Difference between revisions of "Berserk"

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Going into a '''berserk''' rage grants you [[Might]], [[Haste]], and roughly a 150% boost to [[HP]] (including max HP), all of which makes you a terror in melee combat.[http://crawl-ref.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=crawl-ref/crawl-ref;a=blob;f=crawl-ref/source/misc.cc;h=f3a127d808090bd4591fd8aea442469a4f27d932;hb=e240f6d8e578c4eb0b39dcc66efd4b553c0fd298#l1401] However, it disallows any action unrelated to fighting, moving, butchering, praying, and eating. It lasts about 20 to 40 turns, but the duration rapidly decreases[http://crawl-ref.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=crawl-ref/crawl-ref;a=blob;f=crawl-ref/source/main.cc;h=b63ef4a6e74baf4a4395893466aa704e814565bf;hb=e240f6d8e578c4eb0b39dcc66efd4b553c0fd298#l3494] if not fighting or butchering.
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{{flavour|You are hasted, deal increased damage in melee combat, and have increased health, but are unable to make most actions other than moving or attacking. The status will wear off very quickly unless you are attacking other monsters, and when it expires you will be slowed and unable to berserk again for a short duration.}}
  
Afterwards, it causes you to become [[slow]] and exhausted (can't go berserk for awhile), and you may pass out from overexertion. Going berserk also has a [[satiation|food cost]] of about 600 units. Note that the exhausted status is the same as the one from casting [[Death's Door]] - one cannot cast that spell immediately after berserking, and vice versa.
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'''Berserk''' is a [[status effect]] which fills you with overwhelming rage. It makes you significantly deadlier in combat, but disables most actions. Afterwards, you are left severely handicapped.
  
You cannot use the ability from [[Trog]] or evoke it from an amulet or randart if you're Very Hungry or worse. The rage duration may be extended on kills if you're wearing an amulet of rage or worshiping Trog, possibly leading to haste/might magic contamination if done excessively.
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==Useful Info==
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Berserk has the following effects:
  
The chance of passing out after your rage is 1 in: 10 + (rage_mutation_level * 25) + (10 if wearing amulet of rage). If worshiping Trog and not penitent, there's an additional piety-in-150 chance of not passing out. You'll never pass out if [[Xom]] made you go berserk. If you worship [[Cheibriados]] and have the berserk mutation, Chei will prevent the haste effect.
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'''Pros'''
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*Current and max [[HP]] increase by 50%
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*[[Might]] (+1d10 melee attack damage)
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*[[Haste]]
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*Immunity to [[sleep]]
  
Berserk monsters are impervious to fear.
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'''Cons'''
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*Cannot do anything except for attacking, moving, opening or closing [[door]]s, shouting, and wielding, unwielding, dropping, or picking up items.
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**Doing anything but attacking will reduce the duration further.
 +
*Sets your [[stealth]] score to 0.
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*Causes you to make lots of [[noise]] when opening [[door]]s (''You throw open the door with a bang!'').
  
== Sources of berserk ==
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Monsters also get immunity to [[fear]], and gain +50% damage instead of +1d10, but don't get the HP boost.
  
You can go berserk from the following:
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Once it ends, you are left [[slow]]ed for <code>12 + 2d12</code> turns.<ref>{{source ref|0.27.1|player.cc|8075}}</ref> You also get the -Berserk status, preventing repeated rages.
  
* Trog's "Berserk" invocation.
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===Duration===
* The [[amulet of rage]].
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By default, berserk has a duration of <code>(20 + random2avg(19)) / 2</code> turns (10-19 turns, weighted towards 15).<ref>{{source ref|0.27.1|player-act.cc|764}}</ref> However, doing anything but attack will quickly reduce the duration, lasting as few as 3 turns if you do nothing.
* The [[potion of berserk rage]].
 
* The [[List of mutations#Angry|"You tend to lose your temper in combat" mutation]] will randomly drive you berserk in combat. The chance varies (1%, 3%, 9%) with the mutation level, and the chance of passing out decreases.
 
* Some [[artefact]]s randomly cause berserk status (similar to the above mutation), while others let you evoke it at will (similar to the amulet).
 
* Drawing the "Berserk" card from a [[deck]].
 
* A [[moth of wrath]] can drive you (and other creatures) berserk.
 
