The 10 Most Powerful Moments of Avatar Aang in ATLA

The Journey of the Avatar

Throughout Nickelodeon's original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series, Aang boasts more than a few impressive displays of power that prove he's not an Avatar to be trifled with. Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the three-season ATLA centers on Aang, a 12-year-old boy who's both the titular Avatar — a being who can bend all four elements — and the only remaining airbender in the world. A century before the show begins, the power-hungry Fire Nation commits genocide against the Air Nomads, hoping to snuff out the recently reincarnated Avatar, so that, eventually, they're reborn into the Fire Nation. Aang manages to escape the Fire Nation's purge; after being in a strange stasis for 100 years, he's discovered by Water Tribe siblings, wannabe-warrior Sokka and waterbender-in-training Katara. With his new friends' help, Aang travels the world in the hopes of mastering all four elements. As the Avatar, he's also tasked with bringing balance to the world — and that means ending the 100-Year War and putting an end to Fire Lord Ozai's conquest. Although Aang's journey is full of highs and lows, the young Avatar proves time and again why he's the key to saving the world.

Zuko and Aang learn the Dragon Dance in Avatar The Last Airbender

Aang's journey is a testament to his unwavering spirit and his relentless pursuit of balance and justice. From his initial discovery by Katara and Sokka to his final confrontation with Fire Lord Ozai, Aang's growth and power are evident in each of the 10 most powerful moments highlighted below.

Aang uses the Avatar state at the Southern Air Temple in ATLA

10. Aang & Zuko Learn To Firebend From The Original Masters

In Book 3, several members of Team Avatar have one-on-one field trips with their most recent addition: Zuko, the banished Fire Nation prince who spent most of the series hunting Aang down in order to restore his honor. Committed to ending his father's reign, Zuko offers to train Aang in the ways of Firebending. Cut off from his bending, Zuko embarks on a quest to learn from the original masters of the craft: Dragons. Thankfully, Aang goes along for the ride. The duo's quest culminates in a beautifully animated moment; surrounded by multicolored flames, both warriors find their inner-strength and perfectly execute the legendary Dragon Dance.

Aang vs the sandbenders in Avatar: The Last Airbender

Aang and Zuko's journey to learn Firebending from the original masters is a pivotal moment in their character development and showcases their dedication to mastering the elements. This powerful display of their determination and growth sets the stage for their future roles in the battle for balance and peace.

Aang in the Avatar State cosmos in ATLA

9. Aang Is Overcome With Emotion At The Southern Air Temple

Although Aang is aware that 100 years have passed while he was frozen in an iceberg, it still proves difficult to be confronted with the horrors of the Fire Nation's war. In Book 1, Aang is happy-go-lucky — very much a child who, unlike Katara and Sokka, hasn't been hardened by years of fighting and genocide. When Aang brings his friends to the Southern Air Temple and finds evidence of the Fire Nation's purge — including the remains of his former mentor and father figure — the Avatar's grief overwhelms him. Aang enters the iconic, all-powerful Avatar State, demonstrating his most fearsome abilities for the first time.

Aang enters the Avatar state in ATLA

Aang's emotional turmoil and the raw power of the Avatar State highlight the impact of war and loss on his character. This moment serves as a reminder of the weight Aang carries as the last Airbender and the Avatar, and sets the tone for the challenges he must face in his quest for balance and justice.

Katara holds Aang after Azula strikes him with lightning

8. Aang Fights The Sandbenders To Save Appa

Toward the middle of Book 2: Earth, Aang and the rest of Team Avatar meet a wayward scholar who's looking for a legendary library hidden in the desert. While the rest of the group ventures into the buried library in search of valuable war-ending information, Toph stays top-side with Appa. Of course, the group upsets the library's spirit guardian, Wan Shi Tong, and he tries to trap them. As Toph struggles to keep the library from sinking, opportunistic sandbenders abduct Appa. Needless to say, Aang is livid that his buddy was bison-napped. When he finally confronts the sandbenders, the Avatar doesn't show mercy.

Lion Turtle collaged with Aang and the other Avatars in ATLA

Aang's unwavering determination to save his beloved sky bison, Appa, showcases his fierce loyalty and the lengths he will go to protect his friends. This powerful moment underscores Aang's deep connection to his companions and his willingness to confront any challenge to ensure their safety.

Avatar state Aang fights the fire nation as the giant blue creature in The Last Airbender.

7. Aang Masters The Avatar State

While training with Guru Pathik, Aang learns that in order to open his final chakra, he needs to sever some of his earthly tethers — like his romantic feelings for Katara. Aang decides his crush is more important and forgoes the rest of the training. By the end of Book 2, Aang realizes he must enter the Avatar State to save Katara, but, to do that, he has to let go of his feelings for her. It's an emotional, epic moment, and Aang's mastery of the Avatar State is crucial to the series finale. However, this first brush with power is cut short when Azula strikes Aang with lightning.

Aang using waterbending against Prince Zuko in the avatar state for the first time

Aang's struggle to master the Avatar State and the sacrifices he must make to unlock its full potential demonstrate the depth of his character and the internal conflicts he faces as the Avatar. This pivotal moment sets the stage for Aang's continued growth and the challenges he must overcome to fulfill his destiny.

Aang being attacked in the Avatar State-Ocean Spirit hybrid in The Last Airbender.

