Latest News

Monk Rework Survey

Home > Classes > Base Classes > Berserker >

Table: Berserker Archetypes

ArchetypeDescription
Axe of KarashAu RaAcross the plains of the Azim Steppe, there is a tribe whose berserkers enter a rage known as the Will of Karash. These warriors believe this to be a blessing from the Dusk Mother. They commit all manner of heinous acts when Karash takes hold, and some would even slay their own kin and claim it in the name of Mother Nhaama.
BarbarianA relic of a simpler time, barbarians express their rage in a cruder manner. Even if they are, well, barbaric, their archaic methods can still be effective.
Bear WarriorBear warriors, through a special relationship with bear spirits, literally adopt a bear’s strength in the rage of battle, actually transforming into bears while they fight.
BloodragerWhile many ferocious combatants can tap into a deep reservoir of buried rage, bloodragers have an intrinsic power that seethes within. Like black mages, bloodragers’ veins surge with arcane power. While black mages use this power for spellcasting, bloodragers enter an altered state in which their blood becomes manifest, where the echoes of their strange ancestry lash out with devastating power. In these states, bloodragers can cast some arcane spells instinctively. The bloodrager’s magic is as fast, violent, and seemingly unstoppable as their physical prowess.
DragonerGriaAs some of the most ancient, powerful, and capricious creatures in existence, dragons occasionally enter into trysts with unsuspecting mortals or sire offspring with exceptional individuals. Likewise, the great power wielded by these creatures has long intrigued mages and chemists who have sought various magical methods to infuse their bodies with draconic power. As a result, the blood of dragons runs through the veins of the gria. For some, this heritage manifests as a power of their draconic ancestors that becomes an obsession.
Fearsome WarriorOn the northernmost edge of Abalathia’s Spine exists a mountain tribe renowned for producing fearsome mercenaries. These men and women learn to harness their inner-beasts and translate that power to unbridled savagery on the battlefield. In former times which saw war waged ceaselessly in Eorzea, the warriors featured prominently on the frontlines of battle. With the arrival of peacetime, however, their art has descended into the shadows of obscurity, where it remains to this day.
Frenzied WarriorRage rests within the heart of all people, but for some, it’s like some barely contained beast ready to tear its way out. For many, this frenzy allows them to face even the most dangerous of foes and survive. Their innate ability to hold on to this energy and ride it through the waves of battle has made them a feared and respected force. Yet some descend even deeper in this berserk state, harnessing it as often as they can, fighting on without care for themselves and showing no mercy to those in their paths. These are the frenzied warriors.
Frightful RagerA frightful rager is a terribly frightening being to behold. His roars of anger and his hateful words can seep into his opponent’s mind, making them make often stupid decisions.
FuryThe fury relishes in the glory of combat. Her hedonistic pleasure from battle wounds is borderline masochistic. While under furious assault, she enters a sort of high where pain is just another form of indulgence.
GigakinHalf-GigasThe gigakin are berserkers whose bloodlines contain a trace of giant. When these berserkers rage, their giantish heritage manifests itself in greater size and strength.
Hateful RagerOrcFrom a young age, many orcs are treated cruelly, bullied, ridiculed, and made outcasts. While some hide their shame, others foster a deep, burning hatred that they channel into a raw fury and unleash against their enemies.
MarauderThe marauder is a combat specialist whose weapon of choice is any two-handed weapon – a fearsome arm emblematic of Eorzea’s pirates. Their approach to battle is one of brute force, relying on strength and steel to crush enemies and sunder weapons. They are highly sought after for their ferocity and intimidating presence, and are often employed to hunt down monsters plaguing the land, or turning the tide of battle between warring nations.
Meowsterful RagerPalicoFurious at her small stature, the meowsterful rager seeks imaginary revenge on any who lord over her.
Mist RabbitVieraSome viera embrace the wild side, bringing out their inner beast during combat. These individuals live for battle, and they hone both their bodies and their fighting techniques to make the best use of their natural athletic advantages. Facing a frenzied, berserking bunny head-on is an act best left to either the supremely confident or the foolish and short-lived.
Titan MaulerIn lands overrun by giants, dragons, and other hulking beasts, entire fellowships of berserkers hone tactics and traditions with one purpose—to bring low these massive foes. While her enemies’ size makes the creatures strong, the titan mauler is even stronger, taking up weapons from her fallen foes that no lesser warrior can lift, and using them when she beseeches the spirits to grant her increased size and greater ferocity against her titanic foes.
TreezerkerMandragoraThe treezerker’s body is suffused with raw plant life. When he rages, his plantlike characteristics bolster his durability and grant him some control over vegetation.
WerewolfWerewolves usually trace their powers from a distant lycanthrope ancestor, though some gain their powers through totem worship. These warriors tap into the power and skill of the wolf, an animal feared and worshiped by many barbaric tribes. Their connection with this animal comes with a deep respect and kinship at times, though some shifters may turn their back on this fundamental connection. Just like the wolf, these shifters often travel great distances, partly from a keen wanderlust, and partly from unwelcoming treatment by common folk.

Non-FF Archetypes

The following archetypes are based off of pop-culture references outside of Final Fantasy and may not fit within the theming of your campaign. Consult your DM before using them.

Table: Non-FF Berserker Archetypes

ArchetypePrerequisitesDescriptionReference
BattleragerAll berserkers command respect, but the battlerager is an unrelenting physical force. The name of this archetype suggests rage, risk-taking, and that is certainly part of its effectiveness, but it would be a grave mistake to suggest that the battlerager is sloppy or undisciplined. It takes an incredible amount of control to know when to lose control. Battle momentum is the key: finding the balance between total commitment and over extending. The battlerager controls the pace of combat, setting a standard that the enemy can’t match. In turn, they can be sustained by the mayhem they produce, and find new energy in every fallen foe. While they stand, while stamina remains, they have no match, but they can’t stand back and let battle unfold. For the battlerager, battle always ends in glory, win or lose.Dragon Age Origins