Legend Of Korra: Will It Bend!

[Hiro Protagonest]

Alright, so each character has effectively soloed a match. Now hopefully we'll see their teamwork against the Wolfbats.

Just wait until they start discussing matches that haven't happened yet and that we won't see.

I felt like the "Fire Ferrets go up against their evil twins who suddenly appeared out of a mysterious portal" thing was very out of place. This is Avatar, not Dr. Mcninja.

[Sith_Happens]

So, I think that this sort of goes in this thread but I'm not entirely sure... Can't think of anywhere else to put it.

You see, I recently discovered a Facebook page called "Sokka Of Dat Water Tribe," which among other things has been posting a particular image macro that I think deserves to be introduced to the wider Internet. I call it "Sokka Puns."

Here's the template:

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And here are some choice examples:

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[BRC]

So you know how most of the elements have a Subschool: Firebending has lightning, Waterbending has healing/bloodbending, Earth has Metalbending, but Air lacks one.

Well, I think I figured out what Airbending's "Subschool" would be, and why it's never used: Breathbending.
Think about it, if a waterbender can hold back water to create a bubble of air (Allowing people to walk underwater), then what if an Airbender did something similar. Bending air away from their opponent until they suffocate. heck, they could literally steal somebody's breath by pulling the air out of their lungs.

It's an effective, horrifying technique, and one that fits well within the confines of airbending. There is no defense against it besides either being an airbender yourself or being able to hold your breath longer than the Air bender can keep oxygen away from you.

It's also something that the peace-loving air nomads would never, ever do, and (Wild speculation here), can kind of account for the extreme pacifism of Airbender culture. This is something that an Airbender could conceivably stumble upon themselves, except that no Airbender in their right mind would think of it, because it's a technique with no real application besides killing somebody (I suppose you could suffocate them until they pass out, but unless you're very good at predicting how long somebody can last, it would be very easy to kill them without meaning to). What if the pacifism of Airbender culture was, at least in part, a way to stop themselves from becoming a race of breath-stealing assassins.

[Morph Bark]

I think that would require a very powerful bender though, as bending ALL of the air away would either require something else to fill it in, or create a vacuum. What COULD be done though, would be that an Airbender could bend the air straight out of someone's lungs, just like how Katara and the old crazy lady were able to Bloodbend during the full moon.

[Randomguy]

Yeah, but if they could do it, they'd probably need a power boost, just like waterbenders can only bloodbend in the full moon. I recall airbenders get stronger when it's windier, so they'd only be able to do it during really strong winds, in which case it would be easier to knock them unconscious (or worse) with an airbending slice. We know it's possible; Aang blew up a few sand ships with airbending.

[thubby]

in theory an air bender should be able to create lightning.

[Seerow]

in theory an air bender should be able to create lightning.

Lightning really would have made more sense as an airbender's special thing than firebenders. I also would have liked to see Healing moved over to fire, because Waterbending seems a bit overloaded in terms of nice things, and it gives a balance to Firebending, yes Fire is a source of destruction, but it is also a force of life, fire cleanses.

I can understand why they did it the way they did for story purposes, but meh.

[LordShotGun]

Wait....I thought energy bending WAS the subschool of airbending. Considering that air nomads were the most spiritual of the elemental nations and since all the masters had died, the lion turtle was the only person that knew of that ability and how to do it.

Is there any source that states that energy bending is avatar only? I couldn't find it on the Avatar wiki.

[Kobold-Bard]

Wait....I thought energy bending WAS the subschool of airbending. Considering that air nomads were the most spiritual of the elemental nations and since all the masters had died, the lion turtle was the only person that knew of that ability and how to do it.

Is there any source that states that energy bending is avatar only? I couldn't find it on the Avatar wiki.

After Amon's rally, when Korra tells him about Amon Tenzin says only the Avatar can take someone's bending away.

Also the Lion Turtle says Energybending comes from a time before elemental bending. It's a sort of supreme skill above elemental bending, not a subschool of it.

[LordShotGun]

After Amon's rally, when Korra tells him about Amon Tenzin says only the Avatar can take someone's bending away.

Also the Lion Turtle says Energybending comes from a time before elemental bending. It's a sort of supreme skill above elemental bending, not a subschool of it.

