Bossk Respect Thread
By deactivated-5e8a1f5fafc4e 19 Comments
"You might fool the others, but you're not fooling me.
I don't know what your game is―but I don't worry about you knowing mine.
I'll be a brother to you, all right. And I know how, believe me.
I had brothers when I was spawned. And you know what?
I ate them."
―Bossk speaking to Boba Fett
This has been long overdue, and is a work in progress, however it is for the most part complete, and the majority of the important content is here. The thread will be divided into the categories below in that order, and every category where possible will be divided between Canon and Legends material.
- Bounty Hunting Skill
- Combat Skill
- Physical Abilities
- Trandoshan Physiology & Hunting Culture
- Equipment
Enjoy your read, and be sure to view in blog format for higher quality by clicking this text.
Bounty Hunting Skill
Canon
Bossk is one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy, and uses his natural Trandoshan hunting instincts to capture his prey. He has long excelled in the extremely competitive profession of bounty hunting.
One of the most feared bounty hunters of the galaxy, Bossk used his natural Trandoshan hunting instincts to capture his prey. A fierce warrior, Bossk has long been surviving -- and excelling -- in the cutthroat world of professional predators.
―StarWars.com: Encyclopedia
Bossk was ranked number 4 in StarWars.com's editorial staff's top 10 ranking of bounty hunters, which they based on job success rate, combat ability and which of them are the most fearless and inventive.
Welcome to The StarWars.com 10, a feature where StarWars.com’s editorial staff huddles to discuss — in a committee — various topics relating to a galaxy far, far away. Today we’re looking at the top mercenaries of Star Wars.
“Bounty hunters. We don’t need their scum.” So said Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back, though he couldn’t be more wrong. Bounty hunters have played a huge role in Star Wars, often doing the dirty work for the series’ major villains, whether it’s killing a senator or capturing a rogue smuggler. Many have become icons in their own right — sometimes based solely on appearance, leaving it to the audience to imagine what they’re capable of. For this list, we looked at bounty hunters in the Star Wars films and on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and ranked them according to several factors, including their job success rate, combat ability, and which are the most “fearless and inventive.” Note: No Expanded Universe characters or exploits were considered.
―The StarWars.com 10: Best Bounty Hunters
4. Bossk, The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Threatening and intimidating, Bossk became a fan favorite after his snarling I-can-hear-you grunt at an Imperial officer in The Empire Strikes Back. As seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, he is among the galaxy’s most in-demand bounty hunters, working closely with Boba Fett, and as a Trandoshan, is a natural hunter. His attitude and original character design — no armor, a reptilian appearance, long arms and legs with clawed hands and feet — make him unique in the Star Wars galaxy.
―The StarWars.com 10: Best Bounty Hunters
http://www.starwars.com/news/the-starwars-com-10-best-bounty-hunters
Bossk was one of three bounty hunters who had a hand in mentoring Boba Fett, who would go on to become the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy, after Jango Fett's death. Bossk also acted as Boba's bodyguard and partner throughout later years, and is alongside Fett and the only other four bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader to capture Han Solo.
Notorious bounty hunter Bossk teams up with Aurra Sing and Castas to mentor young Boba Fett, who has a vendetta against his father's killer, Jedi Mace Windu.
[...]
While imprisoned together on Coruscant for their crime, Bossk acts as Fett's bodyguard.
After they escape, Bossk continues working with Fett.
[...]
During the Galactic Civil War, Bossk is one of six bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader to hunt down the Millennium Falcon, but his old partner Boba Fett beats him to the mark.
―Ultimate Star Wars
The young Boba Fett receives tips on the bounty hunting trade from (left to right) Bossk, Castas, and Aurra Sing, among others.
[...]
After the Battle of Hoth, Darth Vader assembles a group of top bounty hunters to find Han Solo's Millennium Falcon.
[...]
The Dark Lord hires only the best bounty hunters to track the Millennium Falcon and it's passengers.
[...]
Boba joins Bossk, Aurra Sing, and others to learn the tricks of the bounty hunting trade.
―Ultimate Star Wars
Bossk, as noted by Quinlan Vos, is known for his ability to hunt Wookiee's with a viciousness and thoroughness that surpassed that of most bounty hunters, including those of his own species, who specialize in this field.
"The Trandoshan (Bossk, Vos recalled: known for hunting Wookiees with a viciousness and thoroughness that surpassed even that of most Trandoshans; member of the Bounty Hunters’ Guild) hissed in either amusement or annoyance—or perhaps both."
―Dark Disciple
Legends
Bossk is a member of the Trandoshan race, who have firm roots in the bounty hunting trade; the Bounty Hunter's Guild was started as something of a social club and hunting organization purely for Trandoshans, and it is also recorded that all Trandoshans tend to do when they are not hunting and killing is listen to tales of these same acts.
“Historic records indicate various incarnations of the Bounty Hunters Guild over the past 25,000 years. The earliest records date to shortly after the formation of the Galactic Republic, with a guild in the Kashyyyk system. This guild was essentially a social club for Trandoshan hunters and their sons, but Trandoshans take great pride in the fact their Guild was the first.”
[...]
“When not hunting and killing, Trandoshans enjoy listening to tales of hunting and killing.”
―Kenek Weeyo, Chief Custodian of the Bounty Hunters Guild
―The Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett
Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine himself claims that Bossk is exactly the kind of creature who could be of greatest service to his Empire, due to his ruthlessness and ambition.
"Reports have come to me that the elder Cradossk was in fact killed by this Bossk."
"That is indeed the case, my Lord."
"It sounds as if this bounty hunter Bossk is exactly the sort of creature you thought would be of greatest service to the Empire. Ruthless and ambitious, is he not?"
―Slave Ship
Boba Fett regards Bossk with a degree of respect rarely seen from the bounty hunter, musing that he is not only fierce and intelligent, but also capable enough to become serious competition should he ever become the leader of the Bounty Hunter's Guild.
Boba Fett raised his inner estimation of the Trandoshan bounty hunter. He’s going to be trouble, thought Fett. Not just another dumb carnivore. If the time ever did come when Bossk inherited the leadership of the Bounty Hunter's Guild, it might in fact become serious competition for him. But right now Bossk’s smarts and his fierce temper were weapons to be turned against him and the others.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Dengar, one of the most skilled bounty hunters in the galaxy, a former Imperial assassin who was chosen by Vader himself to track down Han Solo among the other great bounty hunters of the day, finds himself in worry of the prospect of Bossk ever coming after him.
"I've had much more experience with Bossk than you have." Boba Fett's voice remained level and unperturbed." He and I go back a long way. And believe me, I'm not concerned about any retribution at his hands."
"Fine for you," grumbled Dengar. "Maybe you can take care of him. I'm just worried about what happens when he comes after me. That guy isn't exactly known for being able to forgive and forget. He wakes up ready to bite other creatures' heads off."
[...]
I bet, thought Dengar. He leaned against the side of the hatchway, watching Boba Fett make some final navigation adjustments. He'd had his own encounters with Trandoshans, including the former owner of this ship, and they had all been unpleasant. Bossk had had a reputation for a hot temper even back in the days of the old Bounty Hunters Guild, when he'd had presumably less to gripe about. Cross him, and you were likely to get your head unscrewed from your shoulders like the lid of an emergency rations canister. That was what those claws were suitable for, not highspeed, pinpoint starhopping.
―Slave Ship
Boba Fett states that with news of his apparent death wide-spread, many will begin to regard Bossk as the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy.
“Bossk is at least intelligent enough to realize that he benefits from a universe-wide belief in my death. With my absence from the scene, many will regard him as being the number-one bounty hunter still working the trade. Merchandise to be located and secured will come his way, and there are the benefits to the ego as well; those have always been a bigger motivation to him. If it's not credits in my pocket, I'm not interested in it."
―Slave Ship
Bossk initially made a name for himself in the bounty hunting trade by hunting escaped wookiee slaves, considered one of the most dangerous targets in the profession. Doing so garnered him fame and credibility as a skilled bounty hunter.
Born to the cruel Cradossk, leader of the Bounty Hunters Guild on Trandosha, Bossk made a name for himself hunting escaped wookiee slaves, a dangerous profession for just about any species aside from the Trandoshans. Bossk expanded his targets to include non-Wookiees, giving him fame and credibility as a skilled bounty hunter.
