Fight Breakdown: Macai vs Azula

100 AD: Two years after the Hundred Year War. Warning: Spoilers Below...

## Introduction

Jakki: "Hey, I'm Jakki Sonis and this is Fight Breakdown. Today we're pitting two awesome fighters against each other. On the left corner, we have the A list firebending prodigy Princess Azula. On the right, we have the B list military expert Macai. Azula has blue flames and Macai flashes white. Only one can win in this epic fight."

While this discussion takes place in an open room, a painter creates a portrait of the scene while a writer jots down details to be featured in newspaper.

Uvanis teases, "Oh, watch out everybody, she's rhyming now."

Pamo: "Hold up there. Since when is Macai a B-lister? He's a well-known fighter."

Jakki: "Azula is a global icon. Macai is fairly popular in the Fire Nation but not everyone knows who he is. With the Earth Kingdom, his name rings a bell to military experts but not the general public unless their town or village was personally hit by him. For the Water Tribes, the same applies. It's like comparing a monarch to a general."

Pamo: "General isn't fair, Macai has more of a name than the average general with his flashy fights. It's more like comparing a monarch to a duke or duchess."

Jakki: "Exactly why I say B lister. I'm obviously not referring to his A tier skills, but his fame isn't on the Princess's level."

Ivanko inquires, "Is Azula even a princess anymore?"

Jakki: "Of course she is, how could you say something so ignorant?"

Ivanko clarifies, "I'm just asking, she's obviously lost her honor."

Jakki questions, "What has that to do with anything?"

Ivanko: "Everything, nobility are recognized by their honor. At least that's how we do it in the Water Tribe, but I guess your people have lacked that for sometime. Still, I thought with Zuko, her title was stripped."

Jakki retorts, "No, that's never happened."

Ivanko: "Well, she should feel honored but knowing her she won't be grateful and will be resentful that she isn't Firelord. To think of it, she wasn't happy with that either. She wanted to be Phoenix King."

Pamo: "Ivanko, you're getting into politics now, reel it in." Ivanko gasps and silences himself.

Uvanis taps the table, "We should get into fighter introductions now."

Jakki glares forward, "Then I'll take the lead here, since I'm a firebender."

Pamo: "I just knew you were going to say that."

Jakki bats her eyes at him, "So let's start with Princess Azula. She is a fierce Princess who is known for her agility, speed, ferociousness, precision, creativity, and determination. She has notable victories against Avatar Aang, Prince Zuko, Ty Lee & Suki, and several Earth Kingdom soldiers."

Pamo: "But don't forget about Macai who is known for his determination, grit, resilience, sensational form, remarkable timing, discipline, patience, tactical brilliance, physical strength, and unorthodox skillset. Macai's white flames are bright and blinding in nature which can quickly disable and put out just about any opponent. Macai is NOT an easy fight for anyone. Macai is the commander of the famous 31st Company. He also has beaten Director Goshal, General Gambo, Raggus Praxus, The Silent Sisters, and Colonel Shi.”

Jakki chirps, "You know, I could have said that."

Pamo smirks, "No point in letting you have all the fun."

Uvanis: "And Macai's flames are hotter right?"

Jakki: "Wrong, I see someone failed science class."

Uvanis: "Sorry, the Earth Kingdom doesn't really study that kind of science."

Jakki: "I could say something really prejudice about that, but I'm not going to."

Pamo: "Oh gosh, the vibes are already there. You shouldn't have even said that much."

Jakki: "Toughen up, aren't you an earthbender?"

Pamo barks, “Shut your mouth."

Jakki: "I'd rather keep it open, that's my favorite position."

Uvanis: "Here we go."

Jakki: "Point is blue fire is the hottest, white flames are the second hottest."

Ivanko: "Which basically means Azula has LESS of an advantage than normal. This sounds like the perfect banana skin, I smell an upset."

Jakki: "Then your sense of smell is off. You might be smelling you own delusion and ignorance."

Ivanko: "You're so conceited, it will be your downfall."

Jakki: "Blah, blah, blah, here we go with another speech."

Ivanko shrugs, "I thought that was the whole point of this."

Jakki retorts, "You thought wrong."

Ivanko: "No wonder your people lost the war."

Uvanis comments, "Ooooou, I felt that burn all the way at this side of the table."

Jakki: "Trying to get a rise out of me? Nice try, but it won't work."

Pamo: "Getting back on topic or at least heading closer in that direction, I should note that violet flames are actually the hottest not blue or white."

Jakki: "Azula's flames are still hotter than Macai's and no one has violet fire so shut it Pamo."

Pamo: "Someone has before, Prodigious Tin..."

Jakki: "No one cares, this isn't a history class, no one in this era has violet fire."

Ivanko: "Someone might, just not any player in this era."

Jakki: "Well that person wouldn't be relevant, so my point stands."

