Both Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel Avatar: The Legend of Korra have made a lasting impression on animated television, thanks to their unique concept and intricate characters. What sets the series apart from the rest is its gripping storyline that focuses on people who can manipulate the four elements – fire, water, earth, and air. And of course, you can’t forget the oldest ability to bend energy!
Now, the question arises: which of these bending powers is the strongest out there? Is it airbending? Is it firebending? Or is it a sub-style that takes the crown, instead? Well, while each technique is powerful on its own, we are going to have to give the title of the strongest ability to bloodbending, a sub-skill of waterbending.
Why Bloodbending is Over-Powered in Avatar: The Last Airbender
Bloodbending was first discovered by Hama, a prisoner in the Fire Nation. While Hama was imprisoned, she spent her time mastering the art of bloodbending, practicing on rats in the prison. After she gained confidence, she managed to bring her imprisonment to an end and escaped after killing the guards through bloodbending.
Considered a dark art, only a few have been able to demonstrate the technique. When Hama decides to pass her knowledge on to Katara, another waterbender, the latter refuses due to the immorality of the technique.
Bloodbenders have immense power in their hands including the fact that they can cut off the connection between any bender and their abilities by simply placing a hand on their foreheads. This leads to the bender becoming resistant to any kind of healing. Another ability that makes bloodbending more dangerous than others is Psychic Bloodbending.
Through Psychic Bloodbending, bloodbenders can easily manipulate others telepathically and subdue them. One example of this is when Yakone used psychic bloodbending to control a courtroom despite being in handcuffs. You can imagine just how strong the technique is!
Thanks to its complex nature, only a handful of benders have been able to bloodbend. These are, Hama, Amon, Tarrlok, Yakone, and Katara who couldn’t resist herself from using the technique she was so against when she went to search for the man who killed her mother.
On the other hand, there are also some who were able to resist the powers of bloodbending. The include Korra, Mako, Aang, Amon, and Katara. Katara, Amon, and Aang even managed to end the grip of a bloodbender on them.
Even Bloodbending Has Its Limits
While bloodbending is truly a force to reckon with, it is not completely impossible to fight. There are a few limitations to the power of a bloodbender and the requirement of a full moon is the biggest obstacle. Mostly, the technique can only be done on a full moon night as water benders are at their peak during a full moon. However, in The Legend of Korra, a few bloodbenders could use their abilities with or without a full moon.
While using the ability to control someone’s body, a bloodbender cannot manipulate the victim’s mind, which keeps them aware of everything happening. Due to the fact that bloodbenders cannot alter a bender’s mental state, they are also unable to misuse their victims’ bending abilities. All they can do is stop the bender from using it themselves. The grip of bloodbending can also be resisted or ended when challenged by a waterbender of equal or greater power.
Honestly, if you love animated fantasy action and haven’t watched Avatar yet, this is your sign to start now. You won’t regret it!
Both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are available to stream on Netflix and Paramount+.
