Tahu (2001)

"No, not gone, not really...but he's right. The best way to honor him for the gifts he has given us is to make this world what he wanted it to be: a place of peace, a living world where Matoran and Agori can achieve their destinies. Come my friends, new and old...it is time to begin."

- Tahu, Comic 7: Journey's End Part 2: Rebirth

Tahu was the Toa Mata of Fire, who once resided on Mata Nui during his time as a protector of the island and later became a Toa Nuva after his exposure to Energized Protodermis. The cunning and sometimes hot-headed leader of a group of Toa, Tahu brought his team through many battles against Teridax and his fearsome legions of Rahkshi and Bohrok, protecting their world from whatever threats came their way.

In their final mission, Tahu and the Toa Nuva journeyed to Karda Nui, where they fought against a group of Makuta. After narrowly escaping death by an Energy Storm, the Toa Nuva returned to Metru Nui, having seemingly fulfilled their mission. Yet upon Mata Nui's reawakening, Teridax had slipped into his body and gained complete control over their universe.

Now in possession of the Matoran Universe Robot, Teridax went to Bara Magna, where he confronted Mata Nui in an effort to destroy him and the entire planet. In the midst of the battle, Tahu emerged onto the planet alongside many of his allies. Upon his arrival, the Kanohi Ignika transformed him into a weaker Toa Mata form, for this was necessary in order for Tahu to don the Golden Armor and destroy Teridax's growing army of Heat-Vision Rahkshi.

Following Teridax's death and Mata Nui's return to the Ignika, Tahu declared that the races of the Matoran Universe shall begin a new era on Spherus Magna.

Early Life
Tahu was created on the island Artakha, along with the other Toa Mata. They were later transported to Daxia, where Toa Helryx then told them they were to be the guardians of the Spirit Mata Nui. His Toa Canister  was built in Karda Nui. He was trained by Hydraxon in combat. At some point in time, Tahu and Kopaka allowed themselves to be captured by the Order at the fortress so they could get inside. There, they met in person with Helryx, who agreed to tell them of their mission and future. After their training, the Toa Mata were sent to Karda Nui to protect the Av-Matoran from sentient lightning bolt Rahi known as Avohkah, which had begun to attack the Matoran. After weeks of fighting the Avohkah, the Rahi were defeated and the Av-Matoran finished with their labours. Tahu and Kopaka then lead the others to the Codrex. The two Toa were forced to explain everything they had learned from Helryx to their teammates. They could not leave, because the energy storm that now filled Karda Nui would turn them to ash. They then entered their Toa Canisters, where they remained for thousands of years.

During the Great Cataclysm, he and the other five Toa Mata were shot into the ocean surrounding Mata Nui. He and the other Toa were supposed to land safely on Mata Nui but something went wrong. He ended up staying afloat along with the others in the ocean for 1,000 years.

Quest for the Masks
After Takua activated the Toa Stones and unwittingly summoned the Toa, Tahu washed ashore in his canister. Unfortunately, he had been dormant for so long that most of his organic components had rotted away, and he had no memories when they were regenerated after he had rebuilt himself. He then journeyed into Ta-Wahi, where he was mistaken for a Rahi by the Ta-Koro Guard, and caught in a Rahi Trap. However, much to the Ta-Matoran's surprise, he used his Fire Sword to cut his way out. After hesitation, their Captain, Jaller, led the Guard in an attack on Tahu. Fortunately, Vakama, the Turaga of Ta-Koro put a stop to things before anyone got hurt. Vakama bowed before Tahu, and led him to Ta-Koro before telling him the Legend of Mata Nui. Vakama also told Tahu of the other Toa in his team: Gali, Pohatu, Kopaka, Lewa, and Onua. Tahu met with the other Toa, and split up to search for the Kanohi masks.

