The Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood anime series features a cast of unforgettable shonen characters who do far more than show off the series' cool alchemy-based combat system. The characters of Fullmetal Alchemist, human and homunculus alike, are highly thematic characters who are rarely just a basic archetype. Author Hiromu Arakawa put a serious effort into making each character well-rounded, multi-layered person with contrasting personality traits and behaviors.

Some minor Fullmetal Alchemist characters may be a singular archetype, such as Sheska being the obligatory library girl type or Solf J. Kimblee being a twisted monster to the core, but the best Fullmetal Alchemist characters are more complex than first impressions would suggest. That makes these characters more sympathetic, intriguing, and unpredictable as the story progresses and everyone undergoes their own unique arcs.

10 Edward Elric May Seem Angry and Boastful, But He's Also Intensely Vulnerable

Edward Elric First Appears in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 1, "Fullmetal Alchemist"

The protagonist himself, Edward Elric, is a welcome break from the himbo archetype that often defines shonen leads. Unlike Goku, Naruto, and Luffy, Edward Elric is a smart and thoughtful teenage boy who learned a hard lesson about humility and the limits of human life. His life was forever changed when he and his brother, Alphonse, tried and failed to bring their mother back to life with the seemingly limitless power of alchemy.

Edward may be an action-oriented hothead like many shonen heroes, but there's more to him than that. Underneath his bluster lays some serious humility, wisdom, and guilt, which makes him more empathetic than new fans might expect at first. Edward isn't trying to become a great hero -- he just wants to save lives and protect the world from doom.

9 Ling Yao Wants Ultimate Power For Himself, But Puts His Friends First

Ling Yao First Appears in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 15, "The Envoy from the East"

When he first appeared partway through Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the goofy character prince Ling Yao seemed like comic relief on legs. But for all his goofiness, Ling is quite serious about seizing the fabled Philosopher's Stone and using its power to become the emperor of Xing, the vast nation he came from. Ling is highly ambitious and will seize power at any cost.

That made him a thematic counterpart to Greed, the embodiment of avarice, but it didn't make Ling evil. In fact, Ling believes in the power of friendship, seeing his two bodyguards not as tools, but as cherished friends who are worth him risking his life for. Ling taught that lesson to Greed, allowing both characters to contradict their power-hungry nature.

8 Riza Hawkeye is a Deadly Killer With a Hidden Romantic Side

Riza Hawkeye First Appears in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 1, "Fullmetal Alchemist"

Anime fans may generally describe Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye as a classic kuudere, a calm and aloof person with a warm heart, but that's not all. Riza isn't calm and detached just because — she has spent years as a military sniper, and she knows the danger of being too emotionally attached to people. She had to close off her heart while sniping at people in the genocidal Ishval Civil War.

Still, Riza's grim experiences never broke her, and by the time she met the Elric brothers, Riza still had a kind, idealistic human heart. She found a way to balance her cold-blooded sniper ways anad her desire for others to be happy, such as teasing Ed about romance and passionately talking Roy Mustang out of killing Envy out of hatred.

7 Alex Louis Armstrong is a Musclebound Himbo With a Gentle Heart

Alex Louis Armstrong First Appears in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 1, "Fullmetal Alchemist"

In many ways, Alex Louis Armstrong is a himbo, a loud and goofy hero who's annoyingly blunt and energetic in the eyes of his companions. He is often comically reduced to tears, but sometimes, his tears are far more serious. His character arc isn't a joke — Alex is haunted by his experiences in the Ishval Civil War, when he broke down and refused to keep killing innocents.

Alex Armstrong isn't just friendly — he is idealistic and believes in helping people, even if that means going against orders, so he's not nearly as doltish as he acts. He also has a tricky relationship with his eldest sister Olivier, who often pushes him around but believes in him. Despite his appearance and boasts about his strong body, Alex would be happy if no one fought or killed anyone ever again.

6 Scar is a Vengeful Monk Seeking Justice in the World

Scar First Appears in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 4, "An Alchemist's Anguish"