Cole Cole is the black ninja of Earth Minifigure from the Ninjago theme . He is the Ninja former team leader . Cole also had a former fear of dragons , however he conquered it and adopted the Earth Dragon , Rocky , becoming more attached to his dragon than the others . He is the main protagonist of the theme ' s special " Day of the Departed . " Description . Cole appears in seven physical variations ; as a normal ninja , as a DX Ninja , as a Microfigure , as a ZX ninja , Kendo Ninja , an NRG ninja , and in a kimono . As a Ninja Trainee , Cole has the classic ninja wrap , first used in the Ninja theme from 1998 , in Black . Cole ' s face print ( which would normally be covered by the ninja wrap with the exception of his eyes and eyebrows ) , is made up of two black eyes with white pupils , a large frown , and two large , bushy eyebrows . His torso is a black ninja robe with black hands and no back - printing . The printing that is on the front , reveals black clothing under his robes . Also on the torso , is a little golden emblem , which is the Earth emblem in Ninjago . It also appears on Cole ' s spinner . Cole ' s legs in this variation are black with a Dark Stone Grey belt knot pattern printed on the hips and legs . As a DX ninja , Cole uses the same face and headgear as his first variation , but utilizes a special torso and legs combination . Cole ' s DX torso features printing on both the front and back ; on the front , a golden depiction of the Earth Dragon . On the back , the name " Cole " is printed on in gold and the same golden emblem appears below it . On the legs , a different knot tied to his right . Also on the legs , is a continuation of the Earth Dragon design , here the tail is printed . Cole as a microfigure is similar to Cole as a normal ninja but in a smaller scale , and all one piece . As a ZX Ninja , his cowl has a silver visor which resembles the top of the earth dragon design . He still wears mostly black , but in ZX form he also wears silver shoulder armour which can hold two katanas in the back . Cole ' s face is the same as his previous versions . His torso also shows a printed design of some lightweight armour . And on the back is the golden earth dragon symbol , which is absent from the front . Cole ' s torso pattern continues onto his legs . As a Kendo Ninja , he has a mask with white grilles showing part of his face , Samurai armour and his old original black ninja suit . Cole ' s face print is , once again , made up of two black eyes with white pupils , a large frown , and two large , bushy eyebrows . His torso is a black ninja robe with black hands and no back - printing . The printing that is on the front , reveals black clothing under his robes . Also on the torso , is a little golden emblem , which is the Earth emblem in Ninjago . Cole ' s legs in this variation are black with a Dark Stone Grey belt knot pattern printed on the hips and legs . As an NRG Ninja , his head is black with the yellow eyes and streaks depicting his earth energy . His ninja hood has more red markings where the visor would be . His torso and legs have earth red streaking across them , representing his power of Earth . This form is mainly black , except for the streaks and eyes . The gold Ninjago earth symbol also appears on the upper left of his torso . Kimono Cole has a black hood with a silver visor , he has a new torso printing all in black and silver . He has a black belt on , his arms are dark gray , he has black hands , the same face as Cole ZX and has silver marking on his torso . Background . Cole is the leader of the ninja team and is strongest in defence . He claimed to be afraid of no living creature , excluding dragons , but eventually overcame his fear . Cole ' s weapon of choices include the Staff of Dragons , the Scythe of Quakes , the Gold - Bladed Saw Staff , and the Golden Tri - Scythe . Preluding the storyline , Cole was found by Sensei Wu testing his strength by climbing a mountain with no equipment , and was recruited to the Monastery to train along with Jay and Zane to become masters of Spinjitzu . In The Golden Weapon , the three ambushed Kai whom they mistook as an intruder , only to be revealed as Sensei ' s fourth student , the Ninja of Fire . He then sent the newly - formed team of ninja on their quest to defeat Lord Garmadon ' s forces and reclaim the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu , currently being hunted by Samukai and his forces , the Skulkin Army . Accompanied by Wu , the ninja travelled to the Caves of Despair and rescued the Scythe of Quakes , narrowly escaping the skeleton legions and the Earth Dragon protecting the Scythe . In King of Shadows , the ninja head to the Frozen Wastelands to salvage the Shurikens of