Kra

Kra- is the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body.-language prefix for shadow, or the Element of ShadowElementsThe elemental powers of the Matoran Universe, covering the six elements of the first Toa, the rarer elements beyond them, the opposed pair of Light and Shadow, and the separate Element Lords of Spherus Magna.. The stories never spell it out as a prefix: writer Greg Farshtey confirmed it in later answers to fans. In the books and films it appears only in the name of the Kanohi KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe., the Mask of Shadows. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Meaning of the Prefix#

Kra- means "shadow" and marks association with shadow or the Element of ShadowElementsThe elemental powers of the Matoran Universe, covering the six elements of the first Toa, the rarer elements beyond them, the opposed pair of Light and Shadow, and the separate Element Lords of Spherus Magna.. It fits the pattern of the Matoran LanguageMatoran LanguageThe written and spoken language of the Matoran Universe, with its own alphabet, measurements, and regional dialects.'s elemental prefixes, which name the Matoran tribes and their villages: Ta- for Fire, as in 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., Ga- for Water, Po- for Stone, Le- for Air, Onu- for Earth and Ko- for Ice. Later stories added more, such as Av- for Light and De- for Sonics. Unlike those, Kra- is never attached to a tribe or a place in the stories. (Mata Nui Online Game; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; Brothers in Arms)

The Single Canonical Usage#

The only MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. word in the stories that carries Kra- is the name of the Kanohi KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe., the Mask of Shadows. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe. was the Great Mask of Shadows worn by Makuta TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. through most of his appearances. According to legend, it was made by mask makers enslaved by the Brotherhood of Makuta. In Mask of Light, TakanuvaTakanuvaHidden among the Ta-Matoran as Takua, the disguised Av-Matoran who became Takanuva was the sole Toa of Light produced in the Matoran Universe's full history. grappled with TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. and both fell into a pool of energized protodermisEnergized ProtodermisA sentient substance that could remake or annihilate any being that touched it. One of the Matoran Universe's most lethal hazards., merging into Takutanuva and their masks into a single mask until they separated again. After TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. took over the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control., he rearranged the stars above Metru Nui into the shape of the KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe. as he announced his victory, as told in BIONICLE 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.. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia; BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Mask of Light (novelisation); BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Shadow Matoran and the Absent Tribal Marker#

The Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers. never used the Kra- prefix. They were not a natural tribe: Makuta MutranMutranMutran is a Makuta of the Brotherhood of Makuta who serves as the Makuta of Voya Nui and is among the most prolific Rahi creators within the organization. Hailing from the Southern Islands, he wears the Great Shelek and commands the powers of Shadow and Silence alongside the full range of Kraata abilities, wielding a Shadow Blade, Shadow Spear, and Tridax Pod in combat., TridaxTridaxMost Makuta wanted the Plan to succeed. Tridax wanted what came after, and he was building a private army of stolen Toa of Light in a Destral basement to make sure he got it. and ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui. developed shadow leechesShadow LeechMutated Kraata designed to drain light and corruption. Created by Mutran and allies, they transformed dozens of Matoran before the Energy Storm wiped them out. that drained a Matoran's light, turning Matoran of other elements into beings of shadow. The first was VicanVicanVican is a mutated Le-Matoran who previously served as a Shadow Matoran and as an assistant to Mutran. He wears a powerless Shelek, wields claws, and bore the black and lime coloring of his time as a Shadow Matoran. Connected to the element of Air, Vican resides on Spherus Magna., a Le-Matoran who volunteered, and many of the Shadow Matoran in Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. had been 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. before the Brotherhood of MakutaThe Brotherhood of MakutaAn organization of Makuta created by Mata Nui to build Rahi and keep order in his universe, later seized by Teridax and turned into the instrument of the Plan that overthrew the Great Spirit. drained them. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

The other elemental prefixes mark the tribe a Matoran was born into. A Shadow Matoran had no such tribe, so they kept the names they carried before being drained, even after their armour colours and element had changed. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

Summary of the Canonical Picture#

Kra- is the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. prefix for Shadow on the writer's word, and the Kanohi KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe. is the only place it appears in the stories. The Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers. never took it, because they were drained Matoran of other elements rather than a tribe. Its one referent in the stories was among the best-known KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe. of all. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)