Talk:Avatar/@comment-24.214.192.136-20111017194545/@comment-4521003-20111113221153

Thank you, Pisces! I agree that they probably hadn't thought that deeply about the first benders and learning to bend.

Something possibly related to bending multiple elements is the learning of special bending techniques. Most benders find certain subtypes of bending, such as lightning or metal, to be beyond their bending abilities. However, it is still possible for a skilled individual to utilize these advanced forms of bending. Genetics seems to play little role in this aspect of bending talent since Zuko could not bend with Azula's skill and could not create lightning, while Katara was as skilled as Hama in every aspect of Waterbending despite having no relation.

If you apply the same principal to bending in general, a possible conclusion is that benders with enough talent to bend all four elements are extremely rare. It would make sense if the collective Avatar spirit chooses the only bender in the world skilled enough to bend multiple elements as the next Avatar, or in choosing a child bestows him/her with this skill in order to fulfill the duties of the Avatar.