How essential is each G2 Makuta component set?

[Wiriamu]

I am in the process of acquiring the necessary sets to construct G2 Makuta, and...it's proving quite difficult. Sadly I refrained from buying any of the G2 Bionicle sets while the line was ongoing, which effectively leaves me with shopping online, picking through the leftovers at my local Toys'R'Us, or trying to find sets used at odds and ends hobby stores. The problem is, some of them have proven quite difficult to find, or when I have found them it's at such a price point that were I to buy them it would not be at an eye to acquiring multiples. That being said, I'm wondering: how badly do I need each individual set to make this work?

 

I've managed to get ahold of a used Lord of Skull Spiders and Kulta-missing some parts but enough for my needs-and am now looking at the Umaraks, Ikir, Uniter Tahu, and Uniter Onua. So far as I've been able to see the only part you'd need from Ekimu is the wheel from his shield on the torso, and there's other ways I can obtain that. So my question is, are there other sets I can use to get the necessary parts, or could I possibly obtain the needed parts from other sources without having to buy an entire set?

[The 1st Shadow]

From the Umaraks, it's mostly just structural bone pieces, the feet, and the gunmetal ribcage from the Destroyer, and the Shadow Trap halves from either, since you will need three, and Ikir only comes with two. The feet are also pretty common in a lot of other sets, so not that big a deal.

I actually just built him myself pretty recently out of some bulk parts that came through the store I work at, but I was unable to find about 6 of the necessary parts, mainly special armor parts from Tahu Uniter. 

 

Where the skeletal structure is concerned, most of the parts are widely available in other sets, and only a few bits of armor are exclusive to some of those sets. If you have a bunch of loose Technic bits, liftarms, and the like, then you should be able to get past most of the need for the Umaraks. Onua, Tahu, Ikir, and Kulta are probably the most important ones in terms of getting his armor and details completed.

 

I could be wrong, but looking at the 97% complete model in front of me, that's what I'm going with.

[Voxumo]

So.. since this is in a similar vein as to the original question, is there a parts list out there somewhere in the great blue yonder that is the internet for the Journey to one Makuta? I'm planning on going a similar route of just putting him together with what pieces I have, and would like to get said pieces together before I start building, so a parts list is something that would be handy.

 

And I don't mean all the parts in the sets needed, but just the parts that are actually used.

Edited June 24, 2017 by Vox

[Wiriamu]

So.. since this is in a similar vein as to the original question, is there a parts list out there somewhere in the great blue yonder that is the internet for the Journey to one Makuta? I'm planning on going a similar route of just putting him together with what pieces I have, and would like to get said pieces together before I start building, so a parts list is something that would be handy.

 

And I don't mean all the parts in the sets needed, but just the parts that are actually used.

You've hit the nail on the head Vox; while a number of build videos have been made by various people with regards to JtO Makuta, it doesn't seem that anyone has really made a list of the parts you require for his construction, and only HIS construction. Of course, it would have been nice if Lego could have provided us with that AND an actual set of instructions for making him as opposed to just a list of the sets you can get the necessary parts from. But that's water under the bridge, and I don't know that anyone at Lego has the time or means to create either at this point. I put the word out on TTV Channel to see if a parts list has been put together, but haven't heard anything back yet.