Skullgrotes

Skullgrotes is a Laser Beast from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Skullgrotes (スカルグロテス Sukarugurotesu) is the Assault General of the Laser Beast army, second only to Tigerburn in rank. Skullgrotes was born into the Dragon Clan, the protectors of the Royal Tiger family, and is the leader of the Illusion Clan. As such, he has an esteemed lineage that affords him respect. Skullgrotes is tough in every aspect, having a hardy mind and scales that grant him immunity to most weapons. He is also skilled in the mystical arts, specializing in dark magic. Indeed, Tigerburn should be happy his dark counterpart is unwaveringly loyal to him.

Skullgrotes carries the Ghost Horror Laser, which has a built-in AI that uses a beam to penetrate an enemy's mind and control their actions.

Fiction

Beastformers comic

Skullgrotes worked alongside Tigerburn as the Laser Beast society became a cold-blooded, machine-like civilization. Legend of the Three Wise Ones One day their underground city was flooded and the Laser Beasts relocated to the surface, where they began conquering the lands belonging to the Beastformers. Skullgrotes led the initial invasion and conquest of Sunatoria, Hogland, Bowdonia and Sheepnia. Beastformers VS Laser Beasts

Legends comic

Skullgrotes was among the Laser Beasts who emerged from the underground and began warring with the Beastformers. When several Autobots joined the Beastformers' side, Tigerburn coveted their power and used one of the Three Wise Ones' gems to merge the bodies of himself, Skullgrotes and Scopecougar with those of three Headmaster Teens. Skullgrotes was merged with Shuffler, granting him a powerful, completely robotic body. LG51 Doublecross Prologue He used his new abilities to control the decapitated body of Grotusque, first by piloting it from within then by turning into its head as a Headmaster, until he was returned to his original form when Seaspray used water from the Well of Transformation to separate him from Shuffler. The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 1

In 2038, the then-peaceful Beast was invaded by Galvatron II's Decepticons. Skullgrotes was part of the joint Beastformer-Laser Beast alliance that fought against the invaders. The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 3

Toys

Beastformers

• Beast Planet's Greatest Confrontation Set (Box set, 1988)
  • ID number: 101
  • Accessories: "Ghost Horror Laser"

Available only in the "Laser Beasts" part of Takara's post-Transformers "RPG"-themed Beastformers series, Skullgrotes is an anthropomorphic dragon in high-tech yellow armor. He has a transparent orb in his torso, revealing the elemental power of Fire, Water, or Wood held up with his back to a light source.

He was only available in the "Beast Planet's Greatest Confrontation Set" (ビースト星最大の対決セット Bīsuto-sei Saidai no Taiketsu Setto). This set also came with the Beastformers Platinum Tiger, Golder and Yellow Giraffe plus the Tiger Hunter vehicle (unchanged from their prior releases), and the set-exclusive Laser Beasts Kingbuster, Salmomancer, and a chromed-gold Battle Drill.

This set is particularly expensive on the secondary market, given the entire Laser Beast half of the set is not available anywhere else.

Generations

• Autobot Shuffler (Titan Master, 2017)
  • Accessories: Elephant/tank/launcher vehicle

The Titans Return Shuffler head was repurposed as Skullgrotes in the Legends comic.

Part of the fourth wave of Titans Return Titan Master class toys, "Autobot Shuffler" transforms from robot to a head compatible with any Deluxe-or-larger Titans Return figure.

He comes with a vehicle which can transform from an elephant based on his original toy to a tank, or a multi-rocket launching system which can be held by larger figures. Shuffler himself (or any other Titan Master figure) fits inside the elephant and launcher modes, and "pilots" the tank form in his robot mode.

Titans Return mold: Shuffler
Titan Master: Hasbro: Titans Return Shuffler Ramhorn TakaraTomy: Legends LG47 Clouder Accessory: Hasbro: Titans Return Shuffler's partner drone Ramhorn's partner drone TakaraTomy: Legends LG56 Amhorn LG59 Big Fight