Ivanko: "Excuse me? I think someone with violet flames would DEFINITELY be relevant."

Jakki: "No hypotheticals..."

Ivanko: "This whole discussion is a hypothetical."

Jakki: "RELEVANT hypotheticals only."

Ivanko: "There you go, you keep raising the bar."

Pamo: "Ivanko's argument in a nutshell, Azula's good but she's overrated just like every A-list fighter."

Ivanko: "Overrated? No, not quite. Simply that Macai is underrated since he is less known but military experts more fairly rate him. Still a bias exists. Azula was the heir to the throne after Zuko was forfeited his. That may have changed now, but in many people's minds she should be ruling or at least in position to do so. Many people falsely think that because someone rules, that means they're the most powerful figure. While that may be true at times in history, it usually isn't."

Jakki: "I think it's a toss-up depending on the era. Ozai was the most powerful firebender."

## The Iroh Connection

Uvanis: "That's very debatable, Iroh may have been the strongest."

Jakki: "You have to be joking, Iroh wouldn't even beat Azula, he's well past his prime."

Pamo: "Are you out of your mind? Iroh is still an excellent fighter. He led the Liberation of Ba Sing Se and he trained Zuko who is a top fighter of this era even if he pales in comparison to Azula."

Ivanko: "Pales in comparison? You realize Zuko beat Azula right? He took the crown from her."

Pamo: "You realize Azula was mentally unfit during that fight."

Ivanko: "And he drew with her right before then."

Pamo: "She was already mentally declining."

Ivanko: "Then he beat her AGAIN after that."

Pamo: "Still not fit."

Ivanko: "All these excuses, when someone beats a fighter not once but TWICE and draws another time, they've proven they are on the same level. Azula might have beaten him before, but back then Zuko hadn't reached his potential. Because of the toxic culture of the Fire Nation, he couldn't grow."

Jakki: "That's funny, because Azula grew just fine."

Ivanko: "Some people respond to trauma differently Jakki, come on, use critical thinking skills. Zuko was loving and compassionate, he didn't have the heart to do the things she and others did. The culture ate away from him and left him feeling depressed. When he joined the Avatar, he completely reformed his style and was able to match her."

Uvanis: "And to be fair, Azula beat Zuko again after that. When she kidnapped the children and made her return."

Jakki: "Yes and since we are skipping events, Macai has losses himself too. Macai was beaten by Iroh with help from two of his best warriors."

Ivanko: "That was a weird day. The eclipse occurred at first, they didn't have any bending. Then when it ended, Macai had to fight separately from his allies."

Jakki: "Iroh was still too much for him."

Ivanko: "Azula isn't Iroh. Iroh has a lot more EX-perience than her. He also has a completely different fighting style. He is a quick pressure fighter who puts combinations together."

Jakki chuckles, "You don't think Azula puts together combos, did you read about her fight with Aang at the Drill?"

Ivanko: "Iroh is a better grappler, he can move in and wrestle someone. Ask Azula? He's put her down before on two different occasions. He has a rare skill not many possess in the Fire Nation. During his escape from the prison, he used the same skills to bash several guards up. Iroh is surprisingly fast for his age but his stamina isn't the best. That's his biggest vulnerability but he reduces it with his quick recovery rate."

Jakki: "Azula would punish him for that."

Ivanko: "Well, I shouldn't have to tell you that styles make fights. This isn't Iroh vs Azula, this is Macai vs Azula."

Pamo: "And to be fair, Iroh would wash Azula."

Jakki: "We will definitely argue that another time but point is, Macai has lost to a top tier fighter before."

Ivanko: "So what? Azula has lost to a lower tier fighter in Zuko."

## The Waterbender Connection

Jakki: "And Macai has lost to a lower tier fighter than him in Jarue."

Ivanko: "Jarue's a good fighter."

Jakki replies, "Waterbender bias."

Pamo reasons, "Honestly, Jarue is fundamentally a great fighter. He has good form and can be tricky at times. Is he A tier in skills? No, but he is probably B+ tier. Jarue has the perfect skill for an upset. He is someone good that Macai did not know much about and someone that Macai was seriously overconfident against. That's the only reason he lost."

Jakki: "Do we really know that? Jarue was defending Macai's attacks no problem."

Pamo: "That's because Jarue was moving laterally with water to avoid Macai's hot flames which were evaporating a lot of his water and ice. Jarue used his environment against Macai and then limited his room to maneuver then took him out."

Jakki: "Jarue would have never beaten Azula, she'd counter and shut him down quite quickly."

Ivanko: "Azula doesn't have the best track record against waterbenders either, Katara bested her twice."

Jakki: "TWICE?? Where did you get that from?!"

Ivanko: "Come on, at Ba Sing Se? Don't act like you don't know."

Jakki: "That fight wasn't resolved."

