The Berserker is one of the most iconic and dangerous enemies in Gears of War: Reloaded. While your first showdown in Act I: China Shop sets the stage, the second encounter in Act IV: Bad to Worse demands far more strategy and precision. Standard weapons won’t scratch her hardened skin—you’ll once again need the Hammer of Dawn. The challenge lies in creating the right conditions to actually use it.
This guide walks you through every step of the second Berserker fight, from luring her into the greenhouse to landing the final Hammer strike.
How to Beat the Berserker in Bad to Worse (Second Encounter)
In the first encounter, defeating the Berserker was straightforward: bait her into the open and call down the Hammer of Dawn. In Bad to Worse, the situation escalates because you’re fighting indoors. There’s no natural line of sight for orbital fire. That means you’ll need to improvise—using the environment to break open the greenhouse roof and give the satellite a clear shot.
The Berserker is blind but hunts by sound and smell. Staying mobile and making noise keeps her charging in straight lines, which is essential for setting up the trap.
Step 1: Reach the Second Greenhouse
As you progress through the chapter, you’ll enter an area with two interconnected greenhouses. The Berserker ambushes you here, blocking your path forward.
- Your goal: Evade her charges and slip through the doorway she entered from.
- Keep moving: Standing still is a death sentence; remember she can’t see but can track you by sound and smell.
- Navigate carefully: Make your way into the second greenhouse to set up the actual fight.
Step 2: Bait Berserker Into the Columns
Once inside the second greenhouse, the real strategy begins. The building has large supporting columns and a fragile glass roof above.
- Position yourself in front of a column.
- Wait until the Berserker begins her charge.
- Dodge at the last second, letting her momentum smash into the column.
This is crucial: when a column collapses, it also shatters a portion of the glass ceiling, opening a line for the Hammer of Dawn.
Step 3: Call Down the Hammer of Dawn
With the ceiling open, you finally have the opportunity to strike.
- Quickly equip the Hammer of Dawn.
- Target the Berserker in the exposed area before she regains her bearings.
- The orbital beam will stagger her briefly, burning through her armor.
Be ready to repeat this process. It will take three successful Hammer strikes to finish her off completely in this encounter.
Step 4: Extinguish the Aftermath
After the final Hammer strike, the Berserker collapses and burns. Before moving on:
- Turn the red valve on the wall to extinguish the spreading fire.
- Only then can you safely proceed deeper into the chapter’s next area.
Best Strategies to Defeat the Berserker
- Keep moving: The Berserker is fast when charging. Rolling or sprinting at the right time is the key to survival.
- Don’t panic fire: Standard weapons won’t hurt her—save your ammo for other threats.
- Column management: Lead her to different pillars each time. If you mismanage positioning, you may run out of safe spots to break the roof.
- Timing the Hammer: The beam takes a moment to lock on. Start aiming as soon as she’s stunned to maximize damage.
See also: Does Gears of War Reloaded support crossplay and split-screen co-op?
The Berserker’s second encounter in Bad to Worse is a test of patience and precision rather than raw firepower. By using the greenhouse architecture to your advantage and coordinating quick Hammer of Dawn strikes, you can take down one of the most fearsome Locust enemies in the series. Once she’s gone, you’ll be free to push forward into the next brutal stretch of Gears of War: Reloaded. Play Now!
