A Berserker Knight is a Space Pirate heavily mutated by Phazon.
Description
Due to Space Pirates conducting experiments on their own kind with Phazon, they were able to create powerful, hulking soldiers known as Berserker Knights. Like their lesser Pirate comrades, they possess crustacean-like characteristics, seen in the way their mandibles are split, along with their pincers. They have an immense upper body with large imposing arms, while possessing a noticeably small, lower body. Their shoulders are equipped with a weapon system that fires homing, Phazon-based projectiles. They have Phazite plating on their weak spot, which lies above the back of their heads. Some Berserker Knights become Berserker Lords after surviving the highest levels of Phazon Corruption.
Appearance aside (Berserker Knights appear more brown whereas Berserker Lords are blue) the only difference between Berserker Knights and Berserker Lords is that Knights lack the orbs of energy on their shoulders that must be destroyed. This relatively simple difference makes battles with Knights considerably shorter than Lords, especially since they cannot regenerate these orbs after their phazite plating has been partially damaged. The common way to break the plating is by shooting the purple orbs fired by the creature; doing so will send the orbs flying toward the plating. After its destruction, the weak spot will be open to attack. However with the use of the X-Ray Visor in combination with the Nova Beam, Samus can target an organ to instantly kill the creature. Ghor defeats one in close combat on Norion.
They are similar to Elite Pirates and Ingsmashers by playing the same role. They also show little to no concern for their fellow Space Pirates and will even use them as projectiles. This is likely due to Phazon infusion having deteriorated their brain tissue, resulting in an increase to their lust for combat, giving them the name Berserker.
Oddly, despite the Space Pirates in the original Prime being very hunched, the Elite Pirates stand tall and are not so hunched. On the other hand, the Pirates in Corruption are less hunched (only the neck is bent) and the Berserker Knights and Lords are very bent in structure. It is believed that even after the events of Metroid Prime, the Pirates continued Project Helix in some shape or form and gave birth to Berserker Knights and Berserker Lords, subsequently replacing the Omega and Elite Pirates.
Gandrayda morphs into a Berserker Knight when she is defeated.
Encounters
The first actual encounter is on Norion, though locked in combat with Ghor. Almost equal in physical strength, Ghor is able to smash open the plating and then stab its head while injecting his bullet fire, killing the Berserker.
The first time Samus must defeat a Berserker Knight is in the Bryyo Thorn Jungle, the second is an imitation by Gandrayda and the third one when Samus must escort the Demolition Troopers on the Pirate Homeworld. In the Bryyo Thorn Jungle, Samus can call her Gunship in for a bombing run and kill the Berserker Knight (and others) in one hit. On the Pirate Homeworld, Samus can kill the Berserker Knight in one hit after destroying its armor by using a Screw Attack to shatter its weak point, or simply use the X-Ray Nova combo.
Logbook entry
Template:Infobox Logbook
Berserker Knight temporary scan.
Trivia
- Evidence that supports the theory of the Berserkers being 'descendants' of the original Elite Pirates is the similarity in some of their attacks and the fact that both mentioned Pirates are the result of Phazon-based experiments.
- Concept art shows them with Zebesian-style claws for hands and horns on their heads similar to those of Elite Pirates.
- Both Berserker Knights can be killed in a single hit in the two encounters. Samus does not need to fight them normally.
- The scene where Ghor fights the Berserker Knight in his armorsuit is similar to the climax of Aliens, in which Ripley battles the Queen Alien using a cargo-loader.
Gallery
| Phazon Organisms | |
|---|---|
| Native to Phaaze | Hyper Grapple blocker • Leviathan • Leviathan womb • Leviathan Infant • Phazon Core • Phaz-Ing • Jelsac • Liquid Phazon • Maw • Phazon Grub • Phazon Leech Phazon Fungus • Phazon tendril • Phazon vine • Glow Stem • Aazelion • Tangle Weed • Massive Tentacle • Parasitic fungus • Fungus • Protozoan • Seed platform Missile Blocker • EyeballBlocker |
| Corrupted Creatures | Phazon Hopper • Phazon Nightbarb • Phazon Shriekbat • Phazon Puffer • Phazon Pillbug |
| Space Pirates | Aurora Unit 313 • Elite Pirate • Phazon Elite • Omega Pirate • Berserker Knight • Berserker Lord |
| Phazon Metroids | Class I Energy Harvester • Tallon Metroid • Hunter Metroid • Fission Metroid • Miniroid • Phazon Metroid • Hopping Metroid • Metroid Hatcher |
| Leviathan Core Guardians | Metroid Prime • Emperor Ing • Mogenar • Helios • Omega Ridley |
| Born of Phazon | Phaazoid • Red Phaazoid • Ing • Dark Samus |