In order to become one of the highest-rated shonen series of all time, Fullmetal Alchemist would need an absolutely incredible protagonist, and Edward Elric lives up to every expectation set for him. He's never shown to be one to back down from a challenge, he possesses both the intelligence and drive to reach out to grasp his dreams, and no matter how horrible his enemies are, he refuses to take another life.

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However, Edward's biggest strength doesn't lie in being a flawlessly-written character--instead, it's quite the opposite, as his flaws lend to just how interesting and multi-faceted he can really be. After all, it was a mistake on Ed's part to try to bring his mother back to life, the taboo and tragedy that propelled the events of the entire series forward. The series never misses an opportunity to explore each and every facet of his character, be it a positive or negative thing overall.

10 STRENGTH: He's Never Discouraged By Challenges

Ed and Rose Fullmetal Alchemist

Regardless of what hardships Edward crosses on his path to restore his and his brothers' bodies, he never allows them to discourage or stop him from attaining his goals. He was told that it would take him several years to recover, and he immediately stated back that he'd accomplish it in merely one.

He was nearly killed by Scar, his automail utterly destroyed, and he simply concocts a completely different plan to capture him and springs right back into action. He doesn't even back down when faced with a literal god, and this personality trait remains even after he loses his alchemy.

9 WEAKNESS: He Tends To Be Overly Reckless

injured ed looking down fullmetal alchemist

Ed's headstrong nature can be a plus when he has no choice but to confront dastardly evils, but it's also one of his biggest downfalls. He'll rush into absolutely any danger head-on without a second thought.

This means that if his opponent truly is stronger than him, there's a chance he'll be left on the edge of life and death. His personal mechanic, Winry, is incredibly concerned with his well-being and is sadly also the one who has to repair him when he bites off more than he can chew.

8 STRENGTH: He Possesses An Unshakable Sense Of Morality

ed glaring from fullmetal alchemist

One of the earliest and strongest traits presented about Edward that's reinforced throughout the rest of the series is just how strong his morals are. Even when he was presented with a true Philosopher's Stone, the key to getting their bodies back, he decided not to take it by force from a small town's only doctor, who'd been using the stone's powers to heal its villagers.

He also refuses to take another life, no matter how wicked his opponent. Thankfully, this is something that his superiors such as Mustang support, as they reinstate that he simply needs to stop and detain criminals, not kill them.

7 WEAKNESS: He Has A Habit Of Challenging Authority

ed midroll art from fullmetal alchemist

It isn't a bad thing in itself that Edward tends to question or go against orders given to him by the higher-ups in the military. This is especially true when it's revealed to fans that the homonculi who wish to sow the seeds of chaos and destruction everywhere are directly heading the military, including the Fuhrer himself.

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However, Ed takes this to an unhealthy extreme, to the point where he could have gotten himself killed. He decided to point out a flaw in the alchemy exam in Brotherhood by rushing the Fuhrer with a spear, which nearly resulted in him being shot.

6 STRENGTH: He's (Unintentionally) A Powerful Motivator

ed yelling in combat fullmetal alchemist

Edward seems to incite change wherever he goes, even if it isn't something he actually thinks he's good at. As early on as the first few episodes, he's shown giving Rose rather sharp and cold advice when she asks what she's supposed to believe in--what's supposed to keep driving her forward.

He responds that it isn't something he can tell her, and that she should get up and find that answer on her own. Although Al believed he was being too harsh, Rose was later shown to be a completely different, re-motivated person, helping to rebuild her city and support its people. This is a trend that tends to continue anytime Ed gets acquainted with someone new who's still struggling to find their own path.

5 WEAKNESS: He Can Be A Bit Too Hot-Headed

ed annoyed from fullmetal alchemist

Separate from his tendency to charge into dangerous situations without thinking, Ed also has a problem when it comes to regulating his emotions. This comes up most frequently regarding his height, and though it's played for laughs most of the time, it's still true that Ed lashes out at others far too easily. This even applies to children who poke fun at his height, though someone such as Al is always there to hold him back.

4 STRENGTH: His Ability To Think On His Feet Is Unrivaled

ed ready for a fight fullmetal alchemist

One of the biggest reasons why it's such a joy to watch Ed fight is that his victories are achieved by making snap judgments and outmaneuvering his opponents on the fly. He's able to take note of how the homonculus Greed's 'impenetrable shield' actually works and manages to alter his own blade with alchemy to break through it.

Even against opponents that he has no hope of beating directly like Scar, he's able to lure into a trap with the help of a few others. It also helps that he can transmute without a circle, meaning he doesn't need any additional setup to execute most of his plans.

3 WEAKNESS: He Refuses To Kill, Even If It Kills Him

eds automail arm from fullmetal alchemist

Although having strong morals is an upstanding trait, there are times when Ed's solemn refusal to kill gets him into more trouble than it's likely worth. After all, many of the threats he faces are ones that have claimed countless innocent human lives on their own paths, and would gladly claim Ed's if given the chance.

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Although the homonculi aren't allowed to kill him either due to Father's orders, they're still showing toying with him, since they're aware that he won't try to kill them. The only time he nearly broke this oath was after Shao Tucker made his own daughter into a chimera.

2 STRENGTH: He Keeps His Promises, No Matter How Unrealistic

ed looking at the sky fullmetal alchemist

Ed might be the type to make promises that may seem unrealistic at times, but always following through on them no matter what is the mark of a truly timeless shonen protagonist. Regardless of whether it's to his brother, Winry, or even a total stranger, he'll go as far as he has to in order to ensure he sees it through.

Even when the people he wants to help treat him unfairly simply because of his "dog of the military" title, Ed never lets this faze him--although he might comment on it once or twice. He'll simply stand up for them anyway and change their minds at the end of it all.

1 WEAKNESS: He's Unable To Open Up Honestly About His Emotions

winry al and ed from fullmetal alchemist

Edward likes to appear strong in front of others, even if it means he has to swallow incredibly intense and, at times, bleak emotions in order to put on a brave face. Whenever his teacher insists that losing their mother and then parts of their bodies had to have been painful, they put on wide, fake smiles, only slightly faltering when she pushes them further. He also always hides his emotions from Winry, one of the two people he's closest to. This is partially out of fear and embarrassment regarding his true feelings, and partially because he doesn't want to involve her in danger, but even Winry states to Hughes at one point that she wishes he'd actually tell her more.

NEXT: 10 Biggest Differences Between Fullmetal Alchemist & Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood