Ganância is one of the seven homunculi in Fullmetal Alchemist, artificial beings created from the Philosopher's Stone who each personify a specific human vice. As his name indicates, Ganância embodies the sin of avarice. He is distinguished from his brethren by a prominent tattoo of the Ouroboros, a serpent eating its own tail, which marks all homunculi. In his case, this tattoo is located on the back of his left hand.

Of all the homunculi, Ganância is the most openly rebellious and independent. Driven by an insatiable desire for everything the world has to offer, he rejects the hierarchical control of his creator. This refusal to submit led him to break away from the other homunculi long before the main events of the story, choosing to forge his own path rather than serve a master. His great ambition is to acquire anything and everything, including money, power, status, and lasting companionship, though his ultimate goal is to claim the entire world for himself.

Despite his self-centered nature, Ganância possesses a distinct code of honor, particularly regarding his followers. He surrounds himself with chimeras, human-animal hybrids he rescues from cruel military experiments. While he often refers to them as his possessions, he demonstrates genuine loyalty and care for them, and he reacts with vengeful fury when they are harmed or killed by his enemies. This protective instinct reveals that underneath his greedy exterior, his true desire may be a deep craving for meaningful connections and companionship.

Ganância is introduced as an antagonist, but his role evolves significantly as the story progresses. He initially operates a criminal hideout called the Devil's Nest in the city of Dublith, where he plots to gain a truly immortal body. His plan to kidnap Alphonse Elric to learn the secrets of his soul-bound armor draws him into direct conflict with the Elric brothers. After a fierce battle, he is captured by the homunculus Wrath and brought back to his creator. His original body is destroyed, but his essence as a Philosopher's Stone is preserved.

The most pivotal development for Ganância occurs when he is forcibly implanted into the body of Ling Yao, a young prince from the distant nation of Xing who sought immortality. This fusion creates a unique dual being. Initially, Ganância has no memory of his past and serves his creator as an obedient tool. However, after regaining his memories, he forges an uneasy alliance with Ling and the Elric brothers. This partnership allows him to gradually grow beyond his original selfish programming. In a climax of his character arc, he discovers that what he truly wanted most was not material wealth, but friendship and a sense of belonging. His final act is a heroic sacrifice, using his powers not to protect himself, but to oppose his creator and save his friends.

In terms of abilities, Ganância is known as the Ultimate Shield. He has the power to rearrange the carbon atoms in his body, instantly hardening his skin into a substance as strong as diamond or graphene. In this state, his shield is nearly indestructible, capable of blocking bullets, blades, and powerful alchemical attacks with ease. He can choose to harden only specific parts of his body, such as his fists, to create razor-sharp claws, or cover his entire form in a dark, demonic-looking armor. Like all homunculi, he possesses superhuman strength, speed, and endurance. He also has a powerful regenerative ability that allows him to recover from almost any wound, including severed limbs, as long as the Philosopher's Stone within him provides the necessary energy. A significant weakness is that he cannot use his Ultimate Shield and his regenerative healing at the same time, forcing him to choose between absolute defense and recovery. Furthermore, extensive damage can deplete the souls within his Stone, eventually leading to his permanent death.