The Avatar Cycle in Avatar: The Last Airbender has been running for thousands of years, with nearly 200 Avatars reincarnating over this period. Most of them are unknown, but the few who are part of the story reveal themselves to be extraordinarily talented and powerful, as befitting their status.
That said, Aang is a few notches above his predecessors, largely because he achieves his peak at the age of twelve. It's unfortunate that the entire burden of the world is placed on the shoulders of a pre-teen child, but Aang more than makes up for his lack of expertise by relying on both his ingenuity and his friends.
10 Aang Fuses With The Ocean Spirit At The North Pole
Admiral Zhao extracts the Moon Spirit from its pool in the Spirit Oasis but is stopped by Uncle Iroh's timely arrival. Dismissing the latter's warnings, Zhao goes ahead with his plan and kills Tui, turning the world into a monotone nightmare.
As a result, Aang triggers the Avatar State and blends his essence with that of the Ocean Spirit, La, forming an enormous, glowing creature that washes Zhao's armada way from the shores of Agna Qel'a.
9 He Manifests Roku's Full Power On Crescent Island
Aang is trapped when the Fire Nation and Zuko discover Team Avatar on Crescent Island, but he manages to secure an audience with Roku right as soldiers reach the temple's sanctum. Thankfully, the previous Avatar helps out by manifesting himself through Aang.
Roku proceeds to unleash a flurry of Firebending that frees Zuko, Katara, and Sokka, before using spouts of subterranean lava to annihilate the entire temple. However, it is Aang's innate power that is channeled here, considering Roku has been dead for a long time.
8 Aang Passes All The Tests That Bumi Sets For Him
The King of Omashu sets a series of "deadly tests" for Aang to complete, keeping Korra and Sokka hostage as motivation. The young Avatar manages to surpass the Earthbender's expectations in every possible way, including nearly besting the latter in a duel.
Aang even guesses the identity of the old man by "think[ing] differently than [he] usually would," which is revealed to be the point of the test. Bumi tells his childhood friend that he should "think like a mad genius," something Aang never forgets.
7 He Survives Azula's Lightningbending Blast (With Some Help)
Azula might be extremely problematic in a lot of ways, but there's no doubt that she is a child prodigy, and Ozai stresses on this fact by informing Zuko that his sister "was born lucky." As such, it isn't surprising that she easily knocks Aang's Avatar State out of the air with her Lightningbending, injuring him grievously.
Fortunately, Aang recovers from what would have been a fatal wound due to his immense strength. Katara's healing skills with Spirit Oasis water also play a major role in rectifying the situation.
6 Aang Becomes The Youngest Airbending Master In History
Aang displays a proficient aptitude for Airbending long before he's revealed as the Avatar, earning commendations from the Air Monks at the Southern Air Temple. In fact, his development of the Air Scooter is one of the many reasons that Aang is officially honored as a Master Airbender.
He obtains his tattoos around the age of twelve, making him the youngest Airbender to reach this stage in thousands of years. That eventually changes with eleven-year-old Jinora in The Legend of Korra.
5 He Deceives Combustion Man Before Flying Away On Appa
Aang picks up other bending styles rapidly, surpassing Katara in her element before she has a chance to fine-tune her own techniques. Similarly, he flourishes under Toph's unconventional teaching methods, grasping the details of Earthbending with enviable speed.
Katara and Toph's attacks fail, when Combustion Man attacks Team Avatar for the first time, forcing Aang to come up with a complex strategy to escape. He armors his body with rocks and leaps on Combustion Man's forehead, utilizing his enemy's explosion to boost himself into the air and onto Appa's waiting back.
4 Aang Takes Down Yakone The Bloodbender
In a TLOK flashback, Korra remembers the trial of Yakone the Bloodbender, where the villain easily incapacitates everyone in the courtroom, including Aang. However, Yakone soon finds that the Avatar is hot on his tail.
He attempts to Bloodbend Aang once again, but the Avatar State instantly negates Yakone's powers. Aang subsequently removes his Bloodbending abilities, putting the villain out of commission for good.
3 He Restores Korra's Bending With A Simple Touch
Amon succeeds in taking Korra's bending away, except for Airbending because she doesn't have it at the time. She eventually defeats Amon but is utterly distraught at not being able to perform her Avatar duties without the remaining elements.
Later, Aang's spirit materializes in front of Korra, informing her that she's "finally connected with [her] spiritual self." He restores his successor's bending with a simple touch, proving that even death can't stop him from wielding unbelievable power.
2 Aang Communes With The Ancient Lion Turtle
Aang undergoes some serious soul-searching when forced to reckon with his destiny to stop the Fire Nation from wreaking havoc on the world. Everyone, including his past lives, suggests that killing Ozai is the best choice available to him, which doesn't sit well with Aang at all.
As luck would have it, the Avatar finds himself on the back of an ancient Lion Turtle, a noble creature that is originally believed to be extinct. Aang is one of the few people, let alone Avatars, to hold a conversation with a Lion Turtle.
1 He Permanently Disarms Ozai With Energybending
The Lion Turtle offers Aang a permanent solution to the Ozai problem that doesn't involve taking his life—Energybending, a technique that bends "not the elements but the energy within" the user and their intended target.
Despite having the strength to destroy Ozai in the Avatar State, Aang chooses the path of least bloodshed, disarming the Fire Lord in a majestic spectacle of light. Lines of tranquil blue and fierce orange criss-cross the sky, signifying the end of Ozai's tyranny.