BirthME, Doulas

Metal is stubborn and requires you to be able take a very precise state of mind to manipulate it, and Bolin just doesn't have that measure of self-control. Blasphemy! Bolin wa still interested because he told Toph that Su tried to teach him but he just didnt get it. I wouldn't mind I'm fine with him just being a lavavbender. Toph discovered a new earthbending skillset in metalbending, along with her sandbending, truthseeing, seismic sense, and conventional earthbending. Same deal. Look at his "light on your feet" style of earthbending, flowing and quick, accurate and striking at vulnerabilities. I still feel Suyin would be able to help him but Toph and Lin would probably be better teachers.

Which I wish we could get maybe a one or two-episode special on it, I hope we get to see Bolin learn it in the comics. If he hadn't known Ghazan, maybe he wouldn't even have tried to bend the lava.It does seem like there is a certain aspect of natural talent involved. Like, would you expect Aang to learn lightning generation?

I mean why not... what is so wrong with a bender having 2 subskills when many already do.... Bolin needs confidence and I believe he can still get it.Toph discovered a new earthbending skillset in metalbending, along with her sandbending, truthseeing, seismic sense, and conventional earthbending.

Frankly, it wouldn't make him terribly powerful.

It would be cool if he did, but his regular earthbending and lavabending is good all on its own without the metalbending  That, or if normal Korra can somehow move the fight into the spirit world or the Spirit Wilds of Republic City, she'll have a much better time than RL Korra of surviving local hazards (or even sending them exclusively at RL Korra).

Discounting Avatars, we've only seen two lavabenders at You may have a point in regards to airbending. There isn't a school for lavabending. Now I would like to think that Bolin would be so happy that after trying so much for so long to metalbend, that he would utilize it as much as he possibly can. We've seen Firebenders learn Combustionbending, but not Lightning Generation, and vice-versa. Toph was telling Bolin that maybe Suyin wasnt the right teacher for him but he can learn it if taught properly for him.

Both of the combustionbenders we've run across have been woefully overspecialized, rarely even using standard-issue firebending (and both of them die of it in the end).Waterbending is hydrokinesis by definition. Because lavabending is very unique, and very powerful. Metalbending is too precise and refined for someone like Bolin who is extremely talented, but not necessarily very delicate with his earthbending. Toph was able to draw the skill out of a bunch of nobodies in the comics after ATLA. I do agree that Bolin could have posibly found some earth on the ship somewhere but I don't see that as likely. With him being an Avatar, he is an exception in a sense because he can bend all of the elements. Toph has never been infallible. We only know that he made a lava shuriken, not where he got his material. 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. With so much emphasis on that lavabending this episode, I'm seriously doubting anything remotely like Bolin getting metalbending.

I think metalbending is more practical and has more nonlethal applications and general utility.

If it had to be one or the other, I'd go with metalbending...but I'd really want both. It's quite plausible that Bolin was trying to sense the impurities, but just couldn't find them. Protagonists handle antagonists in the end. If I were him? Water has Bloodbending and Healing.