Grimm Wiki
Advertisement
Grimm Wiki
1,751
pages
The subject of the article is involved with season 1 The subject of the article is involved with season 2 The subject of the article is involved with season 3 The subject of the article is involved with season 4 The subject of the article is involved with season 5 The subject of the article won at least 1 Grimmy Award in 2014 The subject of the article is involved with the Grimm Comics The subject of the article is involved with one or more of the Grimm novels
Hexenbiest & Zauberbiest
Other languages: German: Hexenbiest, Zauberbiest
Russian: Ведьма, колдун
Spanish: Hexenbiest
Farsi: هگزن بیست
Notables: Adalind Schade
Sean Renard (half-Zauberbiest)
Diana Schade-Renard (3/4 Hexenbiest)
Elizabeth Lascelles
Dead Juliette Silverton
Dead Henrietta
Dead Frau Pech
Dead Catherine Schade
Dead Serena Dunbrook
Dead Camilla Gotleib
William Del Negro
Danielle Lanive
Beatrice, Renard's second cousin
Olympia
Alexandros (hybrid)
GrimmWarlock 4

William Del Negro, a Zauberbiest (also called a warlock).

A Hexenbiest (HEK-sən-beest; Germ. Hexe "witch" + Biest "beast") is a witch-like (or warlock-like if it's male) Wesen that resembles a zombie, with visibly decaying flesh. They first appeared in "Pilot".

Rosalee indicated that the term Hexenbiest is reserved for the female, while a male (such as Sean Renard) is instead called a Zauberbiest (TSOW-bər-beest; Germ. Zauber "magic" or Zauberer "wizard" + Biest "beast") ("Mr. Sandman") or Warlock.(Grimm: The Warlock Issue 4)

Characteristics

When they woge, unlike many other Wesen, Hexenbiests still appear human; however, their skin decays so that it resembles a corpse, their teeth sharpen, and their hair turns gray (if blonde in human form). Their woged appearance becomes more decrepit-looking as they age. Interestingly, Hexenbiests find this decayed look sexy.

Woged or not, they can be identified by a dark U-shaped birthmark on the underside of their tongues.

Hexenbiests are also shown to possess superhuman strength. They are able to casually overpower a grown man and rip him apart, but they can only access these powers in their Hexenbiest form and not their human one. They are not as strong as Grimms, as on three separate occasions, Grimms were able to gain the upper hand in a fight with Hexenbiests. However, Hexenbiests are physically powerful enough to give Grimms a degree of trouble. ("Love Sick") ("The Kiss") ("Face Off")

They also possess other abilities, such as telekinesis, demonstrated when Adalind turned the gun of one of the Verrat against him at a distance. ("The Show Must Go On") They can be somewhat pyrokinetic, as Adalind's daughter, Diana, lit up a fire in the fireplace at the cabin. ("Once We Were Gods") They can create illusions, as Diana caused Meisner to bring firewood to the cabin after he thought he actually picked her up in the middle of the forest, and she did the same thing at Nick and Juliette's home, where she made it look like she was alone on the bed until Juliette picked her up and saw she only picked up a pillow. ("Once We Were Gods") ("Synchronicity") Elizabeth Lascelles has shown the ability to temporarily freeze people in time, but it's unclear if all Hexenbiests possess this ability or not. ("Octopus Head") Hexenbiests have a sixth sense: they can "smell" and identify magic using their noses. ("The Last Fight") ("The Killing Time") They also have the ability to harness seductive powers on others who are within their immediate proximity. ("Bad Luck")

Hexenbiests who are "created" (as a Verfluchte Zwillingsschwester potion side effect for example) are more deadly than normal Hexenbiests. ("Tribunal")

They are also known for their knowledge of Zaubertränke, chemical or alchemical concoctions and potions. These are used to many effects, such as bewitching a person, and have many highly emotive, compulsive, and deadly effects. Their abilities are not limited to just Zaubertränke, however, as Catherine Schade owned a key that could open any door, and Elizabeth used a two-headed black and red snake to revive Sean Renard after he flatlined.

