Rooster Teeth’s anime series RWBY focuses on the titular team of Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang, and this foursome have found many allies to help them in their journey over the course of seven volumes. One of those allies is Ruby and Yang’s uncle Qrow.

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While both Yang and Ruby talked about Qrow early in the series, he didn’t make his official appearance until the third volume. He came to report to Ozpin, but the audience’s first moments with Qrow involved him heavily drinking while watching the Vytal Festival and then picking a fight with Winter Schnee. Stubborn and seemingly never taking anything too seriously, Qrow hasn’t changed much since that introduction, but he has proven himself to be a wealth of information and a seriously powerful Huntsman.

10 What Fictional Character Inspired Qrow

The Scarecrow and Dorothy In The Wizard Of Oz

Many of the characters in RWBY are inspired by other fiction. Teams are even themed around specific concepts. Team RWBY, for example, is themed around fairytales. Ozpin’s inner circle is inspired by characters in The Wizard Of Oz stories. While Ozpin himself is inspired by the Wizard, General Ironwood is inspired by the Tin Man, Professor Lionheart by the Cowardly Lion, and Qrow gets his inspiration from the Scarecrow.

The Scarecrow was known for his quest to get his own brain from the Wizard. While Qrow isn’t on a quest for a brain, he does gather “intelligence” for Ozpin. He also manages to complete missions completely inebriated, which could be a nod to having straw for brains. Even in The Wizard Of Oz stories, the scarecrow believed himself to be stupid, but still managed to follow through with Dorothy’s plans.

9 Does His Name Have Special Meaning

Qrow Branwen In RWBY Volume 1

Qrow Branwen’s name provides fans with a hint at the power Ozpin bestowed on him in his youth. It even sounds like the black bird he turns into. His surname gives a more subtle hint for those unfamiliar with it.

“Branwen” is from the Welsh language. It translates to “blessed white crow,” though “crow” is interchangeable with “raven” in the translation, making it a perfect fit for both Branwen siblings.

8 What Mythological Figure Does Qrow Allude To

Qrow Branwen And Ruby Rose In RWBY Volume 6

In addition to his nods to the Scarecrow, Qrow also provides nods to a figure from mythology. Specifically, one from Norse mythology.

In Norse myth, Huginn and Muninn were ravens who flew around the world before reporting back to Odin. In this case, Qrow is Muninn and Raven is Huginn, while Ozpin is Odin. The siblings worked together, as their respective birds, to gather intelligence for Ozpin, until Raven deserted the cause. Though Qrow continued his work, he also became an alcoholic.

The anime even provides a nod to this when Yang tells the story of Qrow saving her and Ruby as children. Lines from the poem Grímnismál appear in the background of the scene. They read, “Hugin and Munin fly each day over the spacious earth. I fear for Hugin, that he come not back, yet more anxious am I for Munin.”

7 What Is His Semblance

Clover And Qrow In RWBY Volume 7

Qrow’s Semblance is great in battle, but not so much in everyday life. Unlike other characters, he can’t seem to turn his off. With a Semblance named Misfortune, things can get a little rough.

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Qrow’s Semblance literally brings bad luck to those around him. It manifests in his life in small ways, like broken dishes or lost items. He can amplify it in battle to cause his enemies bigger moments of bad luck, like Tyrion falling through a roof in the middle of a fight. The trouble is Qrow doesn’t seem to be able to control it unless he’s amplifying it, causing him to keep a lot of people at arm’s length. He doesn’t want to make the lives of the people he cares about more difficult.

6 What Can Qrow’s Weapon Do

Qrow VS Winter In RWBY Volume 1

Qrow’s weapon has a few similar design aspects to Ruby’s Crescent Rose. Named “Harbinger,” Qrow’s weapon of choice is also a scythe, but it converts into numerous other modes.

Harbinger folds down into a compact blade mode to be carried. When Qrow activates its gears, it unfolds into a scythe, but can also adapt further into a “war scythe.” In addition to the curved blade of a scythe, however, Qrow can also convert Harbinger to act as a sword. Like many of the weapons in RWBY's world, Harbinger can be converted yet again into a gun. In this case, it’s a shotgun.

With all of those different modes, Harbinger has many options for modes and range of use. Qrow is also skilled enough to wield Harbinger with either his left or his right hand.

5 Why Did He Decide To Use A Scythe

Weiss Schnee With Team RWBY Qrow Maria And JNR In RWBY Volume 6

Ruby learned to wield a scythe because Qrow trained her with one, but Qrow didn’t pick up a scythe for the same reasons.

When he attended Beacon Academy, it was initially because his tribe of bandits wanted to learn how to beat a Huntsman in a fight. Qrow learned to appreciate Huntsmen - and he hero worshiped one scythe wielder in particular. Known as the Grimm Reaper, the Huntsman was said to be unstoppable. That’s why he chose a scythe, and even modeled his after theirs.

As it turned out, Qrow got to meet that very Huntsman - actually Huntress - in volume six. Her name is Maria Calaveras, though she wasn’t interested in Qrow’s flattery. He thought she was amazing, but she considered herself a failure.

4 Is He Ruby’s Father

Qrow With Yang And Ruby In DC Comics RWBY Issue 2

This is one question that’s been brought up by RWBY fans a lot since Qrow was introduced. Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long share a father in Taiyang Xiao Long, but different mothers - Summer Rose and Raven Branwen, respectively. Qrow, as Raven’s brother, is Yang’s biological uncle, but has always been Ruby’s uncle in actions as well. Some fans speculate they’re actually biologically related.

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Members of the RWBY creative team have tried to put this question to bed - repeatedly - but fans haven’t let it go. It’s been stated that Ruby is definitely Taiyang’s daughter, but because she idolized Qrow, she picked up his traits and modeled her style after his. That’s why the similarities between the two are so prevalent.

3 When Did Qrow’s Voice Actor Change

First Appearance Of Qrow In RWBY

Qrow made his debut in the third volume of the anime, voiced by veteran voice actor Vic Mignogna. Mignona had been in tons of high profile projects, like Dragon Ball Z, before being approached by the Rooster Teeth team at a convention. After his work on volume six of the anime came to an end, sexual assault allegations were launched at the actor from many sources in the industry, as well as anime fans who met him at conventions.

Rather than find themselves stuck in the middle of the controversy, Rooster Teeth made the precautionary measure of letting him go from their productions. Before recording for volume seven began, Jason Liebrecht (My Hero Academia and Black Clover are among his credits) was brought in to voice Qrow.

2 How Many Battles Has He Won In The Anime

RWBY-Qrow

Despite having such a confrontational attitude, Qrow hasn’t been involved in many fights the audience has been privy to. We’ve heard stories of his time as a Beacon Academy student, but we haven’t seen flashbacks to him in action.

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During his time in the anime, Qrow has participated in only eight battles, and some of those, like his baiting Winter into fighting him during his first appearance, can hardly be called battles. Of those eight, he was interrupted during three of them, which means the fights never officially ended. Of the five remaining, he and his allies won every single fight.

1 When Did Qrow Wear A Skirt

Team STRQ In RWBY

Qrow has a distinct style. Even when everyone got a costume change in volume seven, Qrow stuck with his slacks, vest, and cape, just in slightly different colors. When he was a kid attending Beacon Academy, however, he had to be in uniform instead of clothing of his own choosing.

Taiyang somehow convinced his teammate that the skirts the female Beacon students had the option to wear for their uniform were actually kilts. Qrow, believing him, decided he’d rather wear the kilt than pants. He was unashamed of the action, though Taiyang found it hilarious.

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