As of the current incarnation of Runes of Magic, this class is behind only Scouts, and the R/S combo, in DPS. All other equally geared combinations should be able to be beaten with ease by the Berserker.

This class is not an easy class to play. It relies on combinations being dropped at the right time in order to do the maximum amount of DPS. At times, your physical defense will be dropped by up to 86% in order to do the best damage.

Why should you play a Berserker? If you want a fun class that can do decent DPS without being a Scout. As well, many of your stats will be only needed by you and the tank in the party, so you don’t have to worry about tons of people rolling on your stats.

*Note: Multiple Berserkers in one party, (actually any other Warrior/x combination in the party), will lower your DPS by a noticeable amount. This is due to them stealing the weakness and vulnerability debuffs, which throws off your combos. If possible, avoid running with another Warrior.

G- General Skill.
E#- Energy cost of skill.
R#- Rage cost of skill.
E- Elite skill.
CD- Cool down.
P- Passive
AoE- Area of Effect.
NPC- Non-Player Character, such as the guy who runs the auction house.
PC- Player Character, such as Mrtickles, the other W/R you know of who knows the class far better than you.
DPS- Damage per Second.

Top Priority Skills (Max before anything else):

(E, E20) Keen Attack- This is your best damage dealing skill. It is the 35/35 elite, and hits twice for 322% DPS each time at level 60. Recommend maxing. It requires the target to be vulnerable, (caused by Probing Attack). No CD.

(R20) Probing Attack- This will be your standard opener for the Splitting Chop, Thunder, and Keen Attack combos. Does a little over 300% DPS. Makes the target vulnerable. 4s CD.

(R10) Open Flank- This one hits pretty hard, around 500% DPS. It requires the target to be vulnerable, (caused by Probing Attack), and weakens the target, (which is needed for both Splitting Chop and Thunder). No CD.

(E, R15) Splitting Chop- The 40/40 elite, SC hits for roughly 600% DPS, (exactly the same as Thunder), at max level. It requires the target to be weakened, (caused by Open Flank), and in addition lowers the target’s physical defense by 13% for 8 seconds. 15s CD. *Note* This skill shares a CD with Thunder.

(G, R25) Berserk- This skill costs 25 rage and lasts for 30s. Max rank of 50. Increases physical attack by 36% and decreases physical defense by 36%. 60s CD.

(E, 5%HP) Blood Dance- The 25/25 elite is very nice, approaching 400% DPS at max level. The reason why it’s nice, is it costs neither energy nor rage, but rather consumes 5% of your maximum HP. Weave this one in whenever its cooldown is up. 8s CD.

(P) **Two-Handed Weapon Mastery**- This skill increases 2h weapon damage by 75% at level 50, where it is capped. Obviously, only upgrade this skill if you are a 2h W/R.

(P) **One-Handed Weapon Mastery**- This skill increases 1h weapon damage by 80% at level 50, where it is capped. Upgrade this skill only if you are a dual-wielding W/R.

*Rogue* (G, E20) Shadowstab- Max this one out. It’s your spammable attack that costs 20 energy, with 0s CD, and a small bleed effect as well.

*Rogue* (G, P) Nimble Hands- This adds a % increase to attack speed, 9% at 60. Max it as well.

*Rogue* (G, P) Agility- This adds a % chance to dodge, up to 8%. Capped at 50. Max it.

High Priority Skills (Put extra TP into these first):

(0) Aggressiveness: Enhances speed of rage increase for 30 seconds. Useful in PvP and PvE for building up enough rage to use your attacks, one can always use more ways to get rage. Capped at level 50.

(R15) **Thunder**- This skill REQUIRES a 1h-weapon, so if you’re a 2H W/R, this is not a skill to put TP into. It’s damage is roughly 600% DPS at max level, (the exact same DPS as Splitting Chop), and in addition, stuns the target for 7s, (4s in PvP). Requires the target to be weakened, (caused by Open Flank). 15s CD. *Note* This skill shares a CD with Splitting Chop. Since SC actually works on bosses, and Thunder does not, Splitting Chop takes a higher priority than Thunder, in my opinion.

