Guts (Japanese: ガッツ, Hepburn: Gattsu, sometimes romanized as Güts) is a fictional character and the protagonist from the manga Berserk, created by Kentaro Miura.

Guts has been praised for the themes he embodies as a result of his tragic backstory and how he becomes an anti-hero in the process, to the point of being of one of the most iconic characters in manga and anime.

While briefly working as an assistant to George Morikawa at 18, Kentaro Miura had already planned some ideas for Berserk's development, having a dark warrior with a gigantic sword illustrated in his portfolio who would later become the first conception of Guts.

He wanted to convey an "extension of reality" feel to the sword, similar to the depiction of the Fist of the North Star's Hokuto Shinken martial art, and make it believable for the readers.

[11][12] Specifically, he mentioned that his friendship with later fellow manga artist Koji Mori partially inspired the Guts and Griffith's relationship.

A few years later, an older Guts attracts the attention of a mercenary group, The Band of the Hawk, when he kills the knight Bazuso during a siege.

Later, the Band of the Hawk participates in the battle to capture the impenetrable Fortress of Doldrey and end the Hundred Years War, wherein Casca kills Adon.

The Band of the Hawk are slaughtered by the God Hand's monstrous Apostles (former humans like Nosferatu Zodd) and Femto rapes Casca.

[24] Critics noted that Guts, at the beginning of the story, is presented as an antihero who does not care about killing and is indifferent to people who aid him.

Guts does not act in accordance with definitions of right and wrong, he operates within a gray area, and does not attempt to be heroic or protect the innocent.

[27][28] His tragic and traumatic past, unfolded in the Golden Age arc, proves that Guts is a much more complex character according to Mania, The Fandom Post, and Anime News Network.

[24][11] As a child, Guts tries to build some level of friendship with his mercenary group,[31] but due to his traumatic experience with them, he lost trust in people.

[32][33][34] However, through the time he is with Griffith and the rest of the Band of the Hawk, Guts forms bonds, friendships, animosities and co-dependencies, maturing as well as an individual.

[39][26] Reviewing the first two volumes, Greg McElhatton of Read About Comics wrote: "it's still hard to identify what about Berserk brings across such a fascination.

"[40] Chetri called Miura a "splendid storyteller whose artwork is stark and bold enough to bring the world of Guts to life magnificently.

"[41] Ramsey Isler of IGN stated that Guts "served as a template for many heroes that came after him", adding that the "ridiculously big sword he wields" started a trend, spread to characters like Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII and Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach.

[49] Kaiji Tang's work as Guts' voice actor was well received by Anime News Network for providing "a wonderfully deep, gravel-voiced interpretation" of the character.