I've had good experiences with NordVPN so far, so give it a try if you're looking to upgrade your internet security. Go to nordvpn.com/skallagrimyt to get 75% off a 3 year plan and use code SKALLAGRIMYT for an extra month for free.

@LurkerDaBerzerker

4 жыл бұрын

Skallagrim Hey Skall, I recommend giving the Baremettle channel a gander, they released a interesting demo video. Edit: Was also curious what you thought of the Jackson Crawford channel.

@MiA-in5ph

4 жыл бұрын

I believe that going berserk it's kind of like meditating if you do it a lot you can do it more it's kind of like controlling your anger to a point where it is the focus of your entire being

@ericaugust1501

4 жыл бұрын

I feel, reasonably, berserker originated from those fighters who, mostly in a chaotic charge melee military engagement, are so "in the zone" their focus so extreme, their awareness so in the moment, that they were so successful in cutting a swath thru surrounding enemies. Its easy to imagine the skalds or priest would then sing that up as channeling the gods/totemic animals, invulnerable, and perhaps even off examples like that they formed special units who the priests claimed are granted the berserk power from their gods. It's easy to see how simply "being in the zone" could inspire these legends, and provide examples for other warriors to emulate this, with them psyching themselves up as you detailed, and specialized units named after this.

@aethelwyrnblack4918

4 жыл бұрын

Consider donating dollary-doos to patreon so he can spend them rightly.

@kimjongrussel7645

4 жыл бұрын

That was one of the smoothest sponsor segways Ive ever seen

A true Berserker would throw the sword and keep the pommel.

@trashyalice1756

4 жыл бұрын

*the sword is the pommel*

@SolarDragon007

4 жыл бұрын

Plot Twist: It's a Darth Maul sword with two swords connected at the pommel.

@PVT_White

4 жыл бұрын

Even if Viking swords pommels are not removable the Berserkir just rips it off and throws it

@Paradisio84

4 жыл бұрын

@@SolarDragon007 sh*t 🤔

@YeahTheDuckweed

4 жыл бұрын

Evilswarms lmao

A true Berserker knows he cannot be harmed since he's protected by NordVPN.

@velazquezarmouries

4 жыл бұрын

he was in the battlefield but the other soldiers thought he was on northumbria raiding a catholic monastery

@Dragonwing16

4 жыл бұрын

I actually laughed out loud

@thewhiteboar3840

4 жыл бұрын

NordVPN just reeks of Candid vibes for me for those who are familiar with that situation. I don't trust it and no one should.

@MsFrostitute

4 жыл бұрын

of course

@justamule707

4 жыл бұрын

@@thewhiteboar3840 what does candid mean in that context?

“The berserk fury comes over me even when I least want it.” Sounds like a medieval depiction of ptsd. Fight or flight instincts, suddenly feeling like you’re about to enter another battle and need to fight the enemy before you to survive. Just a thought.

@joshelliott1826

4 жыл бұрын

Or schizophrenia

@ettan5812

4 жыл бұрын

ADHD, low impulse control, going into a rage?

@ScrappYRO10

4 жыл бұрын

don't think that mental disease is the problem here, I mean a group of 200-500 + people who are all worriors and who all have the same mental problem? pretty unlikely in those times I think.

@Varbjorn5

4 жыл бұрын

Logan Anderson I was just thinking the same thing when he said that... not saying they all had it but that deffo sounds plausible for some

@Varbjorn5

4 жыл бұрын

☆5crappY there were small amounts of berserkers compared to the rest of the warriors... not saying all berserkers did but in this case it makes sense that a mental issue such as PTSD could explain this one berserkers issue of entering the state when he least wants to...

"You're gonna love this, trust me" - Some berserker, 853 AD.

@MiguelAngel-qi3ul

3 жыл бұрын

"What you're seeing now is my normal state."

@lineasevenadam5009

2 жыл бұрын

You cracked me into a big lol :D

Berserkers, Raging Beasts, Warrior Elites or Florida Man?

@ragefury1817

4 жыл бұрын

Scandinavia man

@testfortester7131

4 жыл бұрын

Florida man on a Tuesday

@alecnolastname4362

4 жыл бұрын

@@testfortester7131 with some 'good stuff'

@testfortester7131

4 жыл бұрын

Alec nolastname ready to eat some ones face on a highway overpass in Miami lol

@codaxthevulture4129

4 жыл бұрын

bathsalts of celtic people

Therapist: “Berserker Skall isn't real, he can't hurt you" Berserker Skall: 0:01

@mylji2276

4 жыл бұрын

Skallserker

@alfaholic3

4 жыл бұрын

I had a Skyrim character called Skall the Beserker.

@kingkuroneko7253

4 жыл бұрын

We need to stop him before he destroy the hole town.

@alfaholic3

4 жыл бұрын

@@kingkuroneko7253 😂

@kleinjahr

4 жыл бұрын

Puny therapist.

Berserkers are the equivalent of the meme "Me rushing the enemy team hoping to catch them off guard but knowing damn well I'm about to get lit up"

0:00 My Ikea furniture's point of view of me giving up trying to assemble it

Shirtless Skall was not what I expected to see today

@errorcode1sm399

4 жыл бұрын

Nor what I needed

@SolarDragon007

4 жыл бұрын

He should be an extra on Vikings or The Last Kingdom.

