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The Best Episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1

Every episode of Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1!

Two young brothers are raised as alchemists, but when they are severely injured trying to perform a forbidden act, they begin searching for the one thing that can save them; the fabled philosopher's stone.

Genres:Action & AdventureAnimationSci-Fi & Fantasy
Network:TBS

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Fullmetal Alchemist" season 1 is "Those Who Challenge the Sun", rated 7.7/10 from 860 user votes. It was directed by Seiji Mizushima, Kazuki Tsunoda and written by Sho Aikawa. "Those Who Challenge the Sun" aired on 10/4/2003 and is rated 0.0 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Body of the Sanctioned".

  • Those Who Challenge the Sun
    7.7/10 860 votes

    #1 - Those Who Challenge the Sun

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/2003

    When Edward and Alphonse meet a so-called religious leader who can invoke miracles, they believe he's carrying the philosopher's stone.

    Director: Seiji Mizushima, Kazuki Tsunoda

    Writer: Sho Aikawa

  • Body of the Sanctioned
    7.7/10 777 votes

    #2 - Body of the Sanctioned

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/2003

    Edward and Alphonse struggle over whether they should reveal the truth behind Cornello's miracles -- and possibly ruin the townspeople's lives.

    Director: Kenji Yasuda

    Writer: Sho Aikawa

  • Mother
    8.1/10 771 votes

    #3 - Mother

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/2003

    A young Ed and Al are determined to bring back their dead mother, who was their pillar of strength during dreary times of war.

    Director: Shingo Kaneko

    Writer: N/A

  • A Forger's Love
    7.0/10 707 votes

    #4 - A Forger's Love

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/2003

    While on their way to seek out an important man from their childhood, Ed and Al come across a town haunted by a ghostly woman.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Man with the Mechanical Arm
    7.7/10 667 votes

    #5 - The Man with the Mechanical Arm

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/2003

    Ed and Al hop aboard a train to Central City and quickly find themselves defending the passengers -- including Gen. Hakuro -- from terrorists.

    Director: Shigeru Ueda

    Writer: Aya Yoshinaga

  • The Alchemy Exam
    7.8/10 659 votes

    #6 - The Alchemy Exam

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2003

    Once in Central City, Ed and Al move into the vast mansion of sewing-life alchemist Shou Tucker and begin to prepare for the Alchemy Exam.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Night of the Chimera's Cry
    9.0/10 946 votes

    #7 - Night of the Chimera's Cry

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/2003

    Now an official State Alchemist, Ed takes a closer look at Tucker's chimera experiments and begins to realize there's something very wrong going on.

    Director: Kenji Yasuda

    Writer: Sho Aikawa

  • The Philosopher's Stone
    8.1/10 627 votes

    #8 - The Philosopher's Stone

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/22/2003

    A disenchanted Ed resigns from his position as State Alchemist, and when Winry arrives in town, she may be the serial killer's next victim.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Be Thou for the People
    7.8/10 606 votes

    #9 - Be Thou for the People

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/2003

    Ed and Al go on assignment to inspect a small mining colony and discover its inhabitants are being heavily taxed by a tyrant and his Alchemist.

    Director: Atsushi Otsuki

    Writer: Katsuhiko Takayama

  • The Phantom Thief
    7.4/10 599 votes

    #10 - The Phantom Thief

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2003

    While trying to avoid their meeting with Mustang, Ed and Al end up in a small town and become embroiled in a manhunt for a female Robin Hood.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Other Brothers Elric (1)
    7.4/10 563 votes

    #11 - The Other Brothers Elric (1)

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/13/2003

    Ed and Al head to Xenotime in hopes of finding the Philosopher's Stone, but they find only two boys creating a strange red water.

    Director: Kazuki Kakuta

    Writer: Natsuko Takahashi

  • The Other Brothers Elric (2)
    7.4/10 559 votes

    #12 - The Other Brothers Elric (2)

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/20/2003

    Ed and Al uncover a conspiracy involving the Tringham Brothers' father, his involvement with the red water and the disease that's stricken Xenotime.

