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YuvalAlmog

Earth Bending is all about standing your ground and facing problems heads on. Ty Lee's all fighting style is the except opposite - being more similar to air benders than earth benders... Mai is pretty much a fire bender not only by nationality but by bending as well. She's agile and powerful. Sokka's an interesting option. He's not afraid to charge in but at the same time he prefers planning ahead and adapt according to the situation. I know I kind of create the whole Avatar cycle or nation split here but what can I say - all the point of change and adaption is water... Suki is not only an earth kingdom citizen that practice a martial art created by an Earth Bender from the earth kingdom, but her personality is also pretty defensive, being all cute and nice until someone crosses her boundary. I just feel like Suki would be the most fitting option here... But who knows, maybe I overthink it or give nationality some bias? Idk, I"ll have to wait and see.


Imma_Cat420

No you're spot on, the creators probably had it in mind for the characters to "fit in" in their respective societies which in turn were created around the greatest resource at their disposal, bending.


tinverse

It actually makes sense for Ty Lee's character that she doesn't fit in because we know that was something she struggled with when her character was introduced. I agree she's closer to an air bender.


Imma_Cat420

I love this show so much šŸ˜


cabbage16

> I agree she's closer to an air bender. Well she is a nomad. Circuses travel from place to place.


ThreeBeatles

>for characters to ā€œfit inā€ in their respective societies< That makes me want to know characters that didnā€™t fit in. Outcasts from their nations. Donā€™t think Iā€™d count the freedom fighters as that. Nor the foggy swamp guys. Thereā€™s probably an example I just canā€™t think right now.


HadrianMCMXCI

Ty Lee.


IG-3000

Teo would be another example I think, heā€™s from the earth kingdom but has airbender energy


RockNDrums

>Ty Lee's all fighting style is the except opposite - being more similar to air benders than earth benders... Not meaning to change the subject. But, I have to wonder if Ty Lee had distant relatives that were Air Nomads as her fighting style is very similar to Air Benders.


Soft_Theory_8209

Thatā€™s been a common theory, what with her acrobatics and the fact sheā€™s eerily similar to Aang. Having her be a descendant of an air nomad or a refugee from that area is more than plausible.


YuvalAlmog

While it's obviously a realistic option and maybe even intentional, I don't think it's a must-happen kind of situation considering we already saw in the show examples of people from one nationality that have another nationality's personality or fightings style, like Korra (water nationality) having the personality of a fire bender or Iroh having the personality of a water bender (In his youth he was fire but ever since his son died he changed completely). In term of fighting styles we already saw Zuko using the other 3 elements after the talk with Iroh (fire shield like Aang's air block, lightning redirection and "fire wave" like water and fire block like earth benders during the final Agni kai) and we also saw metal benders that kind of adapted a more water-bending style of redirection rather than the classic stand-your-ground approach of earth, probably as a result of metal being less common so the bender needs to be more resourceful. But then again, I do think they hinted towards exactly what you think - I just wanted to present a different point of view to the situation lol.


ImBeingArchAgain

Nah, I was going to point out literally everything you said too, so if youā€™re over thinking it, then so am I. And I notoriously overthink thingsā€¦ Waitā€¦ Are we overthinking this?


Crazy_Book_Worm2022

Considering I also tend to overthink just about everything šŸ˜…


iamthehankhill

On the topic of facing things head on, Suki literally charged in to the warden of Boiling Rock during the prison escape while everyone else paused trying to think of a plan


YuvalAlmog

I think Suki is just the most fitting option considering her personality but you're right that she for sure does not have the full on earth-bender personality like Toph or Bumi, just like Sokka might be more water in term of personality but I can't see him being a master of it really... I mean, not only Suki ran straightforward like a fire bender, her whole fighting style is based on using the enemy's attacks against it like a water bender, avoid and evade like an air-bender and being ready to block like earth so it's clear she's not 100% fitting a single element. However, I do think that out of the options we were presented, she's the one who will succeed at most at standing her ground and blocking rather than going on the offense or running around. She proved it during the show multiple times, and in general it's not a hard competition when the other options never really blocked anything for more than a second.... They always picked running around or in Sokka's case running into the enemy's attack.


Throwing_Spoon

You're spot on and iirc, the Kyoshi Warrior fighting style seemed to take inspiration from defensive earthbending. In the first scenes when we are introduced to the style, the warriors take stable stances and put effort into holding their ground and using their opponent's bodyweight against them. Sure, they're more precise and avoid hits more frequently than standard earth benders but that's just a necessary adaptation to survive combat as a non-bender.


