In this article, we have listed some of the best collectibles based on Uncle Iroh. The list includes everything from an Uncle Iroh tattoo to mugs and T-shirts based on him. Uncle Iroh is one of the most beloved characters of all time. Not only did he provide the required comic relief, but he was also one of the wisest characters on Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV Series). He treated Zuko as his own son and went on a self-imposed exile after the banishment of Zuko from the Fire Nation.

He was also shown to have a deep understanding and respect for the spirit world. And was also one of the very few characters that could see the spirits. Uncle Iroh was one of the greatest generals of the Fire Nation in the Hundred Year War and was also supposed to become the Firelord after Azulon’s death by birthright.

But his younger brother Max Ozai took the throne after an extensive plot against Firelord Azulon. He poisoned his father and took the throne after declaring it as his father’s dying wish.

But by that time, Iroh had already lost interest in the politics of his nation. This was primarily because of the death of his only son Lu Ten. And as the series progressed, we saw that Iroh matured and developed a deep affection for Zuko.

And took it on himself to guide the young prince on the true path to his destiny. He was also a member of the White Lotus and liberated Ba Sing Se from the Fire Nation when Sozin’s Comet arrived.

Uncle Iroh Merchandise

This section will list some of the best options based on Uncle Iroh for you to buy.

Coffee Mugs

This section features the best available Uncle Iroh-inspired coffee mugs.

Jasmine Dragon Coffe Mug

This coffee mug is the perfect gift for someone who loves Uncle Iroh and Avatar series in general. This mug features an Uncle Iroh Tattoo with the background of his tea shop “The Jasmine Dragon” in Ba Sing Se. Iroh loved this tea shop very much, and even when Zuko became the Firelord, Iroh stayed back in Ba Sing Se to manage his tea shop.

This mug is made up of high-quality ceramic material and is very durable. You can pour any warm drink inside this mug.

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Wisdom Of Uncle Iroh Mug

This mug is a unique collectible item. The printed tattoo on the mug features Uncle Iroh holding his tea. And several of his quotes are printed below this image. The quotes include all the wise advice that Uncle Iroh gave throughout the TV Series.

The Wisdom of Uncle Iroh Coffee mug 15oz

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Black Colored Mug

This black-colored ceramic mug comes with Uncle Iroh’s picture with the words “Delectable tea or Deadly Poison” written on the mug. The mug is made up of high-quality ceramic material that is safe for use in a dishwasher and a microwave.

Delectable Tea Or Deadly Poison Coffee Mug Black

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Jasmine Dragon Tea Set

This unique tea set is crafted for true Iroh fans. This set features “The Jasmine Dragon” logo both on the teapot and the teacup. The set includes a 5 Oz porcelain teacup and 26 Oz teapot with a sturdy bamboo handle. This is the perfect decorative and collectible gift for any fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender or The Legend of Korra television shows and comics.

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Avatar Sticker Collection

This section features the sticker collection based on the Avatar series. The first item consists of a 41 piece sticker set. The stickers are completely safe and made up of non-toxic and waterproof material. The stickers are thick and durable and are best for both indoor and outdoor use. These are easy to stick repeatedly and be removed quite comfortably without leaving any residue.

41pcs Avatar The Last Airbender Stickers

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The second sticker pack consists of 3 identical Uncle Iroh tea sharing quotes and Uncle Iroh printed. The size of each sticker is 4×3 inches. These stickers are made up of high-quality vinyl and are therefore waterproof. So these stickers are safe for outdoor use as well.

3 PCs Stickers Uncle iroh Sharing Tea Quote

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The third item includes a 5-inch tall vinyl decal tattoo. You can use this decal on the screens of your cars. The decal itself consists of a quote stating, “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy tea,” with Iroh drinking tea as well.

Uncle Iroh Vinyl Decal Sticker 5" Tall

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Uncle Iroh T-Shirts

This section lists the best available T-shirt that features Uncle Iroh. This T-shirt is made up of 100% cotton and is extremely comfortable. The T-shirt is available in multiple colors and is a part of a wider Uncle Iroh clothing collection, including a sweatshirt, tank top, and hoodie.

