Happy 56th Earth Day! It’s hard to believe Earth is only 56 years old (kidding, of course), and it’s even harder to believe that The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender is coming to Paramount+ this October and the only content we’ve seen is a leak of the whole movie.
In a humble attempt to redirect the press coverage, ruffle some feathers, and maybe even convince Paramount of a theatrical release – here is a comprehensive list of the top 10 earthbenders in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe. This list considers style, raw ability, and innovation.
10. Jianzhu
Known as both Avatar Kyoshi’s and Jun’s earthbending master, Jianzhu is a force unlike any other. He commands the earth as easily as he commands his students and is relentlessly lethal. He innovatively incorporates waterbending techniques with his native element, much like Iroh did with fire to redirect lightning, which makes his movements more fluid and all-encompassing. He also figures out how to use the earth to preserve footprints, a convenient skill for someone already intent on criminalizing. His morbid tendency to bury his enemies underground earned him the nickname of “Gravedigger.”
9. Lin Beifong
Daughter of the invincible Toph Beifong, Lin is both a master of earthbending and metalbending. She also has Toph’s seismic sense, which lets her use the earth to detect the location of people and objects near her. She specializes in using metal gloves with retractable metal lines and has been known to take down airships all by herself.
8. Suyin Beifong
Also Toph’s daughter, Suyin has seismic sense and has mastered earthbending and metalbending as well. Beyond that, she created her own city with her metalbending. Still, Toph insists that neither of her daughters “fully mastered” the element. Typical Toph.
7. Kuvira
Kuvira is also a master earthbender and metalbender. What makes her unique though is that she has a seismic sense too but with metal. That being said, her most impressive feat is besting Suyin and Lin in battle.
6. Avatar Aang
Like many earthbenders, Aang owes everything to Toph. She taught him how to metalbend, earthbend, and use his seismic sense. Aang had the difficult task of mastering earth, the opposite of his native element, in just a few months to defeat Fire Lord Ozai. He was powerful enough to move mountains when he fought the firebender and ultimately used his seismic sense to defeat him.
5. Bolin
Bolin has the unique ability to sandbend and lavabend, two things even Toph isn’t good at. He’s strong enough to bend with his feet alone, and his pro-bending experience makes him lithe and precise in combat. He’s innovative and powerful, making him an invaluable member of Avatar Korra’s team.
4. Yun
Though Yun didn’t master any of earth’s sub-elements, his mastery of earth was so immediate and undeniable that they mistook him for the Avatar. He has seismic sense and the remarkable ability to liquify stone. He uses bending to communicate from a distance by making characters out of the earth and can even manipulate paint by bending the minerals in it. On top of that, he’s the one who influences Avatar Kyoshi to use earth gloves for bending, something she later passes onto the Dai Li.
3. King Bumi
Bumi also didn’t master any of earth’s sub-elements, but his earthbending makes him one of the most powerful benders in this universe. He’s mastered all 85 jings, is a core member of the White Lotus, and singlehandedly wiped out at least five Fire Nation tanks to liberate Ba Sing Se. It’s unclear how he became King of Omashu, but there’s a good chance it was based on ability. After all, he can bend with his chin alone and travel through the earth like the original earthbenders, the badgermoles themselves.
2. Avatar Kyoshi
Like many benders before Toph, Kyoshi didn’t master or even discover any earth sub-elements either. That being said, she really didn’t need to. She’s innovative and astronomically strong. My girl created her own island as a defensive tactic, and uses a “dust stepping” trick that essentially equates to flying. Her fans serve as power tools for her bending tricks, making her bending even more impactful without the help of the Avatar State. She established the Dai Li originally to safeguard Earth Kingdom culture and trained them all in her elite form of earthbending. She runs through solid walls like they’re suggestions and inspires an entire culture of fierce female warriors.
1. Toph Beifong
Kyoshi walked so Toph could run, but Toph is sprinting. Not only is she the best pro-bender in the history of the sport, but she also invents the art of metalbending at the age of 12. She learned directly from the badgermoles and mastered the stubborn element in secret. She manages to teach an inexperienced Avatar Aang six months before his battle with Fire Lord Ozai. Because of her blindness, Toph has a special relationship with her element. She uses it as a weapon, a navigating tool, and even a lie detector. Toph is an inspiration to little girls everywhere, especially to those with disabilities.