The story of Berserk is a grim tale of bloody revenge, a dramatic love triangle, monsters, and most of all, brutal fantasy action. The wandering swordsman Guts can only survive if he has a good weapon in his hands, and he has a distinct preference for oversized broadswords.
Guts has spent his entire life fighting, and that means he was ready to wield his classic Dragon Slayer sword from the moment he first saw it. This enormous bladed weapon has become an icon of the Berserk franchise, though it also holds many secrets for first-time Berserk fans to discover.
10 Only Guts Can Wield That Sword Correctly
Some anime weapons can only be used by their owners, such as if the weapon is enchanted or requires a passcode to use. For Guts, his weapon is unique to him for a more mundane reason – it’s simply too big and heavy for anyone else to use in battle.
Guts is the only Berserk protagonist with the necessary strength and endurance to swing the Dragon Slayer around, and most people who meet him are shocked that he can use it at all. It’s almost like Thor’s hammer Mjolnir.
9 The Dragon Slayer Was Designed As A Gimmick
The idea behind every cool weapon costume or superpower has to come from somewhere, and the Dragon Slayer has oddly humble origins. The late author Kentaro Miura gave his protagonist an oversized sword simply as a gimmick to grab readers’ attention.
The key is to not just make that sword look big but to convince readers that the sword is as heavy as it looks. Some oversized anime swords are swung with ease, but clearly, it takes serious strength to swing around the Dragon Slayer, which makes it feel more realistic.
8 The Dragon Sword Changed Slightly From The Berserk Prototype
Some manga and anime series have a one-shot prototype, including Bleach and Naruto, and some key details may change from the prototype to the actual manga’s early chapters. Such is the case with Guts’ sword, though the changes aren’t that drastic.
For the most part, Guts’ Dragon Slayer was the same in the prototype, but its blade did widen a bit to give it minor hand guards. In addition, Guts only wielded this version of the sword with his right hand, never making any two-handed attacks at all.
7 The Dragon Slayer Is TrickyTo Use In The Berserk Games
There are a few licensed Berserk video games out there, and in these titles, players can take on the role of Guts himself and slaughter countless foes with the mighty Dragon Slayer sword. But of course, it won’t be easy, and players must get used to Guts’ unusual fighting style with an equally strange sword.
In the Dreamcast game, it’s possible for the oversized Dragon Slayer sword to bounce off the walls in indoor battles, which will hamper the player’s progress. Other games take place outdoors, which makes the Dragon Slayer far easier to use.
6 The Sword Was Made On Commission
Some unique weapons or items in fiction are made on request, and the Dragon Slayer sword is like that, too. The funny thing is, the king who made the request was deeply dissatisfied with the Dragon Slayer, and the weapon was considered a failure. No one could use it, after all.
Originally, that king requested a sword that could slay a dragon just to show off, and Godot the blacksmith obliged. Hence its name, the Dragon Slayer, even though the sword has yet to actually kill a dragon in the story.
5 The Sword Reflects Guts’ Own Mental State
The Dragon Slayer is Guts’ iconic weapon in more ways than one. It not only embodies his incredible strength of will and his warlike lifestyle, but it also represents how even the strongest warrior or weapon will get worn down eventually. Godot himself noted that after Guts started using the sword.
The Dragon Slayer slowly accumulated cracks, chips, and nicks in it, weakening its effectiveness in battle. The sword needed a break to get reforged in intense heat, and Godot noted that the same applies to Guts himself. He needs a chance to recharge and heal, and not just fight all the time.
4 The Sword Can Damage Spirits
For the most part, Guts’ Dragon Slayer sword is an ordinary, mundane weapon, but over time, it gained some supernatural capabilities as well. Since Guts kept fighting apostles and other strange creatures, the Dragon Slayer was imbued with supernatural energy.
Ordinary weapons cannot even touch the spirits of the dead, but the Dragon Slayer sword can strike them and cut right through them. If it weren’t for that, Guts would have perished some time ago in his travels against the monsters hiding in the darkness.
3 The Dragon Slayer Is Magnetic
Guts can easily carry his sword in just one arm, usually his right arm, but his prosthetic left arm works well with the Dragon Slayer, too. That artificial limb contains a powerful magnet that the Dragon Slayer is attracted to, so the sword will almost literally stick in Guts’ grip when fighting.
This helps prevent Guts from dropping his sword in battle, a handy little trick to make sure Guts doesn’t lose his best weapon. Few other anime characters hold onto their best gear with sheer magnetism.
2 The Sword Doubles As A Shield
Guts rarely, if ever, carries a regular shield into battle. He is more used to being offense-only and cutting down his foes before they get a chance to hit back. With smaller, lighter swords in hand, Guts can parry an enemy’s sword, such as in the Golden Age story arc.
The Dragon Slayer is a different matter. It’s a bit slow, even in Guts’ hands, so it is better used as a shield than for parrying in battle. Thanks to this sword’s width and durability, it makes a fine shield when turned to expose its wide blade.
1 Guts’ Sword Inspired Many Others
When a manga/anime series becomes iconic, other creators may draw inspiration from it, and Guts’ sword is like that, too. Berserk practically invented the “hero with a giant sword” archetype, and the idea continues with subsequent characters such as Final Fantasy VII‘s Cloud Strife and his huge Buster Sword.
Rin Okumura in Blue Exorcist wields a huge sword that no one else can use, and there is also an oversized greatsword found in Monster Hunter. And those are just a few examples among many – big swords are everywhere by now, all thanks to Guts’ own.