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Sabyrs[2] are Creatures of Grimm that resemble sabertooth tigers. They made their first appearance in “The Greatest Kingdom”, attacking the city of Mantle after a wall was breached.

Appearance[]

Sabyrs are large predatory cats resembling the now extinct genus of saber-toothed cat, Smilodon. Their namesake are the large canines with which they can deliver a powerful bite. They possess small bone plates on their shoulders and hips, ribs on their sides and spines coming from their backs. Their black skin appears to be somewhat frozen and has white patches, most likely due to the fact that they inhabit the cold tundras of Solitas. They also have bony tails. Sabyrs in Solitas are referred to as Ice Sabyrs.[3]

History[]

In RWBY: The Grimm Campaign, it is revealed that the Sabyrs were transported and introduced to Anima by Javi Pastel two years prior to the start of RWBY. After he found a Magic Necklace in the mountains, he experimented on these Grimm and learned that it could control them after he made one kill someone. After this, the Sabyrs managed to escape and kill almost everyone under Pastel's Estate. Team SAFR later encounter some of these Sabyrs when they start investigating the strange incidents happening around Kuchinashi. They manage to kill a few of them before Team SMMK show up and kill the remaining ones. After Team SAFR reach the secret passage under Javi Pastel's Estate, they found traces of Sabyr claw marks on the doors and walls of the passage.

Later in "The Fast and the Furriest", Sabyrs are among the Grimm that the leader of the Wave Crime Syndicate Lemon controlled to attack Team SAFR.

When Human Nextwork did research on Sabyr's for their unit in RWBY: Amity Arena, they noticed how strange it was that they adapted so quickly to Solitas' cold environment.

Soon after Ruby's Group's arrival in Mantle in "The Greatest Kingdom", a pack of Ice Sabyrs attack the city after a wall in its defenses had been breached. The pack attacked a group of Atlesian Knight-200s and was defeated by the group of Huntsmen.

A large, loose Ice Sabyr is later referenced in "Pomp and Circumstance", and it is later killed in "Sparks" by Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long. The Sabyrs continue to try and breach the city, being slayed by the Huntsmen as they prepare to launch the Amity Communications Tower.

Once Arthur Watts turns off the heat in Mantle and citizens in Mantle began to riot, various Grimm, including the Ice Sabyrs invade and breach the city en masse, causing the Huntsmen, aided by the Atlas Military and Ace Operatives, to evacuate citizens.

In "Refuge", they attempt to attack Yang's Group when they are evacuating the people of Mantle, but run away after they hear The Hound. Later, the head of a Saybr was seen in a river of Grimm Liquid heading for the city of Mantle, with one noticing the liquid beginning to erupt and head towards Atlas.

Sabyr's later appear as Salem created an army of Grimm to attack Atlas. After Monstra was killed, Saybrs were still seen running through the streets of Atlas.

Powers and Abilities[]

They are incredibly fast and are capable of jumping large distances. Their mass alone can incapacitate an Atlesian AK-200 robot.

Sabyrs don't appear to be very durable, being able to be taken down by a single bullet each. They use their speed and great numbers to make up for their disadvantages, specializing in swiftly taking out their opponents before they can be hit, as seen by their effectiveness against the Atlesian Knights.

Trivia[]

  • It was stated at RTX that Grimm on the icy continent of Solitas are based on prehistoric and ice age animals.[4]
  • According to Chris Kokkinos, the sound design for the Sabyrs is heavily based on lions and tigers.[5]
  • RWBY: Amity Arena Card Bio:[6]
    • These Sabyrs seem to have somehow adapted to Mantle's environment. Gone are the days when the cold kept the Grimm at bay, and now we deal with the ice crusted versions of the Sabyr. Still, there is a burning question in our minds. Didn't these Sabyrs... adjust a little too quickly?
  • According to 18th Anniversary Star Chart T-Shirt, Remnant follows several Grimm-themed constellations in their northern skies. May–June are the Sabyr.
  • The Saybr's running away after spotting The Hound was inspired by a scene in "Halo: Combat Evolved" where the Covenant are shown running away from something for the first time, which left a lasting impression on Miles Luna.[7]

References[]

  1. RWBY: The Grimm Campaign
  2. RWBY: Amity Arena
  3. RWBY: Amity Arena
  4. RTX 2019 RWBY Panel
  5. RWBY Volume 8 Episode 1 Watch Party
  6. RWBY: Amity Arena
  7. RWBY Volume 8 Directors' and Writers' Commentary Chapter 2
Minor Combatants
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