Hau

The Hau is the Mask of Shielding, and it's one of the earliest KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe. we encounter in the Bionicle story. When TahuTahu, Toa of FireTahu served as Toa Mata, Toa Nuva, and Toa Mistika of Fire, leading his team from the first landing on Mata Nui to the destruction of the Rahkshi army on Bara Magna. first puts one on in BIONICLEBIONICLE: Matoran AdventuresA 2002 GBA platformer where you play as one of six Matoran fighting Bohrok across Mata Nui's islands. Chronicles 1: Tale of the ToaTale of the ToaThe chronicle of how six Toa arrived on the island of Mata Nui, recovered their Kanohi, formed the Toa Kaita, and confronted the Shadow Toa beneath Mangaia., the sensation hits hard: a strange feeling overwhelms him as a cushion of strength settles in around him, protecting him from all harm. That's the power in its purest form. You activate the Hau and nothing can touch you. Except, of course, it's not that simple.

How the Shield Works#

The power is straightforward in theory: awareness equals defense. If you know an attack is coming, the Hau blocks it. This principle drives the plot of Tales of the Masks, where KopakaKopakaKopaka was the Toa Nuva of Ice, deputy commander of the Toa Mata, and one of the six warriors crafted on Artakha to defend the Matoran Universe. and PohatuPohatuPohatu was the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva of Stone, guardian of Po-Wahi, whose speed and steady humour anchored the team through every era of the Matoran Universe. search for a Hau NuvaHau NuvaThe Hau Nuva was the Toa Nuva variant of the Mask of Shielding, capable of protecting both wearer and nearby allies from anticipated physical attack.. KopakaKopakaKopaka was the Toa Nuva of Ice, deputy commander of the Toa Mata, and one of the six warriors crafted on Artakha to defend the Matoran Universe. discovers it in an ice cave and uses it to shield himself when the ceiling collapses. It works because he sees the danger coming. Mental attacks bypass the mask entirely, which tells you something about how the Bionicle designers thought about these powers. The Hau is raw kinetic defense, nothing more.

The mask itself carries a hard limitation built into its design. The Noble version provides a weaker shield with shorter power duration. Even the Great Hau can be overwhelmed if the energy drains fast enough. In BIONICLEBIONICLE: Matoran AdventuresA 2002 GBA platformer where you play as one of six Matoran fighting Bohrok across Mata Nui's islands. Legends 11: The Final BattleThe Final BattleThe convergence of the Toa Nuva, Takanuva, and the Toa Ignika at the Codrex beneath Karda Nui, the second Energy Storm, the reawakening of Mata Nui by the sacrifice of the Ignika's body, and the moment Teridax revealed that he had taken the body for himself., TahuTahu, Toa of FireTahu served as Toa Mata, Toa Nuva, and Toa Mistika of Fire, leading his team from the first landing on Mata Nui to the destruction of the Rahkshi army on Bara Magna. uses his Hau NuvaHau NuvaThe Hau Nuva was the Toa Nuva variant of the Mask of Shielding, capable of protecting both wearer and nearby allies from anticipated physical attack. to block falling shadow leeches, but the leeches land on the shield and keep feeding on its energy. The Hau is strong, but it's not infinite.

Composition and Versions#

KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe. Hau were carved on Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. from a mixture of Growth and Regeneration Kanoka disks. The mask came in two forms. The Great Hau had the full strength of the power with unlimited duration. The Noble Hau provided a weaker shield that couldn't sustain power as long. Both versions saw use among those who needed the protection of shielding.

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Compiled from primary sources by Lore Fortress editorial. Reviewed by Joe Garratt, Editor-in-Chief.