

If the core of Spiderman is : With great power comes great responsibility. I've come to find that the core of Berserk is: With great power comes a great price. This story is so we'll written . Great video!

Super Saiyan was supposed to make you give into your inner violence/rage/darkness as well. Vegeta said it a few times- that a Super Saiyan was an unstoppable killing machine. Even when Goku achieved the form, King Kai said he was trying hard to hold onto who he was. And then later... they dropped that for some reason and it was turned into a kid's play thing.

In my opinion, Guts is the true White Hawk that will save the land. Griffith portrays as an illusion of the White Hawk when in reality he is the Black Hawk Femto. I think the Berserker Armor is gonna transform with him, cleansing the armor of its old dark nature through the help of his new companions and Rickert, and eventually, probably turn white when his hair becomes fully white from the stress of the battle. Then his Dragonslayer will become the GodHandslayer, a pitch black Greatsword. This is all my speculations though!

I think the reason why the Berserker armor works is actually very simple: Just having the armor DOES NOT solve the problem. In fact, it immediately does more harm than good as it rips his body apart just to keep up. It's just a tool that he has to learn to use and accept. In fact, the entire dawning of the armor is immediately painted as a very sinister thing that poses a direct threat to Gutts and those around him and the temptation of the armor goes on to haunt him for quite some time.... It's a tool that he needs, but also a very dangerous one that he needs to learn to control and master with a completely new field of hard work he's almost never had to deal with- self restraint and clarity. The Berserker armor is NOT a magical 'fix everything' power-up, it's something he has to struggle with that, at times, is more of a burden than anything else.... A mental burden to complement the physical burden of his oversized sword....

Before watching the video. The berserk armor is great for the story. Possibly the best transformation in anime and storytelling. 1. The set up and forshadowing of skull knight 2. We know the last person to wear it died and that the helmet represents your soul. Skull shape for the prevoius owner and dog shape for guts. 3. We know that dwarves made it. This opens up the world of berserk. 4. We dont know yet why it was made 5. It changes up guts' fighting style with the same weapons 6. It provides great tension for the story because we dont know what happens if guts fights a god hand. 7. It gives guts' negative emotions physical form. Stress and anger.

Ah, yes. Dark Souls, the Berserk of video games, getting played in the background for daddy Guts

My favorite thing about the Berserk armor is how when Zod sees Guts wearing for the first time, he turns accusingly to the Skull Knight about leading Guts down the same dark path he walked. The idea that a being as steeped in darkness as Zod, who literally seen and taken part in the worst of the horrors the Godhand can impart finds this path too dark and is even offended on Guts' behalf over how they could foist this thing on him says a lot. It implies he thinks death is preferable if nothing else. Makes me wonder what Zod's history with the Skull Knight and Shierke's master actually is.

At this point Guts has gone through so much Miura could literally make Guts an omnipotent God capable of ending the Godhand out of the blue and I don't think you could make a legit argument he doesn't deserve it lol. As much as he has been through he deserves literally any power-up, benefit, mercy, whatever he is given. I think that is why Miura can get away with Dragonslayer just sitting in a blacksmiths shed, the Berserk armor in a witches cellar, etc etc. I've never seen a character be as tortured as Guts and keep going and anytime we see him finally start to over power the forces that have tortured him for so long it's a cathartic event.

Guts’ prosthetic arm is another neat symbol of his character. It is needed because of what Griffith took from him; represented by his missing arm. The prosthetic arm’s magnetic fingertips are designed for the sole purpose of gripping a sword, representing the single-minded revenge mode that Guts enters during the Black Swordsman arc. The loss he experienced leaves him literally unable to do anything except to ‘grasp the sword’ and seek revenge. I think this part of his character comes to a conclusion when he attempts to rescue Casca when she falls overboard from Roderick’s ship. Because his prosthetic can only grip a sword, he is unable to hold onto her, showing that although he can grip a sword AKA pursue revenge, this doesn’t work for the things that truly matter to him now, which are Casca and his friends, therefore he needs to reconsider his purpose. Like Dionysian said in the video, the Berserker Armor is the next step in this symbolic progression. He begins to act selflessly on the behalf of the people he cares about, becoming a true hero.

