Gukko

The Gukko was a large, swift, bird-like 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. native to the jungle regions of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. Generally peaceful but willing to defend itself when threatened, the species was domesticated by the Le-MatoranLe-MatoranGreen-powered Matoran obsessed with thrills and transport. They're basically Bionicle's daredevils. and served as the principal mount of the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War., the aerial military unit that defended Le-KoroLe-KoroLe-Koro is a village situated within Le-Wahi, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and home to Turaga Matau and Toa Lewa. The settlement was once held under the control of Teridax. on Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years..

Species Profile#

The Gukko was a large bird-like 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., described as extremely swift and generally peaceful. The species would fight if threatened but did not exhibit predatory aggression. Gukko possessed no elemental ability and held no special status within the broader hierarchy of 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.. Their value derived from speed, size sufficient to carry two MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. and cargo, and tractable temperament.

The species inhabited two principal regions. On Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years., Gukko nested in the canopy of Le-WahiLe-WahiLe-Wahi is a region on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and Rahi. Formerly subject to the power of Teridax, the region is no longer under that influence.. On Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive., they made their homes among the tangled cables of Le-MetruLe-MetruThe teal district where Le-Matoran managed everything that moved through Metru Nui, from chutes to airships.. The distribution indicated that the species predated the Great CataclysmThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent. and migrated with the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. when they relocated to the island surface.

The Gukko Force#

The Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War., also known as the Windrider Cavalry, was the Le-MatoranLe-MatoranGreen-powered Matoran obsessed with thrills and transport. They're basically Bionicle's daredevils. branch of the Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. military. It ranked as the second-largest MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. military formation on the island, behind only the Ta-KoroTa-KoroTa-Koro was a settlement located in Ta-Wahi, home to the Ta-Matoran, Tahu, and Vakama, and formerly connected to Teridax. The settlement was ultimately destroyed. Guard. Each Gukko mount carried two riders: a pilot who directed the bird and a gunner equipped with a pair of disk racks.

KonguKonguKongu commanded Le-Koro's Gukko Force before a strike from the Kanohi Ignika transformed him into a Toa of Air who later served among the Toa Mahri. commanded the Force, with OrkahmOrkahmOrkahm was a Le-Matoran Ussal rider of Le-Metru, Matau's chief rival, one of the six finders of a Great Disk, and later a Gukko Force member on Mata Nui. serving as his deputy. The commander's chief duty was raising and deploying the Force quickly enough to meet Nui-RamaNui-RamaLarge insect-like Rahi with deadly claws and venom, known for kidnapping Matoran and attacking Le-Koro. incursions, the principal threat the unit had been built to counter. Other recorded members included TaikiTaikiTaiki was a Le-Matoran native to Metru Nui who lived in Le-Koro as a musician and rode with the Gukko Force, briefly falling under Krana control during the Bohrok war before being freed., who rode a yellow and blue Gukko; Shu, on orange and black; BoreasBoreasBoreas was a Le-Matoran of Le-Metru and later Le-Koro, a rider in the Gukko Force who was infected by a Krana during the Bohrok War, freed by Takua and Kongu, and later evacuated to Spherus Magna., on blue and red; and ViraViraVira was a Le-Matoran native to Metru Nui who worked as a chute monitor in Le-Metru and later rode with the Gukko Force on Mata Nui, helping to rescue Matau from a Nui-Rama hive., on red and yellow.

Despite its name, the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War. flew Gukko, KahuKahuKahu were the largest members of the Gukko bird family, ridden by the Le-Matoran Gukko Force across the skies of Mata Nui., and KewaKewaA vulture-like Rahi species native to Le-Wahi, a cousin of the Kahu used as aerial mounts by the Gukko Force of Le-Koro.. The unit took its public designation from the species most commonly associated with its operations rather than from any restriction on its mounts.

