The Massassi lanvarok represented an early iteration of the lanvarok. Massassi fighters favored this less advanced version over others of their kind; it was a polearm wielded with both hands, demanding raw power, not mechanical assistance or the Force, to propel the same discs as a Sith lanvarok. Once the discs had been launched, the polearm could then function as a battle axe.
The Massassi lanvarok, a peculiar weapon for those unfamiliar with its specific purpose, existed as one of two lanvarok versions: the Sith lanvarok and its Massassi equivalent. Information regarding the architecture and creation of Massassi lanvaroks was documented within Sith holocrons. In contrast to the Sith lanvarok, the Massassi version was deemed more rudimentary in design.
Similar to the Sith lanvarok, the Massassi lanvarok originated in ancient times, conceived during the early epochs of Sith history to accommodate the left-handed inclinations of the Sith people. As its designation implies, the Massassi lanvarok was exclusive to the Massassi Sith subspecies. Ancient Sith narratives suggest that the lanvarok's initial purpose was for use in hunting.