BIONICLE: Quest for the Masks

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This page features non-canon content
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BIONICLE: Quest for the Masks is non-canon.
The subject of this article is not part of the canon BIONICLE storyline. The information on this page was not approved by the BIONICLE Story Team. Further, it either contradicts canon events or was never referenced in canon media.
BIONICLE: Quest for the Masks
Card Game
Compatible with BIONICLE: Rahi Challenge
BIONICLE: Bohrok Swarm
Year released 2001
Developer Upperdeck


BIONICLE: Quest for the Masks is the first BIONICLE card game released, produced by Tim Muret and Jerry Bennington and designed by Ted Adams in 2001.

The series is comprised of 310 unique game cards, the first 220 from the base game, and the remaining 90 from the Rahi Challenge expansion. Both the base game and the expansion feature standard cards and some holographic cards. Typically the holographic card variants were both rarer and more powerful in-game. However some controversy surrounds card #197 as it appeared to be unobtainable in the First Edition print of the series, and was significantly rarer than other cards in subsequent printing runs.

While the majority of cards printed in the series were playable cards, there were several Illustrated Story Cards depicting moments from the Bionicle series, however as the card-game is not considered canon the events depicted may not be entirely based on the Toa's official storyline.

Though it is its own game, BIONICLE: Bohrok Swarm, another TCG created by Upperdeck, is compatible with and uses the base rules of Quest for the Masks.

Quest for the Masks: Base Game.

Obtaining Cards

There were two primary ways of obtaining game cards; Booster Packs, and Deck boxes. However the game requires at least one player to own a Starter Deck, as the Starter Deck supplied both the playing board required for the game as well as the infected mask game action card necessary for building a deck.

The base set contained of 220 cards, the first 100 was released with the starter decks and was followed by 120 new cards later that year in booster boxes. 40 of the cards found in the starter decks were exclusive to them while the last 60 cards from the starter decks in other words the Toa, Great mask and Turaga cards were reprinted in the booster boxes. As for the last 120 cards exclusive to the booster boxes 36 of them were non playable story cards, another 36 was stronger holographic Kanohi cards, 24 of them were an assortment of non holographic Game Action, Mission and Great Mask Challenge cards and 24 of them were Holographic Game Action, Mission and Great Mask Challenge cards. The holographic cards were generally stronger than the non holographic cards and in turn the non holographic cards were generally stronger than the starter deck cards. All cards had a unique effect even though several cards shared a card type.


Decks

There were 3 decks in total, each one displaying a pair of Toa Mata, which were packaged with a random Kanohi of the respective Toa's color. Each deck box was colored differently to represent their respective Toa pairings. The pairs feature the following Toa:

Deck Contents

Each deck contained the following items:

  • 80 Game Cards, including
    • 2 Toa Cards
    • 6 Great Mask Challenge Cards
    • 6 Turaga Cards (3 for each Toa)
    • 12 Great Mask Cards (6 for each Toa)
    • 14 Mission Cards
    • 40 Game Action Cards - 2 sets of 20-card starter decks
  • 1 Rule Book
  • 1 Legend of Mata Nui Book
  • 1 Ancient Map of Mata Nui Game Map (Playing board)
  • 2 Toa Great Mask Markers (Random Great Kanohi)

The Rule Book, along with instructions on how to play, contained other useful information including:

The Legend of Mata Nui book is a full-color resource for concise lore information. The first two pages give context to the Toa and the Makuta and depict Tahu's arrival on Ta-Wahi. The next six pages are dedicated to the Toa. The booklet discusses their elements, masks, and tools, along with a half-page of description and backstory for each character. The next section covers the six Great Kanohi, and afterwards the Turaga are covered to a similar depth as the Toa. The booklet finishes with a map of the Island of Mata Nui, and by describing the six Wahi and Koro the heroes belong to.

Both the Rule Book and the Legend of Mata Nui book have Matoran glyph spelling out Quest for the Masks [ Quest for the Masks ] along the bottom-left pages, and Find the Power [ Find the Power ] on the upper-right pages.

Booster Packs

The alternative way to obtain Quest for the Mask cards were via Booster Packs; these were sealed packets, typically containing nine cards per packet along with a white card listing Instructions to build your own Bionicle deck with Booster cards.
There were two primary retail methods for Booster Packs sold during the series lifetime.

