[Top 10] Fullmetal Alchemist Best Characters

Updated:

09 Jul 2020

In the land of Amestris, there’s a science called alchemy...

...that can do everything but bring people back from the dead. Or can it?

If you’re a veteran in the FMA fandom, skip on down to find out my Top 10! Hopefully I’ll surprise you somewhere along the way.

If you’re new to the fandom, ready to familiarize yourself with the story, I’m so thrilled to have you here! After reading my Top 10, I recommend watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, then move onto the original show Fullmetal Alchemist; both are available on Netflix. After that, feel free to read the manga (free from your local library!), watch the movies (Conqueror of Shamballa, Star of Milos, and the live action one on Netflix) if you want to.

10 - Scar

Why does Scar have to be so unnecessarily mysterious?

Misunderstood Ishvalan war survivor, Scar has a fantastic character arc in FMA: Brotherhood, and is one of the best improvements from FMA to Brotherhood. Scar is a constant player in the FMA universe, creating chaos and killing state alchemists for his own personal reasons.

What makes Scar awesome:

He never stops trying to get revenge for his family and his people, who were dragged into a war they never instigated or asked for.
Scar looks after May (see #7) after she heals him (Brotherhood episode 15).
He decides to help, rather than put more chaos into the world, after many episodes and a lot of internal struggle.

9 - Maes Hughes

Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, at your service!

A genuinely nice guy and hardworking military man, Lt. Colonel (or should I say Brigadier General) Hughes almost earned a place in my top five due to his positivity and goof factor alone.

What makes Hughes awesome:

I mean, have you seen how cute his kid is? Of course you have, he never fails to show someone Elicia’s picture! Hughes is proud of his little family - Elicia and Gracia are always on his mind - which is a rare thing in the anime world.
Hughes encourages Mustang (see #5) to pursue his dreams, no matter how crazy and far-fetched those dreams may be (see episode 30 of Brotherhood).
He’s cunning, and nearly disrupts the entire secret plot during episode 10 of Brotherhood, only to get stopped. (Sorry in advance for the feels. I’m crying. You’re crying. Everyone’s on the feels train.)

8 - Winry Rockbell

Both of the Rockbell women are badasses, let's be real.

Winry Rockbell is a badass automail technician ,raised most of her life by her grandmother, Pinako, after her doctor parents were killed in the war in Ishval.

What makes Winry awesome:

She’s a whiz with automail, doesn’t hesitate to deliver a baby when the doctor isn’t available, and heals her parents’ murderer (Ed says in Brotherhood episode 22 that Winry’s hands are made to create, not destroy; this rings true throughout the series).
Winry is tenacious - when she asks to apprentice under Dominic in Rush Valley and he turns her down, she asks again (and again) until he recommends a friend of his that she can apprentice under instead (Brotherhood episode 11).
She’s not afraid to speak her mind. When Ed or Al is acting like an idiot, Winry will whip out her trusty wrench and give ‘em a good smack or a lecture. Usually both.

7 - May Chang

May is the cutest character in FMAB besides Shao Mei, change my mind.

A new character as of FMA: Brotherhood (she didn’t make an appearance in the original anime series, but is in the manga), May Chang is a princess from the country of Xing tasked with finding a path to immortality.

What makes May awesome:

May is a great big sister to Shao Mei (her miniature panda bear), always taking care of her first and looking for her if Shao Mei gets lost.
She seems cute and tiny, but has the determination and stamina to cross an entire desert by herself (and the accompaniment of Shao Mei) and can hold her own, especially when using Xing’s version of healing alchemy, called alkahestry.
May isn’t afraid of Scar when she meets him, and doesn’t judge him based on his rough appearance (Brotherhood episode 15).

6 - Teacher (Izumi Curtis)

Teacher Izumi Curtis could kick my ass and I would thank her.

Izumi is one of the most badass ladies in anime, despite missing a handful of her internal organs.

