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Massiffs were reptilian creatures found on Geonosis and Tatooine. The species' original world was unknown; however, the Geonosis and Tatooine populations were by far the most numerous. Canine in appearance with an armored hide, the beasts could be domesticated and used for sentry and guard tasks. On Geonosis, possession of a massiff was a sign of authority and aristocracy. The Geonosians and massiffs had a somewhat symbiotic relationship; in exchange for shelter, the creatures would rid the hives of pests. It was easy to tell the age of a massiff, for they grew a new pair of antlers every standard year.
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Biology and appearance[edit | edit source]
Massiffs had coarse skin, large jaws, toothy mouths, big dark eyes and a line of hard spikes along their backs.[1]
History[edit | edit source]

A pair of fighting massiffs.
In addition to being introduced to Malastare, the massiff was domesticated by the Tusken Raiders of Tatooine. Researchers believe that an interstellar freighter carrying the animals crashed in one of the planet's sandstorms around 222 BBY. The resulting slaughter by the Sand People left only one survivor, while a small portion of the massiffs were kept by the attackers. Their senses being attuned to the clear conditions of Geonosis, massiffs were useless as sentries in Tatooine's constantly blowing sand. Instead, they found their niche as camp defenders, attacking any intruders on sight. The presence of massiffs was a contentious one among the Tusken clans, as many felt that they were a departure from tradition. Because of this, warring clans would often try to slay each other's pets as gestures of insult.

A view of a massiff's jagged teeth and large eyes
The proximity of Geonosis and Tatooine undoubtedly led to the migration of the creature from one world to another, most likely the result of careless traders introducing the animal into a new ecosphere. On Geonosis, massiffs were emblems of the Geonosian aristocracy, and domesticated massiffs were used to rid the hives of vermin. On occasion, massiffs were used in arena fighting. On Tatooine, they were similarly domesticated as camp guard animals.
During the Clone Wars, at least one massif was used by the Grand Army of the Republic for military purposes, being handled by an ARF trooper accordingly nicknamed "Hound." He was used to track Jedi Ahsoka Tano on Coruscant.
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
The massiff design originated first as an orray concept. When it was deemed too vicious-looking for the simple pack animals, the massiff instead became a dog-sized lizard that was to attack Obi-Wan Kenobi during a scene ultimately cut from the film.[2]
Rather than discard the work already done on the massiff, the creature was transplanted to Tatooine. The computer-generated model was used instead as a Tusken Raider guard dog, replacing a creature design originally called a faybo.[3]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
- Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones (First appearance)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
- Boba Fett: The Fight to Survive
- The Clone Wars: Decide Your Destiny: Crisis on Coruscant
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Lethal Trackdown"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Tipping Points"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "A Necessary Bond"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "The Jedi Who Knew Too Much"
- Philology
- Memories
- Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
- Rebel Force: Trapped (Mentioned only)
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
- The Art of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
"Inside Attack of the Clones: Tusken Raider Encampment"—Star Wars Insider 62
- Coruscant and the Core Worlds
- Ultimate Alien Anthology
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 108 (GEO22, Geonosis Landscape)
- Threats of the Galaxy
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide
- The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
"Korriban Creatures" on Wizards.com (original article link, backup link)
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Squadrons Over Corellia (Card: Tusken Massiff)
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Galactic Hunters (Card: Massif House Pet)
- Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 34
massiff in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars: What Makes a Monster?
- Lords of Nal Hutta
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Galactic Hunters (Card: Massif House Pet)
- ↑ The Art of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- ↑
massiff in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)