<p>Technically no. Energybending is actually the only bending ability allowed to those of a more ethereal nature (i.e. past Avatar incarnations, live Avatars travelling in the spirit world, and spirits themselves), and Unalaq, seeming to be well versed in Avatar lore (as in lore about the Avatar), would have probably known that. </p>

<p>Yeah, I agree with Air Nomad Critic. He most likely knew she could do it anyway and Korra would have wound up in a worse situation. </p>

<p>I think Unalaq would know Korra wouldn't need her bending to open the portals. Vaatu probably told him all there is to know about the portals. </p><p>Still, even if he would believe Korra's claims that she needs her bending he would be like "Sure, go back to the material world But if the portal is not open in [specified time] I will wipe out Jinora's spirit". So Korra still wouldn't have a choice. </p>

I would think Unalaq wouldn't accept the excuse.

<p>In Book 4, Episode 9, Korra is able to bend in the Spirit World despite not having entered through the portals. The Avatar's ability to bend comes from Raava, and so the Avatar is most powerful in the Spirit World </p>

<div class="quote"><i> <p>Boomubbles wrote: In Book 4, Episode 9, Korra is able to bend in the Spirit World despite not having entered through the portals. The Avatar's ability to bend comes from Raava, and so the Avatar is most powerful in the Spirit World </p> </i></div>
<p>Not exactly. Her spiritual powers are strongest when in the Spirit World, but she can't bend the elements without her physical body. When she freed Jinora and the others, we don't see her making circles of spiritually charged water, but rather she bends the plant-goo spirit stuff itself, 'pacifying' it directly. </p><p>Also, I think it's not impossible that Unalaq might've bought the I-can't-do-this-without-my-bending-powers excuse. But for plot-related reasons, she'd have to open it anyway, so I imagine Vaatu would speak up and call her on her bluff. </p>

<p>First of all Ravaa told korra that she is most powerfull in the spirit world and I think ravaa knows what she is talking about </p><p>I think that if after team avatar was in republic city they should have gone in the northern portal because it's closer to republic city and there might not be any troops guarding the norterhn poral since unalaq, eska and desna and probably most of the northern troops are in the south, the north wouldn't be guarded </p><p>It should be easier for them to go to the spirit world via nothern portral </p>

<div class="quote"><i> <p>AvatarAang1510 wrote: First of all Ravaa told korra that she is most powerfull in the spirit world and I think ravaa knows what she is talking about </p> </i></div>
<p>Where did I claim otherwise? Not being able to bend the physical elements doesn't mean the Avatar can't reign supreme in the Spirit World. Everything's spiritual in the Spirit World, and the Avatar is connected with it all; just imagine what power that could potentially entail. </p> <div class="quote"><i> <p>AvatarAang1510 wrote: I think that if after team avatar was in republic city they should have gone in the northern portal because it's closer to republic city and there might not be any troops guarding the norterhn poral since unalaq, eska and desna and probably most of the northern troops are in the south, the north wouldn't be guarded </p><p>It should be easier for them to go to the spirit world via nothern portral </p> </i></div>
<p>The Northern Portal? You mean the one smack in the middle of Unalaq's home nation? I'd find it odd if he didn't leave a load of soldiers there to ensure national security. </p>