One of the true standout action fantasy anime series is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, based on the hit manga series by Hiromu Arakawa. It's a steampunk setting where magical alchemy and World War I-style tech rules the day, and alchemists do battle with deadly homunculi in the shadows. These homunculi are based on the seven deadly sins, and that includes Greed.
Greed has the Ultimate Shield, meaning he can form near-indestructible skin with the carbon in his body, and he's got some serious martial arts skills (especially after Ling taught him some moves). Now we ask: which FMA characters could Greed take on in a rematch or a hypothetical fight, and which battles would turn out very badly for him?
10 Can Defeat: Gluttony
When it comes to both real and hypothetical battles in Fullmetal Alchemist, it seems that Gluttony is little more than a punchline. He's like a cannon: powerful but clumsy. He needs backup, and he needs someone to aim him at a target, so to speak. He's not much of a duelist.
Greed can take him on without too much trouble. While not as fast as Edward or Wrath, Greed can outmaneuver this beefy homunculus and slash him apart over and over, wearing down Gluttony's Philosopher's Stone all the while. If Lan Fan could do it, so can Greed.
9 Can't Defeat: Wrath
We can say this with absolute confidence, given how Wrath already defeated Greed once in battle (in the sewers of Dublith). But in that battle, Greed refused to use the full extent of his Ultimate Skin, and he was taken by surprise when Wrath attacked. All this put Greed at a serious disadvantage.
So, how would a full-blown rematch turn out? We got a taste of that during the Promised Day episodes, but in a committed duel to the death, we're sure that Wrath will win again. His Ultimate Eye is too sharp for Greed to deal with, and his sword skills and ruthless combat moves are tough to beat.
8 Can Defeat: Envy
The homunculus-vs-homunculus battles continue into the third round, and Greed is about to score his second victory. True, Envy has a massive final form that resembles a bizarre dog-lizard, and he can shapeshift like crazy, but that's not going to win the day against Greed.
Greed's martial arts skills outstrip Envy's, and his hard-as-diamond claws and skin will tear Envy apart many times over. And even if Envy uses that giant form, Greed can avoid Envy's clumsy attacks and go right for the throat, or other vital spots. Being big doesn't mean being invulnerable, as Envy will soon find out.
7 Can't Defeat: Van Hohenheim
In all fairness, we are pretty sure that no one can defeat Van Hohenheim in combat, and even the almighty Father had to absorb Hohenheim with his true form in order to subdue him. If Father's godlike alchemy can't handle Hohenheim, what is Greed supposed to do?
Although something of a pacifist, Hohenheim is absolutely willing to defend himself in battle, and he won't hesitate to blast Greed into the stratosphere with his incredible alchemy.
6 Can Defeat: Izumi Curtis
Not easily, but Greed could take down Izumi Curtis if he gave it his all. What can Izumi do? She is a martial arts master and a skilled alchemist, and she's the one who taught the Elric brothers everything they knew.
At first, Izumi would have the edge, seeing how her combat moves outstrip Greed's. But Greed would soon harden his entire body, and he will keep regenerating while Izumi gets tired. And we all know that the poor woman sometimes coughs up blood and gets faint. If that happens, Greed can easily take her down.
5 Can't Defeat: Roy Mustang
He is the Flame Alchemist, and he's got a serious reputation for a reason. With his unique fire alchemy, Roy can create jets and blasts of searing flames with his right hand, and pinpoint mini-attacks with his left.
As Envy found out, this means Roy has no blind spots, and while Greed might slog his way through Roy's flames with his shield up, his eyes are vulnerable to Roy's pinpoint attacks. Roy would beat Greed down just the way he did Envy soon after.
4 Can Defeat: Lust
The homunculi were introduced roughly in order of power, with Envy, Lust, and Gluttony appearing first, then Greed (in Dublith), then Wrath, Sloth, and Pride. Greed is in the middle of the pack, and we're sure that he could take down Lust as well as Gluttony and Envy.
Lust has the Ultimate Spear, allowing her to extend her fingers into long, hard talons and pierce absolutely anything. She could injure Greed with this, but she's not going to kill him quickly enough. Greed will regenerate just enough to get in close (where Lust is most vulnerable) and sink his diamond-hard claws into Lust's chest to tear out her Philosopher's Stone.
3 Can't Defeat: Pride
Let's keep going with the homunculus-vs-homunculus battles, and now, Greed has truly met his match. He even said that Pride is a true monster, and that he fears his big brother. We don't see any way Greed will survive this duel.
Pride is an amalgamation of the other six homunculi: Lust's piercing power, Wrath's eyes, Greed's hard skin, Envy's shapeshifting, Sloth's speed, and Gluttony's all-devouring mouth. It's effectively six on one, and Pride is sure to win. Sorry, Greed.
2 Can Defeat: Alex Louis Armstrong
This won't be easy, but Greed can handle an opponent like this. Major Alex Armstrong takes pride in his hybrid martial arts/alchemy style, a manly style that makes the most of his incredible physique. It's fun to watch.
Alex will deal some blows on Greed, and he can take a lot of return fire, too. But Greed's hard skin will see him through the worst of it, and he can regenerate while wearing the Major down with claw slashes and the resulting blood loss. Alex is tough, but he's not going to win this battle of attrition.
1 Can't Defeat: Lan Fan
What's this? Greed can't defeat the non-alchemist Xingese bodyguard Lan Fan? It's less that Lan Fan can kill him (she probably can't), but more like, Greed can't defeat her. In a duel, Lan fan is fast and agile, and she's tough to hit. Greed is going to fall behind bit by bit.
Lan Fan would deal some return fire, and once she determines that her hard-skinned, regenerating opponent is too tough, she would set off a flash-bang grenade, smoke grenade, or something similar to create an escape route, and take it. She won't win... but neither will Greed.