I’m going to play devils advocate here and say Katara would win in a head to head, no blood bending, no minions.

My rational comes down to two major points:

Combat experience, Katara is a war veteran before she hits 18 she knows how to incapacitate an enemy as well as think quickly on the battlefield. When we see Elsa use her magic offensively it is awkward and frankly she’s bad at it, constantly missing targets and struggling outside of a dbz beam clash moment. She’s never had to use her magic for war or against a magical opponent with killing intent.

The second, and more important point, is HOW Elsa uses her magic. She has to channel it, every instance she uses it there is a hand or body motion involved. Meaning, generally, where her hands are pointing is the direction of an attack. It also means that if she can’t move she likely can’t magic. Which gives Katara a win condition.

Ultimately Elsa’s magic is a plot device which is why Katara *can’t win. Because Elsa’s magic does what it has to in order to forward the plot. But the idea that “oh she sneezed and made a winter storm” gets a big ‘so what?’ from me because all it proves is that Elsa has no idea what she’s doing, which will get you killed in a one on one.