While searching for his Kanohi Akaku in Onu-Wahi, Tahu had to fight off a Kofo-Jaga swarm. Tahu later ran into Gali, who was surrounded by Nui-Jaga. Tahu drove them away with fire. Gali did a backflip into the water and was knocked out cold. She washed up on shore and Tahu told her that Onua had called a meeting near the Kini-Nui. The meeting was interrupted by a volcanic eruption. Onua and Lewa dug a trench to make the lava flow through it. Two Tarakava emerged behind Tahu, but Pohatu took them out with a large boulder. A downfall of sand appeared, and Tahu turned it to glass by using his power. Two Nui-Rama appeared, smashed the glass, swooped up Tahu, and then dropped him. Tahu did not yet have his Miru collected, but he was able to heat the air beneath him so that Onua was able to catch him easily.

After the meeting, the Toa decided to work as a team. To get his Miru, which was underwater, the three Toa who had their Kaukau had to get it for him. After this, the Toa split this time into two groups of three. Tahu, Gali and Onua went to Le-Wahi to find a Kanohi Kakama in a tree, and Tahu burnt the tree down, almost setting fire to the entire forest. This enraged Gali, and she stalked off. Tahu was the last Toa to finish his mask collection, getting a Kanohi Kaukau from a Rahi on Mount Ihu. The Toa went to Kini-Nui, where they received their golden masks. Subsequently, the Chronicler's Company arrived, and the Toa tasked them with defending the Kini-Nui from any more Rahi attacks while they were in Mangaia. They assembled the Makoki Stones they had collected on their journey and descended.

When the Toa walked into Makuta's lair, they encountered the Manas, Makuta's guardians. They proved too strong to defeat alone, so the Toa fused into two Toa Kaita; Tahu, Onua, and Pohatu into Akamai and Lewa, Kopaka, and Gali into Wairuha. After an immense battle, the Manas were defeated through the destruction of control towers and the removal of their infected Kanohi. The Toa then un-fused and headed into Makuta's lair.

In the next chamber they heard Makuta speak, telling them that they would defeat themselves. Suddenly, a stranger that looked like Tahu attacked the Toa of Fire. Eventually, all of the Toa had shadow counterparts. They struggled against these, but Onua finally realized that they had to be destroyed by fighting a different Toa's counterpart, not your own. The Shadow Toa were quickly finished off, Tahu's double crushed by Pohatu, while Tahu used intense flame to melt Gali's.

Now the Toa were ready to fight Teridax. However, all they found was a Matoran with a pitted mask and shadowy infected body. The Toa were surprised at his form, but after a philosophical debate Makuta changed himself into a swirling vortex of mechanical parts which sprouted dark tentacles and began attacking them. The Toa combined their powers and caught Teridax by surprise. Makuta left with the words: "You cannot destroy me, for I am Nothing." They were then teleported out of Makuta's lair to the surface, believing Makuta to have been defeated.

Bohrok War
Makuta was defeated, but there was a rumble from the ground and a Ta-Matoran came running to the Toa. The Matoran was saying one word over and over again: Bohrok. The Toa took him to Ta-Koro, only to find it was being destroyed by strange insectoid creatures with elemental power, known as Bohrok. Upon defeating the Bohrok, Vakama then told the Toa of the swarms, as well as that they were to collect all eight breeds of Krana from all six breeds of Bohrok.

The Toa split up, each going to their home village. As they battled Bohrok and collected Krana, they learned that the Bohrok were not really alive, but vehicles for the sentient Krana. They also learned that Krana had the ability to control the minds of others by taking the place of their mask. Tahu learned through Kopaka that there was a Bohrok nest in Mount Ihu. Tahu wanted to charge right in, but Kopaka advised against this, saying it would be wiser to wait for the other Toa. A short while later, the other Toa met up with them and they all descended into the nest. Tahu went into the heart of the Bohrok nest alone and was trapped. For a brief moment, his mask was replaced with a Krana, but not long enough for him to be controlled by it. He superheated the air, causing the central chamber to explode. He met up with the other Toa in a different chamber, only for the floor they were standing on to collapse as they fell to the bottom of the nest.

