 The mens rea requirement for battery is similar to assault . It is the intention to apply unlawful force to another , or be reckless as to whether such force is applied . It employs Cunningham recklessness – that the defendant must have foreseen the risk of the infliction of unlawful force upon V. In theory , at least , combining the mens rea of battery with the actus reus of assault , or vice versa , is not a crime . The Majewski test is applied to cases of voluntary intoxication , as battery is also a crime of " basic intent " in this scenario . 
