TV-Series
Description
In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Avarícia, known in the original Japanese as Greed, is a fictional character and one of the seven homunculi, each named after a deadly sin. As his name implies, he is the physical embodiment of avarice, or an insatiable desire for material gain and worldly possessions. He is an artificial being created by the primary antagonist, Father, and bears the Ouroboros tattoo, the mark of his kind, on the back of his left hand.
Avarícia is initially presented as an antagonist, but he is unique among his siblings for his rebellious nature and his desire for independence. Unlike the other homunculi who serve Father loyally, Avarícia broke away from the group centuries ago to forge his own path. He is an optimist who genuinely sees the potential in the world and believes in acquiring not just money or power, but also loyal friends and subordinates, whom he considers his most treasured possessions. He operates on a personal code of conduct that includes not attacking women and a general distaste for lying, preferring to make direct offers and deals rather than engaging in deceit.
In terms of his background, Avarícia is approximately two centuries old, making him one of the older homunculi, though not the eldest. His original physical form was that of a tall, muscular man with spiky hair, often dressed in a fur-lined vest, dark glasses, and boots. His motivations are driven by his core nature: he wants everything the world has to offer. This includes wealth, status, power, and, most importantly, the freedom to pursue his desires without being controlled by Father. He is particularly fascinated by the concept of immortality and seeks a way to achieve true, unending life.
Avarícia's role in the story evolves significantly. He first appears as a rogue homunculus running his own criminal operation in the city of Dublith. He captures Alphonse Elric to learn the secret of his existence as a soul bonded to armor, believing this could be a key to immortality. However, this brings him into conflict with Edward Elric and his teacher, Izumi Curtis. After being captured and forcibly returned to Father, he is punished for his insubordination and effectively killed, only to be resurrected when his philosopher's stone is implanted into the body of the Xingese prince, Ling Yao. This fusion creates a new dual entity often referred to by fans as Greedling. In this state, Avarícia and Ling Yao share a body. Initially at odds, the two develop a symbiotic partnership based on their shared ambition and greed. Ling desires to become emperor of Xing, while Avarícia desires the world, and they agree to help each other.
His key relationships are central to his development. His relationship with his creator, Father, is one of defiance and mutual frustration. Father views Avarícia's greed as a flaw that makes him insubordinate, while Avarícia resents being a mere tool. His relationship with Ling Yao begins as a hostile takeover but transforms into a true partnership and even friendship, as they come to respect each other's drive and cunning. He also forms an uneasy alliance with the Elric brothers. Though he starts as an enemy, they eventually fight on the same side against Father.
Over the course of the narrative, Avarícia undergoes significant development. He starts as a self-serving villain but gradually reveals a more principled side. His experiences in Ling Yao's body teach him a form of compromise and cooperation that he had never known. In his final moments, he achieves a profound understanding of his own nature. He realizes that his deepest desire was never for wealth or power, but for true friends and companions. By giving up his own life to allow his friends to defeat Father, he demonstrates that his greed, in its purest form, was a longing for connection, making his sacrifice a pivotal moment in the story.
Regarding his notable abilities, Avarícia possesses the standard homunculus traits of superhuman strength, speed, and a powerful regenerative healing factor that makes him extremely difficult to kill. His unique and most famous ability is the Ultimate Shield, which allows him to rearrange the carbon atoms in his body to transform his skin into an incredibly durable, diamond-like substance. When activated, his skin turns black and hard, granting him near-impenetrable defense and allowing him to form sharp claws for offense. However, this power has a limitation: he cannot regenerate and harden the same area at the same time. He must first heal a wound before he can reapply the shield to that location, a weakness that skilled opponents like Wrath can exploit. When fused with Ling Yao, he also gains access to Ling's extraordinary swordsmanship and combat instincts, making him an even more formidable fighter. Later in the story, Ling and Avarícia learn to manifest the Ultimate Shield over his entire body, creating a complete, invincible armor form.
Avarícia is initially presented as an antagonist, but he is unique among his siblings for his rebellious nature and his desire for independence. Unlike the other homunculi who serve Father loyally, Avarícia broke away from the group centuries ago to forge his own path. He is an optimist who genuinely sees the potential in the world and believes in acquiring not just money or power, but also loyal friends and subordinates, whom he considers his most treasured possessions. He operates on a personal code of conduct that includes not attacking women and a general distaste for lying, preferring to make direct offers and deals rather than engaging in deceit.
In terms of his background, Avarícia is approximately two centuries old, making him one of the older homunculi, though not the eldest. His original physical form was that of a tall, muscular man with spiky hair, often dressed in a fur-lined vest, dark glasses, and boots. His motivations are driven by his core nature: he wants everything the world has to offer. This includes wealth, status, power, and, most importantly, the freedom to pursue his desires without being controlled by Father. He is particularly fascinated by the concept of immortality and seeks a way to achieve true, unending life.
Avarícia's role in the story evolves significantly. He first appears as a rogue homunculus running his own criminal operation in the city of Dublith. He captures Alphonse Elric to learn the secret of his existence as a soul bonded to armor, believing this could be a key to immortality. However, this brings him into conflict with Edward Elric and his teacher, Izumi Curtis. After being captured and forcibly returned to Father, he is punished for his insubordination and effectively killed, only to be resurrected when his philosopher's stone is implanted into the body of the Xingese prince, Ling Yao. This fusion creates a new dual entity often referred to by fans as Greedling. In this state, Avarícia and Ling Yao share a body. Initially at odds, the two develop a symbiotic partnership based on their shared ambition and greed. Ling desires to become emperor of Xing, while Avarícia desires the world, and they agree to help each other.
His key relationships are central to his development. His relationship with his creator, Father, is one of defiance and mutual frustration. Father views Avarícia's greed as a flaw that makes him insubordinate, while Avarícia resents being a mere tool. His relationship with Ling Yao begins as a hostile takeover but transforms into a true partnership and even friendship, as they come to respect each other's drive and cunning. He also forms an uneasy alliance with the Elric brothers. Though he starts as an enemy, they eventually fight on the same side against Father.
Over the course of the narrative, Avarícia undergoes significant development. He starts as a self-serving villain but gradually reveals a more principled side. His experiences in Ling Yao's body teach him a form of compromise and cooperation that he had never known. In his final moments, he achieves a profound understanding of his own nature. He realizes that his deepest desire was never for wealth or power, but for true friends and companions. By giving up his own life to allow his friends to defeat Father, he demonstrates that his greed, in its purest form, was a longing for connection, making his sacrifice a pivotal moment in the story.
Regarding his notable abilities, Avarícia possesses the standard homunculus traits of superhuman strength, speed, and a powerful regenerative healing factor that makes him extremely difficult to kill. His unique and most famous ability is the Ultimate Shield, which allows him to rearrange the carbon atoms in his body to transform his skin into an incredibly durable, diamond-like substance. When activated, his skin turns black and hard, granting him near-impenetrable defense and allowing him to form sharp claws for offense. However, this power has a limitation: he cannot regenerate and harden the same area at the same time. He must first heal a wound before he can reapply the shield to that location, a weakness that skilled opponents like Wrath can exploit. When fused with Ling Yao, he also gains access to Ling's extraordinary swordsmanship and combat instincts, making him an even more formidable fighter. Later in the story, Ling and Avarícia learn to manifest the Ultimate Shield over his entire body, creating a complete, invincible armor form.