―Threats of the Galaxy
Bossk continued to excel in Wookiee hunting late into his career, killing or capturing hundreds of the species for the Empire, and also captured 12 Wookiees for private contractors.
Bossk began to specialize in Wookiee hunting - killing or capturing hundreds of the species for the Empire’s slave drivers, and collecting numerous pelts into the bargain. Bossk also successfully captured 12 Wookiees for private employers, delivering his bounties alive.
―Star Wars Fact File: 32
Bossk has hunted Wookiees for over sixty years, and has killed hundreds of them.
“He had hunted wookiees for over sixty standard years. When a blaster or grenade finally killed Bossk, his death would shower hundreds of jagannath points onto the bloodthirsty, eternal Scorekeeper that he worshipped.”
―The Prize Pelt: The Tale of Bossk
“‘He says that your reputation also precedes you. You have killed dozens of his people.
‘Hundreds,’ Bossk corrected her.”
―The Prize Pelt: The Tale of Bossk
Bossk grew up fascinated with martial arts, blasters and the art of war on both small and large scales. He became proficient in numerous Trandoshan disciplines, and found he stood out among his species as not only strong, but much more dexterous and agile as well. He went on to become a stealth expert in addition to his combat training, and was considered a well rounded warrior.
Bossk grew up like any typical child on Trandosha, fascinated with martial arts, blasters, and the art of war, both personal and large-scale. He trained in several different Trandoshan disciplines, but soon found that in addition to the great strength that all members of his race possessed, he was much more dexterous and agile than his classmates. He became as interested in the arts of stealth and as much as his combat training, and soon he was considered a very well rounded young warrior. As for Bossk himself, he knew what he would one day become; he looked to the stars each night and dreamed of hunting the galaxy’s most famous criminals.
―Ultimate Adversaries
Bossk is shorter than most Trandoshans but makes up for this with a deftness of hand and quickness of eye unusual of his species; he's considered above-average in comparison to most other Trandoshans in terms of quickness, intelligence and presence of mind. Most who underestimate these qualities in Bossk due to his species are often killed as a result.
Bossk stands 1.9 meters tall, on the short end of the range for males of his species. He makes up for his lack of height with a deftness of hand and quickness of eye unusual for Trandoshans. In fact, Bossk is in most ways an above-average member of his species, from his quickness to his natural intelligence and presence of mind. Those who underestimate his intellect or cunning because of his species are often visited by a deadly surprise.
―Ultimate Adversaries
Bossk is well known among bounty hunters, and he has garnered several large contracts in his time. Lesser bounty hunters will often pay Bossk to complete a challenging bounty they are incapable of completing in return for later favours, and in doing this Bossk has built a vast network of resources at his disposal.
Bossk is well known among bounty hunters, and his experience has helped him garner several large and ongoing contracts. Lesser bounty hunters often pay Bossk to complete a particularly challenging bounty that they have failed to accomplish, a task he does in return for later favors. In this way, Bossk has managed to accumulate a vast network of resources at his disposal.
―Ultimate Adversaries
Bossk is a master hunter with a reputation for skill and ruthlessness.
At the suggestion of his Trandoshan liege lord, young Bossk became a bounty hunter; over the years, he has become a master hunter with a reputation for skill and ruthlessness.
―Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
Bossk was among the company of bounty hunters summoned by Darth Vader to hunt down Han Solo. Vader did this to demonstrate how disappointed he was with his own Imperial resources. Despite the staggering response to Vader's offer for the contract, coming from bounty hunters, mercenaries, assassin droids and more from all over the galaxy, Bossk was among the six chosen, regarded as the best bounty hunters in all the galaxy as a result.
After personally witnessing the elusiveness of his prey, Lord Vader decided to call in some experts: bounty hunters. This was done partly to accomplish the task of finding the Falcon, and partly to demonstrate the his disappointment with the skills of his Imperial crew.
Vader contacted Boba Fett and other hunters, offering a rich bounty to whoever could capture Solo. The response was staggering. Bounty hunters, mercenaries, assassin droids, and blasters-for-hire the galaxy over responded. From the horde of applicants, Vader’s personal staff selected a small number of the specialists particularly suited for the job. Some of the hunters were hired simply because of their reputations, while others had had personal run-ins with Solo in the past and had a grudge to settle.
[...]
Vader dispatched the hunters out, but not as a team. The deadliest beings in the galaxy also happened to carry with them the largest egos, and Vader knew this precluded co-operation.
―Galaxy Guide 3: Empire Strikes Back Second Edition
When Bossk had stood within striking distance of Fett, back when Darth Vader had been giving the job to all the best bounty hunters in the galaxy…
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk, due to being one of those included in Galaxy Guide 10, is among the most experienced, successful and highly trained of the galaxy's countless bounty hunters.
The following material is a compilation of data on hunters both major and minor, notable and notorious. Collectively, these hunters have accounted for over one billion Imperial credits in bounties. They are among the most experienced, most successful, and most highly trained of all the galaxy’s countless hunters.
―Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
Combat Skill
Accuracy
Canon
Bossk casually mows down a group of battle droids and then destroys a shuttle with his repeating blaster.
"Fett took out a pair of other droids while Bossk scrambled atop one of the shuttles. He fired a repeating blaster, laughing gleefully as he mowed down battle droids and finally targeted one of the shuttles. It exploded in a very satisfactory manner, leaping flames and oily tendrils of black smoke climbing into the air."
―Dark Disciple
Bossk, along with Latts Razzi, Embo, Highsinger and a young Boba Fett, hold off waves of battle droids stationed at Count Dooku's palace in Serenno for fifteen minutes, and in that time also manage to capture Dooku himself.
Even the battle droids would notice that, Ventress thought, and sure enough, at least a dozen of them scurried out of the entrance to the palace’s lower levels.
“It’s clear,” Ventress called to Fett. “I’m going in.”
“We’ll hold the droids here,” Fett shouted back. “But you’ve only got fifteen minutes, understand?”
“I’ll be quick,” Ventress said. She sprinted for the open doors.
“Fifteen minutes!” Fett yelled after her.
[...]
"Suddenly Vos’s head whipped to the side. Following his gaze, Ventress saw something thoroughly unexpected—Count Dooku, trapped in some sort of webbing, lying on the ground with Bossk’s blaster aimed at his head."
―Dark Disciple
Bossk guns down three professional assassins easily, despite them being contracted and prepared specifically to kill him.
“Bossk held his mortar gun close to his body, with the barrel aimed straight in front of him. He opened fire, blasting the Nikto who held the disruptor rifle. As the Nikto fell, his finger clenched the rifle’s trigger, causing the weapon to blast a wide hole in the ceiling just above the bar. Debris came crashing down. The second Nikto drew his blaster pistols and spun fast but Bossk fired again, and the second Nikto collapsed, knocking over the table beside him.”
[...]
“The Duros said, ‘Drop your weapon, Bossk, or I’ll shoot the boy.’
Ezra could not see Bossk through the cloud of dust and smoke that now filled the tavern, but he heard him make a hacking sound and realized the Trandoshan was laughing. But then the laughter stopped abruptly, and Bossk said, ‘You really think the kid’s worth anything to me?’ Before the Duros could reply, Bossk added, ‘Hey, shorty. Is the Dug still breathing?’
Ezra glanced at the Dug and said, ‘Yes.’ The word was barely out of his mouth when Bossk’s mortar gun fired again. Ezra closed his eyes reflexively, and when he opened them, all that remained of the fallen table was one twisted leg. He couldn’t see much of the Duros either.”
[...]
“‘How’d a casino clown like you wind up with professional assassins like Angrigo and the Kratchell Twins?’
Shifty cleared his throat. ‘The Duros… and the two Niktos? I didn’t even know their names! They just got here a few minutes ago… said they came to protect me.’
‘From who?’
‘A bounty hunter. You!’
―Ezra's Gamble
Bossk takes down two stormtroopers with stun cartridges.