(G, P) Brute Strength: With the changes in patch 3.0.3, this adds approximately 6%+60 strength at level 55- a very nice boost indeed.

(0- Must be below 50% HP) Survival Instinct: Patch 3.0.3 made this a very good skill to have. It is now able to activated when you are below 50% hp. It gives a 55% defense boost, a 18% dodge boost, and +1000 to parry rate at level 50 for 30s. 5min CD.

(R35) Blasting Cyclone: Level 40 AoE that does less damage than Mooncleave, but also knocks humanoid opponents down, as well as costing 15 less rage. In addition, it interrupts any spells being cast, even if the character is not humanoid. 12s CD. (This skill is very nice to have for PvP, but end-game PvE dungeons will hardly require using it.)

(E, P) Speed Up- The level 20 elite, this skill is capped at level 50, where it increases movespeed, (on foot), by 18%. Passive.

Cirumstantial Skills (These skills generally cease being upgraded at a certain level, due to rising TP costs, or are only used sparingly by the Berserker. The recommended level is noted to the right of the skill):

*Rogue* (G) Throw- This consumes one projectile, hitting roughly 450% *projectile* DPS at max. Not necessary to put any ranks into this, it is simply good to have as a ranged pull. Of course, you’re going to have plenty of TP on your Rogue side, if you just play Warrior/Rogue, so you might as well. 4s CD.

(G, R25) Slash- This skill does around 370% DPS at max level, and adds a bleed that hits roughly four times as hard as Shadowstab’s. It is debatable whether this skill is a good use of rage for the Berserker- and certainly not necessary in many rotations. No CD.

(R15) Tactical Attack- If by some chance you DO have to run with multiple Warriors, that will make TA hit harder. TA does ~200% DPS at max level, with an additional hit for every Slash bleed that is on the target. However, this skill can only be used by a W/R wielding a 2H weapon, so don’t bother with it if you’re DW. 4s CD.

(0) Surprise Attack (+20): The 20 ranks are necessary for Shout. Note- Only knocks humanoid opponents down, despite its description. Yes, this includes players. It does, however, interrupt spells on all opponents whose spells can be interrupted. 12s CD.

(R50) **Moon Cleave**: This level 22 AoE is one that can hit pretty hard. About 200% DPS three times to all targets in the area at level 60. *It requires a 2h weapon, however.* Maxing it is not recommended, since AoE damage is essentially worthless in end-game instances, especially with such a high rage cost. And, of course, if you’re a dual-wielding W/R, then you shouldn’t add any TP at all into this skill.

(R30) Terror (+30): A 10s terror effect is very useful when one is surprised in PvP. A note on this skill, it initiates an auto-attack, so either use a defense skill immediately afterwards, and try to stay away from the target, or use it at range. Of course, if you are surprised, take the former course. I could see an argument for this skill being maxed, it would be 14s at rank 50. I just think it’s a low priority to max, 10s should be plenty of time. 45s CD.

(G, R50) Whirlwind (+30): A high rage cost, (50), and a high CD, (30s), with not enough damage to compensate makes this one of the least popular W skills. It is, however, one of our 3 AoEs, is a general skill, and can deal moderate AoE damage. Can be used to better effect after the 50/50 elite has been obtained.

(0) Feint (+30): 2s CD. This skill is useful, but only against high dex characters that dodge a lot. You must use it after a dodge, (within 2s I believe), and it will inflict damage on the opponent. However, this skill can also be dodged, making its usefulness debatable against high-dex characters. As of patch 3.0.3, this skill also adds 20% accuracy for a short while after using it. You decide how much TP you should stick in here, somewhere between 20 and 30, and only if you have the extra TP.

