BERSERKER

"The more they cut me, the clearer everything gets. I can hear the blood. I can feel time slow down. That’s when I know I’m alive."

— Kael, Bloodborn Thrall of the Chainstorm Pit

Berserkers don’t fear pain—they run on it. Every pulse of blood lost is replaced by a surge of chemical violence and primal focus. Their bodies aren't just weapons—they're reactors, converting trauma into raw force. Adrenaline doesn’t just help them survive. It makes them deadlier.

The closer they are to death, the harder they hit.

For every 3 missing Health, the Berserker’s Melee attacks gain +2 damage.

This bonus is cumulative and scales dynamically with current health.

Applies to all melee weapon types, including 'Unarmed' and 'Living Weapon' attacks.

Example: A Berserker missing 9 health, is gaining +6 damage on melee attacks.

"It’s not a second wind. It’s the part where I stop caring if I survive."

— Vekk, Berserker of the Ash Chain

To call a Berserker reckless is to misunderstand the ritual of fury that governs their violence. Pain isn’t a deterrent—it’s an ignition point. As their lifeblood spills, clarity sharpens. Muscles tighten. Focus narrows. At the edge of death, something ancient wakes up behind their eyes.

This is where the real fight begins.

When a Berserker drops below ¼ of their maximum health, they enter a heightened combat state.

While in this state, they gain +1 additional Action per turn.

This bonus persists until they are healed above the threshold.

"Saw my guts? Thought I was done? That's not blood leaking out—it's rage."

— Barruk of the Burned March, before tearing apart a Void Beast bare-handed

There's a moment where most lives end. For the Berserker, that moment is an invitation.

When their body should break, it refuses. When death comes, it is denied. Fuelled by pure fury and a will that borders on supernatural, Berserkers refuse to fall—again and again—until the battlefield is silent.

Some call it stubbornness.

Others call it a curse.

Berserkers just call it Wednesday.

If the Berserker would drop to 0 Health, they are instead:

Health is set to 1.

Gain Resistance to all Damage/Damage until the start of their next turn.

This effect can be triggered a number of times per day equal to:

(Half of Physique(Rounded Down))

(Minimum: 1 use per day)

"Two wounds where one should have been. They never account for the second."

— Field debrief, Outer Reach Combat Division

Some soldiers break under fire. Berserkers accelerate.

When you hit an enemy with a melee attack, you may immediately make one additional melee attack against the same target as a free action.

This free attack does not cost an Action.

This ability can be used a number of times per day equal to your Physique Modifier.

"They tried to pierce the beast. The beast didn't care."

— Eyewitness account, Siege of Kol Maren Station

The body remembers every hit that didn't kill it, and learns.

Once per round, when you take 5 or more damage from a single source, gain +1 Damage Reduction until the start of your next turn.

If you are below half HP when this triggers, gain an additional +1 DR (maximum +2 DR total from this ability).

"The first wound is an offering."

— Berserker combat doctrine, 3rd Voidfront Battalion

Below the threshold of survival, the Berserker doesn't slow — they ignite.

While below half HP, your melee attacks gain +1 Damage and apply Bleeding(1) on hit.

Against enemies who are already Bleeding, you gain +1 Hit Chance.

"They can't outrun your intent."

— Berserker field manual, Chapter 9: Pursuit Protocols

Exposure to enough blood rewires the nervous system — they stop hunting with their eyes and start hunting with something older.

You may sense the exact location of any Bleeding creature within 30ft, even through walls or cover.

While adjacent to a Bleeding target, gain +1 to Defense.

"Every strike is a disassembly attempt."

— Combat engineer's note, repurposed for close-quarters doctrine

The Berserker doesn't just hit — they break specific things on purpose.

When you roll High Damage on a melee attack, choose one of the following effects:

(Limb Strike) The target suffers Disadvantage on their next Attack or Move action.

(Torso Rattle) The target must pass a Physique Save (TN 11 + Strength Mod) or become Staggered.

"Pain is permission."

— Scratched into the grip of a recovered combat knife, origin unknown

Every blow the enemy lands is an invitation they'll regret.

When an enemy hits you with a melee attack, you may immediately make a free melee attack against them.

Usable once per round.

If your counterattack hits, the enemy suffers Disadvantage on their next attack.

While at 1/4 Health or lower, your counterattack deals +2 Damage.

"Every hit pulls another howl from the edge of sanity."

— Combat psychologist's report, Voidfront Detachment Theta

When the Berserker finds their rhythm, the enemy stops getting back up.

"Missing isn't failure. It's loading."

— Berserker training aphorism, attributed to Warden Sokath

Every swing that finds nothing but air tightens the coil — and the next one hits like a freight drop.

Each time you miss a melee attack, you gain a +1 stacking bonus to Hit Chance on your next melee strike.

This bonus resets on hit.

While below half HP, also gain +1 Damage to that next strike.

"A wound is a door. A Berserker always walks through."

— Voidfront tactical commentary, engagement log 7-Sigma

Where other soldiers see a bleeding enemy, the Berserker sees an opening to finish the collapse.