What makes Izumi awesome:

She will kick your ass and remind you that she’s a housewife in the same breath.
Izumi maintains a loving relationship with her husband, Sig, even after personal loss and despite her ailing health.
She helps people (even when she’s supposed to be on vacation) and takes orphans under her wing (Brotherhood episode 12).

5 - Colonel Roy Mustang

Roy Mustang wins the award for hottest FMAB character. Get it? I'll see myself out.

Colonel Roy Mustang has one goal: to make Amestris a better place for everyone (and you know, if he became the next Fuhrer along the way, that’d be pretty cool too) . The Flame Alchemist isn’t afraid of rushing headlong into battle… unless it’s raining.

What makes Roy awesome:

Roy sees the evil in the world, knows his goal of making things better may seem childish, and continues to strive toward a better future anyway.
He cares for his friends and coworkers: avenging them, protecting them, and looking for ways to heal their injuries when conventional medicine won’t work.
Mustang is cunning, able to sense subtle changes in his friends and to decipher clues without trouble (see Brotherhood episode 38).

4 - Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye

Lieutenant Hawkeye is my favorite female character. Hands down.

Calm, cool, and collected, my favorite lieutenant got an excellent backstory and more screen time in FMA: Brotherhood and only made me love her even more.

What makes Riza awesome:

Even without alchemy, Riza can hold her own - firing a sniper rifle just as easily as a handgun - and isn’t afraid to defend herself even against a homunculus or two (Brotherhood episode 19 or 37, for example).
She puts on a tough guy front, but cares deeply for her coworkers and pup (s/o to Black Hayate, the goodest boy in FMAB).
Riza is always down for shenanigans, as long as Mustang is the one who planned them and said shenanigans are for the good of mankind… which is pretty rad.

3 - Major Alex Louis Armstrong

I love Armstrong's one curl on his head. Where did it come from? Where did the rest go?

Everyone’s favorite Armstrong deserves a top spot on my list. The only male heir of his family, Armstrong is proud of his family name and skills that have been passed down through their lineage.

What makes Armstrong awesome:

Emotional, strong, and smart, the Strong Arm Alchemist kicks butt and is not afraid to cry; for example, in episode 6 of FMAB, Armstrong rips apart wood with his bare hands and, a couple minutes later, cries upon hearing the Elric brothers’ backstory from Grandma Pinako.
Armstrong is proficient at his family’s special brand of alchemy, utilizing his gauntlets to defend himself, his friends, and innocent people.
He cares for his friends and family, even to his own disadvantage, and sometimes crushes them in his overwhelming bearhugs.

2 - Edward Elric

Edward Elric: sass master extraordinaire.

Foul-mouthed child prodigy and hot-headed protagonist, Edward Elric certainly belongs near the top of this list. Ed becomes the Fullmetal Alchemist in order to give him and Alphonse a better life after the death of their mother (amongst other things), and would do almost anything to get their bodies back to normal.

What makes Edward awesome:

Ed is headstrong, quick-thinking, and smart, which helps him and Al get out of a ton of sticky situations (see Episode 1 of Brotherhood or the original series for excellent examples).
He made a vow with Winry to stop making her cry, and does everything in his power to keep his promise.
Despite losing two limbs, Ed never lets it slow him down. He always keeps the goal in mind, his eyes on the prize: getting his and Al’s original bodies back.

1 - Alphonse Elric

If I was Al, I'd be hiding all kinds of weird stuff in my suit of armor. Mostly Al just sticks to cats and people.

Dealt the worst hand in the forbidden alchemy mix up, Al’s an empathetic and kind teenager despite all the hardship and terror he has lived through and deserves the number one spot.

What makes Al awesome:

He can spar with the best of ‘em (see Brotherhood episode 8; Ed says he’s never won a sparring match against Al - the next episode Ed wins for the first time in fifteen years)
Al can cheer someone up in no time flat and snuggle a kitty like no one’s business (see the original series for examples).
He deserves a medal for putting up with everyone’s crap for two separate shows, some movies, and a manga series.
Alphonse is the optimistic ray of sunshine throughout the series and keeps the storyline from turning too dark, too edgy, or too far from the plot.