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Viking unique infantry unit that slowly heals itself.
Age of Empires II description

The Berserk is the Castle unique unit of the Vikings in Age of Empires II. It is an infantry unit with good armor and attack as well as a regeneration ability.

Berserks can be upgraded to Elite Berserks in the Imperial Age.

Overview[]

The Berserk is a heavy infantry unit that is armed with an axe and shield, and has the ability to regenerate 40 hit points per minute. This allows them to last long between combats and makes them effective in pitched battles. As most infantry, Berserks have a small attack bonus against standard buildings and Eagle Warriors. The Vikings' civilization bonus gives them +20% HP, so a Berserk will have 65 HP, 14 attack, and 3/3 armor in the Castle Age. An Elite Berserk will have 74 HP, 18 attack, and 5/5 armor when fully upgraded. They also have good speed for an infantry unit, making them decent at fighting small groups of foot archers.

Strategy[]

On land maps, a Viking player has to make a choice between training Elite Berserks or Champions. Due to the costs involved in upgrading both units, and the role they fill, it is impractical to train both units. The Berserk's advantages over the Militia-line lies in their regeneration, superior armor (only Elite), attack, and speed. On the downside, they have less hit points, and cost an extra 5 food (an extra 20 food with Supplies) and 5 gold and are harder to mass. Since the introduction of Gambesons, Champions have the better pierce armor. Note that the Militia line has superior hit points compared to base Berserks, and both units are equally affected by the Viking HP bonus.

Counters[]

Berserks share all the weaknesses of most infantry, but to a lesser extent. Berserks can catch up with foot archers, but they still should not be used against them, especially in mass battles. Hand Cannoneers and Slingers absolutely devastate Berserks. Massed Scorpions can also inflict massive losses against Berserks. Samurai (unlike Champions) and Jaguar Warriors are the melee units that threaten Berserks. Cataphracts counter Berserks as well. Like against almost all melee units, Teutonic Knights and Boyars are also effective against Berserks, though the former's slow speed is even starker compared to the Berserk's fast speed. Berserks should avoid battles against Leitis as their attack ignores melee armor, but their self regeneration can give them a slight advantage. However, the Leitis' attack can be very devastating with all 4 Relics collected, being able to deal 22 damage per hit. Despite the regeneration giving an advantage, prolonged combat against Obuchs may leave Berserks prone to the attacks of other units, especially against archers, because the Obuch's attacks remove armor. What's more, the Berserks are near evenly matched with Obuchs in equal numbers, while the latter is cheaper.

Comparison in the Castle Age with similar units[]

Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman BerserkIcon-DE Berserk Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman
Cost 45 food, 20 gold 65 food, 25 gold 45 food, 20 gold
Hit points 72 65 72
Speed 0.9 1.05 0.9
Armor 1/2 1/1 1/2
Train Time 21 seconds 14 seconds 21 seconds
Line of Sight 5 3 4
Melee attack 12 12 9
Attack bonus +8 vs Eagle Warrior
+4 vs Standard building
+2 vs Eagle Warriors
+2 vs Standard building
+6 vs Eagle Warrior
+3 vs Standard building
Attack speed 2 2 2
Upgrade Cost
and Time
750 food, 350 gold
100 seconds
1075 food, 475 gold
45 seconds
300 food, 100 gold
75 seconds
Other Regenerates 40 HP per minute

Comparison in the Imperial Age with similar units[]

Champion aoe2DE Champion BerserkIcon-DE Elite Berserk Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman
Cost 45 food, 20 gold 65 food, 25 gold 45 food, 20 gold
Hit points 84 74 72
Speed 0.9 1.05 0.9
Armor 1/2 2/1 1/2
Train Time 21 seconds 12 seconds 21 seconds
Line of Sight 5 5 5
Melee attack 13 14 12
Attack bonus +8 vs Eagle Warrior
+4 vs Standard building
+3 vs Eagle Warriors
+3 vs Standard building
+8 vs Eagle Warrior
+4 vs Standard building
Attack speed 2 2 2
Other Regenerates 40 HP per minute

Further statistics[]

As Berserks are unique to the Vikings, only technologies that are available to them are shown in the following table:

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Skirmishers, infantry, cavalry, Eagle Warriors, buildings
Weak vs. archer units, Cataphracts, Jaguar Warriors, Boyars, Samurai, Teutonic Knights
Upgrades
Attack Forging aoe2de Forging (+1)
IronCastingDE Iron Casting (+1)
BlastFurnaceDE Blast Furnace (+2)
ArsonDE Arson (+2 attack against standard buildings)
UniqueTechCastle-DE Chieftains (+5 attack against cavalry and +4 against camels)
Armor ScaleMailArmorDE Scale Mail Armor (+1/+1)
ChainMailArmorDE Chain Mail Armor (+1/+1)
PlateMailArmorDE Plate Mail Armor (+1/+2)
Speed SquiresDE Squires (+10%)
Conversion defense Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion (+1 min, +1 max)
FaithDE Faith (+4 min, +4 max)
HeresyDE Heresy (die upon getting converted)
Creation speed ConscriptionDE Conscription (+33%)
UniqueTechCastle-DE Kasbah (+25%, with a Berber ally only)
Regeneration UniqueTechCastle-DE Stronghold (30 HP/min when within 18 tiles square of a team Celts Castle)
Other UniqueTechCastle-DE Chieftains (generates gold when killing Villagers, trade units, and Monks)
UniqueTechImperialDE Berserkergang (increases regeneration speed) (before update 81058)
Upgrades EliteUniqueUnitDE Elite Berserk

