Roar of the Elders

"It is more than different. It is the Roar of the Elders! When you use it, the great lions of the Pride Lands' past roar with you."

- Rafiki, Return of the Roar The Roar of the Elders is an intensely powerful roar that is bestowed on the leader of the Lion Guard by the Great Lions of the Past. It is currently possessed by Kion, the son of Simba and Nala.

Information
While the firstborn cub of the monarch is destined to become the next Ruler of the Pride Lands, the second-born cub is tasked with leading the Lion Guard, a group dedicated to preserving the kingdom and defending the Circle of Life. As its leader, the second-born cub is expected to be the fiercest of the group and is thus gifted with the Roar of the Elders by the Great Lions of the Past. When the leader of the Lion Guard uses the Roar of the Elders, four of the ancient kings roar along with them, instilling extremely powerful sound vibrations in the cry. The Roar is strong enough to blast downward-falling water upward, scatter a pile of boulders, or force someone else backwards, sometimes sending them flying miles away. However, if the Roar is used in anger, regardless of the intent, it can cause mass destruction and there is risk of it rebounding like an echo, which can cause natural disasters such as earthquakes. When used in anger, the clouds will be dark and stormy.

The Roar can be controlled if the user has faith in themselves, allowing them to direct the Roar's force as they wish. Additionally, if directed at a cloud, the Roar has the ability to inflate it with water, thus causing it to rain for a short while.

The Roar of the Elders can be used summon the spirits of the Great Lions of the Past, and, if used in anger, and used among fire using a Bakora Staff it can even summon the spirit of an evil lion from the past. Instead of in clouds, evil lions appear in fire.

Since the Great Kings provide the power behind the roar, they control its use. It is to be used for good only and will be taken away if the user does not respect their gift and use it for selfish or malicious purposes, as was the case with Scar.

Prior to The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
Before the events of The Lion Guard, Askari was the first leader of the Pride Lands' Lion Guard and as the second-born cub of the monarch he was the first one ever to use the Roar of the Elders using it's powers to do great good.

Then, Scar was the leader of the previous Lion Guard before Kion and possessed the Roar of the Elders, as he was the second-born cub of the monarch. However, the power quickly got to his head, and he thought himself more worthy of being king rather than his older brother, Mufasa. So he tried to employ the rest of his Lion Guard to help him overthrow Mufasa, but when they refused, he destroyed them. Seeing this, the Great Kings snatched back his power, for they had intended that the roar is not meant to be used for evil.

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala, is given the Roar of the Elders. When his best friend, Bunga, is trapped by a pair of hyenas in the Outlands, Kion uses his power to free him from their grasp. The Mark of the Guard appears briefly on his shoulder, though disappears before Kion even realizes it was there. Back at Pride Rock, Rafiki and Simba happen to overhear the Roar, and they come to the conclusion that Kion is now ready to be the leader of the new Lion Guard.

After Kion assembles a team, he attempts to show them his powerful Roar, but the power refuses to work. However, the Roar returns to him in the final battle against Janja's clan, in which Kion uses the Roar to send the hyenas scurrying back to the Outlands.

Never Judge a Hyena by Its Spots
After fighting off Janja and his clan, Kion tells Jasiri to get behind him as he uses his roar to defend both himself and Jasiri by blasting the hyenas away. The roar also worked as a powerful signal to alert the rest of the Lion Guard, who rushed to his rescue. Jasiri is amused by what she sees but also impressed that a lion saved a hyena.

The Rise of Makuu
Bunga suggests that Kion use the Roar to rescue a hyrax, but Kion chooses not to should he accidentally harm the hyrax.

Kion uses a demonstration of the Roar on Grove of Trees to persuade Makuu and the crocodiles to leave Big Springs after they force Basi's Pod out. The resulting roar causes the leaves to disappear from the trees and concerns Makuu, who takes his float away from Big Springs, heading for home.



Bunga the Wise
When Bunga's quick and easy dam solution leads to the dam breaking apart, the waters that it was restraining spread rapidly over the Pride Lands. The Pride Landers flee but are eventually trapped, with rock walls on all sides of them and the floodwaters on another. Kion uses the Roar to move the water back, away from the animals, with enough force to push it over the side of the rock walls and create a waterfall.

Eye of the Beholder
When Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu trap the Lion Guard in a ravine by dropping boulders on either side of them, Kion uses the Roar of the Elders to blast the rocks away so that he and the Guard can stop the hyenas from attacking the zebras.

The Search for Utamu
When Fuli is attacked by Mzingo's Committee, Kion and the rest of the Guard rushes to save her and Kion uses the Roar to drive the attacking vultures away from her.

Paintings and Predictions
After Beshte accidentally knocks a boulder which causes the zebras to run straight into a fast flowing river leading to a waterfall, Kion leaps down onto a nearby tree branch and uses the Roar of the Elders to drive back the water and save the zebras from harm.

