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Berserk Tattoo Ideas

Do you feel like you’re lacking guts in your search for the best Tattoo Clues? Worry not, we’ve got some of the very best Berserk Tattoo Ideas that will eclipse even your highest expectations.

What is Berserk

Berserk is a dark fantasy manga created by Kentaro Miura, first published in 1989, and has become one of the most influential and critically acclaimed manga series.

Berserk is the story of Guts, a lone warrior forged by violence, betrayal, and relentless survival. But beneath the sword fights and demons lies a philosophical exploration of ambition, fate, trauma, free will, and the cost of dreams.

Guts, a mercenary, joins a charismatic leader named Griffith and his mercenary group, the Band of the Hawk. Their rise to glory during the Golden Age arc is one of the most celebrated story arcs in manga history; however, it ends in a catastrophic event known as the Eclipse, which permanently reshapes the world and every character involved.

From that moment onward, Berserk shifts into a brutal, psychological journey of revenge, survival, and healing.

Best Berserk Tattoo Designs

Now that we know a little about Berserk, let’s take a look at some of the best Berserk Tattoos the internet has to offer.

Guts Berserk Tattoo

Guts is the central protagonist of Berserk, known as The Black Swordsman. He was born beneath his mother’s hanging corpse after a battlefield execution and was raised by mercenaries, growing up in constant war, abuse, and instability.

As a teenager, Guts is recruited into the Band of the Hawk by the charismatic Griffith. For the first time in his life, Guts finds camaraderie, purpose, and something resembling belonging.

His rivalry and friendship with Griffith becomes the emotional core of the early story, with Guts beginning to question who he is outside of someone else’s dream. After an event known as the Eclipse, Guts’ world shatters.

He is branded with the Brand of Sacrifice, marking him as prey for demons for the rest of his life. From this moment on, Guts becomes the Black Swordsman, a lone warrior hunting apostles while being hunted himself.

Berserker Armour Berserk Tattoo

The Berserker Armour is a mystical suit of ancient battle armour that grants its wearer overwhelming physical power by removing the body’s natural limiters. It allows the user to ignore pain, fight beyond normal endurance, move with extreme speed and strength, and continue fighting even with catastrophic injuries.

However, the price is severe, working by forcing broken bones back into position, driving fractured limbs to continue functioning, suppressing pain receptors, and consuming the wearer’s sanity.

It does not heal injuries; rather, it prevents the body from stopping. The longer it is worn, the more the user loses control, both physically and mentally.

Beast of Darkness Berserk Tattoo

The Beast of Darkness is Guts’ inner demon, and the manifestation of Guts’ trauma, his hatred toward Griffith, desire for revenge, suppressed grief, and fear of attachment. It usually appears as a shadowy, wolf-like creature that speaks directly to him, representing predation, instinct, and survival.

The Beast is not a supernatural possession. It is rage given a voice, trauma demanding release, and survival instinct pushed to extremity. It tempts Guts to abandon his companions, embrace violence fully, and sacrifice empathy for power.

When Guts wears the Berserker Armour, the Beast becomes stronger. The armour doesn’t create the Beast; rather, it removes the restraints holding it back. The wolf-shaped helmet visually symbolises this, as Guts literally becomes the beast he fights to suppress.

Dragon Slayer Berserk Tattoo

The Dragonslayer is the massive, crude greatsword forged by the blacksmith Godot and wielded by Guts. It was originally created as an over-the-top commission that was so large it was considered useless and absurd.

It was a ridiculous sword until the day that Guts picked it up. From that moment, it becomes one of the most iconic weapons in manga history.

Griffith Berserk Tattoo

Griffith is one of the central figures and the ultimate antagonist of Berserk. Griffith begins as the charismatic leader of the Band of the Hawk. Born into poverty, he possesses extraordinary intelligence, beauty, and strategic brilliance.

Since childhood, he has held a singular dream: to build his own kingdom, with everything he does serving that goal. Unlike Guts, who fights to survive, Griffith fights to ascend.

Under Griffith’s command, the Hawks rise from a small mercenary band to military legends in the kingdom of Midland. He inspired loyalty, devotion and near-religious admiration, with people following him not out of fear, but belief.

Griffith’s identity is tied entirely to control and ambition, so when circumstances strip him of power and status, he collapses psychologically. His inability to accept weakness becomes the catalyst for the most infamous event in the series.

During the Eclipse, Griffith makes a decision that forever alters the world. He sacrifices everything to pursue his dream and is reborn as Femto, a member of the God Hand.

Behelit Berserk Tattoo

The Behelits (often called “Beherits”) are mysterious, egg-shaped artefacts in Berserk. These egg-like objects have distorted facial features scattered across their surface, with the eyes, nose, and mouth misaligned until activation. When triggered, the features rearrange into a screaming face and summon the God Hand.

