Kinto was known for using painful or cruel waterbending techniques, such as daggers of ice and manipulating the water in one's stomach. He was able to trap people in a sphere of water, as demonstrated when he trapped Avatar Aang inside a bubble, and could bend massive tidal waves at moving targets, such as when he attempted to strike down Appa carrying Team Avatar. He possessed considerable strength, as he was able to disable a Fire Nation warship by himself. Kinto was also skilled in hand-to-hand combat, as he was able to hold his own against Sokka and even get the upper hand.