They found niches where the Krana could fit, and, placing the krana in the niches, six chambers opened, each leading to an Exo-Toa suit of armor. Each Toa donned the armor. Tahu encountered Cahdok, the blue Bahrag queen. He drove her out of a tunnel and into the main chamber, as Kopaka did with Gahdok, the red queen. The Bahrag backed up against each other, and the Toa began to fight. But they could not use their elemental powers, and the Bahrag seemed to have a force field around them. The queens both possessed all of the Bohroks' elemental powers, as well as powers of illusion, thus the Toa were losing quickly.

Tahu realized that the Exo-Toa armor was hindering the use of their elemental powers, and commanded the Toa to shed it. He urged the others to surround the Bahrag and attack as a group. Combining their powers to form a Toa Seal, the Toa trapped the Bahrag in a cage of Protodermis before falling into tubes filled with Energized Protodermis, transforming them. With new armour, tools, Kanohi Nuva and enhanced powers, Tahu dubbed their new forms "Toa Nuva".

Invasion of the Bohrok-Kal
With the Bohrok defeated, the Toa Nuva returned home and began to repair the damage done by the Bohrok. Each Toa had suddenly received a symbol at their respective Suva upon becoming Toa Nuva. Shortly after Tahu Nuva received his, Turaga Vakama gave Tahu the Vahi, Legendary Mask of Time.

At their first meeting as Toa Nuva, the Toa all got into a fight while showing off their new powers. An argument began, once again resulting in the Toa going their separate ways, as Gali pleaded them not to, reminding them that they were six beings who shared one destiny. Tahu returned to Ta-Koro and encountered a strange new Bohrok, the Tahnok-Kal. When the Tahnok-Kal was escaping with Tahu Nuva's symbol, the Toa Nuva of Fire confronted him at the gates to Ta-Koro. When he attempted to use his fire powers to stop the Tahnok-Kal, he was momentarily stunned by his inability to do so. Tahnok-Kal took advantage of the delay to collapse the gateway above him, burying Tahu in a pile of rubble. By the time Tahu extricated himself, Tahnok-Kal had vanished. Tahu, Takua and Jaller then pursued the Tahnok-Kal, following its trail to Le-Wahi.

When in Le-Wahi, Lewa Nuva literally fell in on the group. He explained that his powers had disappeared as well, and joined the three in their pursuit of the Bohrok-Kal. The search led them next to Po-Wahi, where the two Bohrok-Kal they were observing met with another. This revelation led to the discovery of Pohatu, also powerless, encased in magnetized Mahi. The two Toa Nuva freed their ally, and he joined with them in the search. Their path led them all over Mata Nui, where the rest of the Toa Nuva, their powers also stolen, joined with them.

Eventually, they ran into six creatures who resembled Bohrok, but possessed the ability of speech, as well as different elemental powers than the Bohrok swarms. They called themselves the Bohrok-Kal, and claimed to be searching for the Bahrag. The Toa Nuva attempted to fight them, but were essentially helpless without their own elemental powers. They were all rendered unconscious by a combined attack of Vacuum, Sonics, and Electricity from the Bohrok-Kal. When they awoke, the Toa Nuva learned that the Bohrok-Kal had Krana-Kal, as the Bohrok had Krana. They split up to retrieve the Krana-Kal from the Bohrok-Kal, sure that when they are removed, the Bohrok-Kal would be rendered helpless. Tahu tried to get Pahrak-Kal's Krana-Kal, but was failing horribly. So enraged was he that it appeared he would rather sacrifice himself than give in. Jaller then arrived and told him that he had no right to do so, and subsequently wrenched the Krana-Kal from Pahrak-Kal's body. Unfortunately, a Gahlok Va quickly replaced it with a new one. Faced with this, the two ran away in retreat.

