The Great Tournament

The Great Tournament was the annual championship of Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna., held in the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. at AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match., in which GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. from all over the planet competed for the right to be called title-holder. It grew out of the Glatorian system of arena combat, and its winners gained the right to charge more for their services. The Tournament ended when a SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule. army attacked AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match. as its final running began. (BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero; Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna)

Origins and purpose#

The Great Tournament was the showpiece of the Glatorian system on Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna.. Under that system, villages with a dispute over water, food or other resources each sent a GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. to fight in the arena, and the result settled the matter. Once a year, instead of fighting over a particular resource, the Glatorian gathered to fight for the title of title-holder. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; BIONICLE Glatorian 1: Sands of Bara Magna; BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero)

The Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. in AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match. was the largest arena on the planet, and the Tournament was its great event. Atero belonged to no single tribe, which let members of every tribe meet there. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero)

Format and divisions#

The main division was direct GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. combat, and Agori and vehicles were kept out of it. Glatorian from each village travelled to the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. to compete, among them AckarAckarVeteran Glatorian of the Fire Tribe and prime fighter for Vulcanus, Ackar served from the Core War through the defence of Spherus Magna. of VulcanusVulcanusThe Fire Tribe's settlement on Bara Magna, caught between resources and threats. of the Fire TribeFire TribeThe master smiths of Bara Magna who forged tools for all tribes before the Shattering scattered them into conflict., KiinaKiinaKiina is a Glatorian of the Water Tribe who served as the secondary Glatorian for the village of Tajun on Spherus Magna. Colored in shades of dark and light blue, she wielded a Vapor Trident and a Thornax Launcher in combat. Following the reformation of Spherus Magna, she continued to reside on the restored world. and TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. of the Water TribeWater TribeA trading-focused desert tribe vulnerable to Bone Hunter raids and arena warfare on Bara Magna., StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. and GeluGeluGelu is a Glatorian of the Ice Tribe, native to Bota Magna, who formerly served as a secondary Glatorian for the city of Iconox. White and dark blue in color, he wields an Ice Slicer and a Thornax Launcher and resides on the reformed Spherus Magna. of the Ice TribeIce TribeOne of Bara Magna's six major tribes, the Ice Tribe produced legendary Glatorian like Strakk and survived the Shattering intact., and GreshGreshA young Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who served Tesara and later joined the alliance that defended Bara Magna during its final crisis. of TesaraTesaraTesara is a location belonging to the Jungle Tribe, situated to the south of the White Quartz Mountains and to the north of the Dunes of Treason. for the Jungle TribeJungle TribeThe Jungle Tribe of Tesara originated in Bota Magna, weathered the Shattering, and sent Gresh and Vastus into the Bara Magna arena system.. In the months before, villages held exhibition bouts against visiting Glatorian to build anticipation. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero)

A vehicle division also formed part of the Tournament, open to Agori and Glatorian fighting from vehicles. CrotesiusCrotesiusA Vulcanus pilot who went from dismissing legends to answering one in Riddle of the Great Beings. of the Fire TribeFire TribeThe master smiths of Bara Magna who forged tools for all tribes before the Shattering scattered them into conflict. was one of its past title-holders, and Perditus held the vehicle title last. KirbrazKirbrazKirbraz was the Water Tribe Agori from Tajun who piloted the primary cycle of the Kaxium V3 alongside his partner Scodonius, winning many vehicle division matches in the arena before the Skrall conquest of Bara Magna. and ScodoniusScodoniusAn Agori pilot who prepared Arena Magna for the tournament and refused a wild hunt for the Red Star. of the Water TribeWater TribeA trading-focused desert tribe vulnerable to Bone Hunter raids and arena warfare on Bara Magna. raced their twin-cycle Kaxium V3Kaxium V3The Kaxium V3 was a Water Tribe two-rider vehicle of Bara Magna, piloted by Kirbraz and Scodonius, that could split into a main car and a smaller Thornax-armed cycle. in important matches. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; BIONICLE.com Bara Magna character biographies)

Past title-holders of the main event included Ackar, CertavusCertavusCertavus was a famed Glatorian of the Ice Tribe, a Great Tournament champion and the author of the Book of Certavus, a collection of his fighting secrets. and Vastus. Tarix had won the most recent completed Tournament and was the last Glatorian to hold the title. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; BIONICLE.com Bara Magna character biographies)

Preparation at the Arena Magna#

In the days before each Tournament, Agori from various villages were sent to the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. to refurbish it. The crew before the final running included TardukTardukTarduk is an Agori of the Jungle Tribe, distinguished by his dark green and lime coloration. A treasure hunter by trade, he wields claws and spikes and makes his home on the reformed Spherus Magna. of the Jungle TribeJungle TribeThe Jungle Tribe of Tesara originated in Bota Magna, weathered the Shattering, and sent Gresh and Vastus into the Bara Magna arena system., CrotesiusCrotesiusA Vulcanus pilot who went from dismissing legends to answering one in Riddle of the Great Beings. of the Fire Tribe and KirboldKirboldKirbold is an Agori of the Ice Tribe, distinguished by white and grey coloring, who serves as a maintenance worker on the reformed Spherus Magna. He carries a blade as his primary tool. of the Ice Tribe. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; Riddle of the Great Beings)

