All Fullmetal Alchemist Arcs in Order: Where to Start Reading

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood remains one of the top-rated anime and many fans still turn to the manga. If you're looking for natural stopping points, here are all of Fullmetal Alchemist's arcs in order!

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What Is a Manga Arc?

Credit: Bones

The term "arc" isn't exclusive to manga but can be encountered in literature more generally. It refers to big stories within the main plot that often cover more than one episode or chapter.

For instance, a series of episodes devoted to defeating a single enemy, or a series of chapters that unfold in a different location than usual can be considered as arcs.

What Are the Arcs of Fullmetal Alchemist?

Credit: Bones

Here are all of Fullmetal Alchemist's manga arcs in order:

1. City of Heresy Arc (Chapters 1-2)
2. Mining Town Arc (Chapter 3)
3. Battle on the Train Arc (Chapter 4)
4. Talking Chimera Arc (Chapter 5)
5. Scar Arc (Chapters 6-7)
6. Search for the Philosopher's Stone Arc (Chapters 8-13)
7. Separate Ways Arc (Chapters 14-16)
8. Rush Valley Arc (Chapters 17-19)
9. Dublith Arc (Chapters 20-31)
10. Envoy from the East Arc (Chapters 32-33)
11. Hunt for the Homunculi Arc (Chapters 34-39)
12. Philosopher from the West Arc (Chapters 40-44)
13. Scar's Return (Chapters 45-48)
14. Belly of the Beast Arc (Chapters 49-56)
15. Scars of Ishval Arc (Chapters 57-62)
16. Briggs Arc (Chapters 63-83)
17. Promised Day Arc (Chapters 84-108)

The titles of the arcs more or less suggest what happens in each. On a few occasions, there are single-chapter arcs, especially early on.

Normally, we wouldn't consider this an arc, but even shorter stories within Fullmetal Alchemist are big in terms of significance and they come to matter later on.

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So, What Is the Best Order to Read Fullmetal Alchemist?

Credit: Bones

The best way to read Fullmetal Alchemist is by arc/chapter release order, as this is how readers are supposed to experience the manga.

Fullmetal Alchemist does have some flashbacks, but even significant, lengthy ones, such as Van Hohenheim's misadventures, are where they are for a reason.

Does Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Have Arcs?

Credit: Bones

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (aka the anime that is faithful to the manga) doesn't have officially divided arcs.

While there are specific episodes that unofficially cover particular manga arcs, the term is most often saved for manga.

If we were to divide the shounen anime into arcs, we would go for a somewhat rougher division into six major arcs:

1. The Introductory Arc (Episodes 1-12): In it, we get to know the Elric Brothers, their backstory, and present goals. Most major characters and some of the antagonists are also introduced.
2. The Homunculi Arc (Episodes 13-20): Greed, one of the Homunculi antagonists, plays a major role here.
3. Father's Arc (Episodes 21-30): This arc feels a little like a detour and its full significance is only understood later on. Van Hohenheim, Edward's father, and the god-like being known as Father are both explored.
4. Briggs Arc (Episodes 31-43): The frozen kingdom of Briggs, where Olivier Bradley rules, marks a major change of scenery, as well as one of the brothers' final adventures before the endgame.
5. The Uprising Arc (Episodes 44-53): Things get serious here as Mustang and his allies prepare to make their move against King Bradley. This is a long-awaited reckoning before the final arc.
6. The Promised Day Arc (Episodes 54-63): This is where Fullmetal Alchemist really delivers all the previous arcs' promises.

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