Other Important Skills (These skills are important to a W/R, but cannot, or should not, be upgraded):

*Rogue* (G, E20) Blind Stab- This skill drops accuracy by 40% on target, and for that reason only is a good skill to have. It does not appear to work on any boss in either Warnorken or Raksha Temple- but try it out on different mobs and see which ones will take the % loss in accuracy. A beautiful skill in melee PvP- the blind effect lasts for roughly 8 seconds on an enemy player, and 15 on an NPC. 10s CD.

*Rogue* (G, E20) Shadowstep- One of the most fun of your skills as a W/R. This skill teleports you directly behind your target. It’s range is 100, so they have to be rather close- but this skill is very, very useful in PvP. I cannot stress that enough. Scout combo-shotting you? Shadow-step behind him to break his line of sight. Mage casting flame? No problem- suddenly he can’t see you. *This skill can be used WHILE rooted.*

(E, P) Shadowstab Mastery- The 15/15 elite allows your Shadowstab’s bleed to last for 4 more seconds, and allows the bleed with any bladed weapon, instead of just daggers.

(E, E50) Frenzied Attack- The 30/30 elite is your burst DPS button. In order to do maximum DPS for 10s, you should use Berserk, then Frenzy, then Frenzied Attack, and then go all out. This combo, however, will lower your physical defense by 86%, so be careful in using. The skill raises your critical hit rate by 700, and removes all root and slow effects, (not stuns- you can still be stunned). It does carry the rather heavy penalty of a 50% decrease in physical defense. The 45/45 elite, Frenzied Heart, adds an additional effect: +50% to critical physical damage for the 10s duration. The skill can also be used in PvP to break roots and slows. 2min CD.

(E, P) Frenzied Heart- Adds 50% critical physical damage to your 30 elite, Frenzied Attack.

(R30) Shout: A 3s stun, (with a 2min CD), hardly gives you time to launch a single skill. This skill is basically a mere interrupt when you notice someone or something casting a spell you don’t like. Keep in mind that though it is an AoE stun, it only has a range of 90, and will only stun a maximum of five enemies.

(G, 0) Enrage: Adds 20 rage. 40s cooldown. This skill is essential to any warrior, and is a general skill, so it helps when leveling your rogue side as well.

(0) Frenzy: Adds a nice boost to damage, attack, accuracy, and attack speed for 15s. Rather long CD, (5min) but useful in boss fights for the extra DPS- especially when combined with Berserk and Frenzied Attack.

(0) Taunt: Taunts one enemy to attack you for 5s. No need to upgrade this, its useful for pulling a boss off a mage- unless you main tank a lot. Then you might want to upgrade this skill, as you could use it to force the boss to continue to attack you even if you don’t have aggro for nearly 20 seconds. 45s CD.

(0) Group Taunt: Taunts all enemies within range to attack you for 4s. Be very careful using this skill, as you can die easily. Still useful for pulling groups of mobs off your casters and healers. 5min CD.

(E, P) Exhaustion- The 50/50 elite lowers your Whirlwind’s rage cost by 20, (making it 30), and shortens CD by 10s, (making it 20). In addition, it allows your Probing Attack a chance to lower an enemy player’s focus, rage, mana, and energy.

To Dual-Wield, or not to Dual-Wield

That is the question. To put it simply, it comes down to this. Dual-wielding will give you more rage generation, another place to put stats, (your off-hand), at an overall cost of main-hand weapon DPS. This is not to say that a dual-wielding W/R will lose to a 2H W/R in terms of DPS, however. It simply means that a 2h W/R’s skills will hit harder, but a dual-wielder will gain the extra white damage from the off-hand, (which ends up making white damage a significant portion of your DPS), as well as extra rage gen- which means you can use more Warrior skills. So they may not hit as hard, but you can use them a lot more frequently.

If, however, your W/R is level 55-59, then dual-wielding Swords of Fear is unquestionably the way to go. There are only a few two-handed weapons in the game that are better than a SoF -the crafted 60 weapons, (the Claymore of Anguish and the Heartbreak Battle Axe- the CoA having a slight edge), and the 2h Axe that drops from Raksha Temple- the Giant Tyda Axe.