@marekcivrny3246

4 жыл бұрын

keep your hands up boys :D

@okankorad57

4 жыл бұрын

cant complain

@JohnKimIGM

4 жыл бұрын

@@Alphae21 lol

Being elite warriors they had to maintain good physical shape, as such nutrition is important. Biting the shields gave them fibers boost.

@AgentTasmania

4 жыл бұрын

DwarfInBlues And iron

@fulcrum2951

4 жыл бұрын

Minerals

@dryboneskirby

4 жыл бұрын

and splinters

@Elapine

4 жыл бұрын

Well, it probably had leather around the edges so I'd say protein.

@chimblemasterofchimney4771

4 жыл бұрын

What about the hallucinogenic mushrooms?

"If you're tripping balls that's not really great for fighting," agreed. Counterpoint: Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter major league baseball game on acid.

@dicorockhimself

4 жыл бұрын

Well he is a good damn legend

@scottylilacleona9193

4 жыл бұрын

Extra point: your life isn’t on the line nor do you have to be nearly as aware of your surroundings when playing baseball when compared to a battlefield, and people react to acid in a variety of ways.

@caseyjones8246

4 жыл бұрын

You actually fight better while trippong. Your body feels less pain to no pain, you see everything with an extreme focus, sometimes even in slow motion. You also think about everything way faster.

@dicorockhimself

4 жыл бұрын

@@caseyjones8246 depends if its a upper or a downer and even than thats only so far, though remember the Zulu they drugged up before battle and fought off ceazar lol and only lost to the British cuss tanks

@MrSkaterCat

4 жыл бұрын

@@dicorockhimself I did a lot of research on this and the best I could find is that archeologists were digging up a grave that was from the viking age and they found a substance similar to bath salts (aka meth like) in the burial. I definitely seems that we don't have a lot of info to go off of but I wouldn't be surprised to see warriors taking a drug similar to meth into battle considering the nazis did this too in ww2.

0:00 ASMR to help u sleep - Berserker Skallagrim slams ur head against the floor til ur unconscious

Not exactly about the Berserkers but about the shield biting: I had once the concept about an old warrior who known as so brutal, that he would in the rage of battle bite of and eat the edge of his shield, intimidating a lot enemies, especialy younger foes with less expirience. (and be honest most of us would go "nope!" at the sight of some so axe carzy, he eats his own shield) Later on it would have been revealed that this warrior would cover the edges of his shield with bread dough every evening befor battle and roast it over an open flame, making the bread a similar color as the rest of the shield, which was what he was always eating. His reason: He would often get hungry on the battlefield and searched for a god way to eat something without need to take a break. Thous he covered the edges of his shield with bread. His reputation as crazed shield eating badass was just a side effect he wasn't even aware off.

@argentiniangentleman5728

4 жыл бұрын

lmao

@blueblade6174

4 жыл бұрын

Interesting character.

@asxpot

4 жыл бұрын

There's a fun little story that happened in early 2000s among Russian buhurtsmen. So, there was this guy who took a nasty hit to his shield, so a part of it broke off. So, before the next battle, he did precisely what you described: filled the damaged part with some kneaded bread, and, at the start of the battle, bit off that part of his shield, which did wonders to intimidate the opposite team.

@shadowhunter0815

4 жыл бұрын

@@asxpot I wasn't aware of this. Nice. ^^

@practicaloccultist231

4 жыл бұрын

He should pin this. That's really cool and funny. Do you have a link to this?

That was the cleverest way of implementing a sponsor into an otherwise unrelated video topic I have ever seen.

@dakotafawson1223

4 жыл бұрын

You should watch TierZoo

@baronofbahlingen9662

4 жыл бұрын

Alex Hay It was clever but I saw it coming for a while. Some make it basically unnoticeable.

@tyrannicalrex6232

4 жыл бұрын

Alex Hay you’ll never see it coming :3

@purplehaze2358

4 жыл бұрын

Alex Hay It felt forced to me.

@0ptera

4 жыл бұрын

That sponsor part certainly is more creative and easier to watch than reading the script for a crappy mobile game.

5:45 pause and bask in the glory of the rainbow unicat moth

@jackoblllllllll

4 жыл бұрын

my life is richer now

@sanctifiedsuccubus2562

4 жыл бұрын

*_-THOSE ARE MONARCH BUTTERFLY WINGS REEEEE-_*

"comes over me when I least want it" could this honestly be a soldier with PTSD having a complete flash back? My uncle was a nam flash back and his whole past came back training and all. My dad ended up the blunt end many nights. Maybe this berserker was a warrior with PTSD. And in a society that relished the battle and carnage, maybe they weren't seen as damaged as we do today. Maybe it was thought that they were so proven in battle that this infliction was a gift. Just a rambling idea

@dantesabbath2107

3 жыл бұрын

It could also be uncontrollable urges, very violent intrusive thoughts, some so bad they could lash out in anger and rage?

@rasiabsgamingcorner2258

3 жыл бұрын

I like this idea. Mainly because it's quite possible you are spot on. Especially if you remember that ancient warfare was brutal and savage to the point that it makes modern warfare seem like a kids game. You werent dealing with an enemy that is shooting at you from a few hundred yards away or rather more accurately you were but on top of that you had calvary charges and I gantry charges and once you are in the mobs you are literally within 5 feet of an opponent that is actively trying to stave your skull in. It's even worse when you realize the human body is actually quite hard to kill there are stories of people getting a leg and arm lopped off and them still fighting on until they die of blood loss. And I dont know about you but I can imagine the fear or terror you would feel while fending off attacks that are being thrown at you from a guy who is blooding from a stump of an arm and bleeding from what was his right leg.

