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We know a couple of characters whose souls are bound to armor suits, e.g.
Alphonse or Barry the Chopper. It was explicitly shown that the armor suits
have nothing inside - which means they are just pieces of metal with an rune
that binds the soul to the armor.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/bjSn7.jpg)

So how are they able to move at all, not to mention that they have significant
physical strength and agility?


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2013-05-21T05:58:59.013
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2013-07-03T04:04:27.060
2013-05-21T06:16:57.773
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question
fullmetal-alchemist-series
How does binding a soul to an armor suit allow the suit to move?


I think it's the soul that enables the suit to move, and thus the armor gets
the soul's owner's ability and techniques. Due to the binding process they no
longer feel fatigue or pain, and they also no longer feel the need to sleep or
rest, which explains why Alphonse never gets tired or feels physical pain when
fighting.


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2013-05-22T02:30:28.780
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2013-07-03T04:04:27.060
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answer


In each case of a bonded soul, the blood is directly placed against the armor,
allowing the iron in the hemoglobin to physically interact with the metal (and
presumably any other material it would be bonded
with)[[1]](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Blood_Rune). This means, basically, that
the alchemic procedure allows the soul to interact with the metal as well.

When a blood seal is made, it is connected to a being, and must remain with
only that being, as well as it must be connected. That means that if Al loses
his arm, he cannot move it; however, if he picks up an iron pipe, he cannot
move that at free will either, as it was not bonded to him initially. (Even at
one point, he transmutes part of his body and can no longer manipulate it.)

![Barry sees Alphonse's empty armor](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fQcwv.png)  
_(Note: Alphonse has no eyes lit up in his helmet because the helmet is
separated.)_

In the _Fullmetal Alchemist_ universe, souls are that which contain a being's
personality, thoughts, and memories, which is seen later in the series:

> For example: Kimblee's soul is able to connect with Pride from within;
> Hohenheim's many souls are spread around the land and are able to think and
> act with their energy; and Hohenheim was able to speak and interact with the
> emotions and arguments of every soul within him from the memories that soul
> kept.

Thus, we can connect the dots: Alphonse's soul is connected to the armor
through the blood seal, and is able to act with his full set of memories;
thus, Alphonse can use his memories and thoughts to move the armor at will.

The physical strength and agility comes from their ability to not be
restrained by inner forces. (Imagine how much faster you could run if your
body worked the same, but without bones and muscles weighing you down!)
However, all the fighting skill and ability comes from things that soul has
learned (both before getting that body, and after).


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2013-05-22T03:18:30.673
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