Avatar: The Last Airbender established a world with its own history, politics, factions, and social systems. The Order of the White Lotus, in the ATLA universe, is a secret organization that is beyond the control of the four nations. They are devoted to truth, balance, and sharing ancient knowledge beyond the confines of the nations.
Several known characters from the show are members of the Order of the White Lotus, with their strengths and strategic minds contributing to the Order’s missions. This ranking weighs each member’s demonstrated combat feats on-screen: raw bending or weapon skill, notable victories, and the scale of what they’re shown capable of.
6. Fung is Great With Logistics But Lacks in Power
In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Fung is spotted by Iroh as a fellow Order of the White Lotus member in the Misty Palm Oasis. Zuko and Iroh take his help as Fung arranges passports for the Fire Nation duo. The oldie is incredible in strategy and is able to give a safe pathway to any Order member who needs it.
His value to the Order is real, proving the society’s reach extends beyond power into resourcefulness and trust. But with zero demonstrated combat ability, he ranks last by this ranking’s strength-based methodology, despite being a loyal and clever operative.
5. The Fire Nation’s Jeong Jeong Often Avoids Combat
A former Fire Nation general and firebending master, Jeong Jeong deserted the army out of guilt over fire’s destructive power, later briefly mentoring Aang. He commands fire with exceptional precision and control, capable of directing full walls of flame with minimal exertion.
However, he deliberately avoids combat and is never shown overpowering strong opponents, prioritizing restraint over conquest. His mastery is undeniable, but limited on-screen displays and self-imposed passivity place him above only Fung.
4. Piandao is a Combat Veteran But Lacks Bending Skills
Sokka learns many of his combat skills from Piandao, the Fire Nation bladesmith and swordsman who is a combat veteran. He was a high-ranking Order member and also participated in the liberation of Ba Sing Se. However, as a non-bender born to firebending parents who abandoned him, he relies entirely on his unmatched swordsmanship rather than elemental magic.
While a high-ranking member of the Order and an expert combat fighter, Piandao ranks fourth because of his lack of bending skills, especially as a Fire Bender, which would have made him even more powerful. This puts him lower than other members of the list.
3. The Waterbending Expert Pakku Trained Sokka and Katara
Northern Water Tribe’s foremost waterbending master, Pakku trained Katara and Aang, and easily overwhelmed multiple Fire Nation soldiers simultaneously during the North’s siege. He fights with total command of ice and water, showing no strain against skilled attackers.
His feats are consistently impressive, but he’s never shown facing an opponent of truly monumental scale, unlike Bumi or Iroh. That caps his placement at third, just below the Order’s biggest legends.
2. Bumi Took on a Whole Garrison of Fire Nation Soldiers Alone
Bumi’s story is nothing short of legend. The mad genius king of Omashu may look frail and old, but he is a master at earthbending. After willingly surrendering his city to the Fire Nation and patiently waiting for the right moment, he single-handedly liberated Omashu during the Day of Black Sun. In mere minutes, he effortlessly uprooted massive metal factories and launched them entirely out of the city.
His raw destructive power and unconventional, unpredictable fighting style make him one of the strongest earthbenders shown. Only Iroh’s broader arsenal, dragon-taught mastery, and comparable signature feats edge him out for the top spot.
1. Iroh is the Grand Lotus of the Order of the White Lotus
Called the ‘Dragon of the West,’ Iroh is a legendary firebending master who once besieged Ba Sing Se, later masters lightning redirection, and single-handedly breaks out of a maximum-security prison. He displays extraordinary versatility and wisdom, studying the fluid movements of waterbenders to invent the technique of lightning redirection. Furthermore, he learned the true, life-giving essence of fire directly from the last living dragons.
As Grand Lotus, he later leads the Order’s liberation of Ba Sing Se using Sozin’s Comet’s power. His combination of raw strength, technical range, and proven historic victories makes him the clear strongest member.
Which Order of the Lotus member do you think is the strongest? Comment below.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is available to watch on Netflix.
