Understanding Toruk Makto: The Significance of Jake Sully’s Legendary Title in Avatar and Its Role in Avatar: Fire and Ash

Avatar: Fire and Ash has hit theaters, bringing back Toruk Makto after the events of The Way of Water. This sequel follows the Sully family as they grapple with the loss of their eldest son, Neteyam, while trying to evade the RDA and Col. Miles Quaritch. A new danger emerges in the form of the fiery Ash People, led by the fierce Varang.

Fans of the original 2009 Avatar know that Jake Sully is no ordinary Na’vi. He became a legendary figure among the people of Pandora, a role that proves crucial as he seeks to unite the various Na’vi tribes for another battle in Avatar: Fire and Ash.

If it’s been a while since you last watched Avatar, you might be curious about the significance of being Toruk Makto and why it holds such weight on Pandora. Here’s a breakdown of Jake’s esteemed title, how he came to earn it, and its importance in Avatar: Fire and Ash. Be warned, though—spoilers for the new movie are ahead, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to catch up first.

In the original Avatar, Jake learns about the legendary Toruk Makto. Neytiri reveals that only five Na’vi have ever held this title, which is achieved by bonding with the Great Leonopteryx, the largest Mountain Banshee and apex predator on Pandora.

The story of the first Toruk Makto is explored in the Cirque du Soleil show, Toruk – The First Flight, which took place thousands of years before the films, in 837 BC. It follows Entu, a 14-year-old from the Omatikaya clan, who becomes the first to ride the Great Leonopteryx during a volcanic crisis threatening the Tree of Souls.

Details about the second, third, and fourth Toruk Makto remain a mystery, but the fifth was Neytiri’s great-great-grandfather, who used his status to unite the Na’vi clans during a “time of great sorrow.” The sixth, of course, is Jake Sully.

The title Toruk Makto translates to Rider of the Last Shadow, and achieving it is akin to pulling the sword from the stone—only those with a “strong heart” and the courage to face the Great Leonopteryx can bond with such a formidable creature. Jake accomplishes this during a low point in Avatar, after the destruction of Hometree. Recognizing that “the baddest cat in the sky” wouldn’t look up, he leaps from his smaller banshee onto Toruk. While we don’t see the struggle to bond with Toruk on screen, Neytiri’s reaction when Jake descends from the sky atop the Great Leonopteryx speaks volumes: “I see you.”

Like Neytiri’s ancestor, Jake uses his role as Toruk Makto to rally the Na’vi clans, who turn to him for leadership in their darkest hours. Thanks to the sheer size and power of the Great Leonopteryx, which can toss RDA gunships around like toys, the Na’vi triumph during the Assault on the Tree of Souls, driving the RDA from Pandora. After the victory, Jake releases Toruk, parting ways until they are needed again.

In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Toruk Makto makes a return, despite Jake not summoning the Great Leonopteryx in The Way of Water. Initially hesitant to ride again—warning that “when you ride the beast, you become the beast”—Jake ultimately realizes that the Metkayina’s survival against a full RDA assault hinges on his ability to unite all Na’vi clans within a day’s ride as Toruk Makto.

Returning to the mountain cave where the Great Leonopteryx resides, surrounded by skulls and bones, Jake takes to the skies and initially dominates the battle against the RDA, turning their gunships into projectiles. However, the arrival of the Ash People, armed with flamethrowers and explosives, shifts the tide. Eventually, the Great Leonopteryx is shot down and separated from Jake, but we later see the creature rise from the water, ready to fight another day.