Ah, I must have missed that part. I think I was eating when I watched that particular episode.

[planswalker]

After Amon's rally, when Korra tells him about Amon Tenzin says only the Avatar can take someone's bending away.

clearly, though, Tenzin is wrong, unless Amon is AlSO the avatar. That being said, see my spoiler below.

Also the Lion Turtle says Energybending comes from a time before elemental bending. It's a sort of supreme skill above elemental bending, not a subschool of it.

this, though is an excellent point. Personally, I think the answer is that if there is any sort of subschool for airbending, it was lost when the air nomads were wiped out. Aang was too busy with being the avatar to bother developing new airbending techniques and Tenzin is far too rigid to do the kind of forward thinking that sort of research would require. IF a subschool is to be (re)discovered, I doubt it will happen before Tenzin's kids grow up, at the earliest.

on a tangental note, a prediction about who Amon is:

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Aang's other other child, the one who was not a bender. He had no elemental bending but has an affinity for energybending. He grew up jealous of his bending siblings, especially Tenzin. Somehow, he tricked Aang into teaching him enough of the energybending concepts that he figured the rest out on his own. That vision/flashback thing at the end of episode four is my primary evidence for it. The details as far as I know them support this theory pretty soundly.

pre-episode four, my thought was that he'd be revealed to be a grandchild of fire lord Ozai out for revenge.

[JCarter426]

in theory an air bender should be able to create lightning.

Lightning really would have made more sense as an airbender's special thing than firebenders.

I don't see how. We're not entirely sure how lightning is formed, but most theories involve particles of ice... so it probably has nothing to do with air.

Fire, on the other hand, is made of the same stuff lightning is: plasma. So grouping the two makes sense to me. And it works in a pseudoscience kind of way: firebenders moves energy from one place to another, taking heat from their bodies, which in turn comes from the sun or a comet or whatever, and sending it out of their bodies in the form of fire; lightningbending works by creating an imbalance of energy, causing it to flow from one place to another in the form of lightning, to restore the balance. It also works better thematically, since fire and earth are the two physically powerful forms of bending, while air and earth are more flexible.

I also would have liked to see Healing moved over to fire, because Waterbending seems a bit overloaded in terms of nice things, and it gives a balance to Firebending, yes Fire is a source of destruction, but it is also a force of life, fire cleanses.

I can understand why they did it the way they did for story purposes, but meh.

Well as I said, fire is more about direct power, water is more flexible. Plus, waterbending's strengths are countered by some seriously severe restrictions: 1.) While the Earth is mostly water, the part we live on isn't, and 2.) it draws strength from the moon, so it's weaker during the day and presumably doesn't work at all during a lunar eclipse (the more common kind).

And again, I think healing makes better sense with water; the body is mostly made of water. If it makes you feel better, look at it as another kind of bloodbending, so water gets one specialization and not two.

After Amon's rally, when Korra tells him about Amon Tenzin says only the Avatar can take someone's bending away.

He doesn't say that; he says only the Avatar has ever demonstrated such an ability.

[Jaros]

I always thought airbenders don't have a subschool because airbending is already cool enough. Awwwww yeeaaah.

[Absol197]

I've always considered Air's subschool to be soundbending. All sound really is is tiny pressure waves of air. An airbender with good control should be able to create specific sounds using their bending, or at least augment or decrease exisiting sounds.

In fact, in The Firebending Masters, when Aang and Zuko are stuck in the goop after trying to steal the egg-thing, Aang shouts, "Help!" rather loudly. It could just be a comic exaggeration, especially since his face kind of contorts cartoonishly at that moment, but it could have been a form of soundbending.

[JCarter426]

I've always considered Air's subschool to be soundbending. All sound really is is tiny pressure waves of air. An airbender with good control should be able to create specific sounds using their bending, or at least augment or decrease exisiting sounds.

I agree. I've actually used this idea in a couple things, one in which sirens were basically airbenders.

[thubby]

I don't see how. We're not entirely sure how lightning is formed, but most theories involve particles of ice... so it probably has nothing to do with air.

it's static electricity on a grand scale. an air bender could, in theory, create the necessary currents.

on another note. non avatars can spirit bend. the lion turlte could, and he says "we", telling us there are others.
amon probably is too, but ill say that skepticism is warranted.