This collection features the same tattoo as printed on the T-shirt. In addition, the T-shirt features a tattoo of Uncle Iroh sipping tea with Jasmine Dragon Tea House and Ba Sing Se written as well.

Jasmine Dragon Tea House Ba Sing Se Vintage T-Shirt

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Conclusion

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Buff Iroh is probably one of the most surprising turnouts in the series. Yes, we knew Aang would beat the Fire Lord, but one thing we didn’t count on was the tea-loving, fat-belied, duck-eating older man to get ripped and become buff Iroh suddenly. Instead, he went from eating with much gusto to sporting a full set of abs.

Iroh was a retired Fire Nation general, a former Crown Prince of the nation, a Grand Lotus of the Order of the White Lotus, a firebending master, and a wise mentor to his nephew Zuko. He was the elder son of Fire Lord Azulon and Ilah and the older brother of Ozai. Iroh’s well-known ability to breathe fire and his claims of “slaying” the last dragon earned him the honorary title “The Dragon of the West” became “Buff Iroh”.

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Prelude to The Buff Iroh

Several things led to the capture and imprisonment of Iroh. In reality, Iroh was a grand lotus of the secret society, the Order of the White Lotus. The Order of the White Lotus, which transcended the boundaries of the four nations. The organization has members spread far and wide across the world, even in desolate, remote villages of the Earth Kingdom.

Iroh and Zuko sought their aid in avoiding the bounty hunters Master Yu and Xin Fu, who temporarily decided to seek the two fugitives from the firebending nation rather than pursue the Avatar and Toph. However, on short notice, the Order managed to produce fake passports and other paperwork to smuggle Iroh and Zuko into Ba Sing Se.

They managed to get into Ba Sing Se to start new lives for themselves, which was the safest route for the duo to take.

With the help of the Order of the White Lotus’ Iroh and Zuko were able to make their way to Ba Sing Se, disguised as refugees. Once inside, a series of events occurred. Events like Iroh getting them jobs at a tea shop. While on a day off, Iroh spent the day shopping in the city.

During his travels, Iroh displayed his kindness and his skill as a teacher. He granted wisdom and help to all those he encountered during his day of shopping. He later held a small memorial service for Lu Ten, marking his late son’s birthday, and tearfully said he wished he could have helped Lu Ten and that he would ‘see him again.

After weeks in Ba Sing Se, Iroh was given a chance to run his own tea shop, but Zuko had other plans. After he became aware that the Avatar was in Ba Sing Se and had lost his Bison, he devised his own plans.

When Zuko attempted to capture Appa, Iroh confronted Zuko and told him rather bluntly to stop trying to live the life people said he had to live. In addition, Iroh convinced Zuko to give up his alias as the Blue Spirit. After this event, Zuko became ill as a result of his actions under Lake Laogai.

Iroh explained that they were incomplete conflicts with Zuko’s image of himself. Nevertheless, he cared for him like he would his own son. Through the ordeal, Iroh reassured Zuko that when he came out of his illness, he would be the “beautiful prince” he was always meant to be and remained confident that Zuko would be the one person to redeem the wrongdoings of the Fire Nation.

Soon after, he became better with a positive and chippy side. This was even much weirder than his actions under Lake Laogai. He was excited to run a tea shop and became even more hopeful.

Azula, planning a coup would put a stop to all that. When Azula offered Zuko a chance to reclaim his honor by helping take over the Earth Kingdom capital, he agreed. Iroh, taking on Azula and the Dai Li warriors, had to take on Zuko as well, much to his pain.

He would have laid down his life as he had to stand down. He was last seen defending the lifeless body of the Avatar as he ordered Katara to get him out. He gave them time to escape before he peacefully allowed himself to be captured. Iroh made eye contact with Zuko before turning away, expressing shame at his nephew’s decision.