* It is also a [[Charms]] and [[Hexes]] miscast effect.
 
  
Some conditions prevent going berserk:
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[[Trog]] enhances berserk. Regardless of the source, you have a <code>(piety/10)</code>% chance of extending your rage by 4 - 13 turns each time you kill something.
  
* Wearing an [[amulet of stasis]] or [[amulet of clarity]], or having any other source of clarity or stasis.
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===Restrictions===
* Being exhausted from a previous rage or casting [[Death's Door]]
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[[Formicid]]s and the [[undead]] ([[Ghoul]], [[Mummy]], bloodless [[Vampire]], those in [[lichform]]) are unable to berserk. Players under -Berserk, [[Cause Fear|fear]], [[mesmerise]], or [[Death's Door]] are also unable.<ref>{{source ref|0.27.1|player-act.cc|787}}</ref> (Wielding the [[obsidian axe]] lets you berserk while mesmerised.)
* Being [[undead]]. For players, this means being a [[Mummy]] or [[Ghoul]], a [[Vampire]] with less than full [[satiation]], or in [[Necromutation|lich form]]. ("You cannot raise a blood rage in your lifeless body.")
 
* Being very hungry will prevent going berserk from [[Trog]]'s invocation or any item that allows you to evoke a berserk rage.
 
  
== Strategy ==
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[[Cheibriados]] suppresses the haste effect of berserk.
  
Do note that the berserk status also sets your stealth to zero. While this might be no difference for a Troll, stealthier characters might want to consider this; as this can very well draw more monsters to the berserker as that one can handle before their berserk runs out.
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Having [[clarity]] will prevent unintentional berserk, but you can still use potions or [[Trog]]'s ability to berserk yourself.
  
A [[potion of speed]] will counter the slowing - an excellent tactic if you find yourself exhausted while still in combat. [[Elyvilon|Elyvilon's]] "Purification" is also effective.
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==Sources==
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'''Intentional'''
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*[[Potions of berserk rage]].
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*[[Trog]]'s Berserk ability.
  
If none of these options are available, think carefully before going berserk. It's a good idea to retreat to an open-area staircase beforehand, so you can escape in case a monster approaches while you're slowed. Summoning allies (incidentally, another of Trog's given powers) also increases your chances of survival if your rage expires while you are still in combat.
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'''Unintentional'''
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*Items with *Rage or [[wrath]] ego have a chance to inflict berserk whenever you make a melee attack. Most items have a 20% chance, but certain [[unrand]]s have a 50% chance.
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*The [[Bad mutations#Berserk|Berserk]] mutation has a chance (3% or 9%) to inflict berserk, like items of *Rage.
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*Getting attacked by a [[moth of wrath]].
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*[[Chaos]] effects and [[Xom]]
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*When a player is hit by a [[datura]] dart, you are sent berserk.
  
==History==
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==Strategy==
The [[Berserker Rage]] spell used to also give berserk, but it was removed in [[0.9]]
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Berserk is an inherently risky status. If you can't defeat your opponent in time, you'll be [[slow]]ed (and likely stuck at low HP) while next to the enemy. Moreover, while you're berserk, you cannot use valuable [[potion]]s, [[scroll]]s, or [[god]] abilities until it runs out. Not even [[Trog]]'s abilities can be used while berserking.
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At the same time, berserk gives a lot of power, allowing you to win fights. Don't assume that ''only'' heavy melee brutes use berserk. Nimble, dexterous characters with [[Short Blades]] benefit from the flat +1d10 damage; the faster you attack, the more 1d10 damage boosts you apply. Even casters, ''in the early game'', can use berserk as a last-ditch resort.
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Berserking is best done with the following precautions:
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*Be on top of, or very close to (no more than 2 tiles away), an [[stairs|upstair]]. If new monsters appear, or if the fight is going poorly, you can always [[stair dance]] the monster up. Try luring monsters to a staircase before activating berserk.
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*If you're going to berserk, do it early. Berserking at 50% HP is likely to be fatal.
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*You shouldn't berserk enemies that can [[blink]]. As time spent chasing a blinking enemy is time spent not attacking, the berserk will run out.
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Take these precautions with a grain of salt. If you don't have a better option, e.g. when against a D:3 [[water moccasin]] as a melee character, go berserk; being near a staircase does not matter in these situations.
  
