Fire Lord Zuko held access to knowledge of secret and complex bending techniques, which he likely shared with the rest of the world.

Avatar: The Last Airbender has an intricate power system based on elements that bestow some stellar abilities on its characters. One of the rare bending techniques in the original Nickelodeon animated series was lightning generation, which only a few key members of the Fire Nation could wield across the show’s three-season run.

In the spin-off/successor series The Legend of Korra, lightning generation becomes a more common technique and the reason behind such drastic change is never explained. However, a new theory suggests that Fire Lord Zuko had a hand in the propagation of lightning generation. Moreover, the theory also presents a compelling case for how Zuko’s decision might have doomed the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Fire Lord Zuko Likely Responsible For Rise in Lightning Generation After Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar: The Last Airbender features several interesting and unique elemental bending techniques that give characters an edge in their fights. One of the most mysterious and intriguing techniques in the series is that of lightning generation.

Throughout the series, viewers are introduced to only three individuals who are capable of using lightning, namely Ozai, Azula, and Iroh. The technique is reserved for the Fire Nation royal family and its superior military commanders.

Even Avatar Aang and Zuko- the eventual Fire Nation Lord, are incapable of wielding this advanced and rare technique. However, the technique is much more common in The Legend of Korra, which takes place decades after Avatar: The Last Airbender.

A new theory from YouTuber @Avatar_Brandy suggests that the technique was made common by Lord Zuko. At the end of the original series, Zuko becomes the Lord of the Fire Nation and promises to foster harmony and peace.

The creator theorized that as a part of his bid to promote peace, Zuko shared knowledge of hidden techniques with outsiders, including scrolls pertaining to mastering lightning generation. As a result, by the time the events of The Legend of Korra take place, the technique has become much more common.

How Fire Lord Zuko Might Have Doomed Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s World With One Move

The theory presented by YouTuber @Avatar_Brandy further expands upon the idea of Zuko’s knowledge sharing being responsible for lightning generation being so common in the spin-off series by adding a sinister consequence to it. In the series, lightning generation leads to technological advancements in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

However, assuming the technique became common because of Zuko’s knowledge-sharing philosophy, it could have also fallen into the wrong hands. The same is evident throughout the spin-off series as several criminals and assassins are capable of using the technique.

Moreover, members of criminal groups such as Rising Flame Triad use the power to destructive effects in the spin-off series. The user also theorized that Zuko likely declassified information about Air Nomad teachings in the form of books and scrolls stolen from the Air Temple after the nation was subjected to genocide.

Thus, Zaheer, who serves as the primary antagonist of The Legend of Korra’s Book Three, possesses immense knowledge of Air Nomad teachings and lightning generation. As a result, Zuko’s decision to share knowledge likely resulted in a more advanced society but also doomed the world as it empowered a large group of destructive villains in the spin-off series.

Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are streaming on Netflix and Paramount+.