The Matoran-Rahi War#

The defining campaign of the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War. was the Matoran-Rahi WarMatoran-Rahi WarA thousand-year struggle between Matoran villagers and Teridax's enslaved Rahi nearly broke the five koros before the Toa arrived., during which the Force engaged successive waves of Nui-RamaNui-RamaLarge insect-like Rahi with deadly claws and venom, known for kidnapping Matoran and attacking Le-Koro.. The 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. forces increased in scale with each attack, but the Force eventually succeeded in driving the Nui-RamaNui-RamaLarge insect-like Rahi with deadly claws and venom, known for kidnapping Matoran and attacking Le-Koro. nest away from the treetops surrounding Le-KoroLe-KoroLe-Koro is a village situated within Le-Wahi, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and home to Turaga Matau and Toa Lewa. The settlement was once held under the control of Teridax.. The campaign secured the village's continued operation through the period of greatest 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. aggression.

The conflict represented the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War.'s longest sustained engagement and established the formation as a recognized military unit within the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. defense structure.

The Battle of Kini-Nui#

The Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War. played a significant role in the Battle of Kini-NuiKini-NuiThe most sacred temple on Mata Nui, ironically built directly above Teridax's fortress.. KonguKonguKongu commanded Le-Koro's Gukko Force before a strike from the Kanohi Ignika transformed him into a Toa of Air who later served among the Toa Mahri. led the formation in striking a Nui-RamaNui-RamaLarge insect-like Rahi with deadly claws and venom, known for kidnapping Matoran and attacking Le-Koro. attacking a group of MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. that included MackuMackuMacku was a Ga-Matoran of Metru Nui and later Ga-Koro, attendant to Turaga Nokama, Kolhii partner to Hahli at the championship at Ta-Koro, and a member of the Chronicler's Company., KapuraKapuraKapura was a red Matoran of Fire who served as a member of the Ta-Koro Guard and formerly as part of the Chronicler's Company. A native of Metru Nui, he later worked as a Vat Controller there, wearing a powerless Ruru on Mata Nui and a powerless Pakari on Metru Nui, and ultimately settled on Bota Magna on Spherus Magna., TaipuTaipuTaipu is a black and tan Onu-Matoran of the element of Earth who resides on Spherus Magna. A miner by trade, he wields a pickaxe and wears the Kanohi Pakari., HafuHafuHafu was a Po-Matoran Carver of Po-Koro, recognized as a Master Carver, who served in the Chronicler's Company and survived the Reign of Shadows., KopekeKopekeKopeke was a Ko-Matoran ice carver of Ko-Koro who served in the Chronicler's Company at Kini-Nui and was later elected the third Chronicler of the Matoran Universe., and TamaruTamaruTamaru was a Le-Matoran Forest Navigator of Le-Koro, Kongu's Kolhii partner, and the Le-Koro representative in the Chronicler's Company at the Battle of Kini-Nui.. Shortly afterward, the Onu-KoroOnu-KoroOnu-Koro was the earth engineers' city, where underground isolation created one of Mata Nui's most self-sufficient settlements, until the Bohrok came. UssalryUssalryOnu-Koro's branch of the Mata Nui Military, made up of Onu-Matoran riders mounted on tamed Ussal crabs and led by High Commander Onepu. tunneled into the engagement zone, and JallerJallerJaller served as Captain of the Ta-Koro Guard, led the Toa Inika to Voya Nui, and commanded the Toa Mahri through the recovery of the Mask of Life.'s horn signal brought the Ta-KoroTa-KoroTa-Koro was a settlement located in Ta-Wahi, home to the Ta-Matoran, Tahu, and Vakama, and formerly connected to Teridax. The settlement was ultimately destroyed. Guard to reinforce the position.

The convergence marked the only recorded occasion on which all three principal MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. military formations operated together in a single engagement, with the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War. opening the battle from the air.

Carrying the Search for the Seventh Toa#

During the search for the seventh Toa, JallerJallerJaller served as Captain of the Ta-Koro Guard, led the Toa Inika to Voya Nui, and commanded the Toa Mahri through the recovery of the Mask of Life. and TakuaTakuaAn Av-Matoran hidden on Mata Nui as a Ta-Matoran, who gathered the Toa Stones, served as Chronicler, and ultimately accepted the Avohkii to become Takanuva, the Toa of Light. rode a Gukko through Le-WahiLe-WahiLe-Wahi is a region on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and Rahi. Formerly subject to the power of Teridax, the region is no longer under that influence. as they journeyed across the island. The mount provided the Ta-MatoranTa-MatoranThe Fire-element Matoran of Ta-Metru and Ta-Koro, forgers of masks and Kanoka, lava farmers, and the standing core of the Ta-Koro Guard during the war for Mata Nui. and Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets. with rapid passage through the dense jungle terrain, which would otherwise have required substantial overland travel.