Civilization bonuses[]

Team bonuses[]

Changelog[]

AoE2-DLCicon-0 The Age of Kings[]

  • Berserks have 48 HP (60 for Elite) and regenerate 20 HP/minute.
  • (Elite) Berserks train in 16 seconds.
  • (Elite) Berserks move at a speed of 0.9.
  • Berserks have 0/0 armor.
  • Berserks have 9 attack.
  • The Elite Berserk upgrade costs 1,300 food, 550 gold.
  • The Viking civilization bonus gives (Elite) Berserks +15%/+20% HP in the Castle/Imperial Age.

AoE2-DLCicon-1 The Conquerors[]

AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten[]

  • Berserks have 54 (62 for Elite) HP.
  • (Elite) Berserks train in 14 seconds.
  • Berserkergang costs 850 food, 400 gold.
  • Chieftains introduced. It costs 700 food, 400 gold and gives Berserks +4 attack bonus against cavalry.

AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms[]

  • Arson introduced.
  • Chieftains cost 400 food, 300 gold and gives Berserks +5 attack bonus against cavalry.
  • With patch 4.8, Chieftains gives Berserks +2 attack bonus against camels on top of the attack bonus against cavalry.

AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas[]

  • With patch 5.7, Chieftains gives Berserks +4 attack bonus against camels on top of the attack bonus against cavalry.

AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition[]

  • Tracking made free for all civilizations.

Dawn of the Dukes icon Dawn of the Dukes[]

  • With update 56005, Berserks have 12 attack and 1 melee armor, Elite Berserks train in 12 seconds, and the Elite Berserk upgrade costs 1,075 food, 475 gold.
  • The Viking civilization bonus gives Berserks +20% HP.

AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India[]

  • With update 81058, Berserkergang was removed and (Elite) Berserk's regeneration rate was increased to 40 HP/minute.

Heroes[]

There are three heroes in the game with the appearance of a Berserk:

History[]

Late in the eighth century Viking sea raiders from Scandinavia appeared suddenly in Northern Europe. They raided and plundered coastal communities for the next 150 years. Most of the progress made by Charlemagne in uniting Northern Europe and beginning a rebirth of civilization was erased by the turmoil they caused. The Vikings were known for their great seamanship and ferocity in battle. Witnesses claimed that Viking warriors would occasionally go "berserk" and attack with nearly inhuman zeal, oblivious to all danger. Such behavior was terrifying to behold and very difficult to withstand. The ability to go mad with battle lust was a powerful attribute during a period of widespread superstition.

Trivia[]

