Teridax

Makuta Teridax, most commonly known to others as Makuta, the Makuta, or the Makuta of Metru Nui, and also known by epithets such as "Master of Shadows" and "Spirit of Destruction," was an extremely powerful, ambitious functionary within the Matoran universe who successfully led a conspiracy to seize control of that world from its rightful ruler, Mata Nui. Teridax was a member of the Brotherhood of Makuta, an organization of beings initially tasked with creating the wildlife needed to keep the Matoran universe functioning properly. Like all members of the Makuta species, Teridax possessed a multitude of powerful special abilities, including the elemental power of shadow and the power of shapeshifting. Since the Makuta's role originally aligned with the will of Mata Nui, Teridax was often described as Mata Nui's "brother" in Matoran legend.

After faithfully fulfilling their appointed duty for thousands of years, many Makuta, particularly Teridax, grew resentful of the Matoran's reverence for Mata Nui and simultaneous disregard for the Brotherhood's services. When the Brotherhood was called upon to quell a rebellion against Mata Nui by the League of Six Kingdoms, Teridax became secretly convinced that he could succeed in overthrowing Mata Nui where the League had failed. Soon afterward, Teridax distinguished himself among his peers by putting an end to the Matoran Civil War in Metru Nui in particularly brutal fashion. To head off future threats to peace, the Brotherhood's leader, Miserix, assigned each Makuta oversight of a region within the Matoran universe, with the prize of Metru Nui going to Teridax. Shortly afterward, Teridax usurped leadership of the Brotherhood from Miserix and hijacked the organization to serve his nefarious Plan to overthrow Mata Nui. Over many thousands of years, Teridax made preparations for an eventual takeover of the Matoran universe, all the while maintaining the Brotherhood's facade of a peace-keeping organization. In some parts of the world, Teridax began enslaving Matoran, while amassing an army of Visorak and other forces.

Teridax commenced his attack by infecting Mata Nui with a powerful virus that would eventually cause him to succumb to endless sleep. Teridax's forces then began a sweep of conquest throughout the Matoran universe, which lasted for hundreds of years and went completely unnoticed in Teridax's own region of Metru Nui. Later, Teridax impersonated the Turaga of Metru Nui, Dume, in a bid to gain control of the city's Matoran population, which was instrumental to his plans. Teridax successfully tricked Metru Nui's Matoran into entering stasis pods, which ensured Mata Nui's lapse into unconsciousness and caused the Great Cataclysm, a catastrophe that damaged the entire Matoran universe. However, Teridax was temporarily defeated by a team of novice Toa, the Toa Metru, and imprisoned in protodermis with a Toa seal. The arrival of Teridax's Visorak hordes in Metru Nui allowed him to escape, but not before the Toa Metru retrieved the Matoran and escaped with them to the island of Mata Nui, a previously undiscovered land outside of the Matoran universe. Since the Matoran's absence from Metru Nui suited Teridax's plans, he allowed them to inhabit the island of Mata Nui for a thousand years, continually harassing them with attacks from Rahi beasts under his control to ensure they could not return to Metru Nui.

During this time, Teridax's plans evolved from mere conquest of the Matoran universe to replacing Mata Nui as the Great Spirit, which would give Teridax virtually limitless power. These plans began to come to a head when the Toa Mata, six heroes destined to reawaken Mata Nui, arrived on the island of Mata Nui. As Teridax's Plan ultimately required that the Toa Mata succeed in awakening Mata Nui, Teridax, despite putting up a convincing show of resistance, allowed the Toa to confront him in his underground lair and believe that they had defeated him. In order to buy time to recover, Teridax prematurely activated the Bohrok swarms, which promptly began demolishing the surface of the island of Mata Nui and occupied the Toa's full attention for a significant amount of time. After the Toa quelled the Bohrok, Teridax was forced to take more decisive action when a Matoran, Takua, discovered the Mask of Light, which according to legend signaled the imminent appearance of a powerful Toa of Light to oppose Teridax. Teridax sent a team of powerful Rahkshi to kill Takua and take the mask, but Takua escaped, and the mask transformed Takua into Takanuva, the Toa of Light. Takanuva fought with Teridax in his lair and unexpectedly merged with him to form Takutanuva. Their fight resulted in Teridax's being crushed under a massive gate and the Matoran's rediscovery of Metru Nui. Although the Toa believed Teridax to have been killed, in reality only his armor had been crushed, and his antidermis essence survived in a free-floating gaseous form.