When army of Satan is labeled as an angel a man must turn himself into a demon. - *MORGAN FREEMAN*

*_How to create the Greatest Armor List_* _-a Buffed ass man with a sword bigger than a house_ _-have a loli cosplayin as a witch_ _-B L A C K_ _-Make it look like dragon scales _-RGB EYES_ _-Need a traumatizing power_

The beauty of berserks writing is I never once questioned why he wasn’t given the armour earlier

Using the Berserker armor is like damage boosting in a video game. You still get hurt, but you are temporarily invincible enough to eliminate the enemy before they can hit you again.

This guy must have put his grasses on the whole time

I'd say guts is closer to Beowulf a man struggling and triumphing against supernatural forces. Or how the Norse gods have understandable motives and are completely willing to do dark deeds to accomplish them

*Armor begins to hurt me* *Me moaning* : yes daddy Armor : What?? Me: What??

The Berserker armour didn't come out of nowhere, it was foreshadowed with the beast of darkness, the armour itself is a physical manifestation of the beast, which means as early as lost children Miura already had the idea for the armour, it may seem like it came out of nowhere but Miura masterfully built up the armour through the beast of darkness creating a strong connection to it before it was irevealed.

What's amazing is the the Berserker Armor isn't really a power up, it just erases the wearer's ability to feel pain or fear, allowing them to surpass the limits, which also is slowly killing the wearer.

One cool note: the armor is magical enough to allow Guts to use his prosthetic hand as a normal hand, but only in berserker mode so far. he did so in the fight with Grundbelt IIRC.

6:10 Am I the only person who was curious about what the magic axe that Guts declined was capable of? Like what if it was the ultimate weapon of the Berserk world and he declined easy mode to take on the Apostles on Veteran difficulty? It haunts me.

*Berserk New Chapter came out "Wow i ve been waiting this for a long time, can't wait to see Guts party or Rickert party in action" "Great, another Griffith Episode," "Oh wow, Griffith gonna build Orphanage" "He also bang the Queen, ofc" I Hope Guts gonna rekt Griffith soon :(

What I like is it’s actually armor. Many times in anime armor isn’t actually functional at all or reveals to much. I love European armor and it’s history and it is represented very well in Berserk. The Berserker Armor is armor done right in anime. It works functionally and looks amazing too. The armor actually works as real world European armor.

Why does it not feel wrong that he has handed the armor to him? Because he earned it more than any anime protag who goes on some short trial. What he went trough was in no way to earn the armor but when he gets it he earned because all of what he went trough

Before watching "Yeah, it is cool, but calling it the best might be an overstatement" After watching "Well, shit. You're right!"

When I read Guts fighting with the Berserk armor for the first time, I reacted like Hisoka does when he sees Gon preform something amazing. I will never forget how awesome it was. I hope to see Nosferatu vs Guts one more time, to see Guts spank that ass.

All for One, and One for All... Guess the author of Hero Academia, got the gist from Guts and Griffith pretty well, one might think. A shame that the personifications of it, sort got diminished heavily in Academia, while it's been strengthened ever so much more, over the many years, in Berserk. Berserk has all the glorious and almost lost legacies of true grand stories, with great characters and a world, which at times can be more cruel than sin, yet have the most beautiful and heartfelt scenes at times.

The Berserker Armor is pretty much like putting on an Armor in a Soulsborne game that plays the game for you but you lose health every second you have it on. I’m a big fan of untraditional and unorthodox power ups like this in manga and anime. Stuff like Deku breaking his limbs if he uses too much power in a certain limb then having the scars to show for it and Guts basically pushing his body to the verge of death everytime he uses the armor and progressively loses his senses as he continues to use it. Idk man. I love shit like this where you could even argue it isn’t a power up at all.

Kaioken was always my favorite power up in Dragon Ball for a few reasons. 1. It looks nice with the red flares 2. It requires actual careful thinking when in use, rather than just going SSJ. It was important for Goku not to screw up any of his attacks and waste his energy. 3. Like I said before, it serves essentially a quick shot of power for a specific moment rather than a long wind next level powerup like SSJ. You don't get to use it for long periods of time or else you destroy your body. I love this aspect because it gave fights like the one between Goku and Vegeta a real sense of weight and urgency. The berserker armor is basically the final form of the kaioken in its use, though instead of damaging just your body, it damages your body and psyche.

