Which of the following is a requirement for battery under MCL 750.81?

A key requirement for the offense of battery under MCL 750.81 is the lack of the victim's consent. In legal terms, battery is defined as the intentional and unlawful use of force against another person. This definition encompasses both the act of causing physical contact and the absence of consent from the victim. Without consent, any forceful contact may be actionable as battery.

For instance, in situations where physical contact occurs but the victim has given explicit or implicit consent (such as in sports), it typically does not constitute battery. The absence of consent is therefore a pivotal factor in determining whether an act qualifies as battery under this statute.

In contrast, while intent to commit harm may be relevant, it is not an explicit requirement established in the statute for battery to occur. The use of a dangerous weapon is also not a necessary condition for battery; one can commit battery without any weapon at all. Lastly, causation of serious injury, though it might lead to more severe charges, does not have to occur for an act to be categorized as battery. Thus, the requirement of lack of the victim's consent stands out as the correct choice in this context.