A Dragon On Fire Comic English
Danny Hosford
FirebendingGeneral informationSourceSun[2]Learned fromDragons[3]Alternate styles
- Combustionbending
- Lightning generation[4] and redirection[1]
As described by Iroh,[1] fire is the element of power, consisting of overpowering force tempered by the unflinching will to accomplish tasks and desires. However, during the Hundred Year War, a militaristic Fire Nation twisted this into firebending being fueled by rage, hatred, and anger. Firebending draws its power from the sun, and the first human firebenders derived their firebending techniques from the dragons.[3]
Firebending is known for its intense and aggressive attacking style and general lack of adequate defensive moves, although firebenders can modify offensive maneuvers to function as a defense, such as creating large walls of fire[2] or shooting down incoming attacks with fire jabs.
During the era of Raava, people received the element of fire from the fire lion turtle that was the guardian of their city, who would grant them the power with energybending. They could request it whenever they ventured into the Spirit Wilds and were to return it when they came back. However, Wan stole the power to better his life and that of his impoverished friends, but was captured and banished. He was allowed to keep the power of fire to protect himself and eventually befriended the spirits. As such, he managed to hone his skills by learning the proper way of bending from the dragons that lived in the Spirit Wilds. He developed his style in such a manner that his fire became an extension of his body, rather than a mere tool for protection as the others perceived it. Others learned of his survival and also set out into the Spirit Wilds with the power of fire, no longer wanting to live under the poor conditions they had in the city.[9]
In the years following, people learned firebending from the dragons that had once populated the land. The first people in the era of the Avatar to learn from the dragons were the Sun Warriors, who understood the connection between the fire of their souls, the fire of the dragons, and the sun. In the remains of their once great civilization, Zuko and Aang discovered that firebending represents energy and life, a concept that had been lost to nearly all firebenders in the Hundred Year War. The true meaning of firebending was forgotten as anger, rage and a desire to dominate began to replace the ideals of life and energy, and how they connect to the sun. The Fire Nation Royal Family encouraged this to aid in the propaganda that fire could be used as a tool to destroy and that the Hundred Year War justified.[3]
Firebenders draw their power from the sun and other solar objects, such as comets, as well as the fiery core of the planet.[10] A solar eclipse has the potential to completely negate a firebender's power, which is the result of a direct connection between the sun and firebending.[11] Additionally, after defeating Katara at sunrise during the Siege of the North, Zuko stated that she rose with the moon, but he rose with the sun, further referencing the sun's importance to firebending.[12] Firebenders are also said to draw power from volcanic energy and lightning.[13]
Though firebending children exhibit an instinct to not burn themselves, they can still be a significant danger to those around them as long as they cannot control their powers. To enable parents to take precautions, Fire Nation citizens traditionally subject newborns to a test to determine whether they are firebenders. For this test, the parents (or someone else) acquire a ball of shredded birch bark and cotton seeped in special oils; the ball is fluffed with the fingers until it is "wispy and cloudlike". Finally, the ball is held under the child's nose. Normally, a firebending child's simple breathing and innate ability will cause the ball to catch fire after a few seconds. According to Hei-Ran, a highly experienced firebending teacher, this test almost always works.[14]
However, some newborns are not conclusively identified as firebenders; for example Zuko was almost cast from the Fire Nation Royal Palace as he lacked "spark in [his] eyes" that is typical for most firebenders.[15] For children whose bending is unclear, a challenging, competitive, and aggressive environment is believed to be helpful in drawing out firebending abilities.[16][17]
Firebenders use their chi as a source for their bending. This facet of firebending is a sharp contrast to the other bending arts, which manipulate already present sources of their element, though firebenders can also control or enhance flames nearby.