  1. Booster Packs - The standard booster packs were sealed plastic packets, with a barcode on the reverse.
  2. Blister Packs - These were packets sealed in a plastic blister against a larger piece of cardboard.

These booster packs could be any of the following packet types:

  • First Edition booster packs were marked with First Edition text.
    • Each booster packs content according to the Booster pack; “This pack contains a random assortment of 180 BIONICLE ™ booster cards(5 uncommon, 3 rare, 1 ultra rare). Set content subject to change. Stated odds reflet an average of the entire production run; no ratio is guaranteed to exist within an individual box or case.”

Furthermore all the uncommon slots is always taken up by the aforementioned Toa, Great Mask and Turaga card reprints. The 3 rare slots are shared between story cards and non holographic Game Action, Mission and Great Mask Challenge cards and the ultra rare slot is taken by a holographic/foil card between numbers 161-220.

    • Each new card bears the First Edition mark next to the silver hologram on each card but since cards 41-100 were reprinted they lack the first edition texts in these packs.
    • Card #197 was not available in these packets.
  • Unlimited booster packs did not bear the First Edition text on the packet.
    • Each booster pack contains the same nine cards and has the same apperance ratio as the First Edition packets, without the First Edition mark.
    • Card #197 was rarely available in these packets.
  • Limited Edition booster packs.
    • Limited Edition booster packs contained three cards instead of the typical nine.
      • Limited edition boosters were given away at participating Legoland parks.
      • 2 starter deck rarity cards.
      • One limited edition Toa card with silver text.
      • 1 ad for the game.

How to Play

BIONICLE: Rahi Challenge

The object of the game is to collect all of the selected Toa's Great Mask Cards before the opponent does. The first player to collect all six masks is the winner.

Setting Up

The Rule Book includes instructions on how to set up a game of Quest for the Masks.

  1. Place the Game Map
    • The rules suggests placing the map between two players
    • If two maps are available, they can be combined to form a complete map for the island of Mata Nui
  2. Place the different decks.
    • If you're playing with the starter decks, begin by sorting and distributing the cards according to the rule book. If you and your opponent have built your own decks each player brings their own Game Action and Toa, Great Mask/Turaga decks and follows the rules written on the rules card included with the booster packs, as well as all the Mission and Great Mask Challenge cards they want to play with. Then you construct the Mission and Great Mask Challenge card decks according to the rules card from the booster packs.
  3. Choose your Toa and Distribute the Great Mask/Turaga Cards
    • Each player chooses a Toa, and is given the appropriate Great Mask and Turaga cards if you are playing with the starter decks. If you are playing with your own deck be sure to carry more than one Toa deck with you if you can't be your first choice.
  4. Begin shuffling the cards
    • Shuffle your Toa, Great Mask/Turaga deck and Game Action deck your opponent does the same.
  5. Set up the Great Mask Challenge and Action Cards
    • Shuffle the Great Mask Challenge cards and place them face-down
    • Shuffle the Action cards and place them face-down
  6. Place your Toa card so its viewable by all players.
  7. Place your Toa Great Mask
    • Player 1 places their Toa mask in the West starting space, and Player 2 starts in the East.
    • The rule book suggests the players engage in rock-paper-scissors to determine who initiates the gameplay
    • The Player on the west space starts.
  8. Phases of a turn
    • Play a Game action card.
    • Attach or unattach a Great Mask/Turaga card if you want to your Toa card. You can only attach one of each to your Toa card. Turaga cards are placed to the right of your Toa card, The Great Mask card is placed underneath your Toa card with the Text sticking out so that it's readable.
    • Move your Toa Marker one space either vertically or horizontally. You can't walk diagonally.
  9. Landing on a marked space.(You can't go to the same space twice. However you can return to a visited space after you've visited another space of the same type)
    • Landing on a Portal space you may move your Toa Marker to another Portal space.(Portal spaces are yellow)
    • Landing on a Start space does nothing after the game has started unless you play a card or get a mission refering to it.(Start spaces are white)
    • Landing on a Mission space will Make you draw and reveal a card from the Mission deck, Missions must be completed before you can take on a challenge or a portal again. Most Mission must be completed immediatley.(Mission spaces are green)
    • Landing on a Great Mask Challenge space makes you draw and reveal a card from the Great Mask Challenge deck. The Skill written on the card is the skill you and your opponent will compete in. If you stepped on the Challenge space you win on a tie or by having higher points in that skill than your opponent. If you win a challenge you initiated you get to draw a card from your Great Mask/Turaga deck. If your opponent initiated the challenge and you win you may not draw a card from your Great Mask/Turaga card. You may play Game Action cards during a challenge.(Great Mask Challenge spaces are blue)
    • Landing on a Game Action space will let you draw a card from your Game Action deck. You can only have 5 cards in your hand.(Game Action spaces are Orange)
    • Landing on a Game Action or Great Mask Challenge space with 2 circles will get you double results. For example a 2 circled Game Action space will give you 2 Game Action cards instead of one.
  10. Winner
    • The winner of the game is the player who collects all 6 of their Great Mask cards first or 3 if you want to play a quick game.