@Khorne_of_the_Hill

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've heard that as well as several other mental illnesses suggested

@rogerdelunel9205

3 жыл бұрын

It might also be a metaphor to describe his hot temper. He could be so easlily angered that he became as ferocious as an elite warrior in the midst of combat at the slightest provocation. It could be just a figure of speech.

@Reinfarcements

3 жыл бұрын

@@rasiabsgamingcorner2258 I think "kid's game" is a little extreme. Modern warfare sports its own horrors that ancient warriors could never imagine. Men getting blown apart by explosives or the man next to you getting a round in his throat from an unknown location are things that would cause even battle-hardened ancient warriors to sweat and feel fear. I understand what you are trying to say but felt "kid's game" was downplaying modern warfare quite a bit.

13:36 Nord spotted "I will drink from your skull!" "That's a nice head you have on your shoulders." "Less talking! More raiding!" "Today the gods will decide your fate!"

@mankomamada2545

4 жыл бұрын

Your money or your life

@Hubert_Cumberdale_

4 жыл бұрын

Noooo! they will steal my butter!

@aneffortlesssmile

4 жыл бұрын

''I'm gonna put some dirt in your eye.''

@anarchistnudle

4 жыл бұрын

You can have steel.

@nehon746

3 жыл бұрын

Its almost harvesting season

0:04 Y O U D I E D

@noirpxp_9751

3 жыл бұрын

Wasted

@jadestep9624

3 жыл бұрын

*C O N T I N U E ?* YES / NO

Harald Hadrada (arguably last of the great viking kings) died at Stamfort Bridge in 1066 like this "Harald was struck in the throat by an arrow and killed early in the battle in a state of berserkergang, having worn no body armour and fought aggressively with both hands around his sword." His forces with him were not wearing full battle gear because they were not expecting a full on fight, but it's notable that Harald seemed to wear even less than others when melee ensued (and was promptly cut down by a lucky arrow, just as his Saxon foe would as well just weeks later).

I always just knew it as a state of animalistic awareness. I thought of it as an adrenaline induced flowstate accompanied by a lack of control over ones violent urges. It's like seeing red, but not being belligerent about it and knowing exactly what to do to take down an opponent. Time slows down and you seem to become much stronger than you remember because things that seemed a hassle now feel much less effortless. The "berserkr state" to me just always seemed like someone using the placebo effect to engage their fight or flight systems on demand in order to have more control over it. Talking about a berserkr rage coming over you when you least wish it just sounds like the dude is too well trained with too many anger issues like a veteran having a flashback and cutting his friends hand open (saw that happen first hand). I figured it was always just a pure state of bloodthirst, but control of that rage varies from person to person, hence why some people might smash their buddies head on a rock and not realize that's their buddy until the attack was in motion, and he'd have to psychologically "hit the brakes" to either save his friend or mitigate the damage he might otherwise do. But on the subject of the actual Berserkr, you have a legitimate point. Rights of passage could include things like killing a bear and taking its pelt, but one with better records supporting it is to fight an auroch bull (norse longhorn, basically) and cut your drinking horn from its head. What you had was usually what you went and got or made yourself. I would assume that accumulating these kinds of trophies would mark you as a rather stout and learned fighter since you could take on all manner of intimidating and vicious beast, and could serve as a fighting mans resume. Those with more impressive trophies have enough experience, ferocity and balls to be a champion in any wealthy mans eyes. From what I've been able to gather, they were valued as a means of dueling substitutes. So if someone challenged you to a duel, someone could duel on your behalf, so the wealthy could hire a really intimidating champion to stand forth and make his opposition regret their challenge, essentially protecting the wealthy from better fighters with less wealth by being pay to win motherfuckers.

0:00 ~ 0:05 *Insert Dark Souls you Died*

@overlorddante

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, dark souls

@darkdawnbringer

4 жыл бұрын

I was blocking!!! XD

@nehuenmutiozabal6339

4 жыл бұрын

Online pvp in a nutshell

@NK-ik4ci

4 жыл бұрын

Chained Ogre PTSD

@yvesgomes

4 жыл бұрын

This thread is gold.

That smooth ass sponsor dude. Super Excited for you to come to NS! Im in Amherst myself, The border town between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

@jasonvorhees1795

4 жыл бұрын

A Nationalsozialist? Great, we still have some here in Germany too!

"My love for you is like a truck." Berserker

@DonPeyote420

4 жыл бұрын

Olaf, girl think sexy!

@gwaaar13

4 жыл бұрын

“Would you like some making fuck berserker!”

@Nikki_the_G

4 жыл бұрын

I thought I was the only one who had that going through their heads all through this lol

@weldonwin

3 жыл бұрын

Olaf, Metal!

@SvendleBerries

3 жыл бұрын

My love for you is ticking clock, Berserker!

There are stories of the native American version of berserkers. Supposedly a person continued to fight off the Europeans even after his head had been removed, until the last one had been killed or fled.

@terrelldurocher3330

Жыл бұрын

Spirit kept him going. He wanted to finish the fight so he did

An interesting parallel to the berserkers are the gaesatae over 1000 years earlier, a Celtic tribe that went into battle naked, intimidating the Romans with their shouts and behavior. They were cut down by the javelins of the velites (skirmishers) mind you, so it's not like they were some form of super soldiers.

