Kanohi Masks are worn by every '' when Takutanuva resurrected Jaller by simply infusing his Kanohi mask with lifeforce, even though it was separate from his body.
Every Matoran, Turaga and Toa wears a Kanohi Mask at all times. Very rarely are Kanohi seen removed, because if they are taken off for an extended period of time, the wearer begins to weaken; and Matoran will eventually shut down until a Kanohi is placed on their face.
The only known way to create Kanohi masks is to melt down Kanoka disks and fuse them together. However, there are definitely more methods to create Kanohi.
There are four different classes of Kanohi in existence:
- Regular Kanohi (often referred to as Matoran masks) have no special powers, but keep their wearer alive and healthy. They are the most common masks, and were used by Makuta to spread his mind-controlling infection. They are created using Kanoka disks with a power level of 6 or less.
- Noble Masks have weak special powers that require some mental focus to activate; both Toa and Turaga can access these powers. They are created using disks with a power level of 7.
- Great Masks are stronger than Noble Masks, but require more willpower to use. Their powers are accessible only by Toa or other mentally potent beings. They are created using disks with a power level of 8.
- There is no official name for the fourth class of Kanohi, but they are sometimes referred to as "Legendary Masks". These masks let the wearer control one of the fundamental laws of existence, and if not used properly, the effects could be devastating. Toa and other beings with strong willpower can access these powers, but it is a constant struggle to keep the powers under control. There are only two known masks of this type: The Vahi Mask of Time and the Ignika Mask of Life.
The mask's level has a bearing on its color. Matoran masks are colored at creation. Powered masks are usually silver-gray, and when worn they take on the color of the wearer. Sometimes a mask is metallic-colored, which indicates either a special mask (such as the Vahi and Avohkii) or a special wearer (like the Toa Hagah ); metallic masks are generally not any more powerful than plain-colored versions.
In addition, it appears that purely mechanical enhancements can be built into masks of any level. The only enhancement currently known is a telescoping eyepiece that allows the wearer to see over long distances; this seems to be a standard addition to Great Akaku masks, and Nuju had a similar adjustment made to his Matatu when he was a Matoran (which he kept when he became a Toa Metru , but lost when he became a Turaga ). Kazi also has an eyepiece on his Great Matatu-shaped mask.
Different powers are contained by different masks. Here is a list of the known Kanohi, along with their Matoran name and their power.
- ''Hau, the Mask of Shielding'': Allows the user to protect him or herself from physical attacks, but not from ambushes. Worn by Turaga Lhikan.
- ''Huna, the Mask of Concealment'': Allows the user to turn Invisible , although the user still casts a shadow. Worn by Turaga Vakama.
- ''Kiril, the Mask of Regeneration'': Gives the user the power to repair inanimate objects and buildings, but it cannot heal living beings. Worn by Turaga Dume.
- ''Komau, the Mask of Mind Control'': Allows the user to command others to do the user's bidding. Worn by Turaga Onewa.
- ''Mahiki, the Mask of Illusion'': Allows the user to create illusions to deceive an opponent or escape detection. Worn by Turaga Matau.
- ''Matatu, the Mask of Telekinesis'': Enables the user to move objects and beings with his or her mind. Worn by Turaga Nuju.
- ''Rau, the Mask of Translation'': Enables the user to translate any written language. Worn by Turaga Nokama.
- ''Ruru, the Mask of Night Vision'': Allows the user to see in the dark. Worn by Turaga Whenua.
- ''Akaku, the Mask of X-Ray Vision'': Allows the user to see through walls and objects. Worn by Toa Kopaka .
- ''Avohkii, the Mask of Light'': It glows brightly, and it can bring light to darkness. The user can use it to turn a foe's anger into feelings of peace, or freeze an opponent in a column of brilliant light. Worn by Toa Takanuva .
- ''Hau, the Mask of Shielding'': Allows the user to protect him or herself from physical attacks, but not from ambushes. The Great Hau's shield is stronger than a Noble Hau's. Worn by Toa Tahu and Toa Lhikan .
- ''Huna, the Mask of Concealment'': Allows the user to turn Invisible , although the user still casts a shadow. The Great Huna's effect lasts longer than a Noble Huna's. Worn by Toa Vakama .
- ''Kakama, the Mask of Speed'': Allows the user cover vast distances quickly. Worn by Toa Pohatu .
- ''Kaukau, the Mask of Water Breathing'': Allows the user to breathe underwater. When this mask is activated, the user won't be able to breathe when out of the water. Worn by Toa Gali .
