Light

Light was one of the elemental powersElementsThe 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. of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. Its prefix in the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. tongue was "Av-", and it was tied to the 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., the AvohkiiAvohkiiThe Avohkii is the Mask of Light, a golden mask that granted its wearer the power of Light and the ability to spread understanding. It was worn by Toa Takanuva., and 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., the only Toa of LightToa of LightThe sole Toa wielding the Element of Light through the Avohkii mask, singular and feared by Makuta itself. in the stories. Light stood opposed to ShadowShadowShadow was the elemental absence of Light in the Matoran Universe, wielded natively by the Makuta and weaponized through the Shadow Leeches., the power wielded by the MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate., and the conflict between the two drove much of the story from Mask of Light to the battle for Karda Nui. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

The element and its prefix#

Each element had its own Matoran prefix, and for Light it was "Av-", seen in the name 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. and in the AvohkiiAvohkiiThe Avohkii is the Mask of Light, a golden mask that granted its wearer the power of Light and the ability to spread understanding. It was worn by Toa Takanuva., the Great Mask of Light. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

A wielder could create, control, and absorb light. In the stories that meant everything from banishing darkness and re-igniting lightstones to cutting laser beams. Takanuva once noted in his blog that light could illuminate, welcome and warm, and could also make laser beams that slice through protosteel. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; Takanuva's Blog; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Light could also be used to fool the eye. Takanuva created holograms to confuse his enemies, and the 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. could change how others saw the colour of their armour. (BIONICLE: Journey's End; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

The Av-Matoran lineage#

The 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. were the Matoran of Light, naturally gold and white. Long ago they helped prepare 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., the core of the universe, and the Toa MataToa Mata and Toa NuvaSix biomechanical heroes created by the Great Beings to awaken Mata Nui and defeat the Brotherhood, transformed once and tested across an entire age. were sent to protect them there from the AvohkahAvohkahThe Avohkah were incredibly fast and powerful elemental beings, sentient lightning bolts produced as by-products of the Av-Matoran's labours in Karda Nui and defeated by the Toa Mata before the Great Spirit Mata Nui's awakening., lightning-like Rahi that were hard to subdue. Their work done, the Av-Matoran withdrew before the energy storms filled the core. (BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

The Av-Matoran believed they lived on the southern continent. In fact, after the Great Cataclysm, their homes were on giant stalactites hanging in Karda Nui, above the swamp that formed at its base. Others of their kind lived hidden among other Matoran, disguising their colours. The most important was 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., who lived among 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. on Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years.. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

The unique signature of Av-Matoran abilities#

The Av-Matoran could channel small bolts of light through their hands or tools. When in contact with a Toa or a Makuta, each could also use a special light-based ability of his or her own and share knowledge and memories with that partner, as Tanma did when he collided with LewaLewaToa of Air, member of the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva, whose career was marked by repeated possession, body theft, and aerial campaigns from Le-Wahi to Karda Nui.. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

Those living 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. were larger than ordinary Matoran, an effect of the core's energies, and the Toa Nuva and Takanuva grew larger there too. Unlike most Matoran types, the Av-Matoran included both male and female members. Some details of their nature, such as their place in Matoran history and their link to the Bohrok, come only from writer Greg Farshtey's later comments. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Takanuva and the Toa-level expression#

Toa-level Light was seen in 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.. As 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., a Matoran living among 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., he freed the AvohkiiAvohkiiThe Avohkii is the Mask of Light, a golden mask that granted its wearer the power of Light and the ability to spread understanding. It was worn by Toa Takanuva. from the stone the Turaga had hidden it in, and set out with 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. to find the Seventh Toa. After Jaller was killed by the RahkshiBionicle Rahkshi: the Sons of Makuta from Mask of LightRahkshi are armoured hunters made from kraata, the slug-like creatures of the Makuta. Six of them chased the Mask of Light across Mata Nui in 2003. Here's what they are, the different kinds and where they turn up in the films, books and comics. TurahkTurahkTurahk is a red and dark grey Kraata of the Rahkshi who serves as a servant of Makuta within the Brotherhood of Makuta. Hailing from Mangaia, Turahk wields the Staff of Fear and possesses the power of fear., Takua put on the mask and became the Toa of Light. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Mask of Light (novelisation))

As a Toa, he could fire beams of light, banish darkness, and re-ignite the lightstones of Metru Nui. In his battle with Makuta at MangaiaMangaia: Teridax's lair beneath Mata NuiMangaia was Teridax's hidden lair beneath the island of Mata Nui. It held a pool of Energized Protodermis used to make Infected Kanohi and Rahkshi., light proved able to turn shadow into light energy. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Mask of Light (novelisation); BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Later he followed the Toa Nuva to 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., arriving in time to drive off the Makuta who had pinned the Toa down outside the CodrexThe CodrexA spherical vault built by the Great Beings in Karda Nui, where the Toa Mata slept in their canisters and where Mata Nui's reawakening was finally set off.. Even so, the campaign showed that a Toa of Light was not beyond the reach of Shadow. (BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

