Lightning redirection

"fire"

- If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips up your arm to the shoulder, then down into the stomach. The stomach is the source of energy in your body; it is called the sea of chi. From your stomach you direct it up again and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical; you must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly.



Lightning redirection is a specialized technique within firebending that allows a firebender to absorb lightning into their body as energy, then release it in a more desirable direction. The technique was developed by Iroh after he studied master waterbenders, who redirect an opponent's energy rather than oppose it head-on. Lightning redirection works equally well for natural and generated lightning, as well as electricity conducted through metal.

History
This technique was first demonstrated by Iroh during a storm when he used it to protect Zuko's ship and its crew from a lightning strike. However, it should be noted that after redirecting the lightning, he was shown as having been burned; this may indicate that natural lightning is more difficult to redirect or more powerful than generated lightning, or it may have merely been for comedic effect. Iroh also used this technique to protect Zuko from Azula's lightning.

After being defeated by Azula in the village of Tu Zin, Iroh agreed to teach this skill to his nephew Zuko, as he was unable to learn lightning generation.



After Zuko learned the technique to his satisfaction, he demanded that Iroh shoot lightning at him so that he can practice the move, but Iroh refused out of the sheer danger of it, as he hoped Zuko would never have to use this technique. Zuko sought out a lightning storm later and taunted it to strike him, but his efforts were to no avail, which caused him to be furious at the world.

On the Day of Black Sun, Fire Lord Ozai, Zuko's father, shot lightning at Zuko once the solar eclipse ended. Zuko expertly absorbed and redirected the lightning back toward Ozai, the explosion throwing Ozai at the wall behind him, buying Zuko enough time to escape.



Prior to the arrival of Sozin's Comet, Zuko taught this technique to Aang, who recognized its similarities to waterbending. Aang used this technique to redirect comet-enhanced lightning from Ozai, but due to his pacifistic nature, Aang redirected it toward the sky as opposed to killing Ozai with the blast outright. During their duel, Zuko goaded Azula into using lightning, planning to redirect it at her. However, she fired it at Katara instead. While he was successful in redirecting it prior to this event, the awkward position he was in prevented him from succeeding the technique.

According to Zuko, the process of redirecting lightning is an intense, exhilarating and terrifying experience. The person redirecting lightning feels powerful containing massive amounts of energy, but they know they will die if they make a single false move. It is noteworthy that Aang appeared to be in physical pain when he absorbed Ozai's lightning, and seemed very drained afterwards, collapsing to his knees once he had shot it off into the sky. However, given how Zuko and Iroh never appeared to be in pain while performing the technique, this may instead indicate either Aang's inexperience with it, a greater sensitivity to it given how his previous injury had not yet fully healed, a distinct difference in difficulty as he had to redirect comet-enhanced lightning, his incomplete mastery of firebending, or perhaps a combination of all these factors.

Lightning can also be redirected through an intermediate electrified cord. Mako demonstrated this ability during the Equalist's attack on Republic City after a mecha tank launched an electrified cable towards him.

Known users

 * Iroh (inventor)
 * Zuko
 * Aang
 * Mako

Trivia



 * While halting the flow of a volcano, Sozin redirected heat from the magma in a similar fashion to this technique.
 * All the firebenders seen using lightning redirection in Avatar: The Last Airbender opposed Ozai.