Infected Kanohi

"The great Toa is the same in body, in strength, and in speed. But his mind is gone. He has been attacked by the Makuta and enslaved by evil. His Great Mask of Power has been replaced with an infected mask, and the only way to bring him back is to take it off."

- Turaga Matau, Mata Nui Online Game

Infected Kanohi are Kanohi that have been tainted and corrupted by Kraata. The infection was sometimes referred to as the Madness on Mata Nui. An Infected Kanohi appears rusted and pitted. Any type of mask is vulnerable to this sort of infection. Although Makuta can infect masks themselves, they prefer to leave it to Kraata.

An infected Kanohi wearer is placed under the control of the Makuta who infected the mask. While infected, the user is still able to access their mask's power. For an Infected Kanohi to be cleansed, it requires the combined Elemental Powers of six Toa.

During the Great War on Mata Nui, Teridax fitted many Rahi with infected masks and had them guard the Kanohi and harass the Matoran. However, the Toa Mata succeeded in liberating most of them. Additionally, when Teridax first confronted the Toa Mata in his Matoran form, his Kanohi Kraahkan took the form of an infected Kanohi Hau. When the Rahkshi assaulted Mata Nui, Shadow Kraata were responsible for the infection of several Matoran.

Example Usage
Lewa's Kanohi Miru was taken from him and replaced with an infected version, forcing him to serve Teridax alongside a group of Nui-Rama and a Nui-Kopen.

Bearers

 * Toa Mata Lewa - Formerly; since removed
 * Many different types of Rahi - Formerly; since uninfected
 * Some Matoran of Mata Nui - Formerly; since uninfected

Trivia

 * In the Toa Empire Alternate Universe, Teridax wears a Kanohi Hau which appears infected since his Kanohi Kraahkan had been taken from him.