As one of the most popular characters on Avatar: The Last Airbender, many fans grew to love Zuko due to his complex and character-driven arc, going from the main antagonist to an ally and close friend to the Avatar. He was a complicated character, filled with angst, regret, inner turmoil, and a desire to be respected.
Zuko was arguably the character that changed and traveled the most, on his quest to find his true destiny and changing dramatically in the three seasons of the show. He went from Prince of the Fire Nation to refugee, to a secret warrior, a friend of the Avatar, and finally, Fire Lord. Looking at his outfits, let's rank them from worst to best.
10 Lonely Traveler
Zuko spent a lot of time searching, whether it was searching for the Avatar (both to kill and befriend him), his uncle, or himself, he was always looking for something. He spends most of the second season as a refugee and after a falling out with his uncle, he goes off on his own to find some clarity and purpose in his life.
He wears old, raggedy clothes, and looks almost unrecognizable because we're used to seeing him well-groomed and sporting Fire Nation colors. In this instance, he looks like a lowly farmer or refugee.
9 Earth Kingdom Refugees
While Iroh and Zuko are on the run and trying to escape the Fire Nation, they settle in Ba Sing Se to start a new life with their tea shop. They leave their Fire Nation origins behind and try to blend in with the rest of the city by wearing traditional Earth Kingdom colors.
This is the beginning of Zuko's transformation into an ally as he works out his temper and builds a strong relationship with his uncle all before Jett comes in and tries to fight Zuko.
8 Fire Nation Casual
After Zuko once again escapes the Fire Nation to help the Avatar, he barely escapes with the clothes on his back and a few other items. He's never been a guy to care too much for fashion, so he wasn't looking to escape with the most fashionable outfit, but rather a convenient and comfortable one for his travels.
Similar to the rest of the Gaang wearing a casual outfit with their nation's colors, Zuko just wears a robe and no armor.
7 Banished Fire Nation Prince
Throughout the first season, we met Zuko as an angry and rage-filled Fire Nation prince. It was his sole mission to capture the Avatar and restore his honor with his father. Most fans most likely hated Zuko at first due to his cold and angry personality, mistreating and talking back to everyone, even his loving and peaceful uncle. Add in the fact he gets to extreme lengths to go after the Gaang, he definitely wasn't a fan favorite, to begin with.
He is wearing the traditional Fire Nation military uniform, complete with a traditional royalty hairstyle, and is at his most loyal to the nation.
6 Beach Outfit
Zuko isn't much of a laidback or fun having individual, taking life too seriously sometimes and never giving himself days off. It all changed when Zuko, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were forced to take a vacation day on the beach while their father has a secret meeting.
They are all wearing their most casual outfits and ones ideal for the warm sunny days with the warm sand. Zuko is wearing a sort of V-neck to show off his muscular chest and shorts and sleeveless top to bask in the sun.
5 Stealth Zuk0
Towards the end of the first season, we see Zuko do some pretty questionable moves that led fans to believe he might one day turn good. He saves the Avatar twice in a span of a few weeks and misses out on opportunities to kill him.
One such instance is in the Northern Water Tribe when Aang is in his vulnerable Avatar state and Zuko takes advantage and kidnaps him. When he realizes that the snow of the North Pole might slow them down, he settles in a cave. To stealthily sneak into the water tribe and take Aang, he had to wear a white, ninja-like outfit to blend into the heavy snow and avoid detection.
4 Old Man Zuko
Taking place 70 years after the events of ATLA, Legend of Korra gives us a look into the future of our favorite characters. Although characters like Aang and Sokka have already passed away, Katara, Toph, and Zuko are still very much alive and well, helping the new Avatar on her journey.
Zuko is a retired Fire Lord, giving the reigns to his daughter and becoming a mentor to Korra. He is wearing a more modern version of his Fire Nation robes and still looks like he could take on the mightiest benders. Add in the Iroh-like beard and long white hair, he is different than we are used to seeing.
3 Young Prince
Zuko had a complicated childhood, often pinned against his own sister for his father's affection and struggling to master his bending. Although he greatly improves in his teenage years, it was a rough start and he had no support from anyone except his mother Ursa.
Since he was the oldest son of the Fire Lord there were a lot of expectations for Zuko, including being the best at his craft and knowing all Fire Nation history. In this flashback, we see Zuko wearing royal Fire Nation clothes, matching with his sister.
2 Fire Lord Zuko
After his long and life-changing journey, Zuko finally earns his rightful spot as the Fire Lord and promises to make the Fire Nation a peaceful nation rather than a dictatorship. He builds a strong relationship with Aang, who also finally steps into his role as the Avatar, and together they make a brand new world.
He is wearing the traditional Fire Lord Robes as well as the crown suited for the ruler. He really seems to fit into the role and as we learn in LoK, he does a great job and even raises a great successor.
1 Blue Spirit
One of Zuko's best looks and by far him at his most powerful, Zuko disguised himself as the Blue Spirit on several occasions. He uses his signature swords and just shows us how great of a warrior Zuko is without using firebending and how stealthy he can be.
We first see the Blue Spirit when Aang is captured and reduced by the mysterious figure and as we learn it's actually Zuko, we start seeing his relationship with Aang change.