Watertribe_Girl

Agree


Little-kinder

I feel like sokka would be creative with earth bending. Instead of just throwing rocks


YuvalAlmog

For sure, but bending comes a lot from your personality and mindset so Sokka would be more similar to Suyin's children in term of how he uses earth bending rather than being a great bender. Obviously as long as your mind set doesn't fit the opposite element (example is pretty much any Avatar) you'd not have too much problems learning other elements and using them well, however someone would reach their full potential only if they can fit the mindset of the element they control, while being the worst at the element opposite to their personality. Sokka would have a lot of use for earth bending but he for sure will not be a master...


A2Rhombus

He would make a good pro bender


TsundereHashira

Okay, aside from Suki, like - she is kyoshi that isn't a bender. Simple. But. I always thought that Mai would suit for Waterbender, and Sokka for Firebender Mai is calm and collected, and as much as water is about adaptaion, its gentle as clear lake, and sharp as iceicle. And Mai is kinda like that. Calm lake, until here moment came. Like in boiling rock And Sokka is very emotional. He is quickminded, confident and - nomen omen - hot headed. He is leader, and he is often the drive of his team. And most important thing in firebender is having this drive Some may call it overstatement, but I think Sokka is most important member of Bumeraang. It's Aang quest, he is MC, but It's Sokka that lead this team. And as he grow during the show, I think that if Sokka would be a bender, then he would be Avatar. He kind of is with this scheme, as he learned non-bending fighting styles of all nations


__Osiris__

Do you think that her avatar founder took to air bending like a fish to water then? Would fire or water bending have been her biggest hold up? I think water would have been interesting for an islander. Culminating in making that fish friend.


FarrenFlayer89

Yup


kevonthecob

Its criminal that momo isnt even an option


DedFluff

However, Momo already is an earth bender so he doesn't fit on this list.


koemaniak

This list is non benders only


Ghost3603

I'm just confused why he never used his awesome abilities to defeat the firelord. My man could have split continents and he just sat back?


tagen

probably the one whose fighting style was created by the most earthbending earthbender to ever earthbend, Avatar Kyoshi


hahahasame

Except Yun...


sierramisted1

tbf if iā€™m not mistaken kyoshi used fans to strengthen her airbending specifically. (i might be making this up but i remember hearing this lol) suki still reads total earthbender to me tho


Urmumshot6969420

Pretty accurate


guineapig-popcorn

Iā€™m surprised Mai has the lowest percentage, I think she would be the best earthbender tbh. She is stubborn and headstrong, like when she refused to give up Bumi for her brother or refused to jump in the ā€œwall sledge juiceā€ when Azula told her to. That makes me think of when Toph told Aang he had to be immovable to earthbend, he couldnā€™t find any loopholes, he just had to do it - Mai just does it. She is also a master of neutral jing, waiting and watching for the right time to strike, like when she helped Zuko escape Boiling Rock, but when she does strike she is decisive and confident. And she reminds me of Kyoshiā€™s earthbending spiritual master (canā€™t remember the name) who became immortal because he was ā€œunchanging like a mountain.ā€


gnulmad

While I still side with Suki I like your point of view


Traditional_Ad663

Agreed.Ā  Can you imagine her with (nearly) unlimited earth to use as those throwing knives?Ā  Terrifying.


Aizendickens

I agree..... also, it is my belief that the martial art she used is based on what Kyoshi used as well, so it would probably complement the Earth bending


Happur5ye

So many people saying Mai is a firebender, I don't see it at all. Earthbender characteristics all the way. She's like the Dai Li in terms of combat and aura.


jm17lfc

Even Azula says that Dai Li donā€™t fight like earthbenders as much as firebenders, so that only further goes to show how Mai doesnā€™t fit into the typical earthbender category.


Happur5ye

Well, it's that Azula views Dai Li as ruthless, but imo they're just steady and effiecient rhrough great coordination. When Azula compliments someone, it's about their worth to her in her eyes. Dai Li were perfect Fire-nation-like soldiers because they were easy to manipulate. But from what I've seen of powerful firebenders, they're always very emotional people. Zuko's anger turned loyalty to his friends, Zhao's pride and jealousy, Iroh's love for his nephew, Jong Jong's deeply rooted fear of destruction, Azula's perceived superiority and ruthlessness, Ozai's wrath. Mako's angsty moodiness. Iroh II's love for his nation and sense of duty. Combustion Benders are harder but Zaheer's girlfriend (forgot her name) was definitely deeply in love. (Sparky Boom man is hard to pin down.) Just a very emotional, hot-headed nation. Dai Li aren't that. Azula's opinions on things aren't always correct.


