Onu-Matoran
Earth-wielding Matoran of the deep who adapted to darkness and built the Matoran Universe's defensive cavalry.

Onu-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. were the true MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. of Earth, and they spent most of their existence in darkness. Their eyes evolved to handle low light without strain, which meant bright sunlight on the surface would temporarily blind them. This vulnerability was more than flavor text: OnuaOnuaOnua was the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva of Earth, a quiet, deliberate warrior whose patience and underground mastery anchored his team across the Matoran Universe. used it tactically during 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. assault on the Archives, as his knowledge of how Onu-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. adapt to light gave him a tactical edge in the fight. Beyond that adaptation, they were known for exceptional strength and durability, and their core virtues were Duty and Destiny, expressed through the principle of Prosperity.
The Archives and Underground Life#
In Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive., Onu-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. filled most roles in the city's deep infrastructure. They typically started out as miners, extracting protodermis and other materials from the networks beneath the city, then advanced into positions within the Archives. Characters like NuparuNuparuAn Onu-Matoran engineer from Metru Nui who built the Boxor and rose to become a Toa of Earth despite no warrior destiny. and 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. perfectly exemplify this career trajectory. 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. spent his life in the Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. Archives or deep in mines, working comfortably in absolute darkness that other MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. found forbidding. The ArchivistArchivistA Matoran keeper of records and relics, the Archivist held one of Metru Nui's deadliest jobs. himself, also Onu-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body., oversaw cataloging of deceased 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. in BIONICLEBIONICLE: Matoran AdventuresA 2002 GBA platformer where you play as one of six Matoran fighting Bohrok across Mata Nui's islands. Legends 10: Swamp of SecretsSwamp of SecretsThe Swamp of Secrets was the mutagen-saturated wetland that filled the floor of Karda Nui after the Great Cataclysm, serving as a Brotherhood stronghold until the Energy Storms.. Their comfort underground made them invaluable for work that would exhaust other MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body.. The darkness wasn't a prison for them. It was home.
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.: The Ussalry Era#
When the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. reached 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., Onu-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. shifted into new roles, balancing two occupations. They operated the protodermis and lightstone mines that sustained the island's infrastructure, but they also formed the 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., a mounted cavalry that rode massive UssalUssalSix-legged crustacean Rahi domesticated across Metru Nui and Mata Nui for cargo, mining, and sport. Backbone of Matoran labor. crabs across the cavern terrain of Onu-WahiOnu-WahiThe underground kingdom of Mata Nui, home to the Onu-Matoran and Toa Onua.. This defense force was unique to them, built on the land's topology and their deep bond with the Ussals. The 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. became Onu-WahiOnu-WahiThe underground kingdom of Mata Nui, home to the Onu-Matoran and Toa Onua.'s military identity.
The Exodus#
After the Battle of Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna. and the structural collapse of the Great Spirit Robot, all Onu-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. evacuated the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control. for Spherus MagnaSpherus MagnaA desert world of ancient conflict that became the merger point of the Matoran Universe and Bionicle's true endpoint.. Their long centuries of underground existence had finally ended. They brought their tradition of strength and duty into a new world, adapting to surface dwelling where darkness was no longer their native state but an aberration.
Compiled from primary sources by Lore Fortress editorial. Reviewed by Joe Garratt, Editor-in-Chief.
Sources
- SerialReign of Shadows, Greg Farshtey serial
- BookBIONICLE Adventures 3: The Darkness Below, Scholastic BIONICLE Adventures
- WikiOnu-Matoran, Biosector01
- BookBIONICLE Adventures 1: Mystery of Metru Nui, Scholastic BIONICLE Adventures
- BookBIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets, BIONICLE Legends series
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
Followed from this entry

Bionicle Rahkshi: the Sons of Makuta from Mask of Light
Rahkshi 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.

Taipu
Taipu 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.

Ussalry
Onu-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.

Rahi
The Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts.

Swamp of Secrets
The Swamp of Secrets was the mutagen-saturated wetland that filled the floor of Karda Nui after the Great Cataclysm, serving as a Brotherhood stronghold until the Energy Storms.

Ussal
Six-legged crustacean Rahi domesticated across Metru Nui and Mata Nui for cargo, mining, and sport. Backbone of Matoran labor.
Mentioned in122 entries
Aiyetoro
Aiyetoro was an Onu-Matoran of Metru Nui who became a miner in Onu-Koro on Mata Nui, digging for ore beneath the island and honouring the Virtues of Duty and Destiny.
Azibo
Azibo was an Onu-Matoran prospector of Onu-Koro, the Chief Prospector's most trusted hand and a student of the Principle of Prosperity.
Bordakh
The Vahki model assigned to Ga-Metru, the Bordakh patrolled the canals and schools of the academic district and carried Staffs of Loyalty that turned any Matoran they struck into a willing informant against their own friends.
Boxor
Built by Nuparu from a salvaged Gahlok shell, the Boxor was the first Matoran-engineered combat machine and a key resistance asset against the Bohrok swarms.
Cavern of Light
The Cavern of Light was the lightstone mine that supplied Onu-Koro on Mata Nui, opened only with a special key and guarded by the Onu-Matoran Kaj.
Chief Archivist
The unnamed Onu-Matoran who ran the Archives of Metru Nui, held the keys to its deepest sub-levels and answered to Turaga Dume.
City of the Lost
The first appearance of Mahri Nui in the Quest for the Mask of Life, the airweed harvest that kept the underwater city alive, Defilak's submarine expedition into the Black Water, and the arrival of the Barraki on the doorstep of the Matoran settlement.
Claws (Nuhvok Va)
The paired claws of the Nuhvok Va, which served as their hands, let them dig shallow escape tunnels and doubled as a defensive weapon during the Bohrok swarms' rampage across Mata Nui.
Defilak's Submarine
Defilak's Submarine was a Takea-shaped underwater craft built by the Mahri Nui Matoran Defilak. Its one voyage into the black water ended when Pridak's Takea sharks sank it and took its crew prisoner.
Dosne
Dosne is an Onu-Matoran from Onu-Metru who helped build Onu-Koro on Mata Nui, fled it twice, and went back to Metru Nui to help rebuild the city.
Earth
Earth is one of the elemental powers of the original BIONICLE story, wielded by Toa such as Onua and Whenua and felt by Onu-Matoran as sharp night vision.
Elements
The 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.
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