[Xondoure]

I've always considered Air's subschool to be soundbending. All sound really is is tiny pressure waves of air. An airbender with good control should be able to create specific sounds using their bending, or at least augment or decrease exisiting sounds.

In fact, in The Firebending Masters, when Aang and Zuko are stuck in the goop after trying to steal the egg-thing, Aang shouts, "Help!" rather loudly. It could just be a comic exaggeration, especially since his face kind of contorts cartoonishly at that moment, but it could have been a form of soundbending.

Well in that case shouldn't Earthbenders and Waterbenders get sound bending as well? I mean, they could manipulate vibrations in their element and then release that into the air. And if they just needed to transfer sound directly through earth/water they'd be a fair amount better at it than air benders.

[JCarter426]

it's static electricity on a grand scale. an air bender could, in theory, create the necessary currents.

Yes, but static electricity isn't caused by moving air around. It's caused by moving electrons around. Airbending can't do that. There are a number of things that can do that, but I don't believe wind is one of them. Fire actually is one; particularly thick ash clouds can cause lightning... but that's not how lightningbending is portrayed in the series, so never mind that.

Well in that case shouldn't Earthbenders and Waterbenders get sound bending as well? I mean, they could manipulate vibrations in their element and then release that into the air. And if they just needed to transfer sound directly through earth/water they'd be a fair amount better at it than air benders.

Eh that's a good point. However, seismic sense should also work with air and water, in theory. So I guess my answer is... yes, they probably could do that, but it's not as easy with those particular elements. Earth is the element of stability, so detecting changes in earth is easier than detecting it in water or air, which are more flexible; likewise, sound passes more easily through air than water or earth, so airbending has a natural affinity with it.

[thubby]

Yes, but static electricity isn't caused by moving air around. It's caused by moving electrons around. Airbending can't do that. There are a number of things that can do that, but I don't believe wind is one of them. Fire actually is one; particularly thick ash clouds can cause lightning... but that's not how lightningbending is portrayed in the series, so never mind that.

the electrons in the cloud are moved by friction caused by air currents.
come on, work with me here!

[JCarter426]

the electrons in the cloud are moved by friction caused by air currents.
come on, work with me here!

Bah, that's not- bah!

Well in that case shouldn't Earthbenders and Waterbenders get sound bending as well? I mean, they could manipulate vibrations in their element and then release that into the air. And if they just needed to transfer sound directly through earth/water they'd be a fair amount better at it than air benders.

Eh that's a good point. However, seismic sense should also work with air and water, in theory. So I guess my answer is... yes, they probably could do that, but it's not as easy with those particular elements. Earth is the element of stability, so detecting changes in earth is easier than detecting it in water or air, which are more flexible; likewise, sound passes more easily through air than water or earth, so airbending has a natural affinity with it.

[dehro]

After Amon's rally, when Korra tells him about Amon Tenzin says only the Avatar can take someone's bending away.

Tenzin might not be the final authority on this. there may be things he just doesn't know/wasn't told.

clearly, though, Tenzin is wrong, unless Amon is AlSO the avatar. That being said, see my spoiler below.

on the other hand, we've been over this.
Amon is never shown energybending. all we see him do is using chi-blocking techniques.

[BRC]

Tenzin might not be the final authority on this. there may be things he just doesn't know/wasn't told.

As far as I know, the only living record of Energybending in Korra's time is Aang taking Ozai's bending away. The only person they know of who could Energybend was the Avatar, but that does not mean that only the Avatar can energybend.

on the other hand, we've been over this.
Amon is never shown energybending. all we see him do is using chi-blocking techniques.

Point of order: We have seen Amon doing something that took people's bending away. It may be some sort of Energybending without the light show or it may be super chi-blocking. It's not exactly like the Energybending Aang did (No light show), but it's similar (he touches in the same places) and seems to have the same effect (no more bending).

It's possible we HAVE seen Amon energybending. It's also possible we've seen him do something that looks like energybending but isn't. I wouldn't go out there and say we've "Only seen him use chi-blocking techniques".

[Madara]

What if we treat chi-blocking like bending.