While working at the arena, TardukTardukTarduk is an Agori of the Jungle Tribe, distinguished by his dark green and lime coloration. A treasure hunter by trade, he wields claws and spikes and makes his home on the reformed Spherus Magna. found a map bearing a Red StarRed StarThe Red Star was an orbiting facility that revived the dead and enabled the Great Spirit Robot's cosmic travels., and he, CrotesiusCrotesiusA Vulcanus pilot who went from dismissing legends to answering one in Riddle of the Great Beings. and KirboldKirboldKirbold is an Agori of the Ice Tribe, distinguished by white and grey coloring, who serves as a maintenance worker on the reformed Spherus Magna. He carries a blade as his primary tool. set out to follow it. (Riddle of the Great Beings)

On the eve of the final running, TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. and StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. practised together, with Tarix anxious to get back to TajunTajunTajun was a village of the Water Tribe, situated on the banks of the Skrall River. after a recent Bone HunterBone HunterDesert nomads of Bara Magna who raided for survival until their alliance with the Skrall nearly conquered the continent. raid there. GreshGreshA young Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who served Tesara and later joined the alliance that defended Bara Magna during its final crisis. prepared with TardukTardukTarduk is an Agori of the Jungle Tribe, distinguished by his dark green and lime coloration. A treasure hunter by trade, he wields claws and spikes and makes his home on the reformed Spherus Magna. watching. The exiled GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. MalumMalumFire Tribe Glatorian banished from Vulcanus for trying to kill Strakk in the arena, who took over a Vorox pack in the wastelands of Bara Magna. arrived with a pack of VoroxVoroxThe warrior caste of the Sand Tribe, reduced to feral pack hunters in the wastes of Bara Magna after the collapse of their civilisation in the Core War. and urged Gresh to flee. Gresh refused, and Malum stalked off. (BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero)

The final running and the Fall of AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match.#

The final Tournament opened the next morning with a match between TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. and StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause.. Gresh had warned the Agori about Malum, and BerixBerixBerix is an Agori of the Water Tribe who lived on Spherus Magna. A scavenger by trade, he is recognized by his blue and dark blue coloration and carries a Water Sword and shield., RaanuRaanuRaanu is an Agori of the Fire Tribe, distinguished by his dark red and yellow-orange coloration, who served as the leader of Vulcanus and the Fire Tribe on Spherus Magna. He wielded a Flame Blade and Fire Shield as his tools of office. Following the reformation of the planet, Raanu continued to reside on the restored Spherus Magna. and MetusMetusMetus was a transformed Agori from Spherus Magna who worked as a Glatorian recruiter. Originally a member of the Ice Tribe, he later joined the Rock Tribe. White and ice blue in coloration, Metus wielded an Ice Axe and an Ice Shield. went looking for the Skrall. The fight never finished. A huge SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule. army marched on AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match. as the event began, and the match was abandoned so the Glatorian could defend the city. (BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero; Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna)

The Glatorian soon realised the city was lost and fled into the desert. Tarix, Strakk, Gresh and a few Agori regrouped in a cave and agreed they needed help. (BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero)

Aftermath and significance#

The Great Tournament was never held again. Atero fell to the SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule., and the crises that followed, from Mata NuiMata NuiBuilt by the Great Beings to restore Spherus Magna, Mata Nui sustained an entire civilisation inside his body, was deposed by Teridax, and reclaimed his purpose as a mortal on Bara Magna.'s arrival to the Battle of RoxtusThe Battle of RoxtusThe climactic engagement at the Skrall stronghold of Roxtus on Bara Magna, where Mata Nui defeated Tuma in single combat, Metus was exposed and transformed, and the Glatorian and Agori drove off the Skrall and Bone Hunters. and the reformation of Spherus MagnaSpherus MagnaA desert world of ancient conflict that became the merger point of the Matoran Universe and Bionicle's true endpoint., overtook everything else. (BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero; BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn; Journey's End)

The Tournament had been the high point of the arena system that kept the villages from open war. After the Battle of Roxtus, the tribes came together in the United VillageUnited VillageThe mega-village built from the main structures of Tesara, Tajun, Vulcanus, Roxtus, and Iconox after the Battle of Roxtus, which proved to be the Prototype Robot Mata Nui used to confront Teridax., a union the Tournament had only ever represented for a few days a year. (BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn; BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn novelisation)

The opening match between TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. and StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. was the last fight of the last Great Tournament. (BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero)