Fullmetal Alchemist: Strongest Character Ranking TOP 20! Who is the Absolute GOAT?

The Quest for Truth: Breaking Down the 20 Most OP Characters in FMA

Set in the military state of Amestris, the battles between those who manipulate the laws of Equivalent Exchange remain a gold standard in the shonen genre.

I’ve personally had my soul rocked countless times by these alchemists who put their lives on the line for their convictions. In this world, the "Philosopher’s Stone" is a total game-changer, allowing Homunculi and certain humans to pull off feats that completely ignore physics.

Today, I’m diving deep into the Power scaling of the series, focusing on four main pillars: regeneration limits, soul count, transmutation speed, and raw physical stats. Based on their actual Feats in the manga, here is the definitive Strongest character ranking!

The 3 Pillars of This Power Level Analysis

1. Hard Feats and Battle Records

The top priority is their performance during the "Promised Day" finale. I’ve looked at their ability to keep fighting while injured and their survival rate when taking on multiple OP characters at once. Characters who can transmute without a circle get a massive buff to their combat speed.

2. Mental Fortitude and Hax Interpretation

Experience with the "Gate of Truth" directly correlates to how creatively an alchemist uses their powers. I also factored in the "stock" of souls within a Homunculus—their regeneration limit is a key stat in any long-term scrap.

3. Spiritual Drive

Emotions like "revenge" or "ambition" often act as a boost in the heat of battle. I’ve logically derived how these mental factors impact their overall combat output based on the Lore.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Strongest Character Ranking TOP 20

20th: May Chang

The seventeenth princess of Xing, she uses "Alkahestry," which is a totally different beast from Amestris alchemy.

Her biggest edge is long-range transmutation using her throwing knives. While the Father controlled Amestris alchemy from underground, May’s Alkahestry taps into the "Dragon's Pulse" (the earth's energy), making her immune to his "sealing."

Her agility is on par with Ling Yao, and she managed to stall a massive Envy while avoiding his heavy hits. However, she lacks the raw destructive power to climb higher on this list.

19th: Captain Buccaneer

The loyal right hand of Olivier Mira Armstrong at Briggs. His "M1913 Crocodile" automail arm is a literal chainsaw that shreds through anything—including the tough hides of Homunculi.

His legendary moment was during the fight against King Bradley. He didn't miss the split-second opening created by Fu’s sacrifice, stabbing through his own body to land a mortal blow on Bradley. Taking down a god-tier opponent like that is a feat that puts him beyond a normal soldier. He beats May because of his "clutch" factor and sheer iron will.

18th: Fu

A veteran warrior of the Yao clan and Ling’s bodyguard. He’s a specialist in stealth and CQC using bombs and daggers.

His experience is no joke—he was fast enough to momentarily bypass Bradley’s "Ultimate Eye." His final suicide charge with bombs was a move of pure conviction. Buccaneer’s success was only possible because of Fu’s sacrifice. His tactical versatility puts him just above Buccaneer in my book.

17th: Olivier Mira Armstrong

The "Ice Queen" of Briggs. She doesn't use alchemy, but her sword skills are so refined she can one-shot a traitor like Raven and keep her brother Alex in check.

Her true strength lies in her zero-hesitation decision-making and insane charisma. During the Sloth fight, she and Alex successfully locked down the "fastest" Homunculus. She ranks here because her ability to command the Briggs soldiers as a unified weapon gives her massive battlefield control.

16th: Alex Louis Armstrong

The "Strongarm Alchemist." His style combines "artistic" alchemy with a massive, peak-human physique, making him one of the hardest hitters among humans.

Using the circles on his gauntlets, he can punch the air to transmute stone pillars or statues at high speed. Even with career-ending injuries, he stood his ground against Sloth. He outranks his sister simply because having alchemy is a massive hax advantage in a fight.

15th: Solf J. Kimblee

The "Crimson Alchemist" and a total explosion freak. By clapping his hands together, he converts matter into explosive energy.

When he has a Philosopher’s Stone, his destructive power is map-wiping tier. Even after being absorbed by Pride, his soul was so Goated and proud that he managed to interfere with Father's control at a crucial moment. His range and efficiency in killing give him the edge over the Armstrongs.

14th: Lust

The 6th Homunculus created by Father. Her "Ultimate Spear" allows her to extend her fingers into blades that can pierce literally anything.

She ignores all physical defense—whether it’s Ed’s automail or Alex’s stone walls. She nearly ended Roy Mustang and left Havoc paralyzed, serving as the first true "wall" of despair in the series. Her regeneration makes her a nightmare for any human like Kimblee to put down for good.

13th: Envy

The 4th Homunculus. While his thing is shape-shifting, his true power is that massive, horrific beast form made of countless human souls.

In that form, he has the mass to level a city and uses infinite tentacles to consume his targets. He’s also a master of psychological warfare. He beats Lust because he has a much higher soul count (regen stock) and far more destructive reach in his true form.

12th: Gluttony

The last Homunculus. He’s a failed attempt at a "Gate of Truth," and his stomach contains a "Pseudo-Gate"—a void of infinite space.