Not at all dissuaded from his plans, Teridax's next goal was to ensure that the Toa retrieved the Mask of Life, a legendary Kanohi mask required to revive Mata Nui, at the exact moment required by his Plan. Through a variety of machinations, Teridax delayed a new team of Toa, the Toa Inika/Toa Mahri, from using the Mask to save Mata Nui's life until just after Mata Nui had died, which forced Mata Nui's spirit to leave his body momentarily. Around the same time, Teridax sent some of his fellow Makuta to Karda Nui to fight against the Toa Nuva (formerly the Toa Mata) as they attempted to fulfill their destiny and wake up Mata Nui. Before the Toa Nuva could awaken Mata Nui, Teridax slipped his spirit into Mata Nui's body in place of Mata Nui's own, granting Teridax full control of Mata Nui's robotic body when the Toa Nuva awakened it. At the same time, Teridax betrayed his fellow Makuta by allowing them to perish in the resulting energy storm in Karda Nui. Teridax imprisoned Mata Nui's spirit within the Mask of Life and ejected it into outer space, thinking he had seen the last of Mata Nui.

After taking control of Mata Nui's body, Teridax at last fully understood the nature of Mata Nui and the Matoran universe: Mata Nui was a giant robotic being whose body contained the Matoran universe within it. Armed with unsurpassable power, Teridax revealed himself to the Matoran universe's inhabitants and began imposing his harsh rule while learning to control his new body. After several months of quashing rebellions from within, Teridax detected that the Mask of Life, and Mata Nui with it, had landed on a nearby planet, Bara Magna, and was still alive. Teridax became determined to stamp out any resistance from Mata Nui and traveled there to confront him, intending to launch a campaign of conquest throughout outer space after defeating him. However, Mata Nui had already acquired another giant robot body, and when during the course of their battle, Teridax inadvertently combined his power with Mata Nui's to reunite the fragments of the planet Spherus Magna with Bara Magna, fulfilling Mata Nui and Teridax's destiny of restoring Spherus Magna together. Teridax was killed when one of the fragments struck him in the head.

Notes

When the Toa arrived on Mata Nui, Makuta controlled the land, sea, and sky of Mata Nui. He also commanded a host of terrible creatures known as Rahi, as well as the Manas, fierce predators with power that no single Toa could withstand.²

When the Toa arrived on Mata Nui, Makuta held land, sea, and sky in his grasp.³

For many, many generations, the evil Makuta ruled the island of Mata Nui. He was the subject of more myths and legends than any other being on the island. However, little was truly known about him. He dwelled far below the surface in a shadowy lair that no Matoran had ever entered. No one had ever seen Makuta and returned to tell of it; even the Toa saw only one small part of his true form. It was Makuta's will that Mata Nui remain asleep forever. To accomplish this, he would reduce the island to rubble, send countless menaces against the Matoran villages, and challenge the Toa Nuva to try to stop him. He would try to tempt Toa Nuva and Matoran into betraying their friends. He wore the Kanohi Kraahkan, the Mask of Shadows, which could be used to turn friends against each other or fill the heart of the bravest hero with fear.⁴

Makuta was the darkness, the essence of chaos and emptiness and fear, and the spirit of destruction. It was said that only the Toa had the power to stand against him.⁵

Makuta spoke with a deep, ominous voice and had glowing red eyes set in a huge face. From his dark cavern deep beneath the surface of Mata Nui, he was able to see through the earth and rock to the sunlit surface above.⁶

Makuta dwelled in darkness, far beneath the surface of Mata Nui. He was the lord of shadows and most powerful enemy of the Toa. Using the power of the Kanohi Kraahkan and the Kolhii Staff of Darkness, he planned to defeat the Toa of Light and cast his shadow over Mata Nui for all time.⁷

Makuta was said to be the master of lies.⁸

In the Place of Shadow, Makuta caused black storm clouds to appear overhead in mere moments. Lightning from these clouds struck the mountain peaks and sent rocks tumbling toward the Toa Nuva below.⁹

Makuta was capable of creating illusions, such as walls of fire, that could have physical effects on others as long as they believed that they existed and did not accept that they were not real. As soon as the Toa Nuva stopped believing in the flames, they vanished. The Toa Nuva believed Makuta was also responsible for creating a very similar illusion of an unbreakable stone wall in the Bohrok tunnels.⁹