  • Despite the fact that Viking warriors never had horned helmets, Berserks are depicted with horned helmets, most likely because they'd be most recognizable that way. Horned helms were only used by Vikings during certain religious rituals.
    • In reality, Viking berserkers wore little or no armor or clothing, going into battle clad only in bear or wolf pelts.
  • Berserks were the first units to be given a regeneration ability (in The Age of Kings). Later on, other units joined them, such as heroes, Berber camel units with Maghrebi Camels researched, Polish Villagers, Bengali ships, and Dravidian elephant units with Medical Corps researched.
  • The original calculation for the Viking infantry HP bonus was staggered by Age, starting in the Feudal Age. Berserks had 75 HP before update 56005, due to rounding after each Age. Since update 56005, Berserks have (round down to 74) HP, making them have 1 HP less.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Units in Age of Empires II
CivilianMaleVillDE Villager · Tradecart aoe2DE Trade Cart · FishingShipDE Fishing Ship · Trade cog aoe2DE Trade Cog · King eu aoe2DE King
ReligiousMonk aoe2DE Monk
InfantryMilitiaDE Militia · Manatarms aoe2DE Man-at-Arms · Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman · Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman · Champion aoe2DE Champion
Spearman aoe2DE Spearman · Aoe2-infantry-2-pikeman Pikeman · Halberdier aoe2DE Halberdier
Eaglescout aoe2DE Eagle Scout · Eaglewarrior aoe2DE Eagle Warrior · EliteEaglewarrior aoe2DE Elite Eagle Warrior
ArcherArcher aoe2DE Archer · Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman · Arbalester aoe2DE Arbalester
Skirmisher aoe2DE Skirmisher · Elite skirmisher aoe2DE Elite Skirmisher
Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer
Cavalryarcher aoe2DE Cavalry Archer · Heavycavalryarcher aoe2de Heavy Cavalry Archer
Aoe2de DOI elephant archer icon Elephant Archer · ElephantArcherIcon-DE Elite Elephant Archer
CavalryScoutcavalry aoe2DE Scout Cavalry · Lightcavalry aoe2DE Light Cavalry · Hussar aoe2DE Hussar
Knight aoe2DE Knight · Cavalier aoe2DE Cavalier · Paladin aoe2DE Paladin
Camelrider aoe2DE Camel Rider · Aoe2 heavycamelriderDE Heavy Camel Rider
Battle elephant aoe2DE Battle Elephant · Elite battle elephant aoe2DE Elite Battle Elephant
Steppelancericon Steppe Lancer · Elitesteppelancericon Elite Steppe Lancer
Xolotlicon Xolotl Warrior
AoE2DE Armored Elephant icon Armored Elephant · AoE2DE Siege Elephant icon Siege Elephant
SiegeBattering ram aoe2DE Battering Ram · Capped ram aoe2DE Capped Ram · Siege ram aoe2DE Siege Ram
Mangonel aoe2DE Mangonel · Onager aoe2DE Onager · Siege onager aoe2DE Siege Onager
Scorpion aoe2DE Scorpion · Heavyscorpion aoe2DE Heavy Scorpion
Bombard cannon aoe2DE Bombard Cannon
Trebuchet aoe2DE Trebuchet
Petard aoe2DE Petard
Siegetower aoe2DE Siege Tower
War shipTransportship aoe2DE Transport Ship · Galley aoe2DE Galley · War galley aoe2DE War Galley · Galleon aoe2DE Galleon
Fire galley aoe2DE Fire Galley · Fireship aoe2DE Fire Ship · Fastfireship aoe2DE Fast Fire Ship
Demoraft aoe2DE Demolition Raft · Demoship aoe2DE Demolition Ship · Heavydemoship aoe2de Heavy Demolition Ship
Cannon galleon aoe2DE Cannon Galleon · Elite cannon galleon aoe2de Elite Cannon Galleon
AoE2 Dromon Dromon
Unique
ReligiousMissionaryIcon-DE Missionary · AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest
InfantryBerserkIcon-DE Berserk · Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower · CondottieroIcon-DE Condottiero · Aoe2-icon-flemish-militia Flemish Militia · GbetoIcon-DE Gbeto · Aoe2de Ghulam Ghulam · HuskarlIcon-DE Huskarl · JaguarWarriorIcon-DE Jaguar Warrior · KamayukIcon-DE Kamayuk · Karambitwarrioricon-DE Karambit Warrior · AoE2 DE Legionary new icon Legionary · Aoe2-icon--obuch Obuch · SamuraiIcon-DE Samurai · Aoe2-icon-serjeant Serjeant · Shotelwarrioricon-DE Shotel Warrior · TeutonicKnightIcon-DE Teutonic Knight · ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Throwing Axeman · Aoe2de Urumi Urumi Swordsman · AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest · WoadRaiderIcon-DE Woad Raider
ArcherArambaiicon-DE Arambai · CamelArcherIcon-DE Camel Archer · ChukoNuIcon-DE Chu Ko Nu · AoE2 CompositeBowman Composite Bowman · ConquistadorIcon-DE Conquistador · GenitourIcon-DE Genitour · GenoeseCrossbowmanIcon-DE Genoese Crossbowman · Imperialskirmishericon-DE Imperial Skirmisher · JanissaryIcon-DE Janissary · Kipchakicon Kipchak · LongbowmanIcon-DE Longbowman · MangudaiIcon-DE Mangudai · PlumedArcherIcon-DE Plumed Archer · Aoe2de ratha ranged Ranged Ratha · Rattanarchericon-DE Rattan Archer · SlingerIcon-DE Slinger · WarWagonIcon-DE War Wagon
CavalryBallistaelephanticon-DE Ballista Elephant · BoyarIcon-DE Boyar · Aoe2de camel scout Camel Scout · CataphractIcon-DE Cataphract · Aoe2de roman unique centurion icon Centurion · Aoe2-icon-coustillier Coustillier · Flaming camel icon Flaming Camel · ImperialCamelRiderIcon-DE Imperial Camel Rider · Keshikicon Keshik · Konnikicon Konnik · Leitisicon Leitis · MagyarHuszarIcon-DE Magyar Huszar · MamelukeIcon-DE Mameluke · AoE2 Monaspa Monaspa · Aoe2de ratha melee Melee Ratha · AoE2 Savar Savar · Aoe2de shrivamsha rider Shrivamsha Rider · TarkanIcon-DE Tarkan · WarElephantIcon-DE War Elephant · Aoe2-icon-winged-hussar Winged Hussar
SiegeAoe2-icon--houfnice Houfnice · Aoe2-icon-hussite-wagon Hussite Wagon · OrganGunIcon-DE Organ Gun
War shipCaravelIcon-DE Caravel · LongboatIcon-DE Longboat · Aoe2de Thirisadai Thirisadai · TurtleShipIcon-DE Turtle Ship
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