Rahkshi

Rahkshi were powerful, destructive, armored beings created by Makuta to do his bidding. A Rahkshi consisted of a suit of armor that housed a kraata, a wormlike creature which controlled the being's movements and actions. Without a kraata, Rahkshi armor was unable to move or act. Rahkshi were created by exposing kraata to energized protodermis. Over time, the protodermis would evolve the kraata into a suit of Rahkshi armor. A second kraata was needed to crawl into the head of the armor and activate it. Since kraata were created by Makuta, they were nicknamed the "sons of Makuta." There were 42 known types of Rahkshi, which were differentiated by their powers and armor coloration.³

Notes

Gali Nuva noted that the sight of the Rahkshi chilled her soul like nothing else had since Makuta.⁴

These "sons of Makuta" were incredibly powerful and more than a match for the Toa Nuva. Each Rahkshi carried within it a part of Makuta's essence called a kraata. Kraata evolved through six stages, making the Rahkshi faster and more powerful as they changed.⁴

The six Rahkshi which appeared on Mata Nui had the mission to find the Mask of Light and stop the coming of the Seventh Toa. These "sons of Makuta" had the raw power to defeat the Toa Nuva and accomplish their task. Should danger threaten, they were able to merge into two mighty Rahkshi Kaita.⁵

Makuta's Rahkshi were the ultimate hunters. They never tired, they never grew hungry, and they never let any obstacle stand between them and their goal. With their Staffs of Power, they could overcome anything or anyone that stood in their way. They were completely loyal to Makuta and would do whatever he commanded.⁶

Within each Rahkshi was a leech-like creature called a kraata. The kraata gave the Rahkshi the power and intelligence needed to carry out its mission.⁷

Makuta referred to the Rahkshi he created as his sons. The Rahkshi could float upward on the force of their dark energy and fly.⁸

On Metru Nui, no one was quite certain just where Rahkshi came from, but everyone wished they had stayed there. Yellow Rahkshi had the power of heat vision, capable of burning a hole through anything, even a Toa. They did have a name, although Whenua was unable to recall exactly what it was. The heat beams were red. One could hear the horrible screech of the kraata from inside a Rahkshi. As Tehutti observed, just after a yellow Rahkshi used its heat beams, its eyesight was weakened temporarily. Muaka did not get along with Rahkshi at all. Rahkshi were usually able to beat Muaka easily, unless trapped in close quarters.⁹

A Makuta controlled Rahkshi would probably be able to defeat a Muaka.¹⁰

A gold-colored Rahkshi had the ability to manipulate the weather within a limited range. A bright orange-colored Rahkshi could control swarms of insects.¹¹

It took three squads of Vahki Zadakh to stop one Rahkshi that appeared in Po-Metru, and even then all they could do was drive it away.¹¹

According to Whenua, Rahkshi were very territorial and quick to anger.¹¹

The gold Rahkshi loose in the Archives did not remember how it had come to live there. It had a vague memory of once living someplace else, then a long journey to the land above (Metru Nui). There were many others there who had tried to capture it. The Rahkshi escaped and fled down into the cold, welcoming dark. When it first came to the tunnels, it had an encounter with Krahka which taught it to fear her.¹¹

There were Rahkshi on display in the Archives for Matoran to see.¹¹

A Rahkshi with a black head and spine and dark green claws and feet could turn intangible and tangible at will by controlling its density. It could float in mid-air and pass through solid objects while intangible.¹¹

Rahkshi's senses were much more acute than those of a Toa.¹¹

The tunnels of the Fikou web were a haven for Rahkshi. Among these were Rahkshi with the powers of darkness [apparently], elasticity, teleportation, stasis field, and silence. A darkness Rahkshi's darkness could not be pierced by lightstones and essentially blinded opponents. A Rahkshi with the elasticity power could coil its elastic body around an opponent and cut of his air, forcing him to black out. A Rahkshi with the power of teleportation could teleport others away along with it. A Rahkshi with the stasis field power could trap an opponent in a stasis field; when this energy field was touched, it would cause one's arm to tingle and go dead. A Rahkshi with the power of silence could cloak someone in silence so that no one could hear him scream. The tan-blue Rahkshi had the power of illusion. The illusion Rahkshi could make itself appear as if it were in a different location from its real position, while remaining invisible itself. The silver Rahkshi had the power to shoot lightning bolts. The black-white Rahkshi had the power to create cyclones. These Rahkshi did not understand the Matoran language. Rahkshi could not speak Matoran. The purple Rahkshi had a power scream ability.¹¹

