Weaponry in the World of Avatar

A wide range of weapons are found in the world, varying in quality, size, and usage among the four nations. Metal is the principal material used in the construction of most weapons.
Prior to the foundation of the United Republic of Nations, the Fire Nation was the most technologically advanced when it came to manufacturing weapons due to their initiation of and dominant role in the Hundred Year War. The Earth Kingdom was the second most proficient due to the necessity of defending itself against the industrially superior Fire Nation, especially after the crumbling of the Southern Water Tribe. Both the Northern and Southern Water Tribes are capable of crafting their own weapons, which are often made of sharpened metal or animal parts such as skins and teeth.
The invention of metalbending had a significant impact on weaponry usage and manufacturing. Since metalbenders could simply deform or otherwise defeat weapons from earlier time periods, people had to utilize other forms of fighting that did not involve metal-based weapons. The metalbenders' advantage against older types of weapons was annulled with the creation of a new range of unbendable, electrical ones.
== Air Nomads ==
* Air Nomad glider — Due to their peaceful nature, the Air Nomads did not have any items used specifically as weapons. With their wings folded in, however, the Nomads' trademark gliders were wielded in similar ways to traditional staffs and could be used to amplify their airbending. Aang also used his staff to enhance his waterbending and earthbending in battle.
* Wind sword — While wearing a suit of armor, Aang mentioned that it was possible for him to make a wind sword; all he needed was a sword handle, and he could airbend a blade.
== Water Tribe ==
=== Armor ===
* Greaves and bracers — Lower leg and lower arm protection respectively, colored gray and decorated with a small white circle.
* Shield — During the invasion of the Fire Nation on the Day of Black Sun, warriors of the Southern Water Tribe carried hexagonal shields colored in shades of blue and tipped with rims of white, boomerang-shaped material, possibly animal bone. The shields had large notches on each side to allow the warrior to use their spear while still remaining protected.
* Wolf armor — Protective battle gear that includes a helmet shaped like a wolf's head.
=== Melee weapons ===
* Axe — An average-sized axe with a blue-and-white blade and a medium-length white handle.
* Battle club — A weapon used in the Southern Water Tribe, most notably by Sokka. Its base is carved from a polar bear femur and a design is painted in blue on either side of the blade. There is also a heavy ball and a notch on the end of the blade for hooking opponent's weapons, with a leather strap attached for a more secure grip.Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Art of the Animated Series, page 19.
* Jaw blade — Primarily a hunting tool, one side of the blade is rigid and used as a saw while the other is used for scraping skins clean. It is also capable of amplifying vibrations in the environment, allowing the wielder to accurately detect intruders. Sokka's blade was made by sharpening the jawbone and teeth of a large arctic wolf, and the handle was leather-wrapped for improved grip. Normally carried in a small pouch, Sokka used it to shave the sides and back of his head. Jaw blades come in various sizes, and the teeth attached to the blade can vary in shape.
* Knife — A simple weapon with a small, single-edged blade made of metal. Gilak wielded a knife to threaten Sokka and later used the weapon to stab Hakoda.
* Machete — A long, cleaver-like cutting weapon. Sokka used this to clear away vines while in the Foggy Swamp.
* Spear — A weapon used in the Southern and Northern Water Tribe by warriors in battle and for hunting animals for food. The handle is made of wood and the spearhead of bone. Following the end of the Hundred Year War, metal was incorporated into these spears, as Toph Beifong and her metalbending students were able to deform them.
* Whale's tooth scimitar — A weapon made from the tooth of a whale dolphin, used by tribesmen.
=== Ranged weapons ===
* Boomerang — A small, L-shaped weapon made of metal. When thrown correctly, the boomerang travels in a curved path before returning to its point of origin. It is the most important and treasured of Sokka's weapons, as he considers it to be an essential part of his identity. Some soldiers allied with Gilak also used boomerangs.
