Apostle

The Apostles are powerful, grotesque beings in Kentaro Miura’s Berserk universe, who serve as some of the series' most terrifying and formidable antagonists. Formerly human, Apostles are individuals who, at a critical moment of despair or suffering, sacrifice something — often those they love most — in exchange for immense power and transformation into horrific monsters. Their rebirth is orchestrated by the God Hand, a group of transcendent demonic entities that serve the Idea of Evil.

Apostles function as agents of chaos, cruelty, and manipulation, ruling over humanity from the shadows. They embody the series' core themes: the corruptibility of man, the cost of ambition, and the horrifying consequences of trading morality for power.

Appearance

Apostles are known for their grotesque and often monstrous appearances, which reflect both the physical and psychological degradation that comes with their transformation. While there is no single, unified appearance for all Apostles, certain common traits can be found:

1. Monstrous Forms: Most Apostles possess grotesque, large, and intimidating bodies. These transformations can range from animalistic features to entirely monstrous, surreal designs. For example, some Apostles retain parts of their human bodies, like a face or limbs, but twisted beyond recognition, symbolizing their lost humanity.
2. Size and Shape: Many Apostles are enormous compared to ordinary humans, towering over them with immense size and strength. Some can grow to be multiple times the size of an average human, with powerful limbs, claws, and sharp appendages, making them formidable in combat.
3. Shapeshifting and Mutations: Apostles can shift between semi-human and full monstrous forms, and their bodies may mutate or evolve based on their individual desires or attributes. For instance, some Apostles, like Rosine, take on a winged, fairy-like appearance, while others, like Grunbeld, have a hybrid design that blends human and dragon-like features.
4. Residual Humanity: Despite their monstrous forms, some Apostles retain traces of their previous human selves — such as a human face or a vestige of their former identity. These remnants add a tragic dimension to their appearance, highlighting the cost of their transformation.

Personality and behavior

Apostles, by their very nature, are deeply corrupted and malevolent. Their transformation involves the complete abandonment of their human morality in favor of bestial instincts and selfish desires. Common traits among Apostles include:

• Sadism and Cruelty: Many Apostles take delight in violence, suffering, and death, reveling in their newfound power and the ability to crush human life with little consequence. The sheer magnitude of their powers often leads to an overestimation of their own invincibility, making them arrogant and vicious.
• Arrogance and Pride: Due to their immense strength and god-like abilities, Apostles often hold humanity in contempt. They see themselves as far superior to the weak, fragile mortals they once were, and many consider themselves above all laws and morality.
• Corruption and Moral Decay: Apostles are the embodiment of the complete loss of humanity. Their desires become twisted and warped, from insatiable lust for power to pure, unbridled selfishness. While some may retain small traces of their former human compassion or honor, these are often buried under layers of brutality and madness.

• Humanity's Tragedies: Some Apostles, especially those who retain fragments of their former selves, are tragic figures. They may have made their sacrifice out of despair, betrayal, or the desire to protect loved ones, only to find themselves forever cursed with their monstrous transformations. These internal struggles can occasionally surface, showing their sorrow or regret for the decisions that led to their fall.

Powers and Abilities

Apostles are granted powers beyond mortal comprehension, often making them nearly invincible to human forces. Their abilities depend on the individual Apostle, but there are several shared traits among them:

1. Superhuman Strength: Apostles are incredibly strong, capable of easily overpowering entire armies or smashing through stone and steel. Their raw physical power allows them to dominate in battle, and they are often able to withstand blows that would obliterate a normal person.
2. Regeneration: One of the most dangerous abilities of an Apostle is their ability to heal from injuries that would be fatal to humans. Apostles can regenerate lost limbs, recover from near-fatal wounds, and keep fighting despite severe injuries, making them incredibly difficult to kill.
3. Immense Durability: Apostles are highly resistant to most forms of physical damage. They are immune to most conventional weapons, requiring specialized weapons like Guts’ Dragonslayer to effectively deal damage.
4. Shapeshifting: Many Apostles can shift between their monstrous form and a more humanoid appearance, adapting to their environment or battle conditions. This flexibility allows them to blend in or escape when needed.
5. Unique Abilities: Some Apostles have abilities specific to their individual forms. For example, Rosine can summon and control a horde of insect-like creatures, while Grunbeld has the ability to transform into a massive, dragon-like form that can breathe fire and cause immense destruction.

Story and Role in Berserk

The Apostles play a central role throughout Berserk, acting as the main antagonists in several arcs. Their story is intertwined with Griffith and the God Hand, the creators and overseers of their monstrous transformation.

The Creation of Apostles

Apostles are created through a ritual tied to the Brand of Sacrifice. The ritual requires a person to sacrifice something incredibly precious to them — often a loved one or their own humanity — in exchange for great power. Once the sacrifice is made, a Behelit (a strange, egg-shaped artifact) activates, and the person is transformed into an Apostle, marking them for life with the Brand of Sacrifice.

This transformation involves the person’s descent into darkness, losing all moral restraint and embracing their base instincts. Though they gain extraordinary power, they are forever bound to the will of the God Hand, a group of transcendent entities that govern their fate and the world itself.

Notable Apostles

1. Nosferatu Zodd: Perhaps the most iconic and powerful Apostle, Zodd is an ancient warrior who lives for battle. Zodd possesses immense strength and durability, making him nearly invincible. He is one of the few Apostles who respects strength and has an honor code, frequently seeking out strong opponents like Guts to challenge in battle. Zodd’s character is marked by his long history, immortal existence, and desire for combat.
2. Griffith (Femto): Once the leader of the Band of the Hawk, Griffith’s transformation into the Apostle Femto is the most significant event in Berserk. After sacrificing his comrades during the Eclipse, Griffith is reborn as a member of the God Hand, the ultimate embodiment of evil. As Femto, Griffith possesses god-like powers, manipulating the events of the world for his own purposes.
3. Grunbeld: A massive Apostle with dragon-like features, Grunbeld serves as one of Griffith’s highest-ranking Apostles. He is a battle-hardened warrior with immense respect for strength, but his devotion to Griffith drives him to commit atrocities in the name of the God Hand.
4. Rosine: A child-like Apostle with a tragic backstory, Rosine transforms into a winged, insectoid creature after being sacrificed. She has the ability to create a swarm of insect-like creatures that terrorize her enemies. Despite her monstrous nature, Rosine retains some semblance of her former self, making her one of the more tragic Apostles.
5. Wyald: A massive, beast-like Apostle, Wyald is the leader of the Black Dog Knights and a cruel, sadistic figure. His size and strength make him nearly unstoppable, and he revels in the destruction and suffering he causes. Wyald’s tragic end highlights the constant theme of the consequences of unchecked violence in the Berserk universe.