When Nuju was trapped in the energy field created by the stasis field Rahkshi, his heartlight flashed and his eyes were open, but he seemed unaware of what was going on around him. When Vakama tried to reach inside, a violent jolt forced him to pull away. The Toa freed Nuju by teleporting the field around him with a teleportation Kanoka.¹¹

Rahkshi were armored monsters which appeared at various times and in various points in Metru Nui. A small number were captured by the Vahki, but many more escaped and may have been hiding beneath the city.¹²

Muaka were particularly fond of preying on Rahkshi, which they considered a delicacy. A single Muaka could decimate an underground Rahkshi colony in a matter of days.¹³

Most Rahkshi on Metru Nui were "wild Rahkshi," those which operated without orders from Makuta and acted like pure beasts. They lived in tunnels beneath the city, occasionally venturing out and battling Vahki. Some such Rahkshi ended up on display in the Archives.³ Muaka were the only natural enemy of Rahkshi on Metru Nui.¹⁴ The Rahkshi in Metru Nui did not come from there, but someplace else.¹⁵ The Rahkshi were not released into the city intentionally.¹⁶

Rahkshi were known to be in the Archives.¹⁷

When a Makuta pulled a kraata from his substance and exposed it to energized protodermis, it transformed into Rahkshi armor.¹⁸

Rahkshi were good climbers.¹⁹

Vezon noted that, whereas most beings had a scent, either pleasant or unpleasant, Rahkshi smelled of cold metal and death. Rahkshi could only pretend to have rage, something which put them at a disadvantage when battling the Skakdi army.²⁰

Rahkshi were created using a powerful substance called energized protodermis.²⁰

Called the "sons of Makuta," Rahkshi were vicious, evil warriors for the Brotherhood of Makuta. A Rahkshi consisted of a suit of armor with a leech-like creature called a kraata inside. The kraata was a solidified piece of the essence of a Makuta. It acted as the brain and the power source for the Rahkshi armor. Incredibly destructive, Rahkshi were used only when a Makuta did not care if anything was left standing after the attack. There were 42 known types of Rahkshi, each with a different power. Rahkshi following direct orders from a Makuta were extremely tough to beat. "Wild Rahkshi," acting on their own, reacted more like Rahi beasts and were a little easier to trick. Rahkshi were created by exposing a kraata to energized protodermis, which transformed it into armor. A second kraata of the same type then crawled into the armor and powered it up.²¹

Makuta Teridax unleashed six Rahkshi on the island of Mata Nui to retrieve the Mask of Light: Guurahk, Panrahk, Lerahk, Kurahk, Turahk, and Vorahk. The Toa Metru fought other types in the past.²¹

Armed with the power of heat vision, the yellow-armored Rahkshi were a devastating and perhaps unstoppable foe.²²

The lightstone rifle was a Xian weapon that was effective against Brotherhood of Makuta forces, especially Rahkshi.²³

Each type of Rahkshi probably had a distinct design for its staff and spine.²⁴

Rahkshi were made of antidermis, given that they were created from kraata also made of antidermis.²⁵

Kraata inside Rahkshi had the advantage of having much more mobility, as well as being better protected by having armor.²⁶

For the Rahkshi powers that did not require physical contact (e.g. molecular disruption), it is safe to assume that they could attack at a range.²⁷

