Scar, an Ishvalan survivor of the genocide during the Ishvalan Civil War, is defined by this experience. His alias stems from the prominent X-shaped scar across his forehead, inflicted by State Alchemist Solf J. Kimblee during an attack that also claimed his right arm. In an emergency procedure, Scar's older brother sacrificed his own life to graft his alchemy-tattooed right arm onto Scar. This arm bears a complex transmutation array granting deconstruction alchemy, which Scar weaponizes for vengeance against State Alchemists responsible for his people's destruction. Initially a brooding and ruthless vigilante, Scar killed numerous State Alchemists—including Basque Grand, Shou Tucker, and Winry Rockbell's parents, Yuriy and Sarah—in a blind rage after awakening post-surgery. He views alchemy as a blasphemous perversion of nature but rationalizes using his deconstruction ability by claiming it stops at the second transmutation step (destruction without reconstruction), avoiding direct violation of Ishvalan religious taboos against creation. His moral code permits compassion: he honors last requests, prays for victims, and euthanized Nina Tucker's chimera form to end her suffering. Character development differs between continuities. In the 2003 anime, Scar's arm contains an incomplete Philosopher's Stone derived from his brother's Grand Arcanum research. He allies with Ishvalan refugees after recovering from homunculi attacks, ultimately sacrificing himself in Liore by transmuting his arm into Alphonse Elric's body and activating a city-wide circle to create a Philosopher's Stone from invading soldiers. Conversely, the manga and 2009 anime depict Scar evolving into an anti-hero. After encounters with Miles, May Chang, and Winry, he spares Dr. Marcoh for information, deciphers his brother's research to tattoo a reconstruction array on his left arm, and joins the Elrics' coalition against the homunculi. During the Promised Day, he battles King Bradley (Wrath) and activates an Ishvalan transmutation circle to counter Father, later surviving to aid Ishval's restoration under Olivier Armstrong. A former Ishvalan warrior-monk, Scar possesses exceptional combat prowess, strength, agility, and bullet-dodging reflexes. His tactical intelligence enables quick analysis of opponents' weaknesses despite limited formal alchemy training. Deconstruction alchemy requires comprehending an object's composition before disintegration, though he denies being a true alchemist. After mastering reconstruction, he creates hexagonal stone spikes. His design features Ishvalan traits—dark skin, red eyes, and shaved silver hair—and distinctive gold-crossed jackets. Vestiges of his pre-war kindness emerge through protective instincts toward Ishvalan refugees, children, and animals, contrasting his vengeful facade.