If a Hexenbiest ingests the blood of a Grimm, their Wesen part will be destroyed and they will become a normal human. The weakness is common knowledge amongst Hexenbiests but seems to be closely guarded from outsiders. Hexenbiests have the ability to detect a former Hexenbiest who has had her powers removed this way as well. ("Mr. Sandman") Since Adalind was visibly shocked when she realized that Nick knew about it, it seems that even Grimms generally don't know about this vulnerability. A Hexenbiest turned human in this way still retains her knowledge of Zaubertränke and can still create the most dangerous of concoctions. However, stripping their powers clearly has some affect on their ability to make Zaubertränke, as Adalind claimed she could not create a cure for Renard's obsession due to Nick stripping her of her Hexenbiest powers. ("Face Off") Destroying the Wesen part of them will cause some of their Zaubertränke to stop working, but this will not occur if the Hexenbiest is killed. ("Love Sick")

The only known way to regain their lost powers involves the still beating heart of another Hexenbiest, after which the Contaminatio Ritualis must be performed by the former Hexenbiest. They must cut off the hands and feet and pluck out the eyeballs of the dead Hexenbiest. Then, they must take them to a special field and bury everything in a certain place, the last bit being buried with their own hands. If they are accepted, all the flowers in the field in a large circle will die, and they must then pick all the dead flowers. After this, the flowers must be placed inside the dead Hexenbiest's body, and the body must then be sewn up. After a period of several hours, it must be slit open, and a red sludge will ooze out. Said sludge must be collected and then rubbed onto the stomach, and if the Hexenbiest performing this ritual is pregnant, it must be rubbed onto the abdomen throughout the remainder of her pregnancy. ("Goodnight, Sweet Grimm") ("The Ungrateful Dead") ("PTZD") ("Mommy Dearest") There is a way to suppress a Hexenbiest without the blood of a Grimm. To make the suppressant, the liver, gall bladder, tongue, and four ribs of a dead Hexenbiest (that has not recently died) are some of the required ingredients, and the Witch's Hat is needed to strain the boiled mixture. ("You Don't Know Jack")

Behavior

Seemingly concerned only about their own beauty and popularity, they have been known to do things, such as apply leeches to the face, to make their skin paler. They work at the command of royalty and are extremely loyal creatures, but they are only loyal to whomever they serve, as to others they are treacherous and manipulative, even to their own kind.

When dealing with Hexenbiests, it is important to not get on their bad side, as they do not forgive and are capable of exacting their revenge in multiple ways that never end well for their offender(s). According to Rosalee, it is not normal for a human to fall for a Hexenbiest. This implies that despite their attractive human forms, Hexenbiests either fail to maintain human behavior in their relationships, or humans are somehow able to sense their true nature unless the Hexenbiests use deliberate manipulation. However, they are able to reproduce with humans and have half-breed children, as Sean Renard is proof of such offspring.

They are feared throughout the Wesen community and are not above bullying weaker Wesen. Even Monroe has seemed worried about dealing with Hexenbiests. It seems as though they are known for telling lies, as Kelly Burkhardt was surprised that Catherine Schade told the truth to Nick, ("Bad Teeth") and Stefania Vaduva Popescu confirmed that Adalind's baby was a Royal and didn't take Adalind's word for it even though she was only a former Hexenbiest. ("Volcanalis")

They are the only natural enemy of Mellifers. ("Beeware")

Hexenbiests also have a particular affinity for cats, often using them as vectors for spells or potions that they conjure. Adalind used a cat in this manner when she fed it L'esprit ailleurs in its milk, and it later scratched Juliette's hand. ("Woman in Black")

Excerpt from Grimm Diaries

Witch-like creature that somewhat resembles a demon or goblin. They work at the behest of royalty and are identifiable by a dark birthmark under their tongues.
  • Appears to be eyeless when transformed but has no visual impairment.
  • Extraordinary beauty in human form.
  • Highly intelligent and cunning.

fullfullfull

(from book entitled Hexen - Biest)

Hexenbiests have a frightening relationship with felines. They seem to favor the little creatures or slaves to their spells. A charmed cat can inflict much damage on those the Hexenbiest sets them upon.
I observed two Hexenbiests charming a cat through a demonic invocation I shall not repeat for fear I might conjure the devil myself by doing so.
full

Natural Enemies: Mellifer and Hexenbiest

The Mellifer seems to be the only natural predator of the Hexenbiest. A Mellifer attacks the Hexenbiest using a potent apitoxin, which kills the Hexenbiest instantly.

