Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist)

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In the anime/manga series Fullmetal Alchemist, alchemy is a technique used to transform one material into another (referred to as a transmutation). For most alchemists, performing a transmutation requires the use of a transmutation circle. In addition, all transmutations, except for those performed with the aid of the Philosopher's Stone, are subject to the Law of Equivalent Exchange.

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[edit] Alchemy

Alchemy in the Fullmetal Alchemist series, put simply, refers to a three-step process. The steps are analysis (to understand the structure and properties of the substance that is about to be transmuted), destruction/decomposition (to break the substance down to its rudimentary properties), and reconstruction/recomposition (to rebuild the substance into another form or with different properties). The first step is crucial because if the substance that an alchemist intends to transmute is unknown, an alchemic reaction will not occur.

To perform alchemy, it requires the usage of an appropriate transmutation circle. The Elric brothers Edward and Alphonse (in the manga and Conqueror of Shamballa), their alchemy teacher Izumi Curtis, Hohenheim of Light, and Dante are capable of performing alchemy without using a transmutation circle of any sort as a result of seeing the Gate of Alchemy. In both the anime and manga, rather than being a method of manipulating forms via their accidents (the basis of historical alchemy, derived from Greek philosophy), it is essentially modern chemistry without a reaction medium.

In the anime, the energy for alchemical reactions comes from the other side of the Gate, supposedly from the deaths that occur in this other side. In the manga, Dr. Tim Marcoh reveals that the source of alchemical power derives from the energy of the Earth's changing crust, the same energy which causes volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The equation for harnessing the energy was discovered 350 years prior to the story's beginning; legend tells that it was taught to the people of Amestris by a man from the east referred to as the "Eastern Philosopher". However, while this is accepted as truth by alchemists like Marcoh, Xingese alchemist Mei Chang disagrees because she finds the alchemic energy in Amestris, especially near Central City, to be highly unusual and unsettling-as if there were people trapped in it. [1]

[edit] Grand Arcanum

The Grand Arcanum is the Ishbalan version of alchemy. The name, meaning "Great Secret," refers to the fact that it has been passed along secretly for generations among the Ishbalan people, despite its having been declared heretical to the Ishbalan religion. While the Grand Arcanum is capable of any transmutation (so long as it obeys Equivalent Exchange), one particular Grand Arcanum array is of particular importance to the Fullmetal Alchemist anime. Its sole purpose is to create the Philosopher's Stone.

[edit] Variation

The array first appears as a tattoo on the arm of Scar. This version of the array has 6 points, as is customary for many arrays in the series. Later, Edward Elric uses a version of the Grand Arcanum array expanded to contain 7 points. This technique is apparently unorthodox, and increases the array's power.

[edit] Rentan Jutsu

In the manga, there are two known types of alchemy: the alchemy used in Amestris and the alchemy used in the empire of Xing, which lies in the far east. The Xingese refer to their own alchemy as "Rentan Jutsu" while the alchemy of Amestris is known as "Renkin Jutsu".

Rentan Jutsu's roots lie within medicine and derived from attempts to gain immortality (similar to Taoism and early Chinese medicine). Modern Rentan Jutsu is credited to philosophers from the west of Xing, who arrived and combined their knowledge of alchemy with the medical research the people of Xing had developed in their quest for immortality; as such, they are honoured by the Xingese as the "Western Sages".[2]

Transmutation circles are referred to as "purification circles" or "formula circles" by the people of Xing. While similar to Amestris alchemy, the source of energy is different; Rentan Jutsu derives its energy from a power called "Lungmei" which exists everywhere on the earth, similar to Feng Shui. "Lungmei" is the flow of energy of the Earth itself, like the power for water to flow from a mountain to nourish the ground at the base of the mountain. Understanding of where this energy enters and exits the earth allows alchemists like Mei Chang to perform long range alchemy on almost any matter. The flow of energy also allows for the Xingese alchemist to use their abilities for medicinal purposes as the body's energy flow works very much in the same way.[3]

Alchemist Mei Chang's own brand of alchemy allows her to use throwing knives to form two alchemy circles; one is created near herself and the other near the intended target. She performs alchemy on the circle nearest to her, and the result appears within the second circle. So far, no other characters have been shown to use Rentan Jutsu, save Scar on the basis that the tattoo on his right arm consists of an amalgamation of Renkin Jutsu and Rentan Jutsu.

[edit] Common Origin

Both Xing and Amestris were taught the initial concepts of their versions of alchemy by mysterious figures from a foreign land-the Amestrians had the "Eastern Philosopher", the Xingese had the "Western Sages". The Great Desert that separates the two nations was once the land of Xerxes, which collapsed in a single night for an as-of-yet unknown reason. Therefore, all alchemy in the FMA world originated there. For many in both nations, it is the only thing they remember of the lost empire.[4] Alchemy is closely tied to Amestris' growth and development-it is not known to what extent it has influenced Xing.

[edit] Some Alchemy Techniques

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[edit] Edward Elric

  • Handblade: Ed's automail arm gains a handblade. This is his signature technique.
  • Lance: Ed summons a lance from the ground to use as a weapon that can gain more force through Alchemy.
  • Sword: Ed summons a sword from the ground that can split into two swords through Alchemy.
  • Hammer: Ed summons a hammer from the ground that can become an axe through Alchemy.
  • Arm Cannon: Ed transmutes his automail arm into a portable cannon, being able to fire at will.
  • Rockwall: Ed summons a wall of stone from the ground as a shield.
  • Stonespikes: Ed summons a series of spikes made of stone from the ground.
  • Rockfists: Ed punches the ground, summoning giant fists of stone from the ground.
  • Rockfist Rain: Ed summons giant fists of stone from the ground that fly into the air, then shower down from the sky.
  • Rockgrab: Ed summons a hand of stone to grab and immobilize the enemy.

