Rancor/Legends

Rancors were five to ten meter tall reptomammals which originated on the planet of Dathomir. Although found on other worlds such as Ottetha, Corulag and Rakata Prime (where they were brought on crashed starships), those from Dathomir were said to be stronger and more intelligent than others. Dathomirian rancors could be domesticated with difficulty, and Force-sensitivity was apparently necessary to accomplish the task.

Warm-blooded, rancors fall into the reptomammal category, along with other creatures such as the wampa. It is known that while rancors do care for their young - born usually as twins - they do not suckle. The young ride the mother, one on her back, one on her stomach, until reaching maturity.



Rancors walked on two small, stubby legs, with abnormally long arms for catching prey. A rancor's flat face was dominated by a large mouth full of razor sharp teeth. The skin of a rancor was tough enough to deflect blaster bolts, making it an efficient killing machine–and an excellent source of leather for expensive vests and boots. Jabba the Hutt kept one as a pet in a pit beneath his palace courts, dropping victims who displeased him in some way in to feed it.

While stranded on Taris, the reformed Revan had to get past a rancor in order to infiltrate the Black Vulkar base. He did this by placing a synthetic odor that made the rancor think that its prey was nearby within a corpse pile, where he had placed a grenade. The rancor, grabbing what it thought was food, ate the grenade, which exploded in its mouth and killed the beast.

Though rancors were usually considered unintelligent beasts, the rancors of Dathomir appeared to be sentient, caring beasts who mourned their family members that died. These rancors were used as mounts by the Witches of Dathomir, and with the help of the Witches even equipped themselves with armor and primitive weapons. The reborn Emperor Palpatine also kept several alchemically altered Chrysalide rancors at his Citadel on Byss. Imperial scientists also worked on a mutant rancor, twice as big and strong as a normal rancor. It could spew out toxic fumes that would kill a human instantly, and its pitiful existance was ended by Jedi Knight Jaden Korr during a mission to Taanab.

Rancors were occasionally used for gambling matches, pitting one rancor against another or against slaves as depicted in this poster. One such gambling ring existed on Nar Kreeta.

Prior to the rise of the the Empire, the Jedi Order named the Form VI: Niman style of lightsaber combat after the rancor.

Planets on which rancor were found

 * Byss
 * Carida
 * Corulag
 * Dathomir (Planet of origin)
 * Nar Kreeta
 * Ottetha
 * Rakata Prime
 * Taanab
 * Taris
 * Tatooine

[[Media:Rancor_roar_02.ogg|Hear a rancor]]

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Star Wars Republic: Infinity's End
 * Star Wars Republic: The Dreadnaughts of Rendili
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Battlefront
 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith
 * The Courtship of Princess Leia
 * Dark Empire II
 * The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide
 * Star Wars: Empire at War
 * Force Heretic III: Reunion