Later, Tahu met up with Lewa in Le-Wahi while searching for Kanohi Nuva. Lewa decided to be his guide through the jungle, and Tahu agreed. The Toa came to a swamp where Nuhvok-Kal had been earlier, as Tahu had figured out by studying impossibly heavy trees blocking the path. Lewa formed a plan to get several Le-Matoran to jump out from all directions and surprise Nuhvok-Kal. They got the Le-Matoran ready, and Tahu lured Nuhvok-Kal over by taunting him and then swinging on vines back to the swamp. The plan worked, but Nuhvok-Kal escaped.

Gali later summoned Kopaka and Tahu to meet up with her to get their last three Kanohi Nuva in the Place of Shadow. Tahu and Kopaka argued throughout the trip despite Gali's attempts to calm them. After getting through several challenges, they reached the masks, out in the open. They took the masks, only for the ground to crumble underneath them, leading to a chamber far below where they found the other Toa Nuva as well as Turaga Vakama. They encountered a huge beast known as the Rahi Nui. With Vakama's help, they were able to beat the beast and then combined the powers of the Miru Nuva and Kakama Nuva to fly out of the chamber. Eventually, Tahu met up with Pohatu and Onua in Le-Wahi, who had a disturbing discovery that they refused to tell until they met up with the others. Soon enough, Kopaka, Gali and Lewa arrived and told of how they had formed a Toa Kaita Nuva, Wairuha Nuva, to try to defeat Kohrak-Kal, Lehvak-Kal, and Gahlok-Kal, but they formed their own Kaita and beat Wairuha Nuva easily. Pohatu and Onua told of their discovery: they had defeated Tahnok-Kal and removed its Krana-Kal, but the Krana-Kal said they were too late, that the Bahrag had already been found.

The Toa Nuva finally descended into the Bohrok nest and had Lewa levitate down first. He saw the Bohrok-Kal fighting the Exo-Toa, the Bahrag in their prison and a large floating cube with spaces to put in the Toa's symbols. The Toa went down into the Bahrag's chamber, hoping the Kanohi Nuva masks they had found would be enough. Once down there, Tahu revealed to the others how Vakama had given him the Vahi. Unfortunately, the Vahi didn't affect the Kal who were protected by a force field as they drew so close to the end of their mission.

Then Gali had an idea--to channel their power through their symbols and into the Bohrok-Kal. The Bohrok-Kal became arrogant with their newfound power, beginning to think they would not need to awaken the Bahrag. But the power continued to flow, and eventually an overload of power destroyed each Bohrok-Kal. The Toa Nuva, their elemental powers returned to them, returned to their villages and hid their symbols in more secure locations, for a period of peace and prosperity.

Mask of Light
"Chronicler--sightseeing, are you?"

- Tahu Nuva to Takua, BIONICLE: Mask of Light

After the Bohrok-Kal were defeated, a new era of peace rose upon Mata Nui. The day of the first Kolhii game in the Ta-Koro stadium came. Just before the game, Tahu was in the Lava Falls of Ta-Wahi when he saw Takua about to be killed by a giant lava wave. Tahu saved him with his Hau Nuva and sent Takua and Jaller off to the Kolhii game.

Tahu and Gali were among the spectators and argued over the game, prompting the Turaga to remark on how the new era of peace had caused the Toa to forget how much they relied on each other. After the game the Avohkii fell from Jaller's bag and projected its light onto him. After learning that a seventh Toa was on his way, Tahu suggested that it was Jaller's duty to search for him. However, this revelation also caused Tahu unease; if Makuta's threats had been defeated, then why was a new Toa needed now?



While Jaller and Takua searched, a new threat, Rahkshi, attacked Ta-Koro. Tahu and Gali tried to fight off the three Rahkshi, but without the other Toa the Rahkshi easily won and Tahu was poisoned by Rahkshi Lerahk. Ta-Koro was destroyed, falling into the lava along with five of Tahu's Kanohi Nuva.