Too Many Termites
When Muhanga and Muhangus call Kion about a hyena infestation, Kion uses the Roar to drive aardwolves out of the Pride Lands, believing them to be hyenas. The force of the roar sends them flying into the Outlands.



Janja's New Crew
When Janja accidentally slides down a slippery hill covered in mud, he winds up face to face with the Lion Guard. When Cheezi and Chungu join him and accidentally explain their leader's plan, Kion uses the Roar to force the hyenas back into the Outlands.

Later, Nne and Tano fool the Lion Guard into chasing some sable antelopes while they approach some oryxes. The Lion Guard arrive just in time to stop them and, as the hyenas predict, Kion uses the Roar to force them both back into the Outlands. Nearby, Janja comments that he is, for once, glad to hear the Roar, having been used by his fellow clan members.

Lions of the Outlands
Jasiri asks for Kion's assistance in getting her watering hole back from some lions who have stolen it from them. When he gets there, their leader, Zira, questions why Kion doesn't just use the Roar to give Jasiri the water she needs. Although hesitant, Zira is able to convince Kion to Roar at a cloud, which causes a brief rainstorm. Kion admits that he had no idea that he could do such a thing, and Zira offers to tell him more about the Roar if he follows her in private.

Later, Zira explains that she knew Scar personally and that they were very close. She tells him how Scar told her all about the Roar and its capabilities, and that he lost it when he used the Roar against his fellow lions. When she brings her children, Kovu, Nuka, and Vitani back, she explains to them that Kion is powerless without his Roar, and how he won't use it on them in fear of losing it forever. When the rest of the Guard arrive to save Kion, Bunga insists that Kion uses the Roar to despatch the Outsiders. Kion, however, tells Bunga that he cannot, since that was how Scar lost the Roar. But the honey badger reminds him that's not why Scar lost it, he lost it because he used it for evil. With that in mind, Kion uses the roar on Zira and her pride flinging them to another section of the Outlands.

Never Roar Again
Kion uses the Roar to blast Janja and his clan away from Nala. However, Kion's fury when he roared was so powerful that it rebounded, snapping trees and triggering an earthquake. Kion is evidently horrified by the damage that he has done. He observes the paintings of Scar using the Roar to destroy his Lion Guard and does not use it to move some rocks blocking the giraffes' watering hole or to save a klipspringer stranded on a rock. Instead, he finds different methods.

Makuu hears of this and uses the condition to his advantage, expanding his territory to the Flood Plains now that he no longer has Kion's roar to fear. Kion speaks first to his mother, then Makuu, whose crocodiles pull Nala into the water, using her as a shield. Kion almost unleashes his rage in the form of the Roar, but controls himself, instead of discovering a powerful new way to use the Roar. He directs it in individual waves, avoiding his mother but taking out the surrounding fleet and flinging them away.

Beshte and the Hippo Lanes
While escorting Bupu's Herd to safety, a rock slide on the side of the cliff separates the herd from the Guard. The Lion Guard quickly climb over the rocks. When Bunga assures the herd that Kion has 'got this', Bupu and his herd still refuse to move. Before he can finish his statement to Bunga, Kion uses the Roar of the Elders to blast the rocks away, reopening the pathway for them to continue to the Flood Plains. Although hesitant, Bupu and his herd finally move.

The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar
When the hyenas attack the baboons and the elephants during the Dry Season, Kion uses the Roar of the Elders to send them flying towards the Outlands.

Later, Janja and Ushari discover that they can bring back the evil lion Scar by getting Kion to Roar over the volcano (and by using a Bakora Staff). After luring him into the Outlands by kidnapping his sister, Janja provokes Kion into using the Roar of the Elders in anger over the Outlands' volcano (by threatening to end his family) which causes the volcano to erupt. The Lion Guard leave straight after.

Although their plan to bring back Scar seems to have failed, Janja throws Makini's staff into the volcano in a temper and thus finishes the ritual, summoning Scar.

Swept Away
Kion uses the roar on the patch of the cloud to loosen Thurston's Herd from the mud. But in doing so, it accidentally causes a flood that flushes Beshte to the Outlands.

After the Guard finds Beshte trapped and the hyenas toppling boulders down at him, Kion forces the hyenas to the edge and uses the Roar to fling Janja, Cheezi and Chungu away.

Rafiki's New Neighbors
When dry lightning strikes a fire around a small enclosed area, Kion and the Lion Guard work fast to save the animals inside. After Beshte has knocked down a rock to create a path out, the animals escape, leaving Kion to use his Roar and put out the fire entirely.

Rescue in the Outlands
Although not used, Bunga suggests that Kion uses the Roar over a vent to save Jasiri, Tunu, and Wema. But Fuli reminds him that they too would be blown away by the Roar's power.