A kraata took time to turn into a Rahkshi after being exposed to protodermis; it did not happen right away, but over the course of months.^{28, 29, 30} The kraata became non-living, non-sentient armor.³¹ The stage of the kraata when it was exposed to energized protodermis did not have an effect on the armor, even if it was a shadow kraata.^{32, 33, 34} However, higher stages of kraata driving the armor would make the Rahkshi armor stronger, faster, and more agile.^{35, 36} A Rahkshi with a shadow kraata would be very strong and fast,³⁷ and it would have the power level of a Rahkshi powered by a stage 7 kraata.^{38, 39} The power of the shadow kraata still needed to match the power of the Rahkshi armor for it to work.⁴⁰ A shadow kraata would probably not be able to infect masks at range from inside the Rahkshi.⁴¹ Rahkshi armor made from a shadow kraata needed to be driven by another shadow kraata.^{42, 43} A Rahkshi could be piloted by a shadow kraata, but it would not affect its coloration or power; it had whatever power the shadow kraata had in stages 1 through 6. The Rahkshi would not have the ability to infect masks.⁴⁴ A Rahkshi made from a shadow Kraata had no difference in appearance.⁴⁵

A kraata evolved into Rahkshi armor when exposed to energized protodermis. A second kraata of the same type then occupied the armor.⁴⁶ A kraata of a different type would not be able to pilot it properly.⁴⁷

It took a long time for a Kraata to become a Rahkshi.⁴⁸

Kraata and Rahkshi had no gender.⁴⁹

It's unlikely that the appearance of Rahkshi armor could have been changed during its creation.⁵⁰

Rahkshi were solely suits of armor for Kraata.⁵¹

Rahkshi armor was not invulnerable.⁵²

Rahkshi moved thanks to the mental energy of their Kraata. A Rahkshi without a Kraata would be immobile.⁵³

Rahkshi, along with most other beings in the story, would have stronger senses than humans have.⁵⁴

Rahkshi would probably have physical strength equivalent to Marvel's Iron Man.⁵⁵

A Rahkshi needed its staff to focus and direct its powers.^{56, 57} A Rahkshi without its staff could still use its power, but it would not be able to focus it.⁵⁸ A Rahkshi could not focus its own power through another Rahkshi's staff.⁵⁹ The staff developed along with the Rahkshi armor.⁶⁰ Although some Rahkshi powers were not focused through the staff (heat vision, laser vision, accuracy, invulnerability, heat resistance, ice resistance, etc.), those powers were enhanced when the Rahkshi was holding the staff.⁶¹ In some cases, the staff manifested the same power as its Rahkshi. For example, the invulnerability Rahkshi had an invulnerable staff, and the elasticity Rahkshi had a staff that stretched to strike.⁶² A Rahkshi's power came from its kraata, but the kraata's union with the armor was what made it possible to tap into that power.⁶³

When Rahkshi were dismantled for parts, the parts lost their original colors and turned silver, like Kanohi masks.⁶⁴

The Rahkshi Makuta sent to retrieve the Mask of Light probably had level 6 kraata, given the importance of the mission.⁶⁵

Kraata didn't exactly "die" when they were transformed into Rahkshi armor, they were converted into inorganic matter.⁶⁶

Kraata were more capable of driving Rahkshi when they had the same power.⁶⁷

A kraata of one power couldn't control Rahkshi armor of another power. The power a Rahkshi possessed came from the kraata, the armor was just armor.⁶⁸

Rahkshi couldn't operate without kraata.⁶⁹

Rahkshi were formed as suits of armor without brains, which is why a kraata was needed to "drive" them.⁷⁰

Rahkshi didn't really contain antidermis. It would be inert because Rahkshi were inorganic armor.⁷¹

All Rahkshi could use powers without their staffs.⁷²

For efficiency, Makuta could probably control Rahkshi made by other Makuta.⁷³

Rahkshi not operating under direct orders from a Makuta were probably around the intelligence level of a hyena.⁷⁴

Rahkshi were used for whatever Makuta needed them to do, such as search and destroy missions or sentry duty.⁷⁵

Makuta could possess living bodies with no spirit in them, which didn't include Rahkshi, and robot bodies, which also didn't include Rahkshi as they're armor, but not robots. A Makuta could therefore possess a shapeshifting Rahkshi, but most likely wouldn't be able to make it move.⁷⁶

Rahkshi armor was just that: armor. It couldn't move on its own unless a kraata was driving it. Rahkshi were neither living, spiritless bodies nor robots. It therefore wouldn't be beneficial for a Makuta to possess one.⁷⁷

