Team Avatar

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- Team Avatar is back! Air. Water. Earth. Fire... Fan and sword!

Team Avatar is the name used to refer to Aang and whoever is accompanying him at any given time. It was originally composed of Avatar Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Appa. Momo, Toph, Zuko, and Suki eventually became important members. The Team's constituency varies little throughout the series until the Invasion of the Fire Nation, where a much larger number of people begin to join and leave the group.

The name of the group originated from Sokka, who was inspired by the "catchy" name of an elite group of Earthbenders. He suggested the Boomeraang Squad (because it had "Aang" in it), the Aang Gang, and the Fearsome Foursome before settling on Team Avatar (note that Sokka is the only person in the series to use any of these names on-screen).

Team Avatar, as of the end of The War, is notable for having at least one member from every nation and at least one bending master of each of the bending arts. This makes Team Avatar a formidable fighting group, capable of assaulting even the Earth Kingdom Royal Palace or destroying an Airship Fleet without outside assistance.

Formation


During The War, started by Fire Lord Sozin in 0 ASC, Avatar Aang fled the Southern Air Temple shortly before the Air Nomad Genocide occurred. Unfortunately, Aang involuntarily imprisoned himself in an iceberg over the South Pole, encasing him for about one hundred years. Eventually, Katara and Sokka discovered and released him. A brilliant ray of light suddenly shot out from the broken shell and the two teenagers met him for the first time. They later discovered his position as the Avatar and decided to accompany him on his journey to the Northern Water Tribe where he would master Waterbending.

Journey to the North
During their long journey, Team Avatar met Suki, Haru, the Freedom Fighters, Teo, escaped Zuko and Zhao, and visited two of the four Air Temples. When they visited the Southern Air Temple they found a winged-lemur whom Aang decided to adopt him as his pet, naming the lemur Momo. Then Team Avatar took a route up the western Earth Kingdom, meeting many people and visiting several villages. Upon arrival at the Northern Water Tribe, Aang began training with Master Pakku, later accompanied by Katara.

Northern Water Tribe


Admiral Zhao soon plotted an attack on the Northern tribe, sending in large naval forces to overwhelm the city. Searching for answers on how to rescue the tribe, Aang ventured to the Spirit World, where he visited the spirit Koh. Soon afterwards, the Moon Spirit, Tui, was captured and murdered by Zhao, causing the moon to turn red and then disappear completely, rendering the Waterbenders defenseless. In desperation, Aang worked together with the Ocean Spirit, La, to drive away the invading army. Meanwhile, Princess Yue, whose life was saved in her early childhood by Tui, gave up her life in order to save Tui's and became the present Moon Spirit. When the siege had ended, the gang traveled south to find an Earthbending teacher, preferring King Bumi.

Earth Kingdom


The team journeyed to the city of Omashu in the hope of finding King Bumi as an Earthbending instructor. Unfortunately, Omashu was captured by the Fire Nation and renamed New Ozai. In dismay, the team rescued Bumi, who advised Aang to search for someone who waits and listens before striking. They eventually met Toph Bei Fong in Gaoling, a powerful blind girl who joined them in an effort to leave her overprotective parents and save the world. Aang began learning Earthbending and continued practicing Waterbending. The team vacationed leisurely until they arrived at a secret library in the Si Wong Desert. There, they learned of a solar eclipse which would render all Firebenders powerless. The group then decided to bring this information to the Earth King, before discovering Appa has been captured. They eventually crossed the Serpent's Pass, where they reunited with Suki and arrived at their destination, the Earth Kingdom capital, Ba Sing Se. After battling the Fire Nation Drill and Azula, they entered the city.

In Ba Sing Se
Arriving at the outskirts of Ba Sing Se, the team was forced to battle and save Ba Sing Se from the drill, a Fire Nation construction designed to break through the walls of the Earth Kingdom's capital. The city was saved when Aang destroyed the drill. In Ba Sing Se, the gang discovered a conspiracy led by Long Feng (Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se) and the Dai Li, covering up the concurrent war and gaining control of the city. After finding Appa, who was saved by Zuko, the team attempted to inform the Earth King, Kuei, of the conspiracy. Though he distrusted them at first, he was eventually convinced the war was a reality upon viewing the destroyed drill. Long Feng was then arrested by the Dai Li.



The group disbanded for a week: Aang met with a guru, who would teach him to control the Avatar State; Sokka was reunited with his father after two years; Katara helped the generals plan the Invasion of the Fire Nation in Ba Sing Se and Toph was unexpectedly kidnapped and imprisoned in a metal box where she would discover the secret of Metalbending. After abandoning training with the guru and reuniting with Sokka, Aang teamed up with Iroh and saved Katara and Zuko from the Crystal Catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se. Iroh pleaded with Zuko to reform and change his antagonistic ways; however, after a cunning offer to restore his honor from his sister, Azula, he changed sides and joined her. After Aang entered the Avatar State, Azula fired a bolt of lightning at him, striking and killing him. Immediately following this, Katara saved him by using her special water from the Spirit Oasis.

In the Fire Nation


After the Coup of Ba Sing Se, Team Avatar disguised themselves as ordinary Fire Nation civilians and hid in various villages and cities of the Fire Nation, waiting for the Day of the Black Sun and continuing Aang's training. In the village of Shu Jing, Sokka was trained by Piandao in swordsmanship. In one village they met a Waterbender named Hama of the Southern Water Tribe, the inventor of a specialized Waterbending technique known as Bloodbending. Hama held a deep grudge against the Fire Nation and its people, attempting to exact revenge whenever possible. Katara was forced to utilize Bloodbending in order to defend herself and her friends from Hama. On the Day of the Black Sun, the gang invaded the Fire Nation Capital with the help of Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe warriors, using weapons and vehicles invented by the Mechanist. Unfortunately, the Fire Nation was aware of the invasion plan, thus allowing Fire Lord Ozai to take cover during the eclipse. The invasion failed and only the youngest members of the group were able to escape on Appa. The rest of the invaders were taken prisoners.

Western Air Temple


The gang and the other younger participants of the invasion - Haru, Teo, and The Duke - journeyed to the Western Air Temple. Zuko followed them with the objective to change his life and join Team Avatar to help end the War and defeat Fire Lord Ozai. He attempted to prove to the group that he had changed for the better, but it was only after he saved the gang from Combustion Man that Zuko received their acceptance as Aang's Firebending teacher. However, Katara refused to trust Zuko and warned him of the consequences of any treachery. Zuko began teaching Aang Firebending, but for then unknown reasons, couldn't Firebend. While the rest of the group waited in the Air Temple, Zuko and Aang traveled to the Sun Warriors' Ancient City to learn about the origin of Firebending with Dragons.

Sokka later traveled with Zuko to the Boiling Rock, a Fire Nation prison which they infiltrated while disguised as security guards. They traveled there with the hope of saving Hakoda. After finding Suki in the prison and a failed escape plan with another prisoner called Chit Sang, they decided to postpone the escape when Sokka found his father. In a new plan to escape, they battled Azula, Mai and Ty Lee. However, Mai aided Zuko and the others in the escape. Azula challenged Mai after discovering her betrayal, but Ty Lee intervened and the team escaped with Chit Sang, Suki and Hakoda.

Back to the Fire Nation


The Avatar and his friends were forced on the run again after Azula found them in the Western Air Temple; it was decided that Chit Sang, Hakoda, Haru, The Duke and Teo separate from the group. In another hiding place, Zuko confronted Katara about her distrustful disposition towards him and thought of a way to gain her friendship. He decided to help Katara find Yon Rha, the Fire Nation soldier responsible for killing her mother. Together they found the man, but after confrontation with him, Katara refused to enact revenge on him. After returning, Katara finally forgave Zuko and accepted him as a trustworthy member of the team.

Three days before the arrival of the Sozin's Comet, they traveled to Ozai's Beach House, where Aang continued training. The group went to a play called "The Boy in the Iceberg", based on the adventures of the Avatar and his friends. Aang confronted Katara about their relationship, but she simply dismissed the idea, telling him she was confused. Aang also had difficulties deciding how to defeat Ozai without taking the Fire Lord's life. His friends pressed him to kill the Fire Lord, but Aang insisted it went against his beliefs. In his sleep, Aang was drawn towards a mysterious island that appeared in the sea. His friends hired June the bounty hunter to attempt to locate him again, but because she was unable to do so they decided to search for Iroh. On the island, Aang searched guidance from his past lives, but they too insisted he must kill Ozai, now self-proclaimed Phoenix King. The island turned out to be a giant lion turtle, which gave Aang the guidance he had been seeking. When the rest of the team was on the search, they met the Order of the White Lotus, its leader being Iroh. After reuniting with Iroh, the team decided to go in different directions to help stop the Fire Nation and prepare for the final battle.

Final Battles of The War


Zuko and Katara confronted Azula where she challenged Zuko to an Agni Kai; during the battle, Zuko was wounded by Azula's lightning blast while protecting Katara. Katara defeated Azula and healed Zuko's injuries. Meanwhile, Aang confronted Ozai in Wulong Forest but was unable to defeat him, still unwilling to kill him. Sokka, Toph and Suki attempted to halt the Airship fleet but were soon separated, while the Order of the White Lotus battled for Ba Sing Se's freedom.

