This is a personal listing of what I think are the rankings of certain characters based on their abiliites in this show and other factors. These are for currently known and surviving characters that have been active in the series thus far.
GOD TIER (ppl who seems unstoppable)
Firelord Ozai- PROS: Mastery and powerful firebending, fire nation army, sozen's comet, lightning bend, basically the ultimate baddy, strike fear in the hearts of others.
CONS: .... Solar eclipse....
Ty Lee- PROS: her Dim Mak abilities nullifies all bending techniques, immoblizes others, impressive resume in taking out the Earth Kingdom's Ba Sing Se troops, incredible agility and speed, mega charm, good-natured.
CONS: naivete, ditziness, craves attention
Katara- PROS: incredible mastery over waterbending, versatility, can use the deadly bloodbending and puppeteer victims, can draw water source from vegetation. above average agility in her fight against Master Pakku, with a natural ability to use waterbending for healing purposes.
CONS: stubborn, heavy reliance on water source,
TOP TIER (ppl who are definitely butt-kickers)
Azula- PROS: Incredible firebending skills, can lightning bend with ease, agility, child prodigy, strategist and manipulative.
CONS: Cold-hearted, firebending probably feuled by anger and hatred as most individuals are, lack of humor, solar eclipse
Aang- PROS: as of right now (ep. 14 and 15 Boiling Rock), his rightful place is here second in the top tier. He is the avatar, so he is mighty. He can perform all bending techniques. Air lends him speed, Fire lends him power, Earth lends him defense, and Water lends him dexterity, being good all-around. Good-hearted, caring toward others, and forgiving. Humorous and light-hearted, pacifist,
CONS: Not fully committed enjoying fun over seriousness, locked his chakra and cannot utilize the almighty avatar state. May be naive in his good nature. Is not the complete master of all his techniques yet, lacking some discipline IMHO. His affection and ties to the earthly realm prevented him to master avatar state of mind.
Toph- PROS: unique skill of earthbending allowing her to gain initiative, and be alert to attacks. While grounded, her incredible earthbending allows her to move quite well actually, can metalbend, strong willed attitude, have taken down Ba Sing Se's troops guarding the palace with her single earthbending techniques, can detect lies in people hearts, eathbending skill is superb,
CONS: cannot sandbend effectively, blindness leads to inability to detect airborne attacks, very stubbor, slippery surfuces or feet covered eliminates her "sight."
MIDDLE TIER (ppl who are average and can probably hold up on their own, but does not necessarily mean able to defeat anyone)
Zuko- PROS: True firebending art from dragons, good understanding of firebending, Uncle Iroh's teachings and raising him, deflect lightning, very good speed and agility, skilled swordsman of the twin Butterfly Broadswords, blue spirit skills, Ambitious and full of drive and motivation.
CONS: short-tempered, stubborn, has not shown ability to lightning bend yet, loss of Iroh, not master of firebending, solar eclipse
Suki- PROS: Monster Speed and agility, Kyoshi warrior and fighting techniques,
CONS: no bending
Hakoda- PROS: Proud leader of the Southern Warrior Tribe, strategic warrior, good fighting skills displayed in the invasion, and good speed and agility, calm and collected, defensive maneuvers
CONS: no bending
Mai- PROS: incredible dart throwing abilities, refined fighting skills, some agility and speed which allows for good evasion and avoidance of bending attacks.
CONS: unable to bend elements
Chitze Sang?- PROS: brute strength, some firebending, can rile up people
CONS: impatient, probably does not have top notch firebending, probably low movement and speed.
Haru- PROS: moderate earthbending techniques at least so far
CONS: not a master, fighting technique though not shown much doesn't seem to be on par with greats like Aang, and toph.
LOWER TIER (ppl that can't really hold up on their own but still contributes)
Sokka- PROS: can summon great will when family, and loved ones, and friends or in danger, careful planning and strategist, learned some swording fighting skills from a swordmaster, also has knowledge of Kyoshi warrior techniques, light-hearted with humor and funny, adept with boomerang, and club.
CONS: nervous and scared, cannot bend, sarcastic, bursts of anger
Teo- PROS: smart with mechanics, with various contraptions can fly, ride, and move well enough and protected.
CONS: being a paraplegic limits real movement, cannot bend
GARBAGE TIER (ppl that lack any usefulness whatsoever)
The Duke- PROS: group support
CONS: No bending, no real fighting ability, has to be looked after IMHO.
UNKNOWN TIER (waiting to see where they go, currently not shown, or captured or unsure if they are truly gone)
Uncle Iroh- PROS: Beefed up from excercise, wise, true firebending art, can lightning bend, fight with heart, pacifist, knowledge and understanding from other bending nations.
CONS: solar eclipse, care for and belief in zuko was a downfall for him.
Hue, Due, Tho- PROS: vinebending creates vegetable armor, waterbending is good, teamwork
CONS: slow to come up with ideas, not technologically advance, no armor and weak protective apparel, too relaxed.
Pipsqueak- PROS: Brute, teamwork, group support
CONS: No bending
The Mechanist- PROS: alchemy, mechanics, smarts, machinery, inventions, bombs, throws, traps, humorous
CONS: no bending, no fighting potential,
Combustion Man- PROS: extremely deadly ****of firebending. physically strong
CONS: delay in bending, recovery time for usage, slow, combustion extremely dangerous may even harmself.
