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One of the four elemental bending arts, is the hydrokinetic ability to control water in all its many forms. This type of bending is utilized by the people of the Water Tribe, who are divided into the Southern Water Tribe, Northern Water Tribe, the lesser known Foggy Swamp Tribe, as well as those of the United Republic of Nations, each with their own unique bending style.
The fighting style of waterbending is mostly fluid and graceful, acting in concert with the environment. Foggy Swamp style waterbending, however, is more rigid and straight. Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy; they let their defense become their offense, turning their opponents' own forces against them. Even when waterbenders do take an attack stance, their moves always appear to flow from one to the other.
Waterbending's strength is its great versatility. Rather than supporting a separate set of offensive methods, waterbending employs defensive techniques that can be transformed into attacks and counters - defense into offense. Instead of simply deflecting an attack, waterbending's defensive maneuvers focus on control, achieved through turning an opponent's own strength against them, rather than directly harming the opponent.
Water Bending Moves
'''Water manipulation''': Almost all forms of waterbending involve moving and shaping a body of water to the waterbender's desire. By simply levitating a large mass of water, waterbenders can move water anywhere they wish, even parting it under the surface of a lake or sea, allowing them to walk along the bottom of a basin without the need to swim. These large bodies of water can also be used as weapons, either by shaping them into gigantic whips, swung repeatedly at a target as a snake-like body, formed momentarily into a razor-sharp edge that can cut through even metal, or simply dropped onto an opponent to smother them or put out a fire. On the sea or ocean, waterbending can be used to create giant maelstroms. Aang and Katara used this to set off a giant sea serpent.
'''Streaming the water''': Named by Katara, it is a move that draws water from a source that waterbenders move around their bodies. A more advanced version demonstrated by Aang apparently involves "sinking and floating". This move is thought to be used for basic training so that beginning waterbenders can get a "feel" for water, but it is in reality a very useful move performed by waterbenders of every skill level.
[[File:Water whip.png|thumb|left|200px|A water whip.]]
'''Water whip''': The water whip is a commonly used move that involves creating a lashing tendril of water to swipe at an opponent. The shape, size, and length are all determined by a waterbender's control, and more powerful benders can create larger whips, or ones of greater finesse. The whip can be sharpened into a blade that can slice through metal with relative ease,Throughout [Avatar: The Last Airbender'. Both Katara and Korra have demonstrated the ability to create water whips with their feet.
'''Water jet''': High pressure jets can be used to force opponents back or even blast clean through a target if focused enough. Water jets are primarily used if the user has the intent of severely hurting their opponents. It was seen being performed by Katara against a pirate.
'''Wave''': By moving a large mass of water without separating it from its original source, waterbenders can create waves of nearly any size. They do this by using an upward movement that raises the source, which they subsequently send away in their desired direction. This can be used to sweep opponents away or even as a form of transport, with the bender surfing on the crest of the wave. This same process can be used to propel waterborne crafts.
'''Water bullet''': The water bullet is a move where a waterbender bends a large amount of water and sends it in a forceful blow toward their target. It is similar to a water jet, but it is more for a quick use since the jet takes more concentration. It is basic yet useful because it takes little time to perform and has a significant effect on the target. Katara used this against Southern Tribe waterbender Hama.
'''Water wall/water shield''': Water can be molded into a variety of shapes and can be used to deflect an attack, trap opponents in a viscous body, reshaped and propelled at attackers before they can recover, or solidified into a shield of ice. This diversity and ability to swiftly change to suit the situation is what makes the waterbender's defense so adaptable. Although usually protective, the shield needs some type of compression or else it will not be effective. This is demonstrated when Katara was fighting Zuko at the Spirit Oasis and her quickly-made shield could not block the fire blast.
'''Water temperature manipulation''': Waterbenders also possess the ability to alter the physical state of the water they manipulate, between liquid, solid and gas, at will. Changing the phase of water allows for multiple techniques in the course of a battle, from encasing an opponent in ice to hiding behind a wall of mist. Ice and steam/fog can also be molded in a diverse range of shapes. Ice provides a degree of hard lethality since it can be molded into spikes or blades to pin down or impale opponents. Steam or mist can obscure a battlefield and mask movement. A waterbender can easily superheat and boil water and other liquids to scalding temperatures. Katara made good use of this to enhance her performance as the Painted Lady. Waterbenders also possess the ability to breathe an icy mist that freezes water and other substances.