@washada

4 жыл бұрын

I’m late, but there’s evidence for battle rage being an indo-european tradition that evolved in variants with the same core traits.

@gustaf3811

4 жыл бұрын

The berserkers seems very similar to "gallowglasses" who were norse-gaelic fighters in Scotland and Ireland from the 13-17th century. They descended from Norse-celtic clans from Scotland. They were used as bodyguards and as elite warriors and mercenaries. They were often picked for being very big and known for wielding two handed axes and swords which was a custom arrived from the Norse. I think that is were these people tie into the Berserkers and Ulfhednar.

0:01 SO that's what a hungover Skallagrim acts like.

@DinnerForkTongue

4 жыл бұрын

QUICK, FETCH THE COFFEE!

“And here we have a wild shirtless skall in his natural habitat “

I feel like the berserker vs ulfhednar thing could just be that some would wear bear skin while others would wear wolf skin, perhaps even as a ranking system.

@weswolever7477

3 жыл бұрын

A true berserker would wear the bear

@joshuamoore4971

3 жыл бұрын

@@weswolever7477 well yeah, otherwise they'd be ulfhednar

@philhughes3882

2 жыл бұрын

Proto Furries then?

@toddaulner5393

3 ай бұрын

Perhaps the size of the man for appropriation.

*Skallagrim at beginning of video* Myth: CONFIRMED

The true meaning of Beserker is 400ms hyperarmour lights

@heyllo1337

4 жыл бұрын

Well, better that than fucking orochi light spam

@zachariz1490

4 жыл бұрын

DemoKing 333ms* you forgot to delay it

@paulrudd1483

4 жыл бұрын

@@heyllo1337 Idk man, Orochi doesn't have much going for them, low damage and a shallow moveset and the third Hit of the light chain is just parry bait half the time

@welllfed

4 жыл бұрын

Lol

@ShoNuffTheShoGun1

4 жыл бұрын

Grab the berserker perk and watch him pop some mushrooms on the battlefield

"The Viking age equivalent of friendly fire..." A 'Friendly stab'. You're welcome.

@irgendwer3610

4 жыл бұрын

or slice

@onetrucksizedsalmon2962

4 жыл бұрын

(Stabs Ally) Ally: attempts to stab you You: wo wo wo bro it’s a friendly stab

@palhenrikvelde3227

4 жыл бұрын

Spinning around in circles wildly swinging the axe lol

@weldonwin

3 жыл бұрын

A Bro-Cleave?

@LUCIAN8016

2 жыл бұрын

"Friendly Hammer"?

Nice seeing more and more academic citation on youtube on yours and other channels. Also, using and pronouncing words in original languages and explaining there contexts. really enjoyed the video,

Skall with oddly acurate recreation of a psychedelic trip

@ksanbahlyngwa1998

4 жыл бұрын

True

@heyllo1337

4 жыл бұрын

Makes you wonder huh

Therapist: Berserker Skall isn't real, he can't hurt you. Berserker Skall: 0:00

@rollothewalker5535

4 жыл бұрын

Stolen comment.

There were berserkers in my ancestral clan. They weren’t vikings though, but were still great warriors who eventually held a third of Ireland. From what I could dig up they still did partake in snorting a powdered mushroom before charging into battle. Would essentially ride a drug-induced adrenaline rush as they fought.

@RobbieT015

3 жыл бұрын

I eat mushrooms a couple of times....and 1 time there was a big quard dog that attacked me while i was under the influence. normallyi am scared of big guard dogs...but this time i ran to the quard dogwhile he was charging me . and kicked him so hard he fell over by my kick and i picked him up by his neck and threw him away. and this was a rottweiler. Was not scared one bit.....so i can see a viking under the influence of them going beserk and not giving a F.

@aaronwilloughby6776

3 жыл бұрын

@@RobbieT015 There is some decent research for this coming out now. The active chemical in the mushrooms (psilocybin - excuse spelling) binds to serotonin receptors and can change how the brain interprets fear and fear response. This was found very effective at treating soldiers for example, who come back from theatres of war with PTSD so I'm definitely a pro-mushroom berserker guy.

@xctu8039

2 жыл бұрын

We were the Norse Kings Elite bodyguards for a reason. Sure other warriors can be deadly but we are the greatest this world will ever know period. many are forged from a brutal past yes and predatory environment but drugs have mostly nothing to do with being a berserker. Sure at times we can take things. Do you think a KING would want Drunk and high men around protecting him when they are on duty or would the KING want sober and attentive bodyguards? There is your answer. We just are a different breed and are fearless, very large, brutal and fast. Unlike most warriors who are not balanced WE are. We have the gift of all attributes just like a bear or large wolf. SPEED, POWER, AND WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN TO ANYONE IF THE INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO ACTUALLY DO US OR WHOEVER WE ARE WITH HARM.

@dashiellgillingham4579

2 жыл бұрын

@@RobbieT015 That might just be because you were familiar with dogs. I had exactly the same reaction to a stray that tried to attack me a few years ago, right down to the notable absence of fear. Although in my case it was more of a shove, stomp, and growl that scared it into running away. My personal theory is that fear gets applied to your memories retroactively, as you process the situation, so when something happens and you 'win' before you have time to feel afraid, you don't feel afraid.

@ufc990

2 жыл бұрын

@@xctu8039 Lol, what's up with all this we shit?