Ozai accidentally caused Aang to enter the Avatar State. The Order of the White Lotus successfully liberated Ba Sing Se, while Sokka, Suki and Toph disabled all of the Airships. Aang overwhelmed Ozai, yet still refused to kill him; he used Energybending to strip Ozai of his Firebending powers. Newly appointed Fire Lord Zuko declared the War over, and Team Avatar celebrated together in the Jasmine Dragon along with Iroh and Mai.

Original Members

 * Aang
 * Katara
 * Sokka

New Members

 * Toph (Joined in "The Blind Bandit")
 * Zuko (Temporarily allied with Aang in "The Blue Spirit" and "The Chase", joined in "The Western Air Temple")
 * Suki (Allied in "The Warriors of Kyoshi" and "The Serpent's Pass", joined in "The Boiling Rock, Part 2")

Animal Members

 * Appa (Original member)
 * Momo (Joined in "The Southern Air Temple")

Temporary Members

 * Hawky (Joined and left in "The Runaway")
 * The Duke (First met in "Jet". Allied in "The Awakening", joined in "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse", left in "The Southern Raiders")
 * Haru (Allied in "Imprisoned", joined in "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse", left in "The Southern Raiders")
 * Teo (Allied in "The Northern Air Temple", joined in "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse", left in "The Southern Raiders")
 * Chit Sang (Allied in "The Boiling Rock, Part 1", joined in "The Boiling Rock, Part 2", left in "The Southern Raiders")
 * Hakoda (Allied in "The Guru", "The Awakening" and "The Boiling Rock, Part 1", joined in "The Boiling Rock, Part 2", left in "The Southern Raiders")
 * Jet (Allied in "Jet", joined in search for Appa, died in "Lake Laogai".)

Allies

 * † indicates deceased.

Enemies

 * † indicates deceased

Fire Nation

 * Ozai
 * Azula
 * Zhao †
 * Combustion Man †
 * Yu Yan Archers
 * Rough Rhinos
 * The Warden (Imprisoned)
 * The Warden (Boiling Rock)
 * Yon Rha
 * Hide
 * General Mung

Earth Kingdom

 * Long Feng
 * Dai Li
 * Xin Fu
 * Master Yu
 * Joo Dee
 * Fong
 * Ghashiun
 * Various Earth Rumble VI Competitors

Water Tribe

 * Hama

Spirit World

 * Wan Shi Tong

Former Enemies

 * Zuko
 * Iroh
 * Jet
 * The Boulder
 * The Hippo
 * Mai
 * Ty Lee
 * June
 * Mayor Tong
 * The Duke
 * Smellerbee
 * Longshot
 * Pipsqueak

Semi-Permanent Locations

 * Southern Water Tribe ("The Boy in the Iceberg" to "The Avatar Returns")
 * Kyoshi Island ("The Warriors of Kyoshi" and "Avatar Day")
 * Omashu ("The King of Omashu" and "Return to Omashu")
 * Various Earth Kingdom villages ("Imprisoned" to "The Deserter")
 * Northern Air Temple ("The Northern Air Temple")
 * Northern Water Tribe ("The Waterbending Master" to "The Siege of the North, Part 2")
 * General Fong's Fortress ("The Avatar State")
 * Various Earth Kingdom villages ("The Cave of Two Lovers" to "Bitter Work")
 * Si Wong Desert ("The Library" to "The Desert")
 * Ba Sing Se ("City of Walls and Secrets" to "The Crossroads of Destiny")
 * Various Fire Nation villages ("The Awakening" to "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse")
 * Western Air Temple ("The Western Air Temple" to "The Southern Raiders")
 * Ember Island (As of "The Southern Raiders", last semi-permanent location)

Location at the End of the Last Episode
Ba Sing Se (After the war ended starting from "Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang", the group is seen in the Jasmine Dragon).

Legend of Korra
While little is confirmed at this point, Andrea Romano has stated that all members of the team are deceased; it is unknown how this affects former members.

Terminology
The Gaang is an unofficial fan nickname for the core characters- Aang, Sokka, Katara, Toph, Appa, Momo, and more recently Zuko and Suki- which is a portmanteau of "gang" and "Aang". The term is not used in canon (although Sokka's suggestion of "the Aang gang" comes about as close as possible while maintaining a sufficiently distinct pronunciation), but may be seen on Avatar Trading Card Game cards.

In the Book 2 episode "The Drill", Sokka also gives a few suggestions for a team name, which include "The Aang Gang", "Boomer-Aang Squad" and the "Fearsome Foursome".

In "Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King", Sokka says, "Team Avatar is back," and later, "Gather round, Team Avatar."