Avatar: The Last Airbender's combat system is largely built around bending, but there's still plenty of room for a dazzling variety of weapons and martial arts styles to stay well-rounded -- and give non-benders such as Ty Lee and Sokka something to do. Sokka was initially armed with traditional Southern Water Tribe weapons, but then he got an upgrade.
By Book Three: Fire, Sokka felt his combat skills were hopeless and that without bending, he couldn't contribute to the team's effort. All that changed when a meteorite struck the ground near the gang's camp, and Sokka resolved to get his own master. This, in turn, would lead to an incredibly unique sword.
Sokka Learns From Piandao
Sokka's new "space sword" -- and his attempt to create it -- reflects his character growth as a whole. This sword was emblematic of his transformation from a tradition-driven, cautious tribesman to a free-spirited and open-minded adventurer. His meeting with Suki of the Kyoshi Warriors taught him that girls and women can be warriors too, and meeting Aang gave him knowledge about spirits. Now Sokka was ready for a little more growth, and there was a master swordsman in the Fire Nation who could help him realize his potential: Piandao, a member of the White Lotus organization.
Aang encouraged Sokka to find a mentor in the same way Pakku and Toph had taught him bending, so Sokka met the reclusive Piandao and humbly requested training. He was an empty vessel ready to be filled, which was exactly the attitude Piandao needed in a student. Sokka had already come a long way since his days in the Southern Water Tribe -- when he acted like the big man on campus -- and now he was far more creative and flexible. This would reflect both in his training with Piandao and his rather symbolic new sword, forged from the meteorite that crashed near his camp.
Sokka Forges The Space Sword
Sokka began training in the way of the sword and made remarkable progress, impressing Piandao. Along the way, Sokka trained in arts such as calligraphy and could draw the landscape from memory, demonstrating a creative and unorthodox thinking process. Finally, Piandao declared it was time for Sokka to make his own sword to truly express himself in battle.
Only one material would do -- the meteorite. With Toph's metalbending to help him, Sokka extracted a chunk of the meteorite's ore and brought it to Piandao, who helped forge it into a unique sword with a black blade. Nothing like this had been crafted before in Avatar, and this sword quickly received a baptism of fire when Sokka used it in a serious sparring match with his mentor.
Sokka fought as hard as he could, using his trademark resourcefulness and tactical thinking along the way. Piandao declared him a true warrior and wished him well on his journey, and sure enough, Sokka continued to use this "space sword" alongside his Water Tribe weapons. The blade never suffered any scratches, nicks or dents during his many battles -- but tragically, the sword made its last stand before long.
During Avatar: The Last Airbender's finale, Sokka had the space sword with him while fighting aboard a Fire Nation airship with Suki and Toph, until he dropped it. The sword fell into the Wulong Forest far below, never to be seen again. He was sad to see it go, but fortunately, the Hundred-Year War ended not long after that. Sokka experienced a great deal of personal growth in the process of forging and training with that sword, along with memories he'd keep with him forever.
