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In FMA 2009/Manga, Edward is able to exchange his Gate of Truth for Alphonse's
body.

However, I find this pretty dumb. The Gate symbolizes the knowledge of
alchemy. Father's Gate is small and has no ornaments like Ed's which indicates
that Father doesn't know anything as stated in the series. But alchemy is a
science in this universe. They learn it from reading books. Why is Edward
unable to use alchemy but able to read it? I can imagine that Ed is not able
to use alchemy by clapping his hands anymore but by drawing circles and
alchemy formulas.

Another question: Edward's toll (his leg) to see Truth is less than Alphonse's
(who lost his whole body) and it is also stated that Al probably saw more of
Truth than Edward.

So Alphonse's Gate is worth more than Edward's Gate. Couldn't Alphonse easily
exchange his own Gate? He probably would still use alchemy since his knowledge
is worth more than Edward's.

Edit: Just thinking about it, you don't have to sacrifice anything at all when
using human transmutation. All you need to do is sacrifice your Gate and you
won't lose that much of your body.


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fullmetal-alchemist-series fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood fullmetal-alchemist-manga
Why is Ed able to exchange his knowledge?


# What does it mean that Ed exchanged his Gate?

In the context of Ed's final transmutation (in which he exchanges his Gate for
Alphonse), the Gate represents his _ability_ to do alchemy, rather than his
knowledge of alchemy. In chapter 108, Truth tells Edward:

> The Gate of Truth exists within everyone. That is how everyone can use
> alchemy.

Notice that the emphasis is probably on the _potential_ to do alchemy. (Not
everyone has the talent or knowledge to do alchemy in the universe of
_Fullmetal Alchemist_!) Although what is _beyond_ the Gate is alchemical
knowledge, per the discussion surrounding Ed and Al's human transmutation
attempt, that is not what is involved here. (One way to think of it may be to
regard the Gate as necessary in alchemy because alchemical knowledge must be
"let out" when there is a transmutation, but I digress.)

Thus, even after his final transmutation, Ed is able to learn about alchemy;
he simply cannot put it into practice. (In fact, at the end of the manga, the
brothers travel to learn more about alchemy.)

# Could Alphonse have exchanged his Gate instead?

In general, one cannot trade one's Gate for something else. (See the
discussion at [Why can't Roy Mustang bring his eyes back using his
gate?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/16671/2604) for details.) However, it
seems possible in theory that Al might have been able to exchange his Gate for
something after the connection between his and Ed's was discovered. Some
possibilities as to why Al did not carry out such a transmutation:

  * Transmuting one's Gate for what was lost in one's human transmutation attempt is not necessarily an obvious line of thought. The idea may not have occurred to Ed or Al before Promised Day. Note that Ed only comes up with the idea after Al has sacrificed himself, not earlier, not even when Alphonse was starting to have problems with his body of armor.

  * Alphonse wanted to recover Ed's limbs; sacrificing his ability to do alchemy for his body would have prevented him from achieving that goal. Alternatively, had Alphonse exchanged his alchemical ability (i.e. his Gate) for Ed's limbs, it might have become impossible for his body to be recovered. Al's body sits at his own Gate, so if the Gate were removed, it might have become inaccessible.


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