Even with the Giant Tyda, the debate still remains- some think that dual-wielding Angerfang Hand Axes will out-DPS even the Giant Tyda Axe. Without being able to get your hands on the Giant Tyda, there is really no debate any longer. The consensus is that dual-wielding is considerably better than using a 2h weapon. 

If you do have the Giant Tyda axe, then 2h may be a better alternative- the jury is still out on this one, as it were.

Item-Set Skills

From the Dalanis Vendor- Tourniquet: Heals 250hp/sec for 20s. 90s CD.

From the Dalanis Vendor- Energy Restore- Restores ten points of rage, focus, and energy per second. (Generally nets me about 40 rage). 45s CD.

From the Dalanis Vendor- Spirit Herb Essence- Consumes one Spirit Herb to restore 2500 hp.

From Hall of Survivors- Undefeatable King- Activating this skill grants you an additional skill- the King’s Fearlessness. KF allows you to be immune to all stuns/roots/helpless for 3s. There is a CD of 10s, and the state lasts for 30s. 3min CD on Undefeatable King.

From Hall of the Demon Lord- Weapon Guard- Decreases *all* incoming AoE damage by 20%. Passive.

From Warnorken Arena- Punishment- This skill costs 25 rage to use, and requires the target to be vulnerable. Deals 540% DPS, and causes the target to attack 50% slower for 15s. Not worth using in the rotation of a W/R, in my opinion- you have other skills that better use your rage. It is, however, useful if you are, for some reason, tanking- or more likely, if you have a tank that has borderline stats for whatever instance he is tanking.

From Raksha Temple- Sword of Imprisonment- This skill costs 20 rage to use, and has a 0s CD. It causes 360% DPS with a high crit rate, (an additional +20%). Very useful- more so for a dual-wielding W/R because of their better rage generation.

Things to Know
Blasting Cyclone and Surprise Attack share their 12s CD, for some reason unknown to all but the minds of the RoM devs, who doubtless didn’t want us to have two knockdowns in a row.

Thunder and Splitting Chop share their 15s cool-down, for no discernible reason at all, save for helping to keep Scouts on top of the DPS meter. Another FU to the Warrior combo by RW.

A well-equipped, dual-wielding W/R- if you are trying to help out newer players to your guild- could tank DoD using his main-hand weapon and the Blood Barrier for the shield, (crafted 60 shield)- which would give you another 7-8k pdef. (Frenzied Attack and Berserk are strongly discouraged while tanking. Unless you like taking lots of dirt naps and making your party mad at you. Then have at it!)

Shadowstep breaks the target’s line of sight- use it as a way to avoid a flame or a snipe. You can use this skill even while rooted.

Blind Stab should always be used in a PvP situation against another melee PC- it drops accuracy by about 40% on an enemy player. For sacrificing one shadowstab, (same amount of energy), this is completely worth it.

Blasting Cyclone does indeed interrupt spells, even on beings other than humanoids, even though it doesn’t knock them down, (same as SA).

If you see in advance that you are going to want to use Terror, (such as against a Mage/Priest in PvP), then do not use Slash or Shadowstab shortly beforehand: the bleed effect will break the Terror effect.

Once you get to end-game, you will want to stack strength and stamina on your equipment, with a moderate amount of dex. Stamina gives us 2.3pdef/1 stam, and 5hp/1stam. Strength gives us 2 phys. attack/1 str and 1hp/5str. Dexterity allows us to actually hit higher-level bosses in PvE, as well as possibly put up a fight in PvP.

Once you get up to around level 20 and until level 30 or so, you can run Forsaken Abbey to pick up the Iron Coffin set: a 3-piece set of chain shoulders, chest, and leg-guards that give you a really nice boost to stam and phys. defense. You can keep this set till level 40 with no real drawbacks, if you so desire. It’s a great set to have, and generally can be found on the Auction House for around 20k/piece.

Credits go to Rashira34.