Building a Deck

A white instruction card is provided with each new Quest for the Masks booster pack. While it doesn't contain the rules, it explains how to build a deck for a two-player game, and advises the players to check their theme decks or to go to www.upperdeck.com to learn how to play the game.

Card Type Number
Toa, Great Mask, and Turaga Cards Implied to be 9
Great Mask Challenge Cards 6
Mission Cards 14
Game Action Cards 20

Along with this, there are a few additional regulations on deck formations:

  • Players cannot have more than 3 foil Great Mask Cards in their deck
  • Players cannot have duplicate Great Mask Challenge Cards in their deck
  • Players cannot have duplicate Mission Cards in their deck
  • Players can have a total of 20 Game Action Cards in their deck
    • Players cannot have more than 2 copies of the same Game Action Card
    • Players must have 2 cards of each Game action card type in their deck.
    • Players need at least 14 unique Game Action Cards

Cards

There are five primary types of cards used in the game, each with a different use within the game. The rarity of each card is denoted by a [ 1 ] character with a colored background

Rarity chart

Green denotes cards of rarity common.

Lilac denotes cards of rarity uncommon.

Blue denotes cards of rarity rare.

Red denotes cards of rarity ultra rare all of them being holographic.


Card Type Description Example
Toa Cards Each player chooses the Toa Card they wish to use during the game. On the card is a list of 6 skills (Flight, Shielding, Speed, Strength, Swimming, and Vision), where each skill is ranked from 100 to 1000, with 1000 being the highest. They also use that Toa's respective mask as a marker. Card #41, Toa of Fire: Flight 500; Shielding 900; Speed 700; Strength 800; Swimming 400; Vision 700
Great Mask Challenge Cards These cards are used during Great Mask Challenges, and tell the player which of their Toa's skills they will use during the challenge. Card #5, Great Mask Challenge: Swimming
Mission Cards These cards feature a new mission that the player must complete before they can continue their search for the Toa's Great Masks. Card #12, Mission: You must go to a Start space
Great Mask/Turaga Cards Once winning a Great Mask Challenge, the player can draw a Great Mask or Turaga card. Each card gives a bonus. All six of the chosen Toa's Great Mask Cards must be collected to win the game. Card #49, Vakama's Firestaff: Vakama says you can move your Toa Great Mask 2 spaces instead of 1. Do not discard after use.
Game Action Cards These cards can do a variety of things. Generally, they are played to either hinder the opponent or to help oneself. Card #33, Bonus; Automatically complete a mission. Discard after use.
Illustrated Story Cards These cards are not used in gameplay, and feature a unique piece of artwork on their reverse. A brief story section is included alongside a tip on the front face of the card. Card #106, Onua Triumphs!; [...] Onua sets of again, now wearing the Golden Master Mask of Power as well as a piece of the fabled Makoki Stone. GAME TIP: Use the Portal Spaces to quickly move around the game map.

In the base game, there are four subtypes of Game Action Cards: Infected Masks, Bonus, Reward and Penalty. The Rahi Challenge also introduced two new types: Rahi Defend and Earthquake, with Earthquake being just a one-off card.

  • Infected Mask cards: Let's you give up your turn to move your opponent.
  • Bonus cards: Gives you a bonus
  • Reward cards: Rewards you with an advantage.
  • Penalty cards: Are played to disrupt your opponent.

