What Does Berserk’s Brand of Sacrifice Symbol Mean?

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Learn which characters have been branded by the God Hand
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The Berserk symbol, also known as the Brand of Sacrifice, is a popular symbol from the anime, Berserk. In the show, the symbol serves as a mark of death for the characters who receive it. But what exactly does the symbol mean and how do the characters get it? In this article, we'll explore the meaning behind the Brand of Sacrifice , explain what it symbolizes , go over what characters have it , and more!

What does the Berserk symbol mean?

The Berserk symbol, known as the Brand of Sacrifice, signifies a deal with the devil, or in this case, the God Hand. The deal isn’t your own, though; the symbol appears when someone else sacrifices you to make a deal. The brand then signals the Apostles, which are demons determined to kill those bearing the mark.

Section 1 of 7:

What does the Berserk “Brand of Sacrifice” symbol mean?

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  1. The Brand of Sacrifice symbolizes a deal with the devil (in this case, the God Hand), except the deal isn’t made by the person sacrificed. The God Hand, a small group of powerful, ancient otherworldly beings, makes the dealer sacrifice someone they’re close to in exchange for immense power. When the Brand of Sacrifice appears on someone, they often only have hours to live, as it serves as a call to murderous demonic creatures known as the Apostles. [1]
    • The Apostles serve the God Hand and are determined to end the branded person’s life, representing the hold that the God Hand has on their body and soul as a debt for the sacrificer’s bargain.
    • The Brand of Sacrifice bleeds when the Apostles are near, serving as yet another beacon for them.
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Section 2 of 7:

What does the Brand of Sacrifice symbolize?

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  1. 1
    Sacrifice & Struggle The Brand of Sacrifice represents the sacrifice of others for personal gain and the struggle to stay alive in the face of death. The main character, Guts, is branded with the symbol, which means someone close to him sacrificed him to the God Hand for their own gain. He must constantly struggle against the forces of death that pursue him relentlessly. [2]
  2. 2
    Survival Although a person is marked for death once they receive the Brand of Sacrifice, Guts and his love interest, Casca, fight against the dark forces to survive every night. This endless fight against darkness reveals their determination to survive in the face of certain death.
  3. 3
    Trauma & Death After receiving the Brand of Sacrifice, Guts and Casca are forced to fight for their lives night after night. This inspires Guts to go on a journey fueled by revenge, and Casca must deal with the trauma of fighting for survival. Most people are quickly killed by the Apostles after being branded with this symbol, which is traumatic in itself.
  4. 4
    Corruption & Destruction The Brand of Sacrifice represents the corruption and destruction brought to the world by the God Hand. It also represents the corruption of the God Hand and those who make sacrifices to them. The God Hand condones the betrayal of loved ones, even though this betrayal will result in certain death. [3]
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Section 3 of 7:

Which characters have the Brand of Sacrifice?

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  1. Guts, Casca, and a few minor characters bear the Brand of Sacrifice. While the Brand of Sacrifice is basically a mark for death, characters like Guts and Casca have been able to evade it for some time. Other characters, like Griffith, welcome the brand as an ascension into a new way of life. On the other hand, there are plenty of characters who have actually died because of the brand, as intended. The characters who have received the Brand of Sacrifice are: [4]
    • Guts: He survived the Eclipse with extreme injuries.
    • Casca: She survived the Eclipse, albeit traumatized.
    • Griffith: He was reborn into the God Hand as Femto.
    • Theresia: She survived and disappeared.
    • Egg of the Perfect World: He died to facilitate Griffith’s rebirth.
    • Corkus: He died during the Eclipse.
    • Gaston: He died during the Eclipse.
    • Judeau: He died during the Eclipse.
    • Pippin: He died during the Eclipse.
Section 4 of 7:

Why are Guts and Casca able to survive the brand?

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  1. Skull Knight (a mysterious guide to Guts), dragged the two out of the Eclipse when they received the brand, saving them from certain death. Since that night, the two have continued to fight off demons, with Guts’ will to fight and the Demon Child keeping the two main characters alive. [5]
    • The witches Flora and Schierke placed temporary seals over Guts and Casca’s brands when they were traveling together, which helped mitigate their effects. [6]
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Section 5 of 7:

How Characters Get the Brand of Sacrifice

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  1. Someone close to them activates their Beherit and sacrifices them. The Beherit (a spiritual stone linked to the God Hand) activates when the owner is helpless and desires to escape their situation. Their desire to bring their ideal life to reality summons the God Hand, who uses its extreme power to entice the owner into accepting the evil in their hearts as who they really are. When they do, they’re prompted to sacrifice someone they’re close to to ascend to demonkind. Once they pick someone, that person is branded. [7]
Section 6 of 7:

Is the Brand of Sacrifice based on a real-world symbol?

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  1. No, but there are many fan theories claiming that it is. While Berserk’s creator Kentaro Miura never confirmed that the Brand of Sacrifice is based on any real-world symbols, fans often speculate that it draws inspiration from Viking runes, as they have a similar style and shape. Other fans on Reddit have connected it to the Vajra symbol in Buddhism, as they look similar to one another and both represent an irresistible force that destroys. [8]
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Section 7 of 7:

Why do people tattoo the Brand of Sacrifice?

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  1. Although the Brand of Sacrifice isn’t a symbol that you want on your body in the Berserk universe (unless your name is Griffith), there are fans who welcome the symbol onto their bodies because of their love for the show. Since the Brand of Sacrifice is the most iconic symbol in Berserk by far, fans often get it tattooed because it’s so recognizable.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://digilib.ucr.edu/berserk-anime-symbol
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/srDwu_JJJqQ?si=P87-Uobtjqmt56_S&t=20
      3. ↑ https://digilib.ucr.edu/berserk-anime-symbol#symbolism-and-themes
      4. ↑ https://digilib.ucr.edu/berserk-anime-symbol#which-characters-bear-the-brand-of-sacrifice-and-what-does-it-mean-for-them
      5. ↑ https://berserk.fandom.com/wiki/Casca#Eclipse
      6. ↑ https://berserk.fandom.com/wiki/Brand_of_Sacrifice
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/Fbs0cAovN_c?si=EkbGeBgEwUZ0gwvS&t=401
      8. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/vajra

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