'''Water pressure manipulation''': Waterbenders are also able to manipulate water pressure, allowing them to use water to grasp other objects or cut through without simply parting around them. Water can be used as a semi-solid while being able to move and flow like a liquid. Water can be pressurized to such a level where it can slice through metal. Waterbenders can also use this to avoid sinking in water, effectively allowing them to walk on water, as demonstrated by Katara multiple times.
'''[[Iceberg spike]]''': Waterbenders can shoot small shards of ice at their opponent, or cause a giant spike to protrude from a body of water. The Northern Water Tribe employs these as a primary defense of their homeland when enemy ships are sighted.
'''Ice claws''': Shown by Hama, using ice claws involves the bender drawing water around their fingers and freezing it. They can also be sent forward, shooting them at an opponent. A waterbender can also use this as an advantage; being small and unnoticeable, they can hide them in their sleeves just like Mai's weapons. Additionally, this technique uses very little water and thus can be performed quickly using the Condensation technique (Special Ability on Market ).
'''Ice spear''': The ice spear is a waterbending move shown to have been used by Southern waterbenders. It involves freezing a stream of water and sending the frozen result flying at the target. This move was used by Katara when she was about to strike down Yon Rha.
'''Ice creeper''': A waterbender can send a ray of ice on the ground, speeding at an opponent to freeze them. This technique freezes a trail of water beginning with the waterbender performing the move and ending with their targets freezing. This technique was first performed by Katara when she accidentally froze Sokka's feet to the ship, before she was able to freeze three Fire Nation soldiers.
'''Ice shield''': A waterbender can freeze an amount of water in front of them, creating a shield of ice. Aang and Katara performed this technique on numerous occasions during the War.
'''Ice disc''': A waterbender can create a cylindrical column of ice and proceed to slice razor-sharp sections of it off and send them at an opponent. They are sharp around the edges but also very thin, since Master Pakku was able to break them with his wrists, though this may partly have been due to his waterbending ability.
'''Breath of ice''': A waterbender can use their breath to rapidly freeze objects, such as metallic chains, or an opponent. For a more advanced version of the technique, the user takes a deep breath and exhales the air as a cloud of freezing mist. Katara used this technique to freeze Jet to a tree, to save Sokka from Huu, and to stop the warship from sinking by temporarily freezing a hole in the ship's hull. Aang and Roku have used this technique before, possibly combined with airbending, to freeze lava. Also Aang used this to break the chain from where King Bumi was being lifted by a crane.
'''Water knife''': The ability to shape water into a super-sharp edge or point for a split-second, enabling a waterbender to cut through metal, wood and stone. Aang and Katara used this technique to sabotage the giant Fire Nation drill assaulting Ba Sing Se.
'''Water cloak''': A waterbender can use their water as a form of armor with tentacle-like arms. The bender can use these arms to grab objects, whip enemies, blast enemies with water and freeze them. If a waterbender has less water available, he or she can simply form the arms instead of the entire cloak. This technique was first shown by Katara while she dueled against Azula in the Crystal Catacombs, and again when she was on board the Southern Raiders frigate.
Master Level:
The mark of a master waterbender is the ability to swiftly change from one state of water to another and rapidly switch techniques during combat, keeping the opponent off guard while constantly adapting to the enemy as demonstrated by Master Pakku. For example, he deflected a stream of water away from himself, froze it, and used it to slide behind Katara and counterattacked.
'''Water pinwheel''': This move involves the user moving a large mass of water and spinning it vertically around him/her. This was demonstrated by Hama while blocking Katara's attacks.
'''Water boxing''': To perform the technique, a waterbender surrounds their fist with a small amount of water and punches their opponent. This move was used by Tahno in a match against the Fire Ferrets.
'''Bubble''': When in need to cross large bodies of water, capable waterbenders are able to create a bubble around themselves, keeping an air supply for them and for others. It was first used by Aang and Katara and by Katara twice so that she and Appa could submerge. This was also used by Korra to transport herself and Mako under Yue Bay to reach Air Temple Island from the mainland.
'''Water drill''': A high-pressure, rotating column of water. Capable of exerting a significant amount of pressure upon a solid surface, that allows the action of a drill. The move takes mastery of waterbending since the motions to create a constantly twisting body of water requires bending skill. This technique was first seen being performed by Avatar Roku's waterbending master.
'''Multiple water whips''': An advanced waterbending move similar to the single water whip, except it deals with more than one whip, usually four or five. This technique seems to be able to inflict a large amount of damage. It was used by Katara against Azula.