- ''Komau, the Mask of Mind Control'': Allows the user to command others to do the user's bidding. This mask can exercise greater control over more strong-willed opponents than the Noble Komau. Worn by Toa Onewa .
- ''Kraahkan, the Mask of Shadows'': Allows the user to spread darkness and fill a hero's heart with darkness, fear and anger. Worn by Makuta .
- ''Kualsi, the Mask of Quick Travel'': Allows users to teleport to any spot they can see. They can take objects with them, like their tools, but no other people. Worn by Toa Iruini .
- ''Mahiki, the Mask of Illusion'': Allows the user to shape-shift, in essence making their illusions real. It likely also has the power to create external illusions like the Noble Mahiki, but this was never demonstrated. Worn by Toa Matau .
- ''Matatu, the Mask of Telekinesis'': Enables the user to move objects and beings with his or her mind; a more powerful version of the Noble Matatu. Worn by Toa Nuju .
- ''Miru, the Mask of Levitation'': Allows the user to float and glide on air. Worn by Toa Lewa .
- ''Olmak, the Mask of Dimensional Gates'': Allows the user to open gateways to other places and dimensions. Worn by Brutaka .
- ''Pakari, the Mask of Strength'': Increases the user's brute, physical power. Worn by Toa Onua .
- ''Pehkui, the Mask of Diminishment'': Allows the user to shrink to a minimum height of 6 inches while still retaining their full power. One shaped like a Noble Kiril was worn by Toa Norik .
- ''Rau, the Mask of Translation'': Enables the user to translate any written or spoken language, including those of Rahi animals (the Noble Rau is limited to written languages only). Worn by Toa Nokama .
- ''Rode, the Mask of Truth'': Allows the user to see through lies and deception; it is said to be able to see the spirit forms of beings using Astral Projection , but might not see someone who is invisible because invisibility is not necessarily a "lie". Worn by Axonn .
- ''Ruru, the Mask of Night Vision'': Allows the user to see in the dark. Unlike the Noble Ruru, the Great Ruru lights up so others can see, and also grants a small degree of X-Ray vision to the wearer. Worn by Toa Whenua .
- ''Suletu, the Mask of Telepathy'': Allows the user to read minds and sense strong emotions. Worn by Toa Krakua and Toa Kongu .
- Unnamed Masks:
- ---''Mask of .
- ---''Mask of Detection'': Allows the user to see hidden things; including invisible people and the spirit forms of those using Astral Projection . Worn by Toa Hahli .
- ---''Mask of Elemental Energy'': It can restore the elemental energies of a .
- ---''Mask of Stealth'': Gives the user partial invisibility, and dampens any sounds they make. Worn by Toa Nidhiki .
For more information on these Legendary Masks, see "Selected Kanohi Profiles" below.
- ''Ignika, the Mask of Life'': Its exact powers are unknown, but it is said to have the power to both give life and take it away.
- ''Vahi, the Mask of Time'': Allows the user to speed up or slow down time around a target. This power is extremely hard to control.
Most masks have unremarkable histories; they are forged by maskmakers and then worn by their owners for the rest of their lives. However, a few masks have notable histories apart from any wearer:
It is not known when or how the Avohkii Mask of Light was forged. The Brotherhood Of Makuta , being creatures of shadow, feared that the Avohkii could be used against them, so they stole it and hid it away in one of their fortresses.
Some time later, the Brotherhood's bodyguards, the Toa Hagah , discovered how corrupt the Brotherhood had become and rebelled against them. They were caught and mutated into creatures called " Rahaga ", but not before they recovered the Avohkii from the Brotherhood's stronghold.
When the Rahaga came to hit the mask with his Rhotuka spinner and encased it in stone in order to protect it.
The Toa brought the Mask of Light with them when they relocated to the island of Mata Nui and became Turaga ; Vakama fashioned the stone covering into a totem and hid it in a lava cave, where it remained for a thousand years.
Eventually, a Matoran named Takua , who had a tendency to go off exploring, entered the cave and found the totem; when he dropped the totem into the lava, it melted away and revealed the Avohkii inside. Turaga Nokama was then able to read an inscription on the inside of the mask, which said it belonged to a Toa of Light that must be found. Takua and his friend Jaller set out to find this Toa of Light, evading the Rahkshi that were sent out to claim the mask. During a final confrontation between the Rahkshi and the Toa Nuva at the Kini-Nui Temple, Jaller jumped in the way of a fatal blow meant for Takua. Jaller's sacrifice led Takua to accept his destiny; he put the Avohkii on his face and became Takanuva , the Toa of Light that he had been searching for.
