6 min read


Context

The giant green tiger Battle-Cat is He-man’s companion and heroic mount. For more context about this major 1980s cartoon series, you should first check our Masters of the Universe “base camp” article.

This writeup also covers Battle-Cat’s appearances in the 1985 to 1987 spin-off series She-Ra Princess of Power.

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Background

  • Real Name: Cringer.
  • Other Aliases: Cringe.
  • Known Relatives: None.
  • Group Affiliation: He-man and the heroic warriors.
  • Base of Operations: The Royal Palace.
  • Height (at shoulder): Cringer 3’0″ (91 cm). / Battle-Cat 5’0″ (1.52m).
  • Weight: Cringer 500 lbs (227 Kg, 3 APs) / Battle-Cat ½ ton (455 kg, 5 APs).
  • Eyes: Yellow with black pupils. Hair: Green with orange stripes.

Powers & Abilities

Battle-Cat is a huge fierce armored tiger with sharp claws and fangs, and incredible strength.

He possesses great agility and leaping ability.

Battle-Cat’s powerful roar can paralyze enemies with fear.

Cringer/Battle-Cat is one of many talking animals on the planet Eternia. His growls are a form of communication with other animals.

Cringer, like Battle-Cat, has a sensitive sense of smell. He can follow trails and pick up other scents.

Battle-Cat delivers a battering ram style attack by launching himself at opponents or barricades.

Battle Cat (Masters of the Universe cartoon)

History

See the He-man character profile for details on Battle-Cat’s past.

Description

Battle-Cat is a huge green tiger with orange stripes. He wears a red armored helm and saddle. Battle-Cat has a deep growling voice.

Cringer is a normal sized healthy green tiger with a soft and squeaky voice. He stutters a lot.

Adam is often seen in the Royal Palace petting his sidekick.

Battle Cat (Masters of the Universe cartoon) Cringer emotes

As Cringer.

Personality

Given his name by the Sorceress of Grayskull, Battle-Cat is a brave and reliable companion to He-man. Of opposing temperament to Cringer. Battle-Cat is eager for a fight. Intimidation is preferred when facing weaker opponents.

Battle-Cat is always glad to be free of the restraints of his cowardly alter-ego.

He loves to fight even though He-man doesn’t. He-man will sometimes command Battle-Cat to reign in his desire for combat. The two are best friends, riding and fighting and joking together. Battle-Cat always defers to He-man’s judgement.

On occasion he’ll joke with Orko, teasing him about his magic tricks.

Cringer

Cringer is afraid of pretty much everything. He’s a coward and not afraid to admit it. Cringer hates adventuring and would much rather take a nap after a nice meal. When overtaken by fear Cringer sprints away at top speed.

He’s fairly lazy, lounging around the Palace trying to find a quiet place to relax. Cringer seems to be able to sleep the whole day away only rising for meals. Fish is his favorite!

Cringer acts like a big kitten, playfully pouncing after butterflies.

A good friend to Orko treating each other as equals. While most treat Orko as a child and Cringer as little more than a pet.

Though Cringer doesn’t really like being Battle-Cat, he realizes there are times when he’s needed.

Quotes

Battle-Cat

He-Man: “Battle-Cat, when we get to the top, you got to tell Mother Roe we mean her no harm.”
Battle-Cat: “I just hope we speak the same language.”

He-Man: “Come on, Battle-Cat. An Eternian snail can move faster than this.”
Battle-Cat (growls): “One more crack and you’re walking !”

(Growl) “Put her on my back, I’ll carry her.”

(Battle Cat dropped into a flying Wind Raider) “He-Man, you forgot just one thing. I can’t fly this crazy thing !”

Cringer

“My mother didn’t raise any foolish children.”

Glitch: “Oh, you scared me.”
Cringer: “I know just how you feel.”

Prince Adam: “This is a job for He-man and Battle-Cat.”
Cringer: “I was afraid of that.”

He-Man: “I know you don’t enjoy this, old cat, but there is a quest for us.”
Cringer: “I know, but every time I turn into that Battle-Cat, you get me into some kind of trouble. I-I-I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll go with you, but as Cringer. Me-me-maybe I can bring some common sense to this quest.”
He-Man: “Alright, my feline friend, but when you change your mind be sure to let me know.”
Cringer: “Fat chance.”