The Berserker at Stanford Bridge was capable of staying where he stood instead of charging blindly to his death. Kinda surprised you didn't mention him.

First second of the video, "berserker Skall" instantly smashed like button

@TheUrbanAdventurer

4 жыл бұрын

Yet still more people must berserk on the like button.

Berserkers, the first Leeroy Jenkins meme.

@Plastikdoom

4 жыл бұрын

Cameron Durrantcameron “Alright chumps, I’m back, let’s do this! LEEEEROY JEeeeenkiins!”

@blaqmagik8750

4 жыл бұрын

Dammit Leroy you idiot

@muntaacas6358

4 жыл бұрын

At least I have a Chicken

@56ur4

4 жыл бұрын

Berserker Paladin, i just love cross job-ing

That was the smoothest and most enjoyable seqway into the promotion I have seen on the internet. Everything else about the video is also awesome and enlightening, but that just made me laugh out loud.

Just imagine waking up to skaal standing over you like in the intro 🤣

The segue to the promo was so smooth I'm not even angry.

In Chris Kershaw's "The One Eyed God" he speculates that the Berserker was a sort of elite holy warrior. They supposedly had to go through a set of trials and special training to become warriors of Odin.

@laramyelliott2903

4 жыл бұрын

So like a pre-christian Knights Templars

@Inquisitor_Redacted

4 жыл бұрын

@@laramyelliott2903 Possibly. The Templars had to spend their time when not fighting or patrolling the roads living a strict monastic lifestyle. We don't have as much information on Berserkers as we do Templars, but what we do have implies Berserkers didn't do much of anything between battles. Templars were warrior monks, Berserkers were just elite warriors sworn to Odin.

@pathogenoxide6917

4 жыл бұрын

Well, Odin was the god of warriors and kings, I recall he also had either a kenning or another name that meant "Frenzy". And I remember reading that one ritual for becoming a berserker was basically becoming Nordic Tarzan and living off the land, but might have been fiction for all I know. Still the notion sounds interesting.

@Inquisitor_Redacted

4 жыл бұрын

@@pathogenoxide6917 Unfortunately because we don't have a lot of reliable sources some of this stuff we will never have the answers to.

@pathogenoxide6917

4 жыл бұрын

@@Inquisitor_Redacted Aye, it's a sad reality, but unless we can summon actual folks for questioning....barring centuries of linguistic development, then we're kinda boned on figuring out what is truth or myth. Hell, we don't have a fraction of all the prehistoric life on Earth in the fossil records, what we found was made by sheer chance or luck. I think 10,000+ years of human history has about as many gaps too, after all history and the past are called that for a reason.

I loved how you dropped in the Sponsor! That's how I want to see sponsorship done

So glad you did this episode, as I am an avid Anachronism card game player, Grettir The Strong is one of the warriors and Bear Sark & Berzerkergangr are 2 of his support cards. It is the poem of Grettir that I love his character, story, and especially the history even more.

*Amon Amarth playing in the background*

When I started learning about REAL Norse culture, and about the language, I started thinking that our term "berserker" is a corruption of the Old Norse term "berreskyrta (bair.skyr.tau) translated into English as "bear-shirt" and that term was used to describe some of the Norse champions because some of them would wear the skin of a bear they'd killed over their shirt like a hood as a display of their strength and combat prowess. (Norse champions who DIDN'T wear bearskin hoods would be called "kappi" the Old Norse word for both "hero" and "champion") I though that some of them MIGHT have gone into a battle rage, until I watched this video; Skall made some VERY good points as to why a warrior WOULD'T wanna go into an uncontrollable battle frenzy like what you see fantasy barbarians do all the time, and why lots of those things described in this video were probably just psyche up rituals in line with chanting and beating your weapon against your shield. With all that in mind, I have NO idea where this image of warriors going into this uncontrollable battle frenzy came from, and how going into it came to be known to us modern day folks as going "BEAR-SHIRT". PS: Regarding that possible SUB category of Berreskyrta, the Ulfhedar, I can actually think of an example of one we've seen in media fairly recently, if a pretty silly one; the Skullgirls version of Beowulf.

I love how your unbiased in your research it's refreshing to see.

I'd say that there is certain techniques to awake your inner beast but you need other techniques to control it. Otherwise you can get into blind rage if you're hurt or see weapon or in other "trigger" cases you've preprogrammed. Even if you accidentally hurt yourself or if it's a weapon that your friend holds in his hand. It's not impossible that some of berserkers used rituals to enter that state while others needed to use other rituals to control themself before they "go berserk" in a wrong time.

Wow, that was the best creator driven sponsor recommendation I've ever seen; I hope the folks over at Nord appreciate your efforts my friend. Great vid, as always, and good luck to you and Cara on the move east.

Skall, confess, you left your hair long all this time only to make that take from the beginning of the video.

Hey Skall , I have VERY Cool Knives for you ,)) let me know Brother ,))

@unkwn1157

3 жыл бұрын

Hey nice seeing you! Your the knive throwing dude right? I enjoy your videos and respect what you do. It's extremely thrilling and impressive. And I got to throwing knives because of your videos! Keep it up

@acethecat3466

3 жыл бұрын

O want kool knives do you make them make me one i want a set of cool looking dagger for my wall

Loved this video! Please do more like this, pointing out historical facts of warrior groups

The idea of the berserker state reminds me of the Haka from Maori warriors.