The benefit of the armor is simple. It lets you keep fighting till you literally have lost every drop of blood. Your bones will be corrected but not repaired and you essentially have to be dried up or turned to ash to actually die.

This is a great video. I'm a huge Berserk fan, so it was great to listen to someone else echo a thematic theory I've had about the armor and also reciprocate my love for it's interesting and unique thematic use.

Newbies and no good thinkers: But the armor will make you inhuman! You can die! Guts: But the apostles will die first no?

The Berserker armour is probably my favourite power up of all time. A close second to me would be Luffy's gear fourth, so bizarre yet terrifying.

Behelit's sacrifice rules have been retconned since its introduction, now sacrifices don't have to be someone you love or hold dear, it can be anyone who's close or related to you, even if you hate them. You can even sacrifice yourself too. For example Rosine sacrificed her parents whom she hated instead of her one friend whom she loved and cherished.

If anyone else hasn’t, I just wanna say I appreciate the subtle touch of bloodborne music playing during this video

Sounds fitting to the whole thing that Guts is the "Jungian Hero". If u look at it this way, the armor itself is a manifestation of Guts's shadow, and by the act of integrating and accepting the shadow for what it is, and trying to use it for good, he becomes a hero, he becomes complete as a person.

gotta love the background dark souls 3 music

I just made the connection how much Hugo Martin drew from Berserk for the new Doom games. A man too angry to die, slaying demons who won't stop coming is straight up Berserk.

Seeing everyone's amazing comments only makes the pain even greater knowing that this story will never get finished and all of us wont get to live to see it together...

Guts did not take the magic axe Shierke's master wanted to give him because the Dragon Slayer is a much more familiar weapon and it was already infused with the power of the countless spiritual beings he slew. He did not know this yet, but maybe he suspected it after all the apostles he killed with it.

My thoughts exactly, i mean wow, i couldn't put a more accurate description of what i thought about the berserker's armor.

So many Berserk videos feel the need to stretch out the comparisons that they make to other literature or the details they notice to such a degree that it becomes some ridiculous all encompassing tale about philosophy/psychology/humanity/relatibility etc. I really like how your three key insights (kinds of powerups, Greek hero, Griffith sacrifice of others vs. Guts self-sacrifice) were paced, introduced and well-developed without making the entire story revolve around this thing you noticed, dragging out the video, or appealing to vague concepts that sound impressive but aren't fleshed out. Really refreshing, I wish these types of videos were the ones getting 1mill+ views.

I applaud you on being able to analyze and explain this part of the story without giving any rise to new content past what the anime has shown despite the manga being further. I don't think I've seen this before and I am beyond impressed. Great idea and even greater defense of your thoughts, loved the video.

(Last chapter spoilers) I think its interesting how in the last chapter (RIP Kentaro Miura) guts takes off the armor and realizes how weak he's become without it. It further adds to the point that guts is pushing himself to the limit with the armor and using it is not without mental and physical consequence. Guts is becoming worn down and the armor isn't magically adding to his power level, its actually supplementing and making up for his wear and tear. Hes transitioning from using the armor to being dependent on it. I hope if the manga ever continues, we will see guts regain his original strength outside the armor, and then use the armor to further propel himself to new heights to take on Griffith. It seems like this is the point in the story where the hero gets reprieve from conflict and a renewed sense of energy to take on the real enemies and its a shame it has to end this way.

"Not like Batman..." 13:12 left side of screen lol

I see Berserk I click like. And 0 dislikes, good, as it should be. PS: "recent" chapters lol ...why am I laughing? ;_;

Oh man, the Abyss Watchers ost coming on was so good. Considering how Guts inspired Artorias, dark souls music was a rather professional choice. Great video

I'm pretty new to berserk and, coincidentally, late to this video, but i just wanted to say how satisfying it is to hear someone commentate on elements of the story from the perspective of Campbell's hero's journey and other western story telling traditions. This video made my understanding of certain elements of the story much more tangible such as the transformation of Guts into a hero. Great video!