Cringer (quietly): “I wish Battle-Cat were here…”

Battle Cat (Masters of the Universe cartoon) leaping with He-Man astride orange sky axe

DC Universe Adaptation

(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).

In the DC Universe, or any universe, Battle-Cat without He-man wouldn’t be Battle-Cat. He needs to transform with the power of Grayskull.

As a way to remove Grayskull from Battle-Cat’s origin story. Cringer could drink from the pool in the Valley of Power to explain how he could remain Battle-Cat permanently.

Even an intelligent talking tiger would have trouble fitting in a modern day city. Battle-Cat could be teamed with an existing hero.

Marvel Universe Adaptation

It would be interesting to have Battle-Cat in the Savage Land, meeting Ka-Zar and Zabu or Sheena.

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DC Heroes RPG

Battle-Cat

A 636 points Character (Without equipment).

Dex: 05 Str: 06 Bod: 06
Int: 03 Wil: 04 Min: 04
Inf: 03 Aur: 04 Spi: 03
Init: 011 HP: 035

Powers:

Analytical Smell/Tracking Scent: 06, Claws: 06, Cold Immunity: 01, Digging: 10, Extended Hearing: 03, Extra-Limb (tail): 01, EV: 09, Growth: 02, Jumping: 02, Running: 04, Super Hearing: 03, Swimming: 03, Ultra Vision: 04

Bonuses and Limitations:

  • Extra-Limb first appears in the “The Cat And The Spider” episode.
  • Running may be pushed without fear of Burnout (+1).
  • EV is contingent on Running and may only be used to perform a Ramming attack (-1).

Skills:

Acrobatics (Climbing): 03, Charisma (Intimidation): 07, Military Science (Danger Recognition)*: 03

Bonuses and Limitations:

Charisma (Intimidation) has Multi-Attack 2 (+2 FC).

Advantages:

Area-Knowledge (Eternia), Insta-Change, Iron Nerves, Language (Tiger, Eternian beasts).

Connections:

He-man (High), Orko (High).

Drawbacks:

Alter-Ego (Uncontrollable), Minor Irrational Attraction to fighting.

Motivation:

Thrill of Adventure.

Occupation:

Faithful companion and mount.

Wealth:

000

Equipment:

BATTLE HELMET and SADDLE [BODY 13, Enhance (Blunt, Structural, Piercing, Slashing, Energy RV): 05 (cap is 11), Drawback: Partial Coverage, R#0, Cost: 155].

Battle Cat (Masters of the Universe cartoon) Simon Soltau painting He-Man Teela Grayskull fantasy

This oil painting is part of a series by Simon Soltau  .


Cringer

A 231 points Character.

Dex: 04 Str: 04 Bod: 04
Int: 03 Wil: 02 Min: 02
Inf: 02 Aur: 02 Spi: 02
Init: 009 HP: Shared with
other form

Powers:

Analytical Smell/Tracking Scent: 05, Claws: 04, Cold Immunity: 01, Extended Hearing: 03, Jumping: 01, Running: 04, Super Hearing: 03, Swimming: 00, Ultra Vision: 04

Bonuses and Limitations:

Cringer can’t swim but he does float very well. Swimming is his ability to stay on top of the water.

Skills:

Acrobatics*: 04

Advantages:

Familiarity (Parachuting), Insta-Change, Language (Tiger).

Connections:

He-man (High), Orko (High).

Drawbacks:

Alter-Ego (Un-Controllable), Minor Irrational Fear of everything, Minor Irrational attraction to laziness and food, Minor Physical Restriction (sea-sickness), Minor Miscellaneous (Can’t swim).

Motivation:

Unwanted Power.

Occupation:

Faithful companion.

Wealth:

000

Writeups.org writer avatar Ethan Roe

By Ethan Roe.

Source of Character: Filmation Presents 1983/1984 animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (particularly the “Battle-Cat” episode), 1985 to 1987 series She-Ra Princess of Power, and the movie The Secret of the Sword, voiced by Alan Oppenheimer.

Helper(s): Animals File on W.org, Wikipedia, WikiGrayskull  , IMDB, rtm2301, Darci.

Writeup completed on the 16th of December, 2018.