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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!

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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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 1 - Those Who Challenge the Sun
    7.7/10(994 votes)

    #1 - Those Who Challenge the Sun

    S1:E1

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

    Directors:Seiji Mizushima, Kazuki Tsunoda
    Writer:Sho Aikawa

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  2. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 2 - Body of the Sanctioned
    7.7/10(893 votes)

    #2 - Body of the Sanctioned

    S1:E2

    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

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  3. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 3 - Mother
    8.2/10(894 votes)

    #3 - Mother

    S1:E3

    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:Unknown

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  4. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 4 - A Forger's Love
    7.0/10(820 votes)

    #4 - A Forger's Love

    S1:E4

    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:Kazuhisa Ono
    Writer:Toshiki Inoue

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  5. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 5 - The Man with the Mechanical Arm
    7.6/10(777 votes)

    #5 - The Man with the Mechanical Arm

    S1:E5

    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

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  6. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 6 - The Alchemy Exam
    7.8/10(768 votes)

    #6 - The Alchemy Exam

    S1:E6

    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:Johei Matsuura
    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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  7. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 7 - Night of the Chimera's Cry
    9.0/10(1140 votes)

    #7 - Night of the Chimera's Cry

    S1:E7

    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

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  8. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 8 - The Philosopher's Stone
    8.1/10(726 votes)

    #8 - The Philosopher's Stone

    S1:E8

    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:Yoshito Hata
    Writer:Sho Aikawa

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  9. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 9 - Be Thou for the People
    7.8/10(707 votes)

    #9 - Be Thou for the People

    S1:E9

    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

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  10. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 10 - The Phantom Thief
    7.4/10(695 votes)

    #10 - The Phantom Thief

    S1:E10

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 11 - The Other Brothers Elric (1)
    7.4/10(654 votes)

    #11 - The Other Brothers Elric (1)

    S1:E11

    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

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  12. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 12 - The Other Brothers Elric (2)
    7.4/10(647 votes)

    #12 - The Other Brothers Elric (2)

    S1:E12

    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

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  13. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 13 - Fullmetal vs. Flame
    7.9/10(671 votes)

    #13 - Fullmetal vs. Flame

    S1:E13

    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

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  14. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 14 - Destruction's Right Hand
    7.8/10(637 votes)

    #14 - Destruction's Right Hand

    S1:E14

    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

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  15. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 15 - The Ishbal Massacre
    8.3/10(659 votes)

    #15 - The Ishbal Massacre

    S1:E15

    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

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  16. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 16 - That Which Is Lost
    7.5/10(616 votes)

    #16 - That Which Is Lost

    S1:E16

    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

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  17. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 17 - House of the Waiting Family
    7.9/10(625 votes)

    #17 - House of the Waiting Family

    S1:E17

    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

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  18. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 18 - Marcoh's Notes
    7.6/10(600 votes)

    #18 - Marcoh's Notes

    S1:E18

    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

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  19. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 19 - The Truth Behind Truths
    7.9/10(596 votes)

    #19 - The Truth Behind Truths

    S1:E19

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 20 - Soul of the Guardian
    8.3/10(618 votes)

    #20 - Soul of the Guardian

    S1:E20

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 21 - The Red Glow
    8.4/10(635 votes)

    #21 - The Red Glow

    S1:E21

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 22 - Created Human
    8.6/10(652 votes)

    #22 - Created Human

    S1:E22

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 23 - Heart of Steel
    7.7/10(601 votes)

    #23 - Heart of Steel

    S1:E23

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 24 - Bonding Memories
    7.7/10(590 votes)

    #24 - Bonding Memories

    S1:E24

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 Episode 25 - Words of Farewell
    9.0/10(827 votes)

    #25 - Words of Farewell

    S1:E25

    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:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Those Who Challenge the Sun" is the best rated episode of "Fullmetal Alchemist" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 994 votes. Directed by Seiji Mizushima, Kazuki Tsunoda and written by Sho Aikawa, it aired on 10/4/2003. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Body of the Sanctioned".