@rockyblacksmith

4 жыл бұрын

Thought of that too.

@taianonni

4 жыл бұрын

legit thought the same! at 12:18 Skall shows a scene with Dwayne Johnson doing the Haka with a youth soccer team there from one of the fast&furious movies, so I guess he did too

@flightlesschicken7769

4 жыл бұрын

They're why the .45ACP was designed IIRC

@clothar23

4 жыл бұрын

@@flightlesschicken7769 Wasn't the 1911 designed because some American Army boys couldn't handle a few drugged Filipino warriors ?

@flightlesschicken7769

4 жыл бұрын

@@clothar23 I think that and other various groups of tribal warriors would just tank the previous pistol cartridge (.32 ACP I want to say) and chop them to bits. They found the .45 ACP stopped the raging warriors in their tracks or something like that.

That intro… If only I could unscrew my pommel to defend myself.

Ok, that had to be the best product tie in I have seen in a long time well done

now that is the coolest sponsorship spot I have ever seen mad props for the writing.

Personally, I would liken Viking Berserkers to the Aztec Jaguar Warriors. Elite fighting force? Yes Animal Imagery? Yes Possible Chemical Enhancement? Yes

@jeanmmm8171

4 жыл бұрын

it sounds more to cuachic. the elite warriors from the Aztecs.

@MaliciousMollusc

4 жыл бұрын

@@jeanmmm8171 They both fit the criteria. Many nations had their own "special forces".

@kevinnorwood8782

4 жыл бұрын

@@MaliciousMollusc I actually thing this is a pretty valid comparison of Berserkers to Jaguar Warriors. Both try to emulate the animals they are representing, but from where I'm standing, the Berserkers take it one step further. I think they're somehow mentally transforming themselves to believe that they ARE Bears.

@HaggisMacTavish

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, elite warriors. Right. They became that. It was more a don't waste resources you can't replace easily type of deal. I don't have any education or paperwork published on the subject, but I do have practical knowledge and experience on berserkers. It's a genetic, psychological anomaly, similar in some way to psychosis. Berserkers exist in the modern era, and in nations you might not think of when you contemplate berserkers. Yes, highly effective in combat. Yes, exceedingly vulnerable in same without actual hand to hand combat training. Someone I know who also has experience with this once likened it to using an attack dog. The analogy fits. However, as Skall himself noted, there's a lot of grey area and interpretation of something like this is going to be complicated. I'll add that it's going to be skewed by perspective and what context you wish to apply. Don't be objective; firstly, you really can't be with a topic like the one at hand, and secondly, any and all attempts (disclaimer: in my experience) tend to detract from the discussion and analysis of the topic. Yes, long post. I apologise for that. Sometimes, however, you really need to dig in when commenting on a topic like this, and that is precisely what I did. Hope you enjoy. Cheers!

@alexkuauhoselo4215

4 жыл бұрын

I'm going to correct you there, oselopillin or jaguar warriors were not elite, they were mostly from the bottom of society but still, they were very dangerous. Kuauhpillin or eagle warriors, were more like a personal guard not often seen in battles. Mexikah similar concept would be the Kuachikeh, shock troops who were always in pairs, and had sworn upon their lives to never retreat or step back in battles.

I don't have the time (or, rather, the patience) right now to watch the whole video, but I just want to throw something into the discussion. I study ancient philology in Düsseldorf, Germany and my main focus lies on Greek antiquity. And I have a theory (which, granted, I have no proof for yet, just arguments, but I'm thinking about writing my bachelor thesis on it) that Diomedes, the, in my mind, greatest human-only (as in not the direct descendant of a God), named warrior in the homeric Iliad, was an example of a berserker in a non-norse mythological story. The fifth song, the Aristeia of Diomedes, is the first Aristeia (translated "excellence", basically their shining heroic moments) in the Iliad and follows directly after he had been scolded by Agamemnon for staying away from the fighting and not living up to his father's heroicism. Diomedes had been very quiet in that exchange and agree with Agamemnon and even apologized. However, as soon as his Aristeia starts he is imbued by Athena's spirit in a way that makes "fire" shoot out of his shield and helmet (which is of course metaphorical, I doubt the man was running around on fire). He goes on a one man rampage in the Trojan lines and when shot into his shoulder by Pandaros he pulls it out and goes RIGHT back to killing. He murders Pandaros and almost kills Aeneis and then WOUNDS Aphrodite as she tries to rescue her son. Then, when Apollon takes over rescuing Aeneis, Diomedes still continues persuing, until Apollon reminds him that he should not attack the Gods. At this point Diomedes seems to return to reality, realizes that Athena told him NOT to attack any God except Aphrodite and tells his men to fall back. The next time he is seen he's shown nursing his earlier wound from the arrow, which until that point had been basically forgotten. One big part of the berserk is being seemingly immune to pain, at least during their trance of violence. And while that is one part, there's two more. For one, and that's a short one, Diomedes then goes on to wound Ares, the God of Fucking War, in the very same chapter. Granted, with Athena's help, but I think the poet just didn't want to show a non-God damage the war God completly on his own. Second, and this I think is important, the archaic Greeks, in the Iliad especially, are shown to loot corpses a LOT. In the Iliad, the fourth and fifth song, warriors sometimes pull the armour from the enemy the moment they touch the ground dead. This is because warriors at this time were not paid. They lived on their earned τιμη(timé, something like honor could suffice as a translation) and any treasure they could procure on the battlefield. Even the great heroes do it. Except Diomedes. He is never once shown taking loot from a fallen enemy. He just slays his way to victory. He's also interesting in that Diomedes is completly written out of the action in song 11 by being wounded and having to return to his tent. He is only mentioned a few times later in song 22, I think. This is, a historian I read said, because Homer could not possibly have let the Trojans overpower the Greeks and push them back to their ships if Diomedes had still been there, a warrior that is described as being equal to Achilles. Hope you guys found this discourse interesting. I had fun writing it at least. No idea how well it fits into your argumentation, because I'm too tired to actually listen to it right now.