* Bow and arrows — Seen among the weapons stockpiled by Gilak's army.
* Flower throwing stars — Used by Misu during her time in Forgetful Valley. By freezing the water inside living flowers, she was able to make the blossoms rigid and sharp-edged, and propelled them using waterbending. They were rather fragile, however, as Sokka was able to shatter them with his club.
=== Other ===
* Portable water pump — During the era of Roku, a portable water pump was developed as a defense mechanism against firebenders.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 28.
* Tangle mine — Weapons made with a bamboo frame and covered with dried animal skin filled with skunk fish and seaweed. These mines float in the water and detonate upon contact with another object. They were invented by Hakoda, who called the weapon the "Stink 'n Sink".
* Water skin — While not technically a "weapon", waterbenders often carry skins or other containers of water while traveling, in case they find themselves in a place with limited options for waterbending, such as a desert.
== Earth Kingdom ==
=== Armor ===
* Armor of the Metal Clan — Soldiers and security guards in the city of Zaofu wear heavy metal plate armor while on duty. Fitting in with the overall clean and utilitarian aesthetic of Zaofu, the armor carries very little ornamentation and is the natural color of the metal it is made from.
* Chain mail armor — Conceived by Sokka and crafted by the students of the Beifong Metalbending Academy, this armor is made of up of small, interconnected metal plates. Flexible enough to wear underneath clothing, it can also protect the wearer against chi-blocking.
* Conical military hat — The design of this hat can vary from location to location but typically features a wide brim tapering to a rounded or pointed top, often with a small spike protruding. It is worn by both troops throughout the Earth Kingdom and by the Dai Li, as it can easily protect the user from firebending blasts. Toph also donned such a hat during the invasion of the Fire Nation.
* Common military armor — Although designs vary by region, armor throughout much of the Earth Kingdom follows a relatively uniform aesthetic: Full-body protection—often incorporating multiple layers—colored in shades of green, gold, brown, and gray. Armor for earthbenders is often designed for greater freedom of movement and leaves the feet bare to increase sensitivity with the earth, while armor for nonbenders incorporates greater overall protection, including suitable footwear for combat.
* Ostrich horse armor — Ostrich horses, when used as cavalry beasts by some Earth Kingdom troops, were armored with overlapping brass-colored plates on their heads and necks and brass-colored greaves on their legs.
* Shield — A protective device, meant to intercept attacks.
** Collapsable wrist-shield — Utilized by the Kyoshi Warriors.
=== Artillery and explosives ===
* Blasting jelly — An explosive, volatile weapon used for demolition.
* Ice torpedo — Warheads full of blasting jelly with a lit fuse inside, invented by the mechanist to be used against the Fire Nation. Waterbenders are able to propel them because of the surrounding ice.
* Net launcher — A gun-like contraption used by the bison rustlers to capture baby sky bison, and later to trap Tenzin's students when they attempted to free the young animals.
* Peanut sauce bombs — Explosive weapons invented by the mechanist but that he had difficulty in perfecting.
* Smoke pellets — A combustive weapon that explodes on impact, creating large smokescreens to confuse and distract enemies or victims, providing the opportunity to either attack or escape.
* Spirit energy cannon — Created by the Earth Empire and mounted on the arm of the Colossus, the cannon converted the energy from spirit vines into an extremely powerful beam capable of destroying large buildings.
=== Melee weapons ===
* Butterfly sword — A short single-edged blade, the top of the hilt is turned up so the fighter can flip the sword around their thumb.
* Dual broadswords — A category of single-edge swords primarily used for slashing and chopping, often called a broadsword.
* Guan Dao spear — A large, heavy pole weapon used by a dojo master in the Patola Mountain Range.
* Hook swords — The primary weapon of Jet and Tokuga, hook swords function as three weapons in one: a long pole with a hook at the end, a curved blade above the fist, and a spearhead beneath the handle. An experienced user can hook the ends together to double the reach of the weapons.