"Blood marks the path of your rage."

— Voidfront Berserker, last transmission before blackout

The Berserker doesn't stop at one — every wound they open becomes a starting line.

When you deal Bleeding to a creature, you may immediately move 10ft toward another target as a free action.

If you end this move adjacent to another enemy, your next attack this round gains +2 Hit Chance.

You push your body and mind beyond prior limits.

Increase a Statistic by 1.

"Every wound tells a lesson. Every scar thickens the shell."

— Berserker medical file annotation, Voidfront Surgical Unit 4

The body, pushed past its limits enough times, stops flinching — it starts using the damage.

While you are Bleeding or Burning, gain the following:

+1 Defense

Resistance to Physical Damage from Overwatch attacks

If you take damage from a condition (e.g. Bleeding, Burning), your next melee attack that turn gains +2 Hit Chance.

"Falling down is just the body suggesting options. You have other options."

— Warden Kesh, post-engagement debrief

Some soldiers get knocked down and stay there. The Berserker spends three hit points to stand back up swinging.

"Shut them up. Permanently, if needed."

— Standard operating note, Berserker fire support handbook

A Berserker who finds an enemy already down knows exactly where to hit to make sure no one hears from them again.

Once per turn, when you hit a Staggered, Prone, or Disoriented enemy with a melee weapon:

Deal an additional +2 Damage.

The target becomes Silenced (cannot use abilities with verbal components or vocal triggers) until the end of their next turn.

"The kill is the tool. What you do with it is the message."

— Voidfront Berserker after-action report, engagement at Harrow Pit

Reducing a target to zero is only step one — the Berserker turns the aftermath into a tactical statement.

"More wounds. More rage. More speed."

— Combat readout annotation, Berserker unit debrief

Damage doesn't slow the Berserker — it removes the limiters.

While you are Bleeding, Burning, or below half HP, gain all of the following:

+1 Movement

Ignore Difficult Terrain

Your melee attacks gain Staggering — on hit, the target must pass a Resilience Save (TN 10 + Strength Mod) or suffer Staggered.

"They thought the first hit was the worst of it."

— Field recording, Voidfront engagement at Redhaven Terminal

A Critical from a Berserker doesn't just hurt — it dismantles.

When you score a Critical Hit, the target must pass a Resilience Save (TN 11 + Strength Mod) or suffer all of the following:

Knocked Prone

Lose their Quick Action this round

Gain Bleeding(2) if they are already below half health

"You don't stop. They break."

— Final words of an opposing commander, recovered audio log

Running from a Berserker is a mistake — it only closes the distance on their terms.

When a creature within 20ft moves away from you, you may move up to your full movement toward them as a free action (once per turn).

If you end this move within 5ft of that creature, gain +2 Hit Chance on your next melee attack against them this turn.

"The rhythm of violence becomes its own kind of logic."

— Voidfront psychological assessment, Berserker combat cycle analysis

At this point the Berserker isn't reacting — they're operating on a frequency no one else can match.

When you score a Critical Hit, you may immediately make an additional melee attack as a free action.

If that critical hit kills the target, you may immediately move 10ft toward another target without provoking opportunity attacks.

"The closer to death, the wilder the swing."

— Combat medic's field note, Engagement at the Ashwall

There's a threshold past which the Berserker stops fighting to survive and just fights — and it's the most dangerous thing anyone will ever see.

"The closer to death, the harder the pulse."

— Neurotech field report, Berserker physiology under extreme stress

When the body is nearly finished, some part of the Berserker's combat system goes fully autonomous — sight becomes irrelevant.

While under 1/4 HP, you may ignore Line of Sight for melee attacks and movement.

You can move directly toward sensed enemies through cover or terrain.

Gain Advantage on Willpower Saves during this state.

"The body doesn't slow when it's burning. It converts."

— Voidfront combat doctrine, advanced Berserker integration notes

Conditions that cripple others become ignition points — the Berserker's first strike each round arrives at full force, every time.

If you begin your turn Bleeding, Burning, or under half HP, your first melee attack this round automatically deals High Damage.

"One body. One direction. One line of broken things."

— Post-engagement debris report, engagement at Shard Station

The kill is the detonator — everything behind it pays the price.

"The first blow is a warning. The second is a reckoning."

— Warden Kael, pre-breach address to Berserker unit

A hit from a veteran Berserker doesn't end at contact — it moves the terrain.

"They stopped being a soldier a long time ago. Now they're just the reason this sector has a body count."

— Classified threat assessment, Voidfront High Command

At the apex of their path, the Berserker doesn't fight like a person — they fight like a force of nature in a corridor.

All melee attacks are Multi-Target(2) within 5ft range — each swing can strike two adjacent targets.

Your Critical hits cause Shockwave, forcing all creatures within 5ft to make a save or be knocked back.

You cannot be slowed, pushed, or stopped by any effect unless you are killed outright.

"They counted the shots. They forgot who they were shooting at."

— After-action account, engagement at the Null Line

The Berserker was built to not know when to stop — and at this level, neither does their body.

You have surpassed mortal limitations.

Increase two Statistics by 1.