Firebending uses concentrated barrages of fire to overwhelm opponents before striking a fatal blow. Swift, whirling kicks and punches generate diverse shapes for offensive attacks. This strategy is probably what makes firebending arguably the most suited to pro-bending out of all the bending arts. Firebending tactics and forms have required little modification for use in pro-bending; the most noticeable difference is the restriction on the use of prolonged fire streams. Nevertheless, quick flurries of kicks and punches allow a pro-bending firebender to retain excellent mobility around the arena while simultaneously trying to push back the members of the opposing team.
Circular motion is also a crucial element to the skill as it seems to "power up" and enhance the firebender's flames. When creating lightning, the firebenders often move their arms in slow, circular motions, similar to waterbenders but with more tension.
Blazing rings and arcs: Spinning kicks or sweeping arm movements create rings and arcs to slice larger, more widely spaced, or evasive targets. Zuko used a circular motion with his feet to create an expanding ring and successfully knocked Azula down during their Comet-Enhanced Agni Kai.[19]
Blocking fire: A skilled firebender can defuse and extinguish an oncoming fire blast from another firebender by using a swift kick, jab, or any other defensive maneuver, allowing them to stop attacks.[20]
Fan the flame: A firebender can focus on growing the flames around themselves.[21] Zuko was the first one to show mastery over this technique, when he augmented the flame of the candles before him when his uncle brought him bad news.[22] Jeong Jeong augmented the fire in his candles while he was discouraging Aang.[2] When Azula scared Chan, the torch behind Azula also fell under her firebending, as it burned bright blue. Zuko later augmented a campfire while confronting his anger.[23] Another example is the fire in the Fire Lord's throne room. When Ozai and Azulon got angry, the flames rose up higher and burned more rapidly. It was also evident when Azula was on the throne and the flames around her turned a dark blue.[24][25]
Fire manipulation: Firebenders can also control the size and intensity of any nearby flames and can draw them in to manipulate them at will. Avatar Roku used this method to protect himself and counter an attack by Zhao and his soldiers while Aang channeled his spirit.[26] Another example was when Zuko was attacking Aang in the beach house, as he disintegrated flames Aang used to counter-attack.[27]
Fire blade: A more advanced version of a blazing arc. By narrowing and condensing their flame projections, firebenders can create thin blades of fire to slice through objects without completely destroying them. Azula used this technique to cut open a wall,[28] and Zuko used it to free Azula from Katara's water whips.[29]
Fire circle: A technique demonstrated by the Sun Warriors. They created a circle of fire and suspended it in the air for an extended period of time.[3] The Tribesmen made these circles with the Eternal Flame just before Zuko and Aang were to be judged by Ran and Shaw.[3]
Fire fists:[30] Another basic ability, but with an emphasis on strict form,[31] jabs and punches produce miniature fireballs and missiles of flame. These can be charged up (refer to "charged attacks" entry) to create larger, slower bursts, or swiftly and repetitively fired to keep opponents off balance.[20]
Fire knives: Blowtorch-like jets which are created from the fist or fingertips to use as close range melee attacks.[18] However, they lack the ability to actually block physical objects. Both Zuko[4][32] and Azula have used this technique, the former to attack Azula, and the latter to hold Kuei hostage during the Coup of Ba Sing Se.[29] Korra used a variant of this technique, creating a blowtorch as opposed to a knife to cut through the chains that were binding Tenzin and his family during the Equalist victory rally.[33] Mako used this technique to threaten Two Toed Ping for information regarding the theft of Future Industries' entire stockpile of technology.[34] Korra also used this technique when getting ready to fight Macao and Lily at the Misty Palms Inn.[35]
Fire lashes: An even further extension of the fire whip/stream, firebenders can create a long lash of fire and bring it down on their enemies, like Azula did to Aang,[28] or create smaller, multiple lashes and envelop an area with fire, like Zuko did.[27]
Jet-stepping: A more precise form of jet propulsion and variation of the dust-stepping and mist-stepping techniques used by earthbenders and waterbenders, respectively, by using small bursts of flames beneath their feet, a firebender can quickly scale buildings. The technique was created by Rangi after she observed Lek using dust-stepping.[36]
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