The rapid advancement of large language models (LLMs) has ushered in new changes in education. To address the limitations of existing arguing chatbots in adaptability and response quality, we developed an LLM-empowered innovative tool, aimed at enhancing students’ argumentation skills and critical thinking. We provided the LLM with a personalized avatar, movements, and voice. Student feedback was gathered through questionnaires and interviews. The results indicate that the debate-based pedagogical agent delivers a positive interactive experience, boosting student engagement and encouraging them to consider issues from multiple perspectives. In conclusion, we examined its limitations and proposed directions for future research.