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“ | For as long as humanity can recall walking the surface of Remnant, so do they remember this wicked force. | „ |
~ Salem about the Grimm species. |
The Creatures of Grimm, or also simply known as Grimm, are major antagonists in the RWBY franchise. They are creatures that inhabit various parts of Remnant.
They are described as "Creatures of Destruction" and lack a soul; hence, they are unable to use Aura. They are in turn also drawn to feelings of negativity such as envy, sadness, loneliness, and hatred and will often congregate towards the source of these emotions.
At one point, ancient cultures believed that Grimm were animals possessed by evil spirits, or were the spirits of once tortured animals.
All of the Grimm creatures' vocal sound effects are provided by William Orendorff, who also voices Hazel Rainart in the same series.
Biology[]
Grimm appear to be born from mysterious black pools, as seen when Beowolves emerge from them in Salem's Domain. However, most of humanity is unaware of the origins of Grimm. Ancient human cultures believed the Grimm were animals possessed by evil spirits, or even the tortured spirits of animals themselves. Further study has disproved this theory over time, however, due in part to the discovery of even more horrific and misshapen species of Grimm which have no animal counterparts. With the discovery of new types of Grimm every day, scientists are left with more questions then answers.
Grimm come in a variety of shapes and sizes; the latter appears to be a factor of age, and are said to be the only creatures without souls, thus being deprived of the use of Aura, but making up for this with strength and savagery. Grimm are stated to be attracted to generally negative feelings such as sadness, hostility, anger, fear, and many more, and even congregate to areas that, although humanity has long since abandoned, still hold residual traces of these feelings.
This behavior will even lead to them to join in on an attack in progress if the humans being attacked begin to panic. Grimm typically form packs or other types of large groupings with other members of their own specific species. While some lone Grimm may stray from the pack for hours or even months, they will inevitably rejoin their group to continue their instinctive drive to hunt the people of Remnant and destroy any artificial creations associated with them.
The longer a Grimm lives, the larger it becomes, with species such as the Nevermore ranging from the size of an average bird of prey to massive pterosaur-sized beasts after hundreds of years. This added size comes with an ability to learn from their encounters in contrast to the Grimm's more reckless nature during their youth. While sometimes requiring hundreds of years, the Grimm's accumulated experiences over the course of surviving their battles with man can cause them to begin exercising caution.
This perverse form of self-preservation can even lead them to avoiding unnecessary conflicts altogether. Yet, despite this ability to learn, their instinctual hostility still remains, as shown by their preference to patrol the borders of Kingdoms for any weaknesses they might someday exploit. This demonstrates that for all of their apparent intelligence, older Grimm simply use it as a means to become more effective in their singular drive and purpose, to kill.
Grimm display no enmity towards normal animals, and they only clash during territorial disputes. Humans and Faunus are the only races they attack on sight. Grimm can also choose not to display feeding behavior and it is commonly believed that they do not require sustenance. When Grimm die, their corporeal form evaporates, preventing detailed anatomical or biological studies. Huntsmen that kill for sport cannot stuff and mount Grimm bodies as trophies (making do with replicas instead). Yet despite their many obvious differences with normal life, Grimm appear to still have a body structure similar to other animals, as they can be wounded and killed in the same manner. Grimm also appear to be incapable of healing their wounds, or do so very slowly, as numerous Grimm bear a number of large scars and open wounds.
Also of interesting note is that Grimm usually die off when in captivity (if they cannot kill their captors or escape first), implying that they cannot be kept alive by normal means. If the theory of Grimm not needing to feed is true, it is entirely possible that they survive on negative emotions or the act of killing itself.
Types of Grimm[]
Beowolf/Alpha Beowolf: Werewolf-like Grimm that can attack with claw slashes, lunging at their opponent, or biting anybody with its fangs. The mutant variant can slam its arms on the ground to fire a line of green spikes up through the ground and self-destructs itself after it is defeated. This is also the first ever Grimm to debut in the series.
Ursa/Ursa Minor/Ursa Major: Large bear-like Grimm that are stronger than Beowolves, tend to fight in packs, attack with claw slashes, and can cause rocks to portrude out of the earth via ground slamming.
King Taijitu: Large serpentine-like Grimm that resembles a black and a white snake fused together. It is rather tough and durable, can attack with lunges or with its fangs. One of them was encountered and defeated by Lie Ren in ¨The Emerald Forest¨.
Death Stalker: Scorpion-like Grimm that can attack with its pincers, a poisonous bite, and a somewhat venomous sting. It is also very durable, as it withstanded shots from Crescent Rose, Miló and StormFlower, but it cannot take too many strong hits. Its stinger can also glow in the dark.
