Avatar Airbender: Most Powerful Element?

[Mr Light]

For those of you who've seen the series, what do you think is the most powerful element?

I say Earth. Toph was absolutely bad ass with her Earth bending, not even counting metal bending. And the battle with the Earth King's guard in "The Earth King" was probably the most amazing battle they ever did.

I say in a one on one battle, the Earth bender wins. They can just raise a wall to stop any fire attacks.

I'd rank them Earth > Fire > Water > Air

Actually Air bending is pretty useless in a real battle, it's more for evasion than actual combat.

 

[Chris3123]

I say Earth. Toph was absolutely bad ass with her Earth bending, not even counting metal bending.

Speaking of bending outside the box, don't forget about blood-bending for the water benders.

Anyway, as far as potential is concerned, I say Fire wins. Remember the lightning attacks? That's some crazy stuff.

 

[Skywalker]

Water.

Bloodbending. Game over.

 

[Mr Light]

Blood bending is a super sub set like metal bending, though, can you really count it?

 

[Chris3123]

Water.

Bloodbending. Game over.

While that could give a waterbender a very good advantage in a fight, it's definitely not as powerful as a lighting attack from an experienced firebender.

 

[Skywalker]

An experienced firebender can't create lightning if someone else is controlling his body.

 

[RoJoHen]

I've gotta go with water. While fire may have the greatest destructive potential, it is too hard to control. A skilled Waterbender can even use the element to heal wounds!

 

[Hound of UIster]

I thought the lesson was that none were the "strongest" and each had drawbacks and advantages, which was why the Avatar was the most powerful because he could control all four elements.

 

[Thestral]

I thought the lesson was that none were the "strongest" and each had drawbacks and advantages, which was why the Avatar was the most powerful because he could control all four elements.

Ding ding ding!

Properly utilized, they're all extremely powerful. They're just very different in their applications and strategies.

 

[SG-17]

Water.

Bloodbending. Game over.

Bloodbending, along with metalbending, both require specific circumstances.
1. Bloodbending requires a Full Moon (as well only two benders know it, and I doubt Katara will be teaching it anytime soon).
2. Metalbending requires physical contact with the metal (and only Toph and Aang have the necessary skill, vibrational awareness, to perform it).

Lightningbending on the other hand can be performed by any firebender (during any time of the year) who can separate their yin and yang and exhibit peace of mind. While it may also be a rarity, it is more prevalent than any of the two above mentioned techniques.

 

[Mr Light]

Was Aang able to metal bend?

 

[Anwar]

If you weren't strong enough in airbending, wouldn't you be able to suck the air right out of peoples' lungs or suck all the air away from a firebender so there's nothing combustible in the air as well?

Seems air is pretty good if you can master it to that extent.

 

[Mr Light]

I wonder what the ultra-variant form of air bending would be? Lightning... Metal bending... blood bending... ???

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I thought the lesson was that none were the "strongest" and each had drawbacks and advantages, which was why the Avatar was the most powerful because he could control all four elements.

I think that's ultimately true of one who has complete mastery of their element.

However, I think in general, fire tends to be easier to find the offensive capabilities and earth the defensive. I think fire offers a lot of quick bang for the buck as a low level practitioner can hurl simple fireballs with ease. I think earth on the other hand rewards the user with skill and imagination but isn't as useful to a low level user.

 

[milo bloom]

I wonder what the ultra-variant form of air bending would be? Lightning... Metal bending... blood bending... ???

Breath-bending? Pull the air out of their lungs, or if you're really good pull all the air out of their bloodstream through their pores.

While I agree that each has their advantages and disadvantages, earthbending just seems like more of an all-around ability. I can see a skilled bender using it very easily for offense and defense, while the other three seem to favor either off. or def. in a more unbalanced manner.

 

[FreezeC77]

I'd have to go against Earth because you could cancel out Earth's abilities if you're out at sea. You can't really do that with any of the other elements. Water can pull water/moisture from the air(and then bloodbending if you go that route).

I'd lean towards water being the strongest if you are able to master the various subsets of it.

Of course if you carry around "dirt" with you then you cancel out the sea effects somewhat. Kind of like Gaara in the Naruto manga/anime carries around sand in a large gourd on his back for manipulating sand.

 

[bigdaddy]

I say none because they are all supposed to work together in peace and... blah blah blah....

Fire. They did a pretty good job winning a war for 100 years and killing off the airbenders.

I can't wait for the sequel series.

 

[JoeZhang]

So how does this bending occur? Do benders have to lay hands on each other or maybe grapple? Do they have to have flesh on flesh contact?

 

[Myasishchev]

I say Earth. Toph was absolutely bad ass with her Earth bending, not even counting metal bending.

Speaking of bending outside the box, don't forget about blood-bending for the water benders.

I watched the movie recently for a Rifftrax's sake, and I kept saying: "the human body's mostly water--stop their circulation, freeze the water inside their brains, or pull the water out of their eyes." Good to know the most obvious application of controlling water isn't overlooked in the no-doubt superior source material, which I should watch at some point.

I wonder what the ultra-variant form of air bending would be? Lightning... Metal bending... blood bending... ???

Vacuum energy bending.

 

[T J]

So how does this bending occur? Do benders have to lay hands on each other or maybe grapple? Do they have to have flesh on flesh contact?

Were I British, I do believe I'd be giggling my ass off right now!

In the end I'd have to go with water. Sure, earth is impressive but water can choke out a planet, it's happened here a couple times.