Behelits are an open gateway between the physical world and the Astral realm that activate under extreme emotional despair. They allow their owner to make a sacrificial offering of something they value the most to become an Apostle, gaining supernatural powers.

Most Behelits are grey, but the Crimson Behelit, also called the “Egg of the King,” is destined for someone chosen to become a member of the God Hand. Behelits are tied to the concept of causality. They are not random and will always return to their destined owner, no matter how often they are lost.

Casca Berserk Tattoo

Casca is one of the emotional pillars of Berserk and one of its most tragic figures. Casca was born into poverty and nearly sold off by her family before being rescued by Griffith in a moment that changed her life.

She dedicates herself completely to him and rises to become a commander in the Band of the Hawk, which is a remarkable achievement in a brutal, male-dominated mercenary world.

Casca initially idolises Griffith as a saviour, visionary, and symbol of hope. Her devotion is genuine and deeply emotional, but as the story progresses, cracks begin to form in her understanding of him.

Casca and Guts begin with tension and rivalry, with her initially resenting him and seeing him as a threat to Griffith’s focus. Over time, that rivalry turns into respect and eventually love.

During the Eclipse, Casca suffers severe psychological trauma so profound that it fractures her mind. Afterwards, she regresses into a childlike mental state, unable to process what happened.

For much of the story, Casca remains in a fragile state, with her condition driving Guts’ shift from revenge to protection. He stops fighting solely for hatred and instead fights to safeguard her. Years later, through the efforts of allies in Elfhelm, her mind is restored.

Judeau Berserk Tattoo

Judeau is a key member of the Band of the Hawk in Berserk, who is one of the most grounded and human characters in the Golden Age arc. Judeau is a captain in the Hawks, a calm strategist and a mediator among personalities.

Judeau quietly harbours feelings for Casca. However, unlike many characters driven by desire or jealousy, he recognises that her heart lies elsewhere, first with Griffith, later with Guts.

He respects Griffith but does not idolise him blindly. He understands his brilliance, distance, and dangerous dream, with a quiet awareness that Griffith’s ambition comes at a cost.

During the Eclipse, Judeau remains protective, calm, and devoted to his friends, with his death symbolising the true end of the Golden Age.

Schrieke Berserk Tattoo

Schierke is a young witch trained by the powerful sorceress Flora. She originates from Elfhelm, a hidden island of magic users. Despite her young age, she is highly intelligent, emotionally perceptive, spiritually disciplined, and skilled in elemental magic.

Schierke becomes a core member of Guts’ travelling group, where she practices astral magic, meaning she can astrally project her spirit, communicate with elemental spirits, cast defensive and offensive spells, and enter the mental landscapes of others.

Schierke becomes essential after Guts acquires the Berserker Armour. When the armour overwhelms him, and the Beast of Darkness tries to consume his mind, Schierke enters his consciousness and anchors his sanity by guiding him back from a total loss of control.

Farnese Berserk Tattoo

Farnese is introduced as the commander of the Holy Iron Chain Knights, a militant arm of the Holy See. Zealous, cruel, arrogant, and rigidly religious, she hunted heretics and apostates with ruthless devotion.

Farnese’s fanaticism hides her severe anxiety and repressed trauma, with her clinging to religion out of terror. When she encounters real supernatural horrors (beyond the church’s explanations), her belief system cracks.

Her encounter with Guts changes her trajectory. Guts represent chaos, raw survival, and a world beyond dogma. Instead of reinforcing her faith, he destabilises it, and for the first time, Farnese realises her identity was built on fear.

After witnessing horrors and surviving a catastrophe, Farnese leaves behind her title and status, joins Guts’ group, and later begins training under Schierke to become a witch.

Serpico Berserk Tattoo

Serpico is introduced as the composed and ever-polite attendant to Farnese. On the surface, he appears gentle, refined, loyal, and mild-mannered, but beneath that calm exterior is one of the sharpest tactical minds in the series.

Serpico was born to a maid and is secretly Farnese’s half-brother. He grew up in the shadows of nobility, close enough to observe power, but never fully part of it. From childhood, he dedicated himself to protecting Farnese out of chosen loyalty.

Serpico’s devotion to Farnese defines much of his early character. However, his loyalty is complicated. He protects her from consequences and shields her from emotional growth, but as Farnese begins to change and mature, Serpico faces an internal crisis: If she no longer needs protecting… who is he?

Brand of Sacrifice Berserk Tattoo

The Brand of Sacrifice is a mystical sigil placed upon someone chosen as an offering during a Behelit ceremony. When a person is sacrificed, the mark is carved into their flesh, their blood is offered to the God Hand, and their life is designated for demonic consumption.

Those who survive the ceremony remain permanently branded, attracting evil spirits and apostles. The Brand is proof that someone was willingly offered, symbolising betrayal and sacrifice.