“As Bossk reloaded his mortar gun with stun cartridges, the stormtroopers opened fire. Bossk returned fire as he jumped away from Shifty and rolled across the debris-littered floor. The stunning blasts knocked both troopers off their feet, and their armour clattered as they fell.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Bossk shoots a Scout Trooper square in the chest while riding on the back of a speeder at high speeds.
“Ezra levelled off and Bossk raised his mortar gun again. Bossk fired, and the blast caught the scout square against his armored chest plate. The scout fell away from his bike and tumbled onto the street.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Bossk drops a Scout Trooper before he can react.
“Ezra was still running behind Bossk when he saw a stormtrooper appear at the end of the alley. Before the trooper could take aim, Bossk fired a stun charge. The trooper collapsed at they alley’s mouth.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Bossk is shot through the shoulder by a speeder bike's laser cannon. In response he barely flinches and proceeds to blast the stormtrooper responsible while on the back of a speeder himself.
“The remaining scout trooper ignored his fallen comrade and continued his pursuit of Ezra and Bossk. He manoeuvered behind them and fired his laser cannons. Ezra weaved erratically in a desperate attempt to avoid a direct hit while Bossk returned fire at the scout.
A laserbolt tore through Bossk’s upper shoulder. The Trandoshan let out a low grunt but barely flinched. He instinctively calculated the scout trooper’s trajectory and aimed his weapon a short distance in front of the bike. Bossk fired. The scout’s directional steering vanes caught the full blast, and his bike fell like a stone.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Legends
Bossk, as a Trandoshan, is less capable of handling other race's technology due to the fact he only has three digits, and tends to have custom built technology because of this. Despite this hindrance, Bossk picks up a mercenary's rifle for the first and uses it to casually mow down a group of other mercenaries, creating a level arc of bright fire with his blaster.
The ship’s intelligence also helped overcome a Trandoshan’s one real handicap: other race’s technology was not made for Trandoshan hands, and even the ship’s special fittings were sometimes clumsy.
―The Prize Pelt: The Tale of Bossk
Bossk threw away the piece of scrap and scooped up the mercenary's blaster rifle. Fett saw a look of fierce delight in the Trandoshan's eyes as Bossk whipped the rifle around, a level arc of bright fire cutting through the smoke and across the other mercenaries who had been foolish enough to move away from the security of the perimeter alcoves.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk precisely aims blaster bolts at Luke Skywalker's head and chest on three occasions, firing with just one arm from his hip.
A crash of transparisteel cut off his words. Luke spotted the telltale gleam of a blaster barrel and, before he even processed what it meant, threw himself at Jaxson, knocking both of them to the ground. A searing blast of laserfire flew through the air where their heads had been, striking the ugly painting behind them. A jagged hole exploded in the Mos Eisley forefather's forehead.
The creature in the doorway held the blaster in his right hand and as he stepped fully into the cantina it became clear that his left arm ended at his shoulder in a cauterized stump. His scaled face was bruised and dented, and one red eye clouded over with green blood. He lurched through the door on one leg, and swung the blaster across the cantina, spraying laserfire in every direction.
Bossk was back.
[...]
"The coward speaks," Bossk said, then aimed a round of laserfire at Luke's head. Luke ducked below the table again.
[...]
Bossk chuckled again, although this time his laughter sounded hollow. He pulled the trigger on his blast rifle, sending a blast of laserfire directly at Luke's chest. Without hesitating, Luke blocked it with his lightsaber.
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Unarmed Martial Arts
Canon
Bossk, alongside Boba Fett, fought off many groups of Kage warriors in a small train compartment. These were described as "superb" warriors who after a great deal of fighting eventually kicked Bossk from the train.
―Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 4 - Episode 20
http://www.starwars.com/bossk-biography-gallery
In addition, Kage warriors are noted as being in top physical condition, and being tireless, elite, nimble and stealthy, and are effective with both the electro sword and unarmed combat.
http://www.starwars.com/databank/kage-warriors
Bossk slams a Scout Trooper into the ground, knocking him out.
“Still carrying Shifty, Bossk leapt out through the window, landing on top of the troop transport. The lone scout trooper heard Bossk’s impact and turned in response. Bossk pounced. As he landed on the scout and rammed him into the street’s hard surface, Shifty fell away from Bossk’s back.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Bossk tries to talk down two bounty hunters, but before he can finish speaking they both attempt to draw their weapons. Bossk moves faster than either and deals with them in short order.
“Ezra wondered why Bossk had halted, and he looked at the other two bounty hunters. Both the Ranat and the Nimbanel moved their hands close to the blasters there were holstered against their thighs.
‘Don’t do anything stupid,’ Bossk said. ‘I was set up by an Imperial officer, but I’m aiming to straighten everything out. I expect you to honour the Bounty Hunter Code and--'
The Ranat and Nimbanel moved fast for their weapons. Bossk moved faster. He swung his mortar gun out from under his cape and drove it’s barrel into the Nimbanel’s stomach, and then rapidly spun the gun to smash its stock into the Ranat’s jaw. The Nimbanel doubled over while the Ranat’s head bounced off the astonished Sakiyan’s window. Bossk spun the mortar gun again, bringing the stock’s trigger mechanism into his hand, and he fired a stun charge at the Nimbanel. Both the Ranat and the Nimbanel collapsed to the floor.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
After being shot in the leg by a blaster, Bossk challenges Borbig Drob the Houk, nine-time champion gladiator, and Warjak the Feeorin undefeated champion gladiator of the Outer Rim, to unarmed combat, and defeats them with minimal issue despite his injury, going as far as to snap Feeorin's shin by striking him with the injured leg. In addition, Houks and Feeorins are two species renowned for their massive size, the two gladiators being no exception. Drawings of Borbig and Warjak as depicted by Ezra Bridger, an eye witness, can be seen below.
―Rebel Journal by Ezra Bridger
“‘Introducing Borbig Drob the Houk!’ announced the female Pa’lowick to the arena crowd. ‘Nine-time champion of the Stormblade Bloodfest!”
The heavily muscled Houk lumbered into the arena, carrying a heavy sword and a broad shield. Thousands of spectators cheered and booed him.
‘And presenting the challenger,’ the Pa’lowick continued, ‘Warjak the Feeorin! Undefeated champion of the Outer Rim Carve-Up!”
The Feeorin shook his thick tentacles as he strode into the arena, carrying a massive vibro-axe and a stun net.”
[...]
“The cartridge was still arcing through the air when a laser bolt tore through the side of Bossk’s right thigh. Bossk hissed as he dropped his gun and fell to the arena floor, clutching his leg.”
[...]
“‘I am Bossk from Trandosha! I did not come to Monad Outpost to die in this arena. But if I am to die tonight, I wish to die as a warrior. I challenge the gladiators to bare-handed combat!’
The response from the spectators was an overwhelming wave of shouts and screams. Before Jenkes could protest, Bossk limped towards the Houk and the Feeorin, who gazed at him as if he were out of his mind. He came to a stop about a metre away from them, held his arms out by his sides, and said, ‘Come on, fellas. Give a dead guy a break. Bare-handed means bare-handed.’ He grimaced as he shifted his weight onto his good leg.
The Houk and the Feeorin looked at each other and grinned. They looked back at Bossk and released their grips on their weapons.
Before the Houk’s sword hit the ground, Bossk launched himself off his good leg, straight for the Houk. Bossk’s forehead smashed into the Houk’s face as he grabbed the Houk’s forearms and drove his knee into his gut. The Houk fell back with Bossk on top of him. Bossk pushed himself off, flipping his body back at the startled Feeorin.
Bossk’s right claw raked across the Feeorin’s chest. The Feeorin snarled as he tumbled to the ground, but when he came up standing, he was holding the Houk’s sword. He swung the sword at Bossk. Bossk ducked, and as the blade whooshed over his head, he said, ‘That’s not bare-handed!’
Bossk bent down on his good leg and kicked out with his bad. He grunted as the wounded leg struck the side of the Feeorin’s shin so hard that one of the Feeorin’s bones snapped. The Feeorin wailed as he crumpled to the floor. Bossk spat at him and said, ‘I hate cheaters.’
The Feeorin passed out next to the Houk. Bossk rose to his feet.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Legends
Bossk grew up fascinated with martial arts. He became proficient in numerous Trandoshan disciplines, and found he stood out among his species as not only strong, but much more dexterous and agile as well. He went on to become a stealth expert in addition to his combat training, and was considered a well rounded warrior.
