>>103120510I believe the element with most potential is Earth. You have sub bending abilities like:
Metalbending
Lavabending
Sandbending
Echo-location
You could use other more abstract aspects of the earth element like Gravity, Magnetism and even their own Lightningbending attack aside of firebenders.
You could use the force of gravity to crush your enemies heavy weaponry or magnetism to destroy everything metal based. Magnetism could also be use to repel some attacks and potentially you could use both to levitate. It's just awesome how Earth element is so flexible, yet they went for the whole "earth is sturdy and firm" thing which is true, but could be very diverse.
But how about a forbidden ability equivalent to asphyxia and bloodbending? Something like Bonebending would be really useful because everybody has bones and you could just crush your enemies bones at will hell, even use it as Bloodbending and be a puppet master. Earth is a based element.