6. Aang Communes With His Past Lives & A Lion Turtle

Struggling with how, exactly, to stop Fire Lord Ozai without outright killing him, Aang gets in touch with his past lives. This act alone is pretty epic. Not only does Aang connect with his pseudo-mentor Avatar Roku, but older Avatars, like the no-nonsense Avatar Kyoshi. When no one presents Aang with an alternative path, he ends up on a solo journey that brings him face-to-face with an ancient Lion Turtle. As viewers learn in The Legend of Korra, Lion Turtles were responsible for bestowing bending upon humans. Ultimately, Aang's connection with the Lion Turtle helps him learn to take away Ozai's bending — for good.

Aang enters the Avatar State underwater in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Aang's communion with his past lives and the ancient wisdom of the Lion Turtle marks a turning point in his understanding of the Avatar's role in the world. This profound moment showcases Aang's dedication to finding a peaceful resolution and his willingness to seek guidance from the spirits of the past.

Ocean Spirit fuses with Aang in ATLA book 1 finale

5. Aang Fuses With The Ocean Spirit

In the two-part Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1 finale, the Fire Nation lays siege to the Northern Water Tribe. The ambitious, power-hungry Admiral Zhao ends up infiltrating the tribe's Spirit Oasis and killing Tui, the physical manifestation of the Moon Spirit. In doing so, Zhao slays the moon and takes away the source of the Water Tribe's bending. While Princess Yue nobly takes Tui's place, Aang ends up fusing with the Moon Spirit's counterpart: La, the Ocean Spirit. Together, La and Avatar-State Aang form Koizilla — a massive being made of blue energy — and they destroy the Fire Nation's forces.

Aang takes Yakone's bending in a flashback from The Legend of Korra

Aang's fusion with the Ocean Spirit and the manifestation of Koizilla symbolize his connection to the natural elements and his willingness to protect the balance of the world at any cost. This awe-inspiring moment showcases Aang's deep-rooted bond with the elements and his transformative power as the Avatar.

Aang channels Avatar Roku in the Avatar State

4. Aang Takes Out Yakone

In The Legend of Korra's first season, the titular Avatar comes face-to-face with Amon — an apparent non-bender who leads an anti-bending faction called The Equalists. Terrifyingly, Amon has the ability to take away people's bending, which is generally an ability reserved for the Avatar. A flashback reveals that Amon is related to Yakone, a notorious bloodbender who Aang brought down decades earlier. While Yakone bloodbends his way out of his trial, Aang uses the Avatar State to regain control of his body and, subsequently, takes away Yakone's bending.

Aang restores Korra's bending in The Legend of Korra book 1 finale

Aang's decisive action against Yakone and his use of the Avatar State to restore balance exemplify his unwavering commitment to justice and his duty as the Avatar. This powerful moment showcases Aang's resolve to confront threats to the harmony of the world and protect the bending abilities of its inhabitants.

Aang fighting in the Avatar state with a ring of fire around him in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

3. Aang Manifests Avatar Roku

In Book 1, Aang travels to a Fire Nation temple to commune with his previous life, Avatar Roku, on the winter solstice. The spiritual connection the Avatar shares with their past lives is impressive on its own, but what happens next is truly remarkable. After Roku tells Aang about the impending Sozin's Comet — the celestial event that gave the Fire Nation (temporary) unchecked power at the war's start — Aang is confronted by Zhao, Zuko, and several other Fire Nation loyalists. Unable to take them on his own, Aang somehow manifests the spirit of Roku, who firebends his way to victory and destroys the temple itself.

Avatar Aang vs Ozai in the ATLA finale

Aang's manifestation of Avatar Roku and the display of his past life's power in the face of overwhelming odds highlight his connection to the Avatar lineage and the strength he draws from his predecessors. This extraordinary moment underscores Aang's role as the bridge between the past and the present, and his ability to call upon the wisdom and power of the Avatar lineage.

Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender entering the Avatar State, where his eyes and arrow tattoos glow a bright white.

2. Aang Restores Korra's Bending

Originally planned to be a one-off, single season outing, the ending of The Legend of Korra seems pretty bleak. Although Korra finally learns who to airbend, she loses the rest of her bending abilities to Amon — who's ultimately killed by his own brother. Feeling as though her whole identity as the Avatar has been stripped from her, Korra is at her lowest point. Alone and upset, a figure approaches her — Avatar Aang. He reminds Korra that one's lowest moments open them up to the greatest change. With a single touch, Aang restores the young Avatar's bending — and Korra's sense of self.

Phoenix King Ozai's fire bending meets Aang's air bending in ATLA finale battle

Aang's act of restoring Korra's bending and her sense of identity represents the enduring legacy of the Avatar and the power of hope and renewal. This profound moment showcases Aang's compassion and his ability to inspire change and healing, even beyond his own lifetime.

Avatar Aang takes Phoenix King Ozai's bending in the ATLA series finale

1. Aang Defeats Fire Lord Ozai By Taking His Bending

The epic battle between Avatar Aang and Phoenix King Ozai in the Avatar: The Last Airbender series finale is an epic brawl — and one of the best animated fight sequences ever. Watching Aang enter the Avatar State with ease and manipulate all four elements in order to go toe-to-toe with Ozai is incredibly satisfying. Not to mention, when Aang reveals that he has the power to strip Ozai of his bending without killing him, it's a truly beautiful moment. Aang saves the world without sacrificing his moral code — and there's truly no greater display of power.

Aang's ultimate confrontation with Fire Lord Ozai and his ability to defeat him while upholding his principles exemplify the strength and integrity of the Avatar. This climactic moment showcases Aang's unwavering commitment to justice and his mastery of the elements, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest Avatars in history.