Razorwing: Harpy-like Grimm that debut in RWBY: Arrowfell. They attack with talon swipes and can fly.
Beetle: Only seen in "Beginning of the End" on Cinder's Grimm Glove. These beetle-like Grimm can absorb and transfer the power of the Fall Maiden from Amber to Cinder, but is was unknown what would happen if the transfer was complete, as Amber gained facial scars and could only be kept alive through life support.
Blind Worm: Enormous worm-like Grimm that can attack by spitting out acid, swallowing its victims whole, biting its victims, or bashing its head.
Chill: Possession-type Grimm that can possess Humans and Faunus alike and, after they are done possessing its victim, they kill them. However, victims can be saved in the moment with certain specialized Huntsmen or tools.
Leviathan: A large, Godzilla-inspired Grimm that appeared in the climax of Volume 6. Due to it being aquatic, it can swim and breathe underwater, is resilient to many damage, even explosions, and can breath a powerful jet of lightning-infused fire that is capable of breaking through Atlas force field technology.
Monstra: A large whale-like Grimm created by Salem to personally invade Atlas all by herself. Through the use of large Gravity Dust crystals on its back, Monstra is capable of slow flight. It's sperm like head was able to clear the smoke inside of it to show an opaque image of what the Grimm Whale saw. It also can vomit Grimm Liquid from its mouth to spawn lesser like Grimm such as Beowolves, Ursai, Manticores, Megoliaths, Centinels, Teryxes, Boarbatusks, Lancers, Apathy, Sulfur Fish, Cenitaurs, winged Beringels, Nevermores, Sabyrs, and Tempests. It was later destroyed by Oscar.
Shadow Hand: Sentient Grimm arms that have claws, can transfer powers and Aura, and can regenerate. With Salem, she can craft these to act as a prosthetic arm, which cannot channel Aura, as Grimm are creatures of pure destruction. With Cinder, it can be used to steal the power of the other Maidens for herself.
Spider Grimm: Arachnid-based Grimm capable of casting illusions and hallucinations of one's fears and thoughts.
Tentacle Grimm: Octopus-based Grimm capable of merging other Grimm.
Boarbatusk: Boar-like Grimm that can attack through spin dashing or charging with its tusks,
Lancer/Queen Lancer: Swarms of wasp-like Grimm, with the queen controlling the drones. They attack by firing its stinger like a harpoon, slashing their claws, and firing out spikes.
Nevermore: Large crow-like Grimm that can attack with its sharp beak, and can also fire a barrage of feather-spears.
Creep: Terror bird-like Grimm that can dig under the ground and attack when rising up.
Goliath/Megoliath/Alpha Megoliath: Giant elephant-like Grimm that are heavily armored, and possess a lot of strength.
Sabyr: Sabre-toothed cat-like Grimm that attack through charging, claw swipes, and biting.
Nuckelavee: A fusion of an Imp Grimm and a Horse Grimm. The upper half can stretch its arms, spin around without hurting itself, and could release a ear piercing screech. The lower half can stomp and kick anyone. When fully enraged, the spikes and horns lengthened, its pupils then become vertical slits, and its mouth opened completely. It was also the murderer of Li Ren and An Ren, Lie Ren´s parents, as well as the destroyer of Kuroyuri.
Apathy: Humanoid-shaped Grimm that possess a willpower-draining Aura and a sleep-inducing scream.
Geist/Petra Gigas/Frosted Petra Gigas/Arma Gigas: Ghost-like Grimm that can posess inanimate objects.
Beringel/Winged Beringel: Gorilla-like Grimm that are brutal fighters, and later sport wings by Salem.
Seer: Crystal ball/jellyfish-like Grimm that act as surveillance and is used for transmitting messages, as well as for killing its victim with its barbed tentacles.
Nightmare: Plant-like Grimm that can trap victims in their own nightmares and feeds of their Aura. This Grimm serves as the main antagonist of RWBY: Ice Queendom.
Griffon: Large bird-like Grimm that attack with charging and claws.
Manticore/Sphinx: Grimm based on the two mythical species. Can spit out fireballs, sting its victims with its venomous scorpion-like tail, and can deal furious claw swipes.
Sea Feilong: A large sea dragon Grimm encountered and defeated by both Blake and Sun. It can breathe lightning and produce powerful gusts of wind with its giant wings.
Centinel/Cenitaur: Centipede-like Grimm that can burrow underground, spit out acid, spiral around one another, and evolve into a Cenitaur. Cenitaur Grimm can attack with its bladed arms.
Ravager: Large bat-like Grim that can attack with its claws and fangs, as well as a sonic screech. They were first seen in Vacuo attacking the evacuees of Atlas and Mantle.
Teryx: Large raptor-like Grimm with wings that can attack via biting, clawing and lunging.
