Rancor/Legends

Rancors were five to ten meter tall monsters which originated on the planet of Dathomir. Although found on other worlds such as Ottethan and Rakata Prime (where they were brought on crashed starships), those from Dathomir were said to be stronger and more intelligent than others, and could be domesticated although with difficulty.

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. Jabba the Hutt kept one as a pet in a pit beneath his palace courts, dropping victims 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 it's prey is nearby within a corpse pile. He also placed within the pile a grenade. The rancor smelt the odor and appraoched the pile of bones of his previous victims. With one swing it it grabbed what it thought was its food and ate it in one gulp. The frag grenade inside exploded in its mouth introduced death to the rancor.

Though rancors were usually considered unintelligent beasts, the rancors of Dathomir appeared to be sentient, caring beasts mourned their family members who die. These rancors were used as mounts by the Witches of Dathomir. 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. Also, would spew out toxic fumes that would kill a human instantly.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars Republic: Infinity's End
 * 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