When the Toa Nuva and Turaga Vakama faced the Rahi Nui in a dark, underground chamber, Makuta appeared to them as a pair of massive, glowing red eyes in the darkness. When he appeared, the chamber suddenly grew darker and colder. He spoke with a harsh, grating voice.⁹

With his pet, the winged Nivawk, Dume [Makuta in disguise] kept watch from his chamber atop the Coliseum.^{10, 11}

Ages before story year 2004, Makuta had mastered Nivawk's language of screeches and squawks. Makuta was an entity of darkness and destruction.¹²

Makuta's voice was described as follows: "It was a dark sound that sent chills through the Toa. It was the sound of shadow and fear, decay and rot, a corruption beyond anything the Toa could imagine. It was the growls of wild Rahi in the night, the hiss of angry Rahkshi, and the thunder that shook the ground, all entwined together in one terrible noise.¹²

Makuta's face was all too well-known to the Toa Metru and Lhikan when he revealed himself in the Coliseum. He had once been a being trusted and respected by all. At that moment, however, he was a stranger from the shadows. Lhikan said he was sworn to protect the Matoran. Makuta had blazing red eyes when he took off Dume's mask.¹²

While absorbing power from the Coliseum's energy pylons, Makuta took the form of a swirling vortex of shadowy energy. He extended dark tendrils from the vortex to grab Nivawk, Nidhiki, and Krekka and draw them into the vortex.¹²

When he faced the Toa Metru at the Great Barrier, Makuta appeared as they had never known him. He was a colossus in dark, infected armor, with the mighty wings of Nivawk, radiating the power of shadow. The tools of Nidhiki and Krekka were part of his new form as well. With a wave of his arm, Makuta was able to cause huge pillars of crystalline protodermis to erupt from the sea.¹²

Makuta was master of shadows, spirit of destruction, leader of the Brotherhood of Makuta, and sworn enemy of the Toa.¹³

Information on Makuta's past was sketchy at best; much of it came from either legend or his own statements, the truth of which was debatable. According to Matoran lore, Makuta was Mata Nui's "brother." Since this could not have been a biological relationship, it was unclear exactly what their relationship might have been. It was known that at some point in the distant past, Makuta took an oath to protect the Matoran. He was so highly regarded that he had an elite team of Toa, the Toa Hagah, dedicated to serving and guarding him. He was an enormous threat to the entire universe.¹³

He was one of the most powerful entities in the Bionicle universe, wielding the energies of darkness. He was an incredibly skilled shape-shifter and mimic, had strong telepathic powers, could summon a mighty vortex, and possessed all of the powers of the various Rahkshi. He also had the ability to create Kraata from his own substance. In his large, armored forms, he had physical strength exceeding that of a Toa. When weakened, he tended to rely more on surrogates to fight his battles. His knowledge of the universe exceeded both that of the Toa and Turaga, allowing him to use things like the Bohrok against them. In the past, Makuta was seen to use his mental powers to create Shadow Toa from the darkness inside the Toa; trigger sandstorms, tidal waves, and volcanic eruptions; transform his body into a vortex; and appear as everything from a Matoran to an armored, winged giant. He was defeated at least three times, but never for long.¹³

Makuta was ruthless, deceitful, and capable of almost any act in the furtherance of his cause. At the same time, if asked, he would insist that everything he was doing was for the good of the Mata Nui and the Matoran. He saw Toa as annoyances who were committing a crime against the universe by defying his will. His strengths were his cunning, his imagination, his ability to rebound from defeat, his vast knowledge, and his sheer willpower. His weaknesses were overconfidence, pride, and a tendency to underestimate his opponents.¹³

Makuta wore the Kanohi Kraahkan, the Great Mask of Shadows, and carried the Staff of Darkness, which channeled his power.¹³

Like the Ko-Matoran scholars, Makuta Teridax studied the stars above Metru Nui to divine prophesies of the future and the will of the Great Spirit Mata Nui.¹⁴

When Makuta inhabited the Maxilos robot, he could use all 40-plus of his powers.¹⁵

When Makuta took over the mechanical body of Maxilos, in addition to the weapons of Maxilos, Makuta still had access to almost all of his original powers, although he could not shapeshift in this new body.¹

His most powerful weapon was his mind, which, among other things, he could use to control Rahi.¹⁶