'''Waterspout or "water vortex"''': This high-level technique involves controlling a whirlpool-like pillar of water as a weapon, rotating it and directing its movements at the same time. Another form exists, which is nicknamed the "water snake", in accordance to the waterspout's constantly shifting and coiling movements. It forms a giant snake of water around the lower body, elevating them from the ground. First shown by Aang, Master Pakku has been seen performing this technique, as well as a minor version performed by Katara to bring Aang up and out of the Crystal Catacombs. Korra used this technique to pursue Amon in the Pro-bending Arena, although the height she could reach was limited. She was also unable to maintain the waterspout, whereas Aang and Pakku could. She was able to sustain it during the Equalists' assault on the United Forces, but it collapsed when an Equalist biplane she took down crashed into it.vAmon has also been seen performing this technique, as he was blasted out of the building and into the water, he immediately came out while using this technique.
'''Octopus form''': A body of water formed around the user into eight or so whip-like limbs which can be used to grasp or strike an opponent or to intercept and seize incoming attacks. This technique was first shown by Aang when training with Katara. It was shown a second time when Katara was fighting the Dai Li.
'''Ice dome''': A highly advanced technique, as demonstrated by Katara while fighting against Zuko in the Spirit Oasis, a waterbender may surround a foe in a sphere of water and freeze it, trapping their opponent inside.
'''Ice floor''': With a sufficient amount of water a master can cover a large area of the ground with ice, trapping enemies' feet in ice and allowing the waterbender to slide around. Pakku performed this during the Order of the White Lotus invasion of Ba Sing Se.
'''Ice prison''': This technique covers an opponent in a prison made of ice. By finely controlling the position of the person within, this technique can restrict the motions of an opponent's hands, thus rendering them powerless. Shown by Katara to incapacitate Azula during Sozin's Comet.
'''Ice tunneling''': Waterbenders are able to swim through thick ice with the same ease as through water, allowing them to surprise their foes. The technique was only seen to have been performed twice, once by a waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe in a flashback of Hama's and again by Korra, who used it to escape from her compound.
'''Maelstrom''': In a large body of water, a waterbender can create a gigantic whirlpool. This technique was executed by Aang and Katara while fighting the serpent.
'''Mass freeze''': A waterbender can freeze multiple targets at once, making them slow down or even surrounding them with ice. The technique was first shown by Katara.
'''Water dome''': A master waterbender can collect water from the rain, forming a dome which can be used for both offense and defense. Katara used this to frighten Yon Rha.
'''Ice ramp''': Waterbenders can manipulate ice as a means of short transportation, as seen by Katara when training with Aang and Toph. It was also used in the liberation of Ba Sing Se, as well by Katara in "The Promise" trilogy.
'''Razor rings''': An experienced waterbender can create multiple simultaneous water rings capable of cutting. Katara used this against the Foggy Swamp monster.
'''Ice dagger''': Much like ice claws, ice daggers form on a waterbender's fingers and shoot at high speeds away from him or her. Katara used these against Master Pakku.
'''Ice drill''': By turning the tip into ice, waterbenders control massive amounts of water into a spiraled frozen drill. This technique was first demonstrated by Unalaq, while he tried to open the Northern spirit portal.
'''Partial ice whip''': By grabbing hold of the end of a water whip and freeze the opposite end, a waterbender can trap their opponent, and pull them down with their own attack. Korra demonstrated this technique in her fight against the Dark Avatar Unalaq.
Avatar Level:
'''Tsunami''': Since they can control larger amounts of water, Avatars are capable of creating and controlling water bodies of far greater size and scale, including causing massive tsunamis, at will. The technique was first demonstrated by Avatar Kuruk as he created a large wave to ride on. Later, Aang and Princess Yue created a large tsunami that brought Aang to safety on Crescent Island.
'''Remote waterbending''': Avatars can use waterbending from distances which a waterbender would not normally be able to access. While in combat with Ozai, Aang went into the Avatar State and pulled water in from the sea toward himself to make part of his elemental sphere. After defeating Ozai, Aang raised the tides of the sea to put out the fire at Wulong Forest caused by Ozai and his airships.
'''Water compression''': An Avatar in the Avatar State has enough power over water to compress its volume, compacting several thousands of gallons into a small volume. Aang did so when he created his elemental sphere while preparing to pursue Ozai.
'''Ice fissure''': Avatars are able to use waterbending to split frozen ground, by bending the water mixed with the earth. Unalaq used this technique after merging with Vaatu to form a deep chasm and trap Korra within, intending to crush her as he brought both sides of the fissure back together.
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