Berserker - Power DPS

The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good

Focused on: Direct damage

Designed for: Raids and Fractals

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on October 02, 2022 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A fresh iteration of the Heart of Thorns era build, Power Berserker. This version has strong burst and sustained damage from spamming Decapitate in Berserk.

Skill Bar

Axe/Axe

Greatsword

Utility

Skill Variants

• Throw Bolas or Bull's Charge can replace Wild Blow or Signet of Might. This will provide more burst DPS through Peak Performance, but will be lower DPS long-term so you'll need to know what your phase times will be. Therefore this is more viable in fractals than in raids.

Template Code

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Specializations

Trait Variants

• If the target has boons, run Destruction of the Empowered.
• Last Blaze for more DPS if you're confident in your rotation and quickness/alacrity uptime. This offers ~500 more DPS.

Equipment

Head
Berserker

Shoulders
Assassin

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Assassin

Legs
Berserker

Feet
Assassin

Backpiece
Assassin

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Axe
Berserker

Axe
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Greatsword
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Equipment Variants

Depending on your ability to flank, you may be better off running Rune of Superior Rune of the Eagle or even Rune of Superior Rune of the Scholar. In such cases you will need to increase the number of assassin pieces to make up for the lost precision. This is particularly relevant in fractals, where it can be very difficult to flank your targets.

In fractals, you may want to replace the Sigil of Superior Sigil of Accuracy on with a Sigil of Superior Sigil of Impact.

Consumables

Food

Utility

Usage

Rotation

The rotation aims to get as many casts of Decapitate and Arc Divider off during Berserk mode as possible. Effectively, this means that while on Axe/Axe you cast Decapitate followed by a combination of skills that gets you back to 10 Adrenaline to recast Decapitate.

Opener

1. Head Butt
2. Outrage
3. Berserk
4. Decapitate
5. Cyclone Axe
6. Dual Strike
7. Decapitate
8. Whirling Axe - make sure to let the entire attack finish!
9. Decapitate
10. Cyclone Axe
11. Weapon Swap

Greatsword section

1. Arc Divider
2. Blood Reckoning
3. Arc Divider
4. Outrage during Arc Divider
5. Wild Blow - if you want to save Wild Blow for CC, use Bladetrail here instead
6. Hundred Blades - Make sure the final hit goes through or you may not have enough adrenaline for Arc Divider
7. Arc Divider
8. Weapon Swap

Axe/Axe section

1. Cyclone Axe - the extra adrenaline from Versatile Rage means you can immediately Decapitate after this
2. Decapitate
3. Dual Strike
4. Throw Axe
5. Decapitate
6. Head Butt ⇒ Outrage
7. Decapitate
8. Cyclone Axe
9. Throw Axe
10. Decapitate
11. Whirling Axe
12. Decapitate
13. Cyclone Axe
14. Dual Strike
15. Weapon Swap
16. Return to start of Greatsword section

Subsequent Berserks

Whenever you re-enter berserk while already at full adrenaline, do the following:

1. Berserk
2. Decapitate
3. Head Butt ⇒ Outrage
4. Decapitate
5. Cyclone Axe
6. Throw Axe
7. Decapitate
8. Whirling Axe
9. Decapitate
10. Cyclone Axe
11. Dual Strike
12. Weapon Swap

In the event that Blood Reckoning is not available, delay the swap to Greatsword and follow the Axe priority list until it is.

Video example by Baseraver

General Tips

Greatsword

• You can manually weapon stow (or weapon swap) immediately after the third hit of Arc Divider to shave ~0.25s off the cast time. This may not seem like much, but it is essential to staying in Berserk if you're using Last Blaze.

Axe

• If you have trouble memorising the Axe section, it may be helpful to think of it as a priority list to build adrenaline for your next Decapitate:

1. Head Butt + Outrage
2. Cyclone Axe + Throw Axe
3. Dual Strike + Throw Axe
4. Whirling Axe

• When Blood Reckoning is almost off cooldown, use your remaining axe skills (make sure to be at full adrenaline) and Weapon Swap instead of Decapitate.

Berserk

• All your Rage skills extend the duration of Berserk, which means it is important to use them as soon as they are available to avoid dropping out of Berserk.
  • This involves using Outrage and Wild Blow to maintain damage rather than a stunbreak/CC.
• The second time you enter Berserk, you should already be at full adrenaline so you use Head Butt ⇒ Outrage after entering Berserk instead. This means your second Berserk has a longer duration and is easier to maintain.
• Generally you shouldn't be auto-attacking while Berserk mode is active.

Outside of Berserk

• Stay on Axe when you're not in Berserk, but as Decapitate isn't available you should just use your Axe skills as they come off cooldown.
• Try to complete your Axe auto chains when not in Berserk.
• Do not use your rage skills whilst outside of Berserk.
• Use Berserk as soon as it is available.