Kopaka, also called Kopaka Nuva, was the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva of Ice, serving as a member of the Toa team that fought against Makuta to awaken Mata Nui.
Notes
Kopaka was the Toa of Ice. He wielded a sword that could freeze anything it touched. He wore the Kanohi Akaku, the Mask of X-Ray Vision, which allowed him to see what was hidden from others.3
Kopaka Nuva's new power, if anything, made him even colder and more remote than the mountains upon which he lived. His ice blade could be split in two to form power ice skates that let him rip through the ice and snow. He wore Akaku Nuva, using its power to keep watch on all of Ko-Wahi from the top of Mount Ihu.4
After losing his elemental powers, Kopaka Nuva could still ski, but he no longer had the ability to control the ice beneath his feet, so he had to be careful.5
When Kopaka Nuva was troubled, he traveled to a remote spot on the slopes of Mount Ihu to think. The only sounds were the wind rushing through the mountain passes and the crunch of ice underfoot. Even other Ko-Matoran rarely went there, so no other living being interrupted his time alone.6
When Pohatu came looking for Kopaka when Kopaka wanted to be alone, Kopaka would ignore him in the hope that Pohatu would give up and turn back. Sometimes this worked with Pohatu, but not often.6
When Kopaka Nuva's elemental powers were stolen, his resistance to extreme cold disappeared as well. For the first time, he could feel the numbing temperatures of Ko-Wahi slowing him down.6
Of all the Toa, Onua was the best at not speaking unless he had something worthwhile to say. Only Kopaka lived in greater silence, by choice.6
Kopaka always said, "The trap itself contains the key to escape. You simply have to know where, and how, to look."6
Kopaka often looked uncomfortable around Gali. She always insisted on treating him as a friend, even when he insisted that he did not want or need friends.6
Kopaka Nuva's color was silver [sic], his element was ice, and his village was Ko-Koro. He had the ability to create storms of snow or ice, to freeze any substance, and to withstand extreme cold. His tool was an ice blade that channeled his power; it could be split in two and used as power ice-skates. His mask was the Kanohi Akaku Nuva, the Great Mask of X-Ray Vision.7
Kopaka Nuva did not like being part of a team. He was very clever and liked to deal with problems on his own. The other Toa Nuva thought that he was unfriendly, but they also respected his intelligence and his instincts.7
Kopaka was guided by logic.8
Little was known about Kopaka's history prior to his first appearance on Mata Nui.9
Early on in the Toa's quest for the masks, Tahu and Kopaka began to get on each other's nerves, a condition that would only grow worse with time.9
Kopaka was the master of ice. He could stop or start blizzards, hurl ice darts, travel via ice slides, freeze an opponent solid in an instant, and, as a Toa Nuva, even freeze open flames. He also had a natural resistance to extreme cold.9
He was the least social of all the Toa in his team, preferring to spend time by himself. While he usually recognized the importance of being in a team, he was never comfortable with it. He had little patience for fools or reckless behavior. He and Tahu clashed repeatedly, almost coming to blows once. Of all the Toa, it was only Gali and (though he would never admit it) Pohatu that he considered friends.9
Kopaka carried an ice sword and ice shield. As Kopaka Nuva, he carried an ice blade that could be split in two and used as ice skates. He most often wore the Kanohi Akaku or Akaku Nuva.9
Kopaka would often retreat to Mount Ihu to be alone and think.10
Kopaka Nuva used his Akaku Nuva to spot the damage done to Ko-Koro by the Rahkshi.11
Kopaka Nuva would rather have worked alone, relying on his Mask of X-Ray Vision and ice bayonet. However, Solek's power to create objects of solid light might have provided the edge that won a battle.12
The Toa Mata of Ice, Kopaka was the least friendly of all the Toa Mata, preferring to work alone. He had little patience for fools and reckless behavior. He frequently argued with Tahu and sometimes Lewa. Kopaka often felt the team would be better off if he were the leader, and it was only Gali who kept Kopaka and Tahu from coming to blows. Kopaka believed in studying an enemy and learning its weaknesses rather than charging into battle without a plan. Although he was brilliant and brave, his cold attitude and sharp words sometimes got on his teammates' nerves. He regarded Gali and Pohatu as friends, although he rarely showed any affection. Still, his power saved the lives of the team more than once, including the time he froze a molten lava flow before it could engulf them. As a Toa Mata, Kopaka wore the Kanohi Akaku, the Mask of X-Ray Vision, and carried an ice sword and shield.13
As a Toa Nuva, Kopaka wore a Nuva version of the Akaku and was able to share his X-ray vision powers with others. He carried an ice blade that could be split in two and used as skates.14
Kopaka served as team leader for the squad assigned to protect the Matoran villages in Karda Nui. It was not an easy job, as they faced five fierce and powerful Makuta. Kopaka relied on his intelligence to see him through. He carried a Midak skyblaster with a blizzard blade attached and a laser targeting system. He also had a targeting system built into his mask. As of the end of story year 2008, he was back on Metru Nui.15
Solek teamed with Kopaka Nuva to battle the Makuta in Karda Nui. When in physical contact, Kopaka could share Solek's memories. Solek gained the power to create objects out of solid light.16
As a Toa Nuva, Kopaka Nuva had the additional power of being able to freeze fire.17
Kopaka could likely channel his energy through his shield, but purely for defensive purposes. He'd be unlikely to be able to fire a blast of ice through it.18
Kopaka was the second-in-command of his Toa team.19
During the Mask of Light storyline, Tahu's main reason for wanting the team to split up was that he was sick of fighting with Kopaka all the time. Kopaka's arguments with Tahu were not about wanting to keep the team together, they were about him not liking Tahu.20
Other Information
- Kopaka was Greg Farshtey's favorite character.21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
- Kopaka was Greg Farshtey's favorite character to write for.27, 28
- Kopaka was one of Greg Farshtey's favorite characters, both overall and to write for, by 2006.29
- Kopaka was Greg Farshtey's favorite Toa setwise and storywise.30
- Kopaka was Greg Farshtey's favorite character because his heroes had always been people who relied on their wits and didn't really need other people to help them, like Sherlock Holmes, Batman, and Kopaka did.31
- Kopaka was Greg Farshtey's favorite character because he always liked the loner type heroes.32