How to Watch Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood in Order: The Definitive Guide - Outsider Gaming (2024)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was the second anime adaptation of the popular manga Fullmetal Alchemist. After the initial anime of the same name aired (beginning in 2003) with an original story about halfway through, many fans clamored for an anime series that closely adhered to the manga canon. This led to the creation of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood airing in 2009 and ending in 2010.

Below, you will find the definitive guide to watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The order will include all episodes – including filler, mixed canon, and anime canon episodes – as well as original video animations (OVAs) and the movie. OVAs will be inserted where they should be watched based on air date. All in all, our ultimate FMA watch order can be found below.

It’s important to note that even though Brotherhood had more episodes than the original series, there still aren’t enough for the show to have been broken into seasons. As such, the episodes will be grouped into sets of ten when applicable.

How to watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in order

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 1-10)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 11-20)
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (OVA 1: “The Blind Alchemist”)
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 21-30)
5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 31-37)
6. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (OVA 2: “Simple People”)
7. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 38-40)
8. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 41-50)
9. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 51-53)
10. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (OVA 3: “Tales of the Master”)
11. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 54-60)
12. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 61-64)
13. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (OVA 4: “Yet Another Man’s Battlefield”)
14. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Movie: “Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos”)

How to watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (without fillers)

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 1-10)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 11-20)
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 21-26)
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 28-30)
5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 31-40)
6. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 41-50)
7. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 51-60)
8. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 61-64)

Interestingly, both the original anime and Brotherhood have few fillers. The original only had three filler episodes while Brotherhood only has one filler episode (episode 27).

Below, the list will focus on manga canon episodes. Though Brotherhood closely adheres to the manga, there are still some mixed and anime canon episodes.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood manga canon episodes list

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 2-3)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 5-8)
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 10-12)
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 15-26)
5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 28-64)

Of the 64 total episodes, 58 are manga canon, meaning the overwhelming majority of episodes will be strictly tied to the manga.

Below, the list will include mixed canon and the one anime canon episode of Brotherhood. To make it simple to differentiate, the first episode is the only anime canon episode.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood mixed and anime canon episodes list

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 1)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 4)
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episode 9)
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Episodes 13-14)

Mixed canon episodes are those that include the manga canon and add a bit with anime canon. This is usually to bridge the gap between actions, dialogue, and more in the manga as it transitions to an anime. Anime canon episodes – in this case episode one – are episodes specific to the anime only, which constituted most of the original Fullmetal Alchemist series.

Can I watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood without reading the manga?

Yes, you can watch Brotherhood without reading the manga. Again, Brotherhood was made to specifically adhere to the manga as opposed to the original Fullmetal Alchemist series. With only six non-canon episodes, you can be sure you’ll experience the manga through Brotherhood.

Can I fulfill the FMA watch order without watching Fullmetal Alchemist (2003-2004)?

Yes, you can watch Brotherhood without watching Fullmetal Alchemist. 20 of the 51 episodes in the original series are manga canon, so there is some overlap. However, if you want to experience the original story made specifically for the initial series, then you can watch that to examine the differences between the two series.

Is Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood a sequel to Full Metal Alchemist?

No, Brotherhood is not a sequel. Each is a standalone series. Fullmetal Alchemist is – for the most part – an original story solely for anime while Brotherhood is nearly a direct adaptation from the manga.

How many episodes are there of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood?

There are 64 total episodes, four OVAs, and one movie for Brotherhood. Of the 64 episodes, 58 are manga canon, four are mixed canon, one is anime canon, and one is filler.

There you go, the definitive FMA watch order. Now you can experience the intensity of the manga through the anime as Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, seeks to restore his younger brother, Alphonse, to his human body!

Looking for something a bit more lighthearted and funny? Check out our Seven Deadly Sins watch guide!