All berserkers command respect, but the battlerager is an unrelenting physical force. The name of this archetype suggests rage, risk-taking, and that is certainly part of its effectiveness, but it would be a grave mistake to suggest that the battlerager is sloppy or undisciplined. It takes an incredible amount of control to know when to lose control. Battle momentum is the key: finding the balance between total commitment and over extending. The battlerager controls the pace of combat, setting a standard that the enemy can’t match. In turn, they can be sustained by the mayhem they produce, and find new energy in every fallen foe. While they stand, while stamina remains, they have no match, but they can’t stand back and let battle unfold. For the battlerager, battle always ends in glory, win or lose.
The battlerager is an archetype of the berserker class.
Archetype Main Ability Scores:
The battlerager mainly focuses on STR/DEX for martial combat and STR, CON and CHA for their class features.
Archetype Feature Replacements:
1st – Limit Break. 2nd – Rage Power. 3rd – Danger Sense. 7th – Damage Reduction. 8th – Rage Power.
Limit Breaks (Su)
At 1st level, the battlerager receives the Limit Break (The Inexhaustible Fury).
The Inexhaustible Fury (Su): This Limit Break imbues the battlerager with phenomenal endurance and destructive power. For the duration of 1 round + 1 round per four berserker levels after 1st, all bonuses from the battlerager talent tree are doubled (to a maximum equal to double his berserker level). While this limit break is active, the battlerager is not fatigued if he ends his rage, but after this limit break is done, he becomes fatigued as normal. This limit break requires only a swift action.
This ability replaces one of the berserker’s standard Limit Breaks.
Stamina Pool (Ex)
At 2nd level, the battlerager gains a reservoir of stamina that he can draw upon to fuel his talents that he gains below. This stamina pool has a number of points equal to half his berserker level + his Constitution modifier (minimum 1). The pool refreshes once per day when the battlerager rests for a full 8 hours. Sustained modes take up a static amount of stamina points from the battlerager’s current and maximum stamina pool and most sustained modes stack.
Some talents are activated as a sustained mode. When activated, these talents both consume stamina and reduce the user’s maximum stamina by the listed amount. While active, they provide their listed bonuses until the user deactivates them as a free action, falls unconscious, or dies, at which point the reduction to the user’s maximum stamina is removed. Multiple sustained mode talents may be used at the same time as long as the user has enough stamina, though some talents may specify others that they cannot be used with.
By spending 1 stamina point as a swift action, the battlerager can do one of the following:
- Increase his speed by 10 feet for 1 round, or
- Delay and suppress his fatigue or exhaustion for 1 round, or
- Increase one saving throw by +1 for 1 round.
This ability replaces a rage power gained at 2nd level.
Talent Trees (Su)
The battlerager gets access to the battlerager talent tree from below. At 3rd level and every two levels thereafter, the battlerager may choose to learn one talent from below. Weapon Requirement: Any manufactured melee weapon.
Battlerager Specialization Talent Tree
- Berserk: As a swift action, the battlerager may activate this talent as a sustained mode. The battlerager flies into a rage, landing powerful blows for as long as this mode is active. The battlerager gains a bonus to damage rolls of +1 per 2 stamina points left in his stamina pool (to a maximum equal to his berserker level). For each hit, the battlerager loses 1 stamina point while this mode is active. This mode uses up 2 stamina points of the battlerager’s current and maximum stamina pool.
- Savage Berserk: Berserk now inflicts more damage, increasing damage rolls of +1 per 1 stamina point left in his stamina pool (to a maximum equal to his berserker level) instead. Prerequisite: Berserk.
- Endless Berserk: Berserk rages are now less tiring to sustain. For every two hits, the battlerager loses 1 stamina point while Berserk mode is active. Prerequisite: Berserk.
- Adrenaline: At a cost of 1 stamina point, as a swift action, the battlerager taps into deep reserves of energy to make each strike more powerful. The battlerager gains a bonus to damage rolls equal to his Constitution modifier (to a maximum equal to his berserker level) and lasts for a number of rounds equal to his Constitution modifier. (Berserk must be active.) Prerequisite: Berserk.
- Adrenaline Rage: Adrenaline’s damage bonus is now much larger. The battlerager now gains double his Constitution modifier to damage rolls (to a maximum equal to his berserker level). Prerequisite: Adrenaline.
- Adrenaline Rush: Adrenaline now lasts longer, lasting a number of rounds equal to double his Constitution modifier. Prerequisite: Adrenaline.
- Barrage: At a cost of 1 stamina point, as a swift action, the battlerager trades protection for speed, lashing out with rapid blows but decreasing his Armor Class. When making a full-attack action, the battlerager may make an additional attack at his highest attack bonus, but suffers a -4 penalty to Armor Class. Barrage lasts a number of rounds equal to his Constitution modifier. (Berserk must be active.) Prerequisite: Berserk.
- Unrelenting Barrage: Barrage now lasts longer, lasting a number of rounds equal to double his Constitution modifier. Prerequisite: Barrage.
- Controlled Barrage: Barrage’s penalty to Armor Class is reduced to a -2. Prerequisite: Barrage.
- Death Blow: As long as the battlerager has at least 1 stamina point in his stamina pool, each time he fells an enemy, the thrill of victory restores a larger than normal portion of the battlerager’s stamina. The battlerager gains 1 stamina point for every enemy death. Prerequisites: Berserk, Adrenaline.
These abilities replace danger sense and damage reduction.
Unrelenting Endurance (Ex)
At 8th level, the battlerager’s endurance becomes nigh inexhaustible and his ability to recover his strength far exceeds lesser warriors. The battlerager regenerates a number of stamina points equal to his Constitution modifier per hour, so long as he is relaxed and free from overt distractions such as combat or strenuous activity.
This ability replaces a rage power gained at 8th level.