Teridax was once Miserix's most trusted lieutenant.¹⁷

Miserix originally assigned Teridax to watch over the prized region of Metru Nui.¹⁸

Teridax's region only contained Metru Nui because there was only one island in that dome.¹⁹

Brutaka claimed that Teridax had forgotten his original purpose, and that he was not meant to grab at power with his risky plan.²⁰

While inhabiting the machinery that housed Mata Nui's mind, Teridax had access to enhanced powers. He was able to unleash a bolt of energy that shattered Brutaka's mask. He was somehow able to convert Makuta Miserix into a two-dimensional picture on a wall. Teridax also affected the Toa Hagah's minds so that they believed they had defeated him and that the world was at peace, oblivious to the reality around them. Teridax was not able to use the same trick so easily on Axonn, Brutaka, or Helryx because their minds were well-shielded, although he claimed he could break through in time. He was able to teleport Axonn, Brutaka, and Keetongu to the distant southern edge of the Matoran universe.²⁰

Teridax held the Barraki in disdain, considering them to be bunglers who lacked finesse.²¹

Teridax insisted on having complete authority among his allies, making sure that his will was the only one that was followed.²¹

By the time Teridax achieved ultimate power, upon reflection he could not recall just when it was that he had grown dissatisfied with his existence. He knew that he had always found it troubling that the Matoran greatly honored Mata Nui yet ignored himself and his brothers. This struck him as ungrateful, since the Makuta had been responsible for creating the Rahi the Matoran used each day in their labors, and protected the Matoran from themselves. Meanwhile, Mata Nui was far removed from everyday life, keeping the stars in the sky, making the suns rise, all with no idea what his people were up to at any given time.²²

When Teridax took over Mata Nui's body, he had the potential to be omniscient, but he was still a non-Great Spirit mind in a Great Spirit mind. He was not used to being omniscient, which was a potential weakness.²³

While in Mata Nui's body, Teridax still had the powers he had while in Maxilos.²⁴

In Mata Nui's body, Teridax could kill anyone with a stray thought, although there still needed to be some means involved in the actual killing. Like Mata Nui, Teridax had the ability to create new beings and to set their destinies.²⁵

When Teridax took over Mata Nui's body, its eyes turned red instead of their usual yellow.²⁶

Greg: "I basically see Mata Nui as being a ruler of benevolent indifference. He has no negative feelings for his people, no ambitions that would harm them, or any desire NOT to protect them, but he is very hands-off. He's not going to interfere with their lives. Mata Nui, at best, expects the best work the Matoran can do and hopes for their respect. Makuta, on the [other] hand, demands their worship. His rule is self-aggrandizing, totally about his ambitions, and while he too needs the Matoran now, he is not above sacrificing some as an example to the others. He will actively enforce his will in the universe, regardless of the environment that it may create."²⁷

Since Teridax already had telepathy, in Mata Nui's body, he could read the mind of anyone in the Matoran universe.²⁸

In Mata Nui's body, Teridax could create new Rahkshi, being antidermis in Mata Nui's body.²⁹

After taking over Mata Nui's body, Teridax knew which Matoran were destined to be Toa and could pick them off at leisure.³⁰

After taking over Mata Nui's body, Teridax was able to speak Agori.³¹

Makuta was not revived on the red star because he no longer had a body.³²

When Matoro sacrificed himself to bring Mata Nui back to life, Makuta saw Matoro as a useful pawn. Matoro did what he needed him to do, but Makuta would have seen self-sacrifice for others as the act of a fool.³³

The Makuta of Metru Nui had a real name that was not simply "Makuta".³⁴

Teridax would have deserved to go to the Pit for his actions.³⁵

Teridax's duty was to what the Mask of Shadows represented.³⁶

Teridax knew the most about the world out of any character known by story year 2007.³⁷

Artakha wouldn't be willing to make armor for Teridax.³⁸

The standard form of Teridax and the Kraahkan has not been revealed.³⁹

Teridax was Miserix's lieutenant.⁴⁰

Miserix was extremely intelligent, and more cautious than Teridax.⁴¹

Zaktan's voice was still made of a multitude of voices, but the more guttural voice was missing since Teridax was not around.⁴²

Teridax acted out of ego and selfishness. He wanted the Matoran to honor and worship him.⁴³