The journey represented one of the most extensively documented uses of a Gukko as transport for non-Le-MatoranLe-MatoranGreen-powered Matoran obsessed with thrills and transport. They're basically Bionicle's daredevils. riders, indicating the level of trust that had developed between the species and the broader MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. population on Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years..

Related Species#

The Gukko had three close cousins: the Goko-KahuGoko-KahuVulture-like Rahi that served Le-Koro through the Gukko Force, known by two conflicting names depending on the source., the KahuKahuKahu were the largest members of the Gukko bird family, ridden by the Le-Matoran Gukko Force across the skies of Mata Nui., and the KewaKewaA vulture-like Rahi species native to Le-Wahi, a cousin of the Kahu used as aerial mounts by the Gukko Force of Le-Koro.. All three were flown by the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War. alongside the Gukko proper. The Goko-KahuGoko-KahuVulture-like Rahi that served Le-Koro through the Gukko Force, known by two conflicting names depending on the source., also referred to as the KewaKewaA vulture-like Rahi species native to Le-Wahi, a cousin of the Kahu used as aerial mounts by the Gukko Force of Le-Koro. in some accounts, was a vulture-like 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. native to Le-KoroLe-KoroLe-Koro is a village situated within Le-Wahi, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and home to Turaga Matau and Toa Lewa. The settlement was once held under the control of Teridax. and was identified as a close relative of the KahuKahuKahu were the largest members of the Gukko bird family, ridden by the Le-Matoran Gukko Force across the skies of Mata Nui..

Rahaga KualusKualusKualus is a Toa of Ice and member of the Toa Hagah, formerly serving as one of the elite bodyguards of Makuta Teridax before dedicating himself to the protection of the Matoran. White and metallic blue in color, he wields a Sub-Zero Spear and a Rhotuka Launching Shield, and wears the Great Mask of Rahi Control, granting him the power to direct the minds of animal life. He resides on Spherus Magna., who possessed the ability to speak with 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., maintained that the term Gukko may have originated as an insult in the bird's own language. Whether this account reflected accurate translation or a private observation by KualusKualusKualus is a Toa of Ice and member of the Toa Hagah, formerly serving as one of the elite bodyguards of Makuta Teridax before dedicating himself to the protection of the Matoran. White and metallic blue in color, he wields a Sub-Zero Spear and a Rhotuka Launching Shield, and wears the Great Mask of Rahi Control, granting him the power to direct the minds of animal life. He resides on Spherus Magna. was not confirmed.

Place in Matoran Society#

The Gukko occupied a position within MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. civilization unlike that of most 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.. It was neither a major threat nor a wild species kept at distance, but a working partner integrated into the daily operations of Le-KoroLe-KoroLe-Koro is a village situated within Le-Wahi, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and home to Turaga Matau and Toa Lewa. The settlement was once held under the control of Teridax. and the broader MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. military structure. The unit it served formed one of the three pillars of MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. defense alongside the Ta-KoroTa-KoroTa-Koro was a settlement located in Ta-Wahi, home to the Ta-Matoran, Tahu, and Vakama, and formerly connected to Teridax. The settlement was ultimately destroyed. Guard and the Onu-KoroOnu-KoroOnu-Koro was the earth engineers' city, where underground isolation created one of Mata Nui's most self-sufficient settlements, until the Bohrok came. UssalryUssalryOnu-Koro's branch of the Mata Nui Military, made up of Onu-Matoran riders mounted on tamed Ussal crabs and led by High Commander Onepu., and its operational role at Kini-NuiKini-NuiThe most sacred temple on Mata Nui, ironically built directly above Teridax's fortress. demonstrated its capacity to coordinate with those other formations under battlefield conditions.