Aero Slicers

The Aero Slicers were the Toa ToolsToa ToolsToa Tools were the implements every Toa carried as channels for elemental power and as physical fighting gear, with each tool specific to a wielder's element and form. of MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran., the Toa MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. of Air. They worked in three ways: as melee blades, as conduits for MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran.'s elemental power over Air, and, when fixed to his back, as glider wings and rotors that let him fly. (BIONICLE Adventures 3: The Darkness Below; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; Toa Matau)

Origin#

MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran. took the Aero Slicers when he became a Toa MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it.. Six MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body., Matau among them, had been given Toa StonesToa StonesSmall stones charged with a portion of a Toa's power, used to awaken the dormant Toa Power within a destined Matoran and elevate them into a Toa. by Toa LhikanLhikanToa of Fire, leader of the Toa Mangai, and the last Toa of Metru Nui, who surrendered his Toa Power to create the Toa Metru and died defending Vakama.. At the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power. they placed the stones in the Toa Suva, which turned them into Toa and offered them their tools. (BIONICLE Adventures 1: Mystery of Metru Nui; BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui)

Each Toa MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. received tools suited to the element they channelled. VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years. took a Kanoka disk launcher, NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras. her hydroblades, and OnewaOnewaOnewa served as Toa Metru of Stone, led Po-Koro through the Dark Time, and constructed the Metru Nui statue honoring the fallen Toa Mahri Matoro. his proto pitons, alongside WhenuaWhenuaToa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro, formerly an Onu-Metru archivist whose career in the Archives shaped his role across the rescue of Metru Nui and the long residency on Mata Nui.'s earthshock drills and NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro.'s crystal spikes. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Flight function#

Matau could attach the twin slicers to his back and mentally switch on their second function, turning them into glider wings and rotors. (BIONICLE Adventures 3: The Darkness Below; Toa Matau)

He found out about it by accident. In both the film and the novel of Legends of Metru Nui, Matau slipped from Vakama's grasp while hanging from a Ko-MetruKo-MetruKo-Metru was Metru Nui's frozen intellectual quarter, home to the scholarly Ko-Matoran race. chute support and fell, and the Aero Slicers carried him into the air. Neither version shows the flight being planned or practised beforehand. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui)

Combat and channelling functions#

Outside the flight role, the Aero Slicers worked like other Toa ToolsToa ToolsToa Tools were the implements every Toa carried as channels for elemental power and as physical fighting gear, with each tool specific to a wielder's element and form.. They served as melee weapons in close combat and as a focus for MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran.'s elemental power over Air. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Hordika mutation#

When the VisorakVisorak (Rahi)Spider-like Rahi employed by the Brotherhood of Makuta whose name meant 'Stealers of Life' and whose swarms threatened the Matoran Universe. venom mutated the Toa MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. into Toa HordikaToa HordikaToa mutated by Visorak venom into bestial hybrids, forced to fight their primal nature and hunt for a cure., each Toa's tools changed with them. MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran.'s Aero Slicers became a pair of fang blades, matching the bestial look of the other Hordika weapons. (BIONICLE 3: Web of Shadows; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

When KeetonguKeetonguThe legendary Rahi who broke the Visorak siege and lived to prove he was worth the legend. cured the Toa Hordika and Matau returned to his Toa Metru form, the fang blades went back to being Aero Slicers. (BIONICLE 3: Web of Shadows)

Conversion to the Kau Kau Staff#

After the Toa MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. gave up their Toa PowerToa PowerThe fundamental energy of a Toa, depleted when destiny's fulfilled and transferable through specially prepared stones. to awaken the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive., MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran. became a TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities. and carried the Kau Kau StaffKau Kau StaffTuraga Matau's Badge of Office, formed from his Aero Slicers and named by Onewa after the cry of the Brakas monkey. as his Badge of OfficeBadge of OfficeThe Badge of Office was the staff or tool carried by a Turaga to symbolize experience and authority, most often the transformed Toa Tool the elder had wielded in their days as a Toa.. No story shows the slicers turning into the staff, though. That link comes from Greg Farshtey's later comments outside the stories, so it's a writer's note rather than an event on the page. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Design and significance#

The Aero Slicers are the clearest expression of Air in the Toa MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. toolset. Where most Toa ToolsToa ToolsToa Tools were the implements every Toa carried as channels for elemental power and as physical fighting gear, with each tool specific to a wielder's element and form. cut, struck, or fired projectiles, Matau's blades doubled as wings. They weren't the team's only way to fly, though: Vakama could also switch his disk launcher into a flight pack. (BIONICLE Adventures 3: The Darkness Below; BIONICLE Adventures 10: Time Trap)