The AvohkiiAvohkiiThe Avohkii is the Mask of Light, a golden mask that granted its wearer the power of Light and the ability to spread understanding. It was worn by Toa Takanuva. and the Mask of Light and Shadow#

The AvohkiiAvohkiiThe Avohkii is the Mask of Light, a golden mask that granted its wearer the power of Light and the ability to spread understanding. It was worn by Toa Takanuva., the Great Mask of Light, was made by ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha is the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island where the Toa Mata came into being and the Avohkii was forged. as a safeguard in case 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. turned to evil. Makuta Kojol later stole it for the Brotherhood, and the Toa HagahToa HagahElite Toa teams appointed by the Brotherhood of Makuta to serve as personal guardians, later rebelling against their creators. in turn stole it from Destral. As Rahaga, they hid it in Metru Nui, where the Toa HordikaToa HordikaToa mutated by Visorak venom into bestial hybrids, forced to fight their primal nature and hunt for a cure. later recovered it, and the Toa Metru brought it to Mata Nui and hid it in Ta-Wahi. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe; BIONICLE: World; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; The Mutran Chronicles)

The mask granted the full power of light and could spread understanding to others, turning anger to peace and enemies into allies. Its Shadow counterpart was the KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe., the Great Mask of Shadows worn by TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna.. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

The two masks fused when 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. and TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. fell together into Energized ProtodermisProtodermisThe engineered substance building the Matoran Universe, protodermis exists in countless refined states from mundane metal to diamond-hard crystal to the destruction-or-transformation force of energized form. in MangaiaMangaia: Teridax's lair beneath Mata NuiMangaia was Teridax's hidden lair beneath the island of Mata Nui. It held a pool of Energized Protodermis used to make Infected Kanohi and Rahkshi.. The being formed, TakutanuvaTakutanuvaThe temporary fusion of Takanuva and Makuta Teridax, born in Energized Protodermis, wielded light and shadow as one during the climax of Mask of Light., wore the Mask of Light and Shadow. Once the fusion was undone, the Avohkii was used to bring Takanuva back, and he went on wearing it. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Mask of Light (novelisation))

Light, Shadow, and the campaign 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.#

The clearest clash between Light and ShadowShadowShadow was the elemental absence of Light in the Matoran Universe, wielded natively by the Makuta and weaponized through the Shadow Leeches. came when 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. attacked 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.. The Makuta AntrozAntrozMakuta commander who led the Phantoka assault on Karda Nui and pilot of the Jetrax T6, ultimately outmaneuvered by Kopaka's superior strategy., VamprahVamprahVamprah hunted in absolute silence, but silence wasn't enough when Tahu outmaneuvered him in the swamp., and ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui. used shadow leeches to drain the inner light of the Av-Matoran, turning many of them into Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers. who fought for the Makuta, among them Kirop, RadiakRadiakAn Av-Matoran of Karda Nui who was corrupted into a Shadow Matoran by a Shadow Leech, restored by a Klakk, and evacuated to Metru Nui before the Energy Storms., and GavlaGavlaAn Av-Matoran of Karda Nui transformed into a Shadow Matoran, Gavla led Vamprah's corrupted villagers and resisted restoration.. By the time the Toa Nuva arrived, only one village remained free. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

A drained Av-Matoran did not simply go dark. He became a servant of Shadow. 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. himself was struck by a shadow leechShadow 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., which left him partly drained and turned his Avohkii dark grey. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

The cure came from an unlikely source. 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. had created a Rahi called the klakk to guard his equipment in the swamp, and its scream turned the shadow Matoran 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. back into a Matoran. Vican told Takanuva, and Takanuva, with Vican, Tanma, PhotokPhotokPhotok was an Av-Matoran of Karda Nui who fought alongside Tanma and Solek in the resistance against the Brotherhood of Makuta during the final battle for Mata Nui's awakening., SolekSolekSolek was an Av-Matoran of Karda Nui who fought alongside the Toa Nuva against the Brotherhood of Makuta during the final battle for Mata Nui's awakening., and Radiak, used klakk to restore the shadow Matoran and himself, though the cure did not undo the physical changes. (BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Light in the cosmological order#

Light's opposition to Shadow is a thread that runs through the whole saga. The AvohkiiAvohkiiThe Avohkii is the Mask of Light, a golden mask that granted its wearer the power of Light and the ability to spread understanding. It was worn by Toa Takanuva. was made as a check on the Brotherhood, the Toa of Light was foretold to defeat Makuta, and the struggle over the Av-Matoran of Karda Nui was part of the Brotherhood's plan to seize the universe. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

When Mata Nui awoke and the energy storms returned, the Av-Matoran evacuated 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. and made their way to Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. Takanuva remained the only Toa of Light the stories ever showed. (BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)