* Jian sword — A type of straight sword used by the Earth Kingdom military. The last admiral of Ba Sing Se famously used a jian until he was killed and it was taken by Pirate Queen Tagaka, becoming known as the Blade of Tagaka.
* Kama — Traditional farming implements similar to a sickle used for reaping crops and which can also be employed as a weapon.
* Katana — A type of sword with a curved, slender, single-edged blade, a circular or rectangular guard, and a long grip to accommodate two hands. It is used by the Kyoshi Warriors and is one of the most effective means of cutting through organic material.
* Kukri — A curved knife used as both a tool and a weapon, and which was wielded by Smellerbee.
* Lochaber ax — A weapon consisting of a pole with an ax head mounted at its end, similar to tools used to cut crops, such as the scythe. The point on the back of the blade can be used for catching, hooking, and dragging clothing, skin, or weapons, not unlike the hook sword.
* Naginata — A pole weapon consisting of a wooden shaft with a curved blade on the end. It has a thick, slightly curved, katana-like blade connected to a long wooden pole.
* Ninjato — A sword with a square grip, a straight blade, and a small edge on its tip. The bartender of the cantina in the Misty Palms Oasis used dual ninjatos to cut fruit and ice in order to make drinks for anyone who stopped by.
* Nunchaku — A weapon consisting of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope. They take some skill to use, and the inexperienced will often end up hitting themselves with it.
* Pearl-handled dagger — Taken by Iroh from a defeated general in the Siege of Ba Sing Se and passed on to Zuko. It has an inscription on one side saying "Made in Earth Kingdom." The inscription on the other side reads "Never give up without a fight."
* Polearm — A large, two-handed edged weapon, usually in the form of a long metal or wood pole slightly taller than a person, with an axe-like head.
* Pu Dao — A form of anti-cavalry pole weapon, consisting of a broad, curved blade mounted atop a long wooden pole.
* Qian kun ri yue dao — A non-paired variety of the hook sword used by the pirates. The blade ends are semicircular: one resembles the sun while the other resembles the moon.
* War fans — Collapsible iron fans that can be used for both defense and offense. They are the primary weapons of the Kyoshi Warriors and usually carried as a pair, one wielded in each hand. Also known as shanzi.
* Twin war hammer — Similar to a sledgehammer in construction and appearance, it is used to augment the potency of earthbending attacks, but can also be attached to chains and used as a distance weapon. A rogue Earth Kingdom soldier, Gow, used this weapon to great effect in both of these capacities.
* Wooden club — A weapon made of wood used by Pipsqueak. It is simple yet effective when used by someone of great strength.
=== Ranged weapons ===
* Bow — A weapon possessed by Longshot that uses tension to propel arrows.
* Crossbow — A weapon used by the pirates consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles.
* Surface-to-air rocks — A large earthen projectile, they are the primary weapons of the Royal Earthbender Guards.
=== Other ===
* Earthbending-powered tank — Designed by Sokka and built by the mechanist, in collaboration with earthbenders, these stone vehicles provided both transportation and protection during the invasion of the Fire Nation.
* Large earth coins — These human-sized round coins are used as weapons primarily by earthbending soldiers, but some civilian earthbenders have also used these coins in combat.
* Metal plates — Skilled metalbenders are able to use small metal plates stored in a backpack or armband as ammunition. These plates can be used either to bind the limbs of enemies, blind them by covering their eyes, or sharpened into an edge for delivering fatal blows. Kuvira incorporated these plates into the uniform of the metalbending soldiers of her army.
* Meteor hammer — A weapon consisting of two weights connected by a rope or chain. Due to its flexible construction, the meteor hammer can easily be concealed as a defensive or surprise weapon.
* Rock gloves — These gloves are the favored weapons of the Dai Li, and agents use them to great effect in battle through earthbending.
