

[This answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/24356/if-you-had-two-
automail-arms-could-you-still-use-alchemy?rq=1) establishes that all that's
needed for a person who's seen the Gate to perform alchemy is to be able to
make a circle with their body. However, Ed doesn't seem to be able to perform
alchemy without his automail arm working.

Why can't he, for example, make a circle between his flesh arm and his
shoulder/port and do alchemy that way? Or, alternatively, why can't he make a
circle between his functioning flesh arm and his non-functioning automail arm?

Is there any canon explanation for this, or does it seem to be just a plot
excuse for his automail arm being broken stopping him from doing alchemy?


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question
fullmetal-alchemist-series
Why can't Ed perform alchemy without his arm?


# He can't make a perfect circle without his arm.

The mechanics of Edward's ability to transmute without a traditional circle
are not that well defined. He enters the Portal of Truth and then gleans some
kind of knowledge about alchemy that allows him to do this. He probably
couldn't tell you why he needs both arms, he just knows that he does.

That said, we can try to make an educated guess.

While it's true that he could make a "circle" by putting his arm on his
shoulder or other part of his body, this wouldn't serve as a true
transmutation circle.

Almost every transmutation circle we see in the series has a single common
property: symmetry. [![An example of a transmutation
circle](https://i.stack.imgur.com/dmAaDm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/dmAaDm.jpg)
[![Al's Blood
Seal](https://i.stack.imgur.com/T7NNc.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/T7NNc.jpg)

Though this symmetry isn't perfect, with the symbols being different in the
circle on the left and Al's Blood Seal on the right having that slightly
asymmetrical circle in the middle, for the most part, the circles are
perfectly symmetrical, especially the borders and the "structure" within.

If Edward tried to make a circle with one arm, he would have an awkward and
asymmetrical circle.

[![Edward
plz](https://i.stack.imgur.com/s2sI0.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/s2sI0.jpg)

When he uses both arms, though, he is able to make a (roughly) symmetrical
circle, and perform a transmutation.

[![Still short
though.](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8w7gu.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8w7gu.jpg)

You also mentioned:

> ... why can't he make a circle between his functioning flesh arm and his
> non-functioning automail arm?

**I don't see why he couldn't.**

He never really got a chance to do this, though.

As far as I can remember, the only time his arm was not working, yet
completely intact and attached to his body, was right after the fight with the
Slicer brothers when Envy and Lust showed up in the 5th Laboratory.

When his arm broke, he was freaking out, and he had also lost a lot of blood,
so I doubt he was thinking clearly. Envy knocked him out before he was really
able to try anything. Also, his arm breaking was probably a bit for comedic
purposes too.


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