Powers and Abilities

Teridax wasn't able to fully control the Vahi.⁴⁴

Teridax's mind was well shielded against mental intrusion.⁴⁵

Teridax was likely skilled enough to shield himself mentally from Kongu's Suletu.⁴⁶

Shadow Toa were an offshoot of Teridax's mental abilities, they were not an experiment because he didn't experiment on the Toa Mata.⁴⁷

Teridax was one of the top five most powerful beings in the universe revealed by late 2006.⁴⁸

Teridax was the strongest and most powerful Makuta in terms of experience.⁴⁹

A Great Being would likely be strong enough to defeat Teridax in battle.⁵⁰

Teridax was the most skilled and experienced member of the Brotherhood of Makuta.⁵¹

Axonn, Brutaka, and Botar working together to battle Teridax might have resulted in a close fight.⁵²

Teridax was physically stronger than Axonn, Brutaka, and Keetongu.⁵³

Teridax was stronger than Axonn, Brutaka, Botar, Reidak, Carapar, and Krekka but weaker than Nocturn.⁵⁴

The Shadowed One was weaker than Teridax.⁵⁵

Karzahni was less powerful than Makuta both physically and mentally.⁵⁶

Personality Traits

Teridax claimed to be immortal.⁵⁷

Teridax didn't let his enemies see every ability he was capable of.⁵⁸

Teridax used his extensive powerset when he needed to. He didn't always pull out all the stops in every battle, sometimes he felt it made more sense strategically to lose a fight rather than win it.⁵⁹

Teridax didn't hate being made of antidermis because it would be a waste of energy to do so. He had adjusted to it and found a way to make it work for him.⁶⁰

Teridax wasn't the type to sacrifice his comrades or the Brotherhood for total domination of the universe unless he absolutely had to. Members of the Brotherhood of Makuta didn't hate and distrust each other like the Piraka did; they understood there was strength in numbers. Even if Teridax had what he wanted and didn't need them anymore, he wouldn't go out of his way to harm the other Makuta.⁶¹

Teridax was arrogant and egomaniacal, but also a strategist. He understood that sometimes he had to lose a battle to win the war.⁶²

Teridax was a sociopath. He had no conscience, no ability to feel remorse, and felt no emotional connection to any other living thing. Had he ruled the Matoran, he might've been benevolent if he needed something, but kill half a dozen the next moment just to break up his day.⁶³

Teridax viewed Ahkmou as a pawn. The only value he saw in others was what they could do for him, and Ahkmou wasn't very successful.⁶⁴

Relationship to Mata Nui

Teridax probably knew the ways and will of Mata Nui better than anyone other than the Order of Mata Nui.⁶⁵

Teridax regarded Mata Nui as his brother even though they weren't equals and weren't biologically siblings. He meant it in the sense that people who do different tasks for the same goal can consider themselves brothers.⁶⁶

Teridax and Mata Nui were considered brothers for the same reason Toa were. Originally, Teridax and Mata Nui had essentially the same job, just at different levels. They both protected the Matoran and kept the universe running smoothly.⁶⁷

Nobody knew whether Mata Nui would view Teridax as a brother because Mata Nui did not speak directly to others.⁶⁸

Teridax would be unlikely to know what Mata Nui looked like by the time he was defeated by Takanuva.⁶⁹

Mata Nui and Teridax were considered brothers because despite being at different power levels, they essentially had the same job: look after the universe and oversee the Matoran.⁷⁰

Makuta Nui

Makuta Nui was another, more fearsome form of Makuta Teridax that did not appear in the story.^{71, 72, 73}

Teridax had a form known as Makuta Nui.^{74, 75}

Out-of-universe

• The Makuta Nui combiner model was used in BIONICLE: Maze of Shadows to depict "Graalok Ash Bear". This was canonically a form of Teridax rather than a depiction of an ash bear because video games didn't take precedence over named models.⁷⁶
• Teridax was one of Greg Farshtey's favorite characters to write for by 2006.^{77, 78, 79}
• Teridax was one of Greg Farshtey's favorite characters as of the completion of the 2006 novels.⁸⁰
• Teridax was Greg Farshtey's favorite villain by 2007.⁸¹
• Besides Kopaka, Teridax was Greg Farshtey's favorite character.⁸²
• By March 2007, Greg Farshtey hadn't worried about giving Teridax an individual name.^{83, 84}
• Greg Farshtey preferred Teridax's classic armored form as seen in BIONICLE Adventures #10⁸⁵