Puck Berserk Tattoo

Puck is a small elf from Elfhelm who leaves his homeland out of curiosity about the human world. He meets Guts early in the story and decides to follow him. As an elf, Puck possesses natural healing abilities and an empathic sensitivity.

He often helps treat Guts’ injuries, especially early in the Black Swordsman arc and senses the darkness in Guts’ heart but also the humanity still inside him. Puck serves as Guts’ conscience and a voice of humour in despair. When Guts is consumed by rage, Puck challenges him.

Puck frequently shifts into a simplified, exaggerated form often called “Chestnut Puck.” This is used for comedic effect and meta-humour, including references to other manga and pop culture, adding levity to the series.

Void Berserk Tattoo

Void is the oldest and most authoritative member of the God Hand, acting as the primary speaker during sacrificial ceremonies. When a Behelit activates, it is often Void who explains the “choice” and frames the sacrifice.

There are strong implications that Void was once human and possibly connected to the ancient fall of a tyrannical empire ruled by King Gaiseric. Some theories suggest that Void may have once been a tortured sage, and his transformation into a God Hand member reshaped history.

Slan Berserk Tattoo

Slan is a member of the God Hand who appears as a beautiful, nude, winged, feminine figure often surrounded by grotesque organic imagery. Her presence blends eroticism with violence, making her intentionally disturbing and unsettling.

She is sometimes referred to as the “Whore Princess of the Uterine Sea,” a title that reflects both her sensual symbolism and her grotesque environment within the astral realm.

Ubik Berserk Tattoo

Ubik is one of the five members of the God Hand. During Behelit activations and the Eclipse, Ubik enters the mind of the chosen individual, replaying memories, twisting perspective, and amplifying regret and despair.

When someone is at their lowest point, but doubt still exists, Ubik removes the doubt, reframing the moment so that the sacrifice seems logical, justified, and necessary.

Conrad Berserk Tattoo

Conrad is one of the five members of the God Hand who is quieter than the rest of his kin. During sacrificial ceremonies, Conrad is present but rarely speaks.

Conrad is strongly associated with pestilence and disease. Later in the series, when catastrophic events unfold across the world, imagery of plague, rats, and decay frequently surrounds his influence.

This suggests he may represent epidemics, mass suffering, and the slow collapse of civilisation.

Femto Berserk Tattoo

Femto is the demonic form of Griffith and the fifth member of the God Hand. Femto is born during the Eclipse when his blood triggered the Crimson Behelit. At his lowest point, when he was broken physically and psychologically, Griffith made the ultimate decision, sacrificing the Band of the Hawk and shedding his human limitations to ascend as Femto, the fifth member of the God Hand.

Emporer Ganshika Berserk Tattoo

Emperor Ganishka is one of the most powerful Apostles in Berserk, who is unique among Apostles as he tried to surpass the God Hand. Ganishka is the emperor of the Kushan Empire who became an Apostle through a Behelit, but even after his transformation, he refuses to fully bow to the God Hand.

He uses forbidden means to artificially enhance himself further, transforming into an even greater form often compared to a god-like being. By trying to break free from the God Hand, he ironically becomes a key piece in their plan.

His rebellion triggers catastrophic events that reshape the boundary between the physical and astral worlds.

Zodd Berserk Tattoo

Nosferatu Zodd, often called Zodd the Immortal, is one of the most iconic Apostles in Berserk. Zodd is an ancient Apostle who has wandered battlefields for centuries, appearing first as a towering, muscular warrior with wild hair and a brutal presence.

In his Apostle form, he becomes a massive, horned, winged beast resembling a minotaur-like war god. Zodd has survived countless wars, seeking out only the strongest opponents, fighting for the sake of challenge rather than conquest.

Zodd’s loyalty shifts when Griffith becomes Femto as he recognises Griffith as something beyond human. After Griffith’s reincarnation, Zodd becomes his most powerful enforcer.

Rosine Berserk Tattoo

Rosine is one of the most tragic Apostles in Berserk, appearing during the Lost Children Arc. Rosine was once a young girl living in an abusive home. Her life was defined by fear, isolation, and violence. To escape the abuse, she longed to become an elf, and when she found a Behelit during her deepest despair, she activated it.

Rosine transforms into an insect-like, fairy-winged Apostle, becoming what she believed an “elf” should be, yet twisted through the lens of demonic transformation. She creates a world in which she and other children play as “elves,” transforming kidnapped children into pseudo-apostle creatures.

Grunbeld Berserk Tattoo

Grunbeld is one of the most powerful Apostles serving Griffith in Berserk. Before becoming an Apostle, Grunbeld was a legendary human warrior known for unmatched physical strength, tactical brilliance, and near-superhuman endurance, and for holding a fortress against overwhelming odds.