The Hound: A very intelligent Grimm created by Salem as one of her many Grimm experiments, with the core of the Hound being a Faunus with Silver Eyes. Its primary abilities are to adapt to its surroundings, rearrange its limbs as well as stretching and growing them, sprout bat-like wings, track down its prey with its sense of smell, calling forth other Grimm to assist it, and its durability. It was later killed by Whitley and Willow Schnee.
Sulfur Fish: Silverfish-like Grimm that attack with their super-heated barbs. They can also combine into more monstrous forms.
Tempest: Large jellyfish-like Grimm that can attack via strangulation and generating electrical currents that can form storms. They are also very strong, as they can snap a single Atlesian Airship into two.
Wyvern: A large dragon-like Grimm that drip Grimm Liquid, which can spawn lesser Grimm. This Grimm was responsible for knocking the Cross Continental Transmit System offline. It was petrified by Ruby´s Silver Eyes after she used them in grief after witnessing Pyrrha´s death.
Swindlen: Gremlin-like Grimm that debut in RWBY: Arrowfell.
Other Types of Grimm[]
- Dromedon - A camel-like Grimm that can spit acidic venom. Fox Alistair battles one in Feldspar. They are shown to have armored humps.
- Dromedary is the scientific name for the Arabian camel.
- Jackalope - A huge rabbit-like Grimm with black fur, branching red and white antlers and powerful hind legs. A Jackalope is encountered by Velvet Scarlatina in Feldspar in RWBY: After the Fall. They later make a return in RWBY: Before the Dawn when Coco Adel and Carmine Esclados face a pair of them.
- The jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns.
- Ziraph - A three-headed Grimm that resembles a giraffe. Their bodies are covered in red spots that bear resemblance to a leopard's. Each head has two horns. They are described as being five stories tall and having razor-like plates on their four legs as well as long tongues which they use to ensnare people and swallow them whole. They are so powerful that it took the entirety of Team CFVY to defeat one of them.
- Owl Grimm - Owl Grimm are described in RWBY: Fairy Tales of Remnant in the story "The Warrior in the Woods", in which three owls attack a boy in a forest, only to be saved by a warrior woman. The story's animated adaptation depicts them with a similar appearance to Nevermores, though it is unknown if they are a separate species from Nevermores or not.
- Lagartodiles – Fearsome Grimm described as living in the swamps of Mistral by Bartholomew Oobleck in RWBY: Fairy Tales of Remnant.
- Grendels – Fierce Grimm described as living in the swamps of Mistral by Bartholomew Oobleck in RWBY: Fairy Tales of Remnant.
- Grendel is a fictional monster from the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf
- Long Tongues – Poisonous Grimm described as living in the swamps of Mistral by Bartholomew Oobleck in RWBY: Fairy Tales of Remnant.
- Whisps – Tricky Grimm described as living in the swamps of Mistral by Bartholomew Oobleck in RWBY: Fairy Tales of Remnant.
- Whisps are possibly based on the Will-o'-the-wisp, an atmospheric phenomenon of light that gave rise to folk beliefs of fairies and ghosts.
- Capivara - A large, rat-like Grimm from Menagerie described with having a long black tail with white barbs at its end, sharp elongated claws, and two rows of teeth the size of Human fingers. One makes an appearance in RWBY: Roman Holiday, where Mistral crime boss Paul Parrot has it imported into the city and keeps it in the basement of his club for use in executing his enemies. After Roman Torchwick, Melanie and Miltia Malachite face off against it, it escapes, kills many of Paul's men and is then destroyed by Spider.
- The Capybara is the largest rodent, native to South America.
- Drake - An unnamed large, dinosaur-like terrestrial Grimm described in the "I Burn Anthology", which is mostly non-canon. As yet, they have only been seen in a dream sequence so whether this is an existing species or merely a figment of Yang's imagination is unconfirmed.
- Berserker - An unnamed hairy, bipedal, mammalian Grimm described in the "Mirror Mirror Anthology", which is mostly non-canon.
- Theropod Grimm - A theropod, dinosaur-like Grimm which first appears in RWBY 6. This Grimm is shown to have a body resembling a three-headed tyrannosaur and having horns on its white face mask. It is seen in Menagerie, being quickly dispatched by Blake and Sun Wukong.
- Combat Ready Grimm - Unidentified Grimm resembling a Beowolf with elements of a Leviathan appears on the Grimm Portal objective card in RWBY: Combat Ready. Whether it is a unique Grimm or an artistic representation of a Beowolf is unclear.
- DC Grimm - Unidentified Grimm resembling a Beowolf or Ursa summoned by Weiss in the RWBY Comic which may have been an artistic representation of a Beowolf or Ursa rather than a unique species. Another Grimm with less discernable features was shown, although it was likely the same Grimm in the process of materializing.
