Grozz

Grozz was a Wookiee athlete active following the fall of the Galactic Empire. Grozz was a professional huttballer, but he eventually became a Hunter in the Hunters of the Outer Rim competition on the Outer Rim planet Vespaara. He had a penchant for disarming droids and his opponents, a fact displayed in his weapons of choice: a pair of KX-series security droid's arms originally belonged to K-A0S.

Biography

Huttball Star

Grozz was originally from the Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk.^[1] He eventually became a professional Huttball player where he gained significant fame across the galaxy. His prowess at the sport caught the attention of the Rebel medic Zaina, who closely followed his professional career.^[3] After one particular Huttball match, Grozz approached the Master of Ceremonies, an Imperial, to shake his hand. Grozz continued on to the Imperial's KX-series security droid, K-A0S, and shook both of her hands so vigorously that both of her arms came off. Grozz reacted with what K-A0S later characterized as feigned surprise, before running off with her arms. Grozz would keep these arms and use them as clubs.^[4]

Hunters of the Outer Rim

By 9 ABY,^[5] Grozz had retired from Huttball and moved to the Outer Rim planet Vespaara to partake in Balada the Hutt and Daq Dragus's competition Hunters of the Outer Rim, where Grozz became friends with Zaina and former bounty hunter Imara Vex. In the Grand Arena, Grozz maintained his level of stardom.^[3]

When Rieve first became a Hunter, Grozz quickly made friends with her. The two of them played Huttball scrimmages together after their own matches. Although Rieve could not understand Shyriiwook, Grozz took the time to communicate with her using hand gestures. One evening, Grozz went out on the Backwater District with Zaina and Imara Vex, where they ran into Rieve outside the Oasis Cantina. Inside, Grozz thoroughly enjoyed a gonkrock concert, even crowdsurfing as Rieve joined the band to perform the Corellia's Not Dead hit, 'Forever.' Going out with Zaina, Imara Vex, and Rieve to the Oasis Cantina later became a repeated activity for Grozz.^[6]

Grozz was one of the first Hunters besides Rieve to see the cloaked man stalking her, standing in the team entrance tunnel to a battlefield. When Rieve was eventually cornered by the man's fighters in an underground fighting ring, Grozz was among the Hunters who rescued Rieve and fought off the combatants. When some of the man's other goons attacked the Grand Arena directly, Grozz fought off many of the invaders.^[6]

When tensions between Hunters Aran Tal and Imara Vex came to a head, a brawl began in the Arena's chow room. J-3DI tried to stop Tal, but the Mandalorian simply pushed Grozz on top of the droid. Daq Dragus was forced to intervene and stop the brawl.^[7]

Later, Grozz, along with Zaina's assistance, placed a wrapped present—a doll handcrafted by the Wookiee a week prior in the likeness of Tal—and placed it in Tal's dressing room as a gift. However—assuming it was a trap—the Mandalorian incinerated the wrapped gift with his flamethrower. While the Wookiee was not mad at the incident, he was still hurt and disappointed. In response, Tal apologized and offered Grozz what remained of the charred doll—a single ash-encrusted button—which he accepted. Grozz then returned to his room with a whimper.^[8]

Eventually Grozz began receiving cryptic, threatening messages on the HoloNet from K-A0S, who claimed she was on her way to the Arena to find him. Grozz was disturbed by these messages and confided in Zaina.^[9] K-A0S-eventually made her grand appearance in the Arena, declaring her intent to take revenge on Grozz.^[10] In an interview with Arena announcer Boz Vega, K-A0S publicly revealed that her animosity toward Grozz stemmed from his tearing off her arms and keeping them as trophies.^[11] Grozz put on an air of indifference to K-A0S's appearance and threats of revenge. Although he didn't comment on the matter, he made a point to show off his clubs fashioned from K-A0S's old arms as he strode around the Arena.^[12]

To get Grozz's side of the feud with K-A0S, Boz Vega hosted the Wookiee in an interview, translated by Zaina. Grozz was reluctant to comment on K-A0S, so the topic turned to Huttball. When Vega brought up a rumor that Grozz pulled off K-A0S's arms because she stole his favorite Huttball club, Grozz grew annoyed and stormed off through a hole in the door that K-A05 had blasted earlier.^[13]

K-A0S eventually challenged Grozz to a match. Grozz accepted,^[14] but was ultimately defeated. In the aftermath, the Wookiee and the security droid had a quiet conversation, at the end of which K-A0S was heard to mutter that she "didn't need those stupid arms anyway" as she walked away. There was reportedly a single tear coming from one of her eyes, although it was just as likely droid oil.^[4]

When the Iridonian Zabrak Nox joined the Hunters, she came into conflict with Rieve. On one occasion, a brawl broke out in the Training Ground and Grozz was forced to intervene, pinning Rieves arms to her sides until she calmed down.^[15]

When the Coruscanti Kubaz Glikkin joined the Hunters, he quickly became embroiled in an Arena-wide scavenger hunt with his fellow Hunter, a pair of Jawa brothers referred to as Utooni. As part of the hunt, Utooni stole one of Grozz's most prized possessions, a plush doll that Grozz had crafted in his own image.^[16]

Personality and traits

Grozz was a Wookiee with green eyes and covered in brown hair. He was considered to be large, even for a Wookiee.^[1] Grozz was a true show-Wookiee who always showed appreciation to his fans by signing autographs and giving hugs, despite his fame. Grozz held a deep appreciation of the Rebellion and their fight against the Galactic Empire. He respected fellow Hunter Zaina's service to the cause, and told the Miraluka Hunter, Diago Velaar the story of the scrap workers on the planet Ferrix rising up against the Empire, which was a story he held close to his heart.^[3]

Skills and abilities

Prior to his time on the Hunters of the Outer Rim competition, Grozz was a very popular and proficient Huttballer. He also had incredible strength, being able to carry large boulder and throw them at enemies during combat.^[3] Outside of the battlefield, the Wookiee was capable in handcrafting dolls, having done one for Tal^[8] and another for himself.^[17]

Equipment

Grozz's weapon of choice was a pair of KX-series security droid arms, which he used as improvised clubs.^[1] Other weapons he used included a pair of clubs fashioned from B1-series battle droid legs called the Huttballer clubs and another pair fashioned from the arms of a B2-series super battle droid.^[3]

Behind the scenes

Grozz is a playable character in^[2] the 2024 competitive combat game Star Wars: Hunters, published by Zynga and Lucasfilm Games.^[18] He was included in the game's soft launch as well as its global release.^[3]

Upon global release, Grozz was considered a level-one difficulty Tank-class Hunter. His base weapon, Improvised Clubs, deal low damage over a wide area and cause hit enemies to slow for a short duration. His Stampede active ability causes Grozz to run forward and grab an enemy, dealing high damage when smashing them into a wall. His Upheaval ability is slightly ranged, launching and slowing enemies hit by the attack. Grozz's War Cry ability restores health. His Ultimate ability, Boulder Bash, creates a large spherical boulder that bounces around, stunning and damaging enemies.^[3]

Grozz and his Ultimate were the focus of the limited-time game mode Boulder Bash, which took place in a virtual Holo-Arcade. In this game mode, all eight players were Grozz, with their abilities locked to his melee swings and a rapidly recharging Ultimate.^[3]

Appearances

• Hunters: Battle for the Arena (and audiobook)
• Star Wars: Hunters (First appearance)

Sources

Notes and references