Earthbending:Metalbending(badgermoles)
Waterbending:Bloodbending/Healing
Airbending:????(Skybison)
Firebending:Lightning(Dragons)
Chi-blocking:Energy Bending(Spirits/other animals such as the Lionturtle)


In the case of the above, all bending types come from their original animal. So, if energybending was taught to humans originally, it could have become weaker and watered down over time? Meaning that Amnon went back and learned it from the originals, rather than just the Chi-Blocking.

[Soras Teva Gee]

As I said earlier, I'm perfectly happy with how it's depicted in the show, along with its design compromises and inaccuracies.

It's when people start extrapolating and drawing incorrect conclusions due to not realising that these design flaws/differences are there, that I have issue with*.

*Well, not until they start them in capability arguments over the internet.

From my perspective its the persp. There aren't because the show is in no way required to obey anything from our reality. While clearly elements are borrowed from here you cannot use that to call anything in-universe innaccurate.

I mean heck right off the bat we can throw 3000 years of Chinese tradition out the door with a simple problem... there are only four elements.

So to return to topic (again) while armor can stop someone from tapping pressure points all you want this means precisely and exactly squat when it comes to chi-blocking. Doesn't mean armor is meaningless, but barring clear failure it remains an open question.

My problem is you have tried to use IRL logic to write the show before its been established. As we still have a good chance that for example an Equalist will fight a metalbender cop... doesn't seem wise in my book.

So you know how most of the elements have a Subschool: Firebending has lightning, Waterbending has healing/bloodbending, Earth has Metalbending, but Air lacks one.

Well, I think I figured out what Airbending's "Subschool" would be, and why it's never used: Breathbending.

Not sure that's distinct enough, air in your lungs is still air after all. If one can create a sufficiently low pressure area you'd choke people automatically. Suck air out the lungs and all.

Interesting idea though.

[BRC]

Not sure that's distinct enough, air in your lungs is still air after all. If one can create a sufficiently low pressure area you'd choke people automatically. Suck air out the lungs and all.

Interesting idea though.

Well Metalbending and Bloodbending work under similar principles. Metalbenders bend the impurities in metal, and Bloodbending bends the water in a human (or any) body.

Speaking of Metalbending, Toph was able to figure out metalbending because of her Tremorsense trick. Does that mean that all Metalbenders have Tremorsense?

Because if so I could imagine Metalbending cops using smoke grenades or dust clouds during raids, then using their tremorsense to locate and incapacitate targets.

Also, have we seen Chi-Blockers going up against anybody wearing proper armor? We saw Tai Li take out the Terra Team and Azula, but IIRC their armor ended at the torso, and she was able to target their relatively unarmored limbs.

The Chi-Blockers tried to take down Korra in her taskforce armor, but I don't think they ever actually landed a blow.

[JCarter426]

Well Metalbending and Bloodbending work under similar principles. Metalbenders bend the impurities in metal, and Bloodbending bends the water in a human (or any) body.

Metalbending isn't really the proper specialization though, it's seismic sense. And healing is significantly different. But of course it's still going to be earthbending or waterbending.

Speaking of Metalbending, Toph was able to figure out metalbending because of her Tremorsense trick. Does that mean that all Metalbenders have Tremorsense?

Because if so I could imagine Metalbending cops using smoke grenades or dust clouds during raids, then using their tremorsense to locate and incapacitate targets.

Possibly. She teaches it to Aang, though we never see him metalbend.

[Fjolnir]

Air gets Super speed Aang shows it off fairly frequently...

[Hiro Protagonest]

Air gets Super speed Aang shows it off fairly frequently...

Firebenders can create explosive forces to speed them along too.

Waterbenders can do the same thing airbenders can if they're in water (admittedly, that's more limited).

Toph could create a rolling hill.

[thubby]

the fact that chi-blockers use smoke as a standard tactic makes me think metalcops dont necessarily have tremorsense. some of them probably do though.

like running the 4 minute mile, metal bending may have simply been a matter of no one knowing they could.

[Fjolnir]

Firebenders can create explosive forces to speed them along too.

Waterbenders can do the same thing airbenders can if they're in water (admittedly, that's more limited).

Toph could create a rolling hill.

Aang runs up walls and over water from dry land, among other things, the only time we see firebending and extreme speed is during Sozin's comet, when Ozai jetpacks around with his fists...