Kentaro Miura’s Berserk is widely acclaimed for several reasons, one of which is its intense fight scenes. This dark-fantasy epic follows Guts and co. on a resonating character-driven journey but not without a slew of beastly demons and monsters along the way.
Even though the manga is still publishing, it’s featured a host of milestone fights packed with violent spectacle. Thanks to Miura’s stunningly meticulous artwork and the emotional weight behind these sequences, Guts’ fights against Zodd the Immortal and Emperor Ganishka are still series highlights today.
10 The Hundred-Man Slayer
Berserk’s second storyline and the first chronologically, one of Guts’ most iconic fights, came in the heat of the Golden Age arc’s Hundred-Year War. During his ventures with Griffith’s Band of the Hawk, he earned one of his legendary epithets in a brutal night-long fight.
Buying time for Casca to make her escape, he stalls and kills 100 Blue Whale Knights soldiers. The long, drawn-out fight is both brutal and conveys how physically draining it was for Guts. This earns him the name Hundred-Man Slayer and serves as a showcase for Guts being among the best anime/manga swordsman.
9 Nosferatu Zodd’s First Appearance
Among the biggest fan-favorite rogues in Berserk, Nosferatu Zodd is also one of the series’ most formidable. Shrouded in mystery, this fearsome Aspotle first appears dramatically in the Golden Age arc to fight on behalf of the opposing Midland army.
His moral ambiguity is intriguing, reappearing only when a noteworthy battle leads to Guts and Griffith. The stage was set for this 2v1, as the duo fights within a dark citadel after Zodd butchers nearly 50 of the Hawk. Bloody spectacle aside, it was also an early example of Guts and Griffith fighting out of their depth.
8 Hunting Down Rosine
As bleak as the Golden Age arc was, the Lost Children Chapter from the Conviction arc is grimly memorable on its terms. Rosine is one of the earlier Apostles that Guts has to face; a child-turned-elf who abducts other children and warps them into her bloodthirsty followers.
It’s a somber and brutal social commentary on child abuse, culminating in an explosive fight between him and Rosine. The fight pushes a less mentally refined Guts to his limits, forcing him to use whatever crafty and underhanded maneuvers to finish her off.
7 Zodd Rematch On The Hill Of Swords
Throughout the series, some of the greatest highlights when it comes to fights are Guts and Zodd’s encounters. Their rematch in the Eclipse’s aftermath was tense for more reasons than one, as it immediately followed Guts and Griffith’s reunion.
The protagonist flies into an uncontrollable rage at Griffith’s indifference to his atrocities but is intercepted by Zodd. Berserk always does an excellent job of establishing an atmosphere for scenes, with the Hill of Swords proving to be a hauntingly fitting arena. It also speaks volumes for the power at Griffith’s disposal if Zodd bows to him.
6 Father Mozgus’ Final Form
The Conviction arc is a crucial storyline of character growth for Guts, with the Birth Ceremony Chapter reuniting him and Casca. Though, in vintage Berserk fashion, it wasn’t without any grueling hardships in between.
The group has to go up against a faction of cruel religious zealots led by the terrifying Father Mozgus. During the climax of the Birth Ceremony Chapter, the Black Swordsman duels Mozgus atop a building as the horrors of the mock-Eclipse run rampant below. It was another vicious, draining fight despite the Holy See inquisitor “only” being a pseudo-Apostle.
5 Teamwork Against The Sorcerer Daiba
Though it goes under the radar compared to the grander fight against Ganishka, the tag-team battle against Daiba shouldn’t be understated. Daiba was a Kushan sorcerer fighting under Ganishka’s rule, using his magical prowess to command the elements and possess beasts as weapons.
Guts, Serpico, and Shierke, formed against him on a chaotic battlefield of rough seas and lightning, depicting an exciting show of teamwork. Just as well, this fight did well to touch on the “RPG” theme of Guts’ surrogate family, with each filling a classic role.
4 Griffith Rematch
Berserk is one of the most outstanding seinen manga partly for its nuanced characters. Likewise, Guts and Griffith have one of the most complex dynamics in the manga, and the latter end of the Golden Age saw a dramatic upheaval of that relationship.
Griffith’s infatuation for Guts stemmed from being the closest person to his equal and how he could manipulate him. That’s what made their rematch impactful, as Guts no longer wanted to exist solely for someone else’s dream. A duel is how Griffith initially bought Guts’ loyalty, but this picturesque fight was a milestone for the latter.
3 Combat Parallels With Serpico
He may seem reserved, but Serpico is a ranged powerhouse in battle. He started as an adversary of Guts, much like Farnese, with the two having fought on two occasions. Both were exciting affairs, but their first fight was especially tense.
That’s due to the high-stakes battlefield, as they dueled alongside a cliff face. Serpico is an excellent foil to Guts’ combat style, making for just as interesting of a rivalry. The former is highly methodical and tactical in battling foes more imposing than he is, while Guts’ sheer strength and adaptability are strong counters.
2 The Dragon Knight Grunbeld
Griffith is among the most compelling villains in anime and manga, and he surrounds himself with similarly formidable subordinates. Zodd is the most popular, but Grunbeld still ranks high within Griffith’s echelon of Apostles.
Grunbeld led Griffith’s forces in an assault against the mage Flora and, like the Hill of Swords fight, this duel was significant as the debut of the Berserker Armor. The raw strength of the Flame Dragon Knight nearly killed Guts, forcing him to indulge some of his inner darkness in the armor to defeat him.
1 Unlikely Alliance Against Emperor Ganishka
The Black Swordsman and Zodd the Immortal are admittedly more often than not on opposing sides. But it’s for that reason that the fight against the Apostle Emperor Ganishka was so momentous.
Guts’ group and Griffith’s Band of the Falcon have their hands full with the Kushan emperor’s revolt, forcing them to form an unlikely – and uneasy – alliance. It’s easy for manga and anime to fall into the trap of cheap fanservice, but seeing Guts mount Zodd and pierce through Ganishka’s ethereal form with the Dragon Slayer was cathartic and well-earned.
