Water

Basic Waterbending

water
water

Water is the element of change. It is obviously more fluid, and is both defensive and offensive. Before the Avatar, when there were Lion Turtles, people would receive their bending abilities from them. Later on, when the turtles stopped, waterbenders instead learned how to control water again by observing the moon pushing and pulling on the tides of the ocean. It is the only element not learned from animals, but a spirit. As such, waterbenders are very connected with the spirit world (story for another time), and the moon spirit in particular. When those are damaged, so are their abilities. This spirituality is what enabled Chief Unalaq to be able to calm dark spirits into light or vice versa.

Like all the other elements, waterbending possesses no real edge over the others unless in special circumstances. For water, night-time gives a small boost, while a full moon greatly enhances the bender's ability. Since water is so flexible, it can be used in nearly any way by transforming it from liquid to ice to steam. Movements of waterbenders tend to blend together and work with the surrounding environment. A downside of waterbending is that if there is none present, the bender will have to resort to other means, which are considered taboo. Therefore, many of them keep a small pouch of water with them to use when needed. Momentum is also crucial when waterbending. If that is lost, only the most skilled benders can keep going.

Before Avatar Aang, waterbending was endemic to the Northern and Southern Water Tribes at both poles of the world. A small Foggy Swamp tribe of waterbenders living in the Earth Kingdom also developed their own style that mostly used the water in plants. By Korra's time, waterbenders have proliferated all over the world and are pretty much as abundant as earthbenders and firebenders, inventing all kinds of new styles.

Bloodbending

bloodbending bloodbending bloodbending

Bloodbending is the sub-element of waterbending that deals with 70% of the inside of human bodies. Although it is helpful to have the power of a full moon when bloodbending, it is apparently not necessary. The person being bloodbent loses control of their own bodies, and cracking sounds are audible during the process. It is considered so inhumane that it is the only element that is illegal. In addition, if there is no Avatar or other bloodbender nearby, it seems to be invincible.

Bloodbending was discovered by Hama, a captured Southern Water Tribeswoman, while experimenting in her jail cell. She took control over a guard and escaped to a village. There, she spent every full moon for decades bloodbending villagers in to a cave, presumably to be kept dead. When the Gaang was staying with her, Katara was forced to bloodbend Hama and imprison her when the old woman turned on her friends. She did it later again on the man she thought killed her mother. However, she was horrified by her new skills, regardless of how useful they would be in any situation, and later got them banned.

In the Legend of Korra, we learn about Yakone, a crime boss who was able to bloodbend without a full moon. He later had two sons, Noatak and Tarrlok, who learned bloodbending as well and are central antagonists in Season 1. These five are the only ones who have ever practiced bloodbending in history, as far as we know.

Healing

healing

Healing is a sub-element of waterbending that uses water, makes it glow, and puts it over minor injuries to ease them. To cure major injuries, spirit water from the North or South Poles is needed. When the Gaang first goes to the Northern Water Tribe, healing is the only aspect of waterbending that girls are allowed to learn. Katara wasn't happy with this, and the problem was fixed later on. 70 years later in Legend of Korra, Katara is the world's best healer. Healing still has its limits, however, and cannot replace energybending.

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