Ice , and successfully retrieve the Nunchucks of Lightning from the Floating Ruins . Unfortunately , Kai was lead into a trap at the Fire Temple by Garmadon , who made him think his kidnapped sister , Nya , was located within the temple . As Sensei Wu fought his brother , Cole , Jay and Zane were caught by Samukai and tied to a tree , and stole the remaining Golden Weapons . However , Wu sacrificed himself and travelled to the Underworld , along with the Sword of Fire , to prevent the weapons from uniting . Meanwhile , the others were chasing the Skull Truck and trying to retrieve the stolen weapons , only to fail when it travelled to the Underworld . In Weapons of Destiny , Kai and the others recruited the dragons whom protected the weapons and flew to the Underworld , where they defeated the Skulkin by performing the Tornado of Creation . They then found Samukai and Sensei Wu fighting within Garmadon ' s throne room , where Samukai was vaporized by the power of all four golden weapons . This caused a portal to open into an alternative , netherworldly dimension into which Garmadon escaped through , planning on growing strong enough to possess the four weapons upon his return . Having defeated Garmadon ' s plans , the team returns to the Surface World of Ninjago , where they are renounced as heroes throughout the land . Cole also appears in the mini - episodes Flight of the Dragon Ninja , in which he takes part , and wins , in a race around Ninjago against his fellow ninja . He also appears briefly in The New Masters of Spinjitzu , but more prominently in An Underworldly Takeover , in which he questions Sensei about how Garmadon took control of the Underworld Skulkin army . The Green Ninja . In Rise of the Snakes , Cole follows the other ninjas to Jamonicai village after the report of Lord Garmadon ' s return . After discovering that it was only Lloyd Garmadon , Garmadons son , he and the others left him to the villagers . When they discover the scroll that prophesies of the Green Ninja , he tells them to ignore it . Nevertheless , he fights Zane in the dojo to determine the Green Ninja . After Sensei Wu broke up the fight , the ninjas go to Jamonicai village to see the report of the serpentine return . During the impending battle , Skales hypnotizes Cole . But before he can be fully entranced , Nya kicked Skales and he ran off . Afterwards , Skales reveals that he can now see what Cole sees , and Cole ' s eyes turn red when Skales does so . In Home , he and the other ninjas make fun of Zane for his odd behaviour , such as going into the bathroom when Cole is still in . Cole and the others make fun of him when he wears a pink apron , something they find funny . The next day , he follows Zane to the treehouse of Lloyd , not convinced a bird showed him . Once they arrive , they began to sever the ties to the treehouse . But before Cole could cut it , Skales fully entranced him and pitched him against the other ninjas as a distraction . After being beaten by Jay , he goes to destroy the treehouse , and the ninjas . But Sensei Wu and Nya fly in on the Fire Dragon and de - hypnotize him . After they return home to the ruined monastery , he unleashes the dragons and yells at Zane , and when Zane leaves he cooks a underground creature . After they find Zane and the new ship , he follows the other ninja and runs toward the boat . In The Royal Blacksmiths , Cole reveals that his father is a Royal Blacksmith because he recognized the Fang blade as part of a talent show trophy called the blade cup , which his father had won several times . He then reveals that his father believes that he is a student at a dance school . The ninjas then visit Cole ' s father . Cole knocks on his father ' s door at which he angrily tells him to ring the bell . Cole does and his father welcomes them in . After a series of comical events , his father believes that the ninjas are there to replace his quartet . while training for the talent show , Cole ' s father reveals that when Cole was seven he failed to complete a move called the triple tiger sash ( a move so difficult no one had ever successfully completed ) . At the competition Cole discusses their plan to steal the cup . Cole ' s father overhears this and is shocked that his son was going to steal the prized trophy . Cole then reveals that he is a ninja . His dad goes away extremely disappointed . Cole then decides that they were not going to steal the trophy but win it . They change the name of their group from " The Royal Blacksmiths " to " Spin Harmony " . They perform spinjitzu to the theme song . During the act Cole successfully performs the triple tiger sash . The ninjas get tens from the first two judges and 0 from Pythor ( who had swallowed the