The fighting skills of a Hexenbiest are only matched by the Queen Bee herself.

Here, a Mellifer cuts out the marked tongue of the Hexenbiest to study the powers and secrets of their kind.

A Hexenbiest mark can be found under the tongue in both human and woged forms.

fullfullfull

Images

Main article: Hexenbiest/Images

Trivia

  • A Hexenbiest (Adalind Schade) was the first Wesen that Nick Burkhardt saw woge. ("Pilot")
  • Although the term "warlock" is now associated with dark magic, the Old English root indicates an "oath-breaker."
  • The original name for Hexenbiests was "Schlauraffen," which in German means cockaigne, or a fabled land of luxury and idleness.[1]
Original Hexenbiest name

References

See also

Wesen in Grimm
Accipitrid Wesen Barbatus Ossifrage, Geier, Steinadler
Amphibian Wesen Folterseele
Bovine Wesen Fuilcré, Heftigauroch, Taureus-Armenta
Canine Wesen Anubis, Apgadnieks, Blutbad, Coyotl, Höllentier, Hundjäger, Inugami, Luison, Schakal, Wældreór, Wildesheer
Caprine Wesen Krampus, Seelengut, Ziegevolk
Cathartid Wesen Raub-Kondor
Cetancodont Wesen Taweret
Chelicerate Wesen Spinnetod
Chelonian Wesen Genio Innocuo
Chimeric Wesen Manticore, Naiad, Wettbewerbsgewinner
Chiropteran Wesen Murciélago
Dinosaur Wesen Glühenvolk
Falconid Wesen Uhranuti
Feline Wesen Klaustreich, Weten Ogen
Hexapod Wesen Ataktos Fuse, Gevatter Tod, Jinnamuru Xunte, Kackenkopf, Mellifer, Musasat Alsh-Shabab
Lagomorpha Wesen Willahara
Lepidosauromorphan Wesen Furis Rubian, Königschlange, Lausenschlange, Phansigar, Quijada Vil, Skalengeck, Varme Tyv, Wasser Zahne
Lutrine Wesen Luisant-Pêcheur
Machairodontine Wesen Mauvais Dentes
Meline Wesen Drang-Zorn
Mustelid Wesen Ungeziefer Greifer
Osteichthyan Wesen Cracher-Mortel, Hasenfussige Schnecke, Matança Zumbido, Unnamed Red Herring-like Wesen
Pantherine Wesen Balam, Löwen, Pflichttreue, Yaguaraté
Passeriform Wesen Seltenvogel
Perissodactyl Wesen Dickfellig, Nuckelavee
Primate Wesen Alpe, Aswang, Cupiditas, El Cucuy, El Cuegle, Excandesco, Fuchsteufelwild, Hässlich, Hexenbiest, Indole Gentile, Koschie, Musai, Siegbarste, Wendigo, Wildermann, Zerstörer
Pseudosuchian Wesen Gelumcaedus, Skalenzahne
Rodent Wesen Eisbiber, Mauzhertz, Reinigen, Riesen-Ratte, Stangebär
Sauropsidans Wesen Dämonfeuer
Spiralian Wesen Gedächtnis Esser, Huntha Lami Muuaji, Lebensauger
Strigiform Wesen Scharfblicke
Suinan Wesen Bauerschwein, Malin Fatal, Schinderdiv
Ursid Wesen Jägerbar
Vulpine Wesen Fuchsbau, Kitsune, Vulpesmyrca
Advertisement