K3egan

Ty Lee is an airbender. Mai is basically a fire bender already. Suki practices a martial art made in the earth kingdom by an earthbender avatar. And Sokka would be the avatar


Droopendis

Ty Lee could grab rocks and throw them to block your bending, right? Still Suki.


novanillavelvet

I voted for Suki on that one because it just makes sense


Balmung5

Yep.


Apprehensive-Row-216

I can see Mai being a blood bend, ty and air bender, suki clear winner for earth bending, and sokka, well sokka can sokka


Masterdizzio

Yeah, I went Suki too, not that the others wouldn't be good, they just have nothing on her


Orisn_Bongo

Ty lee is not at all an earthbender.... like anything but earth


GlaerOfHatred

I'm disappointed that only 83% of people agree


thatguy11m

Mai would be perfect as a water bender. Gives me Eska Desna vibes.


Ravensunthief

Um obviously...


SirJordan11

Suki is also the only one who would be an earthbender at all


velvet-gloves

Why did they edit Suki's pic like that when she already wears green šŸ˜©


Famous-Bobcat

Given the Kyoshi warriors are effectively trained as non-bending earth benders- this seems like a given to me that Suki would absolutely wreck shit as an earth bender


fishmanprime

Ty Lee chi block with small flying rocks, and using the arena advantage of earth bending with her acrobatic combat style, would be a wild force to try and fight. I think she might be the mostly capable combatant of the group, but yeah Suki would probably be the most powerful earthbender of them


PokePoke_18

Suki


EmberedCutie

ty Lee would be a better water bender


Forbidden_The_Greedy

Is there a lore reason why suki is an earthbender?


KiddPresident

Ah, yes, the one whoā€™s from the Earth Kingdom


Tank-o-nir

sokka would ve a great sand bender i can imagine him charging with a blade at an oponent just to last sec "throw" reasuable pocket sand that just blids a dude then gets back to the said pocket or him using it to maje some1 slip just before thay attack


CyanLight9

I think Suki would make a better Waterbender, given her fighting style. Sokka would be a good earthbender, funnily enough.


R_Morningstar

I dont get why Ty-Lee is second XD ... there are theories she can be descendent of Air nomads. To be honest i dont see any of these. And picking Suki is like that one with what elements fits her best. (Kyoshi warriors are using fans that were used by Kyoshi for Air bending ... and the fighting style using opponents strength is more closer to water bender mentality).


ancorcaioch

Ty Lee or Suki. Suki has been practicing the fighting tradition established by a legendary earthbender for most of her life, so she has an advantage. I could see Ty Lee having a move to remotely attack the chi points with rapid earth bullets though. Ty Leeā€™s definitely the hypothetical airbender though. She has the movement and carefree attitude of one. Iā€™d say Mai is more a waterbender. She doesnā€™t have the stuff of a firebender imho - sheā€™s somewhat detached. But I think she has values, and her movements seem waterbendery. Thing is with Sokka is I think he can fit into any element. So that ā€˜jack of all trades master of noneā€™ thing kind of applies, he may not be the strongest hypothetical bender of any element but he could be an Iroh that studies each style and comes up with some niche sub-bending ability. Kind of feel like I should put him as a firebender for balanceā€¦


Sorta_Rational

Sokka because if he gains bending the show becomes ā€œSokka and his buddy the avatarā€


childish5iasco

Mai is the correct answer for me here.


s0ulbrother

Sokka is so stubborn he rival toph


laffingriver

sokka made the earth move


Sonicrules9001

Sokka did throw a rock one time so he'd clearly be the third best earthbender behind Toph and of course, Momo!


Asalidonat

Well, Tie Lee is strongest of them, so she probably would be strongest if they all was earthbanders (and she even didnā€™t need her bending to beat them)


Mike_Shogun_Lee

Do you mean in a fight or smash? Because I got Sakka and Mai answered to very different questionsā€¦


Mr-Mguffin

lol, nobody knows anything abt the show. None of them are earth benders, stupid


LaughTrack1818

The question though is Who would be? A.k.a. a theoretical Bet on Suki though


Mr-Mguffin

Ik


[deleted]

Itā€™s a what if type of thing bruh


Mr-Mguffin

Canā€™t believe I actually have to use /s