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Lightning Bending - Blog Posts
Zuko and the “Sea of Chi”
When Iroh teaches Zuko how redirect lightning, he instructions Zuko to move the lightning from his arm, down to his stomach, and out the other arm. Iroh called the stomach the “Sea of Chi”, or a vast ocean in Irohs case.
In Zuko’s final Agni Kai with a Azula, he is able to redirect the lightning, but at great cost. Zuko wasn’t able to maintain proper form when he was jumping in to save Katara, and got hurt and a chest scar as a result.
My theory on how Zuko got that scar is this: Zuko didn’t have time to redirect most of the lighting through his arms. Instead, he caught most of it directly in his stomach. Then from the stomach, he could release it from his other arm. However, Zuko got very hurt because the lighting burned through flesh on its way to the stomach.
My Evidence: His chest scar is exactly over where his stomach should be.
This is my most current elemental chart for Avatar the last Airbender. It’s gone through many different versions but I’m really happy with how this one turned out.
I’ve included my old versions for reference.
Central area: The four classic with Energy bending in the center.
Inner Circle: Basic sub-skills most benders can use.
Outer Circle: Advanced sub-skills that are difficult to learn.
Outer Edge: True power of the Element. Only achieved when you master the spiritual side of that Element.
AIR
AGILITY: Heightened sensitivity, speed, and reaction.
LEVITATION: Able to float in the air.
VORTEX: Able to send air compression blasts at your opponent, similar to a vortex cannon.
CLOUD: Able to create a cloud to ride on as seen in LOK and “Journey to the West”.
WATER
ICE: Able to bend Ice and turn water into Ice.
HEALING: Able to energize water for healing purposes.
PLANT: Able to bend plants by bending the water in them.
BLOOD: Able to bend animals by bending the water in them.
EARTH
SAND: Able to control earth as sand, dirt, or a granulated state.
METAL: Able to bend metal.
MINERAL: Able to bend large Crystals.
LAVA: Able to bend Lava or earth in a molten state.
FIRE
FLAME: Able to alter your flame in fire bending. Make it hotter = blue fire. Also includes sensing chi with fire.
LIGHTNING: Able to produce or redirect lightning.
HEAT: Able to manipulate heat.
COMBUSTION: Able to make explosions with firebending such as Combustion Man, or when Zuko failed to learn Lightning bending.