- Shark Grimm - Seen on a poster in "Strings".
- Grimm Puppy - Seen in "Vol. 5: Shine", which is mostly non-canon. It resembles a wolf or husky puppy. Whether it is meant to be a young or infant version of a Beowolf or a unique species is unknown.
- Pray Mantis Grimm - First revealed in RWBY: Ice Queendom, which resembles to pray mantis.
- Sea Dragon Grimm - First revealed in RWBY: Ice Queendom, which resembles to sea dragon.
- Godzilla Grimm - First revealed in RWBY: Ice Queendom, which resembles to a giant dinosaur.
Scrapped Grimm[]
The below list seen here shows a list of all the scrapped Creatures of Grimm by many fan artists in a contest. Whichever Grimm design that won would be featured in the Battle of Atlas in ¨War¨, but all were turned down in favor of the Sulfur Fish Grimm:
Beholder: Eyeball-like Grimm that can see through any form of obscurities to find its prey, meaning that stealth maneuvers will not work against them and, once enemies are in sight, will reveal smaller eyes as writhing tendrils with lasers and blades.
Chimera: A three-way fusion Grimm that has a large chest cavity, snake tail with poisonous saliva, long necks for ramming attacks, and crushing jaws.
Hag: Skeletal humanoid-like Grimm with heads resembling bird skulls. They can attack via swiping their claws or talons, and can throw a ball of toxic fumes at their enemies.
Husk: Grimm that represent the cold, hollowness of hearts drenched with negative emotion, and its mere presence turns the air cold. It also attacks with frozen breath. Some of its limbs are protected by a thick layer of ice, so weapons or gunfire cannot break it. Also, the more negative emotion present, then the stronger the ice will become. The only way to rid one's self of the Husk is to overcome whatever fear is within you. Only then it will the Husk's icy protection weaken, leaving it vulnerable to a killing blow.
Ibex: Creatures of Grimm based on the real-life animal of the same name. They travel in packs and can attack with their speed and horns. Although they lost to Sulfur Fish, Rooster Teeth later said that they would use the Ibex in Vacuo rather than Atlas.
Rotherium: Creatures of Grimm based on the Elasmotherium, the prehistoric version of the modern day rhino. They are driven by unstoppable, mindless rage attack without hesitating.
Tengu: Creatures of Grimm based on the mythical Japanese creature of the same name. Capable of high-speed flight and talon swipes.
RWBY: Amity Arena[]
Several types of Grimm appear as units in RWBY: Amity Arena:
- Ursa Majors: A durable melee unit that only goes after structures.
- King Taijitu: Wraps around and deals continuous damage to enemies.
- Nevermore Chicks: A ranged air unit that makes area attacks from above.
- Baby Death Stalkers:
- Baby Death Stalker Swarm - Deploys fifteen Mini Death Stalkers.
- Baby Death Stalkers - Deploys four Mini Death Stalkers.
- Boarbatusks: Rolls towards its enemies with great speed and power.
- Lancers:
- Lancers: Deploys three small ranged air units with fast attack speeds.
- Lancer Swarm: Deploys six small ranged air units with fast attack speeds.
- Queen Lancer: Tank unit that summons lancers at regular intervals.
- Griffons: A melee air unit that closes in quickly and hits hard.
- Beowolves:
- Beowolf Alpha - Leaps at a structure and deals heavy damage to it.
- Beowolf Pack - Melee units that dash towards structures.
- Petra Gigas: A tank unit that deals great area damage upon death.
- Beringels: Leaps to a target location and causes area damage.
On top of being units in PVP, the Grimm also appear as antagonists in the Adventure Mode, where the player controls a character fighting in the Battle of Beacon.
Trivia[]
- The name for the creatures of Grimm may be a reference to the Brothers Grimm or Grimm's Fairy Tales, a famous collection of German fairytales compiled by the brothers.
- Additionally, Grimm is German for "fury" or "wrath".
- Grimm follow a color theme of red, white, black, and a little yellow.
- These are the colors of the four main characters.
- The White Fang wear Grimm masks because humans tried to make monsters out of them, so they wear the faces of monsters as a symbol.
- Grimm Liquid, the substance in which Grimm spawn from, has no effects with little physical contact, but too much can destroy one's body or even transform them.
- Other than that, the river of Grimm Liquid had a much larger role while Volume 8 was in development: Robyn and the Happy Huntresses were originally going to fight the Grimm Liquid geyser as a ¨Pillar of Grimm Miniboss¨, but it was cut in the final version.
- Also, it is unknown why the Grimm Liquid pools in the Land of Darkness were much smaller than they were in the age of the Gods.