real judge ) but the real judge sticks his arm out and wrote a 1 next to the 0 making it a 10 . All the ninjas celebrate , all that is except for Cole who doesn ' t think his father saw him . His dad reappears and is very proud of his son , not for dancing , but for fighting . Pythor then appears , and orders several Constrictai to drop studio equipment on Cole and his father . Cole then unlocks his true potential , by lifting the debris , saving his father . In All of Nothing , Cole goes with the ninja to the Serpentine Fortress for the Fangblades . There , he gets more into dancing and uses the " Triple Tiger Sashe " as a fighting move against Skalidor . During the fight , however , he is impassioned by Snake - like chains rushing to the Fangblade . Also , he plays checkers with Jay , and nicknames Kai ' s escape attempt . He is then last seen where he takes the Fangblades from Pythor P . Chumsworth . He appears again in Rise of the Great Devourer when he saves Sensei Wu from the lava in Torch Fire Mountain . He also reveals he hates metaphors . He is also seen driving his Tread Assault vehicle towards the Serpentine Truck , and uses it to blast Skales off of it . In Day of the Great Devourer , he gets gleeful seeing Rocky finally return . The Final Battle . In the episode Child ' s Play , he and the other ninja are turned into kids by The Mega Weapon when trying to prevent Garmadon from bringing to life a Grundal fossil , much to Cole ' s dismay , as he had hated being a kid . Later , the ninjas attempt to use Illuma - Swords ( which , oddly , resemble lightsabers ) to defeat the Grundal , but are unsuccessful . Sensei Wu brings them a tea that turns forward the clock , turning him and the other ninjas older again . This also included Lloyd , who is now taller and has new hair . Lloyd then defeats the Grundal , and he and the other ninjas are saved . In Wrong Place , Wrong Time , Cole is helping to train Lloyd . He and the other ninja head to the city and arrive at night . While Fang - Suei works on the Fangpyre truck , Sensei Wu and the Ninja confront Lord Garmadon . Fang - Suei , Chokun , and Mezmo battle the heroes with their power tools . When the time portal opens , Sensei Wu tells the four Ninja to save the past and preserve the future . The four Ninja jump into the portal and land in a muddy rice field , not far from Four Weapons in the episode , Way of the Ninja . After Past Sensei Wu leaves the shop , the four Ninja tell him about their situation . Later , Cole hides so that he can kidnap Nya , along with Jay and Zane . Then Cole helps use the Scythe of Quakes to hurl the Mega Weapon into space . The Stone Army starts when the ninja are awoken by their alarm clock . Later , Cole helps to fight the Stone Warriors . One stone warrior keeps the ninja running away . They stop inside a large room and close the doors , and as the Stone Warrior begins to break it down Lloyd suddenly comes up with a plan and tells the Ninja to distract it , which Cole helps do . In The Day Ninjago Stood Still , Cole is helping to train Lloyd to fight without using his eyes . Later , in Ninjago City , the Ninja save a woman who was trapped by the collapsing street . Sensei Wu tells the Ninja to gather everyone to an evacuation point to be picked up by the Destiny ' s Bounty , which the only suitable evacuation point was the roof of the NTV office building . The citizens all head to the building while the Ninja hold off the Stone Warriors using the Ultra Sonic Raider and the Ultra Dragon . The Last Voyage sees the Ninja use the " Bounty " to travel to the Dark Island , only to find Zane ' s father Dr . Julien and face a Leviathan along the way . Island of Darkness sees the Ninja search for and locate the Temple of Light , which grants Lloyd enhanced powers and restores the Elemental Powers of Cole and his three peers . In The Last Hope they attempt to halt the final battle before it begins , only for Nya to be captured . In Return of the Overlord the Ninja are forced to fight a corrupted Nya while Garmadon turns the same process against Ninjago , allowing the Overlord to take possession of his body . Rise of the Spinjitzu Master finds the Ninja returning to Ninjago to face off with the Overlord , with Lloyd finally defeating him after Cole and Jay are temporarily corrupted . Rebooted . The Surge revisited the Ninja some time after the defeat of the Overlord , finding them all - except Lloyd - working as teachers at Sensei Wu ' s Academy . While visiting Cyrus Borg , the Ninja obtained new outfits and the Techno - blades from him prior to discovering that the Overlord had returned as a computer virus . They then fled the city after the arrival of Lloyd , though Wu remained behind and was captured . In The Art of the Silent Fist the Ninja join forces with the reformed Garmadon , and are forced to contend with the Overlord ' s new Nindroids . Nya also begins to wonder whether she ' s more interested in a relationship with Cole than with Jay . Blackout finds the Ninja taking refuge in Ed and Edna Walker ' s junkyard , with Jay becoming furious with Cole after learning that Nya may be more interested in him . The two are later trapped in a trash compactor due to fighting and later freed by Nya . The Curse of the Golden Master finds the group traveling underground to find the Serpentine after identifying a new ally of the Overlord ' s is a member of that species , and eventually learn that their old foe Pythor has returned . In Enter the Digiverse the Ninja enter Cyrus Borg ' s computer system to delete the Digital Overlord , and despite achieving a victory fail to stop him from achieving a weakened physical form . Possession . Following the Tournament of Elements Cole joins his fellow Ninja in working at Wu ' s new tea farm in Winds of Change , only to find their powers lost after Lloyd is possessed by Wu ' s former student Morro . Ghost Story reveals that Morro is searching for the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master , with the Ninja setting out to find their old adversary Ronin to obtain the Scroll of Airjitzu , the first of three clues to the tomb ' s location . They engage Wrayth in battle only for him to disappear after being doused with water . In Stiix and Stones the Ninja find Ronin - who also has the Blade Cup - and after failing to make the money needed to pay him for the scroll reluctantly follow Jay ' s plan to steal it from Ronin . Following a confrontation with Morro and his ghosts that sees Morro obtaining the scroll , Kai is able to learn of an alternate means of learning Airjitzu from Ronin in exchange for the Ninjas ' shares in the tea farm . The Temple on Haunted Hill finds the Ninja visiting the haunted Temple of Airjitzu in order to learn Airjitzu from Sensei Yang ; they succeed , but Yang ' s curse turns Cole into a ghost . In Peak - a - Boo the Ninja use their mechs to travel up the Wailing Alps in pursuit of Morro , with Cole initially struggling until he begins to accept and take advantage of his new ghost abilities . Kingdom Come finds the Ninja battling Morro in the Cloud Kingdom in order to obtain the Sword of Sanctuary , the second of the three clues to the tomb ' s location . The Crooked Path finds the Ninja robbed of the Sword by Ronin , and then lured into a trap in the Caves of Despair only for Ronin ' s R . E . X . vehicle to save them and take them to the tomb . In Grave Danger the Ninja enter the tomb and find crystal walls that foretell the future in their reflections , only for Cole to not cast one despite Ghosts doing so . They then engage Morro and lose the Realm Crystal but recover Lloyd and their powers . In Curseworld , Part I and Curseworld , Part II , the Ninja travel back to Stiix to confront Morro ' s forces after receiving new vehicles from Cyrus Borg . Cole later sacrifices his new bike in a futile attack on The Preeminent , but then watches as Nya unlocks her true potential as the Water Ninja and defeats the queen of the Cursed Realm once and for all . Day of the Departed . In Day of the Departed , Cole ' s ghostly condition worsens , and the fear this causes leads him to steal the Yin Blade and confront Sensei Yang in search of revenge . Doing so plays right into Yang ' s hands , allowing him to bring back several foes of the Ninja to attack Cole ' s teammates while he is held prisoner . After escaping his guard , whom he dubs " Chuck " , Cole faces Yang ' s students in a grueling battle and finally manages to defeat them . He then confronts Yang , and despite being badly weakened manages to muster the power to destroy the Yin Blade and free Yang ' s students , who then pass through Yang ' s Rift of Return to regain human form . After helping Yang see that he will be remembered due to inventing Airjitzu , he attempts to bring the Sensei through the Rift only to learn that one ghost must remain . Yang then allows Cole to pass through , returning him to human form while the Temple of Airjitzu is restored to its former glory , prompting Cole to suggest that the Ninja move into it as a new base . The Hands of Time . The Hands of Time finds Cole and the other Ninja helping out at the Ninjago Museum of History , with Cole still getting used to being physical again . A temporal disruption leads the Ninja to the old monastery , where they engage Acronix in battle before saving Wu from falling to his death . Appearances . 2011 : 2012 : 2013 : 2014 : 2015 : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 :