7.7/101,494 votes#1 - The Black Swordsman
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/8/1997
A blacksmith is forging an enormous sword while a dark man with only one eye and one arm stands back and watches.
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.7/101,306 votes#2 - Band of the Hawk
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/15/1997
There is a great battle taking place at a fort. The attackers are doing well, except one thing stands in their way - a grey knight and he states that none shall pass him.
Director: Masakazu Amiya
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.7/101,219 votes#3 - First Battle
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/1997
Guts and Griffith begin their sword fight.
Director: Kazuhisa Ono
Writer: Makoto Itakura
7.7/101,155 votes#4 - The Hand of God
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/1997
Guts reminisces about his childhood.
Director: Yasuhiro Geshi
Writer: Shouji Yonemura
7.5/101,105 votes#5 - A Wind of Swords
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/5/1997
Guts is now a commander of Griffith's army, taking many risks in battle, Casca takes him to task for it. Griffith is knighted in the Midland court much to the nobles' dismay.
Director: Mihiro Yamaguchi
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
8.5/101,267 votes#6 - Zodd the Immortal
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/12/1997
In another raid, Guts and Griffith come across a demon known as Nosferatu Zodd.
Director: Yasuhiro Matsumura
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.3/101,062 votes#7 - The Sword`s Owner
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/19/1997
Princess Charlotte of Midland strikes up a friendship with Griffith.
Director: N/A
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.5/101,031 votes#8 - Conspiracy
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/1997
Griffith and Guts continue their success in battle and Griffith is made a Count.
Director: Koji Yoshikawa
Writer: N/A
7.7/101,032 votes#9 - Assassination
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/3/1997
Griffith saves Charlotte when her horse bolts during a fox hunt. Yurius, the king's younger brother, attempts to have him assassinated.
Director: Yukina Hiiro
Writer: Shouji Yonemura
8.9/101,284 votes#10 - Nobleman
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/1997
Guts, sent by Griffith, assassinates Yurius and his son Adonis. Griffith gets closer to Charlotte. The Hawks depart for yet another mission.
Director: Yukio Okazaki
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
7.9/101,031 votes#11 - The Battle
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/1997
On a stormy battlefield, Caska, Griffith's second in command, is wounded while fighting the leader of an enemy army. Guts runs to her rescue but when she passes out at the edge of a cliff, he cannot catch her in time and they both fall into the river below.
Director: Yasuhiro Matsumura
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
8.4/101,102 votes#12 - Together
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/24/1997
Caska is still unconcious, so Guts shelters them in a cave while the rain pours down. She comes to and tells Guts about her past and about Griffith's.
Director: N/A
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
8.3/101,094 votes#13 - Prepared for Death
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/7/1998
Guts and Caska try to fight their way back to the Hawks while the enemy army they were fighting from before try to stop them.
Director: Mihiro Yamaguchi
Writer: N/A
8.1/101,104 votes#14 - Bonfire of Dreams
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/14/1998
Caska finds Judeau's division of Hawks and leads them back to where Guts was fighting alone. Although injured, he defeated all the enemy soldiers by himself. They return to the Hawks' camp and Caska tends to Guts' wounds.
Director: Koji Yoshikawa
Writer: N/A
7.8/101,002 votes#15 - The Decisive Battle
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/21/1998
The King of Midland and his various generals confer about Doldrey Castle, long since captured by the Chudan Empire. Griffith plans an attack and the King agrees despite the protests of his other officers. Only one other general supports Griffith's actions. The Hawks attack Doldrey.
Director: Yukio Okazaki
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
8.3/101,040 votes#16 - The Conqueror
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/28/1998
With the help of Nosferatu Zodd, Guts defeats the defender of Doldrey Castle.
Director: Yukina Hiiro
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.8/101,010 votes#17 - Moment of Glory
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/4/1998
With the victory at Doldrey, Griffith is promoted to White Phoenix General, an aristocratic title. The Queen of Midland and other court conspirators try to poison Griffith.
Director: N/A
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
8.2/101,021 votes#18 - Tombstone of Flames
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/11/1998
Griffith has his revenge by having the Queen's castle burned down.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.9/101,224 votes#19 - Separation
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/18/1998
Griffith will not let Guts simply leave. He says that Guts belongs to him.
Director: Mihiro Yamaguchi
Writer: Shouji Yonemura
7.8/101,001 votes#20 - Sparks
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/25/1998
Guts arrives at the home of Godo the swordsmith and stays there for a while while Godo crafts a new sword for him. Guts practices more on his sword techniques with the help of Godo's little daughter Erika.
Director: Koji Yoshikawa
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
8.3/101,056 votes#21 - Confession
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/4/1998
Guts returns in time to save the remaining Hawks from annihilation.
Director: Yukio Okazaki
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
8.8/101,154 votes#22 - Infiltration
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/11/1998
With Guts help, Caska and the Hawks hope to rescue Griffith.
Director: Yukina Hiiro
Writer: N/A
8.8/101,193 votes#23 - Eve of the Feast
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/18/1998
Breaking away from the King's pursuing armies, the few Hawks left contemplate their future. Guts comforts Caska, who is despondent over Griffith's condition. Griffith begins to dream.
Director: Koji Fukasawa
Writer: Shouji Yonemura
9.1/101,436 votes#24 - The Great Eclipse
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/25/1998
Seduced by the promises of demons and his dreams from his childhood, Griffith agrees to fulfill his destiny and become one of the God Hand demons.
Director: N/A
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
9.5/102,151 votes#25 - Time of Eternity
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 4/1/1998
Griffith's men are sacrificed to the demon's appetites. Guts fights on, at first to save Griffith, then to save himself from the result of Griffith's ambition.
Director: Naohito Takahashi
Writer: Shinzo Fujita
The Best Episodes of Berserk Season 1
Every episode of Berserk Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Berserk Season 1!
Guts, a man who calls himself "The Black Swordsman", looks back upon his days serving as a member of a group of mercenaries. Led by...
Genres:Action & AdventureSci-Fi & FantasyAnimation
Network:Nippon TV
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"The Black Swordsman" is the best rated episode of "Berserk" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 1494 votes. Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and written by Atsuhiro Tomioka, it aired on 10/8/1997. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Band of the Hawk".