The Catastrophic Quaken is a species of dragon from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. It is a dragon of the Boulder Class, as part of the classification system for the Vikings' tiers.
Official Description[]
- “The Catastrophic Quaken can smash into the ground and create huge shockwaves that can knock dragons out air.
As a Boulder Class dragon, the Catastrophic Quaken is literally what it eats — as it enjoys the consumption of rocks. This dietary preference is the cause for its tendency to reside in rocky terrain where it can roam afoot and pick up sustenance as it travels. Strong and hulking, this dragon relies on its size as the ultimate defense mechanism. When threatened, its immediate reaction is to enter protective mode and roll into a ball like a giant armadillo. Once secured into this position, it quickly takes the offense, smashing into the ground to create huge shockwaves they will knock dragons down whether they are on land or airborne. A lack of human interaction has made these dragons cautionary over time, but since Hiccup and the Dragon Riders have introduced them to humans they are slowly becoming less stony and more caring.” - ―Dragonpedia
- “Catastrophic Quakens are known for their cruel attitudes. They don't let anyone get in their way, and they'll go out of their way to wreak havoc on their target.
Catastrophic Quakens eat more rocks than any other in their class! They also have a nasty habit of spitting up digested rocks at attackers in the form of hot lava!” - ―Dragons: Rise of Berk
- “For every healer, there is always a tank to help withstand the pressure of life's obstacles, take the heat and charge into battle with a mighty barrel roll. Who better to do that than the Catastrophic Quaken? Now on sale at the Trading Post today!
Strong, territorial, and incredibly loyal, this Boulder Class dragon has it all with the wonders of a symbiotic relationship with the Prickleboggle. We all know how protective it is to its healer last time, but did any of you expect the reverse to happen between these best of winged friends? Astrid certainly didn't, until she had to go looking for Dragon's Edge's popular healer yet again.
Just as Astrid and Stormfly were heading to Hiccup and the rest of the motley crew, they almost crashed right into the Prickleboggle! Understanding that it needed to guide them elsewhere, they quickly followed the Prickleboggle to Dark Deep, where they found the Quaken making a mess of the rocky terrain in an attempt to protect its nest from a band of dragon hunters.
After they made short work of those thieving Dragon Hunters, it took a bit of coaxing to get the Quaken and its eggs back in the safety of Dragon's Edge. Thinking that it's always better to work in numbers, though, Astrid felt that they need Trader Johann's help again in enlisting Vikings like you to be caretakers of this stubborn dragon's eggs. Are you up to the task? Stop by while the sale lasts!” - ―School of Dragons
Physical Appearance[]
The Catastrophic Quaken has a compact body shape often seen in Boulder Class dragons, a pair of small wings compared to its bulky and a thick pebbled hide that comes in earthen colors such as brown, grey and golden yellow. They are covered with spikes, from its body to its single long spiked tail that resembles a stinger.
Abilities[]
- Firepower: Catastrophic Quakens, like most Boulder Class dragons, eat rocks. Their love for the geological material derives from their habitat in rocky terrains where they roam and pick up sustenance while traveling. Though Quakens typically rely on other defensive and offensive abilities, if needed, they can disgorge these rocks as molten lava.
- Volvation: Catastrophic Quakens can coil themselves into a sphere shape and be mistaken for a boulder at first appearance. This allows them to drive themselves on rocky terrain swiftly. While in this rolled state, they can collide with the ground, breaking through hard surfaces such as rocks. However, it is strong enough to topple a dragon and cause earthquakes. They are resistant to most attacks.
- Camouflage: Most Catastrophic Quakens display a range of brown and grey hues, giving them a very rock-like appearance. They camouflage effectively with rocky environments, particularly when they stay still. However, some individuals, like Melonquarry, are more vividly colored, resembling a watermelon. In Dragons: The Nine Realms, the eggs of Catastrophic Quakens are also designed to look like ordinary volcanic rocks in terms of shape, color, and texture. This level of camouflage is so effective that both humans and dragons can easily mistake them for regular rocks.
- Armored Hide and Eggs: The Catastrophic Quaken has an impressive armor rating of 35, making it one of the most durable creatures in the Dragon World, thanks to its strong, unadorned skin. Its resilience increases when it rolls into a ball, allowing it to withstand powerful attacks from other dragons, including the plasma blast of a Night Fury. Even when colliding with rocks at high speeds, the Quaken shows no signs of damage. It thrives in extreme heat and molten magma found in volcanic chambers. Remarkably, even its eggs can remain unharmed in volcanic environments or within the corrosive stomach of a Gronckle.
- Vibration Detection: The Catastrophic Quakens are very sensitive to the vibrations and respond accordingly. Fishlegs was able to observe that Quakens use vibrations to communicate with each other. The Dragon Hunters used vibrations to subdue and train two Quakens to do labor, such as mining and war. Fishlegs was able to gain their trust by using soft vibrations to calm the dragons and make them more cooperative, allowing them to follow his commands. Snotlout attempted to do the same, but ended up angering them.
- Strength: In addition to their thick hides, Catastrophic Quakens are very strong. They can easily break through rock walls, boulders, and other geologic formations with ease. Quakens are also one of the few dragon species able to damage marble blocks with sheer brute strength, where other dragons' firepower and strength fail.
- Mining: As Boulder Class dragons, Catastrophic Quakens can seek out specific rocks and minerals and dig for them. This is evidenced in Dragons: Rise of Berk where the individual named Aurum can mine for gold.
Habitats[]
- Baneful Boglands
- Barbaric Back-Country
- Burning Barrens
- Dark Deep
- Dragon's Edge
- Eerie Isle
- Frozen Tundra
- Hermit's Garden
- Hidden World
- Isle of Berk
- The Little Isles
- Rough Sands
- School of Dragons
- Trembling Faults
- Unnamed Locations
Members[]
- Tormentor
- Enslaved Quakens in "Between a Rock and a Hard Place"
- Captured Catastrophic Quaken in "Last Auction Heroes"
- Wild Quaken in "Gruff Around the Edges"
- Spikeback
- Champion Catastrophic Quaken
- Four-Man
- Melonquarry
- Aurum
- Blawberry
- Liberated Trolboulder
- Glaciated Quaken
- Ice-Tongue Quaken
- Cryoconitemare
- Meltwater Kryal
- Lethiferous Cromlech
- PlumProng
- Calamitous Quivern
- Mother Quaken that lives in the Fire Realm in "Dr. Catastrophe"
- At least eight wild Quakens in the swarm of the Berserker Bewilderbeast
Appearances[]
How to Train Your Dragon[]
Dragons: The Series[]
Trivia[]
- The Catastrophic Quaken is the first dragon to have two separate lower jaws.
Gallery[]
