Power Berserker Warrior

August 2023

Introduction

Discover the Berserker Warrior specialization, a relentless force in World vs World battles.  With moderate defences, versatile mobility, and a blend of ranged and melee prowess, the Berserker is the cornerstone of large-scale combat. Unleash unmatched spike damage, maintain high might, and strategically take down foes with unblockable attacks. Whether holding the line or charging into chaos, the Berserker’s balanced survival and potent damage output make it a formidable choice for WvW dominance.

Build Fundamentals

As the linchpin of large-scale combat situations the Berserker shines in both melee and ranged combat. You serve as the primary source of damage for your group cementing its status as a crucial class for WvW dominance.  Engauge foes strategically with perfectly timed unblockable combos whilst utilizing your evades and high mobility.  Achieving the right balance between force and caution is essential for executing rapid, potent spike damage that leaves a devastating mark on the battlefield.

Mastering the Berserker’s Battlefield Survival

• Active Defense: Prioritize active defence’s when needed, balancing usage of dodges, Blood Reckoning and Whirlwind Attack
• Moderate Mobility: Use “Whirlwind Attack” Whirlwind Attack and “Rush” Rush for movement and repositioning. If needed you may even use Sundering Leap all of these will also break immobilize thanks to the trait Warrior's Sprint

Tip: You can use Rush without target if you want to have more control over where you go

• Ranged Start: Commence combat with Longbow.  As this is the most favoured way commander’s play, be prepared to adapt if needed.
• Strategic Timing: Hold “Berserk” until your commander commits to the battle. When you Engauge you will likely want to use one of following rotation examples seen above (top right)
• Signet Preparation: Use “Signet of Fury” to charge Adrenaline before activating “Berserk.”  Use Signet of Might for unblockable attacks.  Never use the elite signet Signet of Rage as this is your passive way to gain adrenaline.
• Seize Melee Opportunities: When Transitioning into Greatsword, always prioritize instant f1 burst Arc Divider afterwards.  This will enable the fire sigil to work just as you burst thus removing any aegis ensuring your burst skill will land and not be blocked.
• Seize Ranged Opportunites: Use Signet of Might“Signet of Might” for unblockable Arcing Arrow arcing arrows and Pin Down pin downs.
• Ranged Caution: Avoid premature “Berserk” for useful damage over padding the meter.
• Precise Targeting: Drop target for accurate Scorched Earth “Scorched Earth” casting ensuring you hit the targets you want to.
• Projectile Consideration: Avoid Longbow skills into projectile blocks/reflects.
• Facing Focus: Face the target for most Longbow skills. However you can fire Arcing Arrow arcing arrow behind you if you wish to range spike safely or need to move away while damaging the enemy.
• Hundred Blades: Use vs crowd controlled, impaired, or downed foes for safe use as it will root you in place.

Tip: Movement will cancel this skill while channelling if you need to end it early.

Build Specifics

In their heightened state of empowerment, berserkers experience a surge in attack speed, forsaking their feeble burst attacks for the formidable Primal Bursts. These savage manoeuvres ravage and pulverize their foes, demanding less adrenaline for execution, thus ensuring an unending onslaught of destruction. Masters of rage, berserkers employ their immense physical prowess as weaponry, leaping, striking adversaries, even rejuvenating themselves with each blow for a brief period. Notably, berserkers stand out in the realm of damage dealing.

Most organized squads will be coordinating spikes and bombs on enemy groups so make sure to sync-up your skills when the commander calls for them.  Predicting the enemy movement and knowing your abilities is very important for your effectiveness as this build utilizes a lot of varied attacks.  Correct rotation and timing of skills is very important (read your skills tooltips!).

Staying alive is the most important priority and this can be achieved by dodging combined with careful positioning.  You may rely on your party to assist you with this, be it receiving stability, superspeed, heals and cleanses.

TIP: Be Ready to adapt depending on the situation, this could mean swapping the way you play or swapping build via your sigil’s, runes, gear, skill’s and traits!

Damaging targets and spiking down groups of players is your key role.  It’s important to understand how you can achieve this through skill usage.  An example of rotation’s can be seen above top right.

This build is is divided into three primary sections:

Burst and Rage Abilities

Berserk Gain adrenaline and a 15% attack-speed boost for 15 seconds whilst gaining accessing to new primal burst skills. Berserk costs 30 points of adrenaline to activate so you will be using prior Signet of Fury to this skill.  While Berserk is active the adrenaline bar becomes a maximum of 10 points.  Rage skills Blood Reckoning Sundering Leap increase the duration of Berserk so making sure to use these correctly will maximize the duration and ensure you take advantage of the added bonus effects.  Thanks to the multiple traits within the build ‘Berserk’ is empowered even further, Smash Brawler Burst of Aggression Blood Reaction Bloody Roar Fatal Frenzy

Arc Divider  Arc Divider is your primal burst skill once you activate Berserk Berserk Spin to create a violent shock wave that damages nearby foes in a 450 radius 360 degrees around your character!. Due to the recent balance patch this attack’s damage has now been combined into one attack, to ensure you get throw aegis its very important to use this skill instantly after swapping into greatsword, this means swap timing is very important and needs to be completed in the right location at the right time.

