It seems strange that people cite commonness of metal as though lavabending would be scarce. Any earth can be lavabent, so it's actually more plentiful than metalbending. I will agree that lava takes a lot of control to use without damaging oneself, but it's not impossible or even unlikely to self-injure fighting with metal either.
I would say it's Lavabending. If you imagine two people fighting, what should the Metalbender do what the Lavabender can't block? Unless they are on an area where is no earth but Metal what would be quite unfair. I think Metalbending is not a really good element for attacks, whereas Lava can be used for both, even more for attacks as it seems to me. And with Lavabending you can just melt the Metal if it touches it too long. Furthermore, you can make your amount of Lava very big, but you can't mix two pieces of Metal unless you can melt them.
Cold welding is actually a thing, though I don't know if we see any metalbenders do it. I'd say metal is pretty dang good at hurting people, though maybe not quite as good as lava.
The thing about Lavabending is that there is something it can, hypothetically, do that no other form of Earthbending can do - Fractional melting. The basic version of this geological concept is the magma in a 'lava chamber' is slowing cooling, and as it cools certain minerals form first and other minerals remain in the molten magma, changing it's composition. Now what does this mean? With enough time and focus, you can focus specfic minerals out of your magma, and shape it with Magmabending to anything you want. In layman terms, you can make gemstones in any shape you want! Want a Quartz swam, get some granite and get cracking, or is a pure diamond ring by working with kimberlite!
Metalbending is more useful in everyday life, and does anybody remember Toph's bracelet? That is what I'm about.
I think lavabending can be useful for utilitarian purposes as well, not just in combat situations. Lava can act as a light source, create fire and provide heat for comfort or for cooking. Also, like Jaxusblackrose said, lava can be helpful for blacksmithing/metallurgy as it can create different minerals. Mind you, this could either revolutionize or disrupt the mining industry!
Lavabending with its extreme heat could also melt through objects like that glowing 1000 degree knife does, or how Ghazan made a sharp disc of lava to cut open a hole through his wooden cell.
Scheepybird wrote:
I say metal. Why?
Firstly, there are many metal objects (knives, forks, etc.).
Secondly, lavabending can harm me, the bender, very easily.
If you are incompotent, then yes.
SaitamasBoi4123 wrote:
Scheepybird wrote:
I say metal. Why?
Firstly, there are many metal objects (knives, forks, etc.).
Secondly, lavabending can harm me, the bender, very easily.
If you are incompotent, then yes.
Yes and also if you are lavabending you have be a pretty advanced bender, so it’s more likely that you’ll hurt others than yourself
SaitamasBoi4123 wrote:
Scheepybird wrote:
I say metal. Why?
Firstly, there are many metal objects (knives, forks, etc.).
Secondly, lavabending can harm me, the bender, very easily.
First off, you should work on your grammar. Secondly, if you take the time to master your lavabending, then you will not get hurt by the lava you bend.