Metru Nui has been plunged into darkness. The city’s once grand streets are now battlegrounds for war between Dark Hunter agents with their armies of Visorak and the Toa Guardians. These Toa – once battle-hardened Matoran – have been transformed by Toa Stones into fierce and merciless warriors. Having long ago abandoned the code that once governed their brotherhood, they now command fear and respect in Toa-controlled sectors of Metru Nui and mercilessly execute any potential Dark Hunter sympathizers among the Matoran populace. Hardened by years of brutal combat, these Toa have fashioned deadlier weapons for themselves and wear heavier armour impervious to Visorak pincers.
These two all started when I looked at the Metru Matoran’s blended masks and thought “these would look pretty cool on figures with some silver accents”. Using the Metru-Build as a base, I began playing around with colours and a backstory formed itself almost naturally. I began to imagine what would happen if Metru Nui was caught in a massive war in which the six 2004 Matoran were called to become Toa in warrior roles. Pulling from their canon personalities, it seemed only logical that these new Toa would become ruthless dictators over their Matoran subjects.
With Toa Ahkmou, I went for a shorter, stockier build and chose a weapon that fit that architype. Since the character’s most defining feature was his mask, I attempted to carry the same aesthetic throughout the figure via rounded parts such as the Nuva shoulder pads.
Both Toa are armed with disc launchers as callbacks to their appearances in the 2004 set lineup.
Here’s look closer look at the hammer head. I’m very pleased with the way this weapon turned out. However, I may end up lengthening the shaft in the future.
For Orkahm’s reimagining I went with a lankier gorilla-style build that reflects his nature as a Toa of Air/Le-Matoran. Again, I attempted to replicate the mask’s overall shaping by using pieces like the Pohatu Nuva claws, Takanuva staff blades and TECHNIC air intakes (here used as leg armour).
The wrist-blades (aside from being some of the coolest weapons I’ve ever put on one of my MOCs both in terms of look and function) allow for much greater poseability then Ahkmou’s hammer. Unfortunately, the Metru-Build’s limited shoulder articulation does hamper movement somewhat.
I’d eventually like to create warrior Toa versions of all the 2004 Matoran. In order to maintain a cohesive team aesthetic I’ve implemented a torso design that attempts to evoke the style of the original Mata torso piece.
Toa Ohkrum’s shoulder armour is rather unorthodox and makes use of a couple illegal/frowned upon techniques.
As always, comment and critique are greatly appreciated. These two Toa, while relatively simple, are some of my favourite MOCs I’ve made. That being said, there’s always room for improvement. =)
Merry Christmas everyone! 