@R.O.U.S

4 жыл бұрын

ok ova iggy

@alexanderodriscoll5603

4 жыл бұрын

IGGGY

@catziska8536

4 жыл бұрын

As a Classicist, I have to say, you win the internet today. I LOVE Diomedes and this is an excellent observation.

@DrunkenCoward1

4 жыл бұрын

@@catziska8536 Thanks a lot, that means a lot. It's a theory I think a lot about and that I'd like to write my bachelor thesis about, if possible (and if I can find an interesting enough angle to look at this).

@catziska8536

4 жыл бұрын

@@DrunkenCoward1 Definitely look into. I'm a bit rusty in research, but it sounds like you're on the right track. Check out the Perseus Digital Library for a good grasp of primary sources. Best of luck! Here's evidence of my love for Diomedes: instagram.com/p/BGYNPSsO4ML/?

Love these kinds of videos! Keep m coming and good luck with the move.

For that transition into the sponsor you got my like

I wonder if the etymology of beserker could have referred to really hairy men, so not bare chested men but literally bear chested.

@yomauser

4 жыл бұрын

Ah yeah Now it make sense, their beared chest protect them from arrows a swords... like Chuck Norris's beard :)

@archangel5323

4 жыл бұрын

It's a compound word, ber is bear, or like English, bare, and serkr is shirt. So I find it possible that their hair could be called a shirt, but maybe I'm just being to analytical.

@r3zaful

4 жыл бұрын

I can smell these guys were drugged to death

@AtlanteanVrilChad

4 жыл бұрын

They had high testosterone

The only way I can sum up that intro is: Skallagrim on Bath Salts :-)

@cursedvindiesel7679

4 жыл бұрын

:)

@johnfrancisdoe1563

4 жыл бұрын

Freedomcat That story about "Bath salts" was apparently made up by a few scaremongering cops always looking for more powers.

@HelenKellerDenier

4 жыл бұрын

Florida Skall

That was the smoothest transition to an ad ever lol well done sir

Leif Ericsson’s own accounts of his best friend and company that he met on his first journey to Norway describes some usual behaviors and usual mindset of an “average” berserker pretty damn well, in my super humble opinion. If I can find my old copy I’ll edited this with the authors name ams title.

The real reason berserkers vanished into history: blacksmiths got tired of fixing all those bitten shields.

@H4WKB13

4 жыл бұрын

"Come on Bjorn again, really?"

@TotallyNotLoki

4 жыл бұрын

I bet dentists were happy though

@Wavemaninawe

4 жыл бұрын

Fiber deficiancy was a common problem back then.

That opening scene was quite startling, to say the least. 😅

Amanita Muscaria is what I heard they used. It causes repetitive movement which would explain why they were describes as unable to stop swinging their weapons even after battle

Liking your stuff. Recent viewer. I find your measured, reasoned argument compelling. Good watching for me.

Ahh, I miss my 200 Berserkers vs 5000 Roman Legionaries in Total War: Rome 1 *YARRRRGHAAAHKGHAAAAKGHAAAAK!*

Hey Skall, could you take a look at Vinland Saga series (manga/anime). Maybe historical analysis or whatnot. Thanks.

@AthenasValentine

4 жыл бұрын

Croz Raven I actually just started reading the series two days ago and had the exact same idea! Small needs to check this out

@MaliciousMollusc

4 жыл бұрын

*THIS!* I've said the same thing weeks ago!

@blueblade6174

4 жыл бұрын

I'm interested if he discussed the historical accuracy of the Fire Emblem series.

@AChunkyDog

4 жыл бұрын

Mangay/Anigay

@blueblade6174

4 жыл бұрын

@@AChunkyDog Wait, what?

Well done! Thanks for the info. Side note - Letting go of your sense of self-preservation might be your best option in a duel, but only if you know for a fact that your opponent is a far better warrior than you are. In a situation that is already very much against you statistically, adding chaos into that situation might increase your chances of getting lucky.

This is a very interesting topic... love the investigation you do.

begins to watch, oh well, looks like skallagrim finally snapped

0:01 when you trigger the chained giant for the first time and think you can deflect his grab

@papagalooleo559

3 жыл бұрын

CUT THE FEET

flawless transition

2:46 smooth criminal

You still need a helmet to be completley armored up skall. Ask oberyn martell. Nice vid though!

@lazarus4759

4 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂😂

@anthonyhayes1267

4 жыл бұрын

Too soon, man

@estivale8193

4 жыл бұрын

He had beard

@clothar23

4 жыл бұрын

Dude against a guy the size of Gregory Clegane I doubt even a great helm would have helped.

Second best sponsor plug I've seen, pulling in just behind (fellow beserker) Lindybeige's Dollar Shave Club plug.

