Berserk (status)

Berserk (バーサク) is a recurring status effect in the Final Fantasy series. Generally, berserked characters have increased attack power and speed, but can only use physical attacks and cannot be controlled. The status is usually gained through an item called Bacchus's Wine and a spell of the same name. The job class Berserker is constantly under the Berserk status, and uses it for greater physical damage.

Inflicting Berserk on an enemy may also interrupt powerful spells or final attacks, provided the party can mitigated the boosted physical damage.

Final Fantasy II
Berserk increases an ally's attack power and can be stacked. Players retain control of a berserked character, making the status more desirable than in later installments in the series.

Final Fantasy IV
In addition to the Berserk spell and Bacchus's Wine item, the Avenger sword causes the wielder to permanently be under the Berserk status until unequipping it. There is a glitch in the GBA port that involves placing Edward under Berserk status.

Final Fantasy V
The Berserker job is in a constant Berserk state and cannot be controlled. The Berserker also learns the state of Auto-Berserk as a skill that can be equipped to other classes as well. The Blue Magic spell Moon Flute inflicts Berserk on the entire party. Via the Kiss of Blessing Bug in the game's SNES version the player can inflict Berserk on targets that are meant to be immune to it.

Berserk characters deal increased damage via the following formula:
 * $$Attack = Attack * 3 / 2$$

The status can be removed with Dispel. Berserked characters are immune to Confusion, the Flirt command, and the effects of the Lilith Rod. Enemies under the influence of Berserk cannot be controlled, nor will monsters execute counterattacks. However, berserked party members may still be able to use Counter.

Final Fantasy VI
When a character is under the effects of the Berserk status, the character will do more damage. It should also be noted that the character will become uncontrollable, and will automatically attack a random enemy. To determine which command the berserk character will use, a list is created. Each of these commands: Attack, Mug, Jump, Rage, and Magitek, that the character can use is added to the list. An extra Attack command is added as well even if the character can't normally use the Attack command. One of the commands from the list is randomly chosen to be used. Monsters will always do a standard physical attack while berserked. If a character selects a command before being berserked, but before they take action, then that selected command will still be executed.

In addition, Umaro is in a constant pseudo-berserk state and cannot be controlled by the player. Also, Gau (and Gogo, due to his/her ability to use Rage), once having chosen a monster from the Rage list, will become uncontrollable for the rest of the battle. Mog also falls into this state after successfully dancing a dance. All these states are similar to the Berserk ailment, and the Berserk status can still be applied on top of these pseudo-berserk state.

If a character is inflicted with the Berserk status while riding a Magitek Armor, he or she will randomly attack with Fire Beam, Ice Beam, or Thunder Beam on a random enemy.

Final Fantasy VII
Berserk increases the character's physical attack damage by x1.5, though at the cost of losing control of the character, who will physically attack a random enemy a every chance they get. Berserked units never deal critical hits. An amusing glitch results with some enemies that are not immune to Berserk but do not have a specified attack to use when Berserked.

When this happens, the game falls back on having them use a spell that costs more MP than they will ever have, and thus continually will give the message "[Enemy]'s skill power is used up". Pairing the Mystify Materia with Added Effect lets the player add the status to a character's physical attacks, or defend against the status, depending whether the combination is set in a character's weapon or armor.

Final Fantasy VIII
The Mad Rush ability inflicts Berserk on the party, as well as Haste and Protect. Other abilities are the Berserk spell and certain enemy attacks, such as Malboro's Bad Breath. The effect is removed using Esuna, the healing item Remedy or the Treatment command.

Berserk increases damage by 50% and makes the afflicted target attack random enemy targets. In addition, using Rinoa's Limit Break Angel Wing puts her in a type of Berserk status, but rather than using physical attacks, she casts a random spell from her magic stock without actually expending the spells. However, if there are no spells to cast, she does physical attacks, with her attacks being five times stronger than normal.

Final Fantasy IX
Buzz is a spell only available to some enemies, which inflicts Berserk. It is also used by Ozma as a counterattack. It can be cured by Gysahl Greens or the spell Esuna. Freya can also inflict Berserk on all allies by using Luna.

Final Fantasy X
Berserk can only be inflicted by enemies. Berserk can be cured by White Magic Esuna or Remedy.

Final Fantasy X-2


Similarly, the Accessory Wring forces the player to use only Black Magic spells, but boosts their Strength.

Final Fantasy XI
Berserk is a beneficial status gained from a Job Ability used by Warriors. Rather than having the character attack relentlessly, it increases Attack power and simultaneously reduces Defense power.

Final Fantasy XII
The Berserk spell itself is an Arcane Magick, and Bacchus's Wine also inflicts the status, although has a chance of missing. The weapon Avenger can also inflict Berserk to an enemy. Fury's attacks have a chance of inflicting Berserk. In addition to the increased attack power and the loss of control, characters under Berserk will attack faster, similar to Haste. However, the character's defense power will decreased when under berserk. The status effect itself is positive, as it can be removed by using Dispel, but not Esuna, and the status persists even if a Save Crystal is touched. The effect is temporary.

A character in Berserk can't be controlled as a party leader, can't use Quickenings and is immune to Confusion. Berserk's attack and speed boosting traits can also be further boosted by stacking the character with Bravery and Haste.

At one point in the game, Fran will automatically go into Berserk while fighting Vossler.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Berserk can only be used by Ba'Gamnan, who learns the spell of the same name at level 12.

Final Fantasy Tactics
When a character is berserked they acquire a bright red tint and a red star in a speech bubble above their head. The status can be inflicted through the Templar's Berserk or Mystic's Fervor, an Orator's Insult, and the special abilities Mind Blast by Mindflayer or Grand Cross by Ultima. Berserk lasts for the duration of the battle.

When berserked a character's effective PA is equal to [PA * 3/2]. The character is uncontrollable, and will always use the ATTACK command. The character cannot use reaction abilities and certain move abilities, such as Move-HP Up and Move-Get Exp. They also tend to attack in front of the opponent.

Magick Ring, Barette and Ribbon can all be equipped to prevent berserk.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
The Defender job class can learn the reaction ability Last Berserk, which causes the Defender to self-Berserk when it is in critical status. The Juggler job class may learn the ability Firebomb, which Berserks and damages. The Soldier job class is capable of learning Provoke, which Berserks the target. Animists learn the ability Catnip, which Berserks the target.

The Berserk status is especially useful when there is a law prohibiting the Fight command. Placing enemy units under Berserk will force them to use Fight, thus allowing them to get sent off.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Berserk can be inflicted onto units through the use of the Trickster ability Snigger, the Soldier ability Provoke, the support ability Critical: Berserk, or through the use of the enemy ability Tomato Ketchup.

Dissidia Final Fantasy
Whenever the player engages any piece on a stage, all Battle Pieces that are adjacent to the player becomes Berserk and the player must engage them instantly, with the player unable to customize their character or use any skills before the battle.

Some battle pieces start in Berserk, and will fight the player if they place their piece adjacent to them. Berserked battle pieces glow red. The effects of Berserk can be nullified once by using the Blink skill, or all the time, including all the next stages of the story, with the Invisible skill.

Gallery
Tobsucht (Zustand)