== Fire Nation ==
=== Armor ===
* Aang's armor — An elaborate arrangement of armor bearing skull motifs sold by a weapons store in the Fire Nation town of Shu Jing. Despite the variety of weaponry featured on the armor, including blades, chains, and spikes, it remained impractical for battlefield use, as it was much too heavy and cumbersome to wear while fighting, which was demonstrated by Aang when he clumsily toppled over.
* Military armor — Fire Nation armor follows a relatively uniform aesthetic, albeit with regional differences as well as variations according to the wearer's status or bending ability. Red and black armor accompanied by helmets is the standard, and it can include a protective skull-shaped mask for benders.
=== Artillery and explosives ===
* Ballista — A large, crossbow-like, crew-served weapon that launches heavy spear-like bolts, harpoons, or explosive shells.
* Cannon — A primitive, firebending-powered cannon mounted on Fire Nation airships and used to launch bombs.
** Hand cannon — During the era of Kyoshi, bronze single-shot hand cannons were made with Fire Nation explosives.
* Catapult — A number of non-handheld, crew-served mechanical devices used to throw heavy projectiles a great distance without the aid of explosives. Multiple trebuchet-style catapults can be found on each Fire Navy ship, especially those that guard the nation's borders; these ornate catapults have a large dragon head statue at the top of each arm.
* Trebuchet — Artillery used to hurl projectiles, most commonly flaming rocks, great distances.
=== Melee weapons ===
* Dadao — Large, single-edged broadswords used by some Fire Nation soldiers.
* Dual broadswords — A category of single-edged swords primarily used for slashing and chopping, Zuko frequently wielded this weapon during his travels.
* Fire Nation sword — The standard long-bladed sword used by Fire Nation soldiers.
* Guan Dao — A large, heavy pole weapon used by Kahchi of the Rough Rhinos. The Chou family also wielded these weapons during the era of Raava.
* Hammer — A medium-sized sledgehammer that can be used as a tool or a weapon. The hammer can also be connected to an iron chain, making it a powerful medium-distance weapon.
* Jian sword — A type of straight sword wielded by Piandao and Sokka. In the hands of a master it can be far more versatile and dangerous than it appears. It is usually made of high-quality steel, but Sokka's sword was forged from a meteorite. This unique sword can cut over a foot of solid metal or rock.
* Jii — A halberd-spear with a crescent moon-shaped blade on one or both sides. It is useful against both ground infantry and cavalry.
* Kanabo — A large, heavy club weapon with either metal studs or spikes running in vertical rows along the length of the weapon. It has enough power to easily smash bones, even if the target uses a shield.
* Nunchaku — Two short lengths of wood connected by a chain, used as a flexible striking weapon.
* Poison knife — A dagger with a compartment for poison in its handle. Jet "discovered" this on an elderly Fire Nation citizen to incriminate him.
* Pu Dao — An anti-cavalry halberd used in combat during the battle for Yu Dao in 101 AG by the reformed Fire Nation Army.
* San gu cha — A trident-shaped dagger.
* Spear — Mainly used by nonbender troops, the handle is made of wood and some types of spears have a red tuft near the base of the spearhead, both to distract opponents and to prevent blood from running down the shaft.
=== Ranged weapons ===
* Bow — A weapon that uses tension generated by a string and wooden or laminate staff to propel arrows. It is used by the Yuyan Archers and also used with flaming arrows by Vachir.
* Chain — A weapon used by Ogodei made of a heavy object attached to a chain with a handle. It can be used to damage buildings or tie up enemies.
* Stiletto — Small arrow-like darts used by Mai. They are thrown much in the same way as throwing stars and can restrain an enemy by pinning their clothes to a surface behind or below them.
* Throwing knives — Mai's preferred weapons. She carried a variety of these blades to be used for different types of attacks.
=== Other ===
* Bamboo ladders — More of a tool than a weapon, these flexible ladders made of green bamboo were used for the quick scaling of walls when constructing more elaborate systems was inconvenient.
