There are plenty of movies and anime series that feature characters who can manipulate elements, but very few have managed to obtain the kind of success thatAvatar: The Last Airbenderhas. The series debuted on Nickelodeon in 2005, and although it was aimed at kids, it is the type of show that can be enjoyed by all ages because of the action and subject matter. The world ofAvataris split into four nations, and each nation specializes in a form of elemental bending.
Firebending is the only bending art that allows the user to generate this element from nothing, and it is known for its aggressive and intense fighting style. It’s understandable why Aang could barely wield this element, since he could’ve staked his claim as one of the strongest Avatars around if this was the case. Fans of the franchise have seen a number of firebenders, but some are far stronger than others.
Updated on June 13, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Many fans are worried about Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The news surrounding this series has been anything but positive, and fans can only hope that everyone is proven wrong once this show is finally released. Of course, even if this live-action adaptation turns out to be an abject failure, fans can still rest assured that the original animated series and its sequel exist, with the firebenders in the show being notable for being some of the most powerful characters in the show who have enough power to burn everyone and everything to a crisp when things get really serious. Here’s who thestrongest firebendersare.
20Kiyi
Zuko’s Half-Sister Who Showed Potential To Become A Powerful Firebender
Most fans have no idea thatAvatar: The Last Airbenderreceived an official sequel in the form of graphic novels that fleshed out the aftermath of Fire Lord Ozai’s defeat and the world’s return to normalcy. After the release ofThe PromisecameThe Search, which focused on Zuko’s mother and his search for her.
A new character introduced in the second part ofThe Searchis Kiyi, Zuko and Azula’s half-sister who has some powerful latent firebending abilities. While the full extent of these powers isn’t seen in the graphic novel itself, she does manage to awaken these powers in a moment of need, that’s pretty impressive in its own right.
19Mongke
The Leader Of The Rough Rhinos
Most people who served in the Fire Nation military in high-ranking positions are adept firebenders who can destroy most things if they get serious. Mongke is one such individual who decides to leave the service to form his freelance group.
He’s pretty powerful and flexes his firebending skills time and time again. While he may not be as strong as some of the other notable firebenders in the series, that shouldn’t take anything away from the sheer power he can display when things get serious.
18Bujing
A Ruthless High General Of The Fire Nation Army
Becoming a High General in the Fire Nation Army pretty much mandates a person in this position to be as adept in the use of firebending as possible. Bujing’s presence in the story stems from Zuko’s flashback when he got a scar after speaking out against the general and his advice. This ended up offending his father, who engaged him in an Agni Kai and gave him a permanent scar.
While Bujing never really showed his skill with firebending, his high post makes it clear that he was a force to be reckoned with. Fans hoped they could see this heinous individual in action just once, but this never really transpired.
17Mako
A Firebender Who Serves As One Of The Major Characters In The Legend Of Korra
Mako was a fairly skilled firebender, but mostAvatarfans will remember him for being Korra and Asami’s former boyfriend. He and his younger brother grew up as orphans in Republic City, where he came in contact with a criminal organization before becoming a Pro-bender.
Mako specialized in a more modern form of firebending, especially during combat, but he was well-versed in the traditional style as well. He was known for using defensive weaving and dodging patterns, which he then followed up with offensive flurries. He was also able to create and redirect lightning.
16Shyu
The Leader Of The Fire Nation Capital’s Sages
It’s rare to see a firebender on the side of good, but that’s precisely what makes Shyu such a major anomaly. He’s one of the few firebenders around who realized that the plans for conquest by the Fire Nation were extremely destructive and were leading the world down a path of ruin. As a result,he stayed loyal to the Avatar, even going so far as to help Aang connect with Avatar Roku when the protagonist needed his help.
While he was imprisoned and branded as a traitor by the Fire Lord after going against his will, his loyalty was finally rewarded after Aang managed to take out Fire Lord Ozai and stop the Fire Nation from expanding aggressively. Shyu ended up serving as the leader of the Fire Nation’s Sages and helped steer the country after its ambitions were overthrown.
15Admiral Zhao
The Former Leader Of The Fire Nation Navy
Admiral Zhao was the first real villain that Avatar Aang dealt with, and he was nearly responsible for the complete destruction of the Northern Water Tribe. During his invasion, he managed to get to the Moon Spirit, and he was able to kill it with his firebending.
He was trained by Jeong Jeong, and he went on to become one of the Fire Nation’s strongest fighters. Contrary to Jeong Jeong’s teachings, Zhao focused on the destructive side of firebending, which allowed him to develop powerful moves, and he was proficient in defense.
14Lightning Bolt Zolt
The Former Leader Of The Triple Threat Triad
The Triple Threat Triad was a criminal organization in Republic City that was known for committing crimes against non-benders. Zolt was the organization’s leader, and he was known for being a very skilled firebender. Lightning bending is an extremelypowerful specialized form of firebending, and Zolt mastered it.
His nickname was “Lightning Bolt” Zolt, and he was the one who taught Lightning bending to Mako. He was one of the only firebenders who could rapidly generate lightning in consecutive bursts and switch between fire and lighting effortlessly.
13Combustion Man
A Firebending Assassin And One Of The Few People Proficient In Combustionbending
Combustion Man was the nickname given to the firebending assassin andbounty hunterthat Prince Zuko hired. He was supposed to kill Avatar Aang, and he nearly succeeded thanks to hiscombustion-bending abilities. This is a telekinetic form of firebending which produces powerful explosive beams of energy from the user’s forehead.
The intricate third-eye tattoo is what allowed him to channel his chi into his forehead, and unlike normal firebending, all he needed to do was inhale and concentrate on a target. His blasts could disintegrate large boulders with ease, and he could singlehandedly evaporate large bodies of water.
12P’Li
A Long-Time Member Of The Red Lotus Proficient In Combustionbending
P’Li was a member of the Red Lotus, a militant group that wished to bring balance to the world by eliminating the Avatar and all of the world’s governments. She and her friends attempted to kidnap Avatar Korra, but they were thwarted, and she was imprisoned at the North Pole for 13 years.
Other than Combustion Man, she is the only known firebender who is capable of combustion bending, and she uses the same third-eye tattoo. She could fire multiple shots in quick succession, and unlike Combustion Man, she could curve her blasts to hit her target from different angles and directions.
11Zuko
Fire Lord Ozai’s Ostracized Son Who Has A Change Of Heart
Zuko was permanently scarred and banished by his father, and he hunted the Avatar in hopes of regaining his honor as Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. He started off as an enemy of Team Avatar, but after seeing the error of his ways, he joins the team and becomes Aang’s firebending teacher.
It took time, but Zuko became a firebending master. Getting the blessing of Ran and Shaw definitely helped, with these firebending dragons allowing Zuko to believe in himself once again and become a competent firebender. He could redirect lightning, but in terms of actual combat, he was not as skilled as his younger sister, in fact, he was only able to defeat her with help from Katara andher water abilities.InThe Legend of Korra,he is in his late 80s, but he is still a capable fighter.