The Wisdom of Uncle Iroh Coffee mug 15oz

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Iroh Imprisoned So He Became Buff Iroh

After this, Iroh was imprisoned. He never said a word even as Zuko would secretly visit him in the tower where he was being held prisoner. After a few trials to visit, he eventually summoned the courage to go, after threatening the guard to keep silent about the visit.

Zuko tried severally to talk to his uncle, only to have Iroh turn away from him and say nothing. Zuko later brought food to Iroh and asked for his help. Iroh continued to remain silent, causing Zuko to become angry and storm out of the room. A single tear rolled down Iroh’s face. The pain took for him to behave that way towards his nephew, who was a son, was overwhelming.

Iroh Loved Zuko More Than His Own Father

While Iroh was in prison he became the buff Iroh, the Warden, Poon, came to give Iroh his food. Poon mocked am intentionally disheveled Iroh as he scrambled for the food after he had tossed it on the floor. He even scooped what had fallen onto the ground into his mouth. As soon as Poon was gone, he became more collected, wiped the stray hair out of his face, and calmly finished his meal in peace.

This time, he only ate out of the bowl. Iroh was shown again, calmly lying on the ground, deep in thought. Suddenly his eyes widened, and he began aggressively doing bent-knee sit-ups. This was the process that led him to be buff. He had been doing these exercises at every chance he got, which was almost every time.

Later, Iroh was still mocked and ridiculed by Poon while still feigning insanity, as was his habit at the prison. Nevertheless, Iroh continued to train in Poon’s absence. At this point, he is shown to have upgraded to straight-legged inverted sit-ups.

He kept up the facade of loneliness and desperation in front of Poon. Iroh was seen to be training whenever he was not being watched. He became very much able to perform difficult exercises, including inverted crunches, inverted push-ups, and one-handed pull-ups.

Still keeping his jailer unaware, Iroh had managed to recondition his body to a more intimidating form. He had even managed to lose his pronounced signature belly that we came to know him with. He slyly hid his belly by stuffing spare clothing under his robes. This was to dissuade his jailer and keep them in the dark. Buff Iroh is a surprise we were not ready for but delighted to have in the series.

Of the many tales in Avatar: The Last Airbender, none is as heart-wrenching as Iroh’s son, Lu Ten.

Prince Lu Ten was the son of General Iroh, the nephew of Ozai and Ursa; the cousin of Zuko and Azula, the grandson of Azulon, the great-grandson of Sozin; and second in line to the Fire Nation throne. While serving his nation in combat as a soldier in the Fire Army, he was killed during his father’s famous six-hundred-day Siege of Ba Sing Se.

The death of Iroh’s Son had a traumatic impact upon his father, causing him to abandon the siege, ultimately providing an opportunity for Ozai to usurp the birthright of Fire Lord from his brother.

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History of Iroh’s Son: Lu Ten

The Dragon of The West and Iroh’s Son had a strong relationship during Lu Ten’s childhood, which remained during adulthood. Lu Ten also enjoyed visiting Ember Island with the rest of the royal family.

At some point, Iroh’s Son became a soldier in the Fire Nation military, serving under his father’s command. Despite this, they remained jovial and informal in each other’s presence even when on duty.

Lu Ten lost his life in combat against the Earth Kingdom, just five years before the end of the Hundred Year War during the Siege of Ba Sing Se. He was mortally wounded around the same time that Iroh breached the city’s Outer Wall, although his father only later learned of his son’s situation. By the time he was informed, Lu Ten was dead.

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Legacy Of Iroh’s Son

Iroh was so heartbroken by his son’s death that he abandoned the city’s siege, claiming that he and his men were exhausted from the extensive time away from home. However, when his brother, Prince Ozai, learned of Lu Ten’s death and Iroh’s subsequent actions, he petitioned their father; Fire Lord Azulon; to appoint him as heir to the throne; claiming that Lu Ten’s death meant that the royal bloodline would end with Iroh; since he had no other heir.