== See also ==
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You can negate the slow by having [[haste]], quaffing a [[potion of cancellation]], or using a few god abilities ([[Elyvilon]]'s Purification, [[Ru]]'s Draw Out Power). Even this can be a liability, since it'll take 1.5 turns to cure the slowing.
  
* [[Berserker]]
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===Tips & Tricks===
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*Keep in mind that berserk sets your [[stealth]] to 0. A [[Minotaur]] or [[Troll]] in heavy armour probably won't care, but stealthier characters should berserk in explored areas, and shouldn't try to berserk-stab things.
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*[[Summon]]ing allies (incidentally, another of Trog's abilities) will increase your chance of survival if the rage expires early.
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*You can't cast spells or fire [[Ranged Weapons]] while berserk.
  
== External links ==
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==History==
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*Prior to [[0.28]], some [[artefact]]s let you manually invoke berserk, but *Rage only provided a 5% chance to berserk. [[Cheibriados]] forbid intentional berserk, but still suppressed [[haste]] from berserk forced on you.
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*In [[0.27|0.27.1]] only, [[Clarity]] did not prevent berserk from *Rage.
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*Prior to [[0.27]], berserking had a chance to paralyze you after it ends, and both [[Trog]] and berserkitis would protect you from it.
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*Prior to [[0.26]], the high hunger cost made it prohibitive to constantly go berserk.
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*Prior to [[0.25]], there were two more sources of the berserk effect: [[amulet of rage]] and [[miscast effect]]s from the [[Charms]] magic school. Also, berserk gave the player a +5 bonus to [[Strength]].
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*Prior to [[0.20]], berserk gave the [[exhausted]] status effect after wearing off instead of -Berserk, which also stopped [[Death's Door]] and [[Ru]]'s active abilities. Also, players and monsters were unable to (un)wield things while berserk.
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*Prior to [[0.19]], players could not go berserk if they were Very Hungry or worse; the hunger cost was applied at the end. Also, butchering corpses would sustain your rage the same way as attacking.
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*Prior to [[0.11]], an amulet of rage also reduced the risk of you passing out after your berserk ended.
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*The [[Berserker Rage]] spell used to allow the caster to go berserk at will (and reduced the risk of passing out afterwards), but it was removed from the spells players could use in [[0.9]].
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*Prior to [[0.9]], Berserk made players 2* as fast.
  
* [http://crawl-ref.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=crawl-ref/crawl-ref;a=blob;f=crawl-ref/source/misc.cc;h=f3a127d808090bd4591fd8aea442469a4f27d932;hb=e240f6d8e578c4eb0b39dcc66efd4b553c0fd298#l1401 The go_berserk method in the Crawl 0.7.1 source code]
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==References==
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<references/>
  
[[Category:Abilities]] [[Category:Effects]] [[CATEGORY: Conditions]]
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[[Category:Abilities]]
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[[Category:Status effects]]

Latest revision as of 01:49, 7 January 2024

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
You are hasted, deal increased damage in melee combat, and have increased health, but are unable to make most actions other than moving or attacking. The status will wear off very quickly unless you are attacking other monsters, and when it expires you will be slowed and unable to berserk again for a short duration.

Berserk is a status effect which fills you with overwhelming rage. It makes you significantly deadlier in combat, but disables most actions. Afterwards, you are left severely handicapped.

Useful Info

Berserk has the following effects:

Pros

  • Current and max HP increase by 50%
  • Might (+1d10 melee attack damage)
  • Haste
  • Immunity to sleep

Cons

  • Cannot do anything except for attacking, moving, opening or closing doors, shouting, and wielding, unwielding, dropping, or picking up items.
    • Doing anything but attacking will reduce the duration further.
  • Sets your stealth score to 0.
  • Causes you to make lots of noise when opening doors (You throw open the door with a bang!).

Monsters also get immunity to fear, and gain +50% damage instead of +1d10, but don't get the HP boost.

Once it ends, you are left slowed for 12 + 2d12 turns.[1] You also get the -Berserk status, preventing repeated rages.

Duration

By default, berserk has a duration of (20 + random2avg(19)) / 2 turns (10-19 turns, weighted towards 15).[2] However, doing anything but attack will quickly reduce the duration, lasting as few as 3 turns if you do nothing.