Tahu became more and more aggressive, due to the poison spreading through his system and the loss of Ta-Koro. In Onu-Koro his anger was increased by Kurahk to the point that he turned against his fellow Toa, and it took the combined effort of Lewa, Kopaka, and Gali to heal him. Once again realizing the Toa needed to be united to defeat the Rahkshi, Tahu and the other Toa journeyed to Kini-Nui. There Tahu combined his powers with Lewa and trapped Guurahk, Lerahk and Panrahk in glass, before helping the other Toa defeat Kurahk and Vorahk. With the arrival of Takanuva, Turahk was also destroyed and Tahu assisted him and the other Toa in building a vehicle to take Takanuva to Mangaia. They were then ordered to stay behind to watch over the Matoran as Takanuva went to fight Makuta. When Takanuva summoned the Matoran, the Toa Nuva went with them and were witness to the Kolhii match between Makuta and Takanuva.

Makuta and Takanuva fused into Takutanuva, who opened the door to Metru Nui. The Toa Nuva and Takanuva were left at peace for the next couple of weeks, during which they listened to the Turaga's tales of Metru Nui.

Ignition
"That 'body made of multiple little pieces' thing is a neat trick. Must be lousy when you sneeze, though."

- Tahu to Zaktan, BIONICLE Legends 1: Island of Doom

After learning from Turaga Dume that Mata Nui was dying, the Toa Nuva were sent to the island of Voya Nui to find the Ignika, the Mask of Life. Dume lead them to a chamber and showed them six canisters that would take them to Voya Nui. The Toa Nuva washed up on shore on Voya Nui. There, however, they ran into beings calling themselves the Piraka and were defeated. Stripped of their masks and tools, they were going to be dumped into the volcano, but when it began erupting, the Piraka left them at the edge and ran away.

The Toa Nuva awoke in time to save themselves, but were ambushed by the few free Matoran on Voya Nui. Balta interrupted the battle by establishing that the Toa Nuva were indeed Toa. The new allies infiltrated the Piraka's base and recovered their tools and masks. Just as they were about to attack the Piraka, however, Zaktan made a deal with Brutaka, who defeated them with a single blow.

The Matoran escaped, but the Toa Nuva were chained to a wall and exposed to the antidermis, which slowly drained them of their life source. The Matoran returned and saved the Toa Nuva, and the Toa Nuva met up with the newly transformed Toa Inika. After some contemplation, the Toa Nuva decided that the Toa Inika were destined to save Mata Nui's life and they let the Toa Inika go on. They promised them that they would be waiting for them on Metru Nui. After the Toa Inika left, Tahu admitted to Axonn that he had lied. They were going on another secret mission, with a sidetrack to gain back Lhikan's old mask, which Jaller had been wearing until it was taken from him in the land of Karzahni.

New "Mission of Importance"
Tahu traveled with the other Toa Nuva to fulfill the Preparation Scroll. Their first task was to awaken the Bahrag and start the cleansing of Mata Nui. Tahu himself could not carry out the order to do it, and Onua had to say it for him. The next task was to retrieve the Staff of Artakha, that was possibly being held on the island of Odina. Tahu and the other Toa Nuva encountered The Shadowed One who asked them to kill Roodaka if he helped them find the staff. Tahu said yes, but later revealed to Gali that he had other plans. He and the other Toa went to Xia and found Roodaka. They also had her change the Rahaga back into Toa Hagah. Then, with the Staff of Artahka gone and taken by the Makuta Icarax, Tahu claimed that they would get the staff even if they had to take it from a Makuta's dead hands.

Later, Tahu and his team journeyed to the realm of Karzahni, where all the Toa but Gali were defeated. After the realm was destroyed by a Nova Blast unleashed by Gali, Tahu was revived and then journeyed with Kopaka to a chain of islands to the south of the Matoran Universe where they needed to stop several active volcanoes one of them being on the island of Artidax. Sometime after calming the volcanoes he was brought by Botar to Daxia, where he saw the restoration of the Matoran Universe through the Staff of Artakha.

