Berserk (Final Fantasy XII)

Berserk is a Time Magick spell in the Zodiac versions of Final Fantasy XII and an Arcane Magicks spell in the original PlayStation 2 version. It is a single-target status spell that temporarily quickens and strengthens the affected, but making them unable to be controlled and only using their Attack command on the nearest foe. The spell can be used against enemies to alter their AI or on allies to improve their physical prowess. Though Berserk is treated more like a positive status than a negative one, the Berserk spell can miss.
Berserk can be cast by Mu, Braegh, Spee, Myath, Supinelu, and Judge Zargabaath (Trial Mode). Some enemies also use Bacchus's Wine onto themselves, bestowing Berserk: Werewolf, Yeti, Behemoth, Fury, and Elza (Trial Mode).
==Obtained==
Berserk's license costs 80 License Points in the Zodiac versions, where the spell is available from shops for 900 gil from Mt Bur-Omisace onward. Berserk is also a treasure in Trial Mode Stage 66 with the Diamond Armlet equipped.
In the original version, the spell is an Arcane Magick license that costs 25 LP. It is bought for 1000 gil from Rabanastre after the events that follow from entering Ondore's Estate, from Dyce outside the Tomb of Raithwall, and from Eruyt Village.
In the Zodiac versions, Berserk is used by the Time Battlemage.
==Mechanics==
Berserk attempts to temporarily inflict the status of the same name onto one target that greatly boosts their damage output and speed. Affected player characters cannot be controlled, can only use their normal attack, and their gambits are off until the effect is removed. Berserk doubles the speed at which ATB charges and boosts attack damage to 150% of normal damage (these effects also stack with Haste and Bravery). Units with Berserk are immune to Confuse and do participate in Quickenings when started by someone else. As a standalone buff, Berserk eclipses both Haste or Bravery. Berserk is removed with Dispel. 
The formula for the duration is:
:Duration = 45 + (Vitality \times 0.45)s
The duration depends on the receiver's Vitality stat, not the caster's. Slow and Haste do not affect the length other status effects will last, but Stop will halt them.
The base success rate of the spell against an enemy that is not immune is 60% in the original version, updated to 70% in the Zodiac versions.
:Success~Rate = Base~Rate + (User's~Magick~Power - Target's~Vitality) \%
The success rate is unaffected by the target's Magick Evade stat, as the spell instead checks against the target's Vitality.
The hit rate is improved by further 50% with the caster having Faith status, or doubled with Serenity license/Magick Gloves when on full health, or Spellbreaker license/Leather Gorget when in critical health. Target's Shell halves the accuracy of the spell. If the caster is wearing the Indigo Pendant, Berserk will succeed unless the enemy is immune to the status.
The accuracy underflow bug is a glitch in some versions of Final Fantasy XII where a low level character with extremely low Magick Power stat attempts to use a status move on a target with very high Vitality, and the accuracy of the spell becomes less than zero. In this case the accuracy will underflow to 100%, allowing certain status spells to always succeed.
Berserk costs 10 MP to cast without Channeling licenses. The spell will bounce from Reflect unless the caster wears the Opal Ring.
==Use==
Berserk is a status spell the player can easily set up via the gambit system (such as with Ally:Name→Berserk or Foe:Any→Berserk or Foe status:Blind→Berserk). It is best used situationally and with the Indigo Pendant equipped whenever possible. Instead of using the spell, the player can also use Bacchus's Wine consumable item, which has 50% effectiveness in the original version but 100% effectiveness in the Zodiac versions. For allies, the player can use the Berserker Bracers accessory, and for enemies, they can use the Avenger weapon (10%).
Berserk prevents any other action than Attack, or participating in Quickening chains when another party member starts it.
Against enemies, Berserk can be good against the Vorpal Bunny to prevent it from running around the Golmore Jungle. It could also be good against the Lv.99 Red Chocobo to stop it from using party-wide attacks, and instead focus on attacking the player's party one at a time. It also couples well with the Blind status against enemies, as after forcing them to use only physical attacks, the player can ensure most of those attacks also miss.
Berserk is perhaps best as a buff, used on the player's strongest physical fighter, stacked with Bravery and potentially with Haste as well. It would be beneficial in long battles, such as against Yiazmat. However, in these cases, Self:Bacchus's Wine is likely the superior method over casting Berserk, at least in the Zodiac versions. Stacking Berserk and Bravery is more beneficial in the Zodiac versions, where the game has no damage cap.
Category:Time Magicks in Final Fantasy XII
Category:Arcane Magicks in Final Fantasy XII