Azulon was enraged at such a request and saw fit to have Ozai’s firstborn, Prince Zuko, killed as punishment, but because of his mysterious death soon after, Ozai was able to take the throne. Although Iroh was the elder brother, he did not challenge Ozai’s claim, as he was too devastated by the death of both Lu Ten and Azulon. Moreover, he had lost his desire for power.

Iroh eventually managed to access the Spirit World, where he searched for Lu Ten, to no avail. Overall, the loss of his son and the experiences during his travels had a profound effect upon Iroh, whose personality shifted more toward a calm acceptance of life rather than continuing to participate in the Fire Nation’s war efforts.

The Death of Iroh’s Son Was Pivotal To The Story In The Last Airbender

The course of history in Avatar: The Last Airbender might have been different; if it wasn’t for the death of Uncle Iroh’s son, Prince Lu Ten. Throughout the series, Iroh acted as a wise and calming father figure to the angry exiled Prince Zuko, providing the positive influence that eventually led Zuko down a path of redemption. But Iroh wasn’t always the kindly older man that fans know from the series.

The Avatar season 2 episode “Zuko Alone” was key in revealing the story of how Iroh lost his son, and in turn, lost all interest in ruling as Fire Lord. Known as “The Dragon of the West,” Iroh led the famous 600-day Siege of Ba Sing Se, the Earth Kingdom’s nigh-impenetrable walled city.

During the siege, Iroh cultivated a great deal of admiration for Ba Sing Se; and later returned there under more peaceful circumstances. However, Ba Sing Se isn’t just important to Iroh because of its impressive defenses. It’s also the place where he lost his only son.

Lu Ten

Prince Lu Ten was a soldier in the Fire Nation army and died in the Hundred Year War; during the Siege of Ba Sing Se – though not necessarily in that particular campaign. A letter from Lu Ten to his father reads, “See you after we win the war,” implying that Lu Ten may actually have died fighting elsewhere in the Earth Kingdom, far away from his father. Unlike Ozai and Zuko, Iroh and Lu Ten were extremely close, and Iroh loved his son very deeply.

The death of Lu Ten killed Iroh’s appetite for war. He ended the siege and returned home to the Fire Nation with his exhausted army. Iroh’s father, Fire Lord Azulon, had also been killed, secretly poisoned by Zuko’s mother, Ursa, in a bargain for Zuko’s life.

Despite being the younger of the two brothers, Ozai had ascended to the throne of the Fire Nation, claiming that it had been Azulon’s final wish. Under other circumstances, Iroh might have challenged this claim; but in the wake of Lu Ten’s death, he had no interest in ruling.

How Things Would Have Been If Lu Ten Did Not Die

Had Iroh’s Son lived, things would have played out very differently in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Though Iroh was more enthusiastic about war before he lost his son; (in a letter to his family, he joked that they might not be able to see Ba Sing Se; if he burned it to the ground); he wasn’t anywhere close to being as evil as his brother. 

In a flashback, a young Azula disgustedly refers to her uncle as “his royal tea-loving kooky-ness,”; and other snapshots from the past show Uncle Iroh being affectionate; towards his son and sending gifts to his niece and nephew. It’s hard to picture Fire Lord Iroh carrying out Ozai’s plan of using Sozin’s Comet to destroy the Earth Kingdom.

Though it happened years before the series begins, the death of Iroh’s Son is one of the great tragedies of Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the season 2 episode “Tales of Ba Sing Se,”; Iroh offers help, comfort, and guidance to several boys and young men around the city; before arriving at his son’s grave to celebrate Lu Ten’s birthday.

The lullaby he sings, “Leaves from the Vine,” is particularly heartbreaking; because it reveals that from a young age, Iroh referred to his son as “little soldier boy,”; unwittingly setting him down the path that would eventually lead to his death.

Lu Ten’s Death Was A Bittersweet Event

Still, if the death of Iroh’s Son was a dark turning point for the Fire Nation, it was also the tragedy that made Iroh a better man – and Zuko as well. Before his nephew went hunting down the Avatar during the Siege of the North, Iroh told him that he had thought of Zuko as his own ever since Lu Ten’s death. And thanks to Iroh’s tempering influence, Zuko eventually became a far wiser and more noble Fire Lord than his father ever was.