A few days after Mata Nui had died and been revived by Matoro, the Toa Nuva traveled to the realm of Artakha for their final mission on the scroll. There they were given adaptive armor by Artakha himself, and he sent them to the Karda Nui.

Swamp of Secrets
"Look behind you." "Please, I'm not falling for that age-old trick."

- Tahu, while fighting Krika, BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets

After the first battle in the sky at Karda Nui, the Toa Nuva split up. Tahu led Gali and Onua into the so-called Swamp of Secrets that puddled at the bottom of Karda Nui. The three decided they would split up. Tahu soon came across the Codrex. However, he didn't know what it was. When he approached the Codrex, he was blasted backwards by the Codrex's energy shield and laid barely conscious in the mud. Krika soon appeared, and began to feast on his energy. While feasting, Krika related to Tahu why the Brotherhood hated the Toa so much. As Tahu continued to lose his energy, he shot a ball of Fire into the sky, alerting the other Toa of his situation. Tahu then channeled heat into the mud around him, increasing the temperature until it was searing hot, and Krika turned intangible and escaped. He was then reunited with Gali and Onua, who had all encountered the other two Makuta, Gorast and Bitil, and followed their trails to the Codrex. Before the Makuta attacked, the Toa were directed away by an Av-Matoran to a nearby cave. Inside the cave, the Toa witnessed several other Av-Matoran who were transforming into Bohrok. The Av-Matoran then explained that once their lifetime comes to an end, they transform into Bohrok and are transported into the Bohrok Nest below Mata Nui. The Av-Matoran then handed a Keystone to the Toa, and took on the shocking transformation as well. After witnessing the transformation, Tahu was saddened by the fact that he did not ask the Matoran his name, and that it took so much sacrifices for the life of one.

Departing the cave, the Toa walked carefully through the swamp. Tahu then suggested that they would use the Nuva-exclusive Elemental Power time-bomb trick to attack the Makuta at their field base. They succeeded, but their plans were quickly discovered by the Makuta. Gali formed a wall of mist, and the Toa escaped, with Onua carving a tunnel through the ground. However, Tahu soon realized that the Makuta were not following. He deduced from that that the Makuta believed they would journey to the Codrex, where they planned to go, and ambush them there. Tahu ordered Onua to turn back, and the three Toa emerged from the tunnel and approached the Codrex from the sky, protected by the mist above the swamp. They found out that the Makuta had indeed journeyed to the Codrex. In the swamp the Toa had found some small pieces of what looked like a small clay figure in the same shape as the hole on the Mask of Life. It fit perfectly in a keyhole on the Codrex. All of a sudden the Codrex slid open and a brightly lit tunnel was apparent. The Toa walked through and they saw vehicles of tremendous power. When they got on they underwent yet another transformation. They became extremely aerodynamic. But then they saw that the Makuta were on vehicles too.

Tahu quickly formulated a plan, and the three Toa led a large scaled attack on the three Makuta. However, their plan was quickly met by the Makuta, and it was soon that the battle entered a stalemate, with neither sides winning. To the Toa's misfortune, the other Phantoka Makuta, minus Mutran and Icarax, and the Shadow Matoran Kirop, Gavla, and Radiak united with the three Mistika Makuta. Outnumbered, Tahu ordered the others to take cover. Antroz confronted the Toa, preparing a devastating blast. Before he could, the remaining Toa Nuva and the three Av-Matoran, Tanma, Photok and Solek, arrived at that point and the Toa Nuva were finally reunited. Together, the Toa Nuva began the final battle against the Makuta.

The Awakening
The Toa Nuva made it back to Metru Nui and were with the Turaga when they announced that Mata Nui was finally awake. But they found out that after Matoro put on the Mask of Life and saved Mata NuiTeridax]] slipped into Mata Nui's body and put Mata Nui's soul into the Mask of Life. He had then banished the mask from the universe and proclaimed his rule over it. Due to a Rahkshi attack, Tahu was badly injured. He and the other Toa Nuva hid in the Archives. He later came up with a plan - even if Teridax had control over the entire Matoran Universe, his mind was not designed to control it. Therefore, he thought, if they split up and caused trouble at many places at once, maybe Teridax would lose his grip on the Universe.

