Technology changed dramatically in the shift from Avatar: The Last Airbender to The Legend of Korra, and with it, weapons advanced to a degree no one could have anticipated. As early as the days of Avatar Wan weaponry was a major part of the world, but the rise of bending made their importance seemingly diminish until the weapons could catch up. Still, if the original series proved anything about nonbenders, it was how the right weapon in the right hands could be as much of a threat as anyone flinging flames or whirling water.
But what if the weaponry of Avatar wasn't just competing against bending, but competing against one another? It's natural for fans to want to rank benders' talents and see how they rank, but the weapons themselves rarely receive such attention. They may not be as flashy, but if you want a weapon every bit as deadly as the elements themselves look no further than these five.
Sokka's Space Sword
If ever there was a symbol that a nonbender could stand up evenly to benders in the world of Avatar it would be the sword. The legendary swordsman Piandao was said to have defeated 100 Fire Nation soldiers in combat before the military left him to a quiet retirement. Given just how sharp swords in the world of Avatar can be it's no wonder, as even Zuko's swords wielded during his time as the Blue Spirit could slice through metal shackles. Still, one sword stood out among all the rest: the space sword.
Forged from a meteor by Sokka when he entered into the tutelage of Piandao, Sokka's sword had a unique ebony sheen to its metal and an even more unique edge. It was shown cutting through stone statues and metal turrets alike, and when Sokka needed him most it dug into the metal hull of an airship before slicing off the platform his attacker was standing on. Though it may not be as advanced as other entries on the list it comes close to being every bit as lethal.
Asami's Taser Gloves
Perhaps one of the biggest equalizers to ever shake up the tensions between benders and nonbenders were the taser gloves developed by Hiroshi Sato for use by the Equalist movement. Founded by the revolutionary (and secret bender himself) Amon, the Equalists sought to overthrow a status quo that oppressed the majority of the population for centuries. They very nearly came quite close to doing just that, and it came in large part because the taser gloves created a way for anyone to instantly incapacitate their target on contact.
With a steampunk one-size-fits-all design, the taser gloves made the Equalists a devastating threat. Perhaps the most dangerous version of the design were the tonfas wielded by the Lieutenant, Amon's right-hand man, since their added length gave a reach advantage valuable in any melee. Still, skill once again proves to be the more important quality as nobody made greater use of the weapon than Hiroshi's daughter Asami; yet, the young nonbender wielded the weapon against her father's designs rather than in service of them.
Kyoshi's Armor
Though much of the conversation around tools and weapons in the Avatar world necessarily revolves around benders and nonbenders, it's important to remember there's seldom very much keeping benders from utilizing weapons and gear themselves. Aang has his staff, Zuko has his swords, and plenty of other have been seen amplifying their bending abilities with objects like hammers or war fans. But what stands out the most is Avatar Kyoshi's armor, just as much for its sheer practicality as for how rarely the intelligent decision is imitated.
Kyoshi's chainmail armor protects her from arrows and swords, and during The Shadow of Kyoshi, she makes the armor even heavier still. It was an iconic part of her look and saved her life perhaps even more than the war fans that would be such an iconic part of the Avatar's legacy.
It is extremely rare for armor to be as effective as Kyoshi's, and even in instances like North & South when Benders wear anti-chi-blocking chainmail under their clothes the innovation is never seen in use again. Kyoshi wasn't just smart enough to wear armor, she was smart enough to always wear armor, and to make it even stronger while she was at it.
Shirshu Spit Darts
One of the most scantly seen weapons in Avatar was arguably the deadliest around for centuries. Until the innovation of vehicles and taser gloves in The Legend of Korra, most of the weapons in the fantastical world were quite similar to ones in the real one. They were swords or bows and arrows and, outside of instances like Sokka's sword, they often stayed within the realm of realism. But the weapon that truly ran with its fantastical setting were the Shirshu spit darts, first seen wielded by the beetle-headed merchants.
Used by the merchants in the Si Wong Desert to tame Appa and then later by the Red Lotus to paralyze Korra, what stands out about shirshu-poisoned darts is that they're even more potent than their source. Appa fought the shirshu Nyla head-on and took multiple lashings from her toxic tongue while continuing to fight, but just a few small darts from the beetle-headed merchants and the sky bison instantly went down for the count.
Given the danger of the beast, the poison derives from it's no wonder the weapon is such a scarcity. Though not much is known about the beetle-headed merchants, it's clear they have a sharp eye for a priceless commodity.
Kuvira's Mech
Of course, a whole armada filled with every other weapon on the list would pale in comparison to what the mecha-tanks of The Legend of Korra's later seasons were capable of. Fully armored in platinum that even metalbenders could not break through, the mecha-tanks evolved from Hiroshi Sato's initial design to contain a variety of weapons, greater mobility, and served as the foundation for the strongest military to ever sweep across the planet.
They had flamethrowers, tasers, bolas, magnets, tremendous strength -- just handful of mecha tanks could pose a serious threat. And yet, even then they were all topped by Kuvira's own mech, sometimes called the "Colossus" and armed with a spirit energy-fueled canon that tore through mountains and skylines alike.
The massive mech towered over any other weapon, required metalbenders to pilot the meteorite incorporated into its helm, and even had windshield wipers to protect against attempts to blind it. It was only with a special invention that Team Avatar pierced its hull at all, and as ludicrous as the entire concept seems there's no doubting it's the most powerful weapon in all of Avatar.