The closest thing I've been able to find that compares to the berserker armor is the Makai knights armor from (Garo) where the armor does give the user a power up, the actual person who uses them only ever needs then during dire situations as the limitations are too great. The Makai armor has the following : 1)increases the user's capabilities for 99.9 seconds. 2)harms all evils that it comes into contact with. 3)the armor is inherited not obtained. 4) The user is nigh impervious to regular attacks and can only be harmed using special weapons or extremely powerful attacks. Drawbacks: 1) If used for more than 99.9 seconds Tha user will gain greater power at the cost of his humanity, becoming the very thing he is fighting against. 2)the armor itself is a living being composed of meterial form the same monster they fight, it can and will try to corrupt the user into giving up their humanity via their lust for power, the darkness in their hearts and of course Rage. 3) once 99.9 seconds have passed there will be a 99.9 second window where the user can be saved by external help in removing the armor or helping the user resist the armors will, during this time both the user and the armor will lose control and attack every thing in their path. In summary both armors have reletively the same function and dangers to them, both have rules that apply to their respective story but ultimately function the same.

I just want to point out that just before Guts fought Grunbeld, he encountered Slan and was destroyed. His armor was instantly shredded off him and the Skull Knight had to save him and in the first part of the fight against Grunbeld, Guts realized he needed armor to protect himself as any blow dealt by Grunbeld was devastating.

Seeing this today is making me sad. Last i read berserk the latest was vol 33 or something and now it’s gone forever. Rest in peace miura

The difference between the berserker armor and the power ups in other shows, is that inherently built into the armor is a total limit on how much he can use it. Since the armor taxes his body in irreparable ways, if he keeps going overboard with the armor, he will eventually be unable to fight. Unlike other power ups where their uses are pretty much unlimited and usually require no sacrifice to use, at least in any meaningful way to the story.

Just a question, what do you think of gon's transformation during the Chimera ant arc in HxH?

Liked, subbed, and rang that bell, can’t wait to see more of your content

Just another reason why Berserk is not just a great anime but possibly the best narrative anime ever.

One thing I love about Guts in the armour is how he moves and fights - plenty of panels showing him launching himself through the air, arms and legs kinda flailing. No cool posing or posturing, just plain berserker rage and no f**ks given.

"Certainly not gay man-love" Casca: Am I a joke to you? EDIT: Holy Rape Horse! I never expected this comment to get so many likes!

I hope Miura finishes Berserk from beyond the grave. RIP Kentaro Miura

The Berserker armor is just perfect for Guts. For any other character it would’ve been just a cool looking power up. But for him, like you said, it’s something that puts him face to face with his demons.

What's cool is that he is slowly getting control, as such against the water God. God I love that armor

The firelink shrine music in the background 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 a man of culture I see

1:16 I like to see that video

Guts had to survive being guts to get the armor, how is that not working for it???

man, he doesnt just fight apostles with ease do you remember all the bones breaking, all the bleeding and iron spikes through his body? I know he doesnt feel pain, but it doesnt look easy Everytime Guts activates the armor I begin breathing through the teeth expecting him to become disabled or something after the fight

I think its great power-up because its basically makes Guts the actual Berserk - the one who does not feel pain and driven to madness by fight, with little to no moral or identity, just sheer bloodlust that has no limits, packed in human body. It's also sort of a title drop, but damn good one.

i like that you put the ds1 firelink ost it fits the whole vid

dont agree that Guts didnt train or suffer for the armor the whole story and show is him suffering and training...

When you said "good old fashion, totally not gay, man love" I thought of Donovan.

"Guts doesn't work for it" REALLY dude? He is very deserving of the armor wtf are u on

I find it hilarious that you had the Firelink Shrine theme in the video. Edit: Now Majula. And Abyss Watchers.

Dude I’m a huuuge Berserk fan and I must say this is an amazing video. I’ve never thought of the berserk armor so deeply and as a device to make Guts a better man. Love the series even more now. Also subscribed.

Once these two fight both of them will die guaranteed.

this video makes me want to play ds2 and idk why

Very appropriate you playing Majula song right now from DS2. 👍

This is a prime example that you can butter anything up with fancy words.

Nice dark souls character background ost. Very well placed taking on account the fact that the entire series were inspired by Berserk, in terms of world and character design. We can see hints like Artoria’s pose, being the same pose Guts did with the berserker armor.

Abyss Watchers theme in the background?

I watched alot of anime and read thousands of manga but for me Guts is the protagonist who suffered the most

Thanks for the Dark Souls music.... Doesn't totally depress anyone while listening about Berserk.