Bossk grew up like any typical child on Trandosha, fascinated with martial arts, blasters, and the art of war, both personal and large-scale. He trained in several different Trandoshan disciplines, but soon found that in addition to the great strength that all members of his race possessed, he was much more dexterous and agile than his classmates. He became as interested in the arts of stealth and as much as his combat training, and soon he was considered a very well rounded young warrior.
―Ultimate Adversaries
Bossk easily dismantles a mercenary using a blaster rifle.
Another mercenary, braver or stupider than the rest, had come charging head down toward the Trandoshan, and had actually gotten close enough that Bossk had taken him out with a single blow to the chin, swinging the butt of the blaster rifle around in an upward arc. Another jab of the rifle butt, right between the mercenary's eyes, had made sure he'd be no further trouble.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk kills his father, former leader of the Bounty Hunter's Guild, Cradossk, with his bare claws, and then eats him.
A look of panic appeared in Cradossk's yellowed eyes; he took a step backward from the figure looming in front of him. "Now wait a minute. . . ." The bone shards fell on the floor as he raised his scaly hands, palms outward. "I think you might be making some . . . rash assumptions here. . . ."
One of Bossk's hands shot out, grabbing his father by the throat. "No, I'm not." The smile was gone from his face. On the other side of the private quarters, Zuckuss could see the red anger tingeing the younger Trandoshan's eyes. "I'm making the same assumption I made a long time ago, before I ever left for Circumtore. And you know what that is? It's that there isn't room in the Bounty Hunters Guild for both you and me."
"I ... I don't know what you're talking about. . . ." Cradossk grabbed the other's wrist, in a futile attempt to ease his hold and get another breath into his own lungs. "The Guild... the Guild is for all of us. ..."
"I'm talking about the same thing you were talking about, just now." With his other hand, Bossk pointed a clawed thumb back toward the unlit depths of the bone chamber behind him. "I was in there the whole time the two of you have been blabbing away. And I heard everything you said. All that stuff about clearing out the undesirables from the Bounty Hunters Guild. And you know what?" Bossk tightened his hold, his fist at Cradossk's throat lifting the older Trandoshan up onto the claws of his toes. "I agree with you about all that. You're absolutely right: The Guild is going to be a lot smaller. Real soon."
"Don't... don't be an idiot...." Cradossk managed to summon up a reserve of courage. "You can't kill me ... and get away with it...." His claws dug deeper into Bossk's wrist, enough to let a trickle of blood seep down his son's forearm. "I've got . . . connections . . . friends. . . ." His voice became weaker and more fragmented as the hold at this throat constricted tighter. "All the . . . council of elders..."
"Those old fools?" Bossk sneered at his father. "I'm afraid you're a little behind the times; there have been things happening already that you just don't know about. Maybe if you didn't waste so many hours in here, mumbling and fondling your moldy reminders of past glories, these things wouldn't have sneaked up on you quite so fast." Still holding Cradossk upright, he turned and slammed the older reptilian against the table outside the bone chamber's entrance; the impact against his spine visibly dazed Cradossk. "Some of your old friends, your beloved elders, have already seen the light; they've come over to my side. In fact, some of them have been on my side for quite a while, just waiting for the right moment to--shall we say?--force your retirement. One way or another." The elaborate wording, so much different from Bossk's usual blunt speech, was a cruel way of toying with his father. "Of course, some of the elders weren't so smart; they persisted in their folly. Right up to the end."
"What . . ." Cradossk could barely squeeze any words out at all. "What do you mean . . . ?"
"Oh, come on. What do you think I mean?" Bossk looked disgusted. "Let's just say there are going to be some fresh acquisitions in my little trophy chamber. The skulls of some of your old friends will look very nice mounted on its walls-"
"Watch out!" Zuckuss shouted a warning to Bossk.
As Cradossk had fallen back against the table one of his hands had reached back and grasped an ornate ceremonial dagger; the gems embedded in its hilt flashed as he swung his arm around, the point of the blade aiming straight for Bossk's throat.
There was no way for Bossk to avoid the blade; if he had leaned back, the movement would only have presented a wider target for the blade to slash across. Instead, he lowered his head, catching the razor-sharp edge with the corner of his brow. The impact of flesh and bone against metal was enough to knock the weapon out of his father's hand and send it spinning off into a far corner of the room.
Taking a hand from his father's throat, Bossk wiped away the blood seeping down through his face scales and into his eyes. "Now that," he said with eerie self-possession, "didn't hurt at all." With a shake of his head, he sent blood spattering across Cradossk's face, as though sealing the bright ideogram of a death sentence there. "But I promise you--this will."
From the doorway, Zuckuss could hear shouts and blaster fire coming from somewhere else in the Guild compound. That didn't surprise him; it had been pretty much what he'd been expecting since the Twi'lek majordomo had gone off to notify the others in the breakaway faction.
He turned back toward Cradossk's private quarters and watched the rest of what happened in there. For as long as he could. Then he stepped out into the corridor, shaking his head.
Bossk was certainly right about one thing, he had to admit. It did take a lot to kill a Trandoshan.
[...]
Old Cradossk had known what he was talking about, at least about that; whenever Bossk ran his clawed hands along the picked-clean bones he'd kept as mementos, he had a renewed sense of legacy and tradition.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk contends with Luke Skywalker (circa A New Hope) in melee combat, but is ultimately bested. It's worth pointing out that this was Bossk's first fight against a lightsaber, and also that Luke had something of an epiphany in regards to lightsaber combat as he managed to defeat Bossk on pure instinct - prior to this Luke felt he had no chance against Bossk in a fair fight.
There was just one thing standing in their way. Or, more accurately, sleeping in their way. Bossk's scaly body lay across the opening of the cave.
"Just slice him open with that thing," Jaxson hissed. "He'll never see it coming."
Luke shook his head. He couldn't kill the bounty hunter in his sleep, no matter what the creature had done to them.
But he also couldn't beat the Trandoshan in a fair fight. Maybe a Jedi like Obi-Wan could have used the lightsaber to fend off a giant lizard and his blast rifle, but Luke knew he wouldn't have a chance.
[...]
As Jaxson was halfway to the airspeeder, the Trandoshan's reptilian eye popped open. His clawed hand closed around the rifle.
"Don't," Luke said, holding his blade steady.
The bounty hunter laughed. "You think you can save yourself with a child's toy?" He swiped his arm toward the lightsaber, intending to knock it out of the way.
The blade cut cleanly through his limb. It dropped to the ground with a dull thud.
Luke stared in horror at the severed arm. Bossk didn't even flinch. He jumped to his feet, hissing with anger, and raised the blast rifle. Without thinking, Luke slashed at the rifle with his lightsaber, and the long barrel clattered to the ground. Enraged, the Trandoshan lunged for Luke. He danced out of the way, waving the lightsaber nearly at random to ward off the attack. Over Bossk's shoulder, he saw Jaxson racing back toward the cave-unarmed, yet determined to help."Go!" Luke shouted. "I can handle this!"
"Foolish last words, human," Bossk taunted, whipping out an archaic double-bladed sword. Luke had never seen one in person before-it looked ancient. Bossk brought the blade down over Luke's head. Instinctively, Luke raised the lightsaber to protect himself. The sword broke in half.
The look on Bossk's face would have been comical -- if it hadn't been so terrifying.
The Trandoshan smashed a clawed fist into Luke's face. Luke went sprawling backward, but a moment later, he was on his feet again, hacking and slashing with the lightsaber. Bossk lunged for Luke, lashing out with his claws, but Luke dodged the blows. The glowing blade swept through the air, dancing around the Trandoshan. Luke wasn't thinking, wasn't aiming or strategizing, he just struck again and again, struggling and failing to land a blow. With a roar, Bossk hurtled toward him, wrapping his remaining hand around Luke's throat. Gasping for air, Luke slashed blindly with the lightsaber.
And then Bossk was on the ground. His left leg lay a meter away.
Luke gaped at his lightsaber, almost tempted to drop the deadly weapon on the ground, next to the writhing Trandoshan. It was almost like the lightsaber had taken over, fighting for itself.
