Gate Guardian

The Gate GuardianGuardianA Dark Hunter who tracked down captured operatives before the fall, and later fought beside Tahu in the ruins of Karzahni. was a predatory RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. that followed the VisorakVisorakSpider-like Rahi created by Makuta Chirox, conquered for the Brotherhood by Gorast, broken at Metru Nui, and ultimately destroyed in a volcanic eruption on Artidax. horde and guarded key places for it during the occupation of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. It survived by projecting a small image of itself while its true body stayed invisible, drawing attackers into wasted assaults on the false image while the real creature struck unseen. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Origins and recorded appearance#

Like other RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts., Gate Guardians were made by the MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate. from viruses and liquid protodermis. They followed the VisorakVisorakSpider-like Rahi created by Makuta Chirox, conquered for the Brotherhood by Gorast, broken at Metru Nui, and ultimately destroyed in a volcanic eruption on Artidax. and came with them to Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe; BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

In the story, a Gate Guardian turned up when Toa HordikaToa HordikaToa mutated by Visorak venom into bestial hybrids, forced to fight their primal nature and hunt for a cure. NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras. and the RahagaToa Hagah and RahagaThe Toa Hagah were appointed to guard Makuta Teridax, mutated into hybrid warriors, and mysteriously restored. GaakiGaakiGaaki is a Toa of Water and member of the Toa Hagah, distinguished by her dark blue and copper armor and wielding a Tidal Spear and Rhotuka Launching Shield. She wears the Great Mask of Clairvoyance and once served as a bodyguard to Makuta Teridax before dedicating herself to hunting Rahi and protecting Matoran, residing on Spherus Magna. searched 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. for Kanohi to take to the island above. It was guarding the chamber where the masks were stored. When it wouldn't move aside, Nokama knelt to reason with it and was struck by its real, invisible body. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

Nokama lost more of her self-control with each blow and lashed out wildly at the image until GaakiGaakiGaaki is a Toa of Water and member of the Toa Hagah, distinguished by her dark blue and copper armor and wielding a Tidal Spear and Rhotuka Launching Shield. She wears the Great Mask of Clairvoyance and once served as a bodyguard to Makuta Teridax before dedicating herself to hunting Rahi and protecting Matoran, residing on Spherus Magna. worked out what was going on. The Rahaga told her to use the water RhotukaRhotukaRhotuka were wheels of pure energy generated by living beings, shaped by the user's nature, and launched through natural or artificial launchers. she had gained from her mutation, and the rainstorm it raised showed the creature's outline. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

Nokama struck the Gate Guardian's leg, toppled it and leapt on it, shouting, until GaakiGaakiGaaki is a Toa of Water and member of the Toa Hagah, distinguished by her dark blue and copper armor and wielding a Tidal Spear and Rhotuka Launching Shield. She wears the Great Mask of Clairvoyance and once served as a bodyguard to Makuta Teridax before dedicating herself to hunting Rahi and protecting Matoran, residing on Spherus Magna. gently urged her to master her Hordika side. The two then went on into the mask chamber. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

Combat strategy#

The Gate GuardianGuardianA Dark Hunter who tracked down captured operatives before the fall, and later fought beside Tahu in the ruins of Karzahni.'s main weapon was deception. It projected an image of itself two, three or even seven times smaller than its true size, and the image copied whatever the real creature did. Opponents wore themselves out trying to beat the small image while their real enemy hid out of sight. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

The trick held until someone realised the image wasn't the real threat, or found a way to show the invisible body, as Nokama's rainstorm did. Once its outline could be seen, the Gate GuardianGuardianA Dark Hunter who tracked down captured operatives before the fall, and later fought beside Tahu in the ruins of Karzahni. could be attacked directly. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

Gaaki had little love for the species, grumbling in Rahi BeastsBIONICLE Reference BooksSeven Scholastic and AMEET reference titles published between 2003 and 2009 back up the printed story of the Matoran Universe. This page catalogs what each book contains and where the editions diverge. that the Visorak were bad enough without bringing such creatures with them. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

Physical traits#

The projected image stood between about 1.5 and 4 feet tall. The real body could be more than 10 feet tall, which made its unseen blows far heavier than the little image suggested. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

Beyond size, the stories say little about the creature's body. Gaaki called it no Matoran creation, a thing that should not exist. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika; BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

Role within 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. occupation#

Gate Guardians served the VisorakVisorakSpider-like Rahi created by Makuta Chirox, conquered for the Brotherhood by Gorast, broken at Metru Nui, and ultimately destroyed in a volcanic eruption on Artidax. horde during its occupation of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. under SidorakSidorakHe took credit for someone else's idea, called it leadership, and spent his whole reign as the Visorak's king certain he could not be out-played.. Their job was to guard key places that mattered, but not enough to need one of the giant Kahgarak. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

The horde had other tools for other jobs. Visorak webbing sealed off the city, and breeds such as the OohnorakOohnorakThe Oohnorak were the Visorak's masters of deception, capable of fooling even trained Toa Hordika with cunning and trickery. and VohtarakVohtarakOne of six Visorak breeds, fire-aligned spider-like Rahi with Rhotuka spinner launchers. did the fighting, while the Gate GuardianGuardianA Dark Hunter who tracked down captured operatives before the fall, and later fought beside Tahu in the ruins of Karzahni. held its post by misdirection. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

Classification uncertainty#

Gate Guardians weren't Visorak. The guides list them as a separate RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. species that followed the horde as allies, and Gaaki, who knew the Visorak well, spoke of them as creatures the Visorak had brought along. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

No further story scenes feature a Gate GuardianGuardianA Dark Hunter who tracked down captured operatives before the fall, and later fought beside Tahu in the ruins of Karzahni. after the encounter in 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.. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

Legacy#

The Gate GuardianGuardianA Dark Hunter who tracked down captured operatives before the fall, and later fought beside Tahu in the ruins of Karzahni. stands out among RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. for fighting by misdirection rather than force. Beating it took two steps: realising the image was a lie, and finding a way to show the invisible body. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

The encounter also showed how close the Toa HordikaToa HordikaToa mutated by Visorak venom into bestial hybrids, forced to fight their primal nature and hunt for a cure.'s feral instincts came to taking over. Gaaki's calming of NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras. after the fight pointed to the wider risk the HordikaToa HordikaToa mutated by Visorak venom into bestial hybrids, forced to fight their primal nature and hunt for a cure. state posed to the team throughout the VisorakVisorakSpider-like Rahi created by Makuta Chirox, conquered for the Brotherhood by Gorast, broken at Metru Nui, and ultimately destroyed in a volcanic eruption on Artidax. occupation. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)