Shadow Hand

"Nivawk circled the vortex, careful not to come too close. His caution was wasted, as a black tendril of pure energy reached out and dragged him into the swirling mass of darkness."
— Narrator, Legends of Metru Nui

Shadow Hand
Chirox creating a Shadow Hand through his Hook Blades
Ability
Users	Makuta
Expression	Makuta use their Shadow powers to absorb beings and objects

A Shadow Hand is an ability possessed exclusively by the Makuta.

Functionality

Members of the Makuta species are able to create a physical hand of Shadow that can either be channeled through a wielded tool or their own body. This extension can grip objects or beings, instantly pulling them back towards the Makuta, who can then absorb the bound item. The absorption gives them added energy and mass, which can also fuel transformations if need be. This also gives a Makuta the abilities of the absorbed beings.

If a living being is absorbed, the Makuta must quickly dominate their will, or risk being overpowered. During his battle with the Toa Metru, Makuta Teridax struggled with the consequences of absorbing three different beings, Nidhiki, Krekka, and Nivawk, slightly diverting his attention.

A Makuta normally has little control over this power, and any object restrained will be automatically recoiled towards the user. Makuta Chirox, however, frequently used the Shadow Hand in his experiments, and had better control over it than most Makuta. In particular, he was able to avert the automatic pullback altogether. Makuta have also been shown to channel their Kraata Powers through their Shadow Hands.

Example Usage

Makuta Teridax unleashing a Shadow Hand in BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui

In BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui, Teridax successfully used the Shadow Hand to absorb Nivawk, adding the Rahi's mass to his own and also gaining wings. Later, he tried to use the hand on Toa Metru Vakama, but Turaga Lhikan moved in the way and blocked it with his shield. The shield was absorbed while Lhikan died as a result.

Teridax later tried to use the hand again on Vakama, but inadvertently grabbed hold of the Great Barrier and pulled himself into it.

Trivia

• The Makuta of the Melding Alternate Universe, being devoid of all moral darkness, are incapable of using a Shadow Hand.
• After his light was drained by a Shadow Leech, Takanuva could produce a sort of Shadow Hand from his chest. However, it was not a Shadow Hand in the traditional sense because it could not be used to absorb beings.