Trivia on Iroh’s Son

• Iroh’s Son was first mentioned during the Siege of the North; when Iroh informed Zuko that after Lu Ten’s death, he began treating Zuko like his own son.
• He was mentioned by name for the first time by Ursa in a flashback during “Zuko Alone”.
• A younger Lu Ten was seen in “Bitter Work”; and a picture of an older Lu Ten was displayed at Iroh’s altar for him; during “Tales of Ba Sing Se”.
• Zuko had a flashback showing himself, Iroh, and a young Iroh’s Son during “The Beach”. He is pictured as an adult soldier in Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legacy of the Fire Nation.
• The Avatar Extras bonus commentary for “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” misspelled Lu Ten’s name; spelling it as Lu Tin.
• The words in the top left of Lu Ten’s portrait can be roughly translated as; “General Iroh, I will see you again when victory is obtained. Your loyal son, Lu Ten”

The relationship between Zuko and Iroh is not an uncommon one. But how it blossoms into what it finally became is one that can be termed as fascinating. It’s not unheard of for an uncle to take a great liking to his nephew, but the affection between these two grew exponentially over time. Iroh acted as a father figure, knowingly or unknowingly, to Zuko in all the ways Ozai failed to. So it was a no-brainer for Zuko to feel the fatherly affection he would be known to feel towards Iroh. 

Iroh’s Travels with Zuko

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Iroh always cared for Zuko. Having witnessed what the boy Zuko went through as a child, he must have felt an even more urgent need to be there for him. This feeling became even more intense after Lu Ten’s death. Iroh began to think of Zuko as his own son and cared for him like a father.

It may have been the delusions of a lonely older man at first. It was not that he didn’t originally love Zuko, but it could have also been his way of coping with Lu Ten’s death. Iroh supported him in every way he could and was a constant mentor to the troubled boy throughout his banishment. He and Zuko had quite the adventure all through their travels, hunting the Avatar.

It originally became an obsession of Zuko to capture the Avatar and regain his honor in his father’s eyes and the nation’s eyes. A self-imposed task of a misguided teenager who felt the only way to win back his father’s love was to capture the Avatar. This was a feat that several others had tried and failed, like Fire Lord Azulon himself, Sozin.

Among the things they did on their travels, asides from Music night on the ship and occasional Pai Sho was Fire bending practice. Iroh became Zuko’s fire-bending teacher by default. He was a general named the Dragon of the West. Of course, it went without saying that he was more than qualified to be the boy’s teacher. 

Iroh offered him advice on how to defeat Zhao when the two faced off in an Agni Kai. At the end of the fight, Iroh stopped Zhao from harming Zuko from behind. He declared that his nephew had more honor than the commander despite being in exile.

Iroh made his affection for Zuko known when they traveled toward the Northern Water Tribe. He showed great sadness when he thought Zuko had died. However, he also doted over him like a father would, asking him to be careful and stay hidden. Iroh later confessed his fatherly nature to Zuko by telling him he thought of Zuko.

Despite Zuko’s claims that he would be fine on his quest to capture the Avatar, Iroh still looked genuinely worried. However, Zuko later tells Iroh that he will be fine in a more relaxed voice compared to the impatient one he had earlier in the conversation. 

When Zuko and Iroh traveled throughout the Earth Kingdom, they came to rely on each other even more as time went on. Even though Iroh and the young prince had to leave each other for a while, the love between them did not die or dwindle in the slightest. Finally, however, Zuko left him for a short time when he claimed that they no longer had anything to gain by traveling together. So much Iroh’s sadness as his nephew suggested this, he let him go. 

As we would later see, when Toph gave Iroh some advice as well, she suggested that Iroh tell Zuko that he also needs him too. This was one of the scenes that suggested that Iroh also needed the relationship between them. 

