

This is somewhat related to the question, [Why can't the homunculi perform
Alchemy?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/7756/why-cant-the-
homunculi-perform-alchemy)

Alchemy is an essential part of life in the series, where not only have the
State Military weaponized it, but seems to be at the center of religion and
priesthood of neighbouring countries. And yet, only a handful of people
practice it. If it's so essential, why can't everyone work with it? We are not
experts at all the fields we use, but we use them in some limited capacity
anyway. For example, we are not all doctors, but when we have fever, we pop
antipyretics; we are not all computer scientists, but we can use computers in
our own ways, and so on. In the FMA-universe, alchemy seems to practised by
just experts.

We already know that sin-essenced homunculi can't perform alchemy, but Father
is a Homunculus (the original one), and yet he can perform alchemy. Ordinary
doctors (eg. the Rockbells) have the smarts for advanced study, but don't seem
to use any alchemy. Skilled automail mechanics have specialized technical
knowledge, but none of them use alchemy.

There are exceptional circumstances where Father blocks tectonic alchemy for
everyone, or Edward giving away his portal. But why can't everyone else
perform some simple alchemy? Is there an explanation for this in the manga,
that is similar to Star Wars' "midi-chlorians"?


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fullmetal-alchemist-series
What does it take to be an alchemist, besides knowledge and technique?


Alchemy is a combination of chemistry and magic, and it requires both
knowledge and technique to make a transmutation happen. Though you're correct
that alchemy is an important part of the series, for the people of Amestris,
it's still something that's exceptional and out of the norm. (Remember how
often citizens are impressed when Ed or Al use the simplest of alchemy to
restore broken objects.)

Your analogy of pills and computers isn't totally accurate. Yes, we take pills
when we have a fever... but do you have any idea how to make one of those
pills? I'm sure you've got a general idea of how to start (you take some
chemicals and put them together), but the actual specifics are much more
complicated. Same with computers - we can use the programs on them easy
enough, but do you know how to code one of those programs? This is how people
view alchemy as well - they see a tool that can be used to fix/create, but the
actual process is far too complicated for most people. After all, Ed and Al
have studied almost their whole life, and most of the state alchemists have
also spent a great deal of time honing their craft. (As a side note, this is
probably the reason alchemists tend to specialize in one type of alchemy, such
as Roy's fire or Tucker's chimeras - they learned all the chemistry related to
that field, and would be much less effective doing something else.)

The Rockbell doctors can't perform alchemy because although they are very
smart (and probably have some chemistry training as well), they don't know the
alchemical techniques necessary to make a transmutation happen. Similarly for
automail mechanics - they have a ton of knowledge of which parts make up a
functioning mechanical limb, but they don't know alchemy. (Likewise, this is
why Ed needs Winry to fix his automail all the time - he doesn't know how it
works on a technical level. He can transmute some parts of it like making a
blade out of the aesthetic parts of the arm, but he is unable to to fully
repair the arm on his own... he needs specialized knowledge for that.)


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