Edward Elric is the younger of the two Elric brothers and serves as the protagonist of his story. He is a teenager with golden-blond hair, which he typically wears in a braid, and sharp golden eyes. His most distinctive physical features are his automail prosthetics, a mechanical right arm and left leg, which replace the limbs he lost during a failed alchemical ritual in his childhood.

Edward, often called by the nickname Ed, is a prodigy who became the youngest State Alchemist in the history of his country at the age of twelve. This achievement earned him the title of "Fullmetal Alchemist." Despite his genius, he possesses a notoriously short temper and is extremely sensitive about his small stature, often reacting with explosive rage when anyone refers to him as short or makes comments about his height. This insecurity is a running source of frustration for him, though his height is also explained in the narrative as a side effect of his brother's soul being anchored to the physical world at Edward's expense.

His personality is defined by a fierce determination and an unwavering sense of justice. He is deeply emotional, passionate, and often impulsive, throwing himself into action without fully considering the consequences. Beneath this brash exterior lies a profound empathy and a strong moral compass; he believes every human life is precious and refuses to use alchemy as a tool for killing, even when facing the most dangerous enemies. He carries a heavy burden of guilt and self-blame, particularly over the incident that cost his brother, Alphonse, his entire body. This guilt fuels his primary motivation: to find a way to restore Alphonse and recover what they lost.

Edward's role in the story is driven by this singular goal. He joins the state military to gain access to its vast libraries and resources, hoping to find a solution for his brother. He is fiercely independent and often tries to shoulder the burden alone, struggling to accept help from others. His key relationships are central to his development. The most important is his bond with his brother, Alphonse, which is the emotional core of his journey. His childhood friend and mechanic, Winry Rockbell, is another crucial figure; she builds and maintains his automail, and their relationship evolves from childhood bickering to a deep, romantic partnership by the story's end. He shares a contentious but mutually respectful dynamic with Colonel Roy Mustang, and has a deep, fearful respect for his alchemy teacher, Izumi Curtis.

Throughout the narrative, Edward undergoes significant development. He begins as an arrogant and prideful boy who believes he can solve everything through his own power. As the story progresses, he is forced to confront the limits of his abilities and the consequences of his actions. He learns to rely on others, to accept that some things cannot be fixed with alchemy, and to mature beyond his initial selfish desires. He eventually overcomes his deep-seated guilt and comes to understand that true strength lies not in power, but in human connection and the willingness to give up something precious for others. In the final resolution of his journey, he makes the ultimate sacrifice of his ability to perform alchemy to retrieve his brother's body, demonstrating that he has grown beyond his identity as an alchemist and values his relationships above all else.

Edward's notable abilities include his mastery of alchemy, which he can perform without a traditional transmutation circle by simply clapping his hands together. This technique, granted to him after he saw the Gate of Truth, allows him to reshape matter instantly. In combat, he is highly proficient in hand-to-hand fighting, a skill honed by years of training with his teacher. He frequently integrates his alchemy with his automail, transmuting his metal arm into a blade or other weapon to gain an advantage in battle. His automail limbs themselves are both a tactical asset and a physical reminder of the price he paid when he attempted to transcend the boundaries of nature.