And yet it had never felt so much a part of him.
"What are you waiting for, Skywalker!" Jaxson shouted, taking off toward the airspeeder. "Let's get out of here!"
Luke didn't need an invitation. He turned his back on Bossk and began to run. So he didn't see the wounded bounty hunter lob the fragmentation grenade with his one good hand. But Luke did see the deadly silver globe soar over their heads and land, with perfect aim, in the front seat of the airspeeder. "Down!" Luke shouted, grabbing Jaxson and throwing him to the ground, as the airspeeder exploded.
When the smoke cleared, Bossk was laughing. "Now we die together." He coughed, then spit out a gunky wad of viscous green blood. "Like I said -- I always get the job done."
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Bossk, after being defeated by Luke Skywalker was left with one right arm and one right leg, with the stump of his left leg being supported by a sawed off blaster barrel. In this same condition he appeared before Jabba the Hutt, who dropped him, unarmed, into his rancor pit. It is unknown as to how he did it exactly, but Bossk faced the rancor and survived to tell the tale. He did not kill the creature as it appeared in Return of the Jedi, so he undoubtedly escaped. The only apparent method available is to rip through the durasteel cell bars in the rancor pit, so there's a possibility that Bossk tore those open, otherwise he would have outmaneuvered and/or outsmarted the beast.
Bossk also mused in one of his additions to the Bounty Hunter's Guild Journal that he had once faced a rancor and taken one of it's teeth; this could be a reference to his encounter with Jabba's rancor.
The creature in the doorway held the blaster in his right hand and as he stepped fully into the cantina it became clear that his left arm ended at his shoulder in a cauterized stump. His scaled face was bruised and dented, and one red eye clouded over with green blood. He lurched through the door on one leg, and swung the blaster across the cantina, spraying laserfire in every direction.
[...]
Bossk, who had attached the sawed-off barrel of a blast rifle to the charred stump of his left leg, was framed in the doorway, his own blast rifle peppering the cantina with laserfire.
[...]
As Bossk released a nearly imperceptible sigh in relief, Jabba depressed a button on his pipe. "But he might," Jabba said, chuckling, as a trapdoor opened beneath the bounty hunter and he dropped to his fate. The rancor hadn't eaten for some days, and it howled in delight at the appearance of a new meal. If Bossk was as tough a warrior as he claimed to be, he would survive.
―Rebel Force: Renegade
“Sure, it’s easy. Like playing Count My Teeth with a rancor.”
―Gleed Ontondon, Deputy Chief Executive of the Bounty Hunters Guild Council.
“I played that game once. I have the rancor tooth to prove it.”
―Bossk
―The Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett
Physical Abilities
Durability & Endurance
Canon
Bossk shrugs off being stunned by an electrostaff.
―Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 4 - Episode 15
As a side-note, another Trandoshan when hit with an electrostaff was instantly incapacitated and left twitching for some time after.
Sadiki figured she was close enough by now, and she was right. In a quick jackknifing motion she grabbed the static pike from the limp grasp of the guard on the floor, turned, and thrust it into the neck of the Trandoshan, jamming the electrically charged tip into his reptilian skin and delivering a massive, heart-stopping shock. As the ’Shan jerked and shuddered with the current pulsing through him. . .
[...]
Skidding sideways on its claws, captive of its own momentum, the thing floundered headlong into the crate where the Trandoshan had collapsed and slammed into it, still twitching.
―Maul: Lockdown (Legends)
Bossk withstands having an unidentified powder being blown into his eyes and being kicked out of a train with little to no effect.
―Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 4 - Episode 20
Bossk is shot through the shoulder by a speeder bike's laser cannon. In response he barely flinches and proceeds to blast the stormtrooper responsible. However, he did later on succumb to his injury and require medical attention.
“The remaining scout trooper ignored his fallen comrade and continued his pursuit of Ezra and Bossk. He manoeuvered behind them and fired his laser cannons. Ezra weaved erratically in a desperate attempt to avoid a direct hit while Bossk returned fire at the scout.
A laserbolt tore through Bossk’s upper shoulder. The Trandoshan let out a low grunt but barely flinched. He instinctively calculated the scout trooper’s trajectory and aimed his weapon a short distance in front of the bike. Bossk fired. The scout’s directional steering vanes caught the full blast, and his bike fell like a stone.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Shortly after being shot through the thigh by a blaster bolt, Bossk challenges two champion gladiators to an unarmed fight to the death.
“The cartridge was still arcing through the air when a laser bolt tore through the side of Bossk’s right thigh. Bossk hissed as he dropped his gun and fell to the arena floor, clutching his leg.”
...
“‘I am Bossk from Trandosha! I did not come to Monad Outpost to die in this arena. But if I am to die tonight, I wish to die as a warrior. I challenge the gladiators to bare-handed combat!’
The response from the spectators was an overwhelming wave of shouts and screams. Before Jenkes could protest, Bossk limped towards the Houk and the Feeorin, who gazed at him as if he were out of his mind.
―Ezra’s Gamble
Legends
Bossk, despite being caught in the immediate radius of a powerful explosion, recovers from it in seconds and begins killing mercenaries. The explosion in question was powerful enough to challenge Boba Fett's strength, bury Zuckuss, and send durasteel-armored Shell Hutts careening across the courtyard, one impacting a stone pillar hard enough to crack and loosen it from it's foundations.
Bossk's words were lost in the sudden roar of an explosion. Its force struck Boba Fett, a surge of heat and durasteel-hard pressure full against his chest. He remained upright in the storm, his own weight already braced against its impact. The visor of his helmet flashed darker for a microsecond, to protect his sight from the blinding glare. Sharp-edged pieces of debris struck his shoulders, then were swept on by the billows of smoke that poured out from where the dais and its surrounding steps had been.
[...]
The explosion had caught Gheeta unawares - also as Fett had expected - and its force had sent the Shell Hutt's cylinder tumbling and crashing against one of the hall's supporting pillars, hard enough to dent one of the riveted plates and bend the column, its top wrenching loose from the vaulted ceiling above.
[...]
Some distance behind Boba Fett, the larger cylinder encasing the elder Nullada slowly righted itself, like a planetary oceangoing vessel that had been swamped by a tidal wave. The cylinder rolled from side to side as Nullada groaned in dizzied confusion.
[...]
"What . . . what was ..." A gloved hand rose from the tangled, still-smoking rubble directly in front of Boba Fett. The explosion had knocked Zuckuss backward, his breath mask covered with dust and gray flecks of ash. A few broken scraps of construction material, the charred remains of the dais's top platform, tumbled down his chest as he struggled to raise himself up on his elbows. "I can't ..."
Right now Boba Fett couldn't give the fallen Zuckuss any assistance. The chaos into which the explosion had plunged the great reception hall was still at a peak--past the settling billows of smoke could be heard the cursing and shouts of the armed mercenaries as the frightened Shell Hutts gibbered and collided with each other and their floating cylinders pushed toward the building's exits.
[...]
Fett quickly turned, his muscles tensing to dive away from the angle of the following shot--there wasn't one. The dark-uniformed mercenary that had come sprinting into the hall's center, rifle lifted, was felled by a long section of rubble swung level into his gilt. His momentum folded him around the improvised weapon; the mercenary then collapsed onto his face as Bossk's clawed fist struck him with a vertebrae-cracking blow to the back of the neck. Bossk threw away the piece of scrap and scooped up the mercenary's blaster rifle. Fett saw a look of fierce delight in the Trandoshan's eyes as Bossk whipped the rifle around, a level arc of bright fire cutting through the smoke and across the other mercenaries who had been foolish enough to move away from the security of the perimeter alcoves.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk survives being shot in the chest by a blaster bolt so powerful it left a mercenary as a "broken corpse" upon impact. Not only did Bossk plan to be shot, but he successfully anticipates a quick recovery.
A few meters away from Boba Fett, a blaster shot went straight toward the reception hall's ceiling; a quick glance to the side showed him that a shot from one of the mercenaries had struck Bossk at one side of his chest, knocking the Trandoshan off his feet and sending him splayed out on the dais's smoldering rubble. Fett swiveled the rifle in his hands and blew away the mercenary, a broken corpse even before he hit the floor.
[...]