Scorched Earth Until an opportunity arises to engage in close combat this skill should NOT be used on range spikes.  Fire a burning shot from 1200 range into the ground that creates a trail of flaming destruction lasting 4 seconds. Enemies are able to be struck by this skill only once every 0.5 seconds but you can hit 5 enemies per burning section for a total of 25 targets!

Ensure that you release your target while initiating the casting of “Scorched Earth,” as failing to do so will cause the ability to target the enemy rather than aligning with your character’s orientation.

Your Burst Skills are further buffed thanks to the following traits  Building Momentum  Burst Mastery  Berserker's Power

Blood Reckoning Heal yourself, gaining 30 adrenaline, and recharge all primal burst skills this means following your initial sequence of Scorched Earth use Blood Reckoning then another Scorched Earth! This skill also Heal’s for 33% of your outgoing damage and extends the duration of berserk mode.

Sundering Leap Is a 600 range Leap finisher, gain Aegis and deal damage while inflicting and on all foes in the area. Extends the duration of Berserk mode if it hits and you will gain bonus adrenaline. This is a great tool to gapclose and maintain adrenaline but its also a perfect way to get into melee range prior to using your Arc Divider  , also thanks to Warrior's Sprint it will remove

Weapon Skills

Fan of Fire A filler skill used to fire a spread of three flaming arrows, piercing and burning foes from 1200 range.

Arcing Arrow Is a blast finishing two charge ammo skill that has high burst for range spiking, slowly shoot an arcing arrow that explodes on impact from 1200 range. Priority skill to be used with the unblockable signet Signet of Might

Pin Down  pin down an enemy with an arrow that immobilizes your target.  Very strong in combination with once again the unblockable signet Signet of Might

Given that all of your Longbow abilities, excluding Scorched Earth , function as projectiles, it’s advisable to refrain from using them when faced with projectile blocks or reflects.

Hundred Blades Used mainly to cleave downed enemies but as it locks you in place be careful when you use this and be ready to cancel the cast with either WASD or stow weapon.

Whirlwind Attack Can be used to gap close, to damage or even to evade damage whilst repositioning.  It also breaks immobilize thanks to the trait Warrior's Sprint

Bladetrail A 900 range boomerang ability that is a great way to deal damage and gain adrenaline while doing so.

Rush 1200 range movement skill, can be used to gap close, to single target spike.  You can use it also with or without a target making it is very versatile as you can charge in any direction you’d like and even retarget to change direction!  Again it cures immobilize thanks to the trait Warrior's Sprint

Signets

Signet of Fury Passive Aspect of the Signet: Enhances precision by 180. Active Aspect of the Signet: Attain 30 adrenaline and enhance both precision and ferocity for 4 seconds by 360.  When activated, this skill completely fills your adrenaline bar so its a must use skill prior to  bursting.

Signet of Might Passive Aspect of the Signet: Enhances power by 180. Active Aspect of the Signet: Renders your next 10 attacks unblockable and bestows you with 10 might for 6 seconds, thats another 300 power! Must use priority skill before Arcing Arrow

Signet of Rage Passive Effect of the Signet: Generates adrenaline while engaged in combat. Active Effect of the Signet: Acquire fury, might, and swiftness.  NEVER USE THE ACTIVE you will need the passive to maintain adrenaline, the active is not worth using due to its high cooldown and the short duration of the boons you acquire.

The key in executing your important task of damaging opponents is swiftly chaining key abilities together. You can see a list of combos in the rotation segment above on this page.

The core concept behind ability usage is rotating between weapon skills depending on certain situations and knowing timings of when to burst, get on discord with your commander to help you understand when these will occur.

Your commander is likely to call for specific abilities so don’t just spam them off cooldown. Solo bombing randomly won’t really do that much – it’s very important that all players use their Damage at the same time not only for maximum effect but also so that damage you can capitalize on the vulnerability of your enemies when they have their boons removed!

Try to judge how the fights are going and adapt, enjoy!

Alternatives

 It is vital that players understand they can and should learn to shape their build to each challenge.  You may wish to add in the following: Balanced Stance Battle Standard

Balanced stance may be swapping in instead of sundering leap if you need more stability in favour of less mobility or instead of signet of might for less unblock and might.  Battle Standard can also be used instead of your elite signet of Rage however it can be difficult to use and will reduce the amount of adrenaline you can generate.

Battle Standard: Focus on 2+ downed enemies, but ensure your target fits the 180-degree radius.  Battle Standard Allies: Utilize the 360-radius rez for groups of 3+ allies.