Kanohi, known as the City of Masks, was an ancient city built on the rim of the Heart of Artakha. Using the overwhelming heat from the volcano, Kanohi Masks were infused with more than one elemental type to produce specific effects, which were then used by the Toa. Because of the unnatural existence of the element of lightning, it was excluded from the forges.
Each element was channeled into six anterior statues of the Elemental Gods (Nuva) leading into the central forge.
The production of Kanohi Masks was permanently halted when the Toa Kanohi destroyed the forges and the knowledge of mask-making, later stealing away every Kanohi Mask and sealing them underground. The city was later destroyed by unknown forces.
These Kanohi Masks were ranked based on the number of elements used to imbue them with power [yes, I did the math in excel to calculate every possible unique collection of elements, as well as build a 3D model to account for every viable combination (no two collections have the exact same elements)]. Opposing elements (Fire-Ice, Water-Stone, Air-Earth) cannot be combined without a medium to separate them, or unless certain criteria are met.
The following are the degrees of masks, as well as the combinations possible for each category. I have used the masks from G1 to illustrate how it would work. Keep in mind, I know that the TTV does not want to use most of the G1 masks, so I’m just doing this for fun:
Noble (2): lowest degree of Kanohi Mask. Usable by super-Matoran beings or Toa. Possible combinations: 12.
- Fire+Air=Flight
- Fire+Water=Confusion (Incomprehension)
- Fire+Stone=X-Ray Vision
- Fire+Earth=Night Vision
- Air+Water=Sonar
- Air+Stone=Speed
- Air+Ice=Concealment
- Water+Earth=Healing
- Water+Ice=Telepathy
- Stone+Earth=Strength
- Stone+Ice=Repair
- Earth+Ice=Scavenging
Great (3): average degree of Kanohi Mask. Usable only by Toa and higher beings. Possible combinations: 8.
- Fire+Air+Water=Repulsion
- Fire+Air+Stone=Spirit
- Fire+Water+Earth=Enchantment (Conjuring)
- Fire+Stone+Earth=Accuracy
- Air+Water+Ice=Waterbreathing
- Air+Stone+Ice=Silence
- Water+Earth+Ice=Mutation
- Stone+Earth+Ice=Hunger
Prime (4): elite degree of Kanohi Mask. Usable only by powerful Toa and higher beings. 1 pair of opposing elements must be present. Possible combinations: 12.
- Fire+Air+Water+Stone=Telekinesis
- Fire+Air+Water+Earth=Disruption
- Fire+Air+Water+Ice=Intangibility
- Fire+Air+Stone+Earth=Teleportation (Quick Travel)
- Fire+Air+Stone+Ice=Return (Rebounding)
- Fire+Water+Stone+Earth=Translation
- Fire+Water+Earth+Ice=Size Shifting (Growth+Diminishment)
- Fire+Stone+Earth+Ice=Detection (Sensory Aptitude+Detection)
- Air+Water+Stone+Ice=Truth
- Air+Water+Earth+Ice=Adaptation
- Air+Stone+Earth+Ice=Stealth
- Water+Stone+Earth+Ice=Undeath
Golden (5): the highest degree possible for a Matoran to forge. Usable only by Toa Nuva and higher beings. 2 pairs of opposing elements must be present. Possible combinations: 6.
- Fire+Air+Water+Stone+Earth=Dimensional Gates
- Fire+Air+Water+Stone+Ice=Illusion
- Fire+Air+Water+Earth+Ice=Power Mimicry (Emulation+Kindred)
- Fire+Air+Stone+Earth+Ice=Peak Fitness (Fate)
- Fire+Water+Stone+Earth+Ice=Shielding
- Air+Water+Stone+Earth+Ice=Psychometry
Legendary (6): a forbidden degree of Kanohi Mask. Usable only by the Three Brothers. Developed powers relating to the laws of the universe, and could generate new masks relating to their own. Unattainable by the Matoran, very few were created by the Three Brothers:
- Mask of Alternate Futures
*Mask of Clairvoyance
*Mask of Possibilities - Mask of Control
*Mask of Biomechanics
*Mask of Charisma
*Mask of Fusion
*Mask of Gravity
*Mask of Rahi Control
*Mask of Reanimation
*Mask of Summoning - Mask of Creation
*Mask of Corruption
*Mask of Life - Mask of Light: forged by Ekimu and Makuta using the Masks of Creation and Control.
- Mask of Time: forged by Karzahni and Makuta using the Masks of Alternate Futures and Control.
*Mask of Aging
*Mask of Time Duplication