TL;DR

Uncle Iroh is a Year 1 Pass DLC character — he is not in the base game.
To get him, you need the Year 1 Pass, which is included in the Deluxe Edition ($49.99) or can be bought separately.
Iroh is the first confirmed DLC character in the Year 1 lineup, alongside Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, Bolin, and one fan-voted character.
No exact release date for Iroh has been confirmed yet — DLC characters roll out across the game’s first competitive season.
He plays as a technical, patient firebender with close-range power and lightning specials — very different from Zuko, Azula, or Ozai.
He is described as the Dragon of the West — a firebending philosophy built around warmth and mastery rather than aggression.

How to Unlock Uncle Iroh in Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is one of the most searched questions around the game right now — and for good reason. Iroh is one of the most beloved characters in the entire Avatar franchise. The answer is straightforward but different from most other characters in the game. Iroh is not part of the base roster and cannot be unlocked through story mode. He is a paid DLC character included in the Year 1 Pass. This guide covers exactly how to get him, what the Year 1 Pass costs, when he is coming, and everything known so far about his playstyle.

Uncle Iroh

Table of Contents

Is Uncle Iroh in the Base Game?

No. Uncle Iroh is not in the base roster of Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game. The base game launched on July 23, 2026 with 12 playable characters: Aang, Korra, Zuko, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Azula, Zaheer, Kyoshi, Fire Lord Ozai, Avatar State Aang, and Nightmare Korra.

Of those twelve, ten are available from the start and two — Avatar State Aang and Nightmare Korra — are unlocked through story mode or a cheat code. Iroh is in neither group. He is post-launch paid content.

There is no cheat code, story chapter, or free method to get Iroh. The only way to play as him is through the Year 1 Pass.

How to Unlock Uncle Iroh — The Year 1 Pass

To get Uncle Iroh, you need access to the Year 1 Pass. There are two ways to get it:

Option 1 — Buy the Deluxe Edition

The Deluxe Edition is priced at $49.99 and includes the base game, digital art book, soundtrack, unique HUDs, and the Year 1 Pass DLC. This is the best value option if you are buying the game fresh and already know you want Iroh and the other DLC characters. It bundles everything in one purchase.

Option 2 — Buy the Year 1 Pass Separately

If you already own the Standard Edition of the game, you can purchase the Year 1 Pass on its own. The Year 1 Pass is listed inside the Digital Deluxe Edition on Steam, while the Standard Edition only includes the base game. Check the in-game store or your platform’s storefront for the standalone pass purchase option.

Here is where to find the game and its editions on each platform:

PC (Steam): Steam store page
PlayStation 5: PlayStation Store
Xbox Series X|S: Xbox Store (game available September 3, 2026)
Official site: avatarfighters.com

When Is Uncle Iroh Coming?

No release dates were provided for any of the DLC characters. The developers confirmed at EVO 2026 that Iroh is the first DLC character in the Year 1 Pass lineup, but the exact date he drops has not been announced as of launch. These five DLC fighters do not arrive on day one. They roll out across the game’s competitive seasons after launch.

Iroh is confirmed as the first character in the DLC release order — meaning he will be the first Year 1 Pass character playable when his drop date is revealed. Keep an eye on the official Avatar Legends website and social channels for the announcement.

What Is the Full Year 1 Pass Lineup?

The Year 1 Pass includes four confirmed fighters: Bolin, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, and Uncle Iroh. A fifth character slot is reserved for a combatant selected through a limited-time vote open exclusively to pre-order holders.

Here is the full breakdown of all five slots:

Uncle Iroh — Dragon of the West, technical patient firebender with lightning specials. From Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Ty Lee — Acrobatic chi-blocker who fights without bending, striking pressure points to temporarily disable opponent specials. From Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Lin Beifong — Republic City Chief of Police, uses metal cables and armor for mobility and space control. From The Legend of Korra.
Bolin — Lavabender and former pro-bending star, earth-and-lava hybrid moveset mixing crowd control with high damage. From The Legend of Korra.
Fan-voted character — One of five candidates: Tenzin, Kuvira, Amon, King Bumi, or Asami Sato. Voting was open to pre-order holders only.

Buying the Deluxe Edition or Year 1 Pass gives you access to all five characters as they release throughout the season.

Who Is Uncle Iroh in the Game?