Rahkshi powers came from their kraata, not their staffs. Wild Rahkshi in the Archives had no staffs but still had powers.⁷⁸

Rahkshi with powers that didn't need to be focused with staffs still carried staffs.⁷⁹

Exposing a kraata to energized protodermis was the only way to create Rahkshi.⁸⁰

The Rahkshi loose in the Archives were like wild animals.⁸¹

The Rahkshi in Comic 16 do not have staffs. They escaped from a stasis tube in the Archives, and Matoran did not cage a Rahkshi with its staff so that it would have it if it esacped.⁸²

Wild Rahkshi in Metru Nui did not travel in packs. They were just as apt to fight with each other as with outsiders.⁸³

If a Rahkshi of Adaptation with a level 6 kraata were stranded in open water, it could either develop fins and gills, or it could become a good swimmer without physical changes.⁸⁴

If a Rahkshi of Adaptation with a level 6 kraata were dropped from a great height, it probably would not be able to develop wings in time, but it could possibly glide. [Note all Rahkshi can fly anyway.]⁸⁵ When a kraata became a Rahkshi, the staff developed by coming out of the hand of the armor.⁸⁶

There were two steps to Rahkshi creation. Kraata were put into energized protodermis, which converted them from organic beings into inorganic armor. Another kraata of the same type then had to go inside the armor to start it up and direct it. That was what Makuta was doing in the movie. The armor already existed in the tubes, which were basically just storage tubes — he was introducing the control kraata.⁸⁷

Traits of Rahkshi With Particular Powers

Invulnerablity Rahkshi had limited invulnerability; a fully invulnerable Rahkshi would have been unstoppable.⁸⁸

Molecular disruption Rahkshi could use their power disrupt the substance of something without killing it. It could be used for things like shattering an object or reaching inside of it to pull something out. It could not be used on organic (living) things.⁸⁹

A dodge Rahkshi could still be hit by an attacker if the attacker did a really good job, but the attacker would miss without superior effort. The Rahkshi had a sort of sixth sense about attacks.⁹⁰

Rahkshi of power scream could use sonic attacks, Rahkshi of stasis fields created fields of energy that essentially threw targets into suspended animation, Rahkshi of adaptation could adapt to a different environment (e.g. growing gills when thrown in the ocean), and Rahkshi of silence could deaden all sound around a target.⁹¹

A Rahkshi with chain lightning powers fired forked lightning which could hit multiple targets at once. A Rahkshi with electricity powers fired single bolts of electricity.⁹²

Rahkshi of Rahi control could control Visorak.⁹³

Adaptation meant a being could adjust to suit their environment, so a Rahkshi with that power could adapt to breathe water if he was thrown into the ocean, for example.⁹⁴

Rahkshi of adaptation adapted to environments, not situations. In a sub-zero environment, it would develop the ability to not freeze. If it was hit with a stick it wouldn't adapt to be immune to that damage.⁹⁵

Density control meant a being could make themselves rock-hard or ghost-like, so objects would pass right through.⁹⁶

Hunger allowed a being to draw energy from another being.⁹⁷

Molecular disruption meant a being could attack a foe on an atomic level and do damage to every part of them at once.⁹⁸

A being in a stasis field was paralyzed and couldn't move out of the field.⁹⁹

It might have been difficult for a Rahkshi of plant control to control the Morbuzakh, since it had a mind of its own.¹⁰⁰

A Rahkshi of Rahi control would be able to control the Rahi Nui or Mana Ko.¹⁰¹

Rahkshi Color Chart³

For Rahkshi with two colors, the first color refers to the color of the head, back, shoulders, and knees, and the second color refers to the color of the feet, hands, and hips.^{102, 103}

Other Information

• The Rahkshi were among Greg Farshtey's favorite sets by the end of 2006.¹⁰⁴
• The Rahkshi were Greg Farshtey's favorite canister villains by 2007.¹⁰⁵

List of Rahkshi

• Turahk
• Panrahk
• Vorahk
• Lerahk
• Kurahk
• Guurahk