Reign of Shadows
"What are you planning, and does it involve explosions?"

- Tahu to Onua in Reign of Shadows

The Toa Nuva split up and Tahu found himself in the ruins of Karzahni with the uncanny company of Kopeke, Johmak, Krahka, "Guardian", and Lariska. Despite knowing it would attract patrolling Exo-Toa, Tahu lit a campfire and began to discuss his plan to meet up with Order of Mata Nui agents in the south looking for weapons and supplies.

He assured his "team" that since Makuta was still learning how to use the powers of his new body, there was still a way for them to defeat him. Guardian was not satisfied with this and began to walk off, planning to find a way out of the universe. But Makuta had located Tahu and his team and caused the ground to swallow Guardian, presumably killing him in the process. Before Tahu and the others could react, an army of Exo-Toa arrived, demanding that the living members of the team return to Metru Nui to be "retrained" for a job that would benefit all of "Makuta's people".

Onua arrived and saved the team, burrowing up from underground and sending the Exo-Toa into the pit he came from. He revealed that the Order agents in the south had been killed by Rahkshi, but also formulated a plan: Makuta needed his Rahkshi because his mind alone was not enough to patrol the entire universe yet. If they could destroy the one remaining source of Energized Protodermis in the Matoran Universe - in Daxia (which was now heavily guarded by Rahkshi) - they would cut off the flow of Rahkshi and increase their chances of doing things outside of Makuta's notice. After succeeding, Tahu retrieved Lhikan's Hau and parted with his team. Tahu was now in overall command of all surviving Toa in the Universe. He then traveled to the southern area of the Matoran Universe to follow Teridax's Rahkshi, gathering more Toa to fight as he went.

Bara Magna
When Teridax arrived at Bara Magna, Tahu got out of the Matoran Universe through the door on Teridax's foot, and out onto Bara Magna, his army of warriors following them and helping the Glatorian to fight Teridax's army. At some point, he was devolved back into his original form by the Ignika, much to his dismay. With help from Takanuva and Gresh, Tahu managed to get the Golden Armor. Before he got the armor, he defeated Nektann and the armor allowed him to defeat the Rahkshi. The distraction gave Mata Nui enough time to kill Teridax and reform Spherus Magna, and Tahu then witnessed Mata Nui deactivate after making the desert of Spherus Magna bloom.

Spherus Magna
He later traveled with Gali north to find a good site to build New Atero. They eventually came back to an Agori and Matoran camp after some time, since Tahu couldn't decide on a spot that looked good enough. Kopaka told him what had happened to Karzahni and Tahu told him what had become of their journey, also saying that they needed peace with the Agori and Glatorian to carry out Mata Nui's wishes. He and Gali then told Kopaka and Pohatu that they had seen Lesovikk traveling north. Tahu offered to go with the two, but Kopaka told him that they needed someone there to keep any possible rumors of Karzahni's murderer from spreading.

Dark Mirror
In the Toa Empire, Tahu, along with other Toa, were led down a path of evil by Toa Tuyet. When Takanuva was teleported here, he met Tahu in his Toa Mata form, along with Kopaka also in his Toa Mata form, who then attacked Takanuva and imprisoned him. During the Coliseum Battle, Tahu was killed by Dark Hunter "Primal".

The Kingdom
Tahu, along with Jaller and Kopaka, drove back the Rahkshi responsible for smashing their way through a tunnel to the Kingdom and killing both Pohatu and Hewkii.

Personality
"Enough of this bickering. We will accomplish nothing by standing here and having a debate. The decision is made - we split into small groups. It's the best of both worlds, can't you see that?"