In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Iroh is Prince Zuko’s uncle and one of the most beloved characters in the franchise. He is a legendary firebender, former general, and the Dragon of the West — a title earned through his mastery of the original source of firebending. In the show he is as famous for dispensing wisdom over tea as he is for his combat skill.

In the game, Iroh is the legendary Dragon of the West, bringing seasoned firebending and lightning redirection. His design reportedly draws on his tea-shop era look from the show, presenting him in a more relaxed appearance rather than his military general form. Uncle Iroh, as well as support characters Pakku and Piandao, are also part of the secret society of philosophers called the White Lotus, which is themed after the game.

Uncle Iroh’s Playstyle in Avatar Legends

Iroh plays very differently from the other firebenders on the roster. Where Zuko applies aggressive mid-range pressure, Azula dominates the air with explosive offense, and Ozai grapples and power-bombs opponents, Iroh takes a completely different approach.

Iroh brings a technical, patient firebending style built around his fan-favourite status. He is not a rush-down character. He is a thinking-person’s fighter — someone who reads situations, waits for openings, and punishes decisively.

Iroh’s firebending philosophy combines practical mastery with warmth that stands out among the game’s roster of warriors. That warmth is not just thematic — it reflects a firebending style rooted in the breath of fire and the original dragon teachings, rather than the aggressive military style used by most Fire Nation soldiers in the show.

Uncle Iroh is a firebender with an explosive close-range style and lightning specials. His lightning redirection ability, confirmed as part of his moveset, is a technique he uniquely mastered in the show — something neither Zuko nor Azula can replicate in the same way. This gives him a defensive counter option that no other firebender on the roster has.

How Iroh Compares to Other Firebenders

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game has more firebenders than any other element on the roster. Here is how they each differ:

Zuko — Mid-range pressure, divekick approach tool, Redemption Gauge mechanic that unlocks new routes as the match progresses. Aggressive but structured.
Azula — Air-dominant, explosive offense, two distinct modes (Focused and Firelord stance) that completely change her tools. High mobility and trap-setting.
Fire Lord Ozai — Grappler and heavy hitter, eight-way air dash, three support options that each shift his fundamental playstyle between mobility, grab-dominance, and all-rounder.
Uncle Iroh — Technical and patient. Close-range power, lightning redirection as a defensive special, firebending philosophy rooted in mastery rather than aggression. The slowest and most deliberate of the four.

If you enjoy characters who reward reads and punishes over pure aggression, Iroh is the firebender for you. If you want to learn the other firebenders while waiting for Iroh’s drop date, see our guides on how to unlock Zuko, how to unlock Azula, and how to unlock Fire Lord Ozai in Avatar Legends.

Is the Year 1 Pass Worth It?

That depends on how many of the five DLC characters you want. Here is a simple breakdown:

If you want Iroh only: You still need to buy the full Year 1 Pass to access him. There is no way to purchase individual DLC characters separately — the pass is the only route.
If you want multiple DLC characters: The pass is strong value. Five characters post-launch, including Iroh, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, Bolin, and the fan-voted character, all included for the price difference between Standard and Deluxe.
If you are buying the game new: The Deluxe Edition at $49.99 is only $20 more than Standard and includes everything. If there is even one DLC character you want, the Deluxe Edition is likely the better buy.

Other Characters to Play While Waiting for Iroh

Since Iroh’s exact release date has not been confirmed, here are guides for the base roster characters you can play right now:

And for help with resources and progression while you wait, check out our guides on how to get coins in Avatar Legends and how to level up characters in Avatar Legends. Or read our full Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game review.

Ending Note

Uncle Iroh cannot be unlocked through gameplay or a cheat code. He is a Year 1 Pass DLC character, and the only way to get him is through the Deluxe Edition or a separate Year 1 Pass purchase. He is the first confirmed DLC character to release, though no specific date has been announced yet.

What makes Iroh worth waiting for is how different he feels from every other firebender in the game. His technical, patient style — built on the original dragon teachings rather than Fire Nation military aggression — gives him a completely distinct identity on the roster. His lightning redirection mechanic alone sets him apart from Zuko, Azula, and Ozai in a meaningful way. If you are a fan of the character or just want a methodical, reads-based firebender to add to your options, the Year 1 Pass is worth picking up.