These 5 Characters from Fullmetal Alchemist Prove That Alchemy Isn’t Everything

The combat system in Fullmetal Alchemist is defined by alchemy, yet these five characters don’t need it to stand out.

The fantasy shonen series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is known for its rich, complicated story as well as its battle system, which is based on arcane transmutation rings and symbols. Alchemy is used by several of the most powerful characters in the game, including the protagonist Edward Elric, and even the malevolent homunculi use it through their Philosopher’s Stones.

The story, on the other hand, makes it obvious that alchemy isn’t everything. Some characters abuse it or allow it go to their heads, like when Shou Tucker fashioned a chimera out of his daughter or Colonel Roy Mustang came dangerously close to turning to the dark side in his desire for vengeance. Meanwhile, even without the gift of alchemy, these five Fullmetal Alchemist characters stand out, and they all have an impact on the story and its many action scenes.

Roy Mustang’s Better Half, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye

Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye was presented as an excellent sharpshooter/sniper in the Amestris military and Roy Mustang’s close friend. She is fearless on the battlefield, even when confronted by the all-devouring Gluttony, and she managed to survive the Ishval Civil War by separating herself from the massacre with long-range shooting.

Now she must face immense dangers in order to assist Roy and Edward Elric in combating Amestris military corruption and ensuring peace and justice for all. When Roy needs it, Riza acts as his conscience, preventing him from succumbing to hatred in the process of eradicating Envy. Roy wouldn’t be able to get anywhere without her, even if she can’t execute a single bit of alchemy.

Major-General Olivier Armstrong

Briggs, the vast northern fortress, is Amestris’ solitary barrier against the huge nation of Drachma, and Major-General Olivier Armstrong is the steel wall’s heart and soul. With her stern remarks and pragmatic views, Olivier made a solid first impression, and she can keep entire armies at bay with her reputation alone — no alchemy required. When the circumstance calls for it, she’s an exceptional commander and a sly rebel, even training her men to keep up the excellent work when she’s not around.

Olivier had her share of breathtaking moments, such as when she deployed a war tank indoors to fend off Sloth the homunculus, or when she killed the cunning General Raven and buried his body in wet concrete. Nobody survives crossing Olivier Armstrong.

Maes Hughes, An Intelligence Agent

Maes Hughes made a tremendous impression and set a high standard for all Amestris soldiers and spies, despite only appearing for a short time in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood before dying at the hands of Lust and Envy. Maes was well-liked and charismatic, and his survival of the Ishval Civil War demonstrated his superior soldiering abilities. With his great love for his wife and little kid, he also gave a much-needed ray of sunshine to the story.

Maes’ early and perceptive study into Father’s true goals, pulling the puzzle together before anybody else, was the most astonishing of all. Unfortunately, he was killed because Lust and Envy needed to silence him in order to protect Father’s intentions.

Captain Buccaneer

Captain Buccaneer, one of Olivier Armstrong’s most famous warriors, gave Edward and Alphonse Elric a hard greeting as they arrived at Fort Briggs in the middle of a storm. Buccaneer is a massive bear with an automail right arm who fought bravely against the formidable homunculus Wrath in the last battle for Central. He couldn’t beat Wrath on his own, but with the help of Fu and Greed/Ling, he dealt Wrath a fatal blow before succumbing to his own wounds. Captain Buccaneer’s efforts eventually helped Scar the monk overcome Wrath a little later.

Lan Fan, Prince Ling’s Top Bodyguard

May Chang is recognized for using alkahestry, a healing art practiced by the inhabitants of the remote Xing. Most other assassins and warriors from Xing, on the other hand, do not have access to alchemy and must rely on weapons and martial arts. Fu and Lan Fan, Prince Ling Yao’s bodyguards, can fight any alchemist or even a homunculus in battle with no alchemy of their own. Lan Fan once cut off her own arm to get away from Wrath and Gluttony and put them off her trail.

Lan Fan later earned herself an automail arm with Winry’s help and rescued Ling’s life from Wrath in Fullmetal Alchemist. She shone in the forest battle against Pride and Gluttony, where she used her lightning speed and blades to repeatedly kill Gluttony and put Pride’s crew on the defensive. To counter Pride’s shadow-based abilities, she even utilized flash-bang grenades. Not bad for someone who doesn’t utilize alchemy.