Trog enhances berserk. Regardless of the source, you have a (piety/10)% chance of extending your rage by 4 - 13 turns each time you kill something.

Restrictions

Formicids and the undead (Ghoul, Mummy, bloodless Vampire, those in lichform) are unable to berserk. Players under -Berserk, fear, mesmerise, or Death's Door are also unable.[3] (Wielding the obsidian axe lets you berserk while mesmerised.)

Cheibriados suppresses the haste effect of berserk.

Having clarity will prevent unintentional berserk, but you can still use potions or Trog's ability to berserk yourself.

Sources

Intentional

Unintentional

  • Items with *Rage or wrath ego have a chance to inflict berserk whenever you make a melee attack. Most items have a 20% chance, but certain unrands have a 50% chance.
  • The Berserk mutation has a chance (3% or 9%) to inflict berserk, like items of *Rage.
  • Getting attacked by a moth of wrath.
  • Chaos effects and Xom
  • When a player is hit by a datura dart, you are sent berserk.

Strategy

Berserk is an inherently risky status. If you can't defeat your opponent in time, you'll be slowed (and likely stuck at low HP) while next to the enemy. Moreover, while you're berserk, you cannot use valuable potions, scrolls, or god abilities until it runs out. Not even Trog's abilities can be used while berserking.

At the same time, berserk gives a lot of power, allowing you to win fights. Don't assume that only heavy melee brutes use berserk. Nimble, dexterous characters with Short Blades benefit from the flat +1d10 damage; the faster you attack, the more 1d10 damage boosts you apply. Even casters, in the early game, can use berserk as a last-ditch resort.

Berserking is best done with the following precautions:

  • Be on top of, or very close to (no more than 2 tiles away), an upstair. If new monsters appear, or if the fight is going poorly, you can always stair dance the monster up. Try luring monsters to a staircase before activating berserk.
  • If you're going to berserk, do it early. Berserking at 50% HP is likely to be fatal.
  • You shouldn't berserk enemies that can blink. As time spent chasing a blinking enemy is time spent not attacking, the berserk will run out.

Take these precautions with a grain of salt. If you don't have a better option, e.g. when against a D:3 water moccasin as a melee character, go berserk; being near a staircase does not matter in these situations.

You can negate the slow by having haste, quaffing a potion of cancellation, or using a few god abilities (Elyvilon's Purification, Ru's Draw Out Power). Even this can be a liability, since it'll take 1.5 turns to cure the slowing.

Tips & Tricks

  • Keep in mind that berserk sets your stealth to 0. A Minotaur or Troll in heavy armour probably won't care, but stealthier characters should berserk in explored areas, and shouldn't try to berserk-stab things.
  • Summoning allies (incidentally, another of Trog's abilities) will increase your chance of survival if the rage expires early.
  • You can't cast spells or fire Ranged Weapons while berserk.

History

  • Prior to 0.28, some artefacts let you manually invoke berserk, but *Rage only provided a 5% chance to berserk. Cheibriados forbid intentional berserk, but still suppressed haste from berserk forced on you.
  • In 0.27.1 only, Clarity did not prevent berserk from *Rage.
  • Prior to 0.27, berserking had a chance to paralyze you after it ends, and both Trog and berserkitis would protect you from it.
  • Prior to 0.26, the high hunger cost made it prohibitive to constantly go berserk.
  • Prior to 0.25, there were two more sources of the berserk effect: amulet of rage and miscast effects from the Charms magic school. Also, berserk gave the player a +5 bonus to Strength.
  • Prior to 0.20, berserk gave the exhausted status effect after wearing off instead of -Berserk, which also stopped Death's Door and Ru's active abilities. Also, players and monsters were unable to (un)wield things while berserk.
  • Prior to 0.19, players could not go berserk if they were Very Hungry or worse; the hunger cost was applied at the end. Also, butchering corpses would sustain your rage the same way as attacking.
  • Prior to 0.11, an amulet of rage also reduced the risk of you passing out after your berserk ended.
  • The Berserker Rage spell used to allow the caster to go berserk at will (and reduced the risk of passing out afterwards), but it was removed from the spells players could use in 0.9.
  • Prior to 0.9, Berserk made players 2* as fast.

References