Extremely well-put. Just found this channel and really like how you strip down something as layered, complex, and brilliant as Berserk Well done

12:57 He looks like Batman kkkk

The fact Guts also has the behelit... I think that demon dog represents what his eventual contract with the Godhand would become.

Just found you. Doesn't look like you're making videos much anymore which sucks, but awesome content around berserk. Love it man

Fire link Shrine background music ?

"Guta doesn't work for it or go through some great trial" Repelling the Troll horde? Saving the people of Qlipoth? Surviving an encounter with a God Hand?

Awesome video. Yours is the first in forever I even slowed down 10%

Never thought about that. FANTASTIC VIDEO :)

All my life I had only thought of Guts as the cliche swordsman, but after seeing the various adaptions and reading most of the manga, and now this video, my eyes are opened. Shits wild.

Why was such a quality piece not recommended to me earlier!? Great work!

Requiem Arrow: Hold my beer Requiem Arrow: Hold my beer Requiem Arrow: Hold my beer

Alita's Imaginos bodies would like to have a word with you.

Excellent choice to use the Majula theme here.

You also explained why Griffith had one of the horrifying transformations of all time too.

Even though the armor "came out of nowhere" it's still somewhat to be an expected "transformation" as it still fits within the world of Berserk and operates on its own lore. In a world of demonic creatures, and weird eggs with faces that cannot be destroyed, this is something we should have come to expect from it. For a story, it doesn't necessarily HAVE to be built up or even set-up from the get-go, instead it should be written within the laws and confines for whcih YOU as the writer set. If you break those, the audience disconnects and begins to question it. You brought up Dragonball, and Dragonball Super. Which is a perfect example of lore being broken in such a way that the forms make little to no sense. And you lose that connect and disbelief you once had as it no longer operates within its own Canon and set-up lore. Even SSJ 3 wasn't such a "holy shit, this doesn't make sense at all" form. Since we know they found forms beyond the original, we always thought this was going to be a thing in every arc, Goku would get a new form. The Super Saiyan God forms and God ki in the series makes no sense and it is actually hurtful to this series. It is the new legend which renders ALL the years of the show useless and the form they found to be little to nothing of a coincidence. Berserk found a means to use transformations or just straight up power-up's by writing within the series a set of rules that we can enjoy, while keeping it somewhat ambiguous. So we know there's magic, we knows there's demons, and we knows there's even Angels if there exists demons. We aren't taken aback from the armor granting the user power or aiding them with enhanced strength. Since we assume there is such things that can exist within a world of magic. Dragonball Super fails, in that it doesn't show the distinct separation BETWEEN the God forms and regular Mortal forms.. Since they allow all the mortal villains to be of equal footing to these Godly, divine forms. Making them feel less than they are. If we compare it to GT's Super Saiyan 4, the God forms break ALL the conventions of the forms. No build-up, no lead-up, nothing but a thin, recolor of a base form and a recolor of an already established form. The 4th level of Super Saiyan you would only be lead to assume was actually being set-up throughout the series. With the Elites learning to control their Great Ape forms, to the Anime only flashback when Vegeta explained the SSJ form can only be held in a transformed state, we are. Shwon a glimpse of the Golden Great Ape. We then begin to think maybe the Saiyans were trying to regain control of their Great Ape forms in the off-chance they finally can realize the legend of the Super Saiyan and won't be Berserk with it. We are shown these things, and we are given the SSJ 4 form, giving us a conclusion to those little ideas, while they were made as nothing more than to be what they were, when we build off of the established lore we have something that makes sense and we don't really think about it too much. It wasn't a build-up from the Dragonball Z series, it was just using the foundations of the previous series to allow small tweaks, and to give us soemthing we weren't expecting, breaking the Golden haired traditions. Berserk, I hope continues with this trend and gives us new armor sets, or even upgrades the current Berserk Armor to give Guts Godly power, but it will be at the cost of his emotions/limbs/mental state/organs so on and so forth. Keep giving him a means to obtain insane levels of power to achieve his goals, but keep giving him the need to sacrifice so he would always have to choose what is important to him.

During the black swordsman arc, we were eager to see Guts confronting and killing apostle because, you know, they are asshole. But now, we are afraid when Guts gets into a fight : afraid for his health, for his sanity