* Poison — Certain plants and flowers can be made into poisons with a variety of effects. Ursa's mother was a master herbalist and taught her daughter how to create an odorless, tasteless poison that would cause painless death.
== United Republic of Nations ==
=== Armor ===
* Police armor — The Metalbending Police Force of Republic City wears elaborate body armor as part of their uniform, which can only be donned through the use of metalbending.
* Riot shield — A defensive tool used by Republic City police officers.
=== Artillery and explosives ===
* Bombs — An explosive dropped by Equalist biplanes, they are capable of causing massive amounts of damage.
* Naval mine — Deployed underwater, these large metal balls float on the current and detonate upon impact, creating a massive explosion capable of crippling a United Forces battleship. The Equalists used these bombs to destroy the United Forces' fleet.
* Torpedo — Torpedoes, when dropped in the water, will travel straight until they come into contact with another object, detonating upon impact. The Equalists had their biplanes equipped with these bombs in order to destroy the United Forces' fleet.
=== Melee weapons ===
* Electrified glove — A portable weapon that releases a powerful electrical shock capable of rendering a victim unconscious.
* Electrified kali sticks — Metal prods used to stun and immobilize opponents upon contact, powered by a generator strapped to the back of the user. They are the signature weapon of the Lieutenant.
* Electrified prod — An electroshock weapon used by the Lieutenant that is disguised as a spider rat extermination device.
* Metal blades — Lin Beifong's police armor included short, retractable metal blades that extended from the gauntlets on her arms.
* Tonfa — A hand-held weapon, a wooden stick with a perpendicular handle, traditionally wielded in pairs.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 185.
* Truncheon — A short club or "nightstick" used by nonbending members of the Republic City Police.
=== Ranged weapons ===
* Bolas — Weighted lengths of cord thrown by the Equalists to entangle and bring down their foes.
* Earth disks — Smaller versions of the large earth coins, they are employed by pro-bending players, as well as earthbending soldiers in the United Forces.
* Electrified ropes — Ropes wrapped around small disks that deliver a powerful electric shock to victims, used by the Equalists.
* Firebending cannon — Found on United Forces battleships, these cannons are used to concentrate a firebender's attack into a long-range blast capable of destroying enemy targets.
* Metal cables — Stored in large spools on the back of their armor, these cables are the primary weapon of the Metalbending Police Force. They can be used to subdue criminals and allow the officers to move quickly across the city.
* Smoke grenade — Canisters that release a thick smoke to block an opponents' vision.
* Throwing knife — A small dagger used by Bumi, who became proficient in knife throwing during his time in the United Forces.
=== Other ===
* Biplane — Method of transportation and warfare developed by Hiroshi Sato for the Equalists' attack on Republic City. Their great maneuverability makes them highly capable of dropping bombs and torpedoes on enemy targets. Following the Anti-Bending Revolution, biplanes were incorporated in the United Republic's defenses on a broader scale.
* Mecha tank — Built by Hiroshi Sato for the Equalists, mecha tanks are large, mechanized suits that the Equalists used to defeat their opponents in battle.
== Other ==
* Cosh - A bludgeoning weapon used by the shang merchant Teiin's hired muscle to beat down protestors.
* Flying bison armor — For the invasion of the Fire Nation on the Day of Black Sun, Sokka fashioned a one-of-a-kind suit of armor for Appa. Made of metal and leather, it both protected the bison and enhanced the fierceness of his appearance.
* Sap - A bludgeoning weapon used by the shang merchant Teiin's hired muscle to beat down protestors.
== Trivia ==
* Weapons in the world of Avatar take inspiration from real world Asian and Indigenous cultures, such as the Chinese dao and other traditional weapons.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 11.
* "Wind sword" is also the name of a weapon in Nintendo's Fire Emblem series and Berserk series.
== References ==
== See also ==
* Mai's weapons
* Sokka's weapons
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