Basic Waterbending
![water](https://33.media.tumblr.com/40e991ef72c1424d560fe0379aada070/tumblr_mwok64GhtS1rzxofio1_r2_500.gif)
![water](https://31.media.tumblr.com/c0be63f33e68e0b28eb5f7f0cece0bdc/tumblr_inline_mrg9vhBe781qz4rgp.gif)
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.