Staying an all-time favorite gem for lovers of action-packed anime, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood features one of the most exciting shonen anime power systems where alchemy is the name of the game. To somehow manage to remain a tough character in such a fictional world without playing that game becomes a feat in and of itself. After all, alchemy itself teaches us a thing or two about balance, and the series doesn’t skimp on exploring the power of non-alchemist characters.
Admittedly, not everyone from the non-alchemist roster has made it to our ranking. While some may consider Edward Elric a worthwhile addition to our list, he sacrifices his ability to practice alchemy only at the end of what remains a jewel among the top shonen anime series to stream on Hulu to this day. Much the same goes for Winry Rockbell, the beloved automail mechanic with a mean wrench throw, as she is more of a builder of worlds and bodies rather than a fighter in battles to death.
10
Jean Havoc
A Country Man Turned Knight
A man of many talents, always ready to cause havoc on command, is Jean Havoc. Like many other members of Roy Mustang’s team, Jean doesn’t use alchemy. Instead, his skills shine within the range of guns and logistics.
Like Riza Hawkeye, Jean Havoc is a sharpshooter, yet he is second to the hawkeye queen among the most legendary snipers in anime. Where Jean Havoc has a clear advantage, though, is his sheer will and physical strength. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down, due to Lust impaling him, Jean Havoc doesn’t quit and keeps up with his fitness, managing to regain the capacity to use his legs at the end of the series. In addition to his brawn, Jean Havoc is a clever and loyal man. He showcases this rare blend of qualities especially well when he leverages his family’s business to help Roy Mustang. On top of being a match for some of the top shonen anime gunslingers, Jean Havoc gets crafty when it comes to relaying information, weapons, and other supplies within their group.
9
Maes Hughes
A Family Man to the End
While Maes Hughes may not be Amestris’s physically strongest soldier, he does have one of the strongest minds. Unlike other soldiers traumatized by the Ishval Civil War, Maes Hughes stays sane and embodies the essence of post-traumatic growth. Granted, having a wife and a daughter waiting for him is likely to be of help in keeping him grounded.
Beneath his friendly demeanor, though, Maes Hughes stays a pragmatic tactician. Besides morale boosts, mental resilience, and the vibe of one of the most charming dads in anime, intelligence is this character’s sharpest edge. Even though he doesn’t appear in many scenes throughout the anime, fans still get to see him at his finest when it’s time for investigative work and figuring out patterns that others tend to overlook.
What also happens to be sharp about Maes Hughes is his mastery at wielding push daggers and throwing knives with lethal precision. As a case in point, when he finds himself on the brink of death against the homunculus Lust, Maes Hughes manages to hit her between the eyes with a precise knife throw despite the severity of his injuries.
8
Barry the Chopper
A Bodiless Killer of Killers
Barry the Chopper is what one gets when they alchemically combine a serial killer and an empty suit of armor. Unlike Alphonse Elric, Barry can’t use alchemy. Rather, his strength comes from his scary blade-wielding tactics, high intelligence, and chaotic energy.
Being a solid contender for the club of the most impressive anime axe fighters, thanks in no small part to meat cleavers being his weapon of choice, Barry reveals his ruthless side during his hunts. Since his soul is bound to a suit of armor, Barry isn’t troubled by the limitations that burden mortal man. He doesn’t feel pain, fatigue, hunger, or thirst – except for, of course, his blood thirst.
Barry’s only weakness is in the frailty of his blood seal, which acts as an anchor for his soul. In the aftermath of his fight against the homunculus Lust, Barry inadvertently becomes his own killer. Longing to realign with his soul, his physical body ends up scraping the seal off.
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7
Captain Buccaneer
The Mad Bear Man of Briggs
As an exemplary officer, Captain Buccaneer is just built different – bearing through the harsh high-altitude winter terrain around Fort Briggs with his mind, body, and automail. Sending a strong vibe of Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch in the world of shonen anime, he makes for yet another Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood character who qualifies for the list of the top spotlight-stealing anime side characters.
In addition to his unyielding will, Captain Buccaneer is an unusually tough fighter in terms of physical strength and body resilience. From smashing through concrete to giving Bradley a hard time, tough materials and creatures alike don’t make Captain Buccaneer think twice. One testament to this is the moment when Captain Buccaneer grapples and slings the giant homunculus Sloth around like a sack of potatoes.
Still and all, Captain Buccaneer’s mighty build and frosty resolve aren’t the only aspects of what makes him never pull his punches. His highly adaptable automail serves as a powerful extension of his lethal physique and skill set. Although, in spite of being designed to withstand the cold without holding back on wrecking havoc on his opponents, his M1913-A “Crocodile” and M1910 “Mad Bear Grade” automail arms aren’t invincible. They get destroyed surprisingly fast by Wrath – one of the most iconic berserker-type shonen anime characters.
6
Riza Hawkeye
The Queen of the Firing Range
First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye is impeccably strong in her own right both as a sharpshooter and as a tactician. This cool-headed firearms specialist boasts exceptional proficiency with handguns and rifles alike and always hits her targets with a hawk’s eye. Having been a top-notch sniper in the Ishval Civil War, she is forever haunted by her part in the war effort.
Riza Hawkeye may not get a major ranking among the most legendary blonde-haired female characters in anime, yet there is nothing minor about this lady. Her mastery of precision weapons and her taste for dual wielding reveal a rare blend of skills that few gunslingers get to develop – much less perfect. Given her tactical know-how and synergy with her team, especially with Colonel Mustang, it’s clear as day why Riza Hawkeye is the “Queen” on Roy Mustang’s chessboard.