Besides its basic powers, the Avohkii had the ability to transform its destined wearer from a Matoran into a Toa, much like a Toa Stone does. It also seemed to impart knowledge to Takanuva, giving him the know-how to build an Ussanui vehicle.
A hundred thousand years ago, the Ignika Mask of Life was forged by the Great Beings and hidden under Mount Valmai, a volcano near the edge of a continent. Since then, the , Brutaka , and Umbra .
One thousand years ago, the Great Cataclysm caused Mount Valmai and the surrounding area to break off from the mainland, stranding all who lived there. This became known as the island of Voya Nui .
Currently, several groups have come to Voya Nui to claim the Ignika. Former Dark Hunters calling themselves " Piraka " want the mask for its power. The Toa Nuva hope to use the mask to heal the Great Spirit Mata Nui , and six Matoran who came to help them have become the Toa Inika .
The Ignika has several guardians. Besides those sentries appointed by the Order of Mata Nui, there is a kind of nightmare zone near the mask that makes worst fears come to life; when the Piraka enter this zone they will face the monster Irnakk . The mask also seems to have a degree of sentience, as it appears to have summoned the mad Piraka Vezon to act as another guardian.
The mask also seems to be cursed; only one destined to wear it can even touch it without bad things happening - Vezon became fused with a Fenrakk spider when he touched the Ignika. It's also said that if the mask falls into the wrong hands, an ancient evil could awaken...
The mask has also been rumoured to change shape depending on who wears it.
The possibility of a Mask of Time being made was known far before it was ever forged. The Brotherhood Of Makuta created the Voporak mutant capable of detecting the Vahi's power in preparation for when such a mask would be made; Voporak was then given to the Dark Hunters so that he would not be idle in the meantime. Just prior to the Great Cataclysm , Makuta (disguised as Turaga Dume ) asked Metru Nui 's best maskmaker Vakama to try and forge a Vahi, but this request was forgotten when Vakama became a Toa Metru .
Vakama would later remember "Dume's" request during the Great Cataclysm. By that time, the Toa Metru had collected six powerful Great Kanoka Disks, and he was able to combine them and forge them into a Vahi. He tried to use the mask against Makuta , but his inability to fully control its powers proved little help. In the end, the Vahi fell into the sea.
Vakama would later retrieve the Vahi, only to have it taken by Voporak. He then got caught up between Makuta and the Dark Hunter's leader, The Shadowed One , both of whom wanted the Mask of Time themselves. Vakama was able to get away with the mask when the two began to fight amongst themselves, and when Makuta chased him down he threatened to destroy the mask rather than give it up.
A thousand years later, Vakama gave the Vahi to Toa Tahu , who attempted to use the mask against the Bohrok-Kal . Again, it proved little help, but it did give the Toa Nuva enough time to come up with another strategy. Voporak is presumably hunting the Vahi down again after detecting this use.
Extreme care needs to be taken with the Vahi, as even slight damage would cause its power to leak out and cause temporal anomalies in its immediate area. If it were to be destroyed, the entire space/time continuum could collapse.
- ''Golden Kanohi'': When each Toa 'Mata' completed their quest to find a set of six Great Kanohi hidden on Mata Nui , they each received a Golden Kanohi. It is in the shape of their original mask, but has the powers of all six. However, other Toa (like Lhikan and Iruini ) have worn golden-colored Kanohi with no additional powers.
- ''Copper Masks of Victory'': Copper-colored masks are awarded to Matoran for winning in sports. They are normally not worn, but instead kept as trophies. Copper masks are usually seen in the shape of a Noble Huna, but there are also Noble Komau. Hewkii and Hafu are both known as Copper Mask winners for their skill in Kolhii .
- ''Infected Kanohi'': When a Kraata touches a Kanohi, it becomes infected and takes on a pitted, rusted appearance. If worn, the wearer will be under the control of Makuta until the Kanohi is removed.
- ''Kanohi Nuva'': When immersed in energized Protodermis , Great Kanohi can transform into Kanohi Nuva masks with even greater power, duration and extent. Kanohi Nuva can ''only'' be used by Toa Nuva , but their powers can also be shared with others nearby.
- ''"Kanohi Hordika"'': When the Toa Metru were mutated into the Toa Hordika , their Kanohi fused to their bodies and essentially became their faces. In this state, the Toa could not use their mask powers (though Nuju was once seen using his mechanical eyepiece).
- ''"Kanohi Ignika"'': Due to the strange cause of the Toa Inika 's transformation, their masks are organic instead of metallic. They appear to be identical to regular Kanohi masks in all other respects.
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