There is also the war trauma interpretation. There is many sources about post war psychological trauma, like that knight who screamed every time he hear a metal sound, like the black smith working. Maybe some berserker were just traumatised worriors that went crazy.

As much as I hate advertisements, yours are creative af

Lindy already told me, but I’ll still watch *BERSERKAAAAAH!*

@andrewlebus4850

4 жыл бұрын

BERSERKAAAH!! b berser-berserker... :^(

@Lislio

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly what i was thinking, BERSERKERRR!

Ahh yes, my fantasy has been appeased. Thankyou for the opening

Quick synopsis: to be that aggressive effectively takes a massive amount of skill and endurance.

Your videos are the best!I've subscribed a week ago and I'm watching every single one of your videos and enjoying them all!

Who would win? Berserk Skall vs Berserk LindyBeige

@timothyissler3815

4 жыл бұрын

Oh, man, toughie.

@Plastikdoom

4 жыл бұрын

Skall, he’d end him rightly

@DH-xw6jp

4 жыл бұрын

But what about dragons?

@clothar23

4 жыл бұрын

Lindy is hella tall but Skall seems physically more impressive.

@25siesta

4 жыл бұрын

@@clothar23 hight is definitely such an advantage. with great hight comes great respo.. i mean reach.

I really appreciate your way of argumentation and its really good and fluffy like all of you videos. I have to admit i tried the practice of Bärserkergøng myself and it went not as espected nor can i tell myself what happened because i dont remember i have just the storys my comrades told me.

Here's my theory about the "Ritual only they could do and was recognized" Maybe it was similar to a Haka dance, we know the Norse had the equivalent of rap battles, and warriors universally hype themselves before combat, so, what if in a ritualistic fashion they combined both things?

I SWEAR TO THE GODS about two or three hours ago I had an argument with a guy on Facebook who claimed the historical real life Berserkers to be naked brutes immune to pain and almost invulnerable who raged in battle with huge axes, and I wondered if Skallgrim had ever made a video about this. I think the stars have never been so aligned. Tonight I will watch the video cause now I am working

@chimblemasterofchimney4771

4 жыл бұрын

The Celts were known for charging into battle butt-naked.

@hungrywaterfowl

4 жыл бұрын

@@chimblemasterofchimney4771 I think they did that to prove that they're brave or they don't have any armor available

@chimblemasterofchimney4771

4 жыл бұрын

@@hungrywaterfowl That, and/or Irish people are just crazy.

I can't like this more than once but the way you rolled into the sponsorship...I wish I could have. Great vid Skall.

This was thorough. Thanks! I only half knew all this stuff.

Having watched The Northman recently, with it´s awesome depiction of Berserkers, I´d love to see Skall comment on that and the movie in general!

TL;DR, it's an exaggerated ambiguous term

When Skallagrim finally lets his metal side out.

I just started replaying Viking Conquest and saw the thumbnail how nice

I like your videos. and I liked this one because I am a Swiss citizen, from the french-spaeking part of mthe country and, when I was still young, I went to attend a conference given by an historian in GRANDSON where the Burgundian wars between the Duchy of Burgundy and the Swiss Cantons ( a Canton in Switzerland is a State) started, followed by the battle of MORAT ( MURTEN) and finally NANCY in the LORRAINE where the Duque of Burgundy was killed. Now what is interesting is that the historian told us that, prior to the battles, the young Swiss warriors of that time ( 15th century) used to build themselves into a frenzy which was called - in German - BLUTRAUCH , also more or less BLOODFUME, meaning they were loosing control. this resulted in fights among themselves and it looks like that, sometimes they had more wounded or even deads than during the battle itself.Since at that time the Swiss Confederation was 100% Germanic, the customs between them and the Scandinavians had the same background. And since the Swiss were very warlike ( remember that from 1424 until l812 - the Napoleonic wars- Switzwerland's main exports were mercenaries and FRANCE was our main customer , it is not surprising that our young men behaved this way.

I would translate Berserkrgangr (Bärsärkargång) as "going berserk" personally, based on my interpretion of the swedish use for it. Not so much the way they move, but more so the act or happening of it beginning. Which you moved into yourself! Honestly I would take into account the possibility of (as you say) adrenaline but also from other sources, as well as psychological well being. What if some good warriors had certain instabilities that could explain involuntary berserking. Food for thought! In a society like that it would make sense to be associated under one phenomenon (berserking). Could well have been different types of berserkers both elite warriors and other types, that has meshed together over the generations due to tongue and disappearing with time.

Call me crazy but seeing this batshit insane axe wielding northman tripping on mushrooms I'd be intimidated enough to probably impact my ability to fight lmao

@BlackEpyon

4 жыл бұрын

Well, he just got distracted by that invisible band of butterflies, so..... Don't do drugs kids.

@BlackEpyon

4 жыл бұрын

@Stone Heart Do you get migraine auras?

@JnSobre

4 жыл бұрын

@@BlackEpyon Dude, listen to the junkie voice of experience... Stoned Heart :P

@JnSobre

4 жыл бұрын

@Stone Heart Ok Stoned, keep flying with your mushrooms ;)

@JnSobre

4 жыл бұрын

@Stone Heart Who talk about magical creatures? are you on drugs?

Huh, I didn't know the sources were so back and forth.. Good to know, thanks! :)

The vast forests of our lands are said to be filled with the spirits of beasts. Sometimes those beasts join us on the battlefield.