Ivanko: "Katara was piercing her up and dictating the fight the entire time. Azula was fighting more defensively than normal with less than her typical output."

Jakki: "Sometimes you have to adjust to the style of your enemy."

Pamo: "Azula's body language wasn't the same either. Even her facial expressions were showing signs that she didn't want any parts of Katara and her confidence was diminished. Some Da Li records and private journals later mentioned this. Guards when stated that Azula became uneasy when Katara was mentioned during Ba Sing Se's occupation."

Jakki: "A lot of people overread into situations. That doesn't mean anything."

Ivanko: "Katara had Azula wrapped in a water tentacle, and she groaned as Katara prepared to slam her. The only reason she didn't fall was because Zuko joined in and blasted the tentacle. Had it not been for that, she'd have been lying unconscious on the floor with her first official loss."

Jakki: "Azula might have freed herself and even if she didn't one slam wouldn't necessarily knock her out. She may have allowed Katara to do that to convince Zuko to rescue her. There are so many variables you are ignoring."

Uvanis: "I'm going to interject there, Azula has way too much pride to risk a loss to bring someone over, especially her brother. She had such a mental hold over him that she wanted to appear strong at all times."

Ivanko: "Then the second time, Azula was enhanced by Sozin's Comet and still got beaten up. It must have hurt for her to discover Katara is just a better fighter with half the privilege and training. Imagine if they started off with the same resources, Katara would have outright demolished her."

Jakki: "AGAIN, Azula wasn't mentally right during that event."

Ivanko: "But her flames were amped in size, width, and vitality by Sozin's Comet so it was an even fight and Katara still won. Even if the first fight wasn't resolved, Katara beat Azula for 90 percent of their first fight and all of the second one."

Jakki: "90 percent, that's ridiculous."

Pamo: "Maybe 70 percent to be fair."

Jakki: "No, that's way too steep."

Ivanko mocks, "Firebender bias."

## The Earthbender Connection

Jakki: "And Macai got knocked out by Toph. Someone Azula would have soundly beaten."

Pamo: "According to who, you? Give me a break. Toph would obliterate her."

Jakki: "Toph hadn't beaten anyone elite before Macai."

Pamo: "But that Macai win shows it all, it shows how her skills translate against a top tier opponent."

Ivanko: "Not to mention, Macai had just fought Aang and was probably tired from that."

Pamo: "Toph beats Macai ten times out of ten but not so much for skill as for fighting style."

Jakki: "Azula would buzz around Toph and take advantage that her seismic sense is more limited against mobile enemies."

Ivanko: "Toph has a stylistic advantage against Macai that Azula does not. As you said, she has seismic sense which can be used to track her opponents' movements whenever they are on the ground. She can feel their trance and predict what they are going to do before it happens. Macai fights in a more direct, break them down kind of way like an earthbender. He can be mobile, but he only does so to close the distance and force enemies to scrap where he picks them apart. Macai also can't blind Toph because she already is."

Jakki: "Yes, but Azula will not allow herself to be blinded. She's so skilled that she will find a way to bend while covering her face and not looking directly at the commander."

Ivanko: "No buts, I agree that she can do that but by doing that, her vision will be more limited which means she won't be able to get as creative with her attacks and will be forced to fight more defensively. She also isn't fighting some novice with these advantages, but is going up against someone who rivals her in every way. While I'd say Azula is a better strategist, Macai seems to be a better on-the-spot tactician who can adjust in your face. Macai is always the most dangerous the first few times an opponent goes up against him. He would likely swarm and overwhelm Azula who doesn't have the same counters to him that Toph does."

Uvanis: "Also don't forget Macai has his fire flame and repulse abilities which can break Azula's guard."

Jakki remarks, "Those are telegraphed attacks that leave him open to counters."

Pamo adds, "Macai can defend himself while performing those attacks, he's creative. Macai is also a decent grappler himself who can fight in a dirtier way than Azula that somehow is still more honorable and clean than what someone like Zhao or Ozai employs. Macai can get in and throw elbows, overhands, uppercuts, and hard hooks that Azula isn't known for using. His strength and durability edge means she won't want to trade with him in a psychical exchange."

Jakki: "But Azula knows that and will keep her distance. She will also have a counter ready for when he moves in."

Ivanko: "That goes two ways, Macai knows Azula can counter and will look to cut her off. He will tacticially close the distance and look to exhaust her before he goes in for the kill."

Pamo: "Both are elite fighters, I can see them both using feints in this fight too in order to trick or mentally drain each other. Neither will crumble under pressure."

## Avatar Connection

Ivanko: "What about their fights against Aang? We can't ignore those."

Pamo: "They both beat him, which shows Macai is on Azula's level."

Jakki: "When Azula defeated Aang, it was a head on fight. He was expecting her and she directly outclassed him. Then when Aang tried to unlock the Avatar State, she immediately shocked him. Azula's win is better."

