
Some in-universe mysteries surround the true nature and origins of alchemy. Such research also appears as tattoos on Scar's arms. Scar's brother, an Ishvalan researcher, actually found ways to combine alkahestry and alchemy, recording his findings in his notebook. The important part is that the transmutation circle's marks are clearly defined and don't become corrupted, such as from melting or being shifted around in sand or soil.įinally, a related process, Xingese alkahestry, also makes use of circles, usually with pentagrams drawn in them.
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As for how to draw them, these circles may appear in a variety of forms: etched into skin, tattooed into skin, drawn with chalk or blood, dug into the ground and more. Such text is often real-world German, Hebrew or Latin. Other visuals may be added, from the flame and salamander icons on Roy Mustang's alchemy gloves to the text found on Major Alex Armstrong's and Comanche's own transmutation circles. While in prison, Kimblee had stiff wooden handcuffs that kept his palms apart, meaning his alchemy was impossible to perform.Ī transmutation circle may have triangles, squares, rectangles and more circles drawn in it to create a particular alchemic process. Kimblee, and they only activate once both halves are pressed together to form a complete image. It may be noted that some transmutation circles have each half-drawn separately, such as with Solf J. If the transmutation circle is damaged, then the alchemy cannot be performed. This means that alchemist's transmutation circles, while the key to their power, is also their most vulnerable point.
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Once he did so, the circle activated to full effect. In the first movie, for example, Edward Elric found an incomplete transmutation circle on the floor of a building and used a piece of chalk to draw in the missing parts. It is repeatedly shown that an incomplete transmutation won't just yield an incomplete or weak alchemic process it won't do anything at all. There are a few unifying factors, such as the overall circle shape, and the fact that these circles must be drawn exactly correctly, and must not have any missing or corrupted lines or symbols in them. A given form of alchemy may have its transmutation circle changed over time. In the story of Fullmetal Alchemist, it is only alchemists who use transmutation circles, but they may vary widely in their contents.