Most importantly, Riza Hawkeye’s main strength is her mental fortitude. Her mind is tough enough to guard important secrets and to protect those she values most. In this vein, her father’s Flame Alchemy is tattooed on her back, making her the guardian of this knowledge and a living guarantee that it will not be abused. In fact, to further safeguard her father’s work from being abused, she has Mustang burn a part of the tattoo.
5
Sig Curtis
The Courteous Giant of Dublith
As a beefed-up butcher for life with a heart of gold, Sig Curtis is one of the odd ducks in the sense that he is too strong for an ordinary civilian. Capable of wrestling with the likes of trained soldiers like Alex Armstrong, Sig Curtis stands out as a definite anomaly in the non-alchemist ranks.
Not being a soldier doesn’t stop Sig Curtis from manhandling enemies into submission. In his fight with the strongest of the seven homunculi in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Sig Curtis manages to pummel Sloth with his sheer strength. Working in tandem with Alex Armstrong, he eventually beats some life-altering diligence into the homunculus.
Kicking the snot out of enemies isn’t his only strength, though. Being his wife’s training partner makes Sig Curtis unusually agile for his size and raw physical strength. With his fast reflexes and phenomenal resilience, Sig Curtis is one of the few civilians who can face off against homunculi and alchemists alike relying on sheer physique.
4
Fu
The Grandmaster Grandpa of Xing
While Fu may appear small and frail, this Xingese ninja master is anything but weak and has aged well enough to earn a spot among some of the deadliest anime ninja fighters not from Naruto. Working alongside his granddaughter, Fu is a man of experience and grit when it comes to upholding his duty as Prince Ling Yao’s bodyguard.
His overall strength stems from his stealth prowess honed by his profound experience as a ninja. His mastery of Chi and the art of redirecting the attacks of the adversary are just a few of his tactics. Fu’s amazing skills with kunai and explosives alike shine in his battle against King Bradley by the side of Captain Buccaneer and Scar.
Despite losing the fight against Wrath, Fu stays true to his resolve to protect his master and his granddaughter to the end. As Fu goes in a way that deserves to be among the most epic sacrifices made in shonen anime, his sacrifice etches itself in both Fan Lan and Ling Yao, inspiring them to become even stronger.
3
Lan Fan
The Loyal Shadow of Xing
As a devoted bodyguard of the Xingese prince, Lan Fan doesn’t draw her power from her grandfather’s legacy alone. She has something to give her ninja experience an edge – her automail. No matter how debilitating it is to lose a limb, Lan Fan doesn’t let it limit her ability as a fighter and a dedicated protector. Her new metal arm becomes yet another tool in her extensive arsenal of kunai daggers, explosives, and smoke bombs.
Lan Fan’s triumph over her injury not only earns her a spot among the most impressive shonen anime female characters but also seems to take her fluid martial arts style to the next level. She turns into an even more dangerous fighter and goes against adversaries as deadly as the homunculus Gluttony and King Bradley. Her perseverance and resolve remain unmatched regardless of the challenges on her path.
Overall, Lan Fan’s spirit and her combat expertise as a Xingese warrior make her one of the strongest non-alchemy characters. Her masterful use of Chi sensing only adds to her lethality and gives her an advantage over her foes of both human and homunculus nature. It’s no surprise that she survives the final battle and returns from the shadows to guard her emperor once more.
2
Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong
The Ice Queen of House Armstrong
Olivier Mira Armstrong is yet another reason why Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood belongs to the family of anime where side characters are cool by themselves. Referred to as the “Northern Wall of Briggs” interchangeably with Fort Briggs itself, her cold yet nuanced personality is the embodiment of power, which is to be expected of an Armstrong.
As a masterful commander, Olivier Mira Armstrong lets the ruthless might of her troops, who show undying loyalty to her authority, speak for itself. Her exceptional skill at strategy only enhances the bond that she has with the forces under her command. With trust like that, it’s no wonder that Fort Briggs withstands every adversity thrown at it.
Despite her abnormal strength and agility, she doesn’t rely on her physical abilities as the only weapon in her armory. Olivier Mira Armstrong can wield her saber in a manner that can make some of the top shonen anime sword fighters blush, and she is just as capable with a range of other weapons. In her battle against Sloth, her combat prowess makes for a particularly compelling sight – Olivier Mira Armstrong manages to land multiple blows on this powerful homunculus.
1
Ling Yao
The Greediest Emperor for Peace and Feasts
Regardless of his royal status, the Prince/Emperor of Xing himself – Ling Yao – feels like the strongest among non-alchemist characters in the series. His strength spans a few categories, namely his skills, his knowledge, and his bond with Greed.
What makes Ling Yao’s skills particularly deadly is that they draw power from his Xingese fighting style honed to perfection. His exceptional swordsmanship turns his fairly ordinary blade into something that can cast a shadow on some of the most legendary swords in anime. These skills are backed by his nearly superhuman agility and are occasionally enriched by the use of his unique explosives throughout the series.
As for Ling Yao’s knowledge, it hinges on the fundamental principle of Alkahestry that seeks to leverage the Dragon’s Pulse. Having extensive training in utilizing the Dragon’s Pulse to heighten his senses, Ling Yao can sense the target’s Chi and identify the presence of homunculi.
Excelling at reading people, Ling Yao comes to tap into yet another source of power – his unique symbiotic partnership with Greed. Taking over Ling Yao’s body later on in the series, Greed gives Ling numerous power boosts, including the Ultimate Shield ability and capacity for fast regeneration after most injuries. Working in tandem, Greed and Ling Yao prove to be one lethal gang, deserving a mention among shonen anime’s most legendary character duos.
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Maxey Whitehead
Alphonse Elric
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Vic Mignogna
Edward Elric
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Brittney Karbowski
Selim Bradley
