Grenchler

Grenchler
The Grenchler's in-game model
Featured in	Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Knownlocales	Torvus Bog
Known worlds	Aether
Attacks	Biting, energy bursts
Weakness	Fragile shell on back
Battle music	Short Battle

Grenchlers are amphibious apex predators that live in the Torvus Bog region on Aether. Vicious and powerful, they are among the most dangerous creatures native to the planet. They share many traits with the Sheegoths of Tallon IV.

Description

Grenchlers are large, reptilian carnivores with multiple red, beady eyes and massive jaws. In close quarters, a Grenchler can use its sharp teeth to easily tear apart prey and enemy alike. For distant enemies, the Grenchler can also use its single horn to release directed bolts of energy. Its powerful legs can also help it easily close any distance, either by running, swimming or leaping to impressive heights. Most of the Grenchler’s body is protected by thick, grey plates, which are invulnerable to all known weaponry; its tail is its only known weak point. While Grenchlers can survive the destruction of their tails, this leaves the vulnerable tissue of their hindquarters exposed.

While only encountered alive in Torvus Bog, three Grenchler carcasses can be seen in the Splinter Hive in the Temple Grounds. 242 shots from Federation weaponry were required to bring one down, while another was electrocuted on exposed wires, and a third one was killed in a power cell explosion. Curiously, all three specimens were larger than those encountered in Torvus Bog.

In Dark Torvus Bog, Samus battles Dark Grenchlers, which are Ing-possessed Grenchlers. A particularly massive Dark Grenchler ended up with Grapple Beam technology stolen from Samus Aran, transforming it into the Grapple Guardian.

Locations

• Command Chamber (dead)
• Hive Chamber B (dead)
• Torvus Lagoon
• Forgotten Bridge
• Great Bridge
• Ruined Alcove
• Underground Tunnel
• Catacombs

Similar species

Concept art of a Grenchler

Grenchlers are similar to the Baby Sheegoths from Metroid Prime. This is mainly based on the two creatures' shared physiology (as seen with the images on the right), behavior and attack patterns, as well as the existence of a larger variant and "boss" form of the species, the adult Sheegoth and the Grapple Guardian along with the previously mentioned large, dead Grenchlers.

A Baby Sheegoth

Differences beside appearance are the Sheegoths' ice-based projectiles, their inability to jump nor swim underwater. In fact, Baby Sheegoths will die if knocked into water. Although mature individuals gain the additional ability of absorbing Samus's beam weapons to power-up their own, the Sheegoth species's slower movements, their weaker attacks and the greater ease of evading their projectiles make the Grenchlers more dangerous in comparison overall.

The shared likeness between the two animals from different planets can be seen as examples of convergent evolution. However, the off-handed mention in Echoes that the Chozo and Luminoth had interacted in the past, and the Mechlops's logbook entry stating the presence of Tallon IV's Triclops on Aether, suggest the two alien civilizations may have exchanged lifeforms. Thus the Sheegoth and Grenchler may be related species, both having descended from a common ancestor.

Official data

Logbook entry

Grenchler

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Temporary scan

Morphology: Grenchler
Water-based reptilian predator. Well armored and deadly at any range. Its back shell is vulnerable to explosive blasts, however.

Logbook entry

The amphibious Grenchler lurks in marsh areas in search of prey. Fearless, it will spring from hiding and attack anything that moves. If it is unable to fell its prey with its powerful jaws, it will fire a potent burst of energy at them. Grenchlers have one weak spot-a genetic defect makes the shell on their back susceptible to explosive blasts. Remove the shell to expose a vulnerable nerve center, then target it to eliminate the creature.

Scans

Hive Chamber B

Deceased Grenchler (Command Chamber)

"Bioscan complete. Unknown bioform. Zero lifesigns. Scans indicate target was recently terminated. 242 wounds from trooper high-energy weapons detected."

Deceased Grenchler 2 (Hive Chamber B)

"Bioscan complete. Unknown bioform. Zero lifesigns. Cause of death: Cardiac arrest due to electrocution. Subject was ensnared in a network of live wires leading from an active power core."

Deceased Grenchler 3 (Hive Chamber B)

"Bioscan complete. Unknown bioform. Zero lifesigns. Evidence suggests target was caught in a power cell explosion. Cellular breakdown from radiation exposure present in 72% of target's biomass."

Metroid Prime 2: Dark Echoes Q&A

QUESTION: In the Space Pirate stronghold, if you look at the monitors, it seems like they have the concept of having pets. Is this true? From the outside I cannot imagine what sort of pets they would have.

ANSWER: If there are any wildlife that they like, they can take them in as pets. It seems like they like Grenchlers, for example. Personally, I thought it would be fun to walk a Shrieker on a leash...[1]

Development notes

Many enemies from the first Metroid Prime game were reused in the development of Metroid Prime 2, among them being the Adult and Baby Sheegoths. Unlike other enemies such as the Puddle Spore and Shriekbat who were merely re-skinned into their respective counterparts, the developers enhanced the AI of the Sheegoth when they were repurposed into the Grenchler and Grapple Guardian.

Paul Tozour was responsible for the artificial intelligence of the Grenchlers.

Trivia

• If killed under special circumstances when up against the second ledge of the Forgotten Bridge's upper level, a Grenchler might forego its dramatic death throes, and simply freeze for a few seconds in its normal, upright posture before fading away as normal.
• The Grenchlers, along with the Grapple Guardian, have body structures very similar to the ones belonging to Motos, Gigafraugs, as well as both infant and mature Sheegoths. These creatures' designs may have inspired the creation of one another.
• Grenchlers appear to have eight eyes visible on each side of their head, with an additional eye behind the lower jaw.
• Grenchlers can jump very high, reaching raised platforms. They can also swim faster than Samus can walk with the Gravity Boost.
• If a Grenchler is killed underwater, it will slowly rise to the top and will not begin to fade away until it reaches the surface or an unavoidable obstacle.

Gallery

A Grenchler faces off against Samus.

A pair of Grenchlers.

A Grenchler viewed through the Dark Visor.