<p>This is an expansion of my thoughts in <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/34097/2604">Why can&#39;t Edward get back his power to do alchemy?</a></p>

<p>There is no explicit indication that this is impossible, but it would not be in keeping with the tone of the manga (which <em>Brotherhood</em> roughly adapts) were Edward able to recover his alchemy. Edward's decision to trade his gate for Alphonse is portrayed as rather final, per Truth's question to him after he proposes the exchange:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Gate of Truth exists within everyone. That is how everyone can use alchemy. Will you degrade yourself to an ordinary person, unable to use alchemy?</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>Brotherhood</em> points out more explicitly:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Are you sure about this? If you lose your gateway, you'll never be able to use alchemy again.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It is thus unlikely that the exchange can be reversed; Edward even notes that his recovery of Alphonse is "the Fullmetal Alchemist's final transmutation." Furthermore, the personal nature of the gate makes me doubt that it is possible for someone else to make an exchange for Edward's own gate. (If Edward is the only person who can access his gate and thus, be able to give it away, then he is probably the only person who would be able to exchange it back, in the scenario where regaining one's alchemy is possible.)</p>

<p>Aside from the issue of whether the exchange is <em>technically</em> possible, Edward also does not really care about regaining his lost abilities. Even if he mourned the loss, it is doubtful that he would let Alphonse sacrifice himself in this manner. (Alphonse notes after the time-skip that Edward does not mind keeping his automail leg "as a reminder" and that "apparently he had no intention of trying to get it back" &mdash; Edward only really cared about recovering Alphonse's body. Surely Edward does not care about being "an ordinary person" who cannot use alchemy, if he is even willing to live with his automail leg.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-06T16:59:18.410Z
ok, thank you maroon for helping me understand the problem that i had with the ending of FMA Brotherhood
Dinosaur Noodles
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-27T12:32:09.973Z
I'm having a small doubt that even if Al and Ed accept to use Al's gate to bring back Ed's alchemy, it will not be possible. Because, The last time when Al's body was retrieved, I think it was due to the fact that Al's lost his body during the same transmutation in which Ed lost his arm and leg and they had the connection of the same transmutation. But this time, is it possible to bring back Ed's alchemy without any previous connection?
Bej
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-05T16:14:26.563Z
2017-05-05T16:14:26.563Z
Maroon
<p>At the end of the FMA: Brotherhood (Fullmetal Alchemist) series, Edward tried to use alchemy and failed because he wanted his brother back and the law of equivalent exchange clearly states that</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Therefore Alphonse's alchemy would be an equal value to Edward's alchemy. so my question is if Edward Elric traded his brother's (Alphonse Elric) body and soul with his alchemy, why can't Alphonse trade his alchemy for Edward's alchemy?</p>

<p>Previously, it was asked <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/34097/2604">Why can&#39;t Edward get back his power to do alchemy?</a> That question was (in my perspective) saying Ed should use a philosopher's stone to do alchemy, because a philosopher's stone ignores the law of equivalent exchange. My question focuses on the observation that a transmutation by Al to give up his alchemy for Ed's should be a good example of following the law of equivalent exchange.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-04T14:14:08.100Z
Well, after that, Alphonse would lose his alchemy and I don't think Edward would want that. And more than that, after all they've been through, I wouldn't trade anything again at their place haha
Ise
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-04T14:27:02.380Z
I'm not sure but I don't think Alphonse ever said that he wanted to trade his alchemy for Ed's? I'd like to see some references to the fact that he can't like when he tried and it didn't work.
Hakase
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-05T13:45:57.907Z
if any problems with my question and reasoning of it not being a duplicate please inbox me (if possible).
Dinosaur Noodles
<fullmetal-alchemist-series><fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood>
Why can't Alphonse trade his alchemy for Edward's alchemy?
# Why can't Alphonse trade his alchemy for Edward's alchemy?
Posted by: username_0 on 2017-05-04
At the end of the FMA: Brotherhood (Fullmetal Alchemist) series, Edward tried to use alchemy and failed because he wanted his brother back and the law of equivalent exchange clearly states that

> Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.

Therefore Alphonse's alchemy would be an equal value to Edward's alchemy. so my question is if Edward Elric traded his brother's (Alphonse Elric) body and soul with his alchemy, why can't Alphonse trade his alchemy for Edward's alchemy?

Previously, it was asked [Why can't Edward get back his power to do alchemy?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/34097/2604) That question was (in my perspective) saying Ed should use a philosopher's stone to do alchemy, because a philosopher's stone ignores the law of equivalent exchange. My question focuses on the observation that a transmutation by Al to give up his alchemy for Ed's should be a good example of following the law of equivalent exchange.
**Tags:** fullmetal-alchemist-series fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Well, after that, Alphonse would lose his alchemy and I don't think Edward would want that. And more than that, after all they've been through, I wouldn't trade anything again at their place haha  
> **username_2**: I'm not sure but I don't think Alphonse ever said that he wanted to trade his alchemy for Ed's? I'd like to see some references to the fact that he can't like when he tried and it didn't work.  
> **username_0**: if any problems with my question and reasoning of it not being a duplicate please inbox me (if possible).  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2017-05-05. Score: 4
This is an expansion of my thoughts in [Why can't Edward get back his power to do alchemy?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/34097/2604)

There is no explicit indication that this is impossible, but it would not be in keeping with the tone of the manga (which *Brotherhood* roughly adapts) were Edward able to recover his alchemy. Edward's decision to trade his gate for Alphonse is portrayed as rather final, per Truth's question to him after he proposes the exchange:

> The Gate of Truth exists within everyone. That is how everyone can use alchemy. Will you degrade yourself to an ordinary person, unable to use alchemy?

*Brotherhood* points out more explicitly:

> Are you sure about this? If you lose your gateway, you'll never be able to use alchemy again.

It is thus unlikely that the exchange can be reversed; Edward even notes that his recovery of Alphonse is "the Fullmetal Alchemist's final transmutation." Furthermore, the personal nature of the gate makes me doubt that it is possible for someone else to make an exchange for Edward's own gate. (If Edward is the only person who can access his gate and thus, be able to give it away, then he is probably the only person who would be able to exchange it back, in the scenario where regaining one's alchemy is possible.)

Aside from the issue of whether the exchange is *technically* possible, Edward also does not really care about regaining his lost abilities. Even if he mourned the loss, it is doubtful that he would let Alphonse sacrifice himself in this manner. (Alphonse notes after the time-skip that Edward does not mind keeping his automail leg "as a reminder" and that "apparently he had no intention of trying to get it back" — Edward only really cared about recovering Alphonse's body. Surely Edward does not care about being "an ordinary person" who cannot use alchemy, if he is even willing to live with his automail leg.)
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2017-05-06): ok, thank you maroon for helping me understand the problem that i had with the ending of FMA Brotherhood  
> **username_4** (2017-06-27): I'm having a small doubt that even if Al and Ed accept to use Al's gate to bring back Ed's alchemy, it will not be possible. Because, The last time when Al's body was retrieved, I think it was due to the fact that Al's lost his body during the same transmutation in which Ed lost his arm and leg and they had the connection of the same transmutation. But this time, is it possible to bring back Ed's alchemy without any previous connection?  
---
