Berseker elite units survive after Viking times

[Melvin Loh]

Is there any way that the elite status accorded to the Viking Berserkers (who it's been speculated suffered from conditions such as epilepsy or lycanthropy which compelled them to fight with such blododlust) could've carried over after Viking times into the elite units of other armies, and what would've been the effects ?

 

[Max Sinister]

I think guns killed the whole concept. Their strengths was putting horror in the hearts of their enemies, but a berserker at 200 feet away is less terrifying.

 

[arctic warrior]

Is there any way that the elite status accorded to the Viking Berserkers (who it's been speculated suffered from conditions such as epilepsy or lycanthropy which compelled them to fight with such blododlust) could've carried over after Viking times into the elite units of other armies, and what would've been the effects ?

Guards, Rangers, light infantry, para's - you name it.
Actually they derived their nickname from their "uniform" - bear skins. Ber: bear, serk: shirt/dress.
Actually they do survive, look at the Danish Guards, the various British Guards regs., the former Imperial Guard of Nap......

 

[Thande]

You could say the Scots used units virtually identical to Viking berserkers as late as the 1400s, at least...