When Gluttony gets serious, he swallows everything in his sight into another dimension. You can’t dodge it easily, and his ability to "delete" Ed, Ling, and Envy simultaneously was one of the scariest Feats in the series. He ignores regeneration entirely by simply removing you from existence.

11th: Sloth

The "fastest" Homunculus despite his massive size. His charge is basically undodgeable.

He has the durability to shrug off tank shells and the speed to overwhelm Izumi Curtis and the Armstrong siblings at once. His impact alone creates shockwaves that shatter buildings. He ranks above Gluttony because his insane speed allows him to shred an opponent before they can even activate a hax ability.

10th: Alphonse Elric

The younger Elric brother, an alchemist whose soul is bound to a suit of armor. He’s a "tank" in every sense—no pain, no fatigue, and easy to repair.

During the Promised Day, Al used a Philosopher’s Stone to pull off incredible feats, outplaying Pride and Kimblee with Izumi-style martial arts. His tactical mind is sharper than Ed's at times. He beats Sloth because his alchemy allows him to redirect a charge, and he’s smart enough to trap faster opponents.

9th: Edward Elric

The "Fullmetal Alchemist" himself. His transmutation speed—thanks to seeing the Truth—is top-tier, and he can turn his arm into a weapon in a heartbeat.

In the final showdown with Father, he was literally punching a "God" into submission. Ed’s true strength is his scientific knowledge; he wins by attacking "elemental weaknesses" that others don't even see. He beats Al slightly due to his sheer "protagonist energy" and the fact that he was the one to finally find the "Answer" to the Gate.

8th: Greed (Ling Yao)

The "Ultimate Shield" combined with a Xingese prince’s martial arts. This is the perfect fusion of Homunculus regen and human skill.

In the finale, he fought King Bradley to a standstill and was the MVP who carbonized Father from the inside. He beats Ed because the "Ultimate Shield" makes him immune to almost all physical damage, and Ling’s "King" mentality makes him incredibly stable in a fight.

7th: Scar

The Ishvalan survivor with "Deconstruction" in one hand and "Reconstruction" in the other. His style is a one-hit kill—if he touches you, your molecules fall apart.

The fact that he defeated a (albeit weakened) King Bradley in a 1v1 is one of the biggest wins in the show. He was the ultimate "irregular" in Father’s plan. He beats Greed because he has the speed to match the elite and his deconstruction can bypass even Greed’s carbon shield.

6th: Roy Mustang

The "Flame Alchemist." With a snap of his fingers, he controls oxygen levels to incinerate anything.

His precision against Envy—burning out his eyes and tongue specifically—was terrifying. He has the highest raw offensive power among the humans. He beats Scar because of his massive range; he’ll turn you into ash before you even get close enough to touch him. Mustang is the definition of OP characters when he's angry.

5th: Izumi Curtis

The brothers' master and a "housewife" who has seen the Truth. Her physical stats are barely human—she can toss Sloth like a sack of potatoes while sick.

Her alchemy is fluid, treating the terrain like a living thing. She beats Mustang because while he relies on oxygen, Izumi can turn anything into a weapon. She has the skills to block Roy’s flames with a stone wall while simultaneously closing the gap to snap his neck. She’s the peak of martial alchemy.

4th: Pride (Selim Bradley)

The "First Homunculus." A mass of eyes and mouths in the shadows that can slice through anything.

He gains powers by eating others, like Gluttony’s sense of smell or Kimblee’s alchemy. He beats Izumi because of the sheer reach and "omni-directional" nature of his shadows. You can't block shadows forever, and his ability to consume his enemies makes him a tier above any human master.

3rd: King Bradley (Wrath)

The Führer. He doesn't have regen, but his "Ultimate Eye" lets him see every attack in slow motion.

His raid on Central Command is legendary—he cut a tank shell in half and stomped Greed, Fu, and Buccaneer at the same time. He out-speeds Pride’s shadows and can strike the core with surgical precision. In a pure 1v1 of "combat skill," he is the absolute peak of the series.

2nd: Van Hohenheim

The Elrics' father and a living Philosopher’s Stone with over 530,000 souls inside.

He is immortal and can transmute by thought alone—no circles, no movements. In the fight against Father, he used the individual wills of his souls to counter God-tier attacks. Bradley can't kill him because Hohenheim is basically a "sentient country" of energy. He is second only to the one who created him.

1st: Father (The Dwarf in the Flask)

The creator of all Homunculi and the shadow ruler of Amestris. After absorbing "God," he could create a miniature sun in his hand and manipulate nuclear fusion.

He literally shut down all alchemy in the country with a thought. While Hohenheim is a living stone, Father became an entity that transcended the laws of Equivalent Exchange. He only lost because of a massive, multi-layered plan that involved every single character on this list. At his peak, he is the absolute Strongest character in the FMA Lore.

Conclusion: What is Your "Truth"?

From the god-like Father to the humans who fought with nothing but their wits, the Power scaling in Fullmetal Alchemist is incredibly deep.

Whether you're a fan of Bradley’s insane swordplay or Mustang’s overwhelming fire, everyone has their own GOAT. These rankings are built on the "Answers" these characters found at the end of their journeys.

Who did I miss? Should Bradley be higher? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!