Alphonse Elric is the younger brother of Edward Elric. After their mother's death, the brothers attempted forbidden human transmutation to revive her. The ritual failed catastrophically, dissolving Alphonse's physical body entirely. In desperation, Edward sacrificed his right arm to bind Alphonse's soul to a nearby suit of armor using a unique blood seal inscribed with his own blood. This seal, located inside the armor's torso, anchors Alphonse's consciousness and represents his critical vulnerability; its destruction would detach his soul permanently. The armor body, standing over seven feet tall, grants combat advantages: imperviousness to bullets, immunity to temperature extremes, and no need for sustenance or rest. However, it also renders him incapable of sensory input like touch, taste, or smell, causing profound psychological isolation. Alphonse's original human form resembled his brother, sharing golden eyes and blond hair parted on the left side, though his facial structure favored their mother. Trapped within the Gate of Truth after the failed transmutation, his body aged without nourishment, becoming emaciated with overgrown hair and nails. After regaining his body, he returned to a healthy, well-nourished state. His armored form features a conical horn on the helmet, horizontal vents beneath the eyeholes, a fang motif above the chin, and a ribbon of white hair down the back, later cut short. The armor includes spiked shoulders, chain mail interior, and a red Flamel symbol denoting his apprenticeship under alchemist Izumi Curtis. Personality-wise, Alphonse serves as a calm, patient counterbalance to Edward's impulsiveness. Kindhearted and compassionate, he often acts protectively toward allies and even adversaries, exemplified by his interactions with Scar. Despite this maturity, his psychological development stalled at age ten due to trauma. He harbors deep insecurities about his inhuman existence, yearning for physical warmth and connection while fearing detachment from humanity. He privately blames himself for the failed transmutation and Edward's injuries. Alphonse maintains a journal of foods he longs to eat upon regaining his body, with Winry Rockbell's apple pie symbolizing his deepest wish. He displays affection for cats, frequently hiding strays within his armor, and exhibits a notable fondness for female companionship, often paired with women like May Chang or Riza Hawkeye during missions. His key relationships include an unbreakable bond with Edward, marked by mutual devotion and shared guilt. He views Winry Rockbell as family, with childhood romantic feelings evolving into supportive teasing. Izumi Curtis, his stern alchemy teacher, commands both fear and deep respect. His connection with May Chang develops from her initial one-sided affection into a reciprocal post-series relationship. Alphonse rejects vengeance despite understanding Scar's similar trauma, reinforcing his commitment to non-violence where possible. Trained by Izumi Curtis, Alphonse excels in martial arts, surpassing Edward in combat skill according to Edward's own admission. His armor enhances physical prowess but requires constant protection of the blood seal. As an alchemist, he demonstrates genius-level intellect and precision, specializing in conventional combat transmutations like creating barriers or weapons. His unique abilities include manipulating matter remotely without physical contact—attributed to his soul-bound existence—and later performing circle-free transmutations after reclaiming repressed memories of the Gate's truths. When using a Philosopher's Stone, his alchemy becomes more creatively adaptive, generating flashbangs or flexible blades. Across different narratives, his journey diverges significantly. In the manga and *Brotherhood* adaptation, Alphonse discovers his original body within the Gate. During the final confrontation, he sacrifices his soul to restore Edward's arm, enabling Edward's victory. Edward then exchanges his alchemy to retrieve Alphonse's body and soul. Post-conflict, Alphonse travels to Xing with chimeras to study alkahestry alongside May Chang. In the 2003 anime, Scar's intervention makes Alphonse's armor a Philosopher's Stone, granting enhanced alchemy but causing physical degradation with each use. After Edward's death, Alphonse expends the Stone to resurrect him, destroying his armor body. Edward subsequently sacrifices himself to restore Alphonse's human form. *Conqueror of Shamballa* depicts Alphonse using alchemy via gloves and fragmenting his soul into golems to locate Edward in a parallel world, ultimately choosing to remain there with him. The live-action film adaptation retains his core narrative but translates the armor through CGI design. Alphonse's character development consistently centers on themes of sacrifice, identity, and resilience. His core motivation—regaining his humanity—remains steadfast, yet he prioritizes others' safety over his own restoration. This selflessness defines his actions throughout all official continuations.