- Toa Mata Tahu (2001)

Tahu was the leader of the Toa Mata/Nuva, but was also the fiercest and the most feared. His ideas sometimes clashed with Kopaka's, however they had a mutual respect for each other. His flaming temper could make him hotheaded and irrational at times. Since he had the least patience of the Toa he would jump into a situation without thinking, which could get him, and the other Toa, into a predicament. As time passed, Tahu began to mature and listen to his team more. However, He was very courageous and fiercely protective of his comrades.

Powers & Tools
"Power... I have such power. The power of fire. Of heat and flame. But where does it come from? What is it for?"

- Tahu's thoughts, BIONICLE Chronicles 1: Tale of the Toa


 * Tahu was a Toa of Fire, and therefore could command fire with his will, withstand extreme heat, create structures from fire, heat the air around him or suck the heat inside himself, emit blasts of fire at enemies, create fire, make sand into glass, and melt many substances. He didn't work well near, in, or under water, though when he received his Magma Swords, he could surf on lava.
 * Tahu's main Kanohi mask was the Hau, the Mask of Shielding, which could shield against any known attack. It did not work against ambushes or surprising blows. When Tahu transformed into a Toa Nuva, his mask turned into an enhanced version of the Mask Of Shielding. He could use all six Kanohi Nuva as a Toa Nuva, but after the Battle of Ta-Koro during the The Quest for the Seventh Toa, his Suva was consumed by lava, and his Kanohi Nuva with it.
 * Tahu carried a Fire Sword as a Toa Mata, and as a Toa Nuva, carried two Magma Swords which could be connected together to form a lavaboard. These tools were used to focus Tahu's innate powers.
 * Tahuwithgoldarmor.jpg's former Tools as a Toa Mistika were a Rotating Blade and a Nynrah Ghost Blaster
 * After being devolved back into a Toa Mata, Tahu regained his Fire Sword and now wears the Golden Armor, which grants him the powers of Kraata, such as Heat Vision.

Tahu (2001)

 * Set Number 8534.
 * Contains 33 parts.
 * Released in 2001 in the BIONICLE line.
 * Can be combined with Onua (2001) and Pohatu (2001) to form Toa Kaita Akamai.

Tahu Nuva (2002)

 * Set Number 8572.
 * Contains 36 parts.
 * Released in 2002 in the BIONICLE Nuva line.
 * Can be combined with Onua Nuva (2002) and Pohatu Nuva (2002) to form Akamai Nuva.

Toa Tahu (2008)

 * Set Number 8689.
 * Contains 73 parts.
 * Released in 2008 in the BIONICLE Mistika line.
 * Can be combined with Toa Onua (2008) and Toa Gali (2008) to form Trinuma.

Tahu (2010)

 * Set Number 7116.
 * Contains 19 parts including a Golden Armor piece.
 * Released in 2010 in the BIONICLE Stars line.
 * This version contains a slighter smaller mask with a different style connector than the original to fit the new head.
 * This version is the second-shortest Toa set ever made, next to Onua (2001).
 * Can be combined with Takanuva (7135), Gresh (7117), Skrall (7136), Piraka (7137) and Rahkshi (7138) in order to form Gaardus.

Trivia

 * During the prototype stages of BIONICLE, Tahu was named "Flame."
 * In BIONICLE: Mask of Light, Tahu was voiced by Scott McNeil, who also voiced Onua, Keetongu and Bomonga.
 * A giant-sized Tahu made of LEGO bricks was featured at the SECC center in Scotland, Glasgow.
 * Legoland California featured a Bionicle-themed teacups ride's attraction called BIONICLE Blaster, which had featured giant-sized models of Tahu Nuva, Gali Nuva and Lewa Nuva.
 * In BIONICLE: The Game, Tahu was the only Toa who had 2 levels.
 * In the Maori language, Tahu means "burn".

Appearances

 * Comic 10: Powerless!
 * Comic 11: A Matter of Time...
 * Comic 12: Absolute Power