In this Bending Grounds guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know when starting out, including how to choose your element, how the spins work, what the different abilities do, and some useful combat tips.
I’ll also share some things I learned while playing, especially when it comes to dodging attacks, working with teammates, and knowing when to attack or retreat.
Bending Grounds Beginner Guide – Trello, Best Element
When you first start playing Bending Grounds, one of the first things you need to do is choose your bending element.
There are different options available, so you can pick whichever one stands out to you the most. For this playthrough, I went with Flame because that was the element I liked the most.
If you’re just starting out, I recommend trying the element that looks the most interesting to you. You can always spend some time learning its abilities and figuring out whether its playstyle suits you.
Use Your Spins
Once you’re in the lobby, make sure you use your available spins.
Spins can give you different options, so it’s worth using them early and seeing what you can get. You might not get anything great immediately, but keep spinning if you have more available.
I had a pretty rough start with my spins and kept getting things I didn’t really want. Eventually, though, I managed to land on something useful and could move on to the actual game.
So, if you’re a new player, don’t forget to check your spins before jumping into a match.
Starting the Game
Once you’ve finished setting up your character, click Play and select your spawn.
This is where you’ll enter the actual world of Bending Grounds. Once you spawn, you’ll notice that the game is heavily focused on combat between different benders.
You can explore the area, practice your abilities, team up with other players, or jump into fights when things start getting chaotic.
The first thing I recommend doing is testing your abilities before getting into a serious fight.
Learn Your Abilities
One of the most important things you can do as a new player is learn what every ability does.
With Flame, for example, you have attacks such as Fire Blast, Flame Kick, Flame Burst, Fire Stream, Flame Slice, and Flame Jet.
Don’t just randomly press abilities during a fight. You want to know which moves are close-range, which ones work from a distance, and which abilities can help you escape.
Once you understand your moves, combat becomes much easier.
Fire Blast
Fire Blast is one of your basic offensive abilities.
It’s useful for attacking an opponent from a distance, so you don’t always have to get directly next to someone to deal damage.
I found it especially useful when trying to pressure another player who was keeping their distance.
Just make sure you have a clear line toward your target. During one fight, I actually missed my Fire Blast because the grass got in the way, so the environment can sometimes make aiming more annoying than you expect.
Flame Kick
Flame Kick is more useful when you’re fighting at close range.
If an opponent gets close to you, this is one of the abilities you can use to fight back and keep the pressure on them.
Because it works better in close combat, you don’t want to waste it from far away. Wait until you’re actually in range and then use it when you have an opening.
Flame Burst
Flame Burst is another close-range attack.
This is useful when you’re already near an opponent and want to deal more damage without relying entirely on your basic attacks.
When you’re fighting someone up close, combining your close-range abilities instead of using them randomly can help you deal much more damage.
Fire Stream
Fire Stream works more like a mid-range attack.
This makes it useful when you’re not directly next to your opponent but aren’t far enough away for your longer-range attacks to be your best option.
I like having an attack like this because it gives you another option between close combat and long-distance attacks.
Flame Slice
Flame Slice is one of the longer-range abilities in the Flame moveset.
This can be useful when an opponent is trying to stay away from you or when you don’t want to run directly into their attacks.
You can use your longer-range moves to pressure players before closing the distance.
Flame Jet
Flame Jet is particularly useful for movement.
I found this ability more helpful when I needed to get away from a fight rather than when I was trying to deal damage.
If you’re getting overwhelmed by multiple players, don’t be afraid to use your movement abilities and retreat. Sometimes running away for a few seconds is much better than staying in a fight you can’t win.
How to Fight Other Players
Once you’ve learned your abilities, you can start getting involved in fights.
One thing I noticed pretty quickly is that Flame can deal a lot of damage when you connect your attacks properly. You can put serious pressure on another player by chaining your abilities together.
However, don’t focus entirely on attacking.
You also need to pay attention to what the other player is doing.
If they start attacking you, be ready to dodge instead of simply standing there and trying to trade damage.
Always Use Dodge
If you’re playing on keyboard, you can use Q to dodge.
This is one of the most important mechanics to learn.
When another player launches an ability at you, don’t just stand there and take it. Use your dodge to avoid their attack and create an opportunity to counterattack.
I found that dodging made a huge difference during fights. Even if you have strong attacks, you’re going to struggle if you’re constantly getting hit by everything your opponent throws at you.
So, if you’re new to the game, make learning the dodge mechanic one of your first priorities.
Team Up With Your Element
Another useful strategy is to work with players on your side.
If you’re playing as a Flame bender, try to coordinate with other Flame benders instead of fighting against them.
Having teammates around gives you more opportunities to attack enemies from different directions. You can also help each other when one player gets surrounded.
During my gameplay, there were several situations where having teammates nearby made it much easier to survive.
Don’t Attack Your Teammates
This sounds obvious, but when a fight gets chaotic, it can be easy to accidentally attack someone on your own side.
If you’re a Flame bender and another Flame bender is fighting alongside you, make sure you’re actually targeting the enemy.
When there are multiple players using abilities at the same time, it can become difficult to see what’s happening, so pay attention to who you’re attacking.
Know When to Retreat
One of the biggest lessons I learned while playing is that you don’t always need to finish every fight.
At one point, I got overwhelmed and could barely see what was happening because so many attacks were going off around me. Instead of continuing to fight, I used Flame Jet to get away.
That’s exactly what movement abilities are for.
If you’re low on health, surrounded by enemies, or simply can’t see what’s happening, create some distance and regroup with your teammates.
There’s no reason to stay in a fight just because you started it.
Use the Environment
The environment can also affect your fights.
You can use objects and terrain around you to create some distance or temporarily hide from an opponent.
I even found myself trying to use my teammates as cover when someone was chasing me.
At the same time, remember that the environment can work against you too. As I mentioned earlier, I once missed an attack because the grass was blocking my shot.
So, always pay attention to what’s around you.
Keep an Eye on Other Elements
You should also pay attention to what other players are using.
During the gameplay, there were several Water benders, and they were putting a lot of pressure on the Flame team.
There was even a warning about the tides, which suggested that the Water benders might be preparing to attack.
If you see another element gathering nearby, don’t blindly run into the group. Take a moment to see what they’re doing and decide whether you want to fight, team up, or move away.
Don’t Chase Every Player
Sometimes you’ll run into players who don’t really want to fight.
I ended up chasing a lower-level Water bender who kept running away whenever I got close. Instead of continuing to waste time chasing him around the map, it became clear that the fight wasn’t really going anywhere.
This is something you should keep in mind too.
If someone is constantly running away, you don’t necessarily have to chase them across the entire map. You can simply move on and look for another fight.
Watch for Healing Abilities
Not every player you encounter is going to be an enemy.
During my gameplay, another player actually used an ability that appeared to heal me. That was a pretty nice surprise because I was in the middle of trying to survive a fight.
So, don’t automatically assume that every player around you is trying to attack you.
Pay attention to what they’re doing. Some players may be helping their teammates or supporting other benders instead of fighting.
Best Element in Bending Grounds
As for the best element, I wouldn’t say you should automatically pick one without learning how it works.
For this guide, I used Flame, and it felt very strong once I got comfortable with the abilities.
The combination of close-range attacks, mid-range attacks, long-range attacks, and movement gives Flame a pretty flexible playstyle.
However, your personal preference matters a lot. If you enjoy staying at a distance, you may prefer an element with stronger ranged abilities. If you like getting up close and fighting aggressively, a close-combat-focused element may suit you better.
The important thing is to learn the abilities of whichever element you choose.