Iroh’s later encounter and talk with Toph helped us realize this. Iroh, during this meeting, according to Toph, Iroh would not stop talking about Zuko. Before he and Zuko reunited, Toph suggested that Iroh tell Zuko that he needed him. This caused Iroh to reflect for a few seconds. 

Resuming Zuko’s Fire Bending Lessons

Iroh resumed Zuko’s Fire bending training and taught him how to redirect lightning but would not shoot at Zuko due to the risks. Zuko, infuriated by this and wanting to master this new skill as soon as possible, decided to go to the highest peak he could find and hope lightning would strike him. He screamed at the sky, yelling that it’d always thrown everything it had at him.

Life in Ba Sing Se 

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Iroh later decided that he and Zuko would be safe from Azula’s reach if they fled to Ba Sing Se as refugees. They contemplated the pros and cons and decided that being refugees or criminals in the Earth Kingdom wasn’t bad.

During their stay in Ba Sing Se, Iroh and Zuko worked together in a tea shop in the city’s Lower Ring, and they lived together in an apartment. Despite Zuko’s obvious disdain for his life as a refugee, Iroh remained patient and constantly encouraged Zuko to look at the positives. For example, he went so far as to encourage Zuko to find a nice “lady friend” and prompted Zuko to go on his date with Jin. 

When Zuko learned that Aang was in the city looking for his bison, Iroh encouraged Zuko not to go looking for trouble. He explained that they finally had a life and something good there. The words of a tired older man who wanted to stop running and live in peace, but Zuko would not have it.

When Zuko tried to capture Appa, Iroh stopped him and insisted that he stop letting others control his destiny. He shouted at him, asking if this was a destiny he wanted or one that was chosen for him. Of course, this was him referring to his father. This encouraged Zuko to free Appa instead and abandon his identity as the Blue Spirit, whom he was dressed as during the capture.

The two returned to their apartment after Zuko had freed Appa, but almost immediately after arriving, Zuko collapsed to the floor with a terrible fever. Through his sickness, Iroh was by Zuko’s side day and night to comfort him and care for him, knowing that his spirit would be cleansed due to his better decisions. Zuko started taking on a more positive attitude after he regained his health, and the two were happy to work in their new tea shop in the Upper Ring.

Zuko and Iroh’s relationship was jeopardized during the events that eventually occurred. Azula captured Zuko and asked him to help her conquer the city, which would earn Zuko his father’s respect and possibly restore his honor.

Iroh vehemently insisted that Zuko must do what his heart told him and not give in to another’s demands. This failed when Zuko helped Azula defeat Aang and Katara and conquer Ba Sing Se. Iroh was later captured and was clearly ashamed of Zuko’s actions. Zuko regretted his actions almost immediately.

Zuko visits Iroh in Prison

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During his time in the Capital City Prison, Iroh initially refused to speak to Zuko, who called him a crazy old man. Then, in an attempt to calm Zuko’s inner turmoil, he revealed to Zuko his relationship with Avatar Roku and that he could help restore balance to the world.

He explained why good and evil were always in conflict inside of him. Zuko eventually realized this destiny and joined Aang in his fight against the Fire Nation but was too late to reconcile with Iroh, who had fled from prison during the solar eclipse. He originally went to the prison to help him escape but was too late. 

Iroh and Zuko finally reunited before the arrival of Sozin’s Comet, with a repentant Zuko begging Iroh for forgiveness. Iroh quickly forgave his nephew, stating that he was never angry with him but was sad that Zuko had lost his way. 

Zuko affirmed this but said Iroh helped him find it. Iroh later encouraged Zuko to take his place as Fire Lord, as he was the more suitable heir due to his reputation and what he had learned from his mistakes. He prompted Zuko to ask for help defeating Azula since she would not give up the throne easily. Zuko asked Katara, who accepted the request. 

Iroh’s guidance to his nephew gave Zuko the strength needed to defeat Azula and to claim his rightful place as Fire Lord and the desire to restore peace and unity to the divided world. 

Iroh and Zuko after the War

Zuko and Iroh were on much better terms when the Hundred Year War was over, and the two were happy to be serving their friend’s tea together in Ba Sing Se after the city’s liberation.

Zuko found himself teetering towards Iroh’s wisdom during the crises he faced during his tenure as Fire Lord. He, however, respected his uncle’s retirement wishes and left him undisturbed. However, Iroh was happy to see Zuko again and helped him recover after the events outside Yu Dao. 

Iroh reminded Zuko that despite being Fire Lord, he was still a stubborn boy and needed to remember that he always would have a home with him. Iroh was displeased by Zuko and Aang’s poor reactions toward his innovative tea, considering himself a man ahead of his time.

Iroh continued to help his nephew, including serving as interim Fire Lord and expressed his wish that Zuko would find greater peace by finding his mother. This was when the team and Azula again embarked on another journey to find Zuko and Azula’s mother, Ursa.

Iroh continued to fill this role while Zuko stayed with his mother upon returning to the Fire Nation Capital, taking the Fire Lord’s place at Yu Dao to commemorate the transition of government. In addition, Iroh was again happy to help his nephew during the insurrection of the New Ozai Society, putting himself in personal danger as a decoy.

Iroh and Zuko remained close for the rest of their lives, with Iroh eventually passing from the material world. However, Zuko still showed his love and respect for Iroh, eagerly questioning Korra about speaking with Iroh in the Spirit World. After learning about his uncle’s fate, Zuko reunited with Iroh for the first time in decades. The relationship between them is admirable.

Iroh vs. Ozai is a match-up that we, as fans of the franchise and the Fandom, have longed to know the result of. The fan-favorite being General Iroh, a Grand Lotus in the Order of the White Lotus secret society. Fire Lord Ozai, the usurper of the throne of the Fire Nation. He is suspected of having killed Fire Lord Azulon when he pitched the idea of being Fire Lord instead of Iroh soon after Lu Ten was killed in Ba Sing Se. He suggested that Iroh had no heirs and he was fit for the position.

Azulon, enraged at his audacity, demanded that he feel the loss of a first-born son and said he had to kill his own son Zuko. Soon after, Fire Lord Azulon passed away in his sleep, as historians recorded. However, Ozai had become Fire Lord the next day, which fans thought was too convenient.

However, this article aims to settle this long debate on this battle. Who would win in a battle between Iroh and Ozai?

Closing in on the end of the hundred-year war when Avatar Aang was nowhere to be found, the team remained focused and were determined to end the war at all costs. However, they were confident that Aang would show up just when he should and at the right time. This faith or belief in him led them to proceed with other plans, expecting his arrival.

While going over the battle plans, Iroh was asked by Zuko to take on Ozai in the Avatar’s absence, but Iroh refused. He said that he was unsure if he could defeat him, and even if he could, history would see it as a brother killing another for power. So it created the question of who would win if these two crossed one another in battle—Iroh vs. Ozai.

Iroh vs Ozai: Details On Iroh

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Much like his father before him, Iroh was a renowned Fire Nation general during the Hundred Year War. Azulon had several exploits, and so did Iroh. Iroh enjoyed serving as a military commander and fully embraced his role as heir to the Fire Lord, later musing that his blood “boiled with desire” for power at the time.

His views at the time partially came from a desire to honor his father Azulon and grandfather Sozin. He felt like it was his duty to do this as both his father and grandfather had fully committed themselves to the war. In addition, Sozin was hell-bent on sharing the fire nation’s prosperity with the world.

This was according to the conversation he had with Avatar Roku at his wedding. Then, acting on a vision he had witnessed in his youth which told him he would capture the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se, Iroh besieged the great city for six hundred days and successfully breached the Outer Wall.

This was a feat that had never been done before. However, before he could breach the Inner Wall, his son Lu Ten was killed on the front lines, and in his grief, Iroh lost most of his fighting spirit and abandoned the siege. Thus, the Siege of Ba Sing Se came to be seen as a terrible dishonor and failure for Iroh.

As Iroh returned home from the siege, his father, Fire Lord Azulon, died under mysterious circumstances. Although Iroh was the Crown Prince, his younger brother Ozai was named Fire Lord, apparently at the dying request of Azulon himself. Having lost his desire for power after the death of Lu Ten, Iroh did not fight for his right to the throne, and Ozai took power without incident. Regardless, Iroh initially felt that not becoming the Fire Lord was a “tremendous failure.”

Iroh vs Ozai: Details On Ozai

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Ozai was the ruler of the Fire Nation during the final years of the Hundred Year War, reigning as Fire Lord from 95 to 100 AG. He is the younger brother of Iroh. He is the second son of Fire Lord Azulon and Ilah. He is also an uncle to Lu Ten and husband to Ursa, the father of Prince Zuko and Princess Azula.

He is also the paternal grandfather of Izumi, Zuko’s daughter, as we see in the later sequel to the Last Airbender series, the Legend of Korra. Ozai was a firebending master and was believed to be the most powerful firebender in the world before the end of the war. This prompts many questions like can he stand in battle against an equally controlled and powerful firebender, Iroh.

After Iroh’s only son, Lu Ten, died, Ozai usurped his brother’s birthright. This was in a scheme that resulted in his father’s death and Ursa’s banishment.

During Ozai’s rule, there was a mass buildup of industry and significant technological advancements. But, like his father and grandfather before him, Ozai was hell-bent on fully conquering and subduing the other nations. To this end, he planned to become the supreme ruler of the world.

To do this, he planned to use Sozin’s Comet to his advantage. He intended to burn down the Earth Kingdom, renounce the title of Fire Lord as he made Azula the New Fire Lord, and declared himself the Phoenix King, ruler of the world. However, before his plans could come to full realization, he was defeated by Avatar Aang.

Aang would not kill him as he upheld a principle not to do things as they had been done before. Instead, he used energy bending to remove his firebending abilities permanently.

After the end of the war and Zuko’s crowning, Ozai was sentenced to life in prison for several war crimes. However, he maintained a degree of influence on world politics through some of his loyal followers creating the “New Ozai Society” and his son, who occasionally sought advice from Ozai. As a result, the former Fire Lord was indirectly responsible for the failure of the Harmony Restoration Movement.

Iroh vs Ozai and Who Would Win

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Although being unmatched fire benders in the fire nation, the two brothers, seconded by Jeong Jeong, who also showed great control, have been pitted together for a battle of who would win.

While Ozai displayed immense abilities in the series, Iroh also displayed equal and, in some cases, unparalleled levels of fire bending control. The first time we see any bending from Ozai is the second part of the day of Black Sun.

This is when Zuko confronts his father and pours out everything he has been carrying in all his sixteen years. When the eclipse that originally blocked Fire benders from bending was removed, Ozai displayed exceptional skill and bent lighting at Zuko.

He, however, did not factor that Zuko had mastered the ability to redirect lightning.
The next time we see Ozai is during the return of Sozin’s Comet which he also displayed outstanding control as he unleashed amazing Fire bending from atop his airship. We also see the extent of his abilities when he battled Avatar Aang.

Iroh, however, has us from the very start. We see his skills in fabled reports from people who call him “The Dragon of the West.”

Iroh exhibits control in high proportions. We see this as he trains Zuko from the start of the series. Iroh learned from the masters Ran and Shaw, the last dragon masters. While fire bending that the recent generation of Fire benders have become used to is fueled by rage, Iroh sought a different and better method. He was able to learn this from the dragons. This makes his fire bending a lot more powerful than Ozai’s.

While Ozai is fueled by rage and seemingly no self-control as much as he might seem calm and calculating, Iroh’s brand of fire bending comes from somewhere deeper. As Aang demonstrated with Zhao, rage would make you lose without the opponent throwing a single blow.

In a battle between Iroh vs. Ozai, based on the evidence and the information from the series, Iroh would most likely be the victor in this battle.