The Bite of Kenge
When Kenge, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu try to steal some Tikiti Melons, Bunga and Makini stall them while the rest of the Lion Guard recover from one of Kenge's paralyzing bites. Before Kenge can hurt Bunga or Makini, Kion arrives at the top of Embamba Canyon, where he uses the Roar to send them back to the Outlands while Bunga and Makini hide behind a rock, safe and sound with the melons intact.

The Morning Report
As Kion and the guard rescue Zazu, when he gets captured by Janja and his clan in an attempt to interrogate him for information about Simba. During the fight, Zazu sees that Fuli get cornered by two hyenas and backed up into the lava (unknown to her). The hornbill gets his cage rolling and saves Fuli and almost falls into the lava himself but Kion notices this and uses the Roar on the lava to create a small spot where Zazu's breaks free and flies away to safety.

The Little Guy
After Kiburi and his float are beaten by the Lion Guard and Makuu with help from Hodari, Kion uses the roar to send them flying back to the Outlands, though not before Kiburi warns Makuu that it's not over.

Divide and Conquer
Although not used by Kion, Tamaa impersonates Kion's Roar to distract Reirei's Pack.

The Scorpion's Sting
When surrounded by Scar's army, Kion prepares to use the Roar. Scar warns him of the dangers of using it in a volcano, but the cub replies that he doesn't know as much about the Roar as he thinks. Kion successfully uses the Roar multiple times to escape.

When the vultures attack Makini, the Lion Guard quickly save her, and Kion uses the Roar for the last time that day by sending Mzingo's parliament back into the Outlands.

The Wisdom of Kongwe
The Roar is only mentioned once in this episode.

When Kion and Simba consult with Mufasa on Scar's return, Kion blames himself. As he is about to tell Mufasa how he used the roar in anger again, his Grandfather reminds him that the Roar is a power used for both Good and Evil, seemingly disappointed in him.

Cave of Secrets
The Roar is used by Askari in the paintings in the lair where he used it to douse a burning tree and to keep the evil lions at bay.

The Zebra Mastermind
Tamka and Nduli proceed to use their tails to tickle the Guard's tummies as told by Thurston, but it doesn't take long for Nduli to notice that their plan isn't working. Knowing the reason they're acting strangely, Kion eventually grows tired of their antics and uses the Roar to send them away.

The Hyena Resistance
The Lion Guard arrive in the Outlands to help Jasiri's clan out from Scar's army. Kiburi confronts to Kion that the army refuses to leave without first defeating the Hyena Resistance. However, Kion uses the Roar to send Janja's Clan, Reirei's Pack and Kiburi's Float further away into the Outlands.

Janja, who got knocked by one of Kiburi's members and slips closer to the lava of a steam vent, gets pulled out by Jasiri. When she tells him for his clan to join hers, a speechless Janja hesitates, then dismisses Jasiri's offer and runs off. Shupavu and Njano, who both secretly watched all the time, question about Janja's hesitation and decide to report it back to Scar.

Beshte and the Beast
Ono warns everyone that Scar's army is back in the Pride Lands going after some Sable Antelopes. Kion suggests that they cut through Nyani Grove. Shujaa decides to make a path for them to walk through but he didn't know that baboons live in the trees that he cut down. The baboons start run along with the buffaloes Kion orders Fuli and Beshte to calm them down. Ono moves the Sable Antelopes away from the army and Kion uses his roar to blast the Outlanders away. Shujaa was impressed and thought that Kion's roar was the best thing that he ever saw.

Pride Landers Unite!
Kion gathers an army of Pride landers to help attack the Outlanders. After a huge battle to save Makuu's Watering Hole, Kion uses the roar to blast Scar's army away.

The Fall of Mizimu Grove
After Mizimu Grove was destroyed, Kion uses the roar on the Outlanders to blasts them away.

Fire from the Sky
Kion uses the roar on the vultures after finding out that they're the ones who are dropping fire.

The Day of the Crocodiles
If the reader chooses Fuli's ending, Kion uses the Roar of the Elders to blast away Makuu's Float after rescuing Zuri from them.

The Roar smashes some nearby logs, which end up forming a dam that allows Zuri and the Guard to return home.

Wildfire Emergency
Although not actually used, Kion is about to use the Roar to remove the wildfire. Before he can do so, it starts to rain, and Kion decides to let the Circle of Life take over.

Trivia

 * The roar actually sounds more akin to roars of tigers than lions.
 * The first mention of this ability was in the book Hear Me Roar!.
 * When Kion uses the Roar, he always tells everyone to get behind him. However during Call of the Guard, Bunga is seen standing ahead of Kion as he performs the Roar. This error happens again in Janja's New Crew as the Guard is ahead of Kion when he roars. Both instances should have Bunga being blasted ahead of Kion in the opening, and the Guard being blown ahead of Kion instead of (or along with) Nne and Tano in the episode.