Pamo: "For those who might not know the context, Macai attacked Aang after he had been meditating for some time. He was tired, drained, and unable to enter the Avatar State. Macai studied this weakness for days before attacking him and picked a time that Aang was not with most of his gang."

Ivanko: "Aang wasn't in the best state when Azula beat him either. He hadn't learned four elements and only had three at the time. He was still getting used to earthbending. Aang mastered all four elements when Macai took him down and that was only about a month ago. Then Toph came to Aang's defense and defeated Macai."

## Romantic Connection

Uvanis: "But, everyone is missing another crucial detail, they both dated each other. And this wasn't like the Chan fling, this was serious. This story even gives context behind that story."

Jakki: "Before their fallout, I was 90 percent sure they were going to marry each other."

Pamo asks, "90 percent? With how crazy Azula is? I think 40 would be a fairer estimate."

Jakki: "Pamo, you and your percentages..."

Pamo: "Facts over fantasy."

Jakki: "You said zero facts."

Pamo: "You can't count."

Jakki: "Alternative facts is more like it."

Ivanko: "Regardless, I don't think we can reasonably predict how their past romantic ties will influence the fight. If both of them are equally hampered, then the result will be the same."

Uvanis: "I think Macai will be more limited than Azula because Azula is a cold-blooded killer who only used him for her ego. Azula uses everyone, just like how she used her friends Ty Lee and Mai."

## Pundit Picks

Pamo: "I'm going to go against that argument. Azula can be a mental case, but she actually cares about people in her own ineffective way. That's why she declined in performance against Zuko when her friends turned on her. With Macai, she won't fight at her peak, but Azula now is better than when she lost to Zuko. Azula is also familiar with Macai and his fighting style like Zuko. She might be limited against him but will also use Macai's emotions against him which will win her the fight."

Jakki: "I agree that Azula will win but not in that way. Azula wins because she always finds a way against any opponent. Azula beat Aang and without the Avatar state he can't beat her. Azula would have beaten Katara if she was mentally stable, and she wasn't right when she fought her at Ba Sing Se. Must have been a bad day. She was starting to decline when she drew with Zuko. When she's right, she can beat anyone. In this case, Macai won't be at his best either. Macai also has the habit of avoiding things he doesn't like similar to his father Eyre. If they were to fight, it likely would be on Azula's terms and when she's ready which means she wins."

Ivanko: "I heard a whole lot of contradictions in a short time. It's amazing they allow you to comment like that. Azula looked horrible in her first fight against Katara because she was fighting a skilled opponent with a stylistic advantage over her. Katara is patient, innovative, unique, and not overly aggressive like Zuko was which made him easy to counter. When Zuko got more patient, Azula struggled to break his guard. Macai is patient and is known for his mental composure. Eyre conditioned him to separate fighting from his feelings and combat is almost completely instinctive for him. Macai will have the advantage and he beats Azula 6 out of 10 times for me."

Uvanis: "Azula is so distracted by things other than Macai like her quest for the throne and attempts to control Zuko. We honestly don't know if Azula or Macai would initiate the fight or miraculously run into each other during some mission. If Azula starts it, she has the edge. If Macai does, then he has a slight advantage. “

Uvanis continues, “If they both take each other head on in a neutral setting, Macai is the tactician, it would be extremely hard for Azula to handle his pressure in a different way than Zuko or Aang. Macai has a year more experience than the three of them and training on par with Azula but in a fight like this, I think the one thing that sets Azula apart is that she has an even greater will to win."

Pamo: "That's an interesting point."

Uvanis: "I know Macai is always game, but reality is, he is game when he is fighting opponents that he was always conditioned to fight. Even when Azula isn't mentally all there or is fighting someone she doesn't want to be up against, she can be ferocious if she needs be to in order to win. She almost killed her own brother, despite not being mentally together. Even though Zuko officially beat her, Azula won that fight by using Katara's presence to her advantage."

Pamo: "And cheating, that doesn't count."

Uvanis: "I know it doesn't, but the point is, if she fights Macai she will do what it takes to win at any cost. She won't care about hurting him. With how he cares for her and assuming its 1-on-1, she only has to land one time. So, for that reason and that reason alone I give the edge to Azula 55 to 45 percent."

Ivanko: "Well, that was something, I guess we will see if they ever fight. If not, then I hope you appreciated this discussion. Catch us next time on Fight Breakdown. For now, goodbye."

Like he said, I hope you enjoyed this activity. Have you seen the fight? If you have, you are welcome to share your thoughts on this fight in the comments below or check out more fight breakdowns right here at the AMJ wiki. If you haven't seen it, read "Avatar: Macai's Journey" on Webnovel, Avatar: Wiki, Wattpad, or AO3. You can read chapter 54 "An Old Friend" to see this specific showdown.