    Director: Masakazu Amiya

    Writer: Manabu Ishikawa

  • Fullmetal vs. Flame
    7.9/10 574 votes

    #13 - Fullmetal vs. Flame

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/27/2003

    Ed reports back to Mustang in East City, where discussion of Doctor Marcoh and the Philosopher's Stone leads to a duel between Ed and the colonel.

    Director: Masahiro Ando

    Writer: Sho Aikawa

  • Destruction's Right Hand
    7.8/10 546 votes

    #14 - Destruction's Right Hand

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/10/2004

    While the shape-shifting Envy disguises himself as Cornello, Ed and Al find Marcoh and learn about the Stone's involvement in the Ishbal Rebellion.

    Director: Tarou Iwasaki

    Writer: Sho Aikawa

  • The Ishbal Massacre
    8.3/10 563 votes

    #15 - The Ishbal Massacre

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/17/2004

    As the Strong Arm Alchemist defends them from the surrounding chaos, Marcoh reveals to the Elrics the vast atrocities of the Ishbal Massacre.

    Director: Kenji Yasuda

    Writer: Sho Aikawa

  • That Which Is Lost
    7.5/10 527 votes

    #16 - That Which Is Lost

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/24/2004

    As Marcoh faces a deadly encounter with Lust, Armstrong and the Elrics flee to Resembool. Ed is sent into a rage when they lose Al in the process.

    Director: Masakazu Hashimoto

    Writer: Sho Aikawa

  • House of the Waiting Family
    7.8/10 535 votes

    #17 - House of the Waiting Family

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/31/2004

    While resting and receiving repairs back in Resembool, Ed visits his mother's grave and Al reveals his concerns about his fading memories.

    Director: Kazuki Kakuta

    Writer: Natsuko Takahashi

  • Marcoh's Notes
    7.6/10 513 votes

    #18 - Marcoh's Notes

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/7/2004

    Ed and Al are forced to go in search of another source for Marcoh's book after Lust, Gluttony and Scar burn the First Branch Library to the ground.

    Director: Atsushi Otsuki

    Writer: Manabu Ishikawa

  • The Truth Behind Truths
    7.9/10 509 votes

    #19 - The Truth Behind Truths

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/14/2004

    Ed and Al are horrified when they learn what the key ingredient in making a Philosopher's Stone is, but they forge ahead to explore an abandoned lab.

    Director: Tomoki Kyoda

    Writer: N/A

  • Soul of the Guardian
    8.2/10 527 votes

    #20 - Soul of the Guardian

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/21/2004

    Several malfunctions in their armor impede Ed and Al as they face off against some tortured souls bound to empty suits.

    Director: Tomoki Kyoda

    Writer: N/A

  • The Red Glow
    8.4/10 539 votes

    #21 - The Red Glow

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/28/2004

    Barry sets off a series of explosions that inadvertently free Greed and the other prisoners. Tucker returns from the dead in a surprising new form.

    Director: Tomoki Kyoda

    Writer: N/A

  • Created Human
    8.5/10 546 votes

    #22 - Created Human

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/6/2004

    As Envy, in the form of Basque Grand, gathers the human ingredients to form the Stone, Maes Hughes sets out to rescue the Elrics from Laboratory 5.

    Director: Tomoki Kyoda

    Writer: N/A

  • Fullmetal Heart
    7.7/10 512 votes

    #23 - Fullmetal Heart

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/13/2004

    Edward upsets Winry with his refusal to talk, and Alphonse decides to confront Edward with his questions about artificial souls.

    Director: Tomoki Kyoda

    Writer: N/A

  • Bonding Memories
    7.7/10 505 votes

    #24 - Bonding Memories

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/20/2004

    Alphonse runs off and comes face to face with Scar, who's been hiding out among the mercenary-plagued refugees of Ishbal.

    Director: Tomoki Kyoda

    Writer: N/A

  • Words of Farewell
    8.9/10 692 votes

    #25 - Words of Farewell

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 3/27/2004

    When Ed and Al take Winry on a quest to tail Scar and learn more about the Stone, they discover a connection between Lab 5 and the war in Ishbal.

    Director: Seiji Mizushima

    Writer: N/A