More often than not, fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra watch these shows for the chance to see skilled benders go head to head in elemental duels that push them past their physical limits. But the person who can conjure up the biggest fireballs or bend the heaviest rocks isn't always the one to look out for. More often than not, the characters who make the biggest impact on the story are those whose intelligence puts them one step above everyone around them.
They've demonstrated their high IQs and propensity for quick thinking on numerous occasions, and seem to be able to bend sticky situations to their will in ways that will make any bender a bit envious, not to mention that many of these characters are responsible for discoveries that changed the world of Avatar forever.
10 Jinora
Despite being so young, Jinora was wise beyond her years. She was a natural Airbending genius, often coming up creative ways to use her bending in order to best aid Korra during some of the Avatar's most troubling predicaments. When Korra was struggling to take down Zaheer, it was Jinora who came up with the idea of using the other Airbenders to create a huge vortex strong enough to ground the Red Lotus leader after he unlocked the ability to fly.
Her high level of intelligence also played a role in her mastery over Spiritbending, which she did without a formal master to teach her. If this wasn't impressive enough, she not only understood the inner workings of the radio, but could recite them off memory, complex terminology and all.
9 Professor Zei
Professor Zei was introduced in the Avatar: The Last Airbender episode entitled "The Library". As the head of the Anthropology Department at Ba Sing Se University, it's clear that Professor Zei possesses extensive knowledge on a variety of cultures.
He managed to locate Wan Shi Tong's Spirit Library, and didn't hesitate to show off knowledge of architecture upon laying eyes on it for the first time.
8 Hakoda
Hakoda devised amazing battle strategies to constantly outwit the Fire Nation, allowing him and his men to survive fighting on the frontlines for years.
Most notably, he invented tangle mines, an effective naval trap used to down countless Fire Nation ships, proving that a great leader is only as great as his mind.
7 Bataar Jr.
Bataar Jr., the eldest son of Suyin Beifong, played a key role in designing Zaofu despite lacking the ability to bend metal himself. The Legend of Korra's Book 4 showcased just how brilliant he was when he demonstrated an unrivaled proficiency with a mecha suit that enabled him to do battle with a powerful bender like Bolin.
Although Varrick refused to aid with the development of Kuvira's spirit energy cannon, Bataar Jr. was able to pick up where he left off, crafting the strongest weapon ever seen in the entire franchise. Though Kuvira was the powerhouse that propelled the Earth Empire forward, it's clear that she wouldn't have gotten far without Bataar Jr.'s brains on her side.
6 Varrick
It would be an outright lie to say that Varrick isn't an innovator: he came up with the idea of "movers", which revolutionized the way stories were told in the world of Avatar. Most notably, he discovered how to harness energy from spirit vines, and helped Asami construct the hummingbird mecha suits used to take down Kuvira's giant mecha suit.
In most cases, Varrick was always one step ahead of everyone around him; he was able to manipulate the otherwise perceptive members of Team Avatar in ingenious ways that not only helped him get what he wanted, but assisted them at the same time. While on the run from Kuvira's men in Book 4, he demonstrated just how resourceful he is after constructing an electromagnetic pulse device from parts lying around that was able to deactivate several mecha suits. While he might not be the best fighter, he's definitely a valuable ally to have.
5 Asami
As the daughter of Hiroshi Sato, fans expected Asami to be nothing short of a genius. She can drive just about anything, from cars and boats to planes and mecha suits, and more often than not, she serves as Team Avatar's voice of reason.
When she and Korra were stranded in the desert after capsizing one of the Earth Queen's airships, it was Asami who showcased her expert craftsmanship when she facilitated the construction of a makeshift sand-sailer to get everyone to safety.
4 Hiroshi Sato
Hiroshi Sato is most famously known for inventing the Satomobile, which revolutionized business and transportation in Republic City. His inventions, like the mecha suit and electrified glove, gave the Equalists a fighting chance against powerful benders that would have otherwise crushed their revolution before it really got off the ground.
He redeemed himself in Book 4, while also displaying his genius, when he came up with the idea of fitting the hummingbird mecha suits with plasma saws, a move that played a key role in Kuvira's defeat.
3 The Mechanist
Out of any other character on this list, the Mechanist probably has the greatest amount of inventions under his belt, from candles that tell time and a compressed air elevator used to travel through the Northern Air Temple's many floors, to the gigantic drill that the Fire Nation used during their most recent attempt to break into Ba Sing Se, along with the submarines that were used during the Invasion of the Fire Nation.
While many of his inventions actually helped the Fire Nation gain the upper hand during the latter stages of the Hundred Year War, his love for science and innovation can only be admired, and he's since atoned for his sins after meeting Aang back in Book 1.
2 Sokka
Given that Sokka isn't a Waterbender, it's obvious that he'd need some other skill to make him just as much of a threat as his little sister. While he is a skilled warrior, improving his skills as the series progressed, it's his mind that makes him a force to be reckoned with. Time and time again, he's come up with some of the best plans that Team Avatar used to get themselves out of situations that not even his bending buddies could've.
Despite having limited knowledge of the Fire Nation's history, he was able to figure out when the solar eclipse would occur, and even came up with an elaborate plan in the Book 1 episode "Imprisoned", to make Katara appear as if she was Earthbending, and later came up with a similar plan to use Aang's Airbending to force coal to the enslaved Earthbenders. When Sozin's Comet arrived, it was his idea that led to the destruction of an entire Fire Nation airship fleet, which allowed Aang to focus strictly on his fight with Ozai.
1 Wan Shi Tong
While many fans might write Wan Shi Tong off as one of the many enemies Aang, Sokka, and Katara made throughout the travels together, the Spirit Library's ancient owner is probably the smartest character in the entire franchise. Since he's spent an eternity in his own personal library, he's definitely had enough time to read all of its many manuscripts several times over. Even when Katara attempted to duel him, he revealed that he'd studied every Waterbending form known to man, which makes him a fearsome opponent for any bender.
After his initial run-in with the original Team Avatar, he decided to sink his own library, much to his detriment, given the fact that by the time he met Jinora, his idea of how the radio worked was laughable. This means that his knowledge of the Physical World will possess more and more gaps as time goes on, but still, there's nobody else in the series whose mind remains a literal archive of information spanning generations.
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