StarWars.com on General Grievous [Legends]

Started by YousufKhan12121 pages

StarWars.com on General Grievous [Legends]

Thread preface: This is Legends only i.e. no material that comes after April 2014. The Obi-Wan databank from the old Star Wars website that was included in Leland Chee's holocron, states the following about Grievous:

"The droid general had been trained in lightsaber combat by Count Dooku. Grievous lacked the finesses of a master swordsman, and instead used brute and whirlwind tactics against Kenobi. Grievous' artificial anatomy allowed him to wield four lightsabers at once, and spin them like deadly buzzsaws. But, since he could not use the Force, Kenobi was able to anticipate his blows, and counter them. Obi-Wan sheared off several of Grievous' lightsaber hands, and forced the General to flee." -- StarWars.com Databank: Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This quote dates all the way back to 2005. It says that Grievous lacks the finesses of a master swordsman, but relies on his extremely unconventional fighting style and constantly spam it at Kenobi i,e. "brute and whirlwind tactics" rather than pure lightsaber skills, simply because he isn't a master swordsman at all, but a pressure fighter. Obi-Wan was able to anticipate Grievous's attacks through precognition and counter them with his own. This is also evidence of the saying "styles make fights," because although Grievous isn't a master swordsman, he makes up for that with his brute strength and whirlwind tactics, which are clearly really unconventional and randomized, given that he has been able to challenge many great Jedi of his era.

Some Legends sources do indicate that he was very skilled tho.

Originally posted by Eli Vanto
Some Legends sources do indicate that he was very skilled tho.

These sources refer to his unarmed combat skills, which isn't mutually exclusive with what the databank says.

I'm more referring to Labyrinth of Evil, where GG was stated to be adapting a version on Vaapad on the fly while he was fighting with Windu.

Originally posted by Eli Vanto
I'm more referring to Labyrinth of Evil, where GG was stated to be adapting a version on Vaapad on the fly while he was fighting with Windu.

He didn't actually adapt Vaapad, but something resembling the fighting style of Vaapad that was "close enough":

"Successful at analyzing Mace's lightsaber style, those same computers suggested that Grievous alter his stance and posture, along with the angle of his parries, ripostes, and thrusts. The result wasn't Vaapad, but it was close enough, and Mace wasn't interested in prolonging the contest any longer than necessary." ― Labyrinth of Evil.

In fact this passage attributes Grievous's mimicry of Windu's fighting style to his super computers, rather than pre-existing finesse, by alerting Grievous how to "alter his stance and posture" alongside "the angle of his parries, ripostes, and thrusts" and I think that is reconcilable with what the databank says about his prowess with a blade.

well if his "unconventional skills' are enough to kick kenobi's ass multiple times then they're good enough for "master swordsman"

Originally posted by Rockydonovang
well if his "unconventional skills' are enough to kick kenobi's ass multiple times then they're good enough for "master swordsman"

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