Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a full-fledged tribute to the iconic animated series, brought to life in a dynamic, elemental-themed fighting game. Gameplay Group International and PM Studios released the game on July 23, 2026, for PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam), while Xbox Series X|S owners will have to wait until September 3 due to technical issues. But even at launch, fans received 12 fighters, and two of them—Avatar Aang and Nightmare Korra—are locked behind the story. How to unlock them, whether it’s worth the time, and which of the enhanced versions is superior to the original—we’ll break it down in detail.
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How to Unlock Hidden Fighters in Avatar Legends
The first method is the honest one. Complete Chapters 6 (“A Cold Encounter”) and 11 (“The Battle Within”)—after each, you’ll unlock Nightmare Korra and Avatar Aang, respectively. The entire story mode lasts about four hours, and it’s not your typical button-mashing experience. Time loops and encounters with Avatars from different eras are all hallmarks of a truly vibrant story. If you’re a fan of the lore, you should definitely check it out.
But if you’re here just for the online action and playing with friends, there’s an alternative. The ATLA cheat code—a sequence of keystrokes in the main menu (Arcade → View → Training → View → Local VS → View → Arcade → View)—unlocks both hidden fighters in 10 seconds. The code was discovered by player SingRealSongs on Steam, and it’s been meticulously verified by the community. It works flawlessly.
What should you choose? If you want to gradually get a feel for the mechanics, go with the story mode. If time is more important, go with the cheat. The story mode doesn’t provide any unique bonuses other than the achievement, so the choice is yours. By the way, the “Here Comes A New Challenger!” achievement is also included. Awarded in any case.
All Game Characters and Unlock Conditions
New Fighters from the Year 1 Pass
Additional fighters from the Year 1 Pass (voting): Uncle Iroh, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, Bolin — already confirmed. Players choose the fifth slot from among Amon, Asami, King Bimi, Kuvira, and Tenzin. Voting starts in early August, so don’t miss out.
Comparison of Base and Powered Up Character Versions
This is where things get interesting. Many people think that Avatar Aang and Nightmare Korra are just “skins” with bonuses. But they’re not. These are completely different characters, and in most cases, the original surpasses them in stability.
Avatar Aang is a vertically controlled zoner. His signature move is “Avatar Ascension,” which allows him to fly around the arena and combine aerial, fire, ground, and water attacks. This offers a huge variety of tactics, but requires precision—losing ground in the air is easy and difficult to regain. However, if you’re successful in controlling the distance, the enemy won’t approach.
Nightmare Korra is chaos and mobility. Teleports, phantom strikes, disappearing and reappearing in unexpected places. She relies on constant pressure and confusion. However, she has less health and lacks the powerful “Avatar Mode” of regular Korra. Ultimately, the original Korra is more reliable in ranked matches, while her dark version is a tool for psychological pressure.
Conclusion: if you need a stable character for ranking, go with the originals. If you want to surprise and confuse your opponent, master the enhanced versions. Roughly 70% of top players still prefer the standard Aang and Korra.
A Guide to Farming Coins and Choosing Assists
Assists provide real buffs: improved scooters, additional cancels, and stronger projectiles. There are 27 Assists in total, three for each main character. Prices are 100, 200, and 300 coins per level.
Where to get coins? By completing story battles, arcades, and bonus objectives (for example, “finish an enemy with a grab”). No donations—just play. Saving up for all the Assists will take about 10 hours of active farming. But if you carefully choose one or two characters and level up only their Assists, you can do it in a couple of evenings.
Top Assists for Changing Gameplay
Top Assists that really change gameplay:
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Raava (Korra, 300 coins) — extends Avatar Mode by 3 seconds. Critical for combo runs.
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Momo (Aang, 300 coins) — Upgrades gliders, granting an extra dash in the air.
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Master Piandao (Sokka, 200 coins) — Unlocks sword levels, increasing weapon damage.
The others can be chosen to suit a specific style. For example, Suki (Sokka, 100 coins) reduces the cost of cancels, useful for aggressive players.
Platform Features and Console Specifics
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Cross-Platform Versions: PS5 and Steam — full functionality. Nintendo Switch — Standard Edition only, no crossplay, English language only. Xbox Series X|S — Delayed to September 3rd, pre-orders are active.
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Nintendo Switch 2 — in development, due out by the end of 2026, promised improved graphics and all DLC.
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The developers have already announced free patches with balance changes and new arenas — the first will arrive in August.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is an excellent fighting game with a large roster and deep mechanics. Yes, there are some rough edges (a difficult training mode, lobbies only for two players), but the gameplay is captivating from the first fight. If you’re an Avatar fan, this is your choice. If you like fighting games, you won’t pass it up either.
Final Verdict on Avatar Legends
Final Verdict: Use the cheat code if you want to quickly get online, or play through the story if you want to pay homage to the original story. And remember, even in the enhanced versions, it’s not power that matters, but your composure and ability to read your opponent. Now you know everything you need to dominate.