Which took place within seconds: Cradossk found his way blocked by his offspring Bossk. The younger Trandoshan stood with his arms folded across his chest; a wide smile split his face as he gazed down into his father's startled eyes.
"But . . ." Cradossk gaped at his son. "You . . . you're supposed to be dead. ..."
"I know that was the plan," said Bossk, with feigned mildness. "But I made some changes to it."
Cradossk whirled about, looking back toward the private-quarters door and Zuckuss. "You lied!"
"Not entirely." Zuckuss gave a small shrug. "Just the bit about him not getting up again after he was shot."
With a single foreclaw, Bossk pointed to the sterile bandage running diagonally across his chest, from one shoulder and under the opposite arm. "It really hurt," he said, still smiling. "But it didn't kill me. You should know how hard our species is to get rid of. And also--whatever doesn't destroy one of us just makes us that much more pissed off."
―The Mandalorian Armor
Additionally, Bossk would have had minimal medical attention for this wound aside from the bandage, as Boba Fett did not even have time to recalibrate his weapons systems in the time it took him to return Bossk to the bounty hunter's guild.
From the docking port at the edge of the compound, Boba Fett could hear the shouting and the sound of blaster fire. None of it was aimed his way, so he went on working, recalibrating and tuning Slave I's weapons systems.
There hadn't been time, after he and the rest of the team had lifted off and rendezvoused with the autonomic storage unit in orbit above Circumtore, to get everything fully functional once more. Not if he was going to get Bossk back to the Bounty Hunters Guild in time to lead the breakaway faction's uprising against the elders.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk headbutts a dagger. Self-explanatory.
As Cradossk had fallen back against the table one of his hands had reached back and grasped an ornate ceremonial dagger; the gems embedded in its hilt flashed as he swung his arm around, the point of the blade aiming straight for Bossk's throat.
There was no way for Bossk to avoid the blade; if he had leaned back, the movement would only have presented a wider target for the blade to slash across. Instead, he lowered his head, catching the razor-sharp edge with the corner of his brow. The impact of flesh and bone against metal was enough to knock the weapon out of his father's hand and send it spinning off into a far corner of the room.
Taking a hand from his father's throat, Bossk wiped away the blood seeping down through his face scales and into his eyes. "Now that," he said with eerie self-possession, "didn't hurt at all." With a shake of his head, he sent blood spattering across Cradossk's face, as though sealing the bright ideogram of a death sentence there. "But I promise you--this will."
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk doesn't even flinch as his arm is cut off and proceeds to fight Luke Skywalker without it.
The bounty hunter laughed. "You think you can save yourself with a child's toy?" He swiped his arm toward the lightsaber, intending to knock it out of the way.
The blade cut cleanly through his limb. It dropped to the ground with a dull thud.
Luke stared in horror at the severed arm. Bossk didn't even flinch.
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Bossk, with his arm already cut off, survives losing a leg, and proceeds to throw a grenade and start laughing.
Gasping for air, Luke slashed blindly with the lightsaber.
And then Bossk was on the ground. His left leg lay a meter away.
Luke gaped at his lightsaber, almost tempted to drop the deadly weapon on the ground, next to the writhing Trandoshan. It was almost like the lightsaber had taken over, fighting for itself.
And yet it had never felt so much a part of him.
"What are you waiting for, Skywalker!" Jaxson shouted, taking off toward the airspeeder. "Let's get out of here!"
Luke didn't need an invitation. He turned his back on Bossk and began to run. So he didn't see the wounded bounty hunter lob the fragmentation grenade with his one good hand. But Luke did see the deadly silver globe soar over their heads and land, with perfect aim, in the front seat of the airspeeder. "Down!" Luke shouted, grabbing Jaxson and throwing him to the ground, as the airspeeder exploded.
When the smoke cleared, Bossk was laughing. "Now we die together." He coughed, then spit out a gunky wad of viscous green blood. "Like I said -- I always get the job done."
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Bossk survives an entire night lying on the ground in the desert after having his arm and leg cut off.
Deep in the desert, something moved. Something cold and reptilian and left for dead. Something else that had survived the long night.
The hunter's red eyes flickered open. His remaining hand closed into a fist, claws piercing his scaly palm. The wounds were deep, but they would heal. The arm and leg would grow back. Slowly, painfully, he would be whole again.
But it would take a long time to happen.
By the time it did, Bossk promised himself, Luke Skywalker would be dead.
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Speed
Canon
Bossk is watched by Ezra Bridger from a distance as he speaks to a Stormtrooper by his ship. Then, in the time it takes Ezra to watch the Stormtroopers walk away, Bossk travels to the cargo containers Ezra was hiding in, within such a short period of time that Ezra initially thought Bossk had simply re-entered his ship.
“One of the stormtroopers walked up to the Trandoshan and the two began talking. The Trandoshan dipped a claw into a pocket on his pressure suit and showed a datacard to the stormtrooper. The stormtrooper nodded, then turned and walked away from the landing pad. The other stormtroopers followed him.
Still standing by the cargo containers, Ezra watched the stormtroopers walk off, then looked back to the freighter. The Trandoshan had vanished. Ezra noticed the freighter’s hatch had sealed, and he wondered if the Trandoshan had returned to his ship. He took a cautious step forwards so he could have a wider view of the landing pad, but as he edged around the cargo containers, he found the Trandoshan standing in the shadow of the container, facing him.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Bossk veers out of the way of laser cannon fire on a speeder bike.
“The scout was crouched down low over his bike’s controls. He fired the bike’s cannons at Bossk’s bike, but Bossk veered to the side, and the laserfire sailed past him.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Bossk evades blaster fire from two Stormtroopers at close range.
“As Bossk reloaded his mortar gun with stun cartridges, the stormtroopers opened fire. Bossk returned fire as he jumped away from Shifty and rolled across the debris-littered floor."
―Ezra’s Gamble
After being shot in the leg, Bossk clears a metre distance and strikes an opponent before his sword can hit the ground.
"He came to a stop about a metre away from them, held his arms out by his sides, and said, ‘Come on, fellas. Give a dead guy a break. Bare-handed means bare-handed.’ He grimaced as he shifted his weight onto his good leg.
The Houk and the Feeorin looked at each other and grinned. They looked back at Bossk and released their grips on their weapons.
Before the Houk’s sword hit the ground, Bossk launched himself off his good leg, straight for the Houk. Bossk’s forehead smashed into the Houk’s face as he grabbed the Houk’s forearms and drove his knee into his gut."
―Ezra’s Gamble
Legends
Bossk creates an arc of light as he guns down a group of mercenaries.
Fett saw a look of fierce delight in the Trandoshan's eyes as Bossk whipped the rifle around, a level arc of bright fire cutting through the smoke and across the other mercenaries who had been foolish enough to move away from the security of the perimeter alcoves.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk trades blows with Luke Skywalker circa ANH.
The Trandoshan smashed a clawed fist into Luke's face. Luke went sprawling backward, but a moment later, he was on his feet again, hacking and slashing with the lightsaber. Bossk lunged for Luke, lashing out with his claws, but Luke dodged the blows. The glowing blade swept through the air, dancing around the Trandoshan. Luke wasn't thinking, wasn't aiming or strategizing, he just struck again and again, struggling and failing to land a blow. With a roar, Bossk hurtled toward him, wrapping his remaining hand around Luke's throat.
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Luke Skywalker circa A New Hope suggests that Bossk may be faster than him, despite the fact Bossk was missing an arm and a leg at the time (the leg stump was being supported by a blaster barrel at the time). Luke just prior to this deflected all of Bossk's blaster fire with his lightsaber
Bossk chuckled again, although this time his laughter sounded hollow. He pulled the trigger on his blast rifle, sending a blast of laserfire directly at Luke's chest. Without hesitating, Luke blocked it with his lightsaber. The laserfire ricocheted off the glowing blue blade, and Luke advanced toward the bounty hunter.
It's just like I practiced, Luke told himself, as Bossk blasted away at him. Luke whirled the lightsaber through the air, deflecting shots one after the other.
[...]
"You're stronger than me," he said quietly. "You may even be faster than me."
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Strength
Canon
Bossk nonchalantly lifts two Clone Troopers and smashes them into unconsciousness.
―Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 4 - Episode 15
Bossk sends a Clone Trooper flying with a backhand and crumples another with a strike to the abdomen.
―Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 4 - Episode 15
Bossk throws Obi-Wan Kenobi flying across a table.
―Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 4 - Episode 15
Bossk rapidly defeats a massive Houk, who is also a champion gladiator, leaving him unconscious.
Before the Houk’s sword hit the ground, Bossk launched himself off his good leg, straight for the Houk. Bossk’s forehead smashed into the Houk’s face as he grabbed the Houk’s forearms and drove his knee into his gut. The Houk fell back with Bossk on top of him. Bossk pushed himself off, flipping his body back at the startled Feeorin.
[...]
The Feeorin passed out next to the Houk.
―Ezra's Gamble
Using a leg that had previously been shot through the thigh with a blaster bolt, Bossk kicks a Feeorin hard enough to snap his shin bone. This Feeorin in particular was a heavily muscled gladiator.
"Bossk bent down on his good leg and kicked out with his bad. He grunted as the wounded leg struck the side of the Feeorin’s shin so hard that one of the Feeorin’s bones snapped."
―Ezra's Gamble
Legends
Bossk rips apart an inspection droid with his bare hands.
"One of the inspectors lay crumpled in pieces, a few lights still forlornly blinking, on the thrust-scarred landing dock. That one had been a little too brusque in frisking the Trandoshan Bossk for any concealed weapons, and had paid the price in quick, bolt-snapping disassembly."
―The Mandalorian Armor
It is implied and mused repeatedly that both Bossk, his father Cradossk and Trandoshans in general are capable of tearing off heads and limbs with their bare hands.
"Bossk displayed an ugly, lipless smile toward the partner he’d been assigned. The urge to reach over and pull the other’s head off, air hoses and comlink wires dangling like the tendrils of swamp weed surrounding the birth pits back on Trandosha, was almost irresistible."
―The Mandalorian Armor
“Now, there’s an interesting notion.” Cradossk sat up, bring his heavy-lidded―and unamused―gaze straight into that of his household Majordomo.
“And one for which I should pull your flopping little head off.”
[...]
Anger simmered inside Cradossk. The only reason he didn’t pull of the Twi’lek’s head…
―The Mandalorian Armor
"Bossk had overhead the comment. 'I'm ready to do business with him,' the Trandoshan growled from behind Boba Fett. 'Right now.' His clawed hand hung close to the empty blaster holster at his side. Even without a weapon, Bossk looked ready to take on whatever army the Shell Hutts had assembled, as though he could pull each of the mercenaries apart, limb from limb, with nothing but his own brute strength.
―The Mandalorian Armor
"That's what I get for being smart―Bossk's thinking processes rose in tandem with his self-disgust. Next time―Chairs flew clattering as his momentum knocked the watering hole's contents in all directions. Next time, I'll just reach over and pull somebody's head off."
―Slave Ship
Cross him [Bossk], and you were likely to get your head unscrewed from your shoulders like the lid of an emergency rations canister. That was what those claws were suitable for, not highspeed, pinpoint starhopping.
―Slave Ship
"The main corridor leads nowhere, so scan the pit fighters changing room, noticing the ceremonial sword and shield, and a quartet of Trandoshans ready to rip you limb from limb."
―Star Wars: Bounty Hunter: Prima’s Official Strategy Guide
Bossk kicks Luke Skywalker in the stomach hard enough to send him and Jaxson several metres distance.
Bossk shrugged. 'Night's coming,' he said. 'That'll make a nice dream.' Then, without warning, his clawed foot shot out and caught Luke in the stomach, hard enough to send him and Jaxson rolling a few meters through the sand.
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Bossk, using one hand, shoves aside a cylinder containing a Shell Hutt, beings just as large as traditional Hutts and additionally are encased in body-fitting durasteel armor. He then lifts and shakes around a corpse with his other hand as if it were a loose-limbed puppet. He then throws the corpse away, all without any noticeable effort.
"Silence!" The roar was deafening; it came from Bossk, thrusting himself to the foot of the steps that surrounded the dais. One of his clawed hands shoved aside the floating cylinder of the elder Shell Hutt Nullada. With his other hand, Bossk stepped forward and grabbed the front of the sprawled corpse's jacket, singed with laser fire and stiff with dried blood. 'I've heard enough of your endless bickering-' He held the lifeless figure of Oph Nar Dinnid up in front of himself, the corpse's feet dangling inches above the tessellated floor. 'This is what we came here for?' The corpse danced like a loose-limbed puppet as Bossk angrily shook it. No answer came from Dinnid's slack mouth, the skin of his face turned as pallid and gray as that of the surrounding Hutts. With an inarticulate growl, Bossk flung the corpse back down into the rubble of the dais's broken platform.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk smashes a mercenary in the stomach with a piece of rubble, folding him around it, and then cracks his vertrebrae with a single strike, killing him.
The dark-uniformed mercenary that had come sprinting into the hall's center, rifle lifted, was felled by a long section of rubble swung level into his gilt. His momentum folded him around the improvised weapon; the mercenary then collapsed onto his face as Bossk's clawed fist struck him with a vertebrae-cracking blow to the back of the neck.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk is in top physical condition, and is even capable of challenging Wookiee's in physical combat. Wookiee's are on average close to seven feet tall and are renowned for their ability to pull limbs off with their bare hands.
“Like a trophy fighter in top condition, Bossk was massive enough to challenge a wookiee, but he would win this game by guile… or trickery, if need be.”
―The Prize Pelt: The Tale of Bossk
In addition to this, Bossk usually prefers to overpower his prey physically, even if they are demonstrably superior to him in this regard, when bounty hunting. Going by this line of thought it's inferrable that Bossk challenged a great many wookiees in physical combat and succeeded, due to his successful career as a wookiee hunter.
Typical of his species, Bossk is not a subtle hunter. He tracks down his bounties and attacks them directly, overpowering them either physically or through superior firepower. He enjoys physical combat and chooses that as a first resort unless his foe is demonstrably superior to him, and even then, he may attack simply for the challenge. He loves to hunt species that cannot see in the dark at night, utilizing his superior visual senses to instill fear into them before he puts them out.
―Ultimate Adversaries
Bossk physically dominates his father, Cradossk, another Trandoshan and former leader of the Bounty Hunter's Guild.
One of Bossk's hands shot out, grabbing his father by the throat. "No, I'm not." The smile was gone from his face. On the other side of the private quarters, Zuckuss could see the red anger tingeing the younger Trandoshan's eyes. "I'm making the same assumption I made a long time ago, before I ever left for Circumtore. And you know what that is? It's that there isn't room in the Bounty Hunters Guild for both you and me."
"I ... I don't know what you're talking about. . . ." Cradossk grabbed the other's wrist, in a futile attempt to ease his hold and get another breath into his own lungs. "The Guild... the Guild is for all of us. ..."
"I'm talking about the same thing you were talking about, just now." With his other hand, Bossk pointed a clawed thumb back toward the unlit depths of the bone chamber behind him. "I was in there the whole time the two of you have been blabbing away. And I heard everything you said. All that stuff about clearing out the undesirables from the Bounty Hunters Guild. And you know what?" Bossk tightened his hold, his fist at Cradossk's throat lifting the older Trandoshan up onto the claws of his toes. "I agree with you about all that. You're absolutely right: The Guild is going to be a lot smaller. Real soon."
[...]
"I've got . . . connections . . . friends. . . ." His voice became weaker and more fragmented as the hold at this throat constricted tighter. "All the . . . council of elders..."
"Those old fools?" Bossk sneered at his father. "I'm afraid you're a little behind the times; there have been things happening already that you just don't know about. Maybe if you didn't waste so many hours in here, mumbling and fondling your moldy reminders of past glories, these things wouldn't have sneaked up on you quite so fast." Still holding Cradossk upright, he turned and slammed the older reptilian against the table outside the bone chamber's entrance; the impact against his spine visibly dazed Cradossk.
―The Mandalorian Armor
Bossk smashes through a stone wall with his bare hands.
[This feat is ambiguously canon as it is from the old Marvel comics]
Trandoshan Physiology & Hunting Culture
Canon
Trandoshans are naturally adept hunters, as displayed below when one is able to track and capture Ahsoka Tano.
―Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 3 - Episode 21
They are also highly accurate marksmen, as shown when one is able to snipe a Jedi youngling who is traversing through a jungle erratically with very little effort.
―Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 3 - Episode 22
Legends
Trandoshans are large, cold-blooded, highly physically strong reptilian humanoids. They have three digits with sharp claws on each, supersensitive eyesight that allows them to see into the infrared range, and a healing factor which can regenerate lost limbs until one reaches middle age. Trandoshans place extremely high importance into honour, combat and hunting in their culture, training males from infancy in a wide variety of hunting techniques, and honouring a deity called the Scorekeeper who they believe keeps a tally of points of the number of successful hunts they have to their name. Those with a high number of "jagannath" points to their name are regarded with more prestige in Trandoshan society, and they believe in the afterlife the same principle applies. Trandoshans are bloodthirsty and have natural hunting instincts that make them ideal for the bounty hunting profession. Bossk is no exception; in fact, he is likely the most renowned and successful Trandoshan bounty hunter in recorded history.
Large, reptilian humanoids from the planet Trandosha (or Dosha), they had supersensitive eyes that could see into the infrared range and the ability to regenerate lost limbs. They also shed their skin. Trandoshans were a war-like species that allied early with the Empire, taking Wookiees as slaves. They valued hunting above all else and worshipped a female deity known as the Scorekeeper, who awarded jagannath points to Trandoshans based on their success or failure in the hunt.
―The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Bossk’s species, the Trandoshans, are reptilian creatures from a planet in the Kashyyyk system - a system shared by the Wookie planet of the same name. Trandoshans are fiercely strong, predatory, and natural hunters. They have scaly, foul-smelling hides, powerful, three-clawed limbs and ugly, canine-like skulls, characterized by sharp teeth and bulbous, hypersensitive eyes.
Trandoshans possess formidable regenerative powers, including the ability to grow replacement limbs, digits and claws. Like Rodians, they are a species ideally suited to the bounty-hunting profession - a species that takes sadistic pleasure in hunting and killing others.
―Star Wars Fact File: 32
Trandoshans, who refer to themselves as T’doshok, are large, bipedal reptilians known for their ruthless warrior culture. Like most reptiles, Trandoshans are cold-blooded and possess scaly skin that they shed every year. Their orange, supersensitive eyes can see into the infrared range, and they are able to regenerate limbs until they reach middle age. Each of their limbs has three digits with sharp claws. While these claws are excellent for fighting, they aren’t very dexterous, making Trandoshans clumsy in some situations.
―The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
Trandoshans worship a female deity known as the Scorekeeper, who awards jagannath points to Trandoshans based on their success or failure in the hunt. Jagannath points, which refer to the spoils of victory won in mortal combat, are accumulated throughout a Trandoshan’s life. Those hunters possessing more points enjoy greater status in society and are considered valuable as mates by most females.
From infancy the males are trained as warriors and are shown many different methods of hunting. As soon as they are old enough, they go on their way into the galaxy to start scoring points for their goddess.
―The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
The reptilian Trandoshans are among the most skilled hunters in the galaxy.
―Star Wars: The Old Republic Encyclopedia
The Trandoshan bounty hunter Bossk was particularly well suited to his chosen career by dint of his innate aggression and cruelty.
[...]
Armed to the teeth with blaster rifles, flamethrowers and rocket launchers, and in command of a powerful YV-666 starship, the Hound’s Tooth, Bossk was one of the most dangerous of his kind, and was noted for his intense hatred of one Wookiee in particular. One of his nastier traits was a penchant for skinning his victims, and Bossk longed to bring Chewbacca’s bloodied pelt back to Trandosha as a tribute to his god, the Scorekeeper.
―Star Wars Fact File: 32
A Trandoshan is able to, from a prone and seemingly helpless position, slam a Clone Trooper to the ground before he can shoot him, despite the fact his blaster was already trained on the Trandoshan.
Equipment
Canon
Bossk's firearm of choice is his Mortar Gun, a blaster so powerful it can reduce a table to one leg and also leave a humanoid body badly mutilated with one blast.
"The word was barely out of his mouth when Bossk’s mortar gun fired again. Ezra closed his eyes reflexively, and when he opened them, all that remained of the fallen table was one twisted leg. He couldn’t see much of the Duros either.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
The Mortar Gun can also be loaded with stun cartridges capable of incapacitating Stormtroopers.
“As Bossk reloaded his mortar gun with stun cartridges, the stormtroopers opened fire. Bossk returned fire as he jumped away from Shifty and rolled across the debris-littered floor. The stunning blasts knocked both troopers off their feet, and their armour clattered as they fell.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Bossk also carries concussion grenades capable of making windows buckle in their frames, kicking up dust throughout an entire tavern, and leaving five Stormtroopers unconscious.
“Bossk reached to the back of his belt and removed a concussion grenade. He grabbed Shifty and flung the Dug’s limp body over his shoulder. He pushed the grenade’s trigger, tossed the grenade out through the open doorway, and then ran towards the back of the tavern, taking Shifty with him, while Ezra took cover beside the bar.
The explosion made the tavern’s windows buckle in their frames and sent a stormtrooper’s helmet bouncing in through the door."
[...]
"The grenades blast had also kicked up more dust in the tavern, causing him to lose sight of Bossk.”
[...]
“He counted five unconscious stormtroopers, including the one who had lost his helmet to Ezra.”
―Ezra’s Gamble
Bossk's ship, the Hound's Tooth, is a heavily modified freighter which contains holding cells for prisoners and an extensive armory of personal weapons. It's sensors allow Bossk to monitor the holding cells. The ship's weapons systems are composed of a quad-laser turret, an ion cannon and a concussion missile launcher.
http://www.starwars.com/databank/hounds-tooth
The Hound's Tooth is the personal starship of the bounty hunter Bossk, This highly modified Corellian freighter contains holding cells for captured prisoners and an armory for stocking up on weapons. Many sensors allow Bossk to keep an eye on the integrity of the cages. The Hound's Tooth is armed with a quad-laser turret, an ion cannon, and a concussion missile launcher.
―Ultimate Star Wars
Legends
Bossk is potentially armed to the teeth with blaster rifles, flamethrowers and rocket launchers.
Armed to the teeth with blaster rifles, flamethrowers and rocket launchers, and in command of a powerful YV-666 starship, the Hound’s Tooth, Bossk was one of the most dangerous of his kind, and was noted for his intense hatred of one Wookiee in particular.
―Star Wars Fact File: 32
Bossk has access to fragmentation grenades.
Bossk's lips widened, revealing his jagged teeth. He spit out a harsh, rasping noise, his tongue flickering. The laugh of a lizard. "Your friends think you're dead," he said. "A few fragmentation grenades saw to that."
―Rebel Force: Renegade
Bossk has access to a customized blaster rifle, a grenade launcher and a flamethrower during the Clone Wars.
"Weapons: Customized blaster rifle, grenade launcher, flamethrower."
―The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia
The Bounty Hunter's Guild, which Bossk was the leader of for a time, has access to soundless grenade launchers accurate up to 200 meters away.
Lightweight and portable, the launcher can deliver a micro-grenade cartridge with pinpoint accuracy up to 200 meters away. When activated, the magnetic rings embedded inside the weapon's cylindrical housing propel the grenade at high velocity and in direct line of sight with virtually no scattering. The weapon's almost soundless operation and lack of recoil make it highly suitable in situations demanding stealth.
―Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
The Bounty Hunter's Guild, which Bossk was the leader of for a time, has access to gas launchers which can render a target unconscious in seconds, and can alternatively be "hot loaded" with chemical components such as poison.
Another example of Locris Syndicates sophistication, this portable, self-propelled rocket delivery system is the ideal agent for live captures. While standard Type-12A rocket darts with explosive contact detonators can be employed, most hunters prefer to employ the Type-12B capsules, which are filled with the FGA-583 nerve agent. The gas affects a small blast area and can induce unconsciousness in a matter of seconds.
Less scrupulous hunters have been known to “hot load” their own chemical components (such as exotic poisons), but the manufacturer accepts no responsibility for the use of such unauthorized modifications.
―Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters