Griffith rose from nothing to become a celebrated commander and political icon in Midland.
He relentlessly chased his dream of a kingdom, treating people and morality as tools for that goal.
He committed unforgivable betrayals, most infamously sacrificing the Band of the Hawk and destroying Guts and Casca’s lives.
At the same time, he built “miracles” like Falconia and protected civilians, which is why he remains both a builder and a destroyer.
To understand the full story behind What did Griffith do and why fans still debate him today, read the complete breakdown on HariManga.
What did Griffith do in Berserk?
At a high level, What did Griffith do can be answered like this:
- He rose from nothing to become a legendary commander and political icon.
- He pursued his dream of a kingdom with total ambition and ruthless calculation.
- He ultimately betrayed the Band of the Hawk in a way that permanently shattered Guts and Casca’s lives.
That contradiction builder and destroyer, drives nearly every major debate about Griffith.
Why Griffith is so controversial in Berserk?
Griffith isn’t controversial simply because he’s powerful or ruthless. He’s controversial because he’s calculated he justifies violence as “necessary,” treats sacrifice like destiny and sells his rise as something the world is meant to accept.
That’s a big reason what is berserk about resonates with seinen readers.
The series forces you to watch a charismatic visionary follow a chillingly consistent logic where the dream always comes before human lives.
The worst things Griffith did in Berserk
1) He exploited Princess Charlotte’s trust
One of Griffith’s most reckless moral failures was pursuing an intimate relationship with Princess Charlotte under a heavy power imbalance.
Even if Charlotte idolized him, Griffith’s decision weaponized her devotion and triggered consequences that hit everyone around him.
2) He became fixated on Guts in a way that warped the Band of the Hawk
Griffith’s attachment to Guts goes beyond respect for a valuable warrior.
His fixation shifts the emotional center of the Hawks, fuels jealousy and instability (especially for Casca) and contributes to Griffith’s spiral when Guts leaves.
3) He retaliated ruthlessly, causing collateral tragedy (Julius and Adonis)
Griffith often performs humility, but he eliminates threats with cold efficiency.
His vengeance against political enemies leads to deaths that include innocent fallout—one of the clearest early signals of what he becomes.
4) He sacrificed the Band of the Hawk to become Femto
If you ask longtime fans What did Griffith do that made him truly unforgivable, this is the answer.
He trades the lives of the people who made him great for power, turning loyal comrades into a price tag for transcendence.
5) He violated Casca during the Eclipse (in front of Guts)
This act is among the darkest in the series, not only for its violence but for its psychological intent.
It is framed as domination designed to destroy both Casca’s agency and Guts’ ability to protect her.
6) He tainted Guts and Casca’s unborn child (the Demon Child)
The Eclipse’s consequences extend into the future: What should have been a symbol of life becomes a haunted, tragic aftermath another way Griffith’s choices keep hurting them long after the event ends.
7) He chose terror over justice against the Queen and conspirators
Rather than exposing political enemies and letting lawful consequences unfold, Griffith orchestrates a brutal execution that sends a message: Resistance will be punished with suffering, not merely defeat.
8) He later seized Casca again, reopening the deepest wound
When Casca begins to regain stability and memory, Griffith’s reappearance functions like psychological warfare. It is not just “plot escalation”, it is Griffith proving he can still reach into Guts’ life and take everything.
The best things Griffith did in Berserk
1) He declared the dream of building his own kingdom
Early on, Griffith’s ambition is genuinely inspiring: A person from humble origins aiming for the impossible.
This dream is what makes people follow him and what later makes his betrayal feel catastrophic.
2) He won major wars for Midland and reshaped the battlefield
Griffith is an extraordinary commander whose victories bring stability and prestige to Midland.
Even critics must admit his leadership creates real-world outcomes that benefit countless people.
3) He triggered a world-changing transformation (Fantasia /Great Roar era)
Griffith’s actions reshape reality itself, collapsing boundaries between realms and redefining humanity’s place in the world.
It’s a “historic” achievement also one with enormous risk and cost.
4) He pushed back invading forces and positioned himself as a protector
To ordinary citizens, Griffith’s victories translate into survival.
This is why many people inside Berserk can praise him sincerely even if the reader knows what that praise is built on.
5) He built Falconia as a refuge in an increasingly brutal world
Falconia is portrayed as a sanctuary: safety, food, protection, and order when everything else collapses.
It also functions as a symbol, proof that Griffith can create paradise, but only on his terms.
6) He once gave Casca a place to belong within the Hawks
Before the worst happened, Griffith provided Casca with purpose, protection, and a role where she could grow strong.
That early “good” is part of what makes later events so emotionally devastating.
7) He elevated Charlotte into a new life within his new order
This doesn’t erase his earlier exploitation, but it adds complexity: Griffith continues to shape Charlotte’s fate as part of his grand narrative, not as a one-night mistake.
FAQs
What did Griffith do that turned him into the main enemy?
He sacrificed the Band of the Hawk during the Eclipse and committed irreversible harm that permanently reshaped Guts and Casca’s lives.
Is Griffith a villain or an anti-hero?
He functions as a central antagonist after the Golden Age arc, even though he presents himself as a savior to the world.
Why do people follow Griffith in Berserk?
Because he delivers security, order, and survival at scale, benefits most citizens value more than truth.
Is Falconia truly a utopia?
It is one of the safest places for humans, but it’s also built under an inhuman power structure that demands loyalty to a myth.
Does Berserk portray Griffith as redeemable?
The story portrays him as complex and magnetic, but it does not treat his core crimes as something that can be “balanced out.”
In short, What did Griffith do in Berserk is what makes him one of the most unforgettable and controversial characters in dark fantasy manga: He achieved a “savior” legacy for the world while committing betrayals that shattered the people closest to him.
That clash between grand ambition and unforgivable cruelty is exactly why Griffith continues to dominate fan debates.
For more Berserk breakdowns and character guides, keep reading on HariManga.