Unlike many Apostles, Grunbeld’s transformation did not stem from weakness alone, but stemmed from ambition to surpass limits.

Locus Berserk Tattoo

Locus is one of the elite Apostles serving Griffith in Berserk and is a high-ranking member of the Neo Band of the Hawk after Griffith’s reincarnation. Locus’ Apostle form resembles a fusion of knight and beast, often depicted as a massive, lance-wielding, centaur-like entity.

In this form, he gains incredible speed, devastating charge attacks, extreme battlefield mobility, and immense physical power.

As one of Griffith’s generals, Locus commands forces in battle, enforces order in conquered lands and acts as a symbol of Griffith’s new “golden age.” He is instrumental in presenting the Neo Band of the Hawk as heroic rather than demonic.

Irvine Berserk Tattoo

Irvine is one of the elite Apostles serving Griffith in Berserk, who is a high-ranking member of the Neo Band of the Hawk. Irvine’s Apostle form is beast-like, often depicted as a horned, predatory creature with enhanced senses and immense physical strength.

Irvine specialises in ranged combat. His bow and arrows are not ordinary as he can shoot immense distances, strike with supernatural force, and can eliminate targets before they realise danger exists.

Chimimoryo Berserk Tattoo

The Chimimoryo, better known as Schnoz, is a minor but beloved creature from Berserk. While he only appears briefly, he achieved legendary status among fans. Schnoz is a small demon-like creature seen in the Qliphoth during the Troll arc. In a series full of grotesque horror, Schnoz looks almost comedic, a contrast that made him iconic.

Skull Knight Berserk Tattoo

Skull Knight is one of the most mysterious and mythic figures in Berserk. He is an ancient, skeletal warrior clad in bone-like armour, riding a supernatural steed. He appears at pivotal moments in the story, often intervening in sacrificial ceremonies, rescuing Guts and Casca from the Eclipse, opposing the God Hand, and warning of causality’s flow

Though never fully confirmed, it is strongly implied that Skull Knight was once King Gaiseric, an ancient ruler whose empire was destroyed during a sacrificial event centuries prior. If true, this would mean he once lost everything to the God Hand and survived his own Eclipse-like catastrophe.

Sword of Actuation Berserk Tattoo

The Sword of Actuation is the legendary weapon wielded by Skull Knight. The Sword is a massive blade constructed from countless Behelits that Skull Knight collected over centuries and fused into a single weapon.

The result was a sword capable of cutting through space itself and opening rifts between physical and astral realms. The Sword of Actuation is one of the only weapons capable of harming members of the God Hand.

However, even this blade cannot fully escape causality’s design. In one pivotal moment, Skull Knight’s attack is redirected, unintentionally aiding Griffith’s larger plan, creating a pathway between dimensions.

Eclipse Berserk Tattoo

The Eclipse is the most infamous event in Berserk, a cosmic ceremony where ambition, despair, and fate converge. The Eclipse is a sacrificial event triggered when a Crimson Behelit activates at the moment of its owner’s absolute despair.

When it occurs, the physical world dissolves, the sky darkens, and the chosen individual is transported into a hellish astral domain. The God Hand then appear and the owner is offered a choice. Sacrifice what they value most and ascend.

In the Golden Age arc, Griffith reaches the lowest point of his life. His dream is shattered, his body is broken, and his identity collapses. When his Crimson Behelit activates, he is presented with the ultimate decision.

He sacrifices the Band of the Hawk, and Griffith is reborn as Femto, the fifth member of the God Hand.

Pokémon X Berserk Tattoo

Pokémon is a long-running Japanese franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri and developed by Game Freak. It began in 1996 with Pokémon Red and Blue and revolves around capturing creatures called Pokémon, training them, battling other trainers, and completing the Pokédex.

Dark Souls X Berserk Tattoo

The Dark Souls series is a trilogy of dark fantasy action RPGs developed by FromSoftware, primarily directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Released between 2011 and 2016, the series became legendary for brutal difficulty, cryptic storytelling, atmospheric world design, and deep combat systems.

Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has openly acknowledged the influence Berserk has had on his series. While Dark Souls isn’t an adaptation of Berserk, its DNA carries Berserk’s aesthetic. You can see it in massive greatswords resembling the Dragonslayer, knight designs similar to the Berserker Armour, the dark, tragic medieval atmosphere, and themes of endurance against fate.

Conclusion

Thanks for sacrificing your time through the dark yet hopeful world of Berserk Tattoo designs. We hope your ambition has ascended so you can fly like a falcon into your own tattooing journey. But if you’re still not inspired, why not descend into these Hollow Knight Tattoo Ideas, rev up with these Chain Saw Man Tattoos, or go full throttle with these Dandadan Tattoos?

John Hynes
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