Rahi Challenge Expansion Pack

The Rahi Challenge cards expand the Quest for the Masks card game with Rahi-oriented content, extending the number of collectible cards from 220 to 310. Of these 90 new cards, 36 were Illustrated Story Cards, 27 non holographic cards with new card types and 27 new holographic cards with the aforementioned new card types. The only returning card types were mission, penalty and reward, and this expansion didn’t feature any starter deck rarity cards. Each card for the new Rahi deck features a Nui-Rama on the back, in front of the Hau of the base game cards to help distinguish the new cards.

Cards

The Rahi challenge expansion included a new deck type called a Rahi deck; this deck consisted of three of this set's new card types: Rahi, Rahi effect and Rahi challenge cards.

  • Rahi cards: Is a card depicting a Rahi and had one of the skills, Flying, Shielding, Speed, Strength, Swimming, Vision on it.
  • Rahi challenge cards: Determine the strength of the challenging Rahi.
  • Rahi Effect cards gives the opponent a disadvantage if they lose the challenge. The Rahi Effect card is placed to the left of the Toa card it's affecting.
  • Rahi Defend cards: These cards are a new Game Action card type for this set and can be played by the Player being challenged for an advantage.

How to play

The game is started with 3 Rahi cards in hand. To initiate a Rahi Challenge, one of each Rahi card type is needed. During the Rahi challenge the opponent may play a Rahi Defend card to affect the result of the challenge. Rahi Defend cards are the last of the new card types and are a game action card. These cards are used during a challenge to get an advantage in a challenge.

A Rahi Challenge can only be started at the beginning of a turn. Starting one is a full-move action. To draw a Rahi card, the player must walk to a game action space and choose whether to draw from the game action deck or the Rahi deck. In cases of a tie the Toa wins the Rahi Challenge.

To play a Rahi challenge

The player must first declare their challenge by playing a Rahi challenge card, Then they need to decide the skill to be used during the challenge by playing a Rahi card. If the challenge is succesful meaning your opponent lost you can play a Rahi effect card. If your opponent want to they may play a Rah defend Game acton card to affect the Rahi challenge's result.

Great mask cards work with a Rahi challenge just like in a Great Mask challenge. Game action cards are also allowed during a Rahi Challenge.

Deck Building

  • A Rahi deck needs to have the same amount of Rahi, Rahi, Challenge and Rahi Effect cards.
  • A Rahi deck can't have less than 5 cards of each card type.
  • A Rahi deck can't Have more than 10 cards of each card type.
  • No more than 2 copies of the same card is allowed.
  • Certain cards may only be used once in a deck.
  • Players can play with different sized Rahi decks.


Obtaining Cards

Because of poor sales for the overall game, no Deck Boxes were released for the Rahi Challenge expansion, unlike the Quest for the Masks base game. These were only available as booster packs of nine cards. Moreover, Rahi challenge was only sold in the US, and the set is quite rare.

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Development Team

BIONICLE: Quest for the Masks accredits the following individuals for the design and production of the game:

Role Staff
Producers Tim Muret & Jerry Bennington
Game Design Ted Adams
Development Ted Adams & Kris Oprisko, Tim Muret, Jerry Bennington, Chris Hancock, Mark Irwin, and Kurt Nelson
Project Manager Adrianne Kieckhafer
Brand Manager Stephanie Mascott
Packaging Design and Art Direction Wayne Wilcoxen and Martin Welling
Production Mike Eggleston, Gordon Tucker, John Harrison, Mike Chaldu, Helen Winterhouse, Steve Naughton, and Holly Marshall
Playtesters Robbie Robbins, Alex Garner, Cindy Chapman, Dave Vindiola, Mike Heilser, Steve Crow, and Kent Peet
Special Thanks Richard McWilliam, Bill Dully, Mike Gardner, and Dan Bruton

Trivia

  • In the Base Set there were also 2 additional cards called T1 and T2 these cards were given away by participating stores tournament events.
  • The Base set of Quest for the Masks was translated into German.
  • The Quest for the Masks game uses the 2001 Kanohi mask from the Toa Mata and/or the Kanohi pack sets as game markers.

See also

External links



Card Games
Quest for the Masks | The Bohrok Awake | Bohrok Swarm | Toa Nuva Reconstruct | Phantoka Battle Cards | The Legend Reborn


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