From the very first issue of the manga, epic battles and brutal battles with horrifying monsters in Frenzy is an essential part of the story of a dark and grim world. Throughout his decades-long journey, Guts has personally fought monsters, humans, and entire armies. These tense, memorable battles and fight scenes are the best part of the series and contribute greatly to making the series an outstanding Dark Fantasy.
Although Berserk’s publication has been on and off due to hiatuses and comebacks over the years, great art and a dark, gripping story have kept it popular. Although mangaka Kentaro Miura tragically passed away in 2021, he created something truly legendary. Berserk is undeniably a masterpiece, with its intense plot and art combining to create countless iconic, unforgettable moments in anime and manga history. The series’ epic fight and battle scenes are where this shines brightest, and here are ten of the best.
10 courage vs. Snake Baron
Berserk 1997/OLM, Inc.
Guts’ first fight with an Apostle in the 1997 anime, the fight with the Snake Baron, does a great job of setting the tone of the series. Although events unfold slightly differently in the anime, the fight with Snake Baron makes it clear that the world of Berserk is bleak, brutal, grim, and full of nightmarish monsters. It also makes it clear that Guts is tasked with destroying those nightmarish monsters. Despite Snake Baron’s monstrous appearance even as a human, he was quickly dispatched by Guts, taken down with a shot from a cannon hidden in Guts’ prosthetic hand.
9 Guts vs Zodd (First Battle)
Hysteria/Kentaro Miura.
Guts’ first battle with Zodd does not go well with the warrior. Even with Griffith’s support, Guts remains clearly outmatched and virtually powerless, giving a glimpse of both the high level of the series and the sheer power of the Apostles. There is a brief moment of hope when Guts seemingly delivers the decisive blow as he severs Zodd’s arm. Completely calm, Zodd hits Guts with his severed arm before reattaching it. Zodd clearly deserves the name “Zodd the Immortal”.
8 intestines compared to Bazuso
Screenshot of episode 2 of the 1997 anime Berserk.
Although the fight with Snake Baron occurs earlier, because the Golden Age Arc is a flashback, Guts’ fight with Bazuso takes place chronologically first, occurring before Guts became the immortal Black Swordsman. hidden. The fight with Bazuso goes far to establish just how strong Guts is compared to the other human characters, even if he is young, inexperienced, and fights with completely mundane weapons and armor. Bazuso himself was decisively dispatched by Guts, and by the end, his nickname “The 30-Man Killer” was looking pretty thin after Guts went on to defeat 100 enemies in a single battle.
7 Zodd vs. Hydra
Hysteria/Kentaro Miura.
While Zodd’s early appearances clearly demonstrated how superior he was to his human enemies, his later appearances throughout the series gave him many opportunities. to prove that he is more than a worthy opponent to the other monsters. This happened to a head – or several heads – in chapters #355 and #356 of the manga when he fought a hydra. Originating from its original description in Greek mythology, hydras are extremely difficult to kill, largely thanks to their regenerative abilities. This hydra barely slows Zodd and is dispatched decisively in a short and very one-sided fight.
6 Night Raid
Compared to what happens later in the series, the action in episode #3 of the 1997 Berserk anime is brief, small-scale, and quite mundane. The Hawks were simply attacking a small enemy camp and burning necessary supplies.
es and ammunition. It was a quick, efficient, and strategically sound operation, but there’s one main reason why this simple raid was so memorable: it was the first in the series when “Forces” went completely wild. by Susumu Hirasawa plays in the background music. While musical flourishes like digital bagpipes and electronic beats might seem out of place in a Fantasy anime, “Forces” is such an epic song that it fits perfectly into a world majestic like Berserk.
5 Brave vs Sea God
Hysteria/Kentaro Miura
While the mere idea of Guts fighting a kaiju-sized squid monster would make HP Lovecraft jealous, the artwork for the fight between Guts and the Sea God is some of the best in the Berserk manga. While the rest of the cast struggled helplessly as the Sea God attacked, Guts entered the scene looking more upset at having his sleep interrupted than anything else. Even though the fight lasts many chapters, it doesn’t help that Guts is at a disadvantage. Not only does he match everything the Sea God has, he also claims victory and knocks it out of the park.
4 Eclipse
Berserk 1997/OLM, Inc.
Eclipse was not so much a battle as it was a brutal and horrifying massacre. Abruptly ending the Golden Age arc’s flashback to a literal Hell on Earth, Eclipse is the defining moment in Berserk. Most of Hawk’s crew is killed by demons, Griffith joins Godhead as the demonic Femto, and Guts begins his decades-long quest for revenge. Eclipse marks the precise moment in Berserk when things before will no longer be the same, along with setting into motion everything that comes after.
3 Griffith bars with guts
Berserk 1997/OLM, Inc.
While Eclipse is inherently terrifying, much of its added emotional weight comes from Griffith’s betrayal of his friends and comrades. The Golden Age arc saw Guts and Griffith go from enemies to rivals to friends, only for Griffith to throw it all away in Eclipse when he became Femto. Griffith’s relationship with Guts began with his first duel which saw Griffith defeat Guts to bring him into the Band of the Hawk, wielding a beautiful and effective armband that any Captain Every professional animal must be proud.
2 The great roar of the astral world
Hysteria/Kentaro Miura.
The Great Roar of the Astral World is Femto’s finest hour. As depicted in the manga, his victory was literally visible from space. Femto’s rise to power and the fight against Emperor Ganishka and his giant Apostle form culminated in reshaping the entire world by doing nothing more than dodging an attack . Femto opened a rift that allowed the Spirit World to merge with the Material World, becoming the undisputed ruler of the single world. a refuge from the monsters that now overrun the Material World. The mighty roar of the Astral world sets Guts’ quest to defeat Femto higher than ever.
1 Doldrey Castle
Berserk/OLM, Inc.
Even before becoming Femto, Griffith proved himself to be a genius tactician and master manipulator to lead the Band of the Hawk to their most important victory. Fighting on behalf of the Kingdom of Midland, Griffith’s brilliant diversionary tactics and the Band of the Hawk’s excellent teamwork made it possible for the Band of the Hawk to capture the previously impregnable castle of Doldrey. Using herself as bait to destroy most of the defense force gives Casca her chance to shine, infiltrating the castle while Griffith and Guts take out the enemy commander.
Tragically gone too soon, Kentaro Miura has deservedly earned his iconic status through a story told over decades. Creating a brutal world and bringing Guts’ battles and journeys to life with vibrant, intense artwork, Miura’s epic style cemented his status as one of The best mangakas of all time. Guts himself is one of the most recognizable heroes in anime and manga. The story and characters are iconic, while the consistently excellent and unforgettable fight scenes are the pinnacle of Dark Fantasy masterpieces. Frenzy.