[edit] Alphonse Elric

  • Pillar Spin: Al summons a pillar from the ground, then grabs it and begins to spin, hitting the enemy.
  • Tornado: In Conqueror of Shamballa, Al is able to summon a tornado.
  • Soul Transfer: In Conqueror of Shamballa, Al is able to transfer a portion (or all) of his soul into a suit of armor.
  • Missile Rain: Al summons a series of missiles that shower from the sky.

[edit] Roy Mustang

All of Roy's flame alchemy requires him to snap his fingers to make a spark, then using the transmutation circle embroidered on his gloves, he manipulates the air to bring oxygen into the flame to allow it to spread. He is useless therefore in rain or in any other sistuation were his gloves are wet because they won't make a spark. Contrary to belief, Mustang is capable of causing combustion in the presence of water. Because water consists of oxygen and hydrogen, he can alchemically dissociate water molecules and ignite the hydrogen to create a massive bomb. He does this in volume ten of the manga in order to defeat the Homunculus, Lust.

  • Flame Burst: Roy snaps his fingers, causing an explosion of fire.
  • Flame Barrage: Roy sends out a series of fireballs by snapping his fingers multiple times.
  • Flame Pillars: Roy summons pillars of fire by snapping both his fingers pointing down and moving up.
  • Flame Control: Roy touches the transmutation circle on his hand, causing any nearby fire to engulf the chosen target.
  • Flame Dragon: Roy snaps his fingers, creating a dragon made of fire.
  • Flame Wall: Roy snaps his fingers and brings massive amounts of oxygen into a "wall" to create a barrier between him and his enemy.

[edit] Alex Louis Armstrong

  • Stonespikes: Armstrong punches the ground or the walls with his gauntlets on, summoning a series of stonespikes to assult his target
  • Rockfists: Armstrong punches the ground or the walls, summoning giant fists of stone from the ground/wall.
  • Reconstruction: In Conqueror of Shamballa, Armstrong punches the ground, transmuting an entire structure (the cafe owner's cafe).
  • Heads: In Conqueror of Shamballa, Armstrong punches the ground to make a sculpture of his head hitting the enemy.
  • Self-portrait: Armstrong punches the enemy's weapon and turns it into a model of himself.
  • Flying Spikes: Armstrong throws a rock, chunk of cement, or similar object into the air and punches it with his gauntlet as it falls in front of him, transmuting it into a huge, metal dart and propelling it toward his foe.

[edit] Zolf J. Kimblee

  • Living bomb: Kimblee transforms elements in a living being's blood (usually a human) into combustible compounds, causing them to explode from the inside.

[edit] Scar

  • Decomposition: Scar uses his right arm to transmute an object (or living being) and stops at the second step, decomposition, to break the object down into pieces.

[edit] Scar's Brother

  • Right Arm: Deconstruction: Just like Scar, Scar's brother used his right arm to break down surrounding objects.
  • Left Arm: Reconstruction: After destroying an object with his right arm, Scar's brother could then use his left arm to recontstruct it, completing the alchemical process.

[edit] Jack Crowley

  • Earth Manipulation: Crowley uses the earth beneath his feet to create earth-based tendrils, launching them towards his opponent then forming them into blades when near the target. This power remains active as long as Crowley maintains contact with the ground and can be likened to a similar attack used by Dante when facing Ed.
  • Golem Transmutation: Crowley uses ancient Lebisic alchemy to create Golems, living dolls made of soil that do his bidding without question. The Golems possess a number of powerful attacks and abilities, which they use to abduct and kill people for Crowley to transmute into the Crimson Stone.

[edit] Dante

  • Deflect: Dante intercepts the object thrown and destroys it with alchemy.
  • Summon the Gate: Dante can call the Gate to appear via a transmutation circle drawn on a baby
  • Human Disconstruction: Dante can spilt a person into their three component parts; mind, body and spirit
  • Rock Monsters: Dante summoned a series of rock-like monsters out of the ground to attack Hohenheim, she also uses a snake like varient of this to attack Ed later on
  • Ouroboros Transmutation: Dante can rob a homunculus of it's mind using its tattoo as a transmutation circle
  • Body Swap: using a Philosopher's Stone, Dante can move her soul into another body, in order to extend her own life. It is possible that the soul inhabiting the body she steals is placed into her old body. This technique does not guarantee immortality as Dante believes since it is limited by the Philosopher's Stone and with each body transfter, the soul is weakened and loses the energy to maintain a physical body, causing the body to decay more quickly than the previous one.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Fullmetal Alchemist, Chapter 67, p. 33 - 34
  2. ^ Fullmetal Alchemist, Chapter 40, p.25 - 26
  3. ^ Fullmetal Alchemist, Chapter 67, p. 32 - 33
  4. ^ Fullmetal Alchemist, Chapter 40, p.25 - 26
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Fullmetal Alchemist
Common characters: Edward Elric • Alphonse Elric • Roy Mustang • Maes Hughes • Winry Rockbell • Scar • Izumi Curtis • Hohenheim • Minor characters of Fullmetal Alchemist
Anime-only characters: Dante • State Military • Homunculi • Minor anime characters
Manga-only characters: Father • State Military • Homunculi • Ling Yao • Minor manga characters
Media: Anime (Episode list • Voice casts) • Manga • OVAs • Conqueror of Shamballa • Video games (characters) • Trading cards
Items/Concepts: Alchemy • Automail • Chimera • Equivalent Exchange • Gate of Alchemy • Philosopher's Stone • State Alchemist • Transmutation circle
Locations: Amestris • Ishbal • Lab 5 • Lior
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