How to Beat Berserkers in XCOM: A Comprehensive Guide
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The Berserker, a hulking melee-focused enemy, presents a significant threat in the XCOM series, particularly in XCOM 2. These imposing foes can quickly overwhelm your squad if you’re not prepared. Understanding their mechanics and employing the right tactics is crucial for survival. So, how do you beat a Berserker in XCOM?
The key to defeating a Berserker lies in a combination of strategic positioning, exploiting their weaknesses, and employing the right tools. They are primarily melee-focused, making them vulnerable to certain strategies. Here’s a breakdown:
- Control the Engagement: Avoid close-quarters engagements as much as possible. Berserkers excel in melee and can quickly take down your soldiers. Use your squad’s mobility and the environment to maintain distance.
- Armor Disruption: Berserkers typically have high armor, which significantly reduces the damage from standard weapons. Focus fire or high-piercing damage is important. Abilities that remove or bypass armor can be very effective.
- Damage Over Time (DoT): Apply DoT effects like burning or poison. Berserkers will take damage from these effects during each of their reaction phases, chipping away at their health.
- Stun and Crowd Control: Use stun grenades, flashbangs, or frost bombs to disrupt a Berserker’s powerful attacks and control their movements. Abilities that can stun, disorient, or otherwise disrupt can provide valuable breathing room.
- Chokepoints and Baiting: Exploit chokepoints in the environment and lure the Berserker to advantageous positions. You can use a high-mobility soldier as bait to draw them into a trap. Ladders can also be a deterrent to their advances. Similarly, knocking out the floor underneath them on a rooftop can cause them to waste a turn.
- Melee is Effective (With Caution): Counterintuitively, melee can be an effective tactic against Berserkers, provided you are in a safe position. Since they’ll often come right up to you, you can capitalize on a melee strike with a soldier. However, this can be risky if other enemies are nearby.
- Focus Fire: If you can’t stun them, prioritize focus firing with your entire squad to bring them down quickly. This is particularly important if they are enraged.
- Skull Removal/Destruction (Lore): In the lore of certain games, Berserkers are tied to their animal spirit through their skull. In-game, forcibly destroying the skull, though a difficult process, can immediately kill them. However, this mechanic is not always directly implemented in gameplay.
- Be Prepared for Enrage: Berserkers can become enraged, increasing their attack range and damage. Be prepared to reposition and adapt if this happens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fighting Berserkers
Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to further expand your understanding of how to combat Berserkers effectively:
General Berserker Strategies and Tactics
What are the primary weaknesses of a Berserker?
Berserkers are primarily weak to damage-over-time effects, stun/disruption, armor-piercing attacks, and distance. They are slow, melee-focused units that struggle against ranged attacks and controlling their movement.
How can I best utilize the environment against Berserkers?
Use chokepoints, rooftops, ladders, and explosive environments to your advantage. Lure Berserkers to locations where they can be easily isolated, targeted, or trapped. If they are on a rooftop, breaking the floor under them will stop them from attacking and waste a turn of theirs.
Is it worth using melee attacks against Berserkers?
Yes, melee can be surprisingly effective, as Berserkers often move right into melee range. However, be cautious, as this can leave you vulnerable to attacks from other enemies. Position your melee troops carefully.
What abilities are most effective against Berserkers?
Abilities that deal damage over time (e.g., burning or poison), stun (e.g., flashbangs, frost bombs), or disrupt the enemy are highly effective. Abilities that remove or ignore armor are also useful.
Should I focus fire on a Berserker or spread out my attacks?
It’s generally better to focus fire on a Berserker to eliminate it quickly before it can wreak havoc on your squad. Spreading fire can leave you vulnerable if the Berserker gets into melee range.
Berserker Variations and Challenges
Are all Berserkers equally difficult to fight?
No. Some Berserkers are easier to beat than others, especially in games like God of War Ragnarok. For example, Hardrefill is often considered one of the easiest Berserker encounters in that game. However, in XCOM 2, Berserkers are a fairly standard enemy type, with the Berserker Queen being a stronger boss encounter in the DLC.
What happens if a Berserker becomes enraged?
When enraged, Berserkers have increased attack range and damage. You’ll need to reposition your squad, use crowd control, and focus fire to deal with them effectively. Do not allow them to close the distance.
Is the Berserker Queen a more challenging variant?
Yes, the Berserker Queen (a special boss encounter in XCOM 2‘s DLC) is a significantly stronger and more dangerous variant of the standard Berserker. She often possesses new abilities and requires a more advanced tactical approach.
Berserker Lore and Meta-Game Elements
What is the lore behind Berserkers in XCOM?
In XCOM 2, Berserkers are genetically engineered alien brutes used by the Advent. They are powerful melee attackers. Lore from other titles (like God of War) suggest they are warriors who tap into a primal, animalistic rage, which is often tied to a skull or animal spirit.
How does the game balance Berserkers against the player’s squad?
The game uses a combination of damage resistance, high health, and melee focus to make Berserkers dangerous. However, they have exploitable weaknesses, like being vulnerable to crowd control, DoT, and strategic positioning. The game gives players tools like stun grenades and other abilities to deal with them.
How can I prepare my squad specifically for encountering Berserkers?
Equip soldiers with armor-piercing weapons, damage-over-time abilities, and crowd-control options like stun or frost grenades. Ensure your squad has high mobility and can reposition effectively.
What are the best soldier classes to use against Berserkers?
Classes with high mobility (e.g., Rangers, Skirmishers), crowd control abilities (e.g., Specialists), damage over time (e.g., Grenadiers), and armor-piercing options (e.g., Sharpshooters with certain abilities) are particularly useful against Berserkers.
Where do Berserkers typically appear in the game?
Berserkers can appear on a variety of missions, especially as the game progresses. They often show up in urban areas and can be deployed to ambush player squads. Always remain vigilant.
What is the “Skull Removal/Destruction” mentioned in the lore?
In some lores, the removal or destruction of a Berserker’s bear skull is a way to kill them because the skull binds their animal spirit to the human. However, this is primarily a lore detail and not often a direct gameplay mechanic.
What are the best overall strategies for dealing with Berserkers?
The best overall strategy is to control the engagement, maintain distance, focus fire, exploit weaknesses, use crowd control and DoT, and always be prepared for an enrage. Be flexible and adapt your strategy as needed.
By understanding these tactics and strategies, you can effectively counter the Berserker’s brute force and emerge victorious. Good luck, Commander!