<p>I don't think there's a canonical explanation of how bending works, but the way Earthbenders fight suggests that they have much more control over soil that's near them, and that they work best with sudden, abrupt movements. For instance, it's common for earthbenders to stop large slabs of rock, but they always wait for it to get close rather than slowing it gradually from a distance. Most attacks originate from the bender, and when they act on distant earth it's usually to throw their opponent off balance rather than injure them directly. There's almost no instances of earthbenders pulling rocks as a form of attack.</p>

<p>It's also shown throughout the series that bending heavy loads is not unlike physically lifting them; it's usually done much more slowly and the weight of the rocks causes resistance against the bender's movements.</p>

<p>It's likely that Korra could bend Kuvira's armor, but it would be impractical to do so from the distance they kept from each other while fighting. This seems to be supported by the fact that in the season finale, after slamming Korra against a wall, Kuvira pulls out three chunks of metal from it and brings them close. She then launches small bits of the chunks at Korra very quickly.</p>

<p>It appears Kuvira felt she couldn't have attacked Korra directly using the metal in the wall, or using larger chunks of metal, without a high chance of Korra dodging or using a quicker attack in response. By that same token, I imagine if Korra tried to throw Kuvira from a distance, Kuvira would easily hit her with a small piece of metal before Korra completed the throw. And considering they can both react to small projectiles traveling at high speeds, I doubt Korra would've been able to bend a large amount of metal and surround Kuvira with it quickly enough to actually trap her either.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-12T03:36:10.713Z
2015-03-12T03:44:00.127Z
2015-03-12T03:44:00.127Z
Doval
<p>Korra more or less could bend the metal on Kuvira's uniform, as long as she knows the exact type of metal. However, it would be pointless to do such thing. An example would be: If Toph was an earthbender and so as Dai Li's force, then Toph should have subdued them through earthbending like enclosing them in a rock or in a statue, which of course Dai Li can always fight easily being the earthbender itself. The same is applicable for both Korra and Kuvira - both can bend metal, so neither can really overpower the other just by chaining.</p>

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2015-03-09T14:31:42.183Z
At least from looks, it seems that you need to be able to gesticulate to bend. So by chaining someone you actively hinder them from bending. This was my thought. I think in the final fight materials appeared that could not be metal bended (gotta research that myself and will post again then)
kero
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T16:56:36.733Z
@kingkero I'm pretty sure that's the case. The Fire Nation was convinced they had incapacitated King Bumi in TLA when they put him in a metal coffin. Turns out he could bend with his face, but he still needed to move at least a little for that. As for materials it came up in Korra season 1 that pure platinum has no impurities and thus can't be bent.
Doval
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-12T04:43:39.533Z
@Doval : Exactly my point.
Firelord
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2015-03-08T17:57:32.957Z
2015-03-09T19:03:08.607Z
2015-03-09T19:03:08.607Z
Firelord
<p>In the latest episode (S04E06, "The Battle of Zaofu") Korra fights Kuvira who wears the following uniform</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/i4HRs.png" alt="Kuvira in her uniform">
(from <a href="http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Kuvira" rel="nofollow noreferrer">avatar.wikia.com</a>)</p>

<p>In the linked article it is also said that</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>While leading her army, Kuvira took to wearing a uniform with metal
  strips on her back, biceps, and calves, for which she developed a
  style of metalbending that involves bending the metal on her uniform
  and shooting them off of like projectiles.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Now I was wondering: Can't Korra bend the metal on Kuvira's uniform and chain her (or subdue in another way)? Is this due to the fact that Kuvira already has control over the metal (as described in the wikia article)?</p>

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2014-11-11T15:22:23.317Z
Is korra a metal bender? I thought she wasnt one?
Quikstryke
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2014-11-11T22:53:56.613Z
@Quikstryke The avatar wikia specifically lists Korra as a metal bender. The practice is somewhat common, and in principle accessible to any earth bender willing to put in the effort.
zibadawa timmy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-11T23:29:17.940Z
@Quikstryke Also didn't she bend out the last bits of poisonous metal in S04E03?
kero
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2014-11-12T11:38:50.530Z
@Quikstryke she learned in S03, though Bolin tried to learn but failed, later we find out he is a lava bender
ratchet freak
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2014-11-12T20:34:27.560Z
@ratchetfreak Lava bending is a thing? I guess Roku was a lava bender, then.
zibadawa timmy
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2014-11-12T21:06:30.610Z
oh true..my bad lol
Quikstryke
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2014-11-13T09:07:45.273Z
Korra is a metal bender. She bent the metal poison out of her body.
Madara's Ghost
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T11:59:01.667Z
Maybe the parts Kuvira never uses for bending are made of platinum. That leaves the forearms, and I can't imagine how you'd go about bending the metal in a way that would constrain her without her being able to maneuver out of the attempt - you'd be peeling the metal off her.
Doval
<avatar>
Why doesn't Korra bend the metal on Kuvira's uniform?
# Why doesn't Korra bend the metal on Kuvira's uniform?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-11-11
In the latest episode (S04E06, "The Battle of Zaofu") Korra fights Kuvira who wears the following uniform

![Kuvira in her uniform](https://i.sstatic.net/i4HRs.png)
(from [avatar.wikia.com](http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Kuvira))

In the linked article it is also said that

> While leading her army, Kuvira took to wearing a uniform with metal
> strips on her back, biceps, and calves, for which she developed a
> style of metalbending that involves bending the metal on her uniform
> and shooting them off of like projectiles.

Now I was wondering: Can't Korra bend the metal on Kuvira's uniform and chain her (or subdue in another way)? Is this due to the fact that Kuvira already has control over the metal (as described in the wikia article)?
**Tags:** avatar
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Is korra a metal bender? I thought she wasnt one?  
> **username_2**: @Quikstryke The avatar wikia specifically lists Korra as a metal bender. The practice is somewhat common, and in principle accessible to any earth bender willing to put in the effort.  
> **username_0**: @Quikstryke Also didn't she bend out the last bits of poisonous metal in S04E03?  
> **username_3**: @Quikstryke she learned in S03, though Bolin tried to learn but failed, later we find out he is a lava bender  
> **username_2**: @ratchetfreak Lava bending is a thing? I guess Roku was a lava bender, then.  
> **username_1**: oh true..my bad lol  
> **username_4**: Korra is a metal bender. She bent the metal poison out of her body.  
> **username_5**: Maybe the parts Kuvira never uses for bending are made of platinum. That leaves the forearms, and I can't imagine how you'd go about bending the metal in a way that would constrain her without her being able to maneuver out of the attempt - you'd be peeling the metal off her.  
---
## 2 answers
### Answer by username_5 on 2015-03-12. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
I don't think there's a canonical explanation of how bending works, but the way Earthbenders fight suggests that they have much more control over soil that's near them, and that they work best with sudden, abrupt movements. For instance, it's common for earthbenders to stop large slabs of rock, but they always wait for it to get close rather than slowing it gradually from a distance. Most attacks originate from the bender, and when they act on distant earth it's usually to throw their opponent off balance rather than injure them directly. There's almost no instances of earthbenders pulling rocks as a form of attack.

It's also shown throughout the series that bending heavy loads is not unlike physically lifting them; it's usually done much more slowly and the weight of the rocks causes resistance against the bender's movements.

It's likely that Korra could bend Kuvira's armor, but it would be impractical to do so from the distance they kept from each other while fighting. This seems to be supported by the fact that in the season finale, after slamming Korra against a wall, Kuvira pulls out three chunks of metal from it and brings them close. She then launches small bits of the chunks at Korra very quickly.

It appears Kuvira felt she couldn't have attacked Korra directly using the metal in the wall, or using larger chunks of metal, without a high chance of Korra dodging or using a quicker attack in response. By that same token, I imagine if Korra tried to throw Kuvira from a distance, Kuvira would easily hit her with a small piece of metal before Korra completed the throw. And considering they can both react to small projectiles traveling at high speeds, I doubt Korra would've been able to bend a large amount of metal and surround Kuvira with it quickly enough to actually trap her either.
---
### Answer by username_6 on 2015-03-08. Score: 0
Korra more or less could bend the metal on Kuvira's uniform, as long as she knows the exact type of metal. However, it would be pointless to do such thing. An example would be: If Toph was an earthbender and so as Dai Li's force, then Toph should have subdued them through earthbending like enclosing them in a rock or in a statue, which of course Dai Li can always fight easily being the earthbender itself. The same is applicable for both Korra and Kuvira - both can bend metal, so neither can really overpower the other just by chaining.
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2015-03-09): At least from looks, it seems that you need to be able to gesticulate to bend. So by chaining someone you actively hinder them from bending. This was my thought. I think in the final fight materials appeared that could not be metal bended (gotta research that myself and will post again then)  
> **username_5** (2015-03-11): @kingkero I'm pretty sure that's the case. The Fire Nation was convinced they had incapacitated King Bumi in TLA when they put him in a metal coffin. Turns out he could bend with his face, but he still needed to move at least a little for that. As for materials it came up in Korra season 1 that pure platinum has no impurities and thus can't be bent.  
> **username_6** (2015-03-12): @Doval : Exactly my point.  
---
