Battle-Cat
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.
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.
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.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
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…”
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
Tell me more about the game stats
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].
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
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.