Exploring the Evolution of Bending Styles in Avatar and Legend of Korra

In the vast and intricate world of Avatar and Legend of Korra, benders have undergone significant changes in techniques and frequency of use. While the basic principles of bending remain the same, the advanced era brought by Legend of Korra has seen the rise of new bending abilities and more common use of existing ones. This article delves into the differences and advancements in the bending styles, focusing on the introduction of new sub-bending abilities and the evolution of existing ones.

New Bending Abilities in Legend of Korra

The bending in Legend of Korra is far more advanced due to the era it takes place in, which is further from the time of the Avatar. Many new sub-bending abilities have been introduced that were barely used in the original series. These include:

Lightning Bending: Previously exclusive to Fire Nation royalty, it is now common among day laborers skilled in the technique. Metal Bending: A rare ability previously used only by Toph Beifong, it is now a common training skill in the Republic City police department. Blood Bending: Earlier confined to a few individuals like Hama and Katara, it is now more widely used, with Amon being considered the strongest practitioner. Lava Bending: An ability previously only known to Avatar Kyoshi, it has now been mastered by Bolin as a subset of Earthbending.

Commonality and Proficiency

In Legend of Korra, notable characters like Lin Beifong demonstrate a high level of proficiency in their respective bending styles. Lin, daughter of Toph, is one of the best metalbenders in the city and has also inherited her mother's sonic bending abilities. This reflects the higher prevalence of these abilities in the era following the Avatar.

Broader Use of Bending Abilities

The prevalence of niche bending styles has led to significant advancements in core bending disciplines. For example, a new style of Earthbending practiced on light agile feet has been developed, which contrasts with the older methods that relied on solid, immovable techniques. This evolution in bending styles has resulted in modern benders being more dangerous on average compared to their predecessors of the same experience level.

Mako: A skilled Lightning bender, Mako's proficiency in his technique would seem shocking and dangerous if introduced into the earlier timeline. As an orphan with limited formal training, he demonstrates an advanced skill level that would be considered legendary among Fire Nation benders. Bolin: Known for his Earthbending, Bolin has also mastered Lava Bending, a key ability previously exclusive to the Avatar. His ability to perform this skill without sacrificing agility and mobility would be highly disconcerting to benders of the Ozai-era timeline. Lin Beifong: As one of the top metalbenders in the Republic City police force, her capabilities would be akin to that of a god to benders of the earlier era, capable of performing feats impossible to even the most advanced Earthbenders.

Conclusion

The bending styles in Avatar and Legend of Korra have seen significant evolution, with new abilities and the commonality of existing ones. The era of Legend of Korra has led to a proliferation of novel techniques and an increase in skill proficiency. This has not only changed the landscape of bending but also created a new generation of benders capable of advanced and dangerous feats.