# 10: Berkut (Echoes: Shadows of Valentia)

 

The next villain whose spot on this list was determined by popular demand is Berkut, one of the newest additions to Echoes. Berkut made it to the Top 3 for both main and Guyden so he's clearly a popular character. Why is he popular? The first reason is that he serves as an effective dark mirror to Alm.

At the beginning of Echoes Alm starts with nothing while Berkut starts with the world his oyster. Alm begins in Ram Village as a nobody who's only known to the tiny number of people living in the village. Berkut, by contrast, is the heir to the Rigelian Empire. As the story progresses these two characters gradually switch places. Alm continues to gain victory after victory while Berkut suffers numerous consecutive defeats. Near the end of the game it's revealed that Alm is actually Rudolf's son, which means that he's the one who will rightfully ascend the throne.

This revelation is the final nail in Berkut's coffin. By this point in the game he's been relegated to the bench by his uncle, and he's also witnessed his nation suffer defeat. And to add insult to injury, the guy who beat him is going to rule a throne he previously believed was his. Throughout the game Berkut witnesses his entire life crashing down on him. That's brutal!

 

As you'd expect of a future emperor to the Rigelian Empire, Berkut was raised on the belief that only nobles could rule. Strength and social standing are all that matter. This is what he tells to Rinea later in the game:

"From childhood, all that’s ever been asked of me is strength. It is my duty as one born to stand above others. To rule. I’ve been taught that all my life. By my father, my mother... How am I to remain calm in the face of defeat at the hands of peasants?!" — Berkut to Rinea

 

 

This quote, and the dialogue in the picture, highlight another fascinating element of Berkut's character. When you read some of his dialogue he sounds incredibly whiny. And yet, nobody ever thinks of him as such. Why is that? The simple answer is that Berkut's voice actor, Ian Sinclair, gave a fantastic performance. When you hear Ian say these lines, you don't hear whining. You hear desperation. Ian delivers on Berkut's bravado and on his anguish. Thanks to Ian's performance, when you hear the word "lies" repeated, it sounds like a desperate man being pushed to the brink. The end result is that you feel bad for him. Even though Berkut goes on to sacrifice the soul of the one person who stayed by his side through everything, you still can't help but feel at least a little sorry for him.

This is why Berkut is a popular villain for so many Fire Emblem fans. He's a tragic character whose life comes apart